The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work for 2019

• Barrington James (Horley) who have been named 5th best company to work for in the 100 best small companies catagory. 
• Jellyfish (Reigate) who have achieved 56th position in the best 100 best companies 2019 (mid sized catagory). 

2019 Gatwick Diamond Business Awards finalists

• WS Planning and Architecture (Reigate) for business of the year (up to £1m) and the Award for Supply Chain Excellence
• Kingston Smith LLP (Redhill)  Employer of the Year award

Other news

• Just (Reigate) have been shortlisted in two categories: 'best innovation in retail finance' and 'best at retirement solutions' in the 2019 Retail Asset Management Awards
• Jellyfish (Reigate) have been shortlisted for 5 The Drum search awards 2019, including Performance Agency of the year.
• Shawbook Bank (Redhill) who increased lending to the healthcare sector by 25%, have been shortlisted for Health Investor Awards 2019 (Bank or Lender of the Year)
• Beryl and Pegs cafe (Reigate) have made it into the Trip Advisor ten best cafes in Surrey.

#livelocalworklocal

Applications for the 2019 Entrepreneur Academy are now open

Do you have a great new business idea that you want to get off the ground but need a helping hand to get started? Our Entrepreneur Academy may be just what you need.

The academy provides an opportunity to gain the essential skills you need to set up your business. Topics include business planning, finance, marketing, legal aspects and online business promotion. You will also get the opportunity to pitch your businesses idea to business leaders in a 'Dragons' Den' style competition for the chance to win £5,000 to help you get your business up and running.

The Entrepreneur Academy starts on 25 April 2019, and runs at East Surrey College for two hours once a month for 6 months.  If you would like to apply to be in the Academy please look at the schedule and fill in the application form.

On Friday 1 March we hosted a Disability Confident event at the Town Hall, this event was run in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions and MP Crispin Blunt.  Local businesses large and small came along to hear informative talks on the benefits of an inclusive workforce and signing up to the Disability Confident Scheme.  We heard from Christina Earle from Surrey Choices how they are able to support people to get into employment, followed by David Vincent, Head of Resourcing at East Surrey Hospital about the positive benefits they have seen.

We were delighted that Michael McNiven from Inventas (Reigate) signed up to the scheme at the event.

Could you business be Disability Confident?

Glenys Balchin, Regional Manager for Crimestoppers in Surrey, would like to invite you to attend an ambassadors evening on Tuesday 19 March from 6pm with wine and canapes.  The event will be held at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Town Hall, Castlefield Road, RH2 0SH and the purpose of the evening is to tell you about the work of Crimestoppers in Surrey and to explore ways in which we an work together to keep Surrey a safer community to live in.  

If you would like to attend please e-mail.

In 2015, Horley resident Richard Dunford was awarded a Council Business Support Grant to help grow his mobile ice cream startup.  Ever since, The Ice Cream Bike loaded full with locally sourced dairy ice cream has been a big hit at many events and locations throughout the borough and beyond.

Now it’s the turn for The Ice Cream Bike to star at an event in the beautiful Tanyard Barn Community Centre on The Acres in Horley.  Richard and his partner Hilary Fautly are staging a one weekend exhibition of their own art and fabric designs and are making the event even more inviting with the first appearance of The Ice Cream Bike in 2019.

The exhibition is open 13th (10am - 4.30pm) & 14th April (10am - 3pm) at Tanyard Barn Community Centre, The Acres, Brookfield Drive, Horley RH6 9TA.  Parking is available and the event is free entry.

For more info visit The Ice Cream Bike's Facebook page  or email Richard