Local businesses win work worth £1.3 million a day from council

Local businesses have benefitted to the tune of nearly £1.3 million a day as part of a Surrey County Council pledge to help drive economic growth.

Figures for 2014 reveal that £470m worth of contracts were secured from the council by 3,000 businesses and organisations.

That is the equivalent of £1.29m daily, pushing the council’s local spending on essential services and goods to 54%.

Four years ago, just over a third of the council’s spending was with local firms.

It follows the launch of a series of online initiatives, including the BuildSurrey and SupplytoSurrey websites, to make it easier for firms to do business with the council and an apprenticeship drive which has filled 1,500 roles.

Surrey leader David Hodge said: “We are firmly committed to taking an active role in supporting Surrey’s economy, helping it to grow and generate more jobs.

“Awarding contracts to local firms to provide essential council services at a rate of almost £1.3m a day is proof of that and I have no doubt that with our online initiatives going from strength to strength we will continue to help them thrive – and if they’re successful, we all prosper.”