I’m here as a worker, a very hard worker, I give my everything to the work that I do. I have worked exceptionally hard now for 30 years. To such an extent that I no longer want to give . . . anything at all? Well, I’m not so sure about that, it seems an extreme volte face to give nothing at all. It is, though, how I felt when I left employed work this summer, I felt a little used up and spat out.

But that’s not really who and what I believe I am.

After a lifetime of work; of unwavering commitment; of presenting myself each day with a smile and a “can do!”; of the performance of the workplace; and, most of all, of delivering, I took a reluctant step back . . . and then a step forward . . . and am now in the process of setting up my own business, to work from home when viable, and to work hours that are conducive to a healthy life and productive workplace.

Am I kidding myself here? Covid left the world in a dark place, didn’t it? As a planet we have been shocked to the core, with barely a country left untouched by the harm of that microscopic virus. As a result of Covid populations stayed home, people looked inside rather than out, and many of the world’s workforce found out that actually, it’s quite the revelation, this working from home lark.

So, again, can the workforce remain outside of the office? Does it really want to? I think a large portion of it does, I sure do. Post Covid the working world is taking self-preservation a little more seriously. And so, we learn that a new breed is reaching the shores of commercial business. The freelancer.

When I was growing up, the only freelance workers out there were the journalist and the photographer (please do take this quote with a pinch of salt and consider it a generalisation). Now, as I sit at my desk, I work hard at . . . what? Well, I’m working towards work, towards gaining my first shiny, lovely new client, and then some more, and from there the story will continue, as so many other stories will continue . . . from home, as a freelancer.

One thing I’ve learned in the past few months of research for my most important and very precious business, with its (and this is not a generalisation) absolutely fabulous shiny new website, is that there are a vast . . . huge . . . amount of people with new startups. Freelancers, working from home, with little intention of returning to the office. It would seem that the age of freelance is not only experiencing a renaissance, but also a refresh of its fundamental definition. It can no longer be considered solely a creative entity, because a significantly broader spectrum of the global workforce will not, in fact, go back to their, they now acknowledge, previously uncomfortable office seat.

As someone born and bred in Colchester, I take pride in celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives within our community. From the opening of independent service businesses to the launch of creative or academic ventures, Colchester’s business landscape continues to evolve, always bringing fresh energy and diversity to our city.

Initiatives such as the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency, Backing Essex Business, and The Colchester Business Awards first of all mentor and then shine a spotlight on the achievements of new businesses in Colchester, celebrating each success story. Such accolades not only recognise the hard work, innovation and creativity of new enterprises but also encourage a culture of excellence and ambition, and by highlighting the latest additions to our city’s new business ventures we foster a supportive environment where businesses can flourish, and we can celebrate the city’s offerings by showcasing what makes our workforce fantastic.

Therefore, as the combined voice of Colchester, we all celebrate new businesses by our own small actions which highlight their successes. Be it making nominations, sharing stories, engaging with the community, supporting local ventures, and leveraging social media to amplify their presence, it’s through these efforts that we contribute to a thriving, dynamic city that embraces innovation and growth, and I, for one, am chasing that celebration of growth as fast as my little legs will carry me.