As 2024 draws to a close, we continue to offer collaborative ways to boost your business that fit around the working day.ย Highlights are included here but donโt forget to check out the full list of Surrey events in December onย our events page.
Donโt forget, our events directory is a great way to promote your own business events to a wider audience. If your organisation is hosting or sponsoring a business event in Surrey, you can submit it for inclusion in the directory by completing this simple form.
Free support for Surrey SMEs
Business Surrey offers free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey.
Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your SME grow and succeed. Get in touch with a member of the team via our business support form.
CIFAL Surrey brings UN-backed sustainability institute to the region
Published 27 November 2024
Innovation
CIFAL Surrey – a United Nations-backed study centre for sustainability – has launched, aiming to tackle major global challenges by empowering local leaders and communities.
Drastically improving the UKโs ability to address climate change is the grand challenge that the new United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-affiliated CIFAL centre will tackle.
It launched this week (Monday, 25 November) at the University of Surrey in Guildford with a ceremonial UN flag raising, a Signing Ceremony and a panel event.
In attendance was a senior delegation from UNITAR, Zรถe Franklin, MP for Guildford, and a range of the universityโs collaborative partners in business and government.
What is CIFAL Surrey?
Situated within the Universityโs Institute for Sustainability, CIFAL Surrey will deliver both training and capacity building on a wide range of sustainability challenges.
This includes helping facilitate knowledge exchange among leaders in government, the private sector, and civil society โ locally, nationally and internationally, as well as UK-based international organisations.
The CIFAL Centre will draw on the University of Surreyโs strong research heritage and active engagement in sustainability.
It will work with UNITAR (the UNโs training branch) and the CIFAL Global Network among other stakeholders to lead both training and capacity-building initiatives in sustainability.
This will ensure CIFAL Surrey makes a unique and much-needed contribution to empowering climate leadership through enhanced climate literacy within and beyond Surrey.
CIFAL Surrey will also work in partnership with national and local government, industry, civil society, and beyond. This includes developing sustainable economic practices, and helping to advance action towards the UNโs Sustainable Development Goals.
CIFAL Surrey is the second UN-affiliated centre on campus, following the 2023 launch of the Centre of Excellence for Ageing, which appointed its first cohort of Fellows in June 2024.
CIFAL Surrey – what they say
Professor Amelia Hadfield, Associate Vice President for External Engagement, and the new Director of CIFAL Surrey, said: Sustainability is far more than just a philosophy limited to net zero here at the University of Surrey. For us, and our community, sustainability reflects our deep, shared commitment to rebuilding a thriving planet for future generations. From the fundamentals of climate change to advanced policy implementation, CIFAL Surrey will provide hands-on training and resources to national and local government, businesses, and community groups, helping them deliver on the demands for a more sustainable future.
Alex Mejia, Division Director at United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), said: “We are honoured to inaugurate CIFAL Surrey, hosted by the University of Surrey, a renowned global institution at the forefront of innovation and learning. This new centre will mark an important step in our mission to advance sustainable development and capacity-building worldwide. It will serve as a vital hub for fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange across the United Kingdom and beyond.”
Councillor Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council, said: It’s a pleasure to be able to welcome the team from the United Nations to launch this new international centre in the heart of Surrey.
The CIFAL centre will play a key role in promoting sustainable development at home and abroad while also opening up opportunities for our communities. It also reinforces the region’s global reputation for innovation, research and knowledge exchange.
Sustainability support for your business
Surrey is committed to a net zero future โ and as businesses in our vibrant regional economy, you are vital to achieving this goal by 2050.
There is lots of practical support, courses and funding out there to help your business along the way.
Looking for help to get started? Get in touch via our business support form and we can provide bespoke support for your business.
Surrey County Council helps fund unique virtual production studio to support local creative technology businesses
Published 25 November 2024
Business news, Innovation
An exciting new virtual production facility, Futures Studio, has now opened at Royal Holloway, University of London, to provide creative technology businesses a space to innovate, showcase their work and collaborate with industry experts and world-class researchers.
The launch was celebrated with an interactive showcase event attended by leading partners in the creative technology industry including Sky, BT and Limax Studios. The event featured a series of inspiring demonstrations in the studio led by Disguise and CoSTAR National Lab specialist teams, while also providing businesses attending the opportunity to network with their fellow industry experts and researchers from acadaemia.
World-leading creative technology
Jointly funded by Royal Holloway and Surrey County Council, the studio is based at the Universityโs Egham campus and packed with cutting-edge equipment. This includes a unique combination of a virtual production environment and a next generation audio system. The Futures Studio is powered by Royal Hollowayโs partnership with Disguise, the platform behind world-leading (and record-breaking) visual experiences including live events for Taylor Swift, Adele, Beyonce and Massive Attack.
The Futures Studio offers businesses an advanced facility to innovate and generate new products and services, and will enable the flourishing local creative economy to thrive and grow. It is also the first facility to be opened as part of the CoSTAR National Lab, a ยฃ51.1 million project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to create a national infrastructure for creative innovation.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: โWe want to nurture and grow this world-class sector, which is why we have invested ยฃ3 million in supporting Royal Holloway and the CoSTAR National Lab.
โThis exciting project has innovation and collaboration at its core, allowing local businesses to tap into the cutting-edge research and technologies at Royal Holloway, one of our leading universities in the county.
โIn time, this initiative will deliver real benefits to our regional economy, creating up to 300 jobs and supporting 180 businesses while stimulating further investment into our creative sector.โ
The Futures Studio launch comes just weeks after the governmentโs budget confirmed its commitment to support the UKโs growth-driving creative industries, worth ยฃ125 billion to the UK economy.
Professor James Bennett, Director, CoSTAR National Lab and Royal Hollowayโs Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Creative Industries), said: โFutures Studio is CoSTAR National Labโs first step in building the UKโs infrastructure for the next generation of creative innovation and entertainment and weโre excited to see how local businesses can benefit from this unique space.
โBy providing an accessible facility that combines research and the latest technology we’re lowering the barrier for local smaller businesses to not only compete, but to lead the wider evolving creative tech industry.โ
Futures Studio project lead Professor Peter Richardson, Vice-Dean of Research and Knowledge Exchange (School of Performing and Digital Arts) at Royal Holloway, and Head of Worldbuilding for the CoSTAR National Lab, said: โTechnology often powers creativity; our approach is to have creativity power technology which allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible. The Futures Studio gives us a space where we can push the boundaries with creative companies in a way that will de-risk their research and development projects.โ
How local creative business can get involved
Futures Studio has the potential to support local businesses by creating hundreds of jobs and deliver on the objectives set out in the recent Civic Agreement for Surrey. Small and medium-sized local businesses in Surrey will be offered access to creative technology showcases throughout the year and are encouraged to apply for access to the studio and expertise to develop their projects.
For more information about the upcoming opportunities within Futures Studio, please contact CoSTAR National Labโs Enterprise and Commercialisation team: futuresstudio@rhul.ac.uk
Looking for additional help and support?
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on growing your business.
Find out more about what we do and how to access one of services by completing our Contact Us form.
First ever Surrey Careers Hub Conference brings employers and educators closer together
Published 19 November 2024
Skills and workforce
Bridging the gap between education and employment to boost opportunities for all was the focus of the first ever Surrey Careers Hub conference.
Up to 70 representatives from employers, schools, colleges and training providers attended the event last week at Nescot College in Epsom.
The aim was to celebrate the successes achieved in the first year of the Surrey Careers Hub and explore ways to raise awareness of all the opportunities available to young people in secondary education so they can take their next best step.
By doing so, this will help young people into fulfilling employment while supporting growth in the regional economy.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Councilโs Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, opened the event. He said: โProviding clear pathways for our young people to gain the skills and information they need for their future careers is vital. Through Surrey Careers Hub, we have the framework in place to offer world class careers provision across the whole of Surrey.
โWe have a strong and diverse economy with internationally recognised sectors and outstanding education settings – and it is up to all of us to bring those two things closer together.
โI look forward to seeing our employers and educators continuing to work together to provide opportunities for all our young people, regardless of their background. In time this will deliver benefits to them as individuals, to our businesses and the wider economy.โ
A year of Surrey Careers Hub
Surrey Careers Hub was launched in September 2023 by Surrey County Council with funding from The Careers & Enterprise Company.
During the first 12 months, the Surrey Careers Hub team has:
Engaged 95 maintained schools, colleges, special schools, alternative provisions and Pupil Referral Units;
Recruited more than 90 volunteers from the business community to support the delivery of careers related activities for students;
Provided opportunities for teachers and students to learn more about careers in Surreyโs growth sectors, such as gaming, cyber security, creative industries and construction and infrastructure;
Supported the progression of schools and colleges across all eight Gatsby Benchmarks; the government recognised framework of good careers education.
Georgina Angele, Strategic Hub Lead at Surrey Careers Hub, said: โBridging the skills gap is one of the most pressing issues facing the UK economy, even in a region as large and diverse as Surrey.
โThis gap not only hampers business growth but also hampers wider economic development – which is why the work weโre doing is so important.
โOur ambition is to ensure Surrey has an engaged, informed and skilled future workforce to meet the demands of the modern economy โ but we can only do that with the support and input from employers, educators and our young people.โ
Highlights of the first-ever Surrey Careers Hub conference
The conference saw a variety of speakers talk about a range of issues relevant to the work of the Surrey Careers Hub.
This included businesses, such as Guildford-based IT support services firm ramsac, which recently hosted two groups of teachers to learn more about their work as part of the Teachers Encounters programme. These are workplace experiences for teachers, helping to connect their subject teaching and learning to the world of work.
Delegates also heard from representatives of The Careers & Enterprise Company, a Headteacher, young people and industry stakeholders.
Julie Kapsalis, Principal of Nescot College, who is also a member of the Surrey Careers Hub Cornerstone Employers Group, said: โI am so passionate about the work weโre doing collaboratively around careers, for us as a business but primarily for students. This allows us to respond far better to the wider economic needs of businesses.
โItโs that commitment to raise the quality of careers education, to tackle disadvantage and barriers to success, which is why I am so proud to be involved with the Surrey Careers Hub.โ
There are lots of ways Surrey businesses can support Surrey’s future workforce.
Want to support the work of the Surrey Careers Hub? Weโre looking for professionals from all sectors and business of all sizes to work with Careers Leaders and Education Leaders as Enterprise Advisers to shape their careers education strategies. Get in touch via our contact us form for further details.
The winners of the annual Surrey Business Awards have been announced at a glittering gala dinner at G Live in Guildford.
Launched in 2007, this year attracted a record number of entries across 16 categories, recognising accomplishments made across all aspects of business; from personal successes to outstanding contributions.
Surrey County Councilโs leader, Tim Oliver OBE, presented the winner, Guildford-based Diamond Logistics, with their award. The team were delighted to be awarded this coveted title and noted “This recognition highlights the relentless dedication of our team, who work every day to redefine logistics for our clients. From managing peak season surges to providing the essential support so many businesses rely on, our commitment has truly shone through. Thank you to the Surrey Business Awards for this honour, and to our clients and our fantastic teamโthis win is for all of you!”
Winners of the Surrey Business Awards
The full list of winners of the 2024 Surrey Business Awards are:
Diamond Logistics – Company of the Year
Hemisphere Freight Services โ International Business of the Year
Nescot โ Employer of the Year
Include.org โ Community Hero
The Naked Pharmacy โ Best Customer Service
KickX Football – Best New Business
The Naked Pharmacy – SME Business of the Year
Invuse โ Professional Services
Parwez Diloo โ Bays Consulting โ Future Talent of the Year
Surrey Business School โ Chamber Member of the Year
Direk โ Innovation of the Year
Pinksheep Marketing โ Business Growth
Something Big โ ESG Champion
Aspen Homes โ Property Developer of the Year
Sven Hughes โEnigma Strategic Communications โ Businessperson of the Year
Croxsons โ Large Business of the Year
Support for Surrey businesses
Our team of experts are available to provide tailored advice to help your bsuiness grow and succeed. Get in touch with a member of the team to find out more via our business support form.
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International Trade Week 2024 gets underway – with new Export offer from Business Surrey
Led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and sponsored by Santander UK, in partnership with industry, ITW 2024 will feature five action-packed days of events, workshops and webinars โ all free for businesses to attend.
Whether youโre looking to secure your first export contract or expand your existing international sales, ITW will have something for you.
The weekโs activities are for UK companies of all sizes and sectors โ you just need an interest in growing your business.
Register for International Trade Week events
You will only need to complete registration once to become a member of the UK Export Academy.
From there, you will be able to register for as many free ITW events as you wish.
Check back regularly as events are being added everyday.
Discover the wide-ranging support available from DBT and its partners
Learn about global opportunities and how to seize them
Understand the benefits of trade deals the UK has signed
Hear from, and speak to, experts in international trade
Export support for Surrey businesses
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. This includes those wanting to export or trade internationally.
Whether you need help navigating trade regulations or finding overseas buyers, our team can connect you with the right partners and tools to ensure your international success.
Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.
Find out more about what we do and how to access one of our many startup-friendly services by completing our Contact Us form.
Event alert: Accelerate growth and win more customers
Published 12 November 2024
Advice and support, Events and awards
This interactive workshop has been developed to equip small and medium-sized businesses with effective strategies to accelerate long-lasting growth. Participants will gain practical insights and hands-on experience to stimulate their customer pipeline and drive business success.
This is a complimentary in-person workshop held by Business Surrey, in partnership with Tandridge District Council. The event is being held at Nutfield Priory Hotel and Spa (Nutfield), on Wednesday 11 December, from 8.30am to 11am.
Topics we’ll cover on the day:
Understanding your market
Crafting a compelling value proposition
Building strong customer relationships
Closing techniques and negotiation skills
The workshop will be led by Roya Croudace, a skilled Commercial Director, Founder, and Non-Executive Director with over 25 years of expertise in driving business growth, especially for SMEs. With experience spanning over 400 scale-up businesses in Surrey and FTSE 100 companies, Roya offers unique insights into creating robust and effective plans to accelerate growth, achieving measurable results, and building sustainable foundations for ongoing success.
Through her workshops and programs, Roya equips SMEs with practical tools to accelerate revenue, attract and retain customers, and boost profits.
On the day, you can expect to learn actionable strategies that drive success and build strong customer relationships, ensuring lasting impact for growing businesses.
This event is perfect for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) owners and entrepreneurs in Surrey. There is no entry fee and no limit on the number of attendees from a single business, but spaces are limited and you must pre-register to attend. Register today to save your place.
Free support for Surrey SMEs
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service offering free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey.
Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your SME grow and succeed. Get in touch with a member of the team via our business support form.
Surrey firm signs deal with UK MOD to supply advanced new Earth Observation satellite
Published 8 November 2024
Business news, Innovation
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), has successfully signed a deal with the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to supply a new Earth Observation satellite.
The ยฃ40 million project will support around 200 skilled jobs between now and the planned delivery date of 2027, boosting the UKโs space sector and helping to grow both the UK and regional economies.
The new satellite, named Juno, will capture daytime images of the Earthโs surface, strengthening the UKโs Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Juno joins an existing satellite also manufactured by SSTL, (named Tyche), in supporting military operations such as monitoring the activities of military adversaries. The two satellites will also contribute to other key government observation requirements, including natural disaster monitoring, the development of mapping information, environmental monitoring and tracking the impact of climate change around the world.
MOD Procurement representative Maria Eagle said,“The contract for Juno shows the the UK’s commitment to grow one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world, and keep our competitive edge in space science and technology.
โJuno will not only support Armed Forces personnel deployed globally, but also support highly skilled jobs, delivering on the governmentโs growth mission.โ
SSTL Managing Director Andrew Cawthorne said: “We’re incredibly proud that the Ministry of Defence has again placed its trust in SSTL to deliver the UK’s next sovereign intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance spacecraft.
โJuno will offer a step change in imaging capability over Tyche, SSTLโs demonstrator spacecraft which launched in August (2024) and is now being operated for UK Space Command. We look forward to continuing our successful relationship with UK Space Command, DE&S, and Dstl, and playing a leading role in delivering the UK Defence Space Strategy.โ
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd started out in the late 1970s as an experiment in a small university lab in Surrey, and has since grown to employ more than 400 staff and has launched more than 70 satellites into space for 22 countries. Read our full case study looking at the history of this Surrey Success Story here.
The UK Space sector – a national and regional success story
The UK Space sector is a national success story, employing 52,000 highly skilled professionals and with labour productivity levels of 2.3 times the national average.
SSTL is a member of the UKโs largest space Cluster, Space South Central. This Cluster represents more than 170 space-related businesses and 4 academic institutions across Surrey, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Cluster accounts for nearly 20% of the GDP generated by UK Space businesses. 2023 figures show that Surrey and Hampshire alone account for around ยฃ3 billion of national space industry turnover, with more than 12,000 people working in the sector across the region.
Space South Central aims to amplify the growth of the space sector both regionally and nationally, by developing long-term partnerships between industry, acadaemia and government.
Looking to relocate your business to Surrey?
Thanks to our desirable location, reputation for innovation and collaborative business ecosystem, Surrey is a top business location of choice for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors.
Our team of specialist advisors can offer a range of free and confidential services. We assist companies looking to invest and grow in Surrey. Whether youโre a start-up, SME or international company, you can benefit from our specialist expertise, local knowledge and business support.
FORT programme to train future AI and cyber leaders in Surrey
Published 6 November 2024
Innovation, Skills and workforce
Surrey’s reputation as a leader in cyber security and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been reinforced with the launch of the new multi-million pound FORT programme.
Running in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, it will support at least 50 PhD researchers to develop their skills and industry-ready innovations over the next eight years.
They will work with industry partners including Rolls Royce, AWS, HP, Virgin Media, BT and Keysight Technologies.
Academic researchers claim these highly specialised skills are crucial for ensuring private and secure communications in the future.
It will underline the university and wider region’s credentials as an innovation powerhouse which nurtures advanced skills in wireless communications, AI, and cyber security.
What is the FORT programme?
The FORT centre for doctoral training is a community of postgraduate researchers who will become industry-conscious thinkers and leaders.
It is supported by ยฃ8 million in government funding, through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
The launch event highlighted the importance of training postgraduate researchers in the fast-evolving fields of wireless communications, AI, cybersecurity, and networking.
It featured demonstrations, discussions and networking sessions. It gave attendees with insights into the future of telecommunications, AI, and cybersecurity.
Industry partners also shared their vision for the collaboration. They also stressed the significance of academic-industry partnerships in addressing the real-world challenges faced by the telecommunications sector.
Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Head of the Institute for Communication Systems (ICS), said: The collaboration between academia and industry is pivotal in positioning the UK as a leader in secure and resilient communications networks.
The launch of FORT is just the beginning of a bold journey towards shaping the future of telecommunications.
“The backing of the EPSRC has been essential in establishing this partnership between Surrey, Queen’s and our 21 valued industry partners. Together we have the potential to deliver a transformational shift in the UK’s position at the heart of innovation for future global telecommunications infrastructure.”
We’re nurturing and bringing together companies in these key sectors as part of our clusters work.
We are also working with researchers and funding establishments to bring in investment and build infrastructure.
Plus we work with training providers to ensure the countyโs future workforce has the necessary skills for these sectors to prosper for years to come.
Do you work in a cyber or artificial intelligence and looking for support to grow? Get in touch with our experts via our business support form.
Gatwick Airport supplier opportunity for Surrey construction firms
Published 4 November 2024
Business news
Construction companies across Surrey are being encouraged to sign up as a potential Gatwick Airport supplier.
With 41 million annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest airports. It is a major driver of national and regional economy, generating ยฃ5.5 billion GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs.
Gatwick has a supply chain commitment to working with businesses based in the region. This means businesses based in the local area can benefit from contracts worth ยฃ151 million a year.
As part of its new overarching Supply Chain Strategy, the airport is now looking to expand its database of construction companies.
It has set up a survey form to identify Surrey businesses in construction-related industries that are interested in working at London Gatwick.
London Gatwick has developed a new overarching Supply Chain Strategy linked to its wider Capital Investment Programme.
The new Construction Frameworks will deliver improved facilities and services for its passengers and airline customers over the next six years. It includes construction works, various professional services including design services, and surveys.
To ensure the airport has a capable, engaged, and strong supply chain to respond and deliver the associated works, the Supply Chain team have developed an Expression of Interest Survey for businesses working in construction-related industries.
This will enable the airport and its contractors to promote future indirect opportunities to work with Tier 1 framework suppliers on relevant projects in 2025 and beyond.
The opportunity is open to all businesses in Surrey. So whether you have previously delivered works directly to London Gatwick or not, the airport wants to hear from you. This will help it understand the range of capabilities that local and regional businesses offer.
Other Gatwick Airport supplier opportunities
Gatwick is a major driver for the local and regional economy, as well as supporting the wider UK economy. It is committed to supporting local businesses and creating new opportunities associated with its local supply chain.
Are you a regional small and medium-sized business that wants to work with Gatwick Airport?
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey. This includes help with contracts, procurement and access to funding.
Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on growing your business.
