A host of exciting guest speakers will be sharing their knowledge and expertise with local businesses at next month’s Tendring4Growth Business Fortnight.

Firms across Tendring are being reminded that they can get advice on how to boost business at a series of free networking events and seminars run by Tendring District Council (TDC).

The fortnight will feature expert speakers covering topics on digital marketing and women in business, as well as specific industries such as tourism, business in town centres, and creative and cultural arts.

The initiative will include events across Tendring from Monday, 23 September to Wednesday, 2 October, including the annual Jobs and Skills Fair.

Councillor Ivan Henderson, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, said there were a range of exciting speakers lined up for the events.

“Our Tendring4Growth Business Fortnight is always a great opportunity for local businesses to share best practice, network and pick up advice from experts and guest speakers,” he said.

“There’s a real range of subjects being discussed and I look forward to meeting local firms from across the district to hear about their achievements.

“We have an exciting line-up of guest speakers and I would like to thank them all for being willing to share their expertise and experiences to help boost business for everyone in our district.

“Raising aspirations and creating opportunities runs through everything we do.”

The Tendring4Growth Business Fortnight starts with the launch event Regenerating Tendring at Clacton Leisure Centre on Monday, 23 September, from 10am to 12.30pm.

It will offer a broad overview of business success stories and attendees can learn about opportunities for growth within Tendring, including a host of exciting projects.

Speakers will include Councillor Henderson alongside Freeport East’s Chief Executive Steve Beel, Harwich Town Partnership’s Paul Milsom and Stuart Burns, from award-winning Clacton firm Dura Composites.

This will be followed by the ‘Tendring Tourism’ event on Tuesday, 24 September, from 10am to 12.30pm, at the Kingscliff Hotel in Holland-on-Sea, where people can hear about shared goals of the industry and upcoming initiatives to support costal and rural tourism.

Guest speakers include Essex County Council’s Lucy Bones, Clacton Pier’s Harry Peek, Thomas Hide from Frinton Golf Club and Michelle Nye-Browne from the Naze Tower in Walton.

The ‘Boost Your Digital Presence’ event takes place on Wednesday, 25 September, from 9.30am to 12noon, at the Lifehouse Spa and Hotel in Thorpe-le-Soken.

It will explain how firms can breathe new life into social media pages, best practice to protect against ransomware attacks and how AI marketing can help businesses to grow.

Speakers will include Carla Watkins, from Visual Magic Marker, Kate Everett from The Write Impression, Essex Police’s Nicola Doubleday and Kelsie Lowe from Roam Creative Marketing.

The Jobs and Skills Fair will return to Clacton Town Hall on Thursday, 26 September, from 10.30am to 2.30pm, providing the opportunity for businesses to come face-to-face with a diverse range of potential candidates.

Week two begins with a Women in Business networking event on Monday, 30 September, at The Waterfront in Dovercourt, from 9.30am to 12noon, when attendees will be empowered by inspirational stories and business guidance across a range of industries.

Speakers include Helen Armstrong, from Silver Cloud, Susan Daish, the High Steward of Harwich and Eve Calderbank from Ambitious Women in Essex.

The ‘Coastal Creativity and Entrepreneurship’ event on Tuesday, 1 October, from 9.30am to 1pm, at The Electric Palace in Harwich, is a chance for local creatives to discover support to access funding, network, and discuss projects with TDC’s Creativity and Culture Team.

Guest speakers include Colbea’s Simon Mead and Matthew Liney from Funnelwick Limb.

The Business Fortnight concludes with the High Street Heroes event at The Nose bookshop in Walton-on-the-Naze on Wednesday, 2 October, from 7pm to 9.30pm.

Town centre-based businesses will be able to network, find out what they can do to improve trade, and the support available from the council.

The guest speakers will be Eleanor Brown, from The Nose, Winyl’s Steve Tattam, Denni King from Bird and Bean, and Little Boat Gift’s Olivia Reilly.

To find out more and to book your place at an event, go to www.tendringdc.gov.uk/content/businessfortnight.