Woking Business Guide. 2021.

WOKING BUSINESS GUIDE

in and I cannot praise the staff here settled into our new office and there

“The team at Lansbury have bent over backwards to help us, with our every request since we have moved highly enough. We very quickly is a lovely feel on the estate, with so many small businesses here.”

“As a Fine Artist, I’ve been extremely privileged to get a large space as my studio and Art class room. I can safely say this is the best possible location I’ve ever had. No task is too big or small for the Lansbury team. All in all, I’m delighted with my decision to be here...”

“We moved in 2019 and the Lansbury team have always been very helpful and supportive to any requests. It’s a pleasure working here and I couldn’t recommend it more highly, in fact I wish I had moved here years ago!”

“Lansbury Business Estate is a fabulous location for our Judo club, and the team have gone above and beyond to help us set up the facility exactly how we need it for our business.”

“I couldn’t be more pleased to be part of Lansbury Estate, with such a warm welcome and having found the perfect airy space for Bake with Jack studio surrounded by friendly businesses. Lansbury have been so accommodating exactly how I imagined, where I can get some proper work done.”

with the flexibility to make the space

“We moved in 2020 and have been very impressed with the team who’ve gone the extra mile to help during very challenging times. They’ve been there every step of the way, assisting with internet provision, helping to move and sorting issues without delay. We’ve felt very welcomed and are pleased to be part of their business community.”

WOKING BUSINESS GUIDE

sales@mybusinessclient.com Web: www.mybusinessclient.com

Please note: This publication is wholly or partially funded by the advertisers herein and the publisher. It is provided at no charge to the Council.

Our Advertisers: We gratefully acknowledge the support of all the firms whose advertisements appear in these pages. Without their help we would not be able to produce this guide. As a reciprocal gesture we have pleasure in drawing the attention of our readers to their announcements, but wish to make it clear that Woking Borough Council can accept no responsibility for their products or services advertised.

All adverts correct at time they were signed off.

WELCOME TO WOKING

Situated in the heart of Surrey, 30 miles south west of the capital, Woking is a modern town surrounded by beautiful countryside and attractive villages.

London Waterloo is just 25 minutes away by train, offering Woking’s visitors and commuter residents an easy journey into the capital, combined with a great standard of living. Excellent rail links to the south coast and northern cities mean that Woking is perfectly positioned for business, with London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports within half-an-hour’s drive.

Woking is committed to an ambitious vision to become a destination of choice – a borough where winning businesses are located and people aspire to live. The UK Vitality Index for 2021, conducted by Lambert Smith Hampton, revealed that Woking is the UK’s best performing

location across a range of measures, spanning the economy, health outcomes and the local environment. While the Surrey town came out strongly across a broad range of indicators, it performed especially well for the Economy and Business, and Health and Environment measures.

Woking Borough Council’s Economic Strategy sets out its aim for Woking to be recognised as a premier global business location offering a connected, quality environment with a range of first class retail and independent shops, and leisure and cultural amenities, as well as high quality, affordable housing and services for its highlyskilled workforce.

The strategy sets out an overarching framework for achievement in the following mutually-supportive themes:

• Economic Dynamism

• Economic Strength

• People Skills and Workforce

• Transport and Infrastructure

• Place-Making

It forms a strategic plan for existing and all future Council policy and priorities, maintaining focus to build on success in order to become the first-choice growth location for businesses and people in Surrey and the wider South East region.

Paul Connett Builders

Paul Connett Builders Ltd

For the past 30 years, Paul Connett Builders Ltd has had the pleasure of providing a high quality service at a competitive price.

Based in Woking, we have satisfied customers throughout Surrey and can offer homeowners in Woking, Pyrford, West Byfleet, Weybridge, Knaphill, Horsell, Chobham and surrounding areas a first class service. Offering extensions, full refurbishments, patios, driveways to mention but a few, we also offer installations of kitchens and bathrooms.

Over the years we have built up strong working relationships with specialist contractors, that we are able to call upon to supply all building, structural and architectural services.

Our hardworking and considerate team complete all work to the highest standard, with the minimum of disruption to your home life.

THE LOCATION OF CHOICE

With a well-educated, diverse and knowledgeable workforce, and a resident population of almost 100,000 people, including business owners with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Woking has all the ingredients to help your business succeed.

There are over 5,300 businesses in Woking.

53.5%

of the population (aged 16-64) is qualified to NVQ Level 4 and above; 13.2% above the UK ’s average

Source: NOMIS, September 2020

*Source: InformDirect.co.uk, September 2020

1,03 4 new businesses were fo rmed in Woking in 2020.*

90% More than are micro businesses.

64.3% of employed people in Woking are in managerial, professional and technical occupations; 15.1% above the UK average.

Our major companies are underpinned by a vibrant SME sector. Major companies such as the Ambassador Theatre Group, Asahi, Capgemini, McLaren, and WWF have made the town their base, and continue to thrive in its ambitious climate. Recent additions to this portfolio include performing arts training company, Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, and the

Gordon Ramsay Academy for aspiring professional chefs. In addition, Sir Robert McAlpine – one of the country’s leading construction firms, and famous for constructing the London 2012 Olympic stadium - chose Woking for its south-east regional office in 2020, creating new employment opportunities for local people.

“WOKING HAS ALWAYS HAD A HIGH PROPORTION OF ENTREPRENEURS, AND FOR MANY, BEING MADE REDUNDANT WAS THE ‘STARTING PISTOL’ TO SETTING UP IN BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES. WOKING IS SEEN AS A BUSINESS HUB WITHIN SURREY, AND HAVING MORE THAN A THOUSAND NEW BUSINESSES REGISTER IN 2020 CONFIRMS THAT REPUTATION.”

Richard Field, President, Woking Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS SUPPORT

Woking Works is a partnership between Woking Borough Council’s Business Liaison Team, five key local businesses, two independent business advisors and local business organisations, designed to support business people and as they live, work and play in our Borough.

• Growth and scaling advice for SMEs

• Podcasts and webinars on business essentials

• Commercial property and premises portal

• High profile global events like TEDxWoking

“Hamlyns accountancy firm began as a start up in Woking almost 30 years ago. We chose to start our business here because it offers the best of both worlds.

Woking Works aims to encourage start-ups, support existing business and attract new businesses through relocation, in order to boost the growth, prosperity and vitality of our ambitious borough.

Woking Works began in 2007 as a simple business directory, but additionally now offers a far wider range of services:

• Expert advice for start-ups via one-to-one support

Woking Works partners include Air Social, Arcom IT, Moore Barlow LLP, Hamlyns Chartered Accountants, and NatWest Bank. Associate partners are Surrey Chambers of Commerce, Woking Asian Business Forum, Woking Chamber, and the Federation of Small Business, plus two independent personal business advisors.

We not only enjoy the benefits of a thriving local business scene but also the town being just a short train ride from London’s opportunities.

”Woking’s proactive can-do attitude fits with our own common sense ethos. Being part of Woking Works is a great way for us to put something back –we can spread the word about the services that the Council can offer, and help to nurture other businesses. Woking Works helps us to share our experiences and create a friendly working environment for other businesses that have also made Woking their home.”

Chris Shrubb, Hamlyns Chartered Accountancy

“I WOULD THOROUGHLY RECOMMEND START-UPS AND YOUNG BUSINESSES CONTACT THE WOKING WORKS TEAM IF THEY NEED ANY KIND OF BUSINESS HELP. I’M LOOKING AT EXPANDING MY COMPANY AND I KNEW THAT THEIR BUSINESS ADVISOR WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CLARITY FOR ME ON A NUMBER OF ISSUES, FROM RECRUITMENT TO INSURANCE.”

Alexandra Gómez englisheducation.london

START UP WOKING

Mel Hemmings started her business ‘Bare + Fair’ in December 2018, after hearing about the zero-waste movement and adopting the principles of living in a more eco-friendly way at home. Bare + Fair sells a range of products, from reusable straws, cups and bottles, to bamboo toothbrushes and a range of re-fillable household products.

Mel approached Woking Works in December 2018, for business advice, after seeing an advert for Start Up Woking. The team organised a one-to-one session with a Start Up business advisor to talk about finance, from bookkeeping to expanding the workforce. Mel also attended some Start Up Woking networking events to meet other entrepreneurs. Like her peers, Mel found the process of setting up in business a challenge: “I’ve been really grateful for the support that’s been available in Woking for business start-ups. It helped that I signed up with Woking Works. It’s been really encouraging to meet other people who are in a similar position.”

Since then, Mel has attended a variety of free workshops in Woking, covering such topics as maximising your profits, utilising social media, business resilience, mental well-being, and collaboration. She has also benefitted from further sessions with her Start Up Woking business advisor.

Starting with a small idea, and with the right support, Mel has hugely grown her business from a Saturday morning stall in Woking’s Market Walk. In June 2020

Mel switched from her market stall to provide a free local home delivery service. This proved so successful with Mel’s loyal customer base that, just before Christmas 2020, Mel was helped by Woking Borough Council to move into a retail unit in one of Woking’s shopping centres. Mel is determined to keep growing her business and raise awareness about sustainable living.

https://bareandfair.co/

Woking is the home of internationally renowned charity WWF-UK. The eye-catching Living Planet Centre features a stunning arched timber roof and a range of innovative sustainable building technologies including photovoltaic panels, natural thermal heating and green roofs, helping the building to blend in with its home on the Basingstoke Canal. An attractive visitor centre and special events enable adults and children to learn more about this environmental giant’s influence throughout the world.

“2021 is the start of a vital decade for nature and for our climate. At the end of this decade, we will look back on this year as a turning point. By 2030, nature and wildlife could be recovering all around us. Our film ‘Our Planet, Our Business’, inspired by the Our Planet Netflix series, combines stunning wildlife footage with the voices of influential business leaders to explain the immense value of nature to our economy, and the critical role that business can play in tackling the global environmental crisis.”

WORKING SPACES

Woking can offer a wide range of commercial property for sale and to lease. The Woking Works website offers a portal of currently available premises at www.wokingworks.com/property

Collaborate

Collaborate is a friendly, independent and flexible servicedoffice space in central Woking.

Situated conveniently on Commercial Way, its business centre is a hub for SME businesses, freelancers and start-ups, just a few minutes’ walk from Woking’s mainline station.

The spaces available to let are newly refurbished, bright and light offices, and include all facilities, plus a super-fast 1-Gbit fibre broadband connection. Our broadband is suitable for VOIP calling, video conferences, Zoom and Google Meet calling. We also have telephone booths for making private phone calls.

With options from three to 10 desks, dedicated single desks, or

flexible co-working (hot desk), contract terms can be short or long. Collaborate also offers private meeting rooms for hire, break-out areas and three funky kitchens, all with complimentary Nespresso coffee.

Space

Other town centre workspaces include Space, which offers large, open plan flexible floorplates totalling 87,010 sq ft over basement, ground and seven upper floors. Designed to a market-leading specification and benefiting from impressive sustainability credentials, the building has an EPC A(21) rating and a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ (74.2%) rating. The top floor features a large outdoor terrace with extensive views of acres of green woodland at Horsell Common and the London landscape.

WWF-UK

© Richard Stonehouse

“WOKING IS A GREAT PLACE FOR WWF, OFFERING EXCELLENT PUBLIC TRANSPORT LINKS AND LOCAL AMENITIES ALONGSIDE FANTASTIC NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.”

Robert Hardy, Executive Director of Operations, WWF-UK

“

Adam Bond established The School of Drumming in 2017. An experienced drummer himself, Adam studied professional music performance at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, before going on to work in music education. Adam joined Start Up Woking in February 2018.

After graduating from the ACM, Adam started out hiring space at local studios or travelling to people’s homes to teach lessons. But he soon found that the cost and time of moving equipment was too high. So by May 2018, he had opened up his own space in Woking town centre, complete with stateof-the-art drum equipment for adults and children. The space means that students can now practice with the added bonus of mirrors and video, helping them develop their technique.

Adam’s clients range from age six to 60, and he offers one-toone teaching to people who are

learning for the first time, through to those looking to develop their skills. But Adam admits he needed to develop a strategy to grow and attract more customers. He had the vision for The School of Drumming but needed the business skills and expertise of Start Up Woking to make his dream a reality.

At his one-to-one sessions, Adam’s business advisor broke down his

THE BASINGSTOKE CANAL RUNS FOR NINE OF ITS 32 MILES THROUGH THE BOROUGH, AND CAN BE EXPLORED ON FOOT, BY BOAT OR PADDLE BOARD, OR CYCLING

ideas and spoke practically about the areas Adam needed to work on, such as admin and marketing, by drawing on his own years of real life business experience. Adam also benefitted from networking and meeting with other entrepreneurs, and even found his bookkeeper at one. He also benefitted from workshops on branding and accountancy.

BUSINESS PARKS

There are 15 industrial estates and business parks within Woking Borough, offering high quality buildings and landscaping to suit a range of business needs.

(see page 18).

“THE FACT WE’RE JOINED BY THE LIKES OF MCLAREN, WWF-UK AND CAPGEMINI SHOWS IT’S A STRONG HUB FOR GLOBAL COMPANIES, PARTLY DOWN TO ITS PROXIMITY TO HEATHROW AND LONDON. BUT LOCAL BUSINESSES ALSO BENEFIT FROM SUPPORT AND INVESTMENT FROM THE LOCAL COUNCIL AND SURREY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, BOTH OF WHOM WE ARE PROUD TO WORK WITH TO HELP WOKING CONTINUE TO GROW AS A BUSINESS LOCATION.”

Gary Haigh, MD, Asahi UK

MODERN SURREY LIVING

In Woking Town Centre, you will find convenient, high-quality shopping facilities, a superb range of dining options across a world of cuisines, an award-winning art gallery, and West End entertainment and culture, nestled alongside a pleasant, green-belt environment.

The Borough of Woking is made up of distinct neighbourhood areas and village centres, each with their own identity, offering a wealth of living choices.

The Basingstoke Canal runs for nine of its 32 miles through the borough, and can be explored on foot, by boat or paddle board, or cycling on the resurfaced, all-weather towpath. The Wey Navigation also provides boating and pleasant walks along its banks in the west of the borough, and Horsell and Chobham Commons offer thousands of acres of peaceful woods and heathland to enjoy.

Woking has approximately 40,000 households, with a growing choice of quality homes available, from ultra-modern apartments to large family homes and unique character

properties. Affordable housing schemes and shared-ownership options are also part of Woking’s offer to help more people live and work in the borough. ‘Woking 2027’, the Council’s dedicated planning policy, identifies the need for 5,000 new homes to meet the future needs of residents and incoming workers.

Across Woking Borough, there are 25 primary age state schools, eight of which have nursery provision. Additionally, Woking offers two special schools that provide education for children and young people with learning difficulties, with a third proposed for the future. Of the four secondary schools in the Borough, one offers sixth form provision, as does Woking College. There is also a range of independent schools, including

Greenfields, Hoe Bridge and St. Andrew’s. There is also easy access by train and bus to local sixth form colleges in Guildford, Farnborough and Godalming, as well as to the University of Surrey (Guildford), University of Kingston, and Royal Holloway (Egham).

THE FUTURE IS NOW

High street retailer, Marks & Spencer, has signed a lease for a two-level 50,000 square foot clothing and food store that will become the focal point for the transformed western quarter of Woking town centre.

With construction works well underway to one of the region’s most ambitious retail and residential developments, Victoria Square, Bandstand Square Developments Ltd (BSDL) has announced the successful completion of two valuable commercial contracts and the relocation of a large international employer, which will create exciting new employment, retail and leisure opportunities within the town.

International hospitality operator, Hilton, is scheduled to open its new hotel in Woking in 2022, which will

feature 196 guest rooms, including 12 suites, a lobby bar, all-day dining restaurant, stylish Sky Bar, and an on-site coffee shop.

In addition to Marks & Spencer and Hilton Woking, the Victoria Square development will deliver more than 75,000 square feet of new retail floor space, 390 residential apartments, a medical centre, 284 additional car parking spaces and two new public plazas.

CELEBRATE WOKING

The borough of Woking has a rich heritage, great places and inspiring spaces to visit and enjoy, such as Grade-I listed Shah Jahan Mosque, The Lightbox gallery and museum, the Surrey History Centre, The Muslim Peace Garden, Brookwood Cemetery, Basingstoke Canal, The Living Planet Centre, New Victoria Theatre, Nova Cinema, Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking Leisure Centre and Pool in the Park.

The New Victoria Theatre, which hosts West End touring shows, seats approximately 1,300 people, making it one of the largest receiving house theatres outside London. In addition to the main auditorium, the complex also features the Rhoda McGaw community theatre.

The recently-refurbished Nova cinema complex has seven stylish screens, including one luxury screen and a cutting-edge media suite for community and business hire.

The Lightbox gallery and museum, located alongside the picturesque Basingstoke Canal, attracts exhibitions from well-known artists. It is an award-winning charitable arts and heritage organisation with a social purpose to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of its community. Woking’s cultural scene has never been livelier.

The Celebrate Woking programme of annual events highlights the breadth of cultural and community events open to residents and visitors.

THE LIGHTBOX GALLERY AND MUSEUM, LOCATED ALONGSIDE THE PICTURESQUE BASINGSTOKE CANAL, ATTRACTS EXHIBITIONS FROM WELL-KNOWN ARTISTS

“

COUNCIL SERVICES

Woking Borough Council provides a wide range of services for the benefit of local residents, businesses and organisations.

Building Control

The Council’s Building Control team works with people commissioning construction work and builders to help them comply with regulations ensuring the health and safety of people in and around buildings. These regulations also cover energy conservation and access and facilities for disabled people.

www.woking.gov.uk/planning/ building

Business Liaison

The Council’s Business Liaison team works closely with businesses and other organisations to help bring commercial and economic improvement to the Borough. One of the Council’s priorities is to support the economy through the attraction of inward investment.

www.wokingworks.com

Business Rates

National non-domestic rates, or business rates, are collected by local councils, and are the means by which businesses, and others who occupy non-domestic property, contribute towards the cost of local services. The rates are pooled by central government and then redistributed to local councils according to the number of people living in the area.

www.woking.gov.uk/business/ business-rates

Environmental Health

The Environmental Health team operates a service which aims to ensure the highest standards of public health, safety and welfare are maintained within our Borough.

www.woking.gov.uk/business/ environmental-health

Estate Management

Estates is responsible for the Council’s commercial portfolio: retail parades, office stock, shopping centres and industrial estates. It also manages acquisitions and disposals, and Right to Buy applications.

www.woking.gov.uk/property-andland/asset-management

Green Infrastructure

The Council has prepared a number of strategies to coordinate efforts to create a sustainable Borough, by reducing our impact on the environment whilst working to meet other identified needs.

www.woking.gov.uk/nature-andsustainability/natural-woking

Pre-planning advice

If relocating or expanding your business involves an application for change-of-use or adapting your premises, the Council provides a paid-for pre-application advice service.

www.woking.gov.uk/preapplication-advice

USEFUL CONTACTS

ActionSurrey

Surrey’s low carbon community, ActionSurrey, offers advice to businesses and their employees, residents, and schools on how to reduce energy and water consumption.

www.actionsurrey.org

Car Club Surrey

Convenient, affordable and easier on the environment, Enterprise Car Club Surrey is a membershipbased car club scheme that offers short-term, affordable access to a car, while positively contributing to the objective of a cleaner, greener Borough.

www.enterprisecarclub.co.uk

Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership

Woking Borough Council is a member of the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The partnership, made up of business and public sector organisations, ensures that the economic priorities of the area are best represented. The LEP also aims to utilise the international strength of Surrey and ensure that the Borough has the capacity to compete on the world stage and continue to attract high quality investment.

www.enterprisem3.org.uk

Surrey Chambers of Commerce

Surrey Chambers of Commerce is the county’s largest independent not-for-profit business support and networking organisation, connecting over 5,000 business people every year.

www.surrey-chambers.co.uk

Thameswey Limited

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Woking Borough Council, Thameswey Ltd provides locallygenerated sustainable energy, and tailored advice on all aspects of sustainable energy and carbon reduction.

www.thamesweygroup.co.uk

West Byfleet Business Association

The WBBA is a collaboration of businesses based in West

Byfleet that supports the village’s economy and the community that surrounds it.

Woking Asian Business Forum

Formed to help promote, encourage and support the development of Asian businesses in the Borough of Woking and surrounding areas.

www.wabf.org.uk

Woking Chamber of Commerce

Formed in 1899, Woking Chamber of Commerce is the oldest independent Chamber in Surrey, representing the interests of hundreds of businesses and organisations, from blue chip companies and SMEs to charities and individual members.

www.wokingchamber.org.uk

WOKING’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Woking Borough Council’s current Economic Development Strategy runs from 2017 to 2022, when it is due to be reviewed.

Our aim remains for Woking to be a premier global business location and an excellent place to live and to work, with first class leisure and cultural amenities. Woking’s location at the heart of one of the fastest growing economic areas outside London, its entrepreneurial businesses, highly qualified and skilled people, exceptional communications and businessfriendly reputation, have driven outstanding economic performance in recent years. Woking’s Economic Development Action Plan is key to Woking’s recovery –getting the local economy back on course as quickly as possible after the pandemic, addressing the immediate challenges and making the most of emerging opportunities.

As part of a strategic, long-term vision to support smart and sustainable economic growth for the borough, Woking Borough Council is producing a digital transformation strategy that will seek to work with partners to implement a series

of programs such as Smart City, Industry 4.0. By expanding our fibre network to provide faster internet speeds for businesses, we aim to help established businesses in the borough, and also to encourage new businesses to relocate to Woking.

Woking is a place where innovation and growth is nurtured and supported: where business matters. To access support and find out more about the specific opportunities and benefits Woking can offer to your business, please contact us.

Business Liaison

businessliaison@woking.gov.uk

www.wokingworks.com

@WokingWorks

WOKING IS A PLACE WHERE INNOVATION AND GROWTH IS NURTURED AND SUPPORTED: WHERE BUSINESS MATTERS.

“

BBF

and project management resources enable us to provide a comprehensive range of services. We can undertake feasibility studies, prepare detailed designs, seek the necessary statutory consents, act as contract administrators and/or provide all aspects of project management If you wish to talk to someone regarding your project, please do not hesitate to contact us:

IT’S LOCAL WOKING ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Woking Council is proud to be part of launching an exciting new service for businesses in Woking, connecting local businesses with local customers, free of charge and keeping trade inside the local economy.

‘It’s Local’ is an online business directory, built for today’s mobile generation, that accompanies this Woking Business Guide. At itslocalwoking.co.uk you can find business services by keyword or company name. It is fully integrated with Google maps, directions and Streetview and includes direct links to businesses’ websites and social media including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

‘It’s Local’ is a business directory for businesses and people who live in, work in and visit Woking

There’s no download or install to worry about. The service is dynamic, sending device-appropriate pages to mobiles, tablets, laptops, desktops and Smart TVs. Scan the QR CODE above to connect you to itslocalwoking.co.uk.

Fiona Sweny, Founder of Ingo Health