Surrey Hills Enterprises and the University of Surrey announce new education partnership to support local businesses

Businesses across the county of Surrey can now access world-class training courses, student placements, academic expertise, and UN-affiliated certification thanks to a new partnership between the University of Surrey and Surrey Hills Enterprises (SHE). The new partnership has also committed to engage in research collaborations during the year-long pilot that runs to March 2027. 

The University has been named as the inaugural Education Partner of SHE, recognising each organisation’s shared role in connecting businesses with vibrant research, innovation and ambitious student talent.  

 The one-year pilot is designed to give Surrey-based firms practical access to a university on their doorstep, collaborative and research opportunities for staff, and students with real-world commercial problems to work on. 

SHE members will be able to take up a range of funded or discounted places on University short courses, including sustainability training run by CIFAL Surrey, a UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research)-affiliated centre hosted by Surrey’s Institute for Sustainability, offering both training and certification. 

Professor Amelia Hadfield, Director of CIFAL Surrey and Associate Vice-President for External Engagement at the University of Surrey, said: 

“The University of Surrey is an anchor institution for the county of Surrey, and that should mean something concrete to the businesses around us. A student who spends a summer solving a supply chain problem for a local producer gains vital insights that bring to life their in-classroom learning and comes away with experience that employers actually value.  

“Businesses, in turn, working with students and the expertise of staff, help co-create solutions vital not only to their bottom line but also to their wider sustainability and community needs. We are proud to be partnering with Surrey Hills Enterprises to launch and grow this genuinely reciprocal, place-based opportunity.” 

CIFAL Surrey currently runs the ‘Resilient and Thriving SMEs programme’ covering sustainability, derisking and resilience strategies as well as co-creating bespoke support for private and public stakeholders. 

Students and researchers will be connected to member businesses through internships, summer placements, business case studies and projects tied to live commercial challenges. Initial areas of interest include sustainability, AI, marketing, food systems, hospitality, tourism and health. 

The two organisations will also run an annual showcase, bringing Surrey Hills Enterprises’ producers and suppliers together with University and Surrey-based stakeholders in an event that will highlight the tremendous range of locally sourced food, drink as well as other goods and services. 

Maggie Howell, Chief Executive Officer of Surrey Hills Enterprises, said: 

“One of Surrey Hills Enterprises’ greatest strengths is bringing people together. This partnership creates exciting new opportunities for our members to connect with the University’s expertise, students and innovation, while giving the University a closer understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing local businesses. Together, we can create relationships that benefit businesses, students and the wider Surrey economy.” 

 Surrey Hills Enterprises supports more than 240 organisations across the county through networking, collaboration, marketing, training and business development.