Kent, Surrey & Sussex


Woking – A Great Place to Live and Work In the heart of Surrey, thirty miles south-west of


the capital, Woking is a modern town surrounded by countryside and attractive villages. London Waterloo is just 25 minutes away by train, offering Woking’s visitors and residents frequent easy journeys 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, plus London’s Heathrow and Gatwick airports are within an hour’s drive.


Woking is ranked one of the UK’s best places to live and work by the annual UK Vitality Index 2023 – the third consecutive year the town has featured in the top three. Compiled by Lambert Smith Hampton, this ‘definitive health check on the UK’s towns and cities’ assesses locations outside London to identify the best places to live, work and do business, plus those with the highest growth potential.


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


To back up this priority, the Council has invested over £1bn in public realm improvements and regeneration of the town centre, including the landmark Victoria Place development.


Kingston upon Thames: Vibrant, Prosperous & Growing


An extensive range of commercial premises at competitive prices is on offer across the borough, including modern and refurbished town centre offices – such as Dukes Court, Export House, Midas House, The Forge, and Space. Business parks, retail and warehousing stock are available both in the town centre and nearby.


Another of Woking’s advantages for inward investors is a young and diverse, highly skilled local population. The borough has already attracted major companies, such as the Ambassador Theatre Group, Asahi, Capgemini, McLaren, and WWF-UK, which continue to thrive in its entrepreneurial climate. Recent additions to this portfolio include the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, the Gordon Ramsay Academy, and Sir Robert McAlpine’s south-east regional office.


The compact borough comprises distinct neighbourhoods across 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. Education providers range from nursery up to sixth form.


Woking’s superbly connected location, combined with extensive business, cultural and leisure facilities, and an exceptional quality of life, makes it an obvious choice for investors.


Surrey – Your go to Destination


Surrey is southeast England’s premier business location, chosen by many innovative and inspiring companies worldwide. We rank highest in the UK (outside London) for our professional workforce and R&D investment. Not only are we known as the leafiest place in the UK, but we also offer unmatched connectivity to London, including Heathrow and Gatwick airports, as well as easy access to Southampton and Portsmouth docks.


Surrey’s international travel access and abundant green spaces make it the top choice for global businesses locating or relocating in the UK. It’s no surprise that Surrey and the southeast region have the highest number of foreign- owned businesses in the country. Industry giants like Samsung, Sony, and Electronic Arts thrive in Surrey’s international business environment.


Innovation is at the heart of Surrey’s economy, with several thriving industries. We proudly host the UK video game industry, Shepperton Studios (the country’s oldest and largest film studio), and the UK national centre for immersive storytelling (one of the UK’s national Creative Industry clusters). Surrey is also accredited for Cyber Security, a focal point for animal health, and an important hub for the Space industry at the national level.


If you’re seeking a highly skilled workforce, you’ll be well served in Surrey. We have the


COMMERCIAL PROPERTY MONTHLY 2023


highest population of individuals with NVQ Level 4 qualifications or higher in the UK and rank among the top three regions for professional employment. Surrey is also home to four world-class universities with leading research, a best-in-class research park, and the top university incubator globally, producing the skills and expertise for the future workforce.


With excellent connectivity, a high quality of life, and a thriving international business environment, Surrey easily attracts talent from around the world.


As the home of WWF-UK, we, rightly, prioritise sustainability and have comprehensive net-zero objectives. We offer a ready workforce with high living standards to businesses that value a greener future. Being the most tree-covered area in the UK and recently awarded the top spot in the ‘Sunday Times Best Places to Live’ and the UK’s Vitality Index, Surrey provides an enriched location for business owners and their staff.


At Invest in Surrey, we value your business. Our dedicated team is here to provide location support and guidance for businesses considering investing, setting up, or growing in the region. We offer a single point of contact to support you throughout your journey in Surrey.


Contact us today to discover why Surrey should be your preferred business location InvestinSurrey.co.uk


A thriving historic market town and one of the UK’s leading retail centres, Kingston upon Thames is located 12 miles southwest of Central London (25 minutes from Waterloo) beside the picturesque River Thames.


Boasting culture and heritage aplenty, it is


a desirable commuter suburb with a lively restaurant and leisure scene, excellent schools, green spaces, riverside dining, Ancient Market Place and fantastic shopping.


Recently, the HDH Vitality report ranked Kingston fourth in the UK - outperforming many of the UK’s larger retail centres, aided in part by the rise of home and remote working in the area.


When it comes to shopping, Kingston offers a rich retail experience featuring household favourites such as John Lewis, Fenwicks, Marks & Spencer and Next, and luxury brands like Apple and Reiss, through to family-owned, small independents and, of course, pop-ups in our market.


Art and culture abound in the town;


Kingston is home to the world-class Rose Theatre, innovative public sculpture trails by internationally-acclaimed artists, and art and museum exhibitions. Plus, there is a growing number of live music and comedy venues, attracting headline performers.


Kingston University, with its award-winning Town House building (RIBA Stirling Award and EU Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award), combined with the world-class facilities at the Kingston School of Art, attract thousands of students to the area each year, with many choosing to stay locally after their studies.


Along with the Town House, Kingston has several cutting-edge developments nearing completion or well underway, supporting – but complementary to – the evolution of the town. These include the Royal Exchange, a mixed use hub that has reinvigorated two ‘at risk’ Grade II listed buildings, and the creation of Eden Campus, which will include Unilever’s purpose- built new global HQ – estimated to bring 2,000 jobs to the town centre – and 115 new homes and retail opportunities.


Whether you’re looking to run an independent shop, business start-up or manage a portfolio of commercial or residential properties in Kingston upon Thames, Kingston First, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID), is able to support you.


Our vision is to make Kingston a vibrant town where everyone has an amazing experience. By leading, working with and supporting our members, partners and community we’re creating a town where our members can thrive and people want to be.


To find out more about opportunities for you in Kingston, visit our website: www.kingstonfirst.co.uk.


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