The best economic prospect outside London
Guildford the county town of Surrey is an affluent area. And according to a recent survey by UK Vitality Index, it has the best economic prospects outside London.
The results rank each location in six categories: most productive, fastest-growing, most entrepreneurial, best educated, greenest and most affluent. Guildford ranked in first place for driving economic growth and as the area with the strongest and most robust economy, offering businesses and investors opportunity for development, expansion and growth.
Guildford’s main attributes were listed as its high level of affluence, low levels of unemployment and high-status educational offering.
The town is located just 27 miles south-west of London on the A3 trunk road, halfway between London and Portsmouth, it is situated in beautiful countryside. This market town boasts the likes of Hugo Boss, Armani Exchange, Gant and House of Fraser in it retail suppliers. The population of the borough was 137,200 at the 2011 census which was an increase of 5.7% in the last ten years.
Guildford’s connectivity is excellent being located just nineteen miles from London Heathrow Airport, the UK’s busiest airport and a major employer in the districts. Heathrow, with some 76,600 staff employed directly and indirectly as many as 116,000 in the immediate area, makes Guildford a great location from the perspective of a property investor.
The property market in the district is booming, with the cost of residential property in the area being above both the national and regional average, however, Guildford is still 15% cheaper than nearby Shalford and 20% cheaper than Merrow. Prices have risen 12% in the last year.
There are many employers in Guildford mainly in IT and research and development. BAE systems cyber securities, Lifespan the UK’s largest private provider of CT Scans and BOC the bottled gas and chemical company are all based within Guildford. That means Guildford property investment is ideal a commuter belt property.
Economy & Employment
Hi-tech industries are the driving force in Guildford
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is the world’s leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications including Earth observation, science and communications. The Company designs manufacture and operates high-performance satellites and ground systems for a fraction of the price normally associated with space missions, with 600 staff working on turnkey satellite platforms, space-proven satellite subsystems and optical instruments.
Supporting and accelerating early stage, high-growth and innovation businesses since 2002. The Surrey Tech Incubator is a member of the SETsquared Partnership and grown businesses from across a number of key areas – Digital, Engineering, Finance, Health, ICT, Mobile Communications etc.
Surrey Connects is an independent, business let economic development company working in partnership to stimulate enterprise growth across Surrey.
Discover more and download a Guildford Property Investment Guide.
Investment
Redevelopment of Guildford’s town centre is under discussion.
Proposed investment and redevelopment of the town centre were recently discussed, which aim to increase and enhance its retail, residential and office space. Planning growth to share skills, resources and effort with many partners and to deliver wide economic and social benefit.
Experience Guildford is the town’s business improvement district. They are delighted to see Guildford highlighted as a beacon for economic strength and growth. Having in the past few years attracted leading brands and businesses to the town centre Guildford’s position is strengthened for future investment.
Guildford Borough Council has made clear that its strategy for the future is for ‘smart economic growth’, driving growth through improved productivity, research, innovation and creativity.
Kieth Robson the chairman of Guildford Business forum said “Guildford has long been home to highly entrepreneurial companies spanning an amazing variety of sectors, including video gaming, satellite engineering and medicine as well as retail, hospitality and leisure.
Transport
Air: Guildford is situated 19 miles from London Heathrow Airport, which provides flights to 185 destinations in 84 countries. Gatwick Airport is also less than an hour away by road.
Rail: With excellent rail links to London in just 40 minutes and the South Coast in 50 minutes.
Road: Served by M25, M3 and A3, Guildford is the perfect spot from which to explore the whole of South East England.
Bus: Extensive bus and coach services operate throughout the borough. These are run by National Express, Abelio Surrey and Arriva.
Education
Guildford has 4 primary schools, 3 Junior schools, 5 Secondary Schools/Colleges and 6 independent schools in its catchment area.
The George Abbot school, a co-educational school catering for years 7 to 13 is rated outstanding by Ofsted. The school is usually oversubscribed with up to 350 students applying for the 300 spaces each year.
Further Education:
Shopping & Dining: Guildford’s shopping is a typical market town with a cobbled high street. It offers over 240 retailers, so there is something for everyone and with so much choice, you can literally shop ‘til you drop. From designer brands to games and technology, there is something for every age group, style and budget. With beautiful boutiques and bustling markets to state of the art ‘covered’ shopping centres and funky independent stores. From cool designer brands to quirky independents and bustling markets.
Sport & Culture: Wild Wood is a new huge treetop adventure course that opened in May 2014. For swimmers there is a great choice, indoor swimming at the Surrey Sports Park and the Spectrum or outdoors at the Lido, set in 4.5 acres of landscaped gardens.
Leisure: Guildford offers visitors an abundance of sporting facilities at the Spectrum Leisure Complex, it offers an Olympic sized ice rink, 32 lanes of ten-pin bowling alongside no less than four swimming pools.
Green Spaces: Situated just outside Guildford is the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Green Flags have been awarded to Allen House Grounds, the Castle Grounds, Riverside Nature Reserve, Stoke Park and Sutherland Memorial Park.
Kings College Guildford is a co-educational secondary school and sixth form with around 800 pupils.
Higher Education: The campus of the University of Surrey is in Guildford. It is now ranked sixth in the country according to a university league table compiled by The Guardian newspaper.
Battersea College of Technology (previously the Battersea Polytechnic Institute) moved to the town in 1966, gaining a Royal Charter in order to award its own degrees and changing its name to its current title.
Shops & Leisure
Shopping & Dining: Guildford’s shopping is a typical market town with a cobbled high street. It offers over 240 retailers, so there is something for everyone and with so much choice, you can literally shop ‘til you drop. From designer brands to games and technology, there is something for every age group, style and budget. With beautiful boutiques and bustling markets to state of the art ‘covered’ shopping centres and funky independent stores. From cool designer brands to quirky independents and bustling markets.
Sport & Culture: Wild Wood is a new huge treetop adventure course that opened in May 2014. For swimmers, there is a great choice, indoor swimming at the Surrey Sports Park and the Spectrum or outdoors at the Lido, set in 4.5 acres of landscaped gardens.
Leisure: Guildford offers visitors an abundance of sporting facilities at the Spectrum Leisure Complex, it offers an Olympic sized ice rink, 32 lanes of ten-pin bowling alongside no less than four swimming pools.
Green Spaces: Situated just outside Guildford is the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Green Flags have been awarded to Allen House Grounds, the Castle Grounds, Riverside Nature Reserve, Stoke Park and Sutherland Memorial Park.
