Question 1

What is Colchester.Network?

Accepted Answer

Colchester.Network is an online community exclusively for Colchester-area small business owners. It's a focused, ad-free space to find local clients, suppliers, and collaborators — without the noise of social media.

Question 2

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Plans start at £9.95/month or £99/year (save £20). Founding Members lock in a rate of £49/year for life. Every plan includes all features.

Question 3

Is there a free trial?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every plan includes a 14-day free trial. We collect your card details upfront, but you won't be charged until day 15. Cancel anytime before then and you'll pay nothing.

Question 4

What happens when I join?

Accepted Answer

After signing up, you'll complete a quick profile (business name, what you offer, what you need). Then you're straight into the directory, discussion spaces, and opportunity board. Most members make their first connection within the first week.

Question 5

Can I hire from the network, or list myself as open to work?

Accepted Answer

Yes to both. The Jobs board lets any member post roles — from one-off sub-contract gigs to full-time hires — and filter applications from members. Individual members can also flag themselves as open to work (with a CV attached) and be discovered by businesses hiring. Everything stays inside the member network; roles aren't syndicated to public job boards unless you choose to.

Question 6

How is my business data handled?

Accepted Answer

We're UK-based and GDPR-compliant. Your profile and posts are only visible to paying members by default — business profiles can optionally be made public for SEO. We don't sell data, don't run ads, and don't share your details with third parties. You can export or delete your data at any time from account settings. Full details are in our Privacy policy.

Question 7

Can I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anytime. You can cancel directly from your account settings. You'll keep access until the end of your current billing period. No cancellation fees, no questions asked.

Question 8

Is it an app?

Accepted Answer

Colchester.Network is a Progressive Web App (PWA). Visit the site on your phone, tap 'Add to Home Screen', and it works just like a native app — with push notifications, offline support, and a full-screen experience.

Question 9

Who runs this?

Accepted Answer

Colchester.Network is built and run by Marc Allington at Solve with Software Ltd, a Colchester-based software company. Marc is a local business owner himself, and built this because he saw first-hand how hard it is to find quality local connections.

Question 10

What are Business Challenges?

Accepted Answer

Challenges are short, structured programmes members can join — a specific goal, a cohort of other members doing the same thing, and a dedicated space to share progress and swap tactics. Think 'post one piece of content every weekday for 4 weeks' or 'land three discovery calls by month-end' — finished together, not alone.

Question 11

Can I publish articles?

Accepted Answer

Yes — any member can write long-form articles directly from their profile. Articles are published to the community feed and, once approved, indexed on the public site for SEO — a useful way to build authority and attract enquiries from outside the network.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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