11 Jan 08.30-14.00 Gatwick Diamond Speakers Conference - Challenging Business Practices: Discrimination/Negotiation/Motivation, South Lodge Hotel. Find out more

13 Jan 09.30-16.00 StartUp 2018: The biggest start-up show of the year! Queen Mary University, London, E1 4NS.  Book your space now 

23 Jan 09.00-17.00 Micropreneur Co working, co-tribe Horley.  This free co-working day is set up at Co Tribe in Horley RH6 9AE, just pop along.

23 Jan 08.30-12.30 IT Certification Event - Pitman Training Centre, 19 Park Street, Croydon CR01YD.  Book your space.

24 Jan 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch- Business Strategy for the Year, Emma Wootton, The Noodle Plan, Town Hall, Reigate. Book your space

24 Jan 09.30- 14.00 How To Make 2018 Your Best Year Yet, Harlequin, Redhill, Book your space now

18 & 25 Jan 09.30-16.30 Let's Start a Business Workshop. Town Hall, Reigate. These highly interactive two-day workshops are for those people who are thinking about, or are in the process of starting up their own business and want to know more. Book your space now

25 Jan 17.30-19.30 Morrisons Solicitors Redhill and Reigate Connects, Old Reigation RFC, Park Lane ReigateRH2 8JX sponsored by Index Property Information book your space now

6 Feb 09.45-09.30 Surrey Chamber of Commerce Power Breakfast, with Nick Allsopp Reigate Manor Hotel, find and more and book your space now.

7 Feb 08.15-09.30 Redhill Business Guild Breakfast Club, Redhill.  Book your space now

7 Feb 17.00-19.00 Redhill and Reigate Business Forum, Making your Marque, Town Hall Reigate.  Book your space

14 Feb 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch- GDPR, Eddie Finch, Chapter Three Consulting, Town Hall, Reigate. Book your space.

15 & 22 Feb 09.30-16.30 Let's Start a Business Workshop. These highly interactive two-day workshops are for those people who are thinking about, or are in the process of starting up their own business and want to know more. Book your space now

7 March 07.45-09.30 Surrey Chambers, Pure Breakfast, Epsom Downs Racecourse.  Book your space now

14 March 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Marketing – Nicola MacDonald, Attractive Marketing, Town Hall, Reigate. Book your space.

22 & 29 Mar 09.30-16.30 Let's Start a Business Workshop. These highly interactive two-day workshops are for those people who are thinking about, or are in the process of starting up their own business and want to know more. Book your space now

18 April 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Social Media for small business, finding content – Emma Turner, My Social Secretary, Town Hall, Reigate. Book your space

16 May 12.00-14.00 Learning Lunch Increase the profit in your business without increasing your sales – Karen Espley, The Chameleon Guide, Town Hall, Reigate. Book your space.

There are only a few spaces remaining for 24 Januarys Learning Lunch.  Come and hear Emma Wootton from the Noodle Plan talk about creating an effective business strategy for the year so you can make 2018 the most productive it can be.

Book your space now.

Do you want to develop a completely new business idea or review and improve an existing offering? By using a business model canvas, it can be the first vital – step in the process. Download a business model canvas template .

The Council has a statutory duty to consult local businesses as part of the budgetary process.  The 2018/19 budget headline figures are below:

Savings & Growth

• The Council continues to deliver service to a high standard, with all key service targets being met.  The savings for 2018/19 have been proposed whilst maintaining all of our services.
• In November the Executive received and approved for consultation proposals which identified net savings of £0.6247m.  It is now recommended that these savings be accepted. 

Local Government Financial Settlement

• The Government announced in December 2015 that our grant funding for 2016/17 would be £0.5m and for 2017/18 onwards it would be zero.  This was confirmed in December 2016. 
• The level of Business Rates we are permitted to retain for use in 2018/19 has also been confirmed as £2.292m.  This information is the latest release updated as at February 2017.

Council Tax

• In order to manage the reductions in government funding whilst maintaining quality services the Council has adopted a new commercial approach to funding.  Nevertheless, the Medium Term Financial Plan forecasts that modest Council Tax increases will still be required.
  In addition, the Government has proposed no freeze grant for 2018/19.
• For these reasons the budget is based on a recommended 3% (or £6.43) increase in 2018/19.  This would increase a Band D charge from £214.44 to £220.87 - an increase of 12 pence per week for Borough Council services.

Budget

• The net budget for 2018/19 will be £15.496m.
  
  This will be funded from:

£m

General Government Grant       0.0
Retained NNDR                        2.292
Council Tax                              13.204

Total                                         15.496

If you have any comments on this budget please e mail our Business Accountant.

Businesses in Reigate & Banstead are among those being encouraged to take part in free training to help women being abused by partners find help.

The training is part of a new campaign from Women’s Aid called Change that Lasts. Independent and small businesses are often well placed to notice when a woman – perhaps a customer or member of staff – might be being abused by a partner. Women’s Aid wants to make sure that the first time a woman speaks out about abuse, she is heard, believed and guided towards the specialist support she needs to regain her independence.

Training sessions are taking place in Redhill (7 and 8 February) and Oxted (14 and 15 March) and are free to attend.

The training covers understanding why abuse happens and what it is, how to respond when someone talks about it and where to direct them for help. Participants are encouraged to talk about abuse in their networks and communities – such as in team meetings or on social media.

Anyone - men and women – can sign up for the training. Find out more.

Due to continued growth, Shopper Anonymous are looking for mystery shoppers throughout Surrey and Hampshire. Shopper Anonymous are one of Britain's biggest  mystery shopping firms, with 26 franchisees countrywide and over 1000 clients. 

If have an eye for detail and appreciate great customer service, do drop them an email at  or check their website for information and to apply to become a mystery shopper online.

Surrey Digital Awards 2018 Entries are now open for the Surrey Digital Awards 2018.  Closing date 19 January.

FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards 2018 entries are now open, closing date 12 January.

Reigate & Banstead Business Support Grant Do you have a business based in the borough with less than four employees? Are looking to grow?  Why not apply for our Business Support Grant of up to £1,000?

Small Business Grants Do you represent a business that have been trading for at least one year and has a turnover of between £50,000 and £500,000?
SmallBusiness.co.uk has launched a free-to-enter competition called Small Business Grants, offering £5,000 every month.

Do you need start-up funding for your business?  Struggling to get funding from a mainstream provider? Have a look at responsible finance provider Fredericks Foundation who may be able to help.