Surrey Hills Enterprises has announced the appointment of Maggie Howell as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Maggie succeeds Wendy Varcoe, who is retiring after seven years of dedicated service. She brings a wealth of experience and a relentless commitment to advancing the organisation’s vision of fostering a thriving sustainable rural economy in the Surrey Hills.

Her appointment marks an exciting chapter for Surrey Hills Enterprises, which is the Community Interest Company arm of the Surrey Hills National Landscapes. It was set up in 2012 to support and develop the rural economy and tourism and to promote and enhance the Surrey Hills.

Surrey Hills Enterprises core activities are focused on ‘clean growth’, environmental sustainability and building a strong local economy and tourism industry.  It has a strong membership of local businesses who receive business support including training, mentoring, collaboration and a Surrey Hills marketing platform.

With over 20 years of experience in running two award-winning local, national, and international businesses, as well as three decades of expertise in marketing, event management, team leadership, and stakeholder management, Maggie is primed to build on Wendy’s work.

Maggie Howell said:

“I am honoured and thrilled to lead Surrey Hills Enterprises into its next phase of growth and development. Wendy’s legacy is undeniable, and I am committed to continuing her remarkable work of supporting environmentally sustainable businesses, promoting our members to the wider community and forging collaborations with key partners.”

Maggie’s deep understanding of Surrey Hills Enterprises, gained from working for the organisation for the last five years, positions her as the ideal leader for this role.

As an entrepreneur herself, Maggie brings a profound empathy for small businesses. She couples with a relentless drive for collaboration and business support.

Maggie will host her inaugural event on May 23rd, in partnership with the Surrey Sustainable Business Network, coinciding with the launch of the new Guildford Zero premises in Guildford.

This collaborative event will bring together a diverse range of organisations committed to Surrey Hills Enterprises’ vision of creating a more sustainable business community in the Surrey Hills. Book tickets on the Surrey Hills website.

Surrey Hill Enterprises is one of dozens of services in the Business Surrey Support Directory. This lists local, regional and national schemes to help your business grow and succeed.

Are you a local business leader who wants to be a driving force in shaping Surrey’s economic future, be a voice for businesses in Surrey, and use your experience to help inform the delivery of projects that will bring tangible benefits to the local business community and residents?

Business Surrey – which is a Surrey County Council service – is expanding the membership of the Surrey Business Leaders’ Forum to ensure it is reflective of the diversity, innovation, and growth that is happening across Surrey’s economy.

As a member, you will bring your knowledge and expertise from your business and wider sector to share insights about the opportunities and challenges your business faces, help inform local decision-making, and shape new initiatives and investments designed to support local economic growth.

To register your interest in joining the Surrey Business Leaders Forum, please email economy.growth@surreycc.gov.uk.

A member of the team will be in contact to set up a call to share more details about the Forum and discuss your interest in joining.

About the Business Leader’s Forum

The Surrey Business Leaders’ Forum is a diverse and representative group, bringing together companies from across the county, including business representative organisations, SMEs and representatives from major Surrey employers and priority sectors.

It plays a critical role in elevating the voice and role of business in local decision-making.

The forum supports the One Surrey Growth Board and Surrey County Council with business insight and expertise and represents a diverse local business voice related to Surrey’s key economic strengths.

It will provide challenge and insight into the business impact of public sector initiatives and raise awareness of local business and economic needs.

For further details on how the Business Leaders’ Forum supports the work of Business Surrey visit the How We Work page.

About Surrey’s economy

With 110,000 businesses, Surrey fosters a thriving and diverse economy which generates £50 billion a year to the UK economy.

Alongside an impressive mix of international enterprises such as Samsung, Sony and the WWF, among many others, Surrey is also home to innovative start-ups and a high level of micro-businesses, adding to the county’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Surrey has a highly skilled workforce. Fifty-four per cent of residents have a degree or higher. The area also has prestigious educational and research institutions, including three prominent universities and national research agencies. The business success rate is high, at 88%, compared to 81% nationally. As a result, it is well-suited to nurturing some of the UK’s most successful companies and world-leading sectors. These include createch, cybersecurity, AI, space and satellites, health, and gaming.

Read more about Surrey’s economy here.