Meet the Regulator webinar

Join us for this free online session, hosted by Business Surrey in partnership with Surrey Trading Standards. It is designed to help local businesses understand their legal responsibilities, avoid common compliance pitfalls, and access expert support.

Led by Phil LeShirley, Trading Standards Specialist, the session will cover key areas such as product safety, consumer rights, and how to engage with regulators early to protect your business and build customer trust.

Workshop highlights

  • What Trading Standards does (and doesn’t do)
  • Product safety, food standards, and fair trading
  • Consumer rights and refund rules
  • The EASY 123 scheme for early-stage businesses
  • How to engage with regulators before problems arise

Event details

  • Date: 28 August
  • Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Location: Online
  • Cost: Free (Pre-registration required)

Meet your expert 

The workshop will be led by Phil LeShirley a Senior Trading Standards Specialist with over 24 years’ experience in the field.  He is responsible for business partnerships at Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, and has had great success at building relationships with corporate clients and trade bodies 

He has significant expertise in general product safety and also delivers delivers a wide range of training courses to businesses. 

Phil and the team at Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards are seen as exemplars in their field and are multi award winning. 

Why attend? 

  • Actionable Strategies: learn why getting consumer right will help your business grow. 
  • Expert Guidance: Benefit from Phil’s extensive experience and tailored advice. 
  • This webinar is perfect for SME owners and entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses. There is no entry fee, and you can invite as many team members as you like. Be sure to register today to secure your spot! 

Looking for free business support?

Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey.

We want you to grow and succeed – and have a range of ways you can access support for your company.

  • Ready to take your business to the next level? Need new or upgraded skills to adapt to new ways of working? Or do you just require advice on how to access funding and grants? Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on exploring opportunities and how to tackle various challenges. Contact the team for free via our Business Support Form.
  • Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on news, events and support for Surrey businesses.
  • Browse our directory of business support in Surrey. The directory includes more than 120 local, regional and national schemes and initiatives, which can search through quickly and easily.
  • Find out more about what we do and how to access one of our many business-friendly services by completing our Contact Us form.
Meet the regulator - trading standards webinar

How to start a business on a budget

Starting a new business can be exciting and rewarding. However, if not properly planned and budgeted for in advance, it can also be a drain on your finances. This is especially the case if you are self-funding the business from savings or a small business loan (known as bootstrapping) instead of securing funding from venture capitalists or other investors.

If you are bootstrapping your business, here are 3 practical tips on how to start a business on a budget.

1. Work out your needs and reduce unnecessary costs

Assuming you’ve already carefully planned and researched your business idea to ensure it is viable and that there is a market for it, the next thing you’ll need to do is assess what you’ll need to actually set it up and run it.

In addition to business tools, equipment, and initial set-up costs, such as regulatory or licensing fees, you’ll also need to know your ongoing overheads, such as material costs, cost of premises (if applicable), inventory, salaries, admin, etc.

In short, you need to know how much you need to generate a profit by taking into account all the costs and expenses you’ll incur running your business.

It’s important during the start-up phase that your business budget is spent wisely.

It may be tempting to spend money on nice-to-haves, but at this stage, you should only buy what you absolutely need. If you need to purchase business tools and equipment, you could consider re-loved or refurbished equipment. Not only will it save you money, but it is a sustainable business option that can go toward your net zero goal.

Also, consider working from home at the start-up phase to lower overheads if you can.

Now is also a good time to be strict with your outgoings and reduce unnecessary expenditures such as pricey subscriptions to services or apps you no longer use.

2. Adopt a low-cost marketing strategy

You’ll need to market your business so people know you exist.

Marketing can take up a huge chunk of a business’s budget, but there are low-cost and free marketing strategies you can use to make your business visible. For an in-depth framework to help you build your own tailored marketing strategy, check out our free Marketing Toolkit.

Online – social media and website

Building a social media presence is low-cost and effective. You can also do this organically instead of using paid advertisements. Research which platforms your ideal clients are using, and start with the one they use the most.

You can then post content to promote your business and also attract your ideal customers with content that interests them and is relevant and helpful.

If you have an SEO-optimised website, you can use it to market your business effectively. Your website doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive, either. There are low-cost and even free options available. If your website isn’t SEO-optimised, do some research into how to optimise it yourself. There are lots of free online resources available from reputable sources like Hubspot to help you do this without having to pay an expert to do it for you.

In addition to showcasing testimonials, products and services on your website, you can start a blog and develop a content marketing strategy to increase website visitors. For example, you can share your helpful SEO-optimised blog content on your social media channels to drive traffic to your website.

Print and out of home

Another low-cost marketing option that may be suitable for your business, is to create and print leaflets at home and distribute them locally by posting through letterboxes, leaving leaflets at suitable venues, and posting them on public notice boards. These can include a link to your website or social media channels, you could also add a QR code linking to the same.

The personal touch

And don’t forget how effective word of mouth can be, so let all your family, friends and wider network know about your new venture and get them to support you, too.

Finally, adding a personal touch to all your customer interactions can go a long way to building brand loyalty, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. For example, if you sell a product online, you could add a personalised handwritten thank you to the delivery note, or if you do business face to face, provide a simple loyalty card or discount on their next purchase.

All this will go toward building a good reputation, which is invaluable.

3. Make use of free online resources and tools

You can use free online tools to help you manage day-to-day business processes such as invoicing and accounting, project planning, appointment setting, graphic design for content, and many others that are available.

By automating business workflows with free online tools, you are not only saving money but also freeing up your time from tedious admin tasks so you can focus on running a profitable business.

Free online business groups and forums, including those on social media platforms such as Facebook or LinkedIn, are also worth researching. They can connect you with other people in your field or industry and can be powerful networking tools. They can also be a treasure trove of valuable free advice on running your business on a budget.

There may even be collaboration opportunities you can leverage. For example, you can work alongside other businesses to increase your visibility or barter and trade with them for services, to further reduce your overheads.

Support for your small business in Surrey

If you are a Surrey business or looking to relocate to Surrey, you can contact our team of experts for free and accessible advice and support.

Whatever your business, we are here to help you succeed – by providing access to quality resources alongside expert local knowledge and insight.

You can also:

A close up of  a person's hands - one is holding a tablet and the other is holding a pen and pointing to a spot on a document

Surrey Careers Hub engages educators at Surrey FE Teaching & Learning Conference

The Surrey Careers Hub team were pleased to take part in Surrey FE’s second annual Teaching and Learning Conference at Nescot College on Tuesday 1 July.

The event brought together around 200 colleagues from the colleges in the SurreyFE group with the aim of collaborating, sharing best practice, and strengthening approaches to teaching and learning. As such, it provided a valuable platform for the Careers Hub team to engage with a broad spectrum of college staff, including teachers and senior leadership teams from across SurreyFE.

Julie Kapsalis, Principal and CEO of Nescot, welcomed attendees on the day, saying:
“A warm welcome to everyone joining us today. Nescot is absolutely delighted to host the second SurreyFE Teaching and Learning Conference this year. Thank you to the teams from across the SurreyFE colleges including all the teaching and learning groups who have worked tirelessly to organise today’s event and to the many speakers and colleagues hosting sessions throughout the day. It’s going to be an incredible day of learning, networking and collaboration.”  

Delegates were able to network with peers to exchange ideas, share teaching resources, and explore the exhibitor stands in Nescot’s Skills Park (including the Surrey Careers hub stand). Attendees were also welcomed on the day by two specialist greeters: Nescot’s robots, Pepper and NesBot, and also had the opportunity to experience Nescot’s specialist AI and VR technology facilities in the Immersive Learning suite.  

Supporting Surrey’s workforce of tomorrow

Exhibiting at the conference provided an opportunity for the Surrey Careers Hub to showcase its initiatives and discuss how it can support educational institutions in enhancing career guidance for students to help them prepare for the world of work. By interacting with various staff members, the team was able to promote their work and explore potential collaborations that could benefit students as they become the workforce of tomorrow.

The Careers Hub’s support of the event demonstrates clearly the importance of the strategic partnership between Surrey County Council and SurreyFE. This partnership spans multiple programmes at Surrey County Council, highlighting the council’s commitment to supporting educational and career development initiatives across the region.

Find out more

More information about Surrey Careers Hub can be found on the Surrey County Council website.

For updates on other Surrey Careers Hub activity, please follow us on LinkedIn

L-R: Rosie Roberts, Georgina Angele and Nina Johal from Surrey Careers Hub

SurreyFE group covers the following colleges: Activate Learning, Brooklands Technical College, East Surrey College, Nescot college.

Teacher Encounters with Surrey businesses

Teachers become students for the day visiting some of Surrey’s brightest and best businesses as part of broader efforts to inspire the region’s future workforce

As this academic year begins to draw to a close, a number of schools, special schools, and colleges across Surrey are taking part in Surrey Careers Hub’s 2025 Teacher Encounters initiative.

This dynamic series of workplace visits is designed to connect educators with leading Surrey employers and has seen enthusiastic participation from teachers across a wide range of Surrey educational settings across the county, helping to bridge the gap between education and the world of work. (See full list of participating institutions below.)

These educators are taking up the opportunity to visit and engage with a diverse range of Surrey employers, including Wates Group, Royal Holloway University, CGI, Supermassive Games, Home Counties Carers, AtkinsRéalis, Yunex Traffic, ramsac, Macro and Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust.

What’s involved in a Teacher Encounter?

The visits offer valuable insights into the skills, knowledge, and attributes that employers are seeking in the future workforce. The programme helps educators to understand the wide range of career opportunities available and gain a deeper understanding of how their subject is applied practically in the workplace which they can take back to their classrooms to enrich their curriculum with real-world industry examples, while enabling them to build ongoing relationships with employers.

Following each Teacher Encounter, participating teachers will develop bespoke teaching resources that will translate newly acquired industry knowledge into practical classroom applications or resources to share with their teaching colleagues. The initiative aims to produce a diverse and inclusive suite of materials, tailored to a wide range of subjects and adaptable to the needs of students from all types of institutions.

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council, praised the initiative:

“The Teachers Encounters programme is a vital investment in the future of Surrey’s economy. By equipping our teachers with up-to-date industry knowledge and meaningful employer connections, we empower them to better guide their students in making informed career choices. This initiative not only benefits our young people but also strengthens the talent pipeline for local businesses, ensuring Surrey remains a thriving hub of innovation and opportunity.”

Views from participants

Tim Browning, Recruitment Lead at Supermassive Games said:

“This programme is a fantastic way to bridge the gap between education and industry. Equipping teachers with industry knowledge is crucial for inspiring and preparing students for their future careers. We’re already looking forward to next year’s programme!”

While Ellie Smith, AtkinsRéalis Social Value Consultant shared:

“The Teacher Encounter programme highlights ncounters programme highlights the importance of collaboration between educators and industry professionals in shaping a skilled workforce and AtkinsRéalis is proud to have taken part.”

With a delighted teacher from East Surrey College adding:

“It was both enlightening and informative to hear about the company’s early careers programme. The insights and perspectives shared will undoubtedly be incredibly valuable for our students as they look to progress into their careers after completing their college studies.”

The programme is part of Surrey Careers Hub’s ongoing commitment to enhancing careers education and ensuring that young people are well-prepared for the rapidly evolving world of work. By fostering stronger links between education and industry, the Careers Hub is helping to create a more informed, inspired, and future-ready generation.

Find out more

More information about the Teacher Encounters programme can be found on the Surrey County Council website: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/business/careers-hub/employers/teacher-encounters.

Surrey employers who would like to get involved in the 2026 Teacher Encounters programme should contact careers.hub@surreycc.gov.uk.

For updates on the Teacher Encounters programme and other Surrey Careers Hub activity, please follow us on LinkedIn

Surrey Educational settings that participated in Teacher Encounters this year:

  • Ashcombe School
  • Brooklands College
  • Carrington School
  • Collingwood College
  • East Surrey College
  • Epsom College
  • Esher Sixth Form College
  • Fox Grove School
  • Freemantles School
  • George Abbot School
  • Godalming College
  • Guildford County School
  • Heathside School
  • Hoe Valley School
  • Nescot
  • Pond Meadow School
  • Reigate College
  • Rosebery School
  • St Pauls Catholic College
  • The Beacon School
  • Therfield School
  • Thomas Knyvett College
  • Warlingham School
  • Wishmore Cross Academy
  • Woking College
Teacher Encounters visit to Wates Group. (Main image: Supermassive Games visit)

Supercharge your innovation journey with Innovate Local: South East

Do you want to grow or improve your business but aren’t sure how to get started or where to turn? Then Innovate Local: South East could be the answer you’re looking for.

On 15 July, at Royal Holloway, Innovate UK will explore the power of innovation and how it can:  

  • Drive business growth: learn how innovation can lead to increased profitability, market share, and customer loyalty.
  • Boost competitiveness: discover how staying ahead of industry trends and embracing innovation can give your business a competitive edge.
  • Foster resilience: in today’s ever-changing business landscape, innovation is a key driver of adaptability and long-term success.

The day will also include dedicated sessions exploring opportunities, challenges, and innovation pathways within the defence and cyber security, AI, and creative industries—providing tailored insights and sector-specific support. There will be representatives from both Business Surrey and Made Smarter South East in attendance on the day, ready to share more information on how you can access funding and guidance to support your own innovation journey.

Who Should Attend?

Any business based in the South East from any sector / industry. Whether you’re a small start-up or an established enterprise, this event is designed to help you understand the power of innovation and its practical applications. It is the perfect opportunity for all South East businesses to connect with industry leaders, access funding, and fuel your innovation journey.

Why Attend?

  • Connect with innovation experts, funders and potential collaborators from your region.
  • Discover the opportunities and incentives for ambitious innovators and businesses in the South East.
  • Network with like-minded professionals from the South East’s thriving business community.
  • Take your next practical step towards transforming your business through innovation.

Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your business’s growth and competitiveness.

Register now to secure your spot at Innovate Local: South East.

Unlock the Future with Business Surrey’s AI Toolkit

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a luxury reserved for large corporations. Small businesses, too, can harness the power of AI to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive growth. In recognition of its importance, we have partnered with experts at the University of Surrey to create a cutting-edge AI toolkit designed to help small businesses embrace this transformative technology.

Why AI matters for small businesses

AI offers numerous advantages for small businesses, making it an essential tool for staying competitive. By automating routine tasks, AI frees up valuable time for employees to focus on strategic activities. It can also provide insights through data analysis, helping businesses make informed decisions and identify new opportunities. AI-driven customer service solutions can also enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, even leading to increased revenue.

What’s included in the Business Surrey AI toolkit?

The toolkit takes the form of four video modules, each building on the last.

Video 1: The Foundations of AI

Covering how AI developed, and explaining some of the commonly-used jargon associated with AI.

Video 2: People-centred AI

Focusing on the impact AI is having on our day-today lives, explaining how – with human oversight – it can be used to support automation in tasks like interpreting data, making meeting notes and reviewing job applications.

Video 3: Applications of conversational AI

Explaining how the development of large language models means AI tools can play a key role in how businesses will have conversations in multiple languages in the very near future – with very real potential for businesses that export and trade internationally.

Video 4: Business view of AI

Focusing on applying the learning to your business – eg identifying fraud in financial services, supporting idea generation in the creative industries, or training and upskilling employees in any sector.

Why implement AI in your business?

Embracing AI is not just about keeping up with the latest trends; it’s about future-proofing your business. As AI continues to evolve, businesses that adopt this technology early will be better positioned to adapt to changes and seize new opportunities. The Business Surrey AI toolkit is your gateway to understanding and using AI, ensuring your business remains competitive in the digital age.

Get started today

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to transform your business with AI. Download the Business Surrey AI toolkit today and take the first step towards a more efficient, productive, and innovative future.

Free use image of computer particulates demonstrating AI use

Business Continuity and Enhancing Resilience

Ashley Field, Resilience Lead for Surrey County Council, working in the Emergency Management and Resilience Team writes this month’s blog on Business Continuity.

You may not know, but this week is Business Continuity Week! It’s crucial for Surrey business owners and employees to understand the importance of business continuity and how to improve your resilience, but what does this mean in practice?

Business Continuity

I like the definition from the Business Continuity Institute, which defines business continuity as

“The capability of an organisation to continue the delivery of products and services within acceptable time frames at a predefined capacity during a disruption.”

Did you know that nearly one in five businesses suffer a major disruption each year? There have been some high-profile disruptions in the past few weeks, including the severe cyber-attack on M&S, which forced them to suspend online orders and halt recruitment. TfL also experienced a power outage that caused major disruptions across the London Underground network, affecting multiple lines and causing delays.

Business continuity planning ensures that your business can continue to operate during and after disruption. The goal is to minimise the impact on operations and enable quick recovery.

Assessing impacts and risk

The first step in business continuity planning is to identify your critical activities through a business impact analysis (BIA). The BIA estimates the impacts of disruption over time to establish the organisation’s response, recovery priorities, and the resource requirements.

The next step is to conduct a risk assessment and identify potential threats to your business. What would happen if you had an IT network failure, and your customers could not contact you or pay for your products/ services? What would happen if you had no access to your offices or premises or key documents or products were destroyed in a building fire?

Once you have identified these risks, it’s necessary to assess their potential impact on your operations. This will help you prioritise which areas need the most attention.

Developing a Business Continuity Plan (BCP)

A comprehensive BCP is essential and should outline the steps your business will take to continue operations during a disruption. Key components include:

  • Roles and responsibilities
  • Key contact details
  • Outline how the plan will be activated – when, by whom, how?
  • Critical functions/activities to be recovered, timescales and recovery levels needed
  • Actions to be carried out
  • Clear communication process
  • Process for standing down and returning to business as usual

A top tip is to regularly review and update your BCP to reflect any changes in your business operations or the external environment. This will help ensure that your plan remains relevant and effective.

Training and Testing

Once your BCP is in place, it’s important to train your employees on their roles and responsibilities during disruption. Regular training sessions will help ensure that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Additionally, testing your BCP through simulations and exercises will help identify any weaknesses and areas for improvement.

Conclusion

Creating a culture of resilience within your organisation is key to effective business continuity. Encourage employees to be proactive in identifying risks and reporting any issues. Building strong relationships with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders can enhance your business resilience. Collaborate with your partners to develop joint continuity plans and ensure that everyone is prepared for potential disruption.

By taking proactive steps to enhance your business resilience, you can ensure that your business is better prepared to handle disruptions. During this Business Continuity Week, why not take the time to assess your current plans, identify areas for improvement, and implement strategies to strengthen your resilience.

Useful websites

Further business support

If you’d like further support for your Surrey business, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.

Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on support, funding, business news, and events for all Surrey businesses.

Business continuity - image of business team sitting around a table, in discussions

Made Smarter expands to the South East to drive UK manufacturing forward with digital technologies, innovation and skills

The Made Smarter Adoption programme is set to revolutionize the manufacturing landscape for SMEs and makers in the South East of England.

After operating successfully in the North West since 2019, and further expanding to cover the North East, Humber and the West Midlands, it is now rolling-out to the South East from April 2025.

This initiative is targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have a manufacturing element to their business. It aims to provide them with the tools and support they need to embrace digital technologies so they can improve productivity, boost their bottom line and achieve long term sustainable growth.

The Made Smarter Adoption programme – backed by world-renowned businesses and funded by UK government, is focused on digital transformation delivered by specialist advisors.
Applicants can get access to a range of personalised support to help them make everyday improvements to their operations and improve their competitiveness.

Businesses can register their interest now, in readiness for the April launch.

Advice, skills and workforce support, plus funding

Made Smarter can support businesses in a number of ways, including:

  • Funding: up to 50% match funding available to help business implement new technologies
  • Skills: training and development opportunities for those working in the sector. This includes workshops, mentoring and expert advice
  • Sustainability: promotion and adoption of energy-efficient technologies to reduce environmental impact and enhance reputation with customers.

Coverage in the South East

The South East programme covers a wide area, with Surrey County Council acting as the lead and coordinator. The regions included are Berkshire, Brighton & Hove, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Medway, Oxfordshire, Solent, and Surrey.

Manufacturing SMEs and makers within the South East area of coverage are encouraged to register their interest now in preparation for when the programme launches in April 2025. Once the programme is live, the Made Smarter team will contact registered businesses to start the process with a free, personalised assessment carried out by a Technology Adoption Specialist advisor.

By using the support and resources offered by the Made Smarter Adoption programme, SME manufacturers and makers can boost their productivity, competitiveness, and sustainability, securing their future in the digital age.

Other support to boost your manufacturing SME

Business Surrey is Surrey County Council’s service providing free and accessible support for all businesses across Surrey.

Whatever your business, our experts are here to help you succeed by providing access to quality resources, expert local knowledge and professional insight. Our offer incudes:

You can also register to receive our regular newsletter, packed with the latest news on funding, events, free training and support for all Surrey businesses. We’ll be including regular Made Smarter updates in the newsletter and on this website.

Surrey Careers Hub hosts successful Transitions Fair for Surrey young people with additional needs and disabilities

Over 200 young people attended Surrey Careers Hub’s successful Transitions Fair at Surrey County Council’s Woodhatch Place, Reigate, as part of National Careers Week (Friday, March 7, 2025).

This event was specifically created to enable young people being educated in specialist schools and alternative provision to understand the options available for their transition from education to employment, further education, training or social settings.

The Fair saw enthusiastic participation from 12 Surrey schools, bringing together over 200 students.

The event was supported by over 20 exhibitors, including colleges and educators, employers, employment support organisations, apprenticeship providers and social settings, all dedicated to offering valuable guidance and information to the young people in attendance.

Bringing careers to life

The Careers Hub also partnered with Macro staff employed on the council’s facilities management contract to showcase to students the people and the jobs that keep Woodhatch Place a safe, welcoming and accessible working environment.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport, and Economic Growth, attended the event to meet with students and exhibitors. He shared his positive reflections:

 “The Transitions Fair is a testament to our commitment to ensuring that every young person in Surrey, regardless of their educational needs, has access to the resources and support they need to succeed, with no one left behind. It was inspiring to see so many young people engaging with the exhibitors and exploring the range of options for their future.”

Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said: “This Transitions Fair, and the work of the Surrey Careers Hub in general, is so important in helping to ensure Surrey children and young people with additional needs and disabilities are informed about the range of opportunities available for them as they head towards adulthood. I’m sure those attending left feeling inspired about their futures.” 

A teacher who attended said: “The fair was well organised, quieter and catered well to the needs of our students. The short film [about Macro staff] was brilliant and extremely engaging. All my students loved it and felt a sense of empowerment that they too can go and work for Surrey County Council in all different departments.”

Students were highly engaged and appreciated the opportunity to meet exhibitors. One commented: “Orpheus has amazing music program, flats on campus and help with getting houses once you’ve left. Sounds amazing.”

While another said:“I loved talking to the ‘Project Radio’ people and this is something where I can see myself going.”

About Surrey Careers Hub

The Surrey Careers Hub plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between education and employment, ensuring that all young people, including those with additional needs and disabilities, have the opportunity to find their best next step. The Careers Hub ethos is that every young person deserves the best possible start to their adult life: to choose their own path and fulfil their potential.

A group of students speak to exhibitors at the Fair

The Careers Hub sits within Surrey County Council’s Economy and Growth Team. In partnership with The Careers and Enterprise Company, the Careers Hub works with Careers Leaders, educators, employers and training providers to inspire and prepare young people in education with modern, 21st century careers education.

Exhibitors in attendance:

Surrey County Council launches workforce wellbeing programme to boost business performance

Businesses today face increasing pressure to balance operational demands while supporting their employees, and maintaining a competitive edge.  

While employee wellbeing often falls down the list of priorities, research shows that organisations which prioritise employee wellbeing experience a number of business benefits including:  

  • Fewer absences and greater productivity
  • Improved employee satisfaction and morale
  • Enhanced recruitment and retention

To help businesses improve mental heath and wellbeing across their teams, Surrey County Council has launched the Workforce Wellbeing programme. This is a free initiative aimed at Surrey businesses with 10 or more employees, and provides a clear path to improving workplace wellbeing and create healthier, more engaged workplaces (without increasing anyone’s workload).

Empowering businesses with tailored support

The Workforce Wellbeing Programme is designed to tackle the daily hurdles businesses encounter, from tight deadlines to workplace stress. By offering customised support, practical tools, and evidence-based strategies, this programme empowers organisations to improve employee engagement and build a workplace culture based on trust and wellbeing.

A comprehensive framework for success

The programme is built around six key pillars, providing businesses with a clear roadmap to improve workplace wellbeing. Through this initiative, organisations can access a wealth of free resources that make a tangible difference, including:

  • Customised Solutions: Tailored to meet each organisation’s unique needs.
  • Self-Assessment Tools: Identify key areas for improvement.
  • Engagement Materials: Inspire and involve employees in wellbeing initiatives.
  • Expert-Led Training: Training sessions provided by Surrey County Council experts.
  • Research-Backed Strategies: Practical strategies supported by evidence.
  • Collaborative Network: Join a supportive community of businesses prioritising workforce health.

The programme is flexible and accessible and designed to integrate into organisations of all sizes, from ten employees to several hundred or more.

Invitation to Surrey businesses

Surrey County Council invites organisations with 10 or more employees to take part in this free support programme. Whether you’re beginning your wellbeing journey or seeking to build on existing initiatives, this programme provides the tools, expertise, and community needed to succeed.

For more information and to register your organisation, visit the Surrey County Council Workforce Wellbeing page.

Looking for further support?

Use the Contact Us form on the Business Surrey website.