Surrey Business Club
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The Club History
Surrey Business Club is one of the UK's longest established independent business networking associations. To this day it remains a not-for-profit organisation, funded and run by volunteer Members for the benefit of Members and Guests...
The History of Surrey Business Club
1986
Surrey Business Club (SBC) was established by Surrey Business Enterprise Agency Ltd. (SBE), supported by large corporations interested in developing the range of local consultants available as suppliers. This was a time of great change and high unemployment, with large numbers of people who had been made redundant setting up as self-employed consultants.
SBC was to set up to provide continuing support and information for SBE's business start-up 'clients'. Many Enterprise Agencies across the country set-up similar clubs.
The Club’s early history is not well documented, but apparently it was chaired by at least 3 successive people on secondment from big-business supporters of SBE.
1990
When Mike Instone became Managing Director of Surrey Business Enterprise he was told that there were over a hundred SBC members, but it transpired that even though the sub was just £25, only 35 were paid-up! Mike developed the club, securing many high-flying speakers at meetings in Ewell and Guildford with “good food and a friendly atmosphere” – no change there then! - helping many small-business people to find their feet among supportive friends.
1992
Michael Heselltine, President of the Board of Trade, when he was in charge of the DTI, launched Business Link to take over the role of the Enterprise Agencies.
1996
Whilst SBE continued to help local business people, it was unable to continue running Surrey Business Club, which became independent and self-funding, and so it remains. Adrian Lovett took over as chairman and Raina Spencer was taken on as Club Secretary. The Constitution was revised, subs were raised to £30 and David Rigby became editor of the Club Newsletter. W.S. Atkins in Epsom and Sanofi Winthrop (as it was then) in Guildford provided free venues and catering.
1998
David Rigby became Chairman and after much discussion, the Committee decided to raise subs to £60 to cover rising costs, which had a negative effect on our numbers. The Club survived, and our first website was developed and maintained by Members Linda and Deryck Svensson of Webskills. Stephen Lewis became editor and designer of the Newsletter. We held our first 'summer social' event - a barbecue in David Rigby's garden!
2000
Tony Greenman took over as chairman with an ambitious goal of doubling the membership from 60 to 120 – which he achieved in two and a half years! Stephen Lewis and Bill Blackie took over management of the website, which was bringing 90% of all new members. Membership Secretary Elaine Wright, was managing our increasing numbers and sending-out the new Membership Packs. We widened our range of venues, meeting in Weybridge and Farnham, and Guildford University where we were sponsored by UniSdirect.
2002
Faced with the gradual loss of free sponsored venues and catering we had to increase subs to £120. We introduced adverts into the newsletter, and initiated structured networking sessions at the start of each meeting. We began extra-curricular events, such as our Leisure Circle (golf and bowling) and Spring visits to places of interest.
2003
Stephen Lewis became Chairman, adding to his roles as newsletter editor and webmaster. The Committee introduced the 'HeadStart' half-price membership scheme for people starting-up in business, and we held our first 'Speed Network 100' event. We subsidised our costs by taking part in the "Leading the Field" scheme, funded by the European Social Fund, which proved to be a great success. We worked hard to strengthen core services whilst developing new ideas to offer Members even more for their money.
2005
Keith Grover took over the Chair and streamlined the administration of the Club so that most of it took place online. The newsletter changed from a paper publication to a web-based ezine, and the Committee of up to eight people began conducting most of its business by email.
2009
From being one of half a dozen local networking organisations throughout the first 15 years of its existence, and unusual in that it is an evening club, SBC now shares the networking arena with dozens of others, meeting at all times of the day, and with various slants (women only, dinner clubs, executive clubs, online networks). Our philosophy is ‘the more the merrier’ and most of our Members belong to two or three networks. Keith is still in the Chair (apparently ‘stuck’!) Deryck Svensson runs the website and news items, Linda Haynes is our Membership Secretary and Ian Kent is Treasurer.
1986
Surrey Business Club (SBC) was established by Surrey Business Enterprise Agency Ltd. (SBE), supported by large corporations interested in developing the range of local consultants available as suppliers. This was a time of great change and high unemployment, with large numbers of people who had been made redundant setting up as self-employed consultants.
SBC was to set up to provide continuing support and information for SBE's business start-up 'clients'. Many Enterprise Agencies across the country set-up similar clubs.
The Club’s early history is not well documented, but apparently it was chaired by at least 3 successive people on secondment from big-business supporters of SBE.
1990
When Mike Instone became Managing Director of Surrey Business Enterprise he was told that there were over a hundred SBC members, but it transpired that even though the sub was just £25, only 35 were paid-up! Mike developed the club, securing many high-flying speakers at meetings in Ewell and Guildford with “good food and a friendly atmosphere” – no change there then! - helping many small-business people to find their feet among supportive friends.
1992
Michael Heselltine, President of the Board of Trade, when he was in charge of the DTI, launched Business Link to take over the role of the Enterprise Agencies.
1996
Whilst SBE continued to help local business people, it was unable to continue running Surrey Business Club, which became independent and self-funding, and so it remains. Adrian Lovett took over as chairman and Raina Spencer was taken on as Club Secretary. The Constitution was revised, subs were raised to £30 and David Rigby became editor of the Club Newsletter. W.S. Atkins in Epsom and Sanofi Winthrop (as it was then) in Guildford provided free venues and catering.
1998
David Rigby became Chairman and after much discussion, the Committee decided to raise subs to £60 to cover rising costs, which had a negative effect on our numbers. The Club survived, and our first website was developed and maintained by Members Linda and Deryck Svensson of Webskills. Stephen Lewis became editor and designer of the Newsletter. We held our first 'summer social' event - a barbecue in David Rigby's garden!
2000
Tony Greenman took over as chairman with an ambitious goal of doubling the membership from 60 to 120 – which he achieved in two and a half years! Stephen Lewis and Bill Blackie took over management of the website, which was bringing 90% of all new members. Membership Secretary Elaine Wright, was managing our increasing numbers and sending-out the new Membership Packs. We widened our range of venues, meeting in Weybridge and Farnham, and Guildford University where we were sponsored by UniSdirect.
2002
Faced with the gradual loss of free sponsored venues and catering we had to increase subs to £120. We introduced adverts into the newsletter, and initiated structured networking sessions at the start of each meeting. We began extra-curricular events, such as our Leisure Circle (golf and bowling) and Spring visits to places of interest.
2003
Stephen Lewis became Chairman, adding to his roles as newsletter editor and webmaster. The Committee introduced the 'HeadStart' half-price membership scheme for people starting-up in business, and we held our first 'Speed Network 100' event. We subsidised our costs by taking part in the "Leading the Field" scheme, funded by the European Social Fund, which proved to be a great success. We worked hard to strengthen core services whilst developing new ideas to offer Members even more for their money.
2005
Keith Grover took over the Chair and streamlined the administration of the Club so that most of it took place online. The newsletter changed from a paper publication to a web-based ezine, and the Committee of up to eight people began conducting most of its business by email.
2009
From being one of half a dozen local networking organisations throughout the first 15 years of its existence, and unusual in that it is an evening club, SBC now shares the networking arena with dozens of others, meeting at all times of the day, and with various slants (women only, dinner clubs, executive clubs, online networks). Our philosophy is ‘the more the merrier’ and most of our Members belong to two or three networks. Keith is still in the Chair (apparently ‘stuck’!) Deryck Svensson runs the website and news items, Linda Haynes is our Membership Secretary and Ian Kent is Treasurer.