Discover The Best Independent Businesses in Colchester
Explore shops, cafes, and services across Colchester. Recommend your favourites and support local trade.
Think Local First is a community campaign helping you find and support the independent businesses serving Colchester. From shops, cafés and trades to professional services, we’re here to make it easier to choose genuine local businesses and keep more money in the local economy.
When YOU choose a local
business, everyone benefits
Independent businesses are the lifeblood of places like Colchester. When you spend with a local business, that money circulates within the community, supports jobs, funds local suppliers and keeps our high streets alive.
Research shows that around 70p of every £1 spent with an independent business stays within the local economy. Choosing local isn't just good for business, it's good for everyone.
Find local businesses in Colchester →Backing Local Business
Well-known figures have spoken publicly about why local businesses matter. Add your voice to theirs and show your support for Colchester's independent businesses.
“A big business starts small.”
“Small and growing businesses are the beating heart of our economy and the soul of our communities.”
“The high street is not a retail thing: it's a social thing, part of the British lifestyle.”
Colchester's Local Partners
Local Partners are independent businesses helping to support the Think Local First campaign. We feature just one Local Partner in each business category. This helps to fund the campaign and makes it easier for local people to discover businesses serving Colchester.
Partner
Online Porqupine Ltd
Online Porqupine is a small, friendly Colchester web company. We build and look after websites for small busin…
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Your Business Here
Be Featured Here
Become the exclusive Local Partner in your category in Colchester.
Become a Local Partner →Are You a Local Business?
Join the independent businesses in Colchester backing Think Local First. Get listed in the directory, reach local customers, and help keep more spending in the local economy.
Colchester Business Directory
Find independent businesses serving Colchester across a wide range of local categories – from cafés and shops to trades and professional services. Whether you’re looking for someone nearby or simply want to keep more of your spending local, the directory makes it easy to find genuine local businesses.
Find out more →Browse the Full Colchester Directory
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Recently Added to Colchester
Lighting Electrical Experts
Lighting Electrical provides domestic and commercial electrical work for homeowners, landlords and businesses…
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WorkBoat Provider
Workboat Provider actively maintains a safety first, work-on-water policy, so we have assembled a comprehensiv…
View profile →Granite Transformations Colchester
Our newly-developed Granite kitchen and bathroom showroom is in-store at Hatfields Furnishers in Stanway, near…
View profile →Colchester's Local Voices
Local Voices brings together messages of support from residents, business owners and local organisations who believe in the value of independent local businesses.
These are residents, community figures, and organisations who have publicly backed the Think Local First campaign in Colchester — read what they have to say below.
Explore Local Voices →
Recommend a Business
Some of the best local businesses are found by word of mouth.
Recommend a business you rate highly, explain why you value them, and help other local people discover them too.
No payments, no promotions – just genuine local recommendation.
Recommend a business →Ready to make a difference in Colchester?
I’m looking for a local business
Find trusted local businesses and help support Colchester’s independent business community.
Explore the directory →I run a local business
Join the campaign and help local people discover your business. It is FREE to list and only takes a few minutes to set up.
Add your business →