Business Club: August 2026
The monthly newsletter for businesses in and around Shepperton.
Welcome to the August edition. It was lovely to see everyone who made it to The Ferry Coffee Shop last night for Shepperton Business Connect, and what a relief to have some lower temperatures (and that weird wet stuff falling from the sky in the last few days).
I've spent August rethinking how The Sheppertonian can help your business. I'll be adding local businesses to the free new directory over the next few weeks, but if you want to jump the queue there's a link below. Let's make it the place to look if you're searching for local businesses.
See you in September.
Gareth
Start here: your listing is now free. Permanently.
Every business in and around Shepperton can have a free listing on our local business directory. Your business searchable by category, a description, and a link to your site. Findable by anyone searching locally.
No card. No trial. No expiry.
Why free? Because a directory only works when it's full, and because we'd rather be genuinely useful to the village now and earn your money later, if and when we're worth paying for.
It takes about two minutes. If you do nothing else with this email, do that.
The rest of it, simplified
Five tiers have become three. Here is the whole thing.
Listed: free
Your listing in the local business directory. Category, description, link to your site.
Supported: £50/month (£500 a year, saving £100)
Everything in Listed, plus an enhanced listing with your logo pinned above the directory, a named thank you in the weekly newsletter, a mention on the podcast every month, and two job or event listings in the newsletter each month.
Produced: £350/month (three month minimum)
Everything in Supported, plus we make your content and you keep it (music licensing not included). One on-location reel a month, filmed, edited and captioned by us, yours to use anywhere you like. One professionally recorded audio piece or interview segment. Captions and copy written for you. A Partner Spotlight in the newsletter and a host-read credit on the podcast.
The 'Produced' tier is a change in direction. The Sheppertonian is produced by The Sound Boutique, an audio production company as well as a newsletter, and making promotional content is a genuine pain point for a lot of local businesses. Making you a month of content you own, that also runs across The Sheppertonian, is worth considerably more to you than a mention ever was.
UK registered charities get 25% off every tier. Email us your charity number.
For more options and details - including sponsorships and one-offs - head to the Business Club page.
Business Awards finalists announced, and it's the last one ever
The shortlist for the Spelthorne Business Awards 2026 is out. This is the eighth and final year of the awards, with Shepperton Studios as headline sponsor, and the ceremony is on Friday 2 October.
Shortlisted in Best Business in Shepperton & Charlton: Level 5 Therapies, Mullen Property Services, Thames Laundry & Dry Cleaning, and The CMO Legacy.
Other local names across the categories include Hamhaugh Hops in Best New Start-Up, Mullen Property Services again in Property & Construction, and Thames Laundry & Dry Cleaning in Best Small Business.
We should declare an interest: The Sheppertonian is shortlisted for the Best Social Impact Award, alongside Brooklands Technical College, Companionship Services and Lenka Art Studio. Congratulations to everybody on the list for all categories, and if you're going on 2nd October, come and say hello.
Full shortlist: spelthornebusinessawards.co.uk/finalists
The new council has asked to change its name
The shadow authority that becomes our council on 1st April 2027 voted on 30th July to change its official name from West Surrey Council to West Surrey and South Middlesex Council, in recognition of Spelthorne's historic Middlesex identity. The change now needs government approval.
Cllr Penny Rivers is chair, Cllr Paul Follows is shadow leader, Cllr Shaun Macdonald deputy.
Practically, nothing changes for you yet. Spelthorne Borough Council still handles your licensing, your business rates and your waste until April 2027. But the new authority is writing its corporate strategy now, and that document will shape business support and planning policy for the whole of West Surrey. Worth keeping half an eye on it.
Funding and support
Free business mentoring
The Spelthorne Business Growth Service runs until December 2026 and is completely free to eligible Spelthorne businesses. It's delivered by CPG Executive Consulting under the Business Spelthorne brand, and covers one-to-one mentoring, start-up accelerators, ESG masterclasses, networking, and access to the MyGrowthPod learning platform.
Freelancers, start-ups, micro-businesses and SMEs all qualify. If you've ever thought you'd like someone experienced to look over what you're doing, this is that, for nothing, and it expires at the end of the year.
Register: mygrowthpod.com/spelthorne
Surrey Economic Growth Fund, between rounds
Worth having on your radar rather than your to-do list. Business Growth Grants of £10,000 to £75,000, covering up to 50% of project costs on a match-funded basis, for equipment, technology, product development, expansion or staff training. Round two closed last November and the fund isn't currently taking applications. If a capital project is on your horizon for next year, watch the Business Surrey funding page for round three.
businesssurrey.co.uk/advice-and-support/funding-and-grants
Come and network, no pitching
Shepperton Business Connect. Third Thursday of the month, 5pm to 7pm, The Ferry Coffee Shop at Shepperton Lock. Co-hosted with nikibakes.
Free. No membership, no hard pitching. Just local business people who actually talk to each other.
Next one is Thursday 17th September. Reply to this email and let us know you're coming 😄
The Ferry Coffee Shop, Ferry Lane, Shepperton, TW17 9LQ.
From The Sheppertonian this month
The Sheppertonian has been busy this month, with new podcast episodes and the weekly What's On guide keeping things moving through the summer. Catch up at www.thesheppertonian.uk/podcast.
If you know someone who deserves to be featured on the podcast - whether a local voice or a community group - do get in touch.
B2B spotlight - your space (£50)
This slot is available for B2B advertising. If you provide services to other businesses and want a presence here, get in touch. Contact hello@thesheppertonian.uk to find out more.
Sources:
- Spelthorne Business Awards 2026 finalists
- Spelthorne Business Awards return for landmark 8th and final year
- West Surrey Council, Surrey LGR Hub
- Spelthorne Borough Council news and public notices
- Spelthorne Council launches new Business Growth Service
- Surrey Economic Growth Fund, Business Surrey
The Sheppertonian Business Club newsletter is published once a month and is free to read. To find out about the paid tiers of the Business Club, visit thesheppertonian.uk/business-club.
