August 2026 – Amphora Group

Amphora Connect’s full-fibre network to West Mersea goes live

Posted on August 18, 2026 | by Georgi Agov

Expanding a growing city-wide network

Across Colchester, Amphora Connect, part of Amphora Group and one of Colchester City Council’s commercial companies, has already laid more than 90,000km of fibre in urban areas, with ultrafast services provided over its retail and wholesale networks now serving over 3,000 properties. The network has capacity to reach almost 30,000 homes and businesses in Colchester and nearby villages as the rollout continues.

First customers connected on Mersea Island

Working closely with its network build partner and co-investor, Birch Technical Services (BTS), which is also based in Mersea, Amphora Connect has completed an 18km direct fibre link between Colchester city centre and West Mersea. Overcoming the challenges of connecting rural communities and crossing The Strood, the project has brought high-capacity fibre infrastructure directly to the island. BTS has also delivered a brand-new local network, with the first customers now connected. We were delighted that the first business to sign up was Mersea Homes, one of the island’s most prominent businesses.

A faster, more reliable digital future

Full-fibre networks use 100% fibre optic cables to transmit data at the speed of light, offering a connection dramatically faster and more reliable than older copper lines. Amphora Connect’s network provides download and upload speeds of up to 10Gbps, speeds that were unimaginable even a few years ago. Residents and businesses in West Mersea are now able to choose affordable, reliable full-fibre broadband from Amphora Connect.

Cllr Venessa Moffat, Interim Chair of Amphora said: “Thriving cities like Colchester depend on strong digital infrastructure to unlock growth, opportunity and prosperity. Reliable connectivity is essential for residents, businesses and visitors alike, supporting everything from remote working and online services to education, healthcare and leisure. By investing in our Amphora Connect full fibre network, we are futureproofing Colchester’s infrastructure, improving resilience, attracting investment, and helping local businesses grow. Most importantly, we’re ensuring our communities can access the fast, reliable connectivity they need both today and for generations to come.”

Residents and businesses interested in upgrading to full fibre can find out more here.

Colchester Events shortlisted for two Colchester Business Awards 2026

Posted on August 7, 2026 | by Georgi Agov

Colchester Events, part of Amphora Group, is celebrating double success after being shortlisted in two categories at the Colchester Business Awards: Contribution to Theatre & Arts (Charter Hall) and Live Entertainment Venue (Charter Hall & Castle Park).

The nominations recognise the organisation’s role in delivering some of Colchester’s largest and most popular live entertainment, cultural and community events through Charter Hall and Castle Park.

Colchester Events, delivered by Amphora Trading Limited and owned by Colchester City Council, contributed nearly £24 million to the city’s economy in 2024/25, attracting more than 293,000 visitors to concerts, festivals, theatre performances, and community events, according to an independent economic impact report by Counterculture Partnership LLP.

The scale of Colchester Events’ impact extends far beyond entertainment. More than 179,000 people travel into Colchester each year to attend events, helping to drive footfall, tourism, and spending within the local economy.

At Charter Hall, the team delivers more than 150 events annually, welcoming over 100,000 attendees to a diverse programme of music, comedy, theatre, and family entertainment. Meanwhile, major concerts and live events in Castle Park attract tens of thousands of visitors, including more than 65,000 concert goers attending large-scale performances and over 76,000 visitors attending festivals and community events.

James Young, Operations Manager of Amphora Events, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be shortlisted in both categories. These nominations are a testament to the hard work, creativity, and dedication of the entire Events team, as well as the continued support of our audiences, partners, and the wider community.”

“Our aim has always been to create memorable experiences that bring people together, support the local economy, and contribute to Colchester’s cultural offer. To be recognised for that work is a tremendous honour.”

Amphora Group is now encouraging residents, audiences, partners and supporters to cast their vote in the Colchester Business Awards.
Whether you’ve attended a concert in Castle Park, enjoyed a show at Charter Hall, supported a community festival, or simply value the role of arts and entertainment in the city, every vote helps recognise the impact live events have on Colchester’s communities, culture, and economy.

Vote for Colchester Events: www.colchesterbusinessawards.co.uk/vote-now

Every vote helps celebrate the value of arts, culture and live entertainment in Colchester and recognises the teams working behind the scenes to make these experiences possible.
Voting is now open until 17 September 2026.

Winners of the Colchester Business Awards will be announced on 8 October 2026 at Colchester Town Hall.

Local emergency response service helping cut ambulance demand across North East Essex

Posted on August 3, 2026 | by Georgi Agov

A local emergency response service is playing a growing role in reducing pressure on ambulances and hospitals by helping older and vulnerable residents stay safe at home falling falls.

Helpline 24/7, which supports thousands of people across North East Essex, provides 24-hour telecare monitoring and rapid response to incidents such as non-injury falls, often arriving on scene before an ambulance is required.

With around half of people aged over 80 experiencing at least one fall every year, demand on emergency services continues to rise. Services like Helpline 24/7 are increasingly being recognised as a vital part of the solution, helping to prevent avoidable callouts and hospital admissions.

The team responds to pendant alarm activations, welfare concerns and ‘no voice contact’ alerts, incidents where a resident may be unable to reach or speak to the alarm unit, often indicating a fall or serious issue.

In one recent incident, a local resident triggered her alarm but was unable to respond. Treating the situation as urgent, Helpline 24/7 dispatched a trained response team, who attended alongside neighbours and helped her safely before paramedics arrived.

The resident, Mrs V, later contacted the service from hospital to thank staff personally for their support.

Cllr Venessa Moffat, Interim Chair of Amphora, said: “Services like Helpline 24/7 are becoming increasingly important as demand on health and emergency services grows. By responding quickly to incidents such as falls, the team helps reduce unnecessary pressure on ambulances and hospitals while allowing residents to maintain their independence.”

Helpline 24/7 has been operating for more than 25 years and works closely with local health and care partners. Its specialist response teams are trained to assist residents after a fall, helping many remain safely at home rather than waiting extended periods for emergency services.

Nicola Cable, Monitoring and Response Service Manager, said: “A ‘no voice contact’ alarm is always treated as an emergency, because someone may be unable to move or call for help. Our role is to get there quickly, provide reassurance, and ensure people are safe, often avoiding the need for hospital care.”

As the population ages and demand for urgent care increases, community-based response services are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting overstretched NHS services.

For more information, visit www.helpline.co.uk