We will soon be launching a brand new peer-to-peer business growth programme - Peer 25 - for local business leaders. This fully-funded, practical and innovative leadership and management programme will be delivered through peer learning to ambitious businesses in the area.

There are just 25 places on the programme.

How will you benefit as a business leader? 

This 12 month programme for ambitious business leaders is being delivered in partnership with MDHUB, a leading peer-to-peer business growth network, and will provide:

• Regular and confidential peer support from a network of like-minded business leaders to learn from, share knowledge, ideas and experience
• Personal one-to-one leadership development and training from experienced professionals
• Practical ways of unlocking barriers to growth
• New ideas and takeaways to implement in your business
• Access to an infrastructure that supports your innovation and growth

What can you expect?

The content of the programme will be tailored to meet your individual business needs (identified through the selection process) and will include:

• A one-to-one diagnostic session to identify your current business challenges plus two hours of specialist support
• Regular peer-to-peer group meetings with like-minded business owners, each session focusing on a different barrier to growth with a solution-driven outcome
• Two bespoke days of leadership and management training for all 25 leaders

Who should apply?

• Businesses that can demonstrate an average annual growth in employees or turnover greater than 20 per cent per annum over a three-year period
• Businesses that have strong growth potential as well as a real appetite to achieve scale-up growth in the short term.

Register your interest economicprosperity@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

It was great to welcome so many local businesses to our March Learning Lunch - Inspiring Women!  We heard from four fantastic local women in business who shared their authentic career and life journeys about what inspires and motivates them, how they have faced and overcome challenges, taken risks and achieved success. Their experiences resonated with many in the audience and were delivered with warmth and humour.

Our thanks again to the speakers

• • Naz Nankali, Director Powertutors Ltd;
  • Emilia Hunt, Fabric designer & interior brand;
  • Anna Randall, The Speaker’s Coach;
  • Laura McCartney, Strategic Head of Organisation & Transformation, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

Thursday 25 April 19.00-21.00 RH Networking (Horley Cricket Club) Book now

Wednesday 8 May  17.45-20.00 RBinspire Town Hall, Reigate Book now

Thursday 16 May 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Town Hall, Reigate - What the hell do I say? Join marketing expert, Nicola Macdonald from Attractive Marketing, as she explores how to generate great content ideas when you mind goes blank. Book now.

Tuesday 21 May 19.00-21.00 RH Networking Merstham Cricket Club Book now

Thursday 23 May 17.30-19.30 Redhill Business Guild, Harlequin Pop-up, The Belfry Book now

Thursday 24 June 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Town Hall, Reigate - How to become a more effective leader and manage yourself!  Mary Asante, Maysante Book Now 

Tuesday 16 July 19.00-21.00 RH Networking Merstham Cricket Club Book now

Thursday 25 July 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Town Hall, Reigate - The Art of Negotiation with Joe Cheal Book Now

Thursday 26 Sept 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Town Hall, Reigate - How to improve your presentations and engage your audience, with Anna Randall from The Speaker’s Coach Book now.

Thursday 26 Sept 18.30-21.30 RH Networking special, Reigate Manor Book now

Thursday 28 November 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Town Hall, Reigate  - Cyber security: How to protect your business, with Raquel Caldeira from nTrust systems Book now.

Thursday 12 December 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Town Hall, Reigate  - Festive get together Book now.

Redhill

• Aryanna Build a Toy has opened in the Belfry.
• Toy Barnhaus has moved within the Belfry to a bigger unit.
• Storia Restaurant has opened on London Road

Reigate

• Yaprak Turkish restaurant has opened on the High Street (in the unit formerly occupied by Island House).
• Creamy & Bites Cafe is now open for business in Priory Park 
• WS Planning Associate Director Emily Hall is short-listed for two categories at the 2024 Dynamic Awards.  Read more

The Grant has been created to support local small businesses who are looking to expand, enter new markets, become more environmentally sustainable, increase their efficiency or capacity, and follow their growth trajectory.

It is for small businesses of up to 49 employees who can demonstrate real growth.

The award is a ‘one off’ grant, intended to help small businesses grow by enabling them to gain new accredited skills or invest in new plant or premises that would lead to the recruitment of new staff, including apprentices. We will also look favourably on applications that reduce the environmental impact of your business and/ or your products.

The Council has allocated £100,000 to this initiative with individual awards available of up to £5,000 per business.

Entering and winning business awards is a great way to promote your business locally. 

Reigate & Banstead are delighted to be a platinum sponsor the SME Surrey Business Awards 2024.

Are you a local entrepreneur aged 16-30? Do you have a great side hustle or are you currently selling online and would like the opportunity to meet your customers in person? If so, why not be part of Redhill's first ever Local heal of the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF)Young Traders Market on 22 June.  You will be trading alongside experienced regular market traders with plenty of opportunity to learn the ropes and meet your customers face-to-face. Your pitch will be provided free and you will also get a gazebo and insurance for the day. On the day itself, there is a chance for your stall to judged and to put forward to the regional heat which will be held on 14 July at Portobello Market. There is then the chance of progressing onto the National finals in Stratford-upon-Avon later in the year!

Limited places - apply for your stall now!

Great news for East Surrey College who have been awarded RICS accreditation for their new Quantity Surveying Degree. 

The College worked closely with RICS to ensure the course still gave students the same opportunities and skills required to work as a Quantity Surveyor, and were able to cut the time down from 6 years to 4 years. The course has been designed for surveyors with small class sizes to educate students in an intimate, tangible and supported learning environment.

Director of Apprenticeships, Ian Edmunds said, "We are thrilled to be the only College in the country to be awarded this accreditation. We have worked hard alongside the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to ensure this robust offering is the right choice for businesses and Quantity Surveyors."

This is now the fastest route in the world from start to qualification. This exciting development will see the first cohort start in September 2024.

If you are looking to upskill your staff, this fully funded qualification could be the key to your training requirements. Contact East Surrey College's Business Team today employerservices@esc.ac.uk or call 01737 788316.

Hear from Graeme Wolford, Managing Director, Judge Sampson Ltd, on his experience of taking a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with the University of Brighton. 

KTP is a world-leading programme that helps businesses succeed by connecting them to the UK's rich academic resources. It's a partnership between the business seeking expertise, a university or college and a recently qualified graduate – known as an Associate. Each partnership lasts from twelve months to three years.

Surrey Care leavers are transitioning into adulthood without the support of a stable family environment, and are facing significant hurdles in accessing opportunities for growth and development.

Surrey County Council has teamed up with Goal 17 to bridge this gap by pairing volunteer mentors with young care leavers, providing them with invaluable support and guidance as they navigate the challenges of adulthood. Volunteers are asked to commit just 1 to 2 hours of their time per month for an initial period of 12 months, offering a caring ear, gentle guidance, and words of support for a young person.

"We believe in the transformative power of mentorship," says Fran Boorman, the CEO at Goal 17. 

In addition to the satisfaction of giving back and building a meaningful relationship with a young person, mentors have the opportunity to develop valuable skills such as communication, empathy, and leadership.  All mentors receive comprehensive training and ongoing support from Goal 17 to prepare them for their roles, and the training and skills learned are directly transferable with Council work.  Mentors who successfully complete the full training programme receive a CPD certificate in Mentoring from Oxford Brookes’ Business School. 

Flexible working arrangements can be used to change when, where or how an employee works. Starting 6 April, employers must adapt their approach to handling flexible working requests due to the new Flexible Working Bill. This legislation affects aspects from remote work to flexitime options.

Employers are required to consider these requests fairly, allowing employees to seek flexible working arrangements from their first day of employment. Information about the incoming changes to flexible working is available, as well as the benefits to employers and employees.

Enterprise Nation have recently created a new Start up kit. This free eBook offers all the tools and tips you need to become an entrepreneur. It'll help you find an idea, spot a gap in the market and start your own business.

A great way to help your business hit the ground running.

Visit our Supporting Local Business web pages for the latest business updates.

Information about Council services can be found on our website.

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