Intelligent, Networked, Innovative Surrey is open for business. Showcased here are selected examples of the range of opportunities available for your business in Surrey, whether you are a multi-national corporation seeking headquarters or a start-up looking for the best connected location.
Invest in Surrey can offer you tailored advice and support to assist you with identifying the best location for your business, in addition to a property search facility. Please contact usto discuss your requirements.
Enterprise Zone
Surrey is fortunate to have an enterprise zone in its area. EZ³ is a multi-site enterprise zone, comprising three sites; Basing View, Longcross (in Surrey) and Whitehill & Bordon. The three unique sites are connected through the value of innovation, 5G communications, cyber security and sustainable technologies. The sites offer a range of potential benefits including 100% business rates discount, worth up to £275,000 over a five year period.
Sites and premises
Please see Invest in Surrey sites and premises for a sample of available commercial property in Surrey. A list of business parks in the county can be found here: business parks (March 2017).
Incubation space
Surrey has a range of incubation space available across the county. Additional property options can be found on the Business is Great website, see http://www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/find-the-right-business-premises/.
MIPIM UK 2017 sites and premises
- Camberley Town Centre
- Egham Gateway East & West
- Bedford Wharf, Guildford
- Guildford Park, Guildford
- Slyfield, Guildford
- Longcross, Chertsey
- Surrey County Council, Extra Care
- Surrey County Council, Joint Venture
- Transform Leatherhead.
Find out more about MIPIM UK.
Skills and research
Surrey has a proven track-record of innovation and research, supported by significant public and private sector investment in research and development, and its four universities:
University of Surrey
University of Surrey is a UK top 10 university, with Centres of Excellence in cyber security and space engineering. The university is renowned for its research in science and technology, with a more recent focus on business and enterprise. Students are supported to undertake placements in industry as part of their studies.
The university's Research Park is a major Centre of Excellence in technology, science, health and engineering, and is home to over 110 companies ranging from start-ups through to HQs of technology companies.
Royal Holloway University of London
Royal Holloway is a UK top 20 university. The World List of Universities and Other Institutions of Higher Education places Royal Holloway within the top 1 percent of all higher education institutes worldwide.
Its Information Security Group is the largest academic information security team in the world and a Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Research.
The University for Creative Arts
The University for Creative Arts specialises in art and design and is spread over five campuses in the south of England, including two in Surrey. The university has long-established relationships with business, cultural and creative industries and a wealth of experience in collaborative working.
The University of Law
The University of Law is the UK's longest-established specialist provider of legal education. It has eight centres in seven cities across the UK and specialises in providing professional law degrees for students who wish to pursue a career in the legal sector. Its Surrey centre is located in Guildford.
Research Centres
- The Pirbright Institute - world leading Centre of Excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals.
- Campden BRI - UK's largest independent membership-based organisation carrying out research and development for the food and drinks industry worldwide.
- The Lilly Research Centre - recognised as Centre of Excellence in neuroscience research and produces prolific work in the discovery and development of new potential medicines.
- UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) - part of the Department of Space and Climate Physics of the University College London (UCL) and is the UK's largest university space research group.
Workforce information
Surrey's boroughs and districts are among the most competitive in the UK, based on their percentage of knowledge-based businesses. Six of the eleven Surrey districts are in the top 25 nationally.
There are 1.1 million people living in Surrey, with a working age population (aged 16-64) of 0.7 million. This is projected to rise by almost 20% by 2033. Surrey has a highly skilled workforce, with almost 44% qualified to degree level or higher, compared to 34% nationally (source: ONS data).
Currently, over half of all jobs in Surrey are in the top occupational categories covering managers, senior and professional occupations. Over the next 20 years, there is forecast to be a further shift towards these higher end occupations, as knowledge based sectors drive innovation and enterprise.
