Amanda crowned one of UK’s top female entrepreneurs

Former Essex student Amanda Hitchin has been crowned as one of the UK’s most impressive female entrepreneurs.

Amanda, who founded Colchester Children’s Counselling in November 2022, is being profiled among 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs from across the country, as part of Small Business Britain’s ‘f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100’ campaign.

She completed a BA in Therapeutic Communication and Therapeutic Organisations and then, after two years, returned to the University where she graduated with a Masters in Psychodynamic Counselling.

Amanda has kept her link to the University by giving guest lectures and talks to students. All of her therapists and clinical psychologist are also either graduates or current University of Essex students.

Her thriving business in Colchester city centre has proved to be an award-winner and she has been praised for the support that she provides her community via charities such as Transforming Autism, support groups, her podcast and helping the next wave of trainee therapists.

On being featured in the #IAlso100 lineup, Amanda said: “It came as such a surprise to be selected. The women who have made the list are all phenomenal and I cannot wait to attend the celebration event at the House of Lords in March. I hope that this year and all the opportunities presented by this campaign will bring greater exposure and opportunities to understand and support youth mental health, particularly for both my clients and the wider community. I also hope that this helps inspire and raise the profile of other budding female entrepreneurs and business leaders.”

Launched in 2017 by Small Business Britain – the leading champion of small businesses in the UK - the f:Entrepreneur campaign aims to raise greater awareness of the impact of incredible female business owners across the country, and help provide inspiration and role models to the wider small business community.

“It’s wonderful to have Amanda from Colchester Children’s Counselling featured in this year’s #IAlso100 – all of the female entrepreneurs in this year’s line-up are simply phenomenal,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain. “It is vital that we recognise the impressive contribution of the UK’s female business owners and do all we can to support and encourage them throughout their entrepreneurial journey, from start-up to scale-up. As well as making a huge economic contribution to the UK, female entrepreneurs also create a wider positive impact that ripples across society and local communities too.”