Get Surrey Working Plan launch to support thousands find work

Published March 17, 2026

News, Support

The Get Surrey Working Plan is a bold cross-county plan to bring thousands of people back into work in Surrey. It’s now been launched with the backing of Surrey County Council, government ministers and employers.

The Get Surrey Working Plan brings key partners together to focus on supporting 26,900 economically inactive residents who want to work but currently face barriers to employment.

Surrey currently has a lower-than-average rate of economic inactivity at 17.8% compared to the national average of 21.2%. But around 131,000 of its working age population are not currently employed.

Government ministers and local leaders across government, Jobcentre Plus, health and business are pledging to work together to tackle the issue through a series of interventions. This includes multimillion pound schemes such as Connect to Work, Skills Bootcamps and WorkWell.

The new STEP Surrey portal will streamline access to services. It will help residents finding the right support, learning new skills and finding jobs. Plus they can access assistance in a simple and easy way.

What is the Get Surrey Working Plan?

The Get Surrey Working Plan launch included representatives from the One Surrey Growth Board at Redhill JobCentre Plus.

The plan identifies the key reasons for tens of thousands of Surrey’s working age residents not working. This includes long-term health conditions and caring responsibilities.

It also addresses Surrey’s skills mismatch problem. Currently many highly skilled professionals commute to London for work, leaving local employers struggling to fill vacancies. Key sectors including health and social care, automotive, and technology are particularly affected by recruitment challenges.

To bridge this gap, the plan will deliver targeted business support and skills development programmes. The aim is helping employers fill vacancies while supporting workforce planning and inclusive employment practices.

The soon-to-be-devolved Adult Skills Fund will focus on priority sectors and skills gaps. This enables residents to gain qualifications aligned with local employer needs.

Young people without skills or access to further learning will receive early intervention support in schools to reduce the risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training), with clear vocational pathways and work experience opportunities.

Get Surrey Working Plan launch – reaction

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth and Chair of the One Surrey Growth Board, said: “While the economic picture in Surrey is largely a positive one, we know that there are thousands of people out there who are currently out of work but not in employment.

“Through the Get Surrey Working, we’re committed to breaking down those barriers and creating a truly inclusive labour market where everyone has the opportunity to access good quality employment and reach their full potential.”

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: “The Get Surrey Working Plan is a perfect example of how partners can come together to support people into work and help local businesses find the talent they need.

“Surrey is a county with real strengths – a thriving economy, top-class businesses and talented people – yet we know there are many more people who want to work but face barriers that hold them back.

“By bringing together local employers and support services we can reach people where they are and give them a genuine route into good work. This kind of practical, locally-led support is exactly what we need to get Britain working.”

Working together to support people into work

The plan has been developed through partnership working. Key stakeholders include public health colleagues, Jobcentre Plus, Surrey Chambers of Commerce and employment support providers.

The aim is to avoid duplication of services and ensure support reaches those who need it most. This is through coordinating the employment and skills offer across Surrey with a clear, joined-up local service.

Looking for support? Get in touch via our Get support now form.

Fidelity International – spotlight on Surrey careers

Published March 4, 2026

Surrey spotlight

Fidelity International is a major Surrey employer in Tadworth. It provides investment services to 2.5 million clients all over the world. There are dozens of possible career paths available to Surrey residents.

David Hill, Fidelity’s UK site head, explains more about what Fidelity International does and the opportunities at its Surrey site.

Visit the Fidelity International careers pages to discover live opportunities.

What does your company do?

Fidelity International provides investment services and retirement expertise to 2.5 million clients worldwide. That’s everyone from central banks and financial institutions, to wealth managers and private individuals.

Our purpose at Fidelity is to build better financial futures for our clients. This means giving people the power to get, and stay, in great financial health throughout every stage of their lives, right the way through until retirement.

We believe that investing over the long-term is critical to achieving this. And as a privately-owned company, we can think generationally in terms of the services we build and provide, as well as the way in which we invest on our clients’ behalf.

Why is Surrey a great place to work?

As the UK site head for Fidelity, I’m obviously biased! But our Kingswood Fields site is a beautiful place to work. It’s a 28-acre estate that was recently awarded the prestigious Biodiversity Benchmark by the Wildlife Trust, making us the first financial services organisation to have met their rigorous standards.

It’s a great place to work at any time of day – be it taking a mid-morning walk while you gather your thoughts, participating in a lunchtime sports day and BBQ, or a post-work quiz night to support local charities.

What opportunities do you have available?

Anyone can visit the Fidelity International careers website pages and check out the roles we have on offer. From those just starting out, who might be looking for placements, internships or graduate schemes, to those already on the career ladder and looking for a new challenge. We’re always looking for outstanding people from different career backgrounds.

Fidelity’s a great place to work. We were named in the top 50 winners of the annual Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards, which is a list of the UK’s 50 best places to work in 2024. And only last year we made The Times’ Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality list.

So, if you’re looking at that job advert and wondering if you should apply, my advice would be to go for it!

What advice would you give to those looking to take their next step?

In the first instance, I’d say take a look at our careers website. There’s a lot of information there about Fidelity and the different roles we have available. And if you think it sounds like a good fit, then see which specific roles we have available and apply online.

urfuture promotes careers to Gen Z in Surrey

Published March 4, 2026

Support, Training

urfuture helps young people seeking jobs and training find their perfect match online. We – as part of Surrey County Council – are teaming up with the company to support the region’s next generation of workers.

The Get Surrey Working Plan indicates there are 2,945 people aged between 16 and 24 registered unemployed in Surrey in September 2025. And roughly one in 20 (4.5%) are classed as not in employment, education or training (NEET) or circumstances not known.

As part of a renewed focus on supporting people of all ages into employment, we’ve teamed up with urfuture. The next generation’s job app reaches young people who aren’t engaging with traditional careers services or jobs boards.

Instead, the urfuture next generation job app platform attracts its audience through social media. It targets those young people who have left education unsure of their next steps, who are increasingly turn to platforms like TikTok and Instagram for guidance.

Rather than relying on CVs, urfuture’s algorithm matches candidates based on traits, motivations and working preferences. It then surfaces relevant opportunities that users may not be aware of.

How is Surrey working with urfuture?

The initial focus is on introducing Surrey youngsters to Skills Bootcamps. There are free fast-track government-funded courses designed to equip workers with the skills needed in Surrey’s growing sectors.

In just a few weeks, dozens of young people have applied for courses – meaning they could be in suitable roles with local employers in just 16 weeks.

urfuture is also helping create short-form explainer videos for social media, covering key roles and sectors that will be needed in the region moving forward.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s cabinet member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Surrey has a vibrant diverse economy which makes a major contribution to the vitality of our communities and UK as a whole. But we know that many young people are struggling to know how and where they should be looking to take that vital first step into the workplace.

“This innovative approach breaks down some of those barriers. Helping them understand what the roles are within businesses and highlighting where those first steps could take them.“

Gen Z, jobs and urfuture

Holly Hobbs, Chief Communications Officer of urfuture, grew up in Staines. She says the platform was built around a fundamental shift in how Gen Z approaches work.

Holly says: “Gen Z looks for work differently because we’ve grown up in a fundamentally different environment. We’ve been raised in a world of constant information, infinite choice, and algorithm-led discovery – largely driven by social media rather than traditional institutions.

“At the same time, we’ve experienced major disruptions early in life: the pandemic, rapid technological change, and the rise of AI. As a result, trust in linear career paths and traditional hiring signals has weakened. Job titles, CVs, and “one right route” don’t resonate in the same way they did for previous generations.

“Instead, Gen Z expects work discovery to feel more like the platforms they use every day: personalised, visual, fast, and guided. They want clarity, relevance, and authenticity – not endless searching or generic job descriptions. That’s why they don’t search for jobs in the traditional sense. They discover opportunities through content, recommendations, and platforms that understand who they are and what they’re suited to.”

Find out more

Visit our Skills Bootcamps page to find a course that works for you.

Need extra help? Get in touch with our team of experts via our Get Support Now form.