1. 1
Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
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Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
Headlines
 SABMiller’s closure In Woking will lead to more than 500 workers facing unemployment.
 Software company Quortus has relocated its headquarters from Wimbledon to Camberley.
 Wey House, a 45,000 sq ft office building in Guildford, has been acquired by Guildford Borough
Council.
Data and analysis – labour market
Unemployment, measured by the number of Job Seeker Allowance (JSA) claimants, decreased in July by
130 claimants to 3,358 (0.5%). See Figure 1 (below) for the trend over the last 12 months.
Figure 1: JSA claimants, Surrey, July 2015 – July 2016
The unemployment rate (JSA claimant
count) varies amongst Surrey’s boroughs
and districts from 0.4% in Elmbridge,
Mole Valley, Surrey Heath, Waverley and
Woking to 0.7% in Spelthorne (July
2016).
Source: Nomis
Figure 2: JSA claimants, Surrey, July 2007 – July 2016
The unemployment rate has fallen
over recent years from a peak of
2.1% in January 2010 to 0.5% now
(July 2016). Figure 2 shows the long
term trends in unemployment. The
current rates of unemployment are
below the rates recorded
immediately before the last
recession.
Surrey has a low rate of
unemployment relative to
comparable economic areas
including Cambridgeshire (0.6%),
Hampshire (0.6%), Oxfordshire (0.4%) and West Sussex (0.7%).

2. 2
Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
Business intelligence1
All Surrey’s local authorities and several private sector partners are working together to showcase Surrey
at MIPIM UK 2016. MIPIM UK is the UK's largest exhibition and conference for property professionals. It
provides a market place for UK and international investors to network and discuss investment
opportunities. At MIPIM UK partners will work together to showcase Surrey as a premier location to do
business, whilst outlining some specific investment opportunities in the county.
SABMiller’s recent closure has left more than 500 workers facing unemployment in Woking. The brewer
was purchased by Anheuser-Busch InBev for £70 billion in 2015. The new company headquarters will be
in Belgium. SABMiller’s closure will leave 523 employees looking for work.
Telecoms software company Quortus has relocated its headquarters and main engineering centre from
Wimbledon to a 7,500 sq ft base in at Watchmoor Park, Camberley. The new location will accommodate
the company's development, support and commercial teams.
A 45,000 sq ft office building in the centre of Guildford has been acquired by Guildford Borough Council.
Wey House has been purchased for an undisclosed sum. The building is located within 200 metres of
Guildford mainline station and is adjacent to other council land holdings.
Tandridge District Council, in partnership with Circle Housing, has successfully completed negotiations on
the redevelopment of 1-20 Ninehams Gardens, Caterham. Work can now start to build 35 homes, which
will be completed in early 2018.
Plans to build more than 250 homes on the edge of Tongham, look set to be given the go-ahead.
Guildford Borough Council's planning committee have recommended to approve an outline planning
application for up to 254 homes on land at Manor Farm. The applicant, Gleeson Developments, is also
seeking full planning permission to change the use of agricultural land to public open space.
Tesco has agreed to sell its Euphorium bakery business, which includes a factory in Weybridge, as the
group looks to focus on its core supermarket operations. The plant will be taken over by Samworth
Brothers.
Shares in Swiss agribusiness group Syngenta (Guildford) have risen 12% after its takeover by ChemChina
was given the go-ahead by US regulators. The £33 billion deal is set to be the biggest ever foreign
takeover by a Chinese company.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer, based in Tadworth, is reportedly in advanced talks to buy cancer drug
company Medivation for about £10.7 billion. San Francisco-based Medivation produces the prostate-
cancer treatment Xtandi.
Capital & Regional is considering the sale of The Mall, Camberley after receiving an unsolicited offer for
the shopping centre of around £88.5 million. The 390,000 sq ft centre attracts around 9.7 million visitors
a year. In May Capital & Regional received permission for a £4.5 million revamp of the centre.
1
Sources include Insider Media, CoStar Group and Surrey News.

3. 3
Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
W Stirland has been chosen to complete the construction of a new community hub and shops in
Merstham. Work on the Triangle site will start at the end of August. The project is expected to be
completed in spring 2017. The previous contractor, T&A Kernoghan, went into administration.
Businesses have been invited to enter the SME Surrey Business Awards 2016. The awards are open to all
businesses with less than 250 employees. For more information see here.
Stonham Co (based in Guildford) which specialises in turnaround, restructuring and insolvency services
has merged with Burton Sweet Corporate Recovery. The combined firm will eventually be known as
Burton Sweet Corporate Recovery.
Guildford-based Beard has started construction on an extension at Guildford County School, funded by
Surrey County Council. The extension will allow the 1,049-pupil co-educational day school to increase its
student intake by 100 places. Last year the school received 719 applications for 160 places.
The partners in the bid for devolution for Sussex and Surrey have written to Sajid Javid, the new
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to press their case. The letter is signed by the
leaders or chairs of 31 partners in the bid. The leaders have stressed that the area’s current economic
power cannot be taken for granted and is already being hampered by creaking infrastructure.
Something Big, a creative communications agency based in Woking is offering hot-desking opportunities,
as well as a more permanent space-sharing offering. Hotdeskers and space-sharers can benefit from
working in a creative atmosphere, make use of some of the facilities and are also welcome to attend Big
Lowdown workshops that are run monthly.
Reigate-based Insurance group eSure has reported a slight dip in profits. According to the company's
interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016 underlying profit before tax fell to £45.6 million
(from £46.5 million in 2015). It said the figures had been affected by "adverse weather events".
Asda has agreed to sell its loss-making photo division to Bookham-based Photo-Me in a £6 million deal.
Photo-Me will buy 191 photo centres, as well as 172 self-service kiosk sites.
Highes Marine Engineering, a commercial diving and civil engineering services business with an office in
Staines has been bought by James Fisher and Sons. The business operates in the marine renewables,
power generation, oil and gas and inshore civil engineering sectors.
Timber merchant AW Champion has opened a new site in Weybridge. The branch on Vickers Drive North
was opened following a deal brokered by Guildford-based property firm Bruton Knowles.
Gatwick Airport has recently published a new report examining the importance of the airport to the
regional economy, and highlighting future employment opportunities and skills needed as Gatwick grows.
Playing a strong economic role is an important part of their 10 year sustainability strategy ‘Decade of
Change’. The airport is reporting strong progress at its halfway point, including a 16.6% reduction in
energy use, 29.3% less water used and 43% of passengers using public transport.
The airport is in the middle of a £2.5 billion investment programme, spending around £250 million a year
improving facilities and services for passengers. Just over £74.1 million is spent as part of their ongoing
commitment to promote business opportunities for local companies. Reports are available here

4. 4
Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
Ingenium IDS, a digital marketing and database firm has been bought by Glasgow-based BiP Solutions.
The newly acquired company, which employs 35 staff and generated revenues of £1.5 million in 2016, has
an office in Godalming.
The Wireless Works, a Godalming-based provider of radio frequency and communication services, has
been acquired by audiovisual specialist Creative Technology (a subsidiary of Avesco Group).
Guildford-based the Gym Group has reported improved profitability and a double-digit rise in revenue.
The Gym Group reported revenue of £36.1 million for the first half of 2016, an increase of more than 25
per cent from a year earlier. This was achieved by a 19.4 per cent increase in membership numbers.
Orb Financial Services, an employee benefits consultant based in Esher has been bought by insurance
broker and risk management company Arthur J Gallagher. Law firm Mundays advised the company.
Egham-headquartered Frog Bikes is reshoring the manufacture of its children’s bicycles back to the UK
with the opening of a new factory in Wales. Frog Bikes opened a new factory after receiving £1.7 million
in funding from HSBC and support from the Welsh Government. The site is the company’s first
manufacturing facility in the UK and will lead to the creation of up to 50 new jobs.
Active Surrey is running a Surrey Employee September challenge on the workplace challenge website. All
employees need to do is register on the website: www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/activesurrey and then
start logging all their activities for the month of September. Anyone logging in will be eligible for prizes
with prizes also going to the most active workplace and individual.
Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development has teamed up with the Expressions Partnership and will be
running a free taster session on Box Hill on Friday 23rd September. Surrey Outdoor Learning &
Development is a training and development company that provides management training, team building,
graduate and apprentice training and employability skills courses. The event is an ideal opportunity to
network with other like minded individuals/ companies. Email j.thorpe@expressionspartnership.com for
further information.
Prater Ltd, a specialist building envelope contractor based in Salford’s has been shortlisted for multiple
prestigious Offsite Awards following their work on London Bridge and London Bridge Station. For these
projects the contractor was shortlisted for Best Hybrid Construction Project and Commercial/Retail
Project of the Year. Their work includes a range of high profile projects and clients such as the Olympic
Stadium, The University of Cambridge, Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted Airport.
The Belfry Shopping Centre, based in Redhill, has been shortlisted as a finalist for a national recycling
award after achieving its goal of sending no rubbish to landfill in 2015. The Centre is well known for its
commitment to the Redhill environment, with sustainability programmes which include 100% of
electricity from renewable sources, energy-efficient lighting in the Centre and car park, and engagement
with local community groups and charities in the area.
Surrey Chambers of Commerce/ ExportSurrey have secured the Department of International Trade
Exporting is GREAT Hub for the day on Tuesday 18th
October and will be located on the Surrey Research
Park, Guildford. The event will target ‘new’ exporters, those who have been thinking about exporting
and have the potential capacity but have not yet started. There will be 10/15 minute ‘snapshot’ sessions
throughout the day on a variety of export related topics.

5. 5
Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
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You are invited to 'We Are Surrey' a social value event aimed at connecting businesses and communities
for the benefit of local people - 3-6:30pm, 28th
September 2016, Canon (UK) Ltd, Reigate, RH2 8BF
 Share your passions at the Ideas Cafe - meet like minded people and think about solutions to
some of Surrey’s big challenges in a range of dynamic conversations that start a different way of
thinking. Topics include the local economy, sustainability and Surrey’s workforce.
 Get inspired at our interactive marketplace - The exhibition space will showcase a hundred
inspirational opportunities. Learn how to promote employee wellbeing and find partners who
could help you, use your business skills to help young people meet your skills shortage, network
with social enterprises that could be part of your supply chain and find creative opportunities for
your employee volunteers.
 Celebrate what’s good at the Community Film Festival - an opportunity to hear real life stories of
how your support is making a big difference. Hosted by Creative Colony, a local social enterprise.
 For more information, or to book your place, contact: thomas.davis@surreycc.gov.uk
**************************************************************************************
National news2
Local authorities need new powers to speed up the delivery of their housing plans South East England
Councils (SEEC) has said. In its evidence to the Commons Communities and Local Government Committee
inquiry into the Local Plans Expert Group report, SEEC has called on MPs for action to help turn the South
East’s 66,751 unused planning permissions into homes. SEEC’s submission highlighted the growth of
unused permissions (up from 54,762 in 2009-10) as proof that it is not the planning process that is
holding back house building. For more information see here.
Crawley Borough Council has confirmed that Permitted Development Rights allowing the conversion of
commercial buildings to housing without planning permission on Manor Royal have been removed.
Directions are now in place to help protect the Business District for business.
The Chancellor has insisted that projects supporting economic development across the UK and reliant on
the promise of EU funding will be guaranteed financial support. These assurances mean that all
structural and investment fund projects, including agri-environment schemes, signed before the
upcoming Autumn Statement will be fully funded, even when these projects continue beyond the UK’s
departure from the EU. The Treasury has also announced it will put in place arrangements for assessing
whether to guarantee funding for specific structural and investment fund projects that might be signed
after the Autumn Statement, but while the UK remains a member of the EU. For more information see
here.
Liberty has submitted an outline planning application to Horsham Borough Council for a residential-led
mixed use development of up to 2,750 new homes, a 46,450 sqm business park, retail units, a community
centre, leisure and educational facilities and public open space. See here for more information.
The government has signalled its intention to launch an industrial strategy that could widen the Northern
Powerhouse concept into a nationwide agenda. The Prime Minister has chaired the first meeting of the
Economy and Industrial Strategy Committee. The government said the new committee, which brings
2
Sources include Insider Media, CoStar Group and Surrey News.

6. 6
Surrey Economic Prospects – August 2016
together secretaries of state from 11 government departments, would help to drive forward a strategy
that "will focus on delivering an economy that works for everyone".
Optimism among the UK's small and medium-sized manufacturers has fallen sharply, according to a new
study from the CBI. The CBI's latest Quarterly SME Trends Survey found the amount of new orders was
unchanged in the three months to July. However, the majority of businesses expected the figure to fall in
the coming three months. 53 per cent said they were less optimistic about the future compared to 8 per
cent who expressed confidence. The decline was the sharpest since January 2009.
Further details of the government's apprenticeship levy have been released, but the plans have received
a mixed reaction from business leaders. The apprenticeship levy requires all employers operating in the
UK, with a pay bill of more than £3 million each year, to make an investment in apprenticeships. The levy
will be charged at a rate of 0.5 per cent of the annual wage bill.
A scheme has been unveiled to give households cash payments worth thousands of pounds if shale
drilling occurs in their areas. Campaigners have accused the government of trying to silence the public
into accepting fracking.
The Mayor of London has called on the Prime Minister to show the world that 'London is open for
business' by making a swift decision on airport expansion. Sadiq Khan has outlined how he believes
backing Gatwick would send a message to the world that London is open for business, providing the
additional aviation capacity needed to keep the capital competing with other major global cities.
Strategic housing development should be allowed in the metropolitan green belt to halt its piecemeal
development and alleviate pressure on the wider South East, according to a new report from the LSE.
The report argues that one way to achieve strategic development would be along a limited number of
corridors. Corridors would be bounded by 'green wedges' with green spaces which would be improved
environmentally, aesthetically and for recreational purposes. See here for more information.
The Bank of England Agents’ Summary of Business Conditions can be downloaded here.
Mark Pearson
Director of Business Growth
Surrey County Council
mark.pearson@surreycc.gov.uk