The Farnham, Godalming, Haslemere and Cranleigh Chambers of Commerce have all existed for many years, serving the local business community in the Waverley borough. The Chambers exist to protect and promote businesses in their respective areas and form effective lobbying groups at parish/town council level. They work together, particularly through the Waverley Business Forum with the Borough Council to ensure that the needs and concerns of businesses are understood and considered by the Council.

There are many areas where interests overlap, for example on planning issues and local plan development and improving the vitality and viability of the local areas. Each Chamber is involved with the town management initiatives in Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere. Town management strives to create a partnership between the public and private sector and the local community to address the commercial, social, environmental and management aspects of what makes a town successful.

Each of the Chambers holds regular events, either individually or in partnership with others, providing opportunities for their members to network or to listen to presentations on issues of topical or local business interest.

Through membership of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, the countywide core Chamber, (which is a member of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce), each individual Chamber member is able to have a voice on issues at county and national levels. In addition, the County Chamber network offers information and advisory services on matters such as exporting, personnel matters, and health and safety, as well as offering a wide range of training courses for businesses of all types and sizes at a significant discount to members.

For more information on the Chambers within Waverley, contact your local Chamber.

Business Link Surrey

Business Link Surrey exists to help Surrey businesses reach their full potential. They provide a one-stop service for business support from their main office in Woking. Telephone 0345 494949.

The business advice service offers a range of information including financial data and credit ratings, business regulators, UK and international standards and mailing lists.

Business Link Surrey also provides courses and workshops to update management skills, give export advice and specialist strategic business advice through the Personal Business Advisor Service.

A network of local access points to Business Link services are being established across the county, one of which will be opening in Farnham towards the end of 1997.

Business Link Surrey is based at
5th Floor, Hollywood House, Church Street East, Woking, Surrey GU21 1HJ
Telephone: 01483 713300 Fax: 01483 751676

Surrey TEC

Surrey Training & Enterprise Council aims to develop an environment in Surrey which stimulates and supports the development of new and existing businesses. They work in partnership with Business Link Surrey, Chambers of Commerce and Local Councils. Most recently they have worked with Surrey County Council on behalf of the Surrey Economic Forum to produce an Economic Strategy for the County.

For further information contact :
Andrew Price
Surrey Training and Enterprise Council
Technology House, 48 - 54 Goldsworth House, Woking, Surrey GU21 1LE
Tel : 01483 728190 Fax : 01483 755259

Enterprise agencies

Enterprise agencies support businesses starting up as a small business (1 to 5 employees). Their main purpose is to help develop the small business sector for the economic benefit of the local community by providing free, impartial and confidential advice, counselling to small businesses and those seeking to set up their own enterprises.

Initiatives include the production of small business directories and liaison with other business support agencies such as Business Link and Surrey TEC.

The enterprise agencies which cover the Waverley area are:
Blackwater Valley Enterprise Trust
11 Wellington Street, Aldershot, Hants GU11 1DX
Telephone: 01252 319272 Fax: 01252 319384
Email: joan.young@bvet.co.uk

Surrey Business Enterprise Agency Ltd
19 High Street, Woking, Surrey GU21 1BW
Telephone : 01483 728434 Fax : 01483 751117
Email: sbe@sbe.org.uk