Surrey's business community convened online for a Q&A session with Marisa Heath and Rebecca Paul, the Conservative Parliamentary candidates for Dorking & Horley and Reigate respectively. The session, moderated by Paul Deach, served as a robust platform to discuss pressing challenges facing local businesses.
The virtual meeting focused on addressing key concerns highlighted in a recent business survey which drew attention to high taxes, elevated energy costs, and difficulties in attracting customers amidst rising living costs.
Both Marisa Heath and Rebecca Paul shared insights on a variety of the challenges presented by the survey. They discussed the critical burden of high operational costs such as taxes and energy bills, emphasising the importance of implementing tax reforms and optimising energy strategies to alleviate these pressures.
The candidates also talked about the necessity of improving digital infrastructure and skills training to boost competitiveness and efficiency. Recognising that 100% of the surveyed businesses reported a lack of resources to apply for funding opportunities, they proposed the creation of a dedicated support hub for Surrey businesses to better navigate funding landscapes.
Further discussions included addressing the skills gap in the workforce, with 40% of businesses indicating that job applicants often lack essential skills. Both candidates highlighted plans to enhance local vocational training programmes and foster partnerships with educational institutions to align workforce skills with market needs.
The dialogue was rich with participant engagement, with many business owners expressing concerns and seeking further clarity on issues such as tax relief for new companies and the perceived inefficiencies in local council support. Both candidates acknowledged these concerns and discussed their commitment to addressing them if elected.
Wrapping up on a positive note, with both Marisa Heath and Rebecca Paul affirmed their dedication to creating a supportive environment for businesses in their respective constituences. They stressed the importance of ongoing dialogue and partnership between the government and the private sector to tackle the challenges currently faced by the business community.
The success of the event underscored the vital role of political engagement in resolving critical business issues, leaving the local business community reassured and better informed about the potential policy directions under consideration.
If you were unable to make the meeting, we have made a recording available here.
Marisa & Rebecca will be holding another Q&A discussing housing on Thursday 16th May 2024 at 7pm. Register to receive updates directly to your inbox to be the first to receive all the details.
