A CAMPAIGN to showcase Essex businesses has been hailed a success.

The week-long roadshow saw members from Essex County Council visit companies, universities, entrepreneurs and apprentices across the county to see the innovation, skills and enterprise that are pushing Essex forward in business.

Kevin Bentley, Essex County counciller responsible for economic growth and infrastructure, said: “There has been a fantastic positive response to this campaign.

“Everyone has come together in agreement that Essex really does mean business. I’d like to thank everyone who took part.

“Essex is an amazing county. There is so much going on here.

“We have global leaders in innovation, including Ford and CNH Industrial, in Basildon. Technology made in Essex by companies such as e2v is used in outer space.

“We have exciting new sectors sprouting up, like I personally saw in Colchester when I visited Think BDW and the University of Essex to see how they are turning Colchester into a creative hub for digital business.

“The campaign will continue. Many businesses have contacted us because they want to take part.

“We also intend to participate in Global Entrepreneurship week and Small Business Saturday.”

The council estimates more than 500,000 people may have been reached using the hash tag #Essex MeansBusiness on Twitter while the week marked the council’s 3,000th apprentice.

The week culminated in a visit from the governor of Jiangsu province, Li Xueyong, who attended the first formal session of the East of England-Jiangsu Joint Committee.