Surbiton Hill Ward By-Election 2011

Nick Kilby is standing as the Conservative candidate for the bye-election being held in Surbiton Hill ward of Kingston Council. The election is being held on Thursday 15 September 2011. To find out how to vote and where to vote, as well as where to get a postal vote, then click here.

About Nick Kilby

Nick has been a Surbiton resident for many years and during his years as your local Councillor he had a track record of actively campaigning and supporting residents on a whole range of issues. Nick’s commitment to the area goes further than that because as a small business owner he chose to base his business in the Borough and employ local people.

Nick’s community work

Nick was elected as Councillor for Surbiton Hill in 2006. He applied himself to working with community groups and residents on the varied issues across the ward. He also took on being Conservative spokesman for Housing and Adult Services, Fighting the closure of services, then he took over the Education portfolio and exposed the lack of places just before the worst crisis hit the borough in decades. He has also worked for the Conservative Group on Youth issues and finance.

Nick was sad to lose his seat, by a very small margin, at the 2010 local elections and feels that he has not finished his work for Surbiton Hill residents, this is why he is standing in this bye-election.

Even when Nick lost his seat he has continued to support groups across the Borough. He is a Trustee of The Save The World Club in Kingston. He is also working on a cross party working group to set up a Credit Union in Kingston.

Nick is also heading a new Charity to provide employment for Former members of the Armed Forces. The organisation will offer Disabled and Able Bodied veterans the opportunity to work in providing a customer forces services. The Charity is currently recruiting trustees and is looking to start operations in early 2012 before looking to establish a UK wide network.

Nick’s business life

Nick trained at the Mountview Theatre School as a stage manager and went on to work in theatres across the country and in the West End. IN 1992 he changed direction and moved in to senior management positions in the cinema industry. He became CEO of the Entertainment Group and in 2001 became Chief Operating Officer of Imax Cinema company running venues around the world.

In 2004 he returned to London as Chief Operating Officer of the Rich Mix Cultural foundation – a £27million multi-cultural arts venue in Brick Lane, East London.

In 2006, he decided to move out of the entertainment industry and join a Communications Agency as Vice-President of Business Development.

In 2009, Nick set up a new communications agency, based here in Kingston, and has seen the company grow from his back bedroom into a company employing 8 people, half of whom live in the borough.

Nick and his son, Alexander, can be frequently seen around Surbiton Hill and when time allows he enjoys Theatre, Cinema, Cooking, Reading and Cycling!