Businesses across Surrey now have a much greater voice in guiding the growth of the countyโs economy thanks to the relaunched and revitalised Surrey Business Leaders Forum.ย
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 โ from SMEs to Surrey-based multinationals, and including businesses from Surreyโs 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 Councilโs approach to growing the economy.ย ย
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.ย
Why does the Business Leaders Forum matter?
Matt Furniss, the Councilโs Cabinet Memberโฏfor Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said:ย โSurrey has a fantastic economic story to tell, with more than 110,000 businesses generating over ยฃ50 billion to the UK economy.ย
“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, weโve 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.
โEnsuring 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 Surreyโs economy in a sustainable way, while ensuring no one is left behind.โ
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 Surreyโs economic future and be a voice for all businesses in Surrey.ย
โTheir knowledge and experiences from the private sector will play a key role in helping shape local decision-making.โ
How does Surrey County Council support Surrey businesses?
The Council took the role as Surreyโs strategic economic leader in April this year. Previously, the role was held by the countyโs two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), Enterprise M3 and Coast to Capital.โฏย
It means the council is well-positioned to lead on an enhanced, county-wideย 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.ย ย ย
Formal responsibilities for business support through the new Surrey-wide Growth Hub and delivering government-funded skills programmes have also been absorbed.ย
View this new offer via Business Surrey, which acts as a single gateway for all Surrey businesses to access support and advice.
