Essex Care Association

What Essex Care Association does

Essex Care Association (ECA) is a private, non-profit trade association operating as the representative body for adult social care providers across three UK local authority areas — Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. The organisation is governed by a volunteer Management Committee composed of owners, managers, or trustees of care organisations in the region, which is intended to ensure peer-led advocacy. ECA delivers a membership-based service bundle centred on representation to local authorities, regional forums across four sub-regions (West, North, Mid, South Essex), three annual conferences, a monthly newsletter, training programmes (including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training, Medication Train the Trainer, and other accredited courses), and an Employee Assistance Programme delivered in partnership with Essex County Council and Vivup.

The association is operationally small — between 1 and 10 employees, working remotely from a Benfleet, Essex contact address with a Loughton PO Box as mailing address — comprising a Director of Development (Simon Harniess, in role since 2018), a Development Manager (Hannah McLaughlin, joined June 2023) and an Administration and Events Coordinator (Tanya Brader, joined 2024). ECA has no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a content/marketing website at essexcare.org.uk with a self-serve membership login, an email newsletter, and Smart Messenger-powered campaigns.

Revenue is generated predominantly through recurring membership subscriptions from care providers, supplemented by paid training courses and conference attendance fees. A network of at least 11 commercial partners — including Citation (HR/compliance), Croner, RWK Goodman (legal), CoolCare and CareLineLive (care management software), Solicitude (training), Gather, Care Ideals, 101 Websites, Underwood Consulting (tender support), and DBS Umbrella Solution — offers ECA members preferential rates on services they would otherwise source independently. ECA is also a member of the national Care Association Alliance and the Eastern Regional Care Association Alliance (ERCAA), enabling representation beyond the immediate Essex region.

Name

Essex Care Association

Legal name

Essex Care Association

Website

https://essexcare.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Essex Care Association is a UK non-profit trade association representing adult social care providers across Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. It delivers membership-based advocacy, regional forums, conferences, training, an Employee Assistance Programme, and preferential access to a network of commercial partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Care Association Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Care Navigation & Service Coordination (Medical, Social, Community) (HSABAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Active Adult / Senior Community Association Management (BPAJAHAJ)

Keywords

• Adult social care
• Care provider membership
• Sector advocacy
• Workforce training
• Compliance support

Headquarters

HQ city

Benfleet

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ECA operates primarily through membership fees from adult social care providers in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. The association offers member-only access to commercial partner offers, exclusive training, conferences, and events. Membership enables providers to shape the delivery and future of social care in the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Essex Care Association is a membership-based trade association that supports adult social care providers in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock through advocacy, representation to local and national decision-makers, training programmes, annual conferences, regional Provider Forums, a monthly newsletter, and exclusive member discounts negotiated with commercial partners in HR, legal, compliance, training, and care management software. It operates as a not-for-profit governed by a volunteer Management Committee of care providers, and extends its reach via membership in the Care Association Alliance and the Eastern Region Care Association Alliance.

Product overview

Essex Care Association (ECA) operates as a membership organization offering a unified portfolio of services to adult social care providers across Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. The core offering centers on ECA Membership, which provides access to three annual conferences, regional Provider Forums, training programs (including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training and Medication Train the Trainer), monthly newsletters, and exclusive Commercial Partner Offers. Additional services include funding guidance for the Learning and Development Support Scheme, an Employee Assistance Programme in partnership with Vivup, and supplementary memberships through ARC England and the Institute of Health and Social Care. ECA is a member of the Care Association Alliance and Eastern Region Care Association Alliance, enabling national and regional advocacy for members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ECA Membership Membership program for adult social care providers in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock, offering access to conferences, training, commercial partner offers, and representation to decision makers.
• ECA Conferences Three conferences held annually with speakers on key issues affecting care businesses and the social care sector.
• Provider Forums Regional forums held across West, North, Mid, and South Essex bringing together care providers for networking and issue discussion.
• ECA Training and Development Training courses including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, Medication Train the Trainer, Social Value Workshops, and Tier 2 courses, with funding support through LDSS.
• Commercial Partner Offers Exclusive member-only offers from 11+ commercial partners including HR services, legal advice, care management software, training providers, DBS checks, and recruitment support.
• Monthly Newsletter Monthly email round-up of top stories in Adult Social Care delivered to members and subscribers.
• Funding Guidance Information and support for accessing the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) and other funding opportunities for staff training.
• Employee Assistance Programme Free employee health and wellbeing benefits provided in partnership with Essex County Council and Vivup, including confidential helpline, online GP appointments, and lifestyle savings.
• ARC England Membership Additional membership tier providing access to ARC England resources and advocacy at national level.
• Institute of Health and Social Care Professional development and certification resources through the Institute of Health and Social Care.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free training funded by WDF has helped staff identify clear progression paths
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Care Association AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA is a member of the Care Association Alliance (CAA), a national body that provides the opportunity to voice opinions and issues at a national level. CAA represents care associations across the UK.
• Eastern Regional Care Association Alliance (ERCAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA is a member of ERCAA, which represents the views of Adult Social Care providers across East Anglia including Cambridge, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Southend, Suffolk, and Milton Keynes.
• Skills For CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECA works in collaboration with Skills for Care, the strategic workforce planning and development body for adult social care in England. They provide guidance on LDSS funding and workforce development.
• GatherminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGather is a versatile platform enabling care providers to monitor, manage and evidence staff and service user compliance with CQC. The platform is offered as a commercial partner benefit to ECA members at no additional cost beyond the platform's base functionality.
• CitationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCitation provides HR, Health & Safety and CQC compliance services. They support over 50,000 UK businesses with 160+ professionals. ECA members receive preferential rates on Citation services including 24/7 expert advice, compliance technology (Atlas), and tribunal defence up to £1.5M/year.
• RWK GoodmanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRWK Goodman is a legal partner for health and social care providers, offering expertise in sales/acquisitions, employment law, CQC matters, safeguarding, and more. They are legal partners for Care Association Alliance, Outstanding Society, Care England, and other national bodies.
• 101 Websites Apps & Email MarketingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEstablished 25-year-old digital marketing agency offering website design, development, and Smart Messenger email marketing. ECA members receive 10% off new websites, 10% off email marketing courses, and 20% off Smart Messenger Pro setup fee.
• Solicitude Training LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides high-quality, cost-effective training and consultancy to the health and social care sector for over ten years. Services include clinical skills training, mock CQC inspections, competency assessment, and manager mentoring. Accredited with Qualsafe and TQUK.
• Underwood ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTender bid writing and support services provider operating in East of England for over nine years. Services include tender readiness, bid writing, bid review, and social value offer development. ECA member price for Social Value Offer: £720 (10% discount).
• CronerminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCroner offers care compliance resources through Croner Care Lite (free to members) and Croner Care Pro (preferential rates for members). Services include policy templates, inspection audit tools, training materials, legislation tracker, and unlimited advice line calls.
• CoolCare LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCare home management software from LNT Care Developments with first-hand industry experience. Features include occupancy management, time & attendance, rostering, HR & training, invoicing, and management reporting. Updated offer could save a 40-bed care home up to £3,673.
• Care IdealsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCare business advisors offering Management Development Programme, Business One Stop Shop, Marketing One Stop Shop, CQC registration support, and policies/procedures. Focus on improving profit, culture, compliance, and business operations.
• DBS Umbrella SolutionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDBS check provider since 1998, offering fast turnaround, dedicated support, and flexible options for Enhanced, Standard, Basic and Volunteer checks. Discounts available for ECA members.
• CareLineLiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNHS England Assured Supplier for Digital Social Care Records (DSCR), providing home care management platform trusted by over 650 home care agencies across UK and Australia. Features include rostering, scheduling, care planning, eMAR, payroll, and invoicing.
• Essex County Council / VivupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEssex County Council offers FREE employee health and wellbeing benefits through partner Vivup to employees of care providers in Essex. Benefits include Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), online GP appointments, and lifestyle savings. Commissioned in partnership with Care England.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Suffolk Care Association: Regional membership trade association for care providers in Suffolk. Directly comparable to ECA in structure, mission, and regional scope (ECA staff member Tanya Brader previously worked in a similar organisation in Suffolk).
• National Care Forum: Membership body for not-for-profit social care providers across the UK. Comparable to ECA in representing care providers, with a focus on the voluntary sector. Peer at national level for advocacy and benchmarking.
• Care England: Largest representative body for independent adult social care providers in England. Directly comparable to ECA in sector focus and advocacy mission, with ECA leveraging Care England resources through ARC England membership.
• United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA): National membership association for domiciliary/home care providers in the UK. Comparable to ECA as a trade association supporting care providers with advocacy, training, and member services, with a broader national remit.
• National Care Association: UK-wide membership trade association for independent social care providers, offering training, representation, and member services. Directly comparable to ECA in mission and operating model, but operating at national scope rather than a single region.

Emerging players

• Registered Nursing Home Association (RNHA): Member-led association for registered nursing home providers in the UK. Comparable as an advocacy-focused trade body for care providers, with a narrower sub-sector focus (nursing homes) than ECA's broader adult social care remit.

Regional players

• Scottish Care: National membership body for care providers in Scotland. Comparable as a care-provider trade association delivering training, advocacy, and member services, operating in a different UK nation.
• Kent Care Association: Membership association for care providers in Kent. Comparable to ECA as a regional trade association supporting providers with advocacy, training, and member services within a single UK county.

Others

• Care Association Alliance: Umbrella body of which ECA is a member; represents regional care associations across the UK. Comparable as an aggregator of provider voices, though ECA is a member rather than a direct competitor.
• Skills for Care: Strategic workforce planning and development body for adult social care in England. Not a direct competitor but a strategic partner of ECA, providing LDSS funding guidance and workforce development support — relevant as an ecosystem player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EssexCareAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/essex-care-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Essex Care Association