Marketing Jobs

By: Sarah Maple

The county of Surrey is situated in the South East of England and borders Greater London. This prime location for access to the capital means that over the years the county has developed as an increasingly prosperous and affluent area, leading to many important businesses and companies to establish offices and headquarters in the area. Consequently, the county boasts a number of thriving industrial sectors and marketing jobs in Surrey are particularly sought after.

Electronics is one such sector, and the county has many opportunities for marketers therein. Two major Japanese photographic giants, Nikon and Canon, have their UK bases in Surrey - alongside other key players on the electronics scene: Samsung, Toshiba, and Philips. Interactive entertainment developers, Electronic Arts (makers of The Sims and Medal of Honour), also have a base in Guildford, Surrey's largest town with a population of over 65,000 inhabitants.

Surrey is also home to some significant members of the automotive industry, as well as being a one-time motor racing destination due to the location of Brooklands near Weybridge. The racing circuit at Brooklands has since been replaced with its very own museum of motorsport and aviation history (Brooklands Museum) and is something of a tourist attraction. South Korean car manufacturers KIA Motors, and Japanese motoring giants Toyota each have head offices in the county. Racing team and organisation, McLaren, are also based in Woking towards the North West.

Fast moving consumer goods (i.e. toiletries, cosmetics and detergents) companies are also well-established in the county. Food and cleaning conglomerate, Unilever, now have their headquarters in Surrey - as well as Nestle and hygiene giants Colgate-Palmolive. Pfizer, the American drugs/pharmaceutics producers also have their UK base there, as do Sanofi-Aventis - who specialize in Cancer and Allergy medication. All boast significant marketing teams with opportunities both in and outside of the city.

Aside from the electronics, motoring and industrial sectors, it may come as a surprise that the one of the biggest sectors in which marketing opportunities are available might be horticulture. This is primarily due to the major attraction (and one of the most visited gardens in the country), RHS Garden, Wisley. Established for over a century, the garden continues to expand with the opening of a new tri-section glass house containing desert, tropical and temperate climates. Surrey is also the UK home to two environmentally conscious non-governmental organizations, the World Wide Fund for Nature and Compassion in World farming.