What it's like running a design and marketing business in Colchester vs Bury St Edmunds

Bry Bird, Creative Strategist

So my small business is based in Manningtree, where Colchester is my closest big town, and I also spend time in the Bury St Edmunds area visiting my partner.

I attract a lot of Colchester clients because of that proximity, and I've got to know both places really well as a result. They're both brilliant. They're also genuinely different, and I think that's worth writing about.

Colchester: high energy, hustle, and a lot going on

Colchester moves fast. There's always something happening, always somewhere to be, always a new business opening or an event worth attending.

The art scene alone is worth mentioning. FirstSite and The Minories are both genuinely excellent, and having that kind of cultural offer in a city shapes the creative community around it. It attracts people who are interested in ideas, which makes for interesting conversations and interesting networking.

Speaking of which, the networking scene in Colchester is really active. There are groups running regularly across different sectors and niches, and Patch is a great coworking option if you need somewhere to work outside the house or meet a client properly.

The university makes everything feel a bit more alive too. There's an energy that comes with having a big student population nearby. New people, new perspectives, a general sense that things are moving. For a marketing business it's a good environment to be in.

I'm even attending the East of England StartUp Awards ceremony at Curzon in Colchester, which tells you something about how much is happening in this city for businesses right now.

Bury St Edmunds: a different kind of energy, equally good

Bury St Edmunds has just as much going on, but it feels different. Calmer, maybe. More rooted.

The independent business scene here is genuinely impressive. Tailors, wine shops, bespoke bakeries, the kind of businesses that have clearly been thought about properly and built with real care. There's a quality to the high street that feels intentional, and as someone who thinks a lot about brand and presentation, I notice that stuff.

The community feel is strong too. There's a traditional, well-established sense of local life here, lots of church events, community gatherings, things that have been running for years and feel genuinely embedded. It gives the place a warmth that's hard to manufacture.

There are also some lovely coworking spaces if you need them, and plenty of spots to take a client for coffee without having to think too hard about where to go.

What it's actually like as a business owner in both

I've felt welcome in both places. That's the honest answer and it's not something I take for granted.

Colchester suits me when I want pace. When I want to be around people who are building things quickly, thinking about growth, moving fast. It's energising in a specific way.

Bury suits me when I want to think more slowly. When I want to walk somewhere beautiful, have a really good lunch, and let ideas settle before I act on them. It's a different kind of productive.

For a digital business like mine, neither place is where my clients live specifically. I work remotely with businesses across Essex, Suffolk, and beyond. But where you spend your time shapes how you think, and having access to both of these places has genuinely been good for the work.

FAQs

Do you work with businesses in both Colchester and Bury St Edmunds? Yes. I work with clients across Essex and Suffolk, including both Colchester and Bury St Edmunds, as well as remotely with businesses further afield. Get in touch or have a look at my services if you'd like to talk about working together.

What kind of businesses do you work with? Small businesses and founders who want to get more visible online. I support them with their branding, websites, social media strategy.

Final thoughts...

Colchester and Bury St Edmunds are both genuinely brilliant places to run a marketing business from. Different energy, different pace, different kind of community. Both worth your time.

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.

When I'm not doing this, I'm probably reading about exotic fish or writing about nerdy marketing stuff. Sometimes both.

Learn more about me