Fraud risks in micro enterprises and small SMEs

Our speaker will be Guy Woods from GNHW Consulting who will be talking about addressing fraud risks in micro enterprises and small SMEs.

A hardening economic climate makes chasing income opportunities and controlling expenditure and losses an imperative. While nobody likes to question staff loyalty, the reality is that lax company procedures expose enterprises to a risk of theft or fraud – and in harsh financial conditions that risk only increases. Meanwhile chasing any business, or grazing in alien pastures, at a time of condensed and intense competition, is also not risk free.

Enterprises of any size or genre, but particularly micro enterprises and small SMEs, can neutralise or mitigate many fraud risks by first recognising the type of threats that they face and then assess their vulnerability to them.

Guy is a Certified Fraud Examiner and has, inter alia, investigated bribery & corruption and money laundering cases internationally for more than 35 years. In his talk, Guy will share insights into some of the threats that micro enterprises and small SMEs might face and suggest some simple mitigations that enterprises can put in place to protect themselves and reduce temptation.

Guy Woods GNHW ConsultingAbout the speaker

  • Guy is a science graduate of Durham University, a qualified Certified Fraud Examiner and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
  • After 10 years in the Royal Navy, serving mostly in submarines, in 1986 he moved into industry and later into the consultancy world, focusing upon risk and regulated market compliance, in parallel establishing and growing a range of analysis, screening and training offerings to help companies operate with probity, control and competence under the purview of ever more demanding national and international regulations.
  • Guy has established, run and later divested two successful consultancy businesses (one 7 years later and the other 25 years later) and has been an angel investor in a number of other enterprises. In the non-profit space he has jointly established and run two social enterprises and has been a charity trustee, a fundraiser for multiple charities, and an affiliate member of the Association for Certified Independent Examiners.
  • Guy has also worked in the public sector, not only by way of his military service but also as an Independent prison monitor, appointed by the Secretary of State for Justice.
  • Over the years Guy has been a member of a number of international chambers of commerce and has additionally been a member of British Expertise, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Institute of Directors and the Intellectual Property Institute, together with various other trade and management organisations.

There is no parking available at the Hotel. The nearest public car parks are in Dene Street and St. Martin’s Walk, with parking charges from 8:00am. We suggest parking is booked until 9:45am.

7:30am arrival for an 8:00am breakfast which will finish between 9:00-9:30am.

£15.00 Mole Valley & Surrey Chambers Members
£15.00 Dorking BID Members
£15.00 Non-Members

Ticket Sales for this Event will end at 6:00pm on Tuesday 20 September.


About this event

The Chamber’s monthly Networking Breakfasts are very popular, so do book early. Business people from the Mole Valley district and the surrounding areas come together to meet, eat and network in the third week of each month.

There is a wide range of people who attend from all sectors and all sizes. From sole traders and start-ups, to some of the biggest businesses in the district

Each month there is a guest speaker, who talk about their own experiences of running a business and their own personal journey or give an insight into their particular skills and sector..

What you can expect:

  • Enjoy an excellent breakfast with like-minded people.
  • Make new connections through our informal networking.
  • Get an introduction if there’s someone you’d like to meet.
  • Find new local customers and suppliers.

If it is your first breakfast or you haven’t attended in a while the Chamber Directors are always on hand to make introductions.

Bookings must be made and paid-for online ahead of the event.

We do hope you will join us, and look forward to seeing you there!


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Are you a local business in the Mole Valley District and interested in joining the chamber? Find out more here.