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WHAT DO WE DO?
• Undertake projects and initiatives of
benefit to the local business community.
• Provide a link between the local business community and Runnymede
Borough Council.
Partnership initiatives are undertaken by three sub-groups which focus on
the following areas:-
• Planning & Transportation
• Local Business Initiative
• Publicity & Communication
LOCAL BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Chairman, Meher Oliaji
Projects include:
•Revamping and relaunching the Loyalty Card Scheme in the Borough's three town centres
•Promoting Town Centre issues
•and establishing a Business Plan for the Partnership's activities in 2001.
PUBLICITY & COMMUNICATION
Chairman, Mark Adams
This group's work includes the production of a Business Directory, organising
regular breakfast forum meetings, producing a business newsletter and updating
the Business Partnership web site.
How to Get Involved
If you are the kind of person who seeks solutions not problems and are keen to help tackle local business issues, you are the kind of person we want to meet. At the Runnymede Business Partnership we welcome ideas for improving the local business environment. If you would like to make a positive contribution please get in touch.
Joining the Partnership
Offers:
A chance to network with other local business people
Access to senior Councillors and Council staff
The opportunity to help tackle local business issues
The chance to help guide the Partnership’s future
The Business Partnership relies on the participation of local business people
and representatives of other local organisations to direct and organise its
activities. There are always opportunities available for people to become
involved in this work.
Please contact Joanna Swatridge on 01932 425272 for
more details.
The high quality events and publications produced by the Partnership are only
made possible through business sponsorship and advertising. This can be by
provision of a service such as printing, through direct sponsorship of a publication
or event or by placing an advertisement or insert in the Partnership Newsletter.
There are a variety of opportunities available to promote your company directly
to the local business community and support the activities of the Partnership.
EGHAM
In Egham, The Causeway (including The Green Business Centre) is home to numerous software companies, manufacturers and distributors. There are also the smaller Pine Tree Business Park on Chertsey Lane and Rivers Edge Industrial Park on Riverpark Avenue.
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Runnymede's economy is characterised by:-
· Low unemployment - consistently below 1%
· High earnings - average weekly earnings in 2001 of £594 compared
to a national average of £347 (and higher than all our neighbouring
districts)
· High housing costs - 13th highest average house price out of 376
local authority areas in the country (including London Boroughs) according
to the Land Registry record of actual sales
· High proportion of 'knowledge' sector workers - the third highest
local authority area in the country for its percentage
of 'knowledge' sector employees.
· High proportion of small companies - over 70% of local employers
have 10 or fewer employees
· High level of business start-ups - over 50 VAT registrations per
10,000 adult residents in 1999
· A dominant service sector - employing some 62% of the workforce
· Small retail centres - Runnymede has three small town centres with
limited representation of national chains and a number of smaller village
centres
· High levels of road use - the Borough includes the country's busiest
motorway and its other roads are used at a level well above the national average
The healthy local economy can be attributed
to a range of factors:
· A highly skilled workforce
· High levels of disposable income
· Excellent communications, being situated to the west of London, close
to Heathrow, and with direct access to the M3 and M25 motorways.
It is hoped that there will be a high quality rail service (known
as 'Airtrack') through Runnymede linking Heathrow with Woking, Guildford and
Reading. The Business Partnership and the Borough Council are working to ensure
that this will provide a service from a station in Runnymede.
ADDLESTONE
The Weybridge Business Park and Bourne Business Park are located in Hamm Moor Lane, Addlestone and are the location for many firms specialising in IT, manufacturing, distribution and repair. Aviator Park is a recent business development providing high specification office accommodation on the former Marconi works site.
CHERTSEY
In Chertsey there are several recently constructed office developments built as part of the 'Chertsey Opportunity' revitalisation scheme. There are several trading estates, namely Chertsey Bridge Estate, Fordwater Trading Estate, Gogmore Lane (offices) and Hanworth Lane Business Park. There is also the Hillswood Business Park which is home to leading IT and electronics companies.
THORPE
There is a business park at Crabtree Road, Thorpe part owned by the Borough Council.
Other centres of significant employment growth adjoining
the Borough include Staines, Brooklands (Weybridge), Heathrow and Woking.
HOTELS, CONFERENCE CENTRES & RESTAURANTS
Conference and other business support services are provided by local hotels. Those with 4 star status include the Runnymede Hotel and Spa (Egham), Great Fosters (Egham), Savill Court (Englefield Green) and Foxhills (Ottershaw). Wentworth Club (Virginia Water) and Royal Holloway, University of London also provide conference facilities and accommodation. There is a good range of restaurants and smaller high quality hostelries including wine bars and country pubs.
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