Welcome to Essex Director,
the county’s leading business magazine
Our core aim at Essex Director business magazine is to deliver insightful content that helps support owners, directors, and senior decision makers of businesses across the county. Whether it is through our events, business club, digital or magazines, our content is personality focused and all about sharing experiences and knowledge, giving tips and advice, or simply talking about the latest news and issues. Above all else our style of language avoids the jargon and acronyms and ensures our articles are presented in a concise and easy to read format.
INSIGHT
Our lead interview is with Mario Garcia, Founder and MD at Achilleus Security. As a young tearaway and an avid football fan, his personal experience gives him valuable insight into people’s behaviour, helping him build a security and crowd management business.
Helping and supporting you to run your business even better.
Although not specifically aimed at directors and owners of start-up businesses, our magazine content, together with the advice and tips we share with our readers, are personality focused and have one common goal, to help and support you in running your business even better, no matter how long you have been trading. Our articles come from leaders of local Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk businesses, all who know first-hand the reality of running a business based in their county and are willing to share their knowledge.
Lead Interview: Mario Garcia
Managing Director, Achilleus Security
Our lead interview in the Insight issue of Essex Director business magazine is Mario Garcia
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Lead Interview: Mario Garcia
Managing Director, Achilleus Security
Our lead interview in the Insight issue of Essex Director business magazine is Mario Garcia
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Content this issue
Bridging the gap between boardroom and operations
By James Thrower, Arco Safety Ltd
In any business, big or small, treating safety as a tick-box compliance exercise is a strategic misstep. Because the truth is, it not only protects your people, it also protects your commercial future.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Seeing your business through a buyer’s eyes
By Simon Martin, Azets
Entrepreneurs naturally see their businesses differently to outsiders. They know every challenge overcome, every customer won and every strategic decision that has shaped the company’s journey.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Interview: Perry Norton on the future of giving
By Julia Esse, Essex Community Foundation
The way we think about philanthropy is changing. Increasingly, businesses and individuals are looking beyond one-off donations and towards creating a lasting impact in the communities around them.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
When your retirement plan is your business
By Lisa Dawson, Ellisons Solicitors
For many business owners, their company is more than a source of income. It reflects years of effort, long hours and financial commitment.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Celebrating a royal award for international trade
By Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, ETK Group
Founded in 2010, ETK Group provides market entry expertise, international trade facilitation and investment support for governments, development partners and private sector organisations targeting high-growth African markets.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
It’s time for leaders to act on data security
By Mark Fermor, Firevault
Three years ago, just 20% of UK businesses identified cyber as a key risk. Today, that figure has risen to 46%, making it the number one concern for business leaders.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Why insight is at the heart of all transactions
By Sarah Moores, Forward Corporate Finance
Our projects usually start with an email or a phone call with a business owner when they are looking to change something.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
How great leaders learn to see what others miss
By Anne-Sophie Gossan, Inner Spark Coaching
Every business leader has access to roughly the same information: market reports, customer data, industry networks.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Lessons and insights from our visitor economy
By Joanna Burton, Larking Gowen
In business, insight is often the difference between reacting and leading. That principle sits at the heart of our Tourism Business Survey, a trusted barometer for East Anglia’s visitor economy.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
The most obvious target is rarely the threat
By Connor Whiting, Motion Wave Digital
In bomb disposal, the device you can see is rarely the one that kills you.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
The biggest barrier to growth? It might be you
By Mark Waine, People Puzzles
Most founders don’t set out to become the bottleneck in their own business.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Cash flow concerns? Take the long view
By Dean McCormack, Rickard Luckin
If turnover is vanity, profit is sanity and cash is reality, then the reality for many SMEs is stark.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Business decisions? Go with your gut feel!
By Dave Courteen, Riverhills Health Club and Day Spa
April 2027 marks the 40-year anniversary of Mosaic Spa and Health Clubs, the company that owns Riverhills, and which I set up in 1987 with my best mate from university.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Learning how to become a good business leader
By Rob Thacker, Sona Insurance Solutions
I often look back on becoming Branch Director for a large international insurance broker at just 33 years old. At the time, it felt like a huge opportunity, and it was.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Digital vs Print: what is the best marketing tool?
By Martin Silkstone, UK Director Magazines
Over the last two decades, companies large and small have been slowly moving the majority of their marketing to digital channels, meaning the use of printed media has been in sharp decline.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
AI ‘tokenomics’ and the cost of assumptions
By Adam Pedder, TechWyse Limited
One common mistake businesses make when adopting new technology is focusing on what they can measure rather than what metrics will drive better outcomes.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Spotlight
Spotlight on Craig Starling
Director, ICS
We put Craig under the spotlight as he tells us his go-to comfort food and if he could time travel, where he would go.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Lessons I have learnt
Lessons I have Learnt: Warren Page
Owner & Photographer, Pagepix
Warren reflects on his journey so far and shares the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Spotlight on Craig Starling
Director, ICS
We put Craig under the spotlight as he tells us his go-to comfort food and if he could time travel, where he would go.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
Lessons I have Learnt: Warren Page
Owner & Photographer, Pagepix
Warren reflects on his journey so far and shares the valuable lessons learned along the way.
Published in UK Director Magazines Autumn | Winter 26
