Get Better in Chelmsford

Get Better in Chelmsford

Join host Richard as he sits down with the people building, creating, and shaping Chelmsford. Get Better in Chelmsford shines a light on the fascinating stories of entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders who have unlocked the secret of building something that matters. From organisations that have been going strong for over a century to grassroots movements that started with a poster in a coffee shop - these are the stories of people driven by passion, rooted in Chelmsford. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/get-better-in-chelmsford 

  1. S3 E8: It's a Long Game With Chris Budd

    Jun 1

    S3 E8: It's a Long Game With Chris Budd

    What if the best networking event you ever attended wasn't technically a networking event at all? In this episode, Richard speaks to Chris Budd from CBHC Accountants about the communities he's built - not around PowerPoint and name badges, but around running shoes, shared values, and a genuine belief that patience is the best business development strategy there is. Chris created the Runners Network - a lunchtime run open to anyone, starting and ending at Central Park Café - and the Golden Circle, a small, invitation-only group of business owners who share values and ambitions, and back each other up without the formality of BNI. They also talk about CBHC's new concierge service, which takes a bespoke, personal approach to working with business owners - not just their year-end accounts. And about why an accountancy firm running a running club and a curated Golden Circle says a lot about what CBHC really is. Fresh air. Good company. Free coffee. Leads that come when you stop chasing them. If you want to join the Runners Network, just look out for it on LinkedIn and turn up. No fancy footwear required. Recorded at: City Space: https://city-space.co.uk/ @city_space_chelmsford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-budd-cemap-68307412/ Website: ​​https://www.cbhc.uk.com/ Where to find Get Better in Chelmsford: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/get-better-in-chelmsford Created in collaboration with: Better Agency @betteragency Chelmsford City Council: @chelmscouncil

    34 min
  2. S3 E4: Are You Wealthy or Healthy? With Andy Fernandes

    Jun 1

    S3 E4: Are You Wealthy or Healthy? With Andy Fernandes

    What does it mean to build a law firm in a city you genuinely believe in? In this episode, Richard speaks to Andrew from Ellison's - a regional law firm that arrived in the city in 2018 with two partners, four people, and a clear set of values. Today, they have seven partners, 40 desks, and a full commercial and private client offering. Andrew talks about why staying aligned to values - rather than chasing growth targets - has driven more sustainable growth than any spreadsheet could have. They cover the firm's academy for training and development, their approach to neurodiversity in the workplace, and why the firm's next generation of clients matter just as much as today's. There's also a fascinating conversation about Chelmsford's history - from a freed slave buried on New London Road to the radio signals sent from Lower Anchor Street as part of Operation Fortitude - and why civic pride matters when you're trying to build something that lasts decades, not just years. And yes, he really was on the first train from Beaulieu Park station. He has the LinkedIn post to prove it. Recorded at: City Space: https://city-space.co.uk/ @city_space_chelmsford Website: https://ellisons.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-fernandes-807b8546/ Where to find Get Better in Chelmsford: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/get-better-in-chelmsford Created in collaboration with: Better Agency @betteragency Chelmsford City Council: @chelmscouncil

    35 min
  3. S3 E3: My Plan Bee With Tony Briggs

    Jun 1

    S3 E3: My Plan Bee With Tony Briggs

    From celebrity photographer to beekeeper. And why that's not as strange as it sounds. In this episode, Richard speaks to Tony, founder of Plan Bee - the Essex-based beekeeping project that's part business, part conservation mission, and part last line of defence for the honeybee. Tony spent 30 years photographing the likes of Kate Moss, Ocean Colour Scene, and Bill Bailey before making the switch. Now he manages over 60 hives for around 20 clients across Essex and London, keeps bees on the roof of Chelmsford City Council, and is quietly working to breed a climate-change resistant strain of native Essex Black Bees. This year has seen the highest honeybee mortality on record. One in three mouthfuls of food depends on pollination. And without beekeepers like Tony, the species would be in serious trouble. They talk about what makes this a business, why businesses are getting involved, what a day with 50,000 bees actually looks like - and what you can do to support the project. If you want to plant trees, you could. Or you could support a beehive and get raw honey straight from the source. Recorded at: City Space: https://city-space.co.uk/ @city_space_chelmsford Website: https://www.tonybriggs.com/planbee LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tony-briggs-plan-bee/posts  Where to find Get Better in Chelmsford: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/get-better-in-chelmsford Created in collaboration with: Better Agency @betteragency Chelmsford City Council: @chelmscouncil

    33 min

About

Join host Richard as he sits down with the people building, creating, and shaping Chelmsford. Get Better in Chelmsford shines a light on the fascinating stories of entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders who have unlocked the secret of building something that matters. From organisations that have been going strong for over a century to grassroots movements that started with a poster in a coffee shop - these are the stories of people driven by passion, rooted in Chelmsford. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/get-better-in-chelmsford