Colchester — a garrison town with deep military roots

Colchester has been a garrison town for over a century. The town is home to 16 Air Assault Brigade and a significant military community — serving personnel, families, veterans, and reservists. The relationship between the military and the town is visible and well established, from the garrison itself to the housing, schools, and local services that support the military community.

Maria advises at Colchester. Whether you are posted to one of the resident units, settled in the area with your family, or preparing for deployment, the support is the same: a named person who understands the realities of military life and the financial pressures that come with it.

What we provide

Kit insurance — cover for issued and personal equipment against loss, theft, and damage. Premiums start from £7.00 per month and the policy is designed specifically for military use.

Personal accident cover — a tax-free lump sum if you sustain a qualifying injury on duty, on exercise, or during authorised sport. Cover starts at £3.79 per month and pays from £1,250 per qualifying injury. Fairer Finance, an FCA-authorised and regulated consumer research organisation we hold a paid subscription with, rated us first of eight for cover.

Life and serious illness cover — whole-of-market advice to find the right policy for your situation. We help you understand how your cover sits alongside the death-in-service benefit from AFPS.

Fee-free mortgage arranging — we arrange mortgages for military clients at no advice fee. We return £200 from the lender procuration fee directly to you on completion. John Greasby runs our in-house mortgage service and understands how military income, allowances, and posting cycles affect your application.

The Absolute Academy — free financial education built for serving personnel and recruits. Ten modules with a certificate on completion. Available through the app or delivered on garrison.

Buying a home in Colchester

Colchester offers a strong housing market for military buyers. The town sits below the average for the South East while offering good rail links into London (under an hour to Liverpool Street) and easy access to the A12. For personnel posted to Colchester, buying locally and retaining the property through subsequent postings is a well-established strategy — the rental market in a garrison town provides natural demand if you are posted away.

Forces Help to Buy allows serving personnel to borrow up to 50% of their annual salary interest-free towards a deposit. Combined with a LISA and our fee-free mortgage service — plus £200 returned to you on completion — the numbers can work sooner than many people expect.

16 Air Assault Brigade and deployment

Colchester is home to 16 Air Assault Brigade — one of the most deployed formations in the British Army. The deployment cycle creates specific financial planning considerations: ensuring your kit cover is in place before you deploy, confirming your life cover is adequate for your family while you are away, and making sure direct debits and mortgage payments are set up to run without you.

Maria understands the deployment cycle and can help you get these things sorted before you go, rather than trying to deal with them from a FOB.

How to get in touch

Maria advises at Colchester. You can arrange a face-to-face meeting on camp, a phone call, or a video call — whatever works around your duties. Use the app, call us directly, or speak to your unit welfare officer.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there an Absolute Military adviser in Colchester?

Yes. Maria advises at Colchester.

Do I have to meet in person?

No. We offer face-to-face meetings on camp, phone calls, and video calls.

Is the service free?

Kit and personal accident cover are paid products with monthly premiums. Life and serious illness advice is provided at no charge to you. Mortgage arranging is fee-free, and we return £200 from the lender procuration fee on completion. The Absolute Academy is completely free.

Can you help with Forces Help to Buy?

Yes. Our mortgage service handles FHTB applications alongside conventional mortgage arranging.

I am deploying soon — should I sort my finances before I go?

Yes. Getting kit cover, life cover, and mortgage arrangements confirmed before deployment means one fewer thing to worry about while you are away. Maria can help you get everything in order before you go.

Is Colchester a good place to buy?

Colchester offers affordable housing relative to the South East average, good transport links, and strong rental demand in a garrison town. It is a well-established strategy for military buyers.

Ready? Get in touch with Maria through the app or call the team directly. No pressure, no obligation — just a conversation about what matters to you.