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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.