1. SMART Economic Development
…..forward through
Smart Economic Growth
Surrey Connects

2. South East
Economic Development
Network Launch
28 September 2011
Surrey Connects

3. Mark Pearson
Chief Executive
Surrey Economic Partnership
28 September 2011
Surrey Connects

4. Quotations
for smart economic development?
“The most valuable commodity I know is information
– wouldn’t you agree?” Gordon Gekko
“It’s the economy – stupid!” Bill Clinton
“A little less conversation, a little more action
please” Elvis Presley
“Look and see what others are doing, adapt their
innovations, borrow their brainwaves” Greg Clark MP
Surrey Connects

5. Elements of smart economic growth
Surrey Connects

6. A rationale for
smart economic growth?
“In a time of social fragmentation, vulgarity becomes
a way of life. To be shocking becomes more
important – and often more profitable – than to be
civil or creative or truly original.” Al Gore
Surrey Connects

7. The new paradigm?
It is Not New!
Building Prosperous
and Sustainable Communities
Surrey Connects

8. Evolving the renaissance of business (1)
The Third Industrial Revolution? – as issues of
internet/ social media and renewable energy come
together:
– driven by exports
– powered by low carbon
– fuelled by innovation
– rich with opportunity
Surrey Connects

9. Evolving the renaissance of business (2)
What is needed now is a different set of macro
policies to reposition manufacturing and services for
the economics of growth – a different kind of policy
response:
– green production
– low carbon buildings
– deployment of inventions
– new business models
Surrey Connects

10. National Economic Development Policy
"It’s an unprecedented opportunity for local leaders
to take choices and make decisions. This is one of
those points in history where individuals really do
have a chance to make their mark. The next year has
to be about turning ambition into results."
"Government is ready to listen. There is no limit to
what partnerships might want to propose but their
own imagination and ambition, nothing is off the
table.“
‘Just get on with it!’ Eric Pickles MP
Surrey Connects

11. Integrated approach
for smart economic growth
For the local community – however big it is!:
– Encourages local enterprise
– Serves local needs
– Promotes stable employment and revenues – by building on
local competitive advantages
– Promote open innovation and high value added activity
– Protects the natural environment
– Increases social equity
– Is capable of succeeding in the global market place
– Promotes a strong sense of place
Surrey Connects

12. Core tools (1)
Approaches to delivery:
– Planning – mix land uses to support growth and development
and efficient use of land and premises
– Direct investment to existing business locations – Incubation
– Sense of place – distinctive and sustainable communities
(not ghettos!)
– Housing
– Communications networks – transportation/ superfast
broadband
Surrey Connects

13. Core tools (2)
Approaches to delivery:
– Environment – enhancement of quality of life
– Promoting the low carbon economy
– Technology – for flexible working/ internet use to drive
business growth
– Inward investment – targeted and focused
– Innovation – high growth, low impact
– Finance – PE/ VC/ Banking
Partnership – collaboration in delivery decisions
Surrey Connects

14. To achieve this
There is a need for:
– Leadership and vision and energy
– Focus – local to global and vice versa
– Co-ordination and marshalling of resources
– Influence and advocacy
– Identification of key clusters/agglomerations
– Skills development – education for business
– Collaboration – business and public sector
– Information – is power – get it out there
Trust
Surrey Connects

15. Surrey Connects
forward though Smart Economic Growth
Surrey Connects

16. Smart Economic Growth (1)
• will help to achieve a sustainable Surrey rather than
growth at any cost.
• is about extracting ‘more from less’
• using technology, and innovative ways of working to
increase productivity without damaging the quality of
life or the environment in Surrey
Surrey Connects

17. Smart Economic Growth (2)
• Surrey Connects will optimise the potential of people,
land, space and technology
• a focus on sustainability creates business value,
equally in times of economic difficulty as in periods of
growth
• by driving innovation that can inform a market-leading
position
• is a new and evolving approach
Surrey Connects

18. Smart Economic Growth (3)
• Surrey Connects will explore, understand, and then
drive forward, what this means in practice for
economic development across Surrey
• it may include new forms of development and the
application of local authority housing, transport and
planning powers in new ways
• the aim of Surrey Connects is to create a new space
in which business and local government can come
together to develop and implement this approach
Surrey Connects

19. Growth Sectors – focus!
Surrey Connects

20. Outcomes
Global Competitiveness Driving Enterprise
100% super fast broadband coverage Higher business survival rates
Promotion of Surrey as a inward investment Stimulation of business creation
location Delivery of flexible workspace to accommodate
Delivery of major infrastructure projects – new businesses
through Transport for Surrey Getting the right local business support offer
Smart Economic Growth
Knowledge Economy Innovation Culture
Development of a world-class business/ Higher rates of R&D spend
management school Support for innovation agenda
Increasing the number of people ready for Increase of patent/ IP applications
employment at all skill levels
Development of the Community of Innovation
Maximise university, education and business and the Ambassador Academy
linkages through the Surrey Employment &
Skills Board
Surrey Connects

21. Closing quotations!
Sit quietly, doing nothing, spring comes
and the grass grows by itself
Zen
Do not let the fear take root
– fear is part of the dark side
Yoda
Surrey Connects

22. Surrey Economic Partnership
progressing…..
Surrey Connects –
forward through Smart Economic Growth
Surrey Connects

23. Mark Pearson
e: mark.pearson@surreycc.gov.uk
m: 07581 098 157 t: 01483 685230
@NMPearson @SurreyConnects
Surrey Connects

24. Surrey Connects