SME Surrey Business Awards 2025 deadline approaches
Published 11 March 2025
Events and awards
The countdown is on for Surrey businesses to enter the Surrey SME Business Awards 2025.
The SME Surrey Awards are an exciting opportunity to support and share in our vision to raise the profile of industrious, hardworking and enterprising SMEs in Surrey.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are businesses whose personnel numbers are 250 employees or less.
SMEs are also said to be responsible for driving innovation and competition in many economic sectors. These awards are the perfect chance to showcase your work to a wider audience.
As the organisers of the event say: “Business awards are a sought after accolade of achievement, a veritable endorsement of success in business which offers exceptional marketing and PR opportunities as well as increasing your credibility and standing in the eyes of your peers and your customers. Of course, it feels pretty wonderful too!”
All entries are judged by up to four of the awards’ national panel of judges.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in the Harbour Hotel, Guilford, on June 10.
SME Surrey Business Awards 2025 categories
There are 20 categories to enter, including:
Apprentice of the Year
Best Enterprising Business
Best New Business
Business Person of the Year
Employer of the Year
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
Community Business of the Year
High Growth Business of the Year
Young Business Person of the Year
Service Excellence
Website of the Year
There are also two separate Business of the Year Awards – one for businesses with fewer than 50 employees; and one for those with more than 50 employees.
You may enter up to 3 awards categories and 1 public vote category. Each entry costs ยฃ21.50 plus VAT.
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.
Rakuten Symphony – a Surrey Success Story
Published 19 February 2025
Surrey Success Stories
Rakuten Symphony is the latest of our Surrey Success Stories, a collection of video case studies of businesses โ large and small โ that are putting our region on the map. Click on the video below to discover how this Surrey firm with Japanese roots is reimagining the telecommunications market.
Who are Rakuten Symphony?
Rakuten Symphony is a British firm with a Japanese mentality.
It is one of more than 70 services which form the Rakuten group, a global company with Japanese roots which has more than one billion members.
Located in Weybridge, Rakuten Symphony provides cloud-native, open radio access network and operational support systems solutions to the telecommunications industry.
Its journey started five years ago with the mission to disrupt and reinvent the sector. Its aim is low-cost, fast and high-quality network coverage for every single person. And a key part of driving is digitalising all of its business processes.
A cutting-edge facility in Weybridge opened in April 2023 with support of Japanese and UK governments. This supports the testing of Open Radio Access Network (RAN) and third-party technology, while also allowing mobile operators to come and see how it works.
Rakuten Symphony’s Japanese roots are evident throughout its UK headquarters.
It’s also evident in its employees, who must embody Rakuten Shugiย (or Basic Principles) through their professional roles.
There is high value on innovation and entrepreneurship. Plus, a focus on the Rakuten group’s overall mission to improve the way people live and drive progress in society through our revolutionary services.
But another crucial ingredient is the region of Surrey, with the benefits supporting business objectives and employee wellbeing.
As UK Managing Director Nastasi Karaiskos says: “There’s a great talent pool to tap into, an accessible area, beautiful place to work, great connections to the motorways, close connections to the airports, close connections to the trains.”
Looking to relocate your business to Surrey?
Looking for a vibrant UK region to base your business? Discover more about the benefits of doing business in Surrey by getting in touch with our expert team.
Thanks to our desirable location, reputation for innovation and collaborative business ecosystem, Surrey is a top business location of choice.
As part of Business Surrey, Surrey County Council can assist companies looking to invest and grow in Surrey via the Invest in Surrey service.
Whether youโre a start-up, SME or international company, you can benefit from specialist expertise, local knowledge and business support.
Business blog – Workforce Wellbeing: a vital ingredient for business success
Published 18 February 2025
Skills and workforce, Thought leadership
In the latest blog for Business Surrey, Surrey County Councilโs Public Health Lead Tessa Axelrod explains why focusing on the wellbeing of your workforce could be a simple way to boost your business in 2025.
In todayโs fast paced and ever evolving work environment itโs easy to focus on little but the bottom line. However, there is one thing that is often overlooked but essential to driving productivity and growth: workforce wellbeing.
Poor mental wellbeing costs employers in the UK an estimated ยฃ42 billion to ยฃ45 billion a year.
So, investing in wellbeing isnโt just a nice to have, itโs crucial for a thriving business.
The good news is that businesses in Surrey can get free expert bespoke advice via the new โHow Are You?โ programme.
Not convinced? Well, read our business blog on workforce wellbeing to discover six benefits for your business and the wider Surrey economy when you look after the wellbeing of your workforce.
1. Improves Productivity and Performance
In 2022/23, an estimated 875,000 employees suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in 17.1 million working days lost.
So, it makes business sense to nurture a well-supported workforce.
When employees feel mentally and physically healthy and know how to manage stress, they will be more energised, focused and more productive.
2. Reduces sick days
When employees feel well cared for and are supported, theyโre less likely to be absent from work for extended periods. So, taking steps to improve the mental and physical health of employees is good for business.
Workplace wellbeing programs that emphasise mental and physical health can significantly reduce illness, stress, or burnout.
These preventative measures can also have a long-term impact โ as healthy employees are less prone to chronic diseases and other health issues.
And itโs good for the bottom line too โ as The National Institute of Clinical Excellence estimates that implementing interventions to promote staff wellbeing could save employers up to ยฃ5,020 per employee.
3. Fosters Positive Workplace Culture
Workplace culture plays a crucial role in shaping an organisationโs overall success โ and employee wellbeing is key to that, creating a more positive, inclusive, and supportive environment.
When done well, employees feel more connected to their colleagues and leaders, which boosts morale and strengthens team dynamics
And this sense of community fosters collaboration, trust, respect and loyalty โ which are all essential ingredients to building a great team and a great business.
4. Enhances Creativity and Innovation
When employees are mentally and physically well, theyโre in a better position to think creatively and innovate.
Stress and burnout can stifle creative thinking, while a healthy and balanced workforce tends to be more open-minded, resourceful, and capable of generating fresh ideas.
Wellbeing programmes that support work-life balance, provide opportunities for personal growth, and encourage creative expression can help employees stay energised and motivated to think outside the box.
Innovation thrives when individuals feel supported and empowered, which is why a focus on wellbeing is an essential component of fostering a culture of creativity.
5. Attracts and Retains Top Talent
In a competitive job market, offering a comprehensive wellbeing programme can set an organisation apart from others. Todayโs workers increasingly prioritise work-life balance, mental health support, and overall wellness when considering potential employers.
Organisations that prioritise workforce wellbeing are signalling to prospective employees that they care about their holistic needs, which makes them a more attractive place to work.
In addition, focusing on employee wellbeing helps retain top talent. Employees who feel valued and supported in their health and wellbeing are less likely to leave, reducing turnover rates and the associated costs of recruitment and training.
6. Builds a Sustainable Future
A healthy, happy workforce contributes to the long-term stability, profitability, and growth of a successful organisation. When employees feel supported, they are more likely to invest their time, energy, and talents into the companyโs success, resulting in a more resilient and adaptive organisation.
Organisations that recognise the importance of employee wellbeing and integrate it into their corporate strategy are more likely to enjoy long-term success, even in times of economic uncertainty or change. Well-supported employees are adaptable, loyal, and dedicated to overcoming challenges and achieving long-term goals.
Want to learn more about workforce wellbeing?
Our business blog on workforce wellbeing is just the start.
If youโre a business in Surrey then you can apply to get immediate support to focus on wellbeing in the workplace.
โHow Are You?โ is a fully funded programme to support employers which is delivered by Surrey County Council.
Spaces are limited โ so if you’re interested in taking part then get in touch today.
Our team of experts will work with you to develop a simple approach that works for you and your business. We can support those with 10 or more employees whatever yourย sector.
Visit our dedicated โHow Are Youโ website to download an intro to the free Workforce Wellbeing Framework.
We recognise that some business owners may need more bespoke support. So you can get in touch with our business advisors at any point to ask for specific advice.
Further support to boost your business
Business Surrey is Surrey County Councilโs service providing free and accessible support for all businesses across Surrey.
Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on exploring opportunities and how to tackle various challenges.
We work with you to understand your unique business needs and can direct you to the right resources and opportunities.
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:
an easy-to-use support directory with more than 120 national and regional schemes.
Heathrow expansion plans are being backed by government following an announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves this week.
In a speech delivered yesterday, the Chancellor said a third runway would “unlock further growth, boost investment, increase exports, and make the UK more open and more connected”.
The government, she added, invites proposals to be brought forward by summer.
In response, Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “We recognise the crucial role ofย Heathrow airport in supporting employment for Surrey residents, generating investment in the Surrey economy and in attracting and retaining major businesses to locate in the county.
“Our goal is to work constructively with the Government, the airport, relevant national agenciesย andย other local authoritiesย onย proposals for a third runwayย in order to protect and promote the interests of Surrey residents and businesses.
“Despite this, we remain strongly of the view thatย expansion requires the environmental and surface access issues involved to be satisfactorily addressed.
“Any expansion will only be a success for Surrey residents and businesses and for the wider South East if there is a clear and agreed framework for the necessary infrastructure, including southern rail access, together with appropriate mitigation measures and commitments to address environmental impacts in place before any new runway comes into operation.
“We call on the Government to take the lead in developing such a framework.”
What are the Heathrow expansion plans?
Heathrow expansion plans include a new, full length, runway to the north-west of the airport and several new facilities both on and off the airfield.
Heathrow is currently consulting with investors, government, airline customers and regulators on next steps.ย Proposals include:
A new terminal building to the west of Terminal 5 and the eventual demolition of Terminal 3 to make way for a series of new satellite terminals
Creating new public transport interchange points and consolidating parking facilities
Adding surface access capacity to the airport, taking advantage of planned future railway upgrades in the area
Significant community compensation schemes and impact mitigation measures
Increasing capacity for an additional 260,000 flights per year
Further details – including a series of FAQs – are available on the Heathrow website.
Copyright:ย Photo ยฉ BAA Airports Limited
New Skills Bootcamps for Creatives to boost small businesses in Surrey
Published 20 January 2025
Advice and support, Skills and workforce
Surreyโs creative community has a new opportunity to thrive with the launch of Skills Bootcamps for Creatives, designed to provide essential business skills for freelancers and small creative businesses.
Delivered by Mastered Studios, this program offers a practical and accessible way to develop the tools necessary to win clients, grow your brand, and do more of what you love.
With a strong focus on supporting smaller businesses, this Skills Bootcamp is ideal for freelancers and entrepreneurs seeking to sharpen their competitive edge in the creative industries.
The course is fully-funded – meaning it is free to freelancers and creative SMEs in Surrey.
Whatโs in the Skills Bootcamps for Creatives?
Participants will benefit from 60 hours of training, mentoring, and coaching spread over 8 weeks. This will cover:
Developing a robust business plan
Effective marketing and branding strategies
Growing your social media presence
Pricing and fee negotiation skills
And much more!
The course runs for one day a week online, making it flexible and accessible to fit around your busy schedule.
Upon completion, learners will also receive monthly mentoring calls for six months. This ensures ongoing support as they implement their new skills.
Connecting creatives
Running a small business or working as a freelancer can sometimes feel lonely, with the complexities of managing clients, finances, and growth often falling solely on your shoulders.
The Skills Bootcamp for Creatives not only equips you with practical knowledge but also connects you with like-minded professionals, creating a supportive network of peers who understand your challenges and share your ambitions.
Why join?
Small businesses are the backbone of Surreyโs creative economy. This programme is tailored to help you overcome common challenges. It makes it perfect for those looking to scale up, navigate pricing with confidence, or build a compelling brand presence.
Sign up today
Donโt miss this opportunity to take your creative business to the next level. Visit the Mastered website for more information and to register for upcoming sessions.
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. This is packed with the latest information on events, funding and more, for all Surrey businesses.
Magical Mushroom Company – a Surrey Success Story
Published 20 January 2025
Innovation, Surrey Success Stories
Magical Mushroom Company is the latest of our Surrey Success Stories, a collection of video case studies of businesses โ large and small โ that are putting our region on the map. Click on the video below to discover how Surrey is harnessing nature to help it grow.
Magical Mushroom Company: growing from nature
Meet the Surrey company harnessing the power of nature to tackle plastic pollution.
Magical Mushroom Company launched in Esher in 2019. Since then has grown from startup to a scaling business producing millions of pieces of packaging for a huge range of companies across Europe.
The company harnesses the natural flexibility and strength of mycelium, the material structure of fungi, to grow protective packaging by combining it with agricultural waste such as hemp, cork and sawdust.
This offers a safe, sustainable and totally home-compostable alternative to plastic foams. Clients include Selfridges, Lush and drinks company Seedlip.
As well as packaging it has grown chairs, beehives, hampers, and even funerary urns!
Growing in Surrey
Magical Mushroom Company continues to grow from its Surrey roots.
Its base in Esher has provided a strong foothold for business in the capital while able it to recruit top local talent. It also provides employees a great quality of life.
Magical Mushroom Company continues to evolve- and now the only firm in the world mass producing mycelium products.
Since 2020, the company has produced millions and millions of pieces of Mushroomยฎ Packaging, effectively removing thousands of tonnes of plastic packaging from landfill.
Thanks to a ยฃ1.1 million loan from Innovate UK, it has opened a UK-based raw materials plant so it can ramp up production.
With factories in Nottingham and Sofia, its capacity has grown to 200,000 units per week.
All this means it has about 50 full-time employees and on track to turnover ยฃ6 million in 2024.
Looking to relocate your business to Surrey?
Thanks to our desirable location, reputation for innovation and collaborative business ecosystem, Surrey is a top business location of choice.
As part of Business Surrey, Surrey County Council can assist companies looking to invest and grow in Surrey via the Invest in Surrey service.
Whether youโre a start-up, SME or international company, you can benefit from specialist expertise, local knowledge and business support.
Sell online with confidence with free product safety courses from Trading Standards
Published 10 January 2025
Advice and support
Does your business sell online products which are regulated for product safety? If the answer is yes, then you can accessย FREEย product safety courses to boost your knowledge and improve how you do business.
Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards is working with the UK Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to provide the offer.
It is available to all Surrey businesses who sell via websites or social media until the end of March.
Those taking part will boost their knowledge and understanding of product safety. It will also improve how you do business and boost customer confidence.
Businesses who’ve already taken part have reported:
increased awareness and education
building a relationship with the regulator,
improving future business with plans for future actions
What does free product safety courses involve?
The product safety training is open to all businesses that sell products online – from sole traders and SMEs to multi-nationals. You may also have retail premises or sell only a few items on social media.
It has three elements:โฏ
An initial conversation with a Trading Standards Officer to discuss your approach to product procurement. This includes your understanding of product safety and online trading requirements.
Free training workshops delivered by the CTSI, plus access to online materials and guidance.
A final conversation between you and a Trading Standards Officer. This establishes the impact of the training and it it has improved your understanding of consumer product safety and online trading.
No personal data or information provided by a business will be reused for any other purposes outside of the training.
And the discussions with Trading Standards officers are simply to establish if you have benefited from the training. They will not be discussing individual products or specific compliance related issue.
Or you can contact Trading Standards direct by calling 0300123 2329.
If you need more general support then the Business Surrey team can also provide free support. Get in touch via the Business Support Form.
Tech start-up Finchetto wins three awards for driving innovation
Published 9 January 2025
Innovation
Tech start-up Finchetto rounded off 2024 in style after scooping three awards for innovation.
The company based at Surrey Research Park in Guildford is developing the worldโs first fully-optical passive Ethernet switch for data centres.
This could transform the energy efficiency of data centres across the globe – making them more sustainable and freeing up energy to advance the roll out of artificial intelligence (AI).
The work is being recognised globally with various awards. One of which singles the Guildford-based company out as potential new Spotify or Deliveroo.
Who are tech start-up Finchetto?
Finchetto is run by CEOย Mark Rushworthย and CTOย Michael Pearcey. The focus is developing alternatives to traditional electronic switches, which are energy-intensive and generate excessive heat, requiring costly cooling systems.
Currently data centres consume 2% of all global electricity. And traditional electric network switches are the workhorses of every data centre, accounting for 20% of a centre’s total energy use.
Finchetto’s design could reduce this power requirement by up to 26 times. This means it has the potential to transform the efficiency and sustainability of data centres worldwide.
And, with powering sufficient compute is the single greatest challenge for AI today, its work could be key in the roll out of new technologies.
Since being incorporated in July 2020 Finchetto has steadily grown. And 2024 was an important year in its development as it secured high-profile funding and a new home.
In October 2024, Finchetto moved into Surrey Research Park, one of the UKโs leading hubs for innovation and home to over 170 companies at the forefront of technological and scientific advancement.
Since then it has made waves in the tech industry, winning three major awards for its revolutionary work.
In November, Finchetto earned top honours at the Deep Tech Demo Day 2024, a competition involving 170 companies across Europe. Judges praised the companyโs photonic computing innovation for its transformative potential in networking and AI performance.
The startup also scooped โHottest Pre-seed Startupโ at The Europas Tech Startup Awards. They are joining the ranks of previous winners include Spotify and Deliveroo.
Most recently, Finchetto received a TechWorks Award for Technology Breakthrough, which recognises the best in UK tech.
Mark Rushworth, CEO of Finchetto Ltd said: โBy using light to send and switch data, we aim to revolutionise datacentre efficiency. Joining Surrey Technology Centre has been instrumental in our progress, and we are proud to have our work recognised with these awards. We look forward to advancing this transformative technology.โ
Caroline Fleming, Director, Surrey Innovation District ecosystem, University of Surrey said: “Congratulationsย to the Finchetto team! Their cutting-edge research positions them as leaders in photonic computing, tackling the challenge of growing AI processing demands while reducing environmental impact. By supporting companies like Finchetto, Surrey Research Park continues its 40-year tradition of fostering innovation and supporting award-winning businesses.”
Start up support in Surrey
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey, including startups.
Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on range of issues. Contact the team for free via ourย 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.
Inspire Surrey’s future workforce in 2025 as an Enterprise Adviser
Published 6 January 2025
Skills and workforce
Put your business experience to great use in 2025 by helping shape the futures of young people as an Enterprise Adviser.
Surrey Careers Hub is looking for professionals to use their skills and knowledge to work strategically with schools and colleges.
Enterprise Advisers use their experience and networks to help teachers bridge the gap between formal learning and the world of work.
Full training is provided. All you need is a commitment to working with teachers for a couple of hours a month to input into careers programmes.
Youโll be joining a network of more than 4,000 people across the UK. And youโll be helping hundreds of young people be inspired about their futures.
Lisa Jarvis, is an active Enterprise Adviser with Surrey Careers Hub alongside her role at Novo Nordisk. She explains: โAs business professionals, we often forget the valuable skills and networks that we have. These could be so beneficial to schools, helping them focus on what they are great at – which is educating our young people.โ
What is an Enterprise Adviser?
Enterprise Advisers are fundamental to the Surrey Careers Hub.
They play an important role in shaping the positive future of young people across the county.
They’re business professionals dedicated to making a lasting impact on the future outcomes of young people.
Volunteers use their skills, business experience, and networks to support local schools and colleges.
They provide invaluable employer perspectives. And they put opportunities with local businesses at the heart of a young person’s education.
Anyone can register their interest in the role, regardless where they live or work.
What’s in it for you?
There’s more to becoming an Enterprise Adviser than just giving back to the community. You’ll also:
Develop and grow your experience in strategic planning
Understand how to communicate and connect with young people
Access support from a national and local network of like-minded people
Gain a deeper understanding of the education sector and its challenges
