Made In Essex

Hosted by Made In Essex

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Jan 2026

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About the show

Join Jill Willis, co-founder at Attract & Engage, author and communications strategist, as she sits down with the county’s most successful business leaders to lift the bonnet on their journey so far. Celebrating Essex entrepreneurship, Made in Essex is a melting pot of stories, wisdom and humour with tenacious business owners providing insight into the most pressing growth challenges. Listen in on real conversations and leave with fresh perspectives and thought-provoking stories.

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29 recent

January 28, 202622 min

Wes Crawford on Legacy, Leadership and the Future of a Family Business

What does it really take to hand a family business from one generation to the next - and make it stronger? In this episode, Co-Founder of Attract & Engage, Jill Willis sits down with Wes Crawford, Managing Director of Crawford’s Group, the Writtle-based agricultural and commercial vehicle business founded by his father back in the 1980s. Wes shares the realities of succession planning, a major health scare that changed everything, and how he’s building a business designed to outlast him - with his wife and sons now part of the journey. Expect honest reflections on leadership, resilience and legacy. Hit play and join the conversation.

December 11, 202530 min

Cloud, Culture and Comebacks: Jeff Dewing’s £70M Journey

Jill Willis meets Jeff Dewing, CEO of Cloud - the Colchester-based FM disruptor that grew from a garden shed to a £70m turnover business. A story of bold mindset shifts, bouncing back from rock bottom, and building a culture-first company by doing the opposite.

November 18, 202527 min

Kelly Bronze: The Essex Brand That Redefined Christmas Dinner

Jill Willis meets Paul Kelly, MD of KellyBronze Turkeys, the family-run farm that turned the humble turkey into a festive icon. From surviving market crashes and fires to building a global premium brand, it’s a story of resilience, reinvention and staying true to your values.

November 14, 202518 min

Stories of Essex Limited | Episode 5: Essex Ltd Report Wrap-Up with Doug Bentley & Adam Jones

In this episode of Stories of Essex Limited, we’re joined by Doug Bentley and Adam Jones to reflect on the 2025 Essex Ltd Report and uncover what’s driving growth across the county’s Top 100 businesses.With turnover up 12.3% to £16bn, EBITDA up 16%, and 23 new entrants added to the list, Doug and Adam unpack the stories behind the stats, from the rise of private equity and employee ownership to how Essex firms are borrowing big to invest in future growth.We explore the biggest challenges on the horizon, including the ongoing battle for talent, and why culture, values and leadership succession are fast becoming key differentiators. Plus, we revisit standout guests from the series and examine what they reveal about Essex’s entrepreneurial edge.This episode is part of a collaborative mini-series created by Grant Thornton UK LLP, Birketts LLP, and Attract & Engage Ltd to amplify the voices of Essex’s privately owned businesses.

October 23, 202536 min

From Mersea Island to North Sea Rigs: Bartech’s Journey of Precision and Pace

Jill Willis meets Paul Bleck, MD of Bartech Marine, the family firm that grew from a Mersea Island garage to a £10m engineering powerhouse. A story of legacy, leadership and scaling with purpose.

October 22, 202524 min

Stories of Essex Limited | Episode 4: Darren Locker, Managing Director, BEW Electrical Distributors Ltd

In this episode of Stories of Essex Limited, we sit down with Darren Locker, Managing Director of BEW Electrical Distributors, to explore how a second-generation family firm climbed to No. 41 in the Essex Top 100 and No. 17 in the Fastest Growth list. From leading an eight-figure management buyout to expanding into solar, site lighting, and heat pumps, Darren shares how people-first leadership and steady diversification have powered BEW’s transformation into one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent electrical wholesalers.This episode is part of a collaborative mini-series created by Grant Thornton UK LLP, Birketts LLP, and Attract & Engage Ltd to amplify the voices of Essex’s privately owned businesses.

September 17, 202522 min

From Call Centre to Channel 4: Colin Horton’s Bold Journey in Property

Colin Horton went from earning £14k in a bank call centre to running a multi-million-pound surveying firm and starring on Channel 4. In this episode, Jill Willis lifts the bonnet on Colin’s journey, from bootstrapping Project & Co with just £3k, to becoming one of the property industry’s most outspoken and recognisable voices. Honest, gritty, and full of Essex charm, this one’s for anyone building a business from the ground up.

August 28, 202516 min

Turning Grapes into Gold: How Pod Crowther Planted the Seeds of Tuffon Hall’s Success

Jill Willis meets Pod Crowther, co-founder of Tuffon Hall Vineyard, the family-run business putting Essex wine on the map with creativity, courage and diversification baked in from day one.

July 29, 202520 min

Kindness in Hard Hats: How Rebecca Rickwood Is Changing Construction for Good

Jill Willis meets Rebecca Rickwood, founder of Gement, the start-up reshaping construction with purpose, culture and kindness.

June 27, 202523 min

Stories of Essex Limited | Episode 3: Martin Series, Director of Global Services at Foxway UK

In this episode of Stories of Essex Limited, we sit down with Martin Series, Director of Global Services at Foxway UK, to explore how a circular tech business scaled to £103 million by rethinking how we use, reuse, and retire our devices. From the early days of Global Resale to joining the Scandinavian-owned Foxway Group, Martin shares how intentional growth, team values, and a focus on sustainability have helped create one of Essex’s most forward-thinking tech businesses. This episode is part of a collaborative mini-series created by Grant Thornton UK LLP, Birketts LLP, and Attract & Engage Ltd to amplify the voices of Essex’s privately owned businesses.