Surrey firm named among UK’s fastest-growing companies
Published 29 October 2025
Business news, Innovation
Guildford-based technology firm Crowd Connected has been recognised as one of the UK’s 50 fastest-growing private companies in the UK Fast Growth Index 2025. This prestigious ranking celebrates innovation and commercial success across the country.
Celebrating innovation in spatial intelligence
Crowd Connected specialises in real-time location systems (RTLS) and spatial intelligence. Its solutions make it possible to measure the use of physical spaces more easily. Sectors such as events, commercial real estate, healthcare and higher education make use of Crowd Connected’s software.
“Being named in the UK Fast Growth Index is testament to our commercial momentum and our mission to make physical spaces measurable, efficient, and intelligent,” said James Cobb, Founder and CEO of Crowd Connected. “Recognition like this reflects the UK’s strength in location intelligence and smart-building technology.”
From events to smart buildings
The company initially gained traction in the events industry, providing real-time visitor navigation and behavioural analytics at exhibitions and conferences. Since then it has expanded into smart buildings and healthcare. Its technology enables indoor navigation, asset tracking, and occupancy analytics, helping organisations optimise people and resource management.
A broad picture of UK growth
The UK Fast Growth Index, founded by Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, showcases the most dynamic and high-performing private businesses across seven UK regions. Jones-Evans said: “The [2025] Index highlights how innovative companies like Crowd Connected make a measurable impact on both regional economies and national productivity. These high-growth firms are proof that advanced digital technology continues to drive the UK’s competitiveness.”
Explore the full list
Crowd Connected joins 49 other standout companies in the 2025 Fast Growth Index. Access the full list of the Top 50 fastest-growing companies via the official website: UK Fast Growth Index – Top 200
Support for Surrey businesses
We offer expert business support and additional on-demand resources for growing businesses.
Contact our team of experts to discuss how we can help your business thrive by completing our business support form.
One-stop shop for training and jobs to help more people in Surrey find work
Published 21 October 2025
Advice and support, Skills and workforce
Surrey jobseekers can find jobs, learn new skills and access employment support in a single, simple and accessible way via Surrey County Council’s new STEP Surrey gateway services portal.
Latest figures show that more than one in six people of working age in Surrey (17.9%) are not currently in work. Of these, 22,400 people want to work but can’t find suitable employment.
Barriers include:
education (30%)
long-term health conditions (20.2%) and
care responsibilities (19%).
STEP Surrey aims to change that, providing a single gateway for those looking for work, regardless of their circumstances, background or experience.
The aim is to make it easier for job seekers to access the help and support they need, while helping local employers fill vacancies and skills gaps. Visitors will be able to access a live jobs board which is updated twice a day bringing thousands of live jobs together into a single platform.
Those who need extra support will be able to contact dedicated experts who can provide bespoke guidance to help people in Surrey find work and learn new skills.
Surrey Skills Conference
STEP Surrey was launched last week at the first ever Surrey Skills Conference, which brought together 200 employers, education, academics and government delegates to discuss how skills can power the county’s future economy.
It was organised by the council, in partnership with Surrey Chambers of Commerce, with keynote contributions from Robert West, Head of Employment and Skills at the Confederation of British Industry and Holly Hobbs, a Gen-Z influencer and co-founder of urfuture.
Key topics included how to make the most of the transfer of skills powers locally from government, and addressing challenges, such as driving business growth by equipping people who are out of work with the skills that employers need to thrive.
Employment support for Surrey residents
Delegates also learned more about upcoming government-funded programmes available in Surrey. This includes Connect to Work, which will support 2,500 people with complex barriers to work into local employment over the next five years; and WorkWell, which provides coaching to those with health challenges to get into, return to and stay in work.
Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said:“Surrey is a diverse, vibrant and well-connected region contributing more than £50 billion a year to the UK economy – we have a great economic story to tell.
“But beyond those headlines, we know there are challenges, not least the tens of thousands of residents who are currently out of work but want to work.
“The Government has brought renewed focus to work, health, economic inactivity and skills, and thanks to devolution, for the first time we can shape our approach to skills and employment across a single Surrey footprint.
“STEP Surrey is central to that mission – making it easier for every resident to access the training, support and opportunities they need to thrive in our local economy.”
To access help for people in Surrey to find work, training and skills support, visit www.stepsurrey.co.uk.
Solve recruitment challenges and access untapped talent through Connect to Work programme
Published 20 October 2025
Skills and workforce
In today’s competitive job market, businesses face persistent recruitment challenges. Hard-to-fill vacancies, high turnover costs, and skills gaps are impacting productivity across Surrey. Connect to Work offers a practical solution that helps businesses access untapped talent and solve recruitment challenges, while building stronger, more diverse teams.
Connect to Work is a government-funded supported employment programme delivered by Surrey County Council. It helps adults who face complex barriers to employment find and keep sustainable work. This includes people living with disabilities, health conditions, and those experiencing other significant challenges in accessing the job market.
The programme matches suitable candidates with employers and provides dedicated employment specialists who support both the employee and employer for up to 12 months.
The benefits to business
1. Fill hard-to-fill vacancies
Access a motivated talent pool that’s often overlooked. In sectors like hospitality, retail, warehousing, and care where recruitment is particularly challenging, Connect to Work can help you find committed employees who are ready to work.
2. Build a diverse, high-performing workforce
Diversity drives innovation and better decision-making. By widening your recruitment, you gain fresh perspectives and tap into skills that might otherwise be missed. Many Connect to Work candidates bring exceptional attention to detail, reliability, and unique problem-solving approaches.
3. Improve staff retention and reduce costs
Employees supported through programmes like Connect to Work often demonstrate high loyalty and commitment, staying in roles longer. This reduces your recruitment and training costs while building institutional knowledge and team stability.
4. Boost productivity through better job design
Connect to Work helps identify opportunities for job carving – tailoring tasks to match different skill levels. This allows your experienced staff to focus on complex, high-value work while essential routine tasks are handled efficiently by other team members.
5. Enhance workplace culture and your reputation
Inclusive workplaces foster empathy, collaboration, and mutual support, with studies showing improved morale across the board when businesses embrace diversity. Plus, an inclusive hiring approach enhances your reputation, helps you connect with diverse customer bases, and makes you an employer of choice for top talent who value inclusive workplaces.
Support through the process
Connect to Work removes the uncertainty from inclusive hiring, and you’ll get support from the team’s employment specialists every step of the way.
They can help:
Identify suitable roles and adapt job descriptions if needed
Match you with pre-screened candidates ready to work
Provide ongoing support to both you and your new employee for up to 12 months
With guidance on reasonable adjustments and workplace support
Support you to access any additional funding or resources available.
By partnering with Surrey County Council’s Connect to Work programme to support people into work, you’ll access reliable talent, reduce recruitment costs, and build a workplace that performs better and stands out for all the right reasons.
You can also keep up to date with all the latest news from Business Surrey by signing up to our newsletter or checking out our events page.
How to deal with late payments – advice for Surrey businesses
Published 15 October 2025
Advice and support
Late payments cost the UK economy almost £11 billion per year and cause 38 UK businesses to close every day. Government research shows 28% of businesses are affected by late payments each year, so what can you do to avoid being caught out by unpaid invoices? Here’s some advice on how to deal with late payments for small businesses in Surrey.
It’s important you know how to deal with late payments, as it can impact your cash flow, your ability to pay suppliers, and ultimately the future of your business.
Preventing late payments
The first thing you can do to protect your business against late payments is take some steps to prevent invoices from going overdue.
Make sure you send invoices on time and with clear payment dates so there is no room for ambiguity. The Government recommends a 30-day notice period from the date the invoice is issued.
Include a clause in your invoice or contract setting out late fees – you can use the UK statutory interest rate for business-to-business transactions, which is set at 8% plus the Bank of England base rate.
And if cash flow is a concern, consider requiring upfront deposits or shorter payment terms if agreed by the client.
When a payment is late
The UK Government says a payment is late if it’s overdue by more than 30 days after the customer receives the invoice or the goods or services have been delivered (if this is later), unless another payment term has been agreed.
When dealing with a late payment, the first stage to is send a polite reminder that the invoice is overdue. Often, contacting the customer to let them know their payment is late will be enough to prompt a payment or start a conversation if there is an issue.
If you get no response, you can send a demand letter and a new invoice with a late payment fee included. You can use the Small Business Commissioner’s invoice calculator to work out the late payment interest owed.
If repeated reminders and demand letters are ignored, you can send a final demand letter outlining a deadline for payment before legal action is taken.
Taking legal action
At this stage you can contact the Small Business Commissioner for support with disputes. Available support includes mediation before taking legal action, which can be costly, and damage the client relationship for good. Find out more about the support offered by the Small Business Commissioner here.
For debts under £10,000, you can make a claim through the small claims court, which is a simpler and more cost-effective option than full legal proceedings.
If you’ve tried the other tactics and still haven’t received payment, as a last resort you can take legal action. This involves starting court proceedings and may mean instructing a collections agency for debt recovery.
By opening your doors to students and educators, you can help bridge the gap between education and employment, inspire young people, and build a stronger local talent pipeline. Through modern work experience initiatives including Open Doors and curriculum enriching programmes like Teacher Encounters, Surrey Careers Hub is making it easier than ever for businesses to engage with their future workforce.
Why Employer Engagement Matters
Workplace experiences are transformative for young people. They help students understand how their studies connect to real-world careers, build motivation, and make informed decisions about their future. For employers, these engagements offer a chance to:
Showcase your sector and career pathways
Build relationships with local schools and colleges
Contribute to the development of future talent
Influence curriculum relevance.
Open Doors: supporting experiences of the workplace
The Open Doors programme invites employers to host in-person visits for students, offering them a first-hand look at your workplace. These visits typically include:
Site tours and demonstrations of emerging technologies
Q&A sessions with employees to highlight diverse roles and skills
Practical activities or challenges
Insights into early careers pathways, including apprenticeships and T Levels
Opportunities for feedback and reflection.
These experiences align with Gatsby Benchmark 6, which focuses on meaningful workplace encounters. Employers receive support to tailor visits to student needs, including accessibility considerations and safeguarding guidance.
Teacher Encounters: empowering educators to inspire
The Teacher Encounters programme connects educators with local employers, helping them understand how their subjects apply in the workplace. Teachers gain insight into:
Skills and qualifications valued by employers
Local businesses and labour market trends
Recruitment processes and vocational routes
Career pathways linked to their curriculum.
These encounters have proven highly impactful. According to the 2025 Impact Report:
100% of employers provided greater visibility and understanding of their business as a potential employment destination
86% of teachers understand the full range of job roles and careers in the current labour market that are linked to their subject
100% of employers recognise the value of engaging with schools and colleges and would participate in the programme again
Whether you’re new to employer engagement or looking to expand your outreach, Surrey Careers Hub offers practical support and resources. Here’s how you can start:
By participating in these programmes, you’re not just offering a visit, you’re opening minds, broadening horizons, building futures, and strengthening your community. Join us in making a lasting impact.
If you’d like to explore any of these collaboration opportunities with a local school, college, SEND or alternative provision, get in touch today – contact Surrey Careers Hub: careers.hub@surreycc.gov.uk.
Mastering marketing and communications – webinar
Published 11 August 2025
Advice and support, Events and awards
Join us for this free online session, hosted by Business Surrey where we’ll explore the ins and outs of marketing and communications. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field.
Ready to dive into the world of marketing?
Workshop highlights
Develop a comprehensive marketing plan tailored to your business
How defining your target audience will help you focus your marketing activities
Explore the exciting possibilities of digital marketing to make the most of your time and resources including using AI tools effectively.
Event details
Date: 18 September
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Online
Cost: Free (Pre-registration required)
Meet your expert
The workshop will be led by Daniel Chidley, our Marketing Advisor. Daniel is an experienced business coach, mentor and director level communications, PR & marketing consultant with 20 years of experience in business. As a Chartered Marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Daniel has experience in-house, agency and consultancy with experience across a range of industries.
In recent years, Daniel has worked with hundreds of SMEs and high growth businesses as a business coach and is accredited with the Association for Coaching. With a coaching approach, Daniel is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and business owners in adopting new strategies and techniques to improve their marketing, with a particular focus on early-stage businesses, start-ups, scale up businesses and social enterprises
Why attend?
Actionable Strategies: learn why a strategy and plan are crucial foundations on which to build your marketing activities and how to focus your efforts to help your business grow.
Expert Guidance: Benefit from Daniel’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 a different type of business support?
We want you to grow and succeed – and have a range of ways you can access support for your company.
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.
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 webinar
Published 8 August 2025
Advice and support, Events and awards
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.
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.
How to start a business on a budget
Published 6 August 2025
Advice and support, Thought leadership
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.
Surrey Careers Hub engages educators at Surrey FE Teaching & Learning Conference
Published 3 July 2025
Skills and workforce
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.
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
Published 25 June 2025
Skills and workforce
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.
