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Latest Updates From Surrey Chambers CEO – 23rd February 2022

23rd February 2022

We are firing on all cylinders at Surrey Chambers as we start delivering some long-awaited face to face events. Our first Members networking evening enticed over 50 people to the new Login Business Lounge workspace in Camberley and our International Women’s Day event is proving so popular we have had to move to a bigger venue!

Latest Covid rule changes

The latest announcements move us closer to pre-pandemic trading conditions. However, for many firms, this move will not be without its challenges and Government must not pass public health decisions onto the business community, who are not public health experts. Our members continue to tell us that access to free testing is key to managing workplace sickness and maintaining consumer confidence. If the government is to remove this, companies must still be able to access tests on a cost-effective basis. As a network of Chambers, we will be consulting with Government to help shape the new guidance for businesses that will be developed. It is critical that a variety of issues and scenarios be fully addressed by this. Businesses need clarity if they are to operate at maximum capacity, as well as keep consumers and employee’s confidence high. We also need to understand how Government will respond to further variants of concern – or indeed a future pandemic – and what support would be put in place if new guidance or mandatory restrictions are introduced that have a negative impact on the economy. Firms will only truly be able to ‘Live with Covid’ when they are confident that a plan is in place for future outbreaks. Uncertainty will put a brake on investment and the shadow of the pandemic could continue to loom over our economy for some time to come.

New initiative

Surrey Chambers of Commerce are excited to announce that we have launched a joint project between the Chambers and a panel of Surrey based business investors. The Surrey Business Accelerator has been set up to support ambitious business leaders who are eager to grow their companies and who are looking for investment and mentoring from successful entrepreneurs who have built and sold their own businesses and are now looking to pass on their experience and financial backing. Aiming to help revitalise the critical scale-up end of small businesses in Surrey, successful candidates will be provided with valuable financial investment and invaluable business mentoring and experience to boost them to their next level of growth.

The initiative is opening with a launch event which is going to be held on the evening of the 30thMarch at the Login Business Lounge, Camberley. Any interested business owners are invited to attend, and they will get to meet key people involved with the initiative and receive valuable information and advice. Even if investment is not in their plans right now, this inspirational event will be invaluable for helping them work out when they should plan for -and what they need to build into their business- to achieve investment success. Having attended the launch event, they will then have a clear idea as to whether or not applying for investment is right for them and whether or not their business potentially fulfils the investors’ criteria. Applications will then be invited from prospective candidates and the selection process will begin. Full details including the agenda and list of guest speakers can be seen on the Surrey Chambers website.

Surrey Chambers of Commerce can be reached on 01483 735540, info@surrey-chambers.co.uk, @surreychambers www.surrey-chambers.co.uk