Supporting Sail Croatia with their carbon reduction strategy: a Business Surrey case study
Published 11 February 2025
Advice and support, Surrey Success Stories
Background:ย
In 2024, Sail Croatia, a Surrey-based Mediterranean travel operator, approached Business Surrey for assistance in quantifying their carbon emissions and developing a carbon reduction strategy.
Despite their significant efforts to calculate their carbon footprint, they lacked confidence in their methodology and wanted external verification to establish a credible baseline before publicly sharing their emissions data or committing to further action.
Challenges:
Without an inhouse sustainability expert, the business lacked confidence in the existing carbon footprint calculation methodology they had used.
The team felt external verification was needed to ensure accuracy and credibility.
The business had identified the need to develop a comprehensive carbon reduction strategy, including short-term and long-term actions.
The senior management team knew that the sustainability plan would only be successful if it was to communicated effectively to the entire team to gain their buy-in and suggestions.
Solution:ย
A decarbonisation consultant from Business Surrey was engaged to:
Verify and Strengthen Carbon Footprint Calculations:
The Business Surrey expert advisor reviewed and validated the assumptions and figures used in the initial calculations to ensure they were robust and accurate.
The advisor also provided recommendations for emissions calculators to track emissions from travel, fuels, third-party services such as laundry, and catering.
And suggested ways to help Sail Croatiaโs chefs design lower-impact menus.
Develop a Comprehensive Decarbonisation Strategy:
Identified short-term wins and long-term actions for carbon reduction.
Proposed verifiable offsetting options for emissions that were difficult to avoid.
Effective Communication and Team Engagement:
Assisted in communicating the carbon reduction plan in a relatable way to the entire team.
Ensured team membersโ involvement, especially those new to the companyโs sustainability efforts, to align the workforce with the vision of building a more sustainable business.
Results:
Enhanced confidence in the companyโs carbon footprint data.
A solid foundation for long-term sustainability commitments.
Improved team engagement and alignment with the companyโs sustainability goals.
Grant Seuren, Co-Founder/Director of Sail Croatia says, โThank you for all your assistance, it has been really valuable to us. Overall, we now have a proper foundation that we can build on.โ
Support for Surrey businesses
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Dos and Donโts to scale your business: strategic lessons for sustainable growth
Published 21 January 2025
Advice and support
Scaling a business is both a challenge and an opportunity. It requires a sharp strategy, adaptability, and an unwavering focus on your customers. At its heart, sustainable growth is about creating value and fostering trust. While no two businesses are the same, there are clear dos and donโts businesses can follow to scale successfully.
In this strategic guide, our Specialist Adviser Roya Croudace looks at how you can scale your business while keeping your customers at the centre of your journey. Roya is a skilled Commercial Director, Founder, and Non-Executive Director with over 25 years of expertise in driving business growth, especially for SMEs.
The Dos: building a scalable foundation
1. Define your customerโs purpose and needs
Understanding your customers is the cornerstone of sustainable growth. Customers donโt just buy products or servicesโthey seek solutions that align with their goals, purpose, and aspirations.
Do: Use customer feedback, market research, and data from CRM (customer relationship management) systems to build detailed profiles of your audience. Identify their pain points, motivations, and desired outcomes. Continuously update this knowledge to ensure your offerings remain relevant as your business evolves.
2. Build relationships over transactions
Winning and retaining customers requires more than just making a sale. Building trust and meaningful relationships creates loyalty and generates invaluable word-of-mouth referralsโkey drivers for growth.
Do: Listen actively to your customers, personalise your interactions, and deliver consistent value. Show genuine interest in helping them achieve their goals. When customers feel understood and valued, they are more likely to become long-term advocates for your business.
3. Develop a scalable value proposition
Your value proposition must clearly articulate how your product or service solves customer problems, delivers measurable value, and stands out from the competition. As you scale, ensure it evolves to reflect market changes and expanded capabilities.
Do: Focus on benefits over features. Use customer-centric language and provide proof through case studies, testimonials, or ROI (return on investment) data. Test and refine your value proposition to resonate with different market segments.
4. Leverage technology for growth
Technology is a vital enabler for scaling SMEs. From automating workflows to delivering data-driven insights, the right tools can streamline operations, improve decision-making, and enhance customer engagement.
Do: Invest in tools like marketing automation, analytics platforms, and AI-powered CRM systems. Ensure your team is trained to utilise these technologies effectively so you can maximise their potential and ROI.
5. Align your team for success
Scaling a business demands cohesion across all functions. Misalignment between sales, marketing, finance and operations (the 4 pillars of any business) can create inefficiencies and harm the customer experience.
Do: Foster a sales culture that simplifies collaboration through shared goals and transparent communication. Regularly review performance metrics, train and upskill team where necessary and adjust strategies to ensure everyone is working towards the same objectives.
The Donโts: pitfalls to avoid while scaling
1. Donโt prioritise transactions over relationships
Focusing only on short-term sales can stunt long-term growth. Customers are more than numbers; theyโre your partners in success.
Donโt: Treat customers like one-off transactions. Prioritise trust-building and nurture relationships that encourage loyalty and advocacy.
2. Donโt lose sight of adaptability
Markets are dynamic, and scaling businesses must be prepared to pivot. Resistance to change risks leaving your business behind more agile competitors.
Donโt: Cling to outdated strategies. Stay open to innovation and use market trends, customer feedback, and data to inform strategic decisions.
3. Donโt underestimate the value of simplicity
As you scale, complexity can creep into your messaging and processes. Overcomplicated communication risks confusing potential customers and diluting your value.
Donโt: Use jargon or overwhelm your audience with unnecessary details. Keep your messaging clear and focused on how you solve their problems.
4. Donโt operate without a clear plan
Trying to scale your business without a structured plan can lead to wasted resources and missed opportunities. A robust strategy ensures focus and direction.
Donโt: Assume growth will happen organically. Develop a roadmap with SMART goals, clear priorities, and actionable steps.
5. Donโt ignore customer feedback
Your customers are your most valuable source of insight. Ignoring their feedback risks missing opportunities for improvement and eroding trust.
Donโt: Overlook feedback. Actively seek input through surveys, interviews, and reviews, and use this information to refine your products, services, and processes.
Your Call to Action: build, scale, and thrive
Scaling your business requires clarity of vision, strategic focus, and a relentless commitment to your customers. By understanding their needs, building relationships, and leveraging the right tools, youโll create a foundation for sustainable growth.
Whatโs your next step? Reflect on these questions:
How well do you understand your customersโ goals and challenges?
Are you building relationships that foster loyalty and trust?
What strategies and tools will you adopt to help you scale your business through your next stage of growth?
Once you’ve reflected, it’s time to take action – do it today. Every decision you make is a step closer to realising your businessโs potential!
Business support in Surrey
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey, to help you scale your business and thrive.
Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on range of issues. Contact the team for free via our Business Support Form.
Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.
Not sure what you need help with? Get in touch by completing ourย Contact Us form.
Events and courses – February roundup of Surrey events
Published 17 January 2025
Events and awards
After a quiet January, the Surrey business community is gearing up for a busy schedule of events in February, with both online and in-person events covering a wide range of subjects, including a few that are a little out of the ordinary.
Surrey County Councilโs free business decarbonisation courses in Surrey Heath and Woking in early February offer to help you calculate your carbon footprint and drive down emissions.
For early birds who like to do their business networking before starting the workday, there are a range of in-person breakfast networking events taking place in February, including Surrey Chambers’ Guildford Business Breakfast on 4th February, and the regular FSB Hogs Back Business Breakfast on 12th February.
Workforce, jobs and careers
If you’re a Tandridge business looking to connect with local talent, or looking for a new role yourself, why not take part in the Tandridge Jobs Fair being held at Tandridge District Council offices on 13th February? And if your CV needs a bit of a polish before you can start your jobsearch in earnest, this online CV workshop on 7th February could be just the ticket.
Events with a difference
Looking for a business event that’s a bit different? Surrey Chambers are holding a pottery and paint networking social for Business Women In Surrey at the Fired Frog Pottery Cafe in Camberley, with nibbles and fizz included.
Submit your own event
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.
The importance of sustainability skills in business: empowering Surreyโs future through Skills Bootcamps
Published 16 January 2025
Skills and workforce
In today’s changing business landscape, sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern, it is a core strategy for long-term success.
With increasing regulatory requirements, consumer demand for ethical practices, and the impacts of climate change, businesses are rethinking their approaches to growth and operations. In Surrey, the focus on sustainability has never been greater, and equipping the workforce with the right skills has become a pressing priority.
This is where Surrey County Councilโs Sustainability and Carbon Management Skills Bootcamp, delivered by Activate Learning, plays a pivotal role. By fostering local talent and providing essential sustainability training, this initiative is bridging the gap between business needs and workforce readiness.
Why sustainability skills matter
Sustainability isnโt just about environmental stewardship; it is a business imperative that drives innovation, enhances reputation, and improves financial performance. A significant majority of executives recognise the importance of sustainability but many feel their organisations are not adequately prepared to address it*.
Key sustainability competencies for businesses include:
Carbon management: understanding and reducing carbon footprints to meet net-zero targets
Circular economy principles: designing processes to reduce waste and promote recycling
Sustainability reporting: communicating progress transparently to stakeholders
Regulatory compliance: navigating an increasingly complex legal landscape.
These skills not only help companies meet their environmental goals but also position them as leaders in a competitive market where sustainability is a key differentiator.
Skills Bootcampโs role in developing local talent and supporting Surrey businesses
Offering a flexible and blended course has enabled those learners already employed to apply their learning quicker, through the development of bespoke sustainability action plans for their organisations.ย The real-world expertise from industry leaders, including organisations such as Oxfordshire Greentech and Siemens Healthineers, combined with networking and career support from Activate Learning, has boosted the learnersโ confidence and employability.
For businesses in Surrey, the Skills Bootcamps offer numerous benefits:
Access to skilled talent: With a growing pool of trained professionals, companies can find the expertise they need locally, reducing the costs and time associated with recruitment
Enhanced competitiveness: In this case, sustainability-trained employees drive innovation and efficiency, giving businesses a competitive edge
Community impact: By investing in local talent, businesses strengthen Surreyโs economy and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Albury Vineyard, located in the Surrey Hills, recently hosted the graduation for learners of the first Sustainability Skills Bootcamp. Nick Wenman, owner of Albury Vineyard, said
โSkills Bootcamps are really great because what they mean is we are not just hiring people with theoretical knowledge – itโs people with real understanding of what that means in a business environmentโ.
A brighter, greener future for Surrey
As sustainability becomes integral to business success, courses like this Skills Bootcamp are vital for preparing the workforce and supporting local businesses. By developing the skills needed to tackle environmental challenges, Surrey is not only meeting the demands of today but also securing a resilient and prosperous future.
Whether youโre a business looking to strengthen your sustainability efforts or an individual eager to make an impact, find out more about Skills Bootcamps.ย
Also remember to check-out our Business Surrey events page, which features a number of sustainability-related events.
Support for Surrey businesses
Our team of experts can provide tailored advice to help your business grow and succeed. Get in touch to find out more via our business support form.
You can also register to receive our newsletter, packed with the latest information on events, funding and more, for all Surrey businesses.
Event Alert – Unlock the potential of apprenticeships for your Surrey SME!
Published 15 January 2025
Events and awards, Skills and workforce
Are you a Surrey-based small business facing a skills gap? Do you find it difficult to find staff with the right skills to meet the needs of your business now and in the future?
Discover how apprenticeships can be the perfect solution for your business success at the latest in our series of free webinars!
Join us for this informative one-hour session, led by apprenticeship expert Laura Kerry, from Surrey County Councilโs careers team. Laura will guide you through the benefits of apprenticeships, explain more about how they work, and uncover just how straightforward the apprenticeship hiring process can be.
Why should you attend – what will you learn about apprenticeships for Surrey SMEs?
By attending this webinar you will learn:
How you can benefit from the Apprenticeship Levy by using it to fund your apprenticeโs training
Real-life success stories of apprenticeships in action
Access to resources and support to help you hire your apprentice immediately
Donโt miss this opportunity to enhance and future-proof your workforce’s skills base with skilled apprenticeships for your Surrey SME.
Register now and take the first step towards bridging your skills gap!
Free support for Surrey SMEs
Business Surrey is Surrey County Council’s service providing free and accessible support for all businesses across Surrey.
Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your business grow and succeed. Get in touch with the team viaย our business support form.
Runnymede businesses open doors to the workforce of tomorrow
Published 15 January 2025
Skills and workforce
During the month of December, a number of Runnymede-based businesses generously opened their doors and gave their time to groups of secondary school students as part of Runnymede Open Doors programme.
The Open Doors programme allows students to engage with local employers at their workplaces, offering insights into the types of roles available and the different entry paths into the business or industry sector. Open Doors visits provide young people with a valuable chance to explore potential career paths in different industries, learn about the skills employers are looking for, and enhance their own employability skills.
Runnymede Borough Council, Business Runnymede and Surrey Careers Hub worked in partnership to design and deliver the Runnymede Open Doors programme in 2024-2025, supported by the governmentโs UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The program kicked off in earnest in November with approximately 180 young people from six secondary schools taking part in 15 experiences at 7 business locations across Runnymede. More experiences are planned over January and February 2025.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth said: โWe are delighted to be able to run Open Doors in Runnymede to enable young people to gain first-hand experience of differing workplaces and have genuine conversations with local employers.
โProgrammes of this type, investing in the workforce of tomorrow, are vital in ensuring the long-term success of our regional economy, and we appreciate the time and energy the participating businesses have invested into the success of the scheme.โ
A total of 10 Runnymede businesses have signed up for the scheme, offering to give their time and support to the programme by hosting students at their premises. Each business devised their own unique itinerary to help the students experience a little of what it would be like to work there and hear more about the career pathways available. At Avery Healthcare the students met several of the homeโs residents, toured the premises and watched an exciting match of Balloon Tennis. They also had the opportunity to ask staff and residents for their own views.
Groups of students who visited Kick-X were first able to let off a bit of steam and understand the customer experience by trying out the various hybrid football facilities at the venue. They then took part in an interactive workshop where they brainstormed solutions to real-life challenges and opportunities faced by the business โ offering some unique perspectives the business may otherwise not have heard.
The experience was a great success, as this teacher remarked, โWe all absolutely enjoyed todayโs visit to Kick X. Max has been fantastic. The session was very well planned, delivered. Max was enthusiastic, well-spoken and captured the studentโs attention. He talked about the business, jobs, skills and values in a very exciting way and the students have got a lot from the session. They not only enjoyed the practical part but also the theory where they were taking part in some business ideas, offering advice and creativity. All our learning objectives were met thanks to Max. We are very grateful for this valuable opportunity.โ
The young people visiting Thorpe Park were tested on their knowledge of the theme parkโs history and heard the career stories of several key members of staff before undertaking an eye-opening behind-the-scenes tour of the park.
Almost every student who completed an evaluation form responded that the visit had helped them to understand more about the jobs and careers available with that employer, and 100% said theyโd like to attend more employer visits in the future.
The program will run until the end of March 2025 with planning underway for Open Day experiences for college students in the borough still to take place.
Participating schools and businesses:
Businesses
Thorpe Park
Avery Healthcare
Kick-X Football Arena
Geek Retreat
Stanhope-Seta
Snap Fitness
Achieve Lifestyle
Egham Orbit
Chop & Change Hair Salon
Page Personnel
Schools
Chertsey High School
Phillip Southcote School
Magna Carta School
Walton-Leigh School
Jubilee High School
Fullbrook School
Play your part
There are lots of ways Surrey businesses can support Surreyโs 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 asย Enterprise Advisersย to shape their careers education strategies. Get in touch viaย our contact us formย for further details.
On a slightly damp December day, the Department for Education (DfE) joined the Surrey County Council (SCC) Multiply team at a local community garden. The aim was to see Multiply ‘in action’ and hear about its impact directly from the learners.
Multiply is a range of free, flexible courses (funded by government) developed to help adults improve their number skills and build their number confidence. Surrey’s Multiply providers have taken a creative and flexible approach in delivering courses that adapt to meet learners’ needs and the DfE were keen to see this in action.
Creative delivery, flexing to meet learners’ needs
The visit took place at Surrey Care Trust’s Gateway Community Garden in Reigate. Course leaders here are embedding maths skills into various garden projects. This means that students learn and apply maths and numeracy skills while they calculate lengths, areas, volumes etc, to build raised beds, create ponds and grow small crops.
This was the second time the SCC Multiply team has visited the project at the Gateway garden. The first visit took place in early spring 2024 and was captured on video (watch it below). This time the team were delighted to see how much progress had been made, both in terms of the garden projects and the learners’ individual achievements.
One participant, Nick, who has been attending for several months, noted: “It’s helped me a lot with everyday life, also with job seeking, numeracy skills, maths skills, soft skills like working in teams with people. It’s generally everything you’d need to get into a job nowadays.”
Multiply is available free of charge to both residents and businesses in Surrey, until the end of March 2025. Thereโs a huge range of Multiply courses available, with something to suit everyone. Businesses can also benefit from bespoke programs designed to suit the needs of their workforce.
Find out more
You can see the full list of available courses on the Multiply website.
If youโd like to find out more about arranging bespoke courses for your organisation, email multiply.info@surreycc.gov.uk.
Centenary celebrations as Surrey business marks 100 years in Dorking
Published 18 December 2024
Business news
Throughout 2024 Bucher Municipal has been celebrating the centenary of its UK HQ site in Dorking, Surrey. Bucher engineers and manufactures cleaning and clearing equipment such as street sweepers, snow ploughs and the gritters that help keep our roads safe over the winter months.
The company has spent the last few months celebrating the Dorking site’s 100 year history of manufacturing, innovation and growth. Celebrations kicked off in August with an open day for employees and families. The day included live music, good food, and of course, sweeper rides for all.
Centenary celebrations
In September there was a further formal celebration event at the British Motor Museum with customers, partners, and suppliers. The evening saw over ยฃ158k being raised for three local Dorking charities, The Children’s Trust,The Brigitte Trust, and Dorking Beatitudes.
The centenary celebration provided the opportunity to look back at the expansion, and developments that have taken place at the Dorking site over the years, and to reflect on the business’s global sustainability strategy, reflecting Bucher’s commitment to sustainable growth and innovation.
During the year, staff also found time to visit a local primary school to demo street cleaning equipment so reception students could complete their topic on ‘People Who Help Us’.
Bucher Municipal has come a long way since its humble beginnings as a blacksmith’s shop in 1807. With 11 brands and 14 locations across the globe, the business is now a leading manufacturer ofย vehicles for streetย cleaning, snow removal and refuse collection worldwide. The company is proud to base its UK HQ in Surrey as it looks forward to its next century.
Relocate to Surrey
Our Invest in Surrey team offers free and confidential services for businesses looking to relocate to Surrey.
Whether youโre a start-up, SME or international company, you can benefit from specialist expertise, local knowledge and business support to help ensure a faster, more successful investment.
Check out some of the fantastic businesses based in Surrey on our Interactive Map.
Growth-focused event wins approval from Surrey businesses
Published 17 December 2024
Events and awards
Earlier this month Business Surrey held the latest in its series of complimentary workshops for Surrey businesses in partnership with Tandridge District Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. This particular growth-focused event, was created in response to business feedback and support requests received by the Surrey Growth Hub.
The workshop was delivered by Business Surrey Specialist Advisor Roya Croudace, a skilled Commercial Director, Founder, and Non-Executive Director with over 25 years of expertise in driving business growth.
Roya kicked off the event by busting the myth that winning more customers is all about cold calling and hard selling. Roya then shared her proven sales growth strategies based on developing a strong understanding of your market and building relationships with your customers.
The workshop included a section on what a Value Proposition is, why your business needs to have one, and how to develop your own. Roya also shared strategies and tips for gaining and retaining customers, tips on lead generation, and the art of negotiation and closing.
Roya finished with a helpful section on using AI and digital tools to streamline and support sales and other business processes.
Positive feedback
Workshop attendees were highly engaged throughout, both asking questions and sharing their own experiences. Roya remarked, โIt was inspiring to see so many passionate business owners come together, eager to enhance their skills and drive their businesses forward.
โThe engagement in the room was outstanding, and the valuable insights sharedโboth from myself and the attendeesโtruly highlighted the power of collaboration and learning together.
โA huge thank you to everyone who joined us and to our fantastic partners for helping make this event such a success. Hereโs to continued growth and success for all!”
Attendees were equally pleased with the growth-focused event experience, with one remarking, โIt was a great workshop and good to see that businesses are being supported.โ
And another noting, โThank you for the continuous support from Business Surrey. Iโve signed up for the newsletter to stay informed about future events and services.โ
Support for Surrey businesses
We deliver a program of regular webinars and workshops offering insights and guidance on topics of value to Surrey SMEs. Our workshops and webinars are always free to join, and there are no limits on the number of attendees from a single organisation.
Multiply providers’ network meeting reviews achievements of scheme ahead of final quarter
Published 13 December 2024
Skills and workforce
The latest Multiply Providers Network workshop took place in early December at Surrey County Council’s Woodhatch offices, to review the program’s progress so far, and look ahead to the final Quarter.
The workshop was hosted by Surrey Adult Learning Principal, Francis Lawlor, and attended by representatives from the 15 Surrey Multiply training partners. Additionally, three members of the Department for Education (DfE) Multiply team attended; David Saffery, Josephine Howarth and Charlotte Piper.
The workshop was an opportunity for Multiply providers to review and share success stories and best practice, and learn from other organisation’s creative and flexible approaches to meeting learner needs.
The DfE attended to hear first-hand from providers and learn more about the positive impact and outcomes for learners across the county.
Creative approaches by providers
Surrey Multiply providers had previously come together for the first time at a network meeting in September where they were able to begin to build working relationships. At the December meeting providers shared and discussed the results of those professional partnerships. Many providers have been able to refer learners between themselves, and to join together to deliver some Multiply projects.
The meeting’s attendees all agreed to meet again before the program ends in March 2026, to discuss ways to preserve and amplify the Multiply legacy. Eveyone agreed this was vitally important in order to ensure the program’s impact has long-lasting positive effects amongst those Surrey communities most in need of numeracy support.
For more information about the Multiply program
Up to 1 in 7 adults in Surrey do not have a GCSE equivalent in maths. The government-funded Multiply programme aims to change that, by offering free flexible numeracy courses packed with practical tips.
