Hi This Is Bry shortlisted for the East of England StartUp Awards
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
Being shortlisted for the East of England StartUp Awards was a real milestone for my business. It also reminded me how much talent exists across Colchester, Essex, and the wider East of England, and reinforced something I talk to my clients about every day. Strong businesses deserve strong brand foundations.
The awards evening took place at the Curzon in Colchester, and looking back, that's the part I'll remember most. Receiving recognition was exciting, of course, but spending an evening surrounded by people building brilliant businesses across the region left an even bigger impression.
The Colchester business community has something special
Walking into the Curzon, I expected a lovely evening. I came home feeling genuinely inspired.
I met founders from all kinds of industries, all building something completely different. Some businesses had only recently launched, while others had spent years growing into established companies. Everyone had their own story, their own reasons for starting, and their own ambitions for the future.
It reminded me how much Colchester's entrepreneurial and creative community has grown over the last few years. There's a real willingness to support one another, celebrate success, and share experiences. Running a business can feel quite lonely at times, so spending an evening surrounded by people who completely understood the journey felt incredibly refreshing.
One thing kept catching my attention throughout the evening. Many of the shortlisted businesses had really strong foundations. Their branding felt considered. Their websites reflected the quality of what they offered. They spoke confidently about their businesses, and within a few minutes you had a clear picture of who they were and why they existed.
It's something I talk about with my own clients all the time. Branding reaches far beyond a logo. It's the way your business presents itself, communicates its value, and builds confidence before you've even had a conversation.
Awards are judged on far more than branding, of course, but when you're surrounded by dozens of brilliant businesses in one room, having clear brand foundations helps people remember you.
Why the Digital Startup category felt like the right fit
Being shortlisted in the Digital Startup category felt like a natural fit for the way I've built Hi This Is Bry.
From day one, I've run a fully remote business. Clients find me through Google, social media, LinkedIn, referrals, and my blog. Discovery calls happen online, projects are managed digitally, and I work with businesses across Colchester, Bury St Edmunds, Essex, Suffolk, and the rest of the UK.
That approach also works well for me personally.
As an autistic founder, travelling independently can be difficult, so building a digital business gave me the opportunity to create something around the way I naturally work. Rather than trying to fit into someone else's model, I built one that allows me to give every client the attention and support they deserve.
Being digital has never changed how personal my projects feel. Every client still gets discovery calls, strategy, feedback, guidance, and support throughout the process.
The evening reinforced why I do this
One of the nicest parts of the evening was simply talking to people.
There was so much passion in the room. Everyone cared deeply about what they were building, whether they were running a creative business, a consultancy, a retail company, or something completely different.
It also reminded me how many fantastic businesses across Essex and Suffolk deserve far more visibility than they're currently getting.
Sometimes the product or service is already excellent. The missing piece is helping other people see that. A stronger brand, a better website, or clearer messaging can completely change the way a business is perceived.
That's the part of my job I enjoy most. Helping businesses communicate the quality that's already there.
FAQs
What are the East of England StartUp Awards? The East of England StartUp Awards celebrate new and growing businesses across the region. Hi This Is Bry was shortlisted in the Digital Startup category less than two years after launching.
Where were the awards held? The awards evening took place at the Curzon in Colchester and brought together founders and businesses from across the East of England.
Why do strong brand foundations matter? Strong brand foundations help people understand who you are, what you offer, and why they should choose your business. They create trust, improve consistency, and give your website and marketing much more impact over time.
Do you only work with businesses in Essex? I'm based in Colchester and work with businesses across Essex and Suffolk, including Bury St Edmunds. Because my business is fully remote, I also work with clients throughout the UK.
Have a look at my services page to see what I offer and how it works, or click here to book a free clarity call.
Final thoughts...
Being shortlisted for the East of England StartUp Awards felt like an important milestone for Hi This Is Bry, especially so early in the business journey.
The evening also reminded me why I chose to build my business here in Colchester. Meeting so many ambitious founders and seeing the quality of businesses being built across Essex left me feeling incredibly optimistic about where our local business community is heading.
If there's one thing I took away from the evening, it's that brilliant businesses deserve branding that reflects the quality of the work they already do. That's exactly what I hope to help more businesses achieve over the coming years.
Don't go without saying hi!
Hi, I'm Bry (pronounced Br-eye), an Essex and Suffolk based Creative Strategist and neurodivergent founder.
I help small businesses and founders show up with branding, websites, and content strategy that helps them become more visible to the right people.
My work has been recognised by the Small Business Awards (Best Creative Arts Business, UK top 100 and Best Business Branding, UK top 10), and I've been featured in Essex Life Magazine, the Harwich and Manningtree Standard, Business Wire, Greatest Hits Radio, and the 7th edition of Graphic Design School.
In 2026 I also won silver for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the SME Awards and I was shortlisted for best digital business the East of England StartUp Awards. In June 2026 I was also shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the year at the Enterprise Vision Awards.
When I'm not doing this, I'm probably reading about exotic fish or writing about nerdy marketing stuff. Sometimes both.
