Businesses across Surrey now have a much greater voice in guiding the growth of the county’s economy thanks to the relaunched and revitalised Surrey Business Leaders Forum. 

Just weeks after the government handed Surrey County Council greater strategic powers to support economic development across the county, steps have been taken to ensure the private sector has a stronger voice and is right at the heart of local decision-making. 

The Surrey Business Leaders Forum brings together close to 40 individuals representing a diverse range of businesses – from SMEs to Surrey-based multinationals, and including businesses from Surrey’s priority sectors alongside employer representative bodies. 

The Forum will be a driving force to help raise awareness of local business and economic needs. It will also act as a local business champion, ensuring businesses have a voice in decision-making that impacts the local economy.

Acting as an independent advisory group, the Forum will ensure businesses can input, challenge, and guide the Council’s approach to growing the economy.  

The revamped forum met for the first time in May. And this week members took part in a workshop to support the development of a new economic strategy for Surrey. 

Why does the Business Leaders Forum matter?

Matt Furniss, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Surrey has a fantastic economic story to tell, with more than 110,000 businesses generating over £50 billion to the UK economy. 

“We know there is more that we can do to work with our private sector to deliver real benefits to our residents and communities. So, we’ve taken steps to move quickly to make the most of the new powers from government, including creating Business Surrey, which provides free and accessible support to all Surrey businesses.

“Ensuring businesses are at the heart of our decision-making process can only strengthen that approach. I’m looking forward to working with businesses to deliver on our priority to grow Surrey’s economy in a sustainable way, while ensuring no one is left behind.”

Chris Hurren, the Chair of the Business Leaders Forum and partner at RSM UK, a leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services, said: “The Surrey Business Leaders Forum brings together an exciting and diverse group of local business leaders who want to be a driving force in shaping Surrey’s economic future and be a voice for all businesses in Surrey. 

“Their knowledge and experiences from the private sector will play a key role in helping shape local decision-making.”

How does Surrey County Council support Surrey businesses?

The Council took the role as Surrey’s strategic economic leader in April this year. Previously, the role was held by the county’s two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Enterprise M3 and Coast to Capital.  

It means the council is well-positioned to lead on an enhanced, county-wide oversight and delivery role in driving sustainable growth. Indeed, this is a role which Surrey County Council wants to translate into actual economic benefits for residents and businesses.   

Formal responsibilities for business support through the new Surrey-wide Growth Hub and delivering government-funded skills programmes have also been absorbed. 

View this new offer via Business Surrey, which acts as a single gateway for all Surrey businesses to access support and advice.

Thousands of high street and urban businesses across Surrey now have a collective voice through Surrey BIDs Together.

Surrey is currently home to 12 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). More are likely to be created over the next five years.

Collectively, BIDs in Surrey have a combined total of 3,700 member organisations and an annual income of £2,617,000.

They are represented as a collective by the organisation ‘Surrey BIDs Together’. 

The group brings together representatives from the BIDs in Camberley, Caterham, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking, Epsom, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Oxted, Staines on Thames and Walton on Thames.

They meet to share ideas, discuss common themes and work through potential issues or concerns.

They also nominate a representative to sit on the Surrey Business Leaders Forum and One Surrey Growth Board. Both guide the work of Surrey County County and Business Surrey in growing the regional economy.

What are Business Improvement Districts?

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are made up of communities of individual businesses. They recognise that having BID status delivers benefits and improvements to their local economies.  

A BID is a designated zone (BID Area) in which businesses (BID Levy Payers) pay an extra charge in addition to business rates.

This allows them to benefit from a wide range of additional services over and above those funded through the standard commercial rates and council services. 

There is no limit on what projects or services can be provided through a Business Improvement District.

The only requirement is that it should be something that is in addition to services provided by local authorities. Improvements may include extra security, cleansing, events and environmental measures.

Anyone can propose a BID. But approval is dependent on a ballot of businesses within the designated zone. For full details, visit the government website.

The aims of BIDs in Surrey

BIDs each have individual aims, decided by their member businesses. However they all have an underlying aim. This is to provide residents, workers and visitors with clean, safe, vibrant and attractive places, where events, culture and arts are represented and visible. 

Members of Surrey BIDs are a mixture of retail, hospitality, professional services, education providers, public service providers and service industries. They range in size from start-up micro businesses to household name multinationals.  

BIDs provide employment, goods, services and entertainment for their areas. They have a keen focus on representing their members in supporting. They also promote the sustained success and vitality of Surrey’s town centres and their local economies.  

Get involved with your local BID

Surrey has a number of active BIDs which make a big contribution to their towns.

The areas with active BIDs are: Camberley, Caterham, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking, Epsom, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford, Oxted, Staines on Thames and Walton on Thames.  

Find your local BID in our Business Support Directory.

Want to know more about Business Surrey? Check out the Business Surrey launch video below.

Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service offering free and accessible support to businesses across the county.

From start-ups to longstanding SMEs, Surrey companies of all sizes, sectors and stages of their business journey can access expert support for no cost via the new Business Surrey website.

It was officially launched by Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt at an event in Godalming in May.

Also speaking was Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council; Shahid Azeem, the High Sheriff of Surrey; and local tech entrepreneur Terence Naidu. Representatives from Surrey County Council, business groups, universities and the county’s 11 district and borough authorities were among those attending.

Click on the play button below to watch the Business Surrey launch video.

Are you a Surrey business looking for free 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.

Skills Bootcamps have launched in Surrey, giving businesses a low-cost way to upskill their teams and grow their organisations.

Surrey County Council is offering anyone aged 19 and over the opportunity to gain new skills and boost their earnings via Skills Bootcamps.

Courses are available in nine exciting and growing sectors which are crucial to the region’s future economy.

These government-funded courses are flexible and can be completed in up to 16 weeks – meaning individuals can learn new skills easily and quickly at a time that suits them.

Businesses in Surrey can also use them as a low-cost way to upskill their current workforce.

More than 500 courses are available across Surrey until March. Sectors include health and social care, gaming, cyber, construction and advanced engineering.

For most courses, no previous knowledge of the subject is required.

And all of the Skills Bootcamps courses have been developed closely with industry. This ensures they meet the future needs of local businesses and the wider economy.

View a full list of courses and start dates on the Surrey County Council website.

Why skills matter to Surrey

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Our continuous support of improving skills in Surrey is essential to our local economy. Whether learning a new skill or upskilling existing skills these courses will help Surrey residents.

“We are delighted to have been successful in securing £2.7 million from the Department for Education to support residents improve their career prospects through these Surrey Skills Bootcamps. 

“Ensuring our residents have the right skills to secure good-quality jobs in growing sectors within Surrey is vital to us maintaining our position as one of the UK’s largest regional economies. These free flexible courses are a great way to do that.

“Supporting local people into great careers is good for our economy and good for our communities – ensuring we can offer a better quality of life for all, ensuring no one is left behind.”

How can Surrey businesses use Skills Bootcamps?

Any adult living in Surrey can sign up to a course. This is providing they have the right to work in the UK and they can commit to completing the course.

Skills Bootcamps can also be used by local businesses to upskill current employees at a discounted rate.

Large employers will need to contribute 30% of the cost. Small or medium employers (SMEs) will contribute 10%.

There is no cost to a business recruiting someone who has recently completed a Skills Bootcamp.

Are you a business wanting more information? Email skillsbootcamps@surreycc.gov.uk.

Or contact our team of experts direct via our Contact Us form.