How to deal with late payments – advice for Surrey businesses
Published 15 October 2025
Advice and support
Late payments cost the UK economy almost ยฃ11 billion per year and cause 38 UK businesses to close every day. Government research shows 28% of businesses are affected by late payments each year, so what can you do to avoid being caught out by unpaid invoices? Hereโs some advice on how to deal with late payments for small businesses in Surrey.
Itโs important you know how to deal with late payments, as it can impact your cash flow, your ability to pay suppliers, and ultimately the future of your business.
Preventing late payments
The first thing you can do to protect your business against late payments is take some steps to prevent invoices from going overdue.
Make sure you send invoices on time and with clear payment dates so there is no room for ambiguity. The Government recommends a 30-day notice period from the date the invoice is issued.
Include a clause in your invoice or contract setting out late fees – you can use the UK statutory interest rate for business-to-business transactions, which is set at 8% plus the Bank of England base rate.
And if cash flow is a concern, consider requiring upfront deposits or shorter payment terms if agreed by the client.
When a payment is late
The UK Government says a payment is late if itโs overdue by more than 30 days after the customer receives the invoice or the goods or services have been delivered (if this is later), unless another payment term has been agreed.
When dealing with a late payment, the first stage to is send a polite reminder that the invoice is overdue. Often, contacting the customer to let them know their payment is late will be enough to prompt a payment or start a conversation if there is an issue.
If you get no response, you can send a demand letter and a new invoice with a late payment fee included. You can use the Small Business Commissionerโs invoice calculator to work out the late payment interest owed.
If repeated reminders and demand letters are ignored, you can send a final demand letter outlining a deadline for payment before legal action is taken.
Taking legal action
At this stage you can contact the Small Business Commissioner for support with disputes. Available support includes mediation before taking legal action, which can be costly, and damage the client relationship for good. Find out more about the support offered by the Small Business Commissioner here.
For debts under ยฃ10,000, you can make a claim through the small claims court, which is a simpler and more cost-effective option than full legal proceedings.
If you’ve tried the other tactics and still haven’t received payment, as a last resort you can take legal action. This involves starting court proceedings and may mean instructing a collections agency for debt recovery.
Whatโs on: fully funded business events to power up your Surrey business this autumn
Business Surrey is bringing you a packed calendar of fully-funded events this season, all designed to help you grow your business, support your team, and stay compliant. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your sales strategy, improve staff wellbeing, or get expert regulatory advice, weโve got you covered.
Workforce Wellbeing: Ensuring your team are fit for life and work
Date 21 October 2025 | 12:00pm-1:00pm Online Fully funded (registration required)
Support your staff. Strengthen your business.
This practical webinar, hosted by Business Surrey will give you tools, services, and funding opportunities to:
Reduce absenteeism and boost productivity
Attract and retain talent through wellbeing initiatives
Improve morale and engagement
Featured Tools & Resources:
How Are You? Wellbeing Framework
Smarter Travel to Work Toolkit from Active Surrey (Includes grants for cycling facilities, travel events, and more)
Speakers include: Debbie Wyse (Fidelity), Jacquetta Fewster, Luke Cackett, and Tessa Axelrod from Surrey County Council.
Following strong demand, our Trading Standards team is back for another interactive Q&A session. This isnโt a webinar – itโs a chance to speak directly with experts, ask questions, and get tailored advice on compliance, product safety, and more.
Hosted by Phil from Surrey Trading Standards, and the Business Surrey team. Register now.
Stay Connected
All events are part of Business Surreyโs mission to help local businesses thrive. Need tailored support? Contact us via the Business Support form. Want the latest updates? Sign up for our newsletter.
Renรฉeโs round-up of grants and funding – September
Published 12 September 2025
Funding and grants
Hereโs a round up of grants that have come through my inbox this month, it’s fast moving so check this every month for updates on what programmes have been released. Iโm increasingly being asked on tips for writing a successful grant application. My ground rules are:
Research thoroughly
Apply early
Be specific
Avoid using technical jargon
Provide all the information and documentation required
Meet the deadline.
Good Luck and let me know how you get on!
Renรฉe
Epic MegaGrants
Epic Games is offering financial support through its Epic MegaGrants programme, designed to advance innovation in real-time 3D creation. The scheme supports individuals and teams across gaming, media, enterprise and education.
Typical awards range from $5,000 to $150,000. Funding may be used for development costs or team-related expenses, such as staffing and continued production.
Creators and projects in the following areas are eligible:
Game Developersโฏ– using Unreal Engine (or transitioning to UE5).
Film and Media Creatorsโฏ–โฏreal-time content using Unreal Engine.
Enterprise and Industryโฏ– Unreal Engine projects in other industries
Education and Researchโฏ– university-level initiatives
Tool and Open-Source Developersโฏ– tools that integrate with Unreal or contribute to the 3D open-source ecosystem
UEFN (Fortnite Creative) Developersโฏ– creators using Unreal Editor for Fortnite
Closing Date: 22 September (23:59 ET)
Apply here: Epic MegaGrants | Apply for Funding for Your UE5 and UEFN Projects – Unreal Engineย
Camden Challenge Prize
This prize seeks innovative ideas and solutions to transform how food waste is prevented and managed across Hospitality and Food Service sector. Applications should address at least one of the following challenges:
Reducing food surplus
Influencing workplace culture and practices
Managing inedible food waste
The winner will receive ยฃ75,000, the runner-up will receive ยฃ25,000. During the prototyping phase, four finalists will receive ยฃ5,000.
Applications are open to individuals, groups, startups, and organisations across the UK, including students, professionals, non-profits, and for-profits. The solutions must be tested in and applicable to the London Borough of Camden.
Closing Date: 30 September at 4.59pm
Apply here: Camden Challenge Prize โ We Make Camdenย
UNltd โ Awards for Social Entrepreneurs
The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.
The following levels of funding are available:
Starting Upโฏ- funding of up to ยฃ8,000
Scaling Upโฏ- funding of up to ยฃ18,000 for a social enterprise that has been operating for between one and four years.
Together with funding, award recipients will be assigned to one of UnLtd’s dedicated programmes to provide support aligned with the needs of their social venture for up to one year.
Young entrepreneurs in the UK aged 18-30 can apply for financial support to help start or expand their businesses. The Young Entrepreneur Fund is run by Simply Business in partnership with Hatch Enterprise and provides both funding and tailored business assistance.
Grants of ยฃ5,000 are available through the initiative. In addition to financial support, successful applicants will take part in six weeks of business development support delivered by Hatch Enterprise. This aims to help young entrepreneurs address the challenges of launching or growing a venture.
Closing date: 9 October at 11.59pm
Apply here: Simply Business Young Entrepreneur Fund 2025ย
Full ADOPT Grant Round 3
This funding is part of DefraโsโฏFarming Innovation Programme, delivered in partnership with Innovate UK to invest up to ยฃ3 million for on-farm trials and farm experiment projects.
The aim of this competition is to support innovative, on-farm trials or experiments to test ideas or solutions and demonstrate that they will address major on-farm or immediate post farmgate challenges or opportunities. Your project must have the potential to significantly improve one or more of the following:
Productivity
Resilience
Sustainability and progression towards net zero farming
Your proposal must demonstrate to other English farmers, growers or foresters how the idea or solution will be of benefit to them. Your projectโs total costs must be between ยฃ50,000 and ยฃ100,000
Closing date: 15 October at 11am
Apply here: Your application โ UKRIย
CoCreate Pitch 2025
The Global Entrepreneurship Network and Alibaba.com are accepting applications for CoCreate Pitch, an international startup competition focused on product innovation.
The initiative is designed to support early-stage businesses in bringing product ideas to market by facilitating industry connections and offering growth-focused resources.
The programme is open to entrepreneurs worldwide and offers the opportunity to compete for a share of $1 million in prizes. Participants will have the chance to connect with global manufacturers and investors. This support aims to assist with rapid prototyping and cost-effective production.
Participating teams receive pitch training and mentorship aimed at addressing specific business challenges, identifying solutions, and improving their presentation skills. Finalists will present their pitches live at a flagship event in London in November.
At the London Pitch Finals, ten winners will each receive prize packages valued at $20,000, comprising $10,000 in non-dilutive cash and $10,000 in credits and in-kind support. One grand prize winner will receive a total of $200,000 in prizes, including $100,000 in non-dilutive cash and $100,000 in credits and in-kind support.
Closing date: 15 October 2025
Apply here:ย CoCreate Pitch 2025ย
Global Start Up Energy Transition Award
The Start Up Energy Transition Award is an international competition for start-ups and young companies worldwide that are working on ideas affecting global energy transition and climate change.
There are five categories of the award, all with the aim of clean energy promotion. The categories are:
Clean Energy and Storage
Mobility and Transportation
Industry
Buildings and Construction
Quality Energy Access and SDG-7
The winner of each category will receive a prize of up to โฌ10,000 There is also a โฌ5,000 prize for non-winning SGD-7 Finalists.
Closing date: 31 October 2025
Apply here: Start Up Energy Transition Award – All Years Recapsย
Farming Innovation Programme: Small R&D Partnership Projects
This funding is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme which is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, investing up to ยฃ7.8 million in innovation projects.
The aim of this competition is to:
Developโฏsolutions with the potential toโฏimprove overall productivity, sustainability, resilience and move existing agricultural sectors to net zero
Ensureโฏsolutionsโฏhave positive outputs for farmers, growers or foresters in commercially relevantโฏsituations
Develop new agricultural solutions by collaborationโฏthrough engagement with end usersโฏand the UK research communityโฏin the innovation process
Accelerate adoption by ensuring knowledge exchange with theโฏwider sector and other stakeholders
Your proposal must be able to demonstrate how the project will benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England. Your projectโs total eligible costs must be between ยฃ1 million and ยฃ3 million.
Closing date: 5 November at 11am
Apply here: Your application โ
Future Leaders Fellowships
Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) support talented people in universities, businesses, and other research and innovation environments.
They also allow universities, research institutes, independent research organisations and businesses to develop their most talented early career researchers and innovators or to attract new people to their organisations.
The aim of this competition is to:
Support ambitious research and innovation to tackle difficult and novel challenges.
Support excellence in innovation, across interdisciplinary boundaries and sectors.
Develop, retain, and attract the next wave of research and innovation leaders.
Working with a host organisation a Future Leaders Fellow will receive at least four years of funding to pursue an ambitious programme of innovation.
Closing date: 5 November 2025 at 11am.
More information can be accessed at the IUK website.ย
Global Aurora Tech Award to Support Women Entrepreneurs in IT
Applications are open for the 2025 Aurora Tech Award, which provides financial prizes to women-led startups in the information technology sector. The award aims to recognise and support women entrepreneurs by offering cash prizes to help advance their businesses.
Three prizes are available in this round. The first prize is $50,000, the second is $20,000 and the third is $15,000.
The award is open to startups founded or co-founded and led by a woman from any country. The funding can be used to support business development and growth activities, enabling recipients to progress their product or service in the market. The scheme is open to companies working in any area of information technology.
Closing date: 12 November 2025
Apply here: Aurora Tech Award โ A worldwide prize for women founders of IT and Tech startupsย
RTO Catapult Grant Scheme – Innovate UK
Launched in April this is an easy to access, easy to administer grant from Innovate UK for ยฃ15,000. Apply quickly as the pot ran out by September last year when launched at a similar time. Could be used for product testing, development work or if you need technical expertise to facilitate feasibility.
Closing date: when the fund has all been allocated
The fund offers financial support to UK-based independent studios developing commercial games-for-entertainment. Backed by the UK Government, the initiative aims to help companies scale up, attract investment and generate employment in the creative industries.
Grants will range from ยฃ50,000 to ยฃ150,000. The funding can be used to cover staff and contractor costs directly involved in hands-on development activity.
The scheme targets established games studios operating in the UK. Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the funding would provide clearly support their business growth plans and facilitate further investment.
Closing date: expressions of interest can be made at any time
Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance, providing discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.
A total of ยฃ150 million is available. Loans range from ยฃ2 million to ยฃ20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers meeting environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Co-operative and Community Finance is offering loans of between ยฃ10,000 and ยฃ85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise. โฏ
Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants
The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT), capped at a maximum of:
ยฃ350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant โ for instance, if you want to install them at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site
If you can’t see something in this month’s roundup that suits your business’s specific needs, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.
Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on funding, business news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.
Business blog – Shaping our future workforce: how employers can inspire the next generation
By opening your doors to students and educators, you can help bridge the gap between education and employment, inspire young people, and build a stronger local talent pipeline. Through modern work experience initiatives including Open Doors and curriculum enriching programmes like Teacher Encounters, Surrey Careers Hub is making it easier than ever for businesses to engage with their future workforce.
Why Employer Engagement Matters
Workplace experiences are transformative for young people. They help students understand how their studies connect to real-world careers, build motivation, and make informed decisions about their future. For employers, these engagements offer a chance to:
Showcase your sector and career pathways
Build relationships with local schools and colleges
Contribute to the development of future talent
Influence curriculum relevance.
Open Doors: supporting experiences of the workplace
The Open Doors programme invites employers to host in-person visits for students, offering them a first-hand look at your workplace. These visits typically include:
Site tours and demonstrations of emerging technologies
Q&A sessions with employees to highlight diverse roles and skills
Practical activities or challenges
Insights into early careers pathways, including apprenticeships and T Levels
Opportunities for feedback and reflection.
These experiences align with Gatsby Benchmark 6, which focuses on meaningful workplace encounters. Employers receive support to tailor visits to student needs, including accessibility considerations and safeguarding guidance.
Teacher Encounters: empowering educators to inspire
The Teacher Encounters programme connects educators with local employers, helping them understand how their subjects apply in the workplace. Teachers gain insight into:
Skills and qualifications valued by employers
Local businesses and labour market trends
Recruitment processes and vocational routes
Career pathways linked to their curriculum.
These encounters have proven highly impactful. According to the 2025 Impact Report:
100% of employers provided greater visibility and understanding of their business as a potential employment destination
86% of teachers understand the full range of job roles and careers in the current labour market that are linked to their subject
100% of employers recognise the value of engaging with schools and colleges and would participate in the programme again
Whether you’re new to employer engagement or looking to expand your outreach, Surrey Careers Hub offers practical support and resources. Hereโs how you can start:
By participating in these programmes, youโre not just offering a visit, youโre opening minds, broadening horizons, building futures, and strengthening your community. Join us in making a lasting impact.
If youโd like to explore any of these collaboration opportunities with a local school, college, SEND or alternative provision, get in touch today – contact Surrey Careers Hub: careers.hub@surreycc.gov.uk.
Renรฉeโs round-up of grants and funding – August
Published 18 August 2025
Funding and grants
Thereโs no summer break for grant funding being announced. Hereโs a round up of grants that have come through my inbox this month. It’s fast moving so check back here every month for updates on what programmes have been released.
Good Luck and let me know how you get on!
Renรฉe
Open Horizons #Opencall1
Open Horizons is a Horizon Europe-funded initiative. It has launched its first Open Call to provide funding for women-led startups in sectors such as AI, Green Tech, Blockchain and Advanced Materials. Successful applicants can receive up to โฌ55,000 in equity-free funding, tailored mentoring and strategic matchmaking, and opportunities to co-design and test paid pilot projects with major European corporates.
Applications are open to startups led by at least one woman holding a key executive role (CEO, CTO or Founder) with a minimum 25% ownership, and in inception or early-growth stage. Eligible startups must operate in deeptech or digital innovation and be based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country (including the UK).
Epic Games is offering financial support through its Epic MegaGrants programme, designed to advance innovation in real-time 3D creation. The scheme supports individuals and teams across gaming, media, enterprise and education.
Typical awards range from $5,000 to $150,000. Funding may be used for development costs or team-related expenses, such as staffing and continued production.
Creators and projects in the following areas are eligible:
Game Developersโฏ- using Unreal Engine (or transitioning to UE5).
Film and Media Creatorsโฏ-โฏreal-time content using Unreal Engine.
Enterprise and Industryโฏ- Unreal Engine projects in other industries
Education and Researchโฏ- university-level initiatives
Tool and Open-Source Developersโฏ– tools that integrate with Unreal or contribute to the 3D open-source ecosystem
UEFN (Fortnite Creative) Developersโฏ- creators using Unreal Editor for Fortnite.
The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.
The following levels of funding are available:
Starting Upโฏ- funding of up to ยฃ8,000
Scaling Upโฏ- funding of up to ยฃ18,000 for a social enterprise that has been operating for between one and four years.
Together with funding, award recipients will be assigned to one of UnLtd’s dedicated programmes to provide support aligned with the needs of their social venture for up to one year.
Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) support talented people in universities, businesses, and other research and innovation environments.
They also allow universities, research institutes, independent research organisations and businesses to develop their most talented early career researchers and innovators or to attract new people to their organisations.
The aim of this competition is to:
Support ambitious research and innovation to tackle difficult and novel challenges.
Support excellence in innovation, across interdisciplinary boundaries and sectors.
Develop, retain, and attract the next wave of research and innovation leaders.
Working with a host organisation a Future Leaders Fellow will receive at least four years of funding to pursue an ambitious programme of innovation.
Closing date: 5 November 2025 at 11am.
More information can be accessed at the IUK website.
RTO Catapult Grant Scheme – Innovate UK
Launched in April this is an easy to access, easy to administer grant from Innovate UK for ยฃ15,000. Apply quickly as the pot ran out by September last year when launched at a similar time. Could be used for product testing, development work or if you need technical expertise to facilitate feasibility.
The fund offers financial support to UK-based independent studios developing commercial games-for-entertainment. Backed by the UK Government, the initiative aims to help companies scale up, attract investment and generate employment in the creative industries.
Grants will range from ยฃ50,000 to ยฃ150,000. The funding can be used to cover staff and contractor costs directly involved in hands-on development activity.
The scheme targets established games studios operating in the UK.ย Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the funding would provide clearly support their business growth plans and facilitate further investment.ย
Closing date: expressions of interest can be made at any time
Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance, providing discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.
A total of ยฃ150 million is available. Loans range from ยฃ2 million to ยฃ20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers meeting environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Co-operative and Community Finance is offering loans of between ยฃ10,000 and ยฃ85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise. โฏ
Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants
The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT), capped at a maximum of:
ยฃ350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant โ for instance, if you want to install them at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site
If there isn’t anything in this month’s roundup that suits your business’s specific needs, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.
Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on funding, business news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.
Mastering marketing and communications – webinar
Published 11 August 2025
Advice and support, Events and awards
Join us for this free online session, hosted by Business Surrey where weโll explore the ins and outs of marketing and communications. Whether youโre a seasoned pro or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field.
Ready to dive into the world of marketing?
Workshop highlights
Develop a comprehensive marketing plan tailored to your business
How defining your target audience will help you focus your marketing activities
Explore the exciting possibilities of digital marketing to make the most of your time and resources including using AI tools effectively.
Event details
Date: 18 September
Time: 11:00 AM โ 12:00 PM
Location: Online
Cost: Free (Pre-registration required)
Meet your expert
The workshop will be led by Daniel Chidley, our Marketing Advisor. Daniel is an experienced business coach, mentor and director level communications, PR & marketing consultant with 20 years of experience in business. As a Chartered Marketer with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Daniel has experience in-house, agency and consultancy with experience across a range of industries.
In recent years, Daniel has worked with hundreds of SMEs and high growth businesses as a business coach and is accredited with the Association for Coaching. With a coaching approach, Daniel is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and business owners in adopting new strategies and techniques to improve their marketing, with a particular focus on early-stage businesses, start-ups, scale up businesses and social enterprises
Why attend?
Actionable Strategies: learn why a strategy and plan are crucial foundations on which to build your marketing activities and how to focus your efforts to help your business grow.
Expert Guidance: Benefit from Danielโs extensive experience and tailored advice.
This webinar is perfect for SME owners and entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses. There is no entry fee, and you can invite as many team members as you like. Be sure to register today to secure your spot!
Looking for a different type of business support?
We want you to grow and succeed โ and have a range of ways you can access support for your company.
Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on exploring opportunities and how to tackle various challenges. Contact the team for free via our Business Support Form.
Browse our directory of business support in Surrey. The directory includes more than 120 local, regional and national schemes and initiatives, which can search through quickly and easily.
Find out more about what we do and how to access one of our many business-friendly services by completing our Contact Us form.
Meet the Regulator webinar
Published 8 August 2025
Advice and support, Events and awards
Join us for this free online session, hosted by Business Surrey in partnership with Surrey Trading Standards. It is designed to help local businesses understand their legal responsibilities, avoid common compliance pitfalls, and access expert support.
Led by Phil LeShirley, Trading Standards Specialist, the session will cover key areas such as product safety, consumer rights, and how to engage with regulators early to protect your business and build customer trust.
Workshop highlights
What Trading Standards does (and doesnโt do)
Product safety, food standards, and fair trading
Consumer rights and refund rules
The EASY 123 scheme for early-stage businesses
How to engage with regulators before problems arise
Event details
Date: 28 August
Time: 11:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Location: Online
Cost: Free (Pre-registration required)
Meet your expert
The workshop will be led by Phil LeShirley a Senior Trading Standards Specialist with over 24 yearsโ experience in the field.ย He is responsible for business partnerships at Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, and has had great success at building relationships with corporate clients and trade bodiesย
He has significant expertise in general product safety and also delivers delivers a wide range of training courses to businesses.
Phil and the team at Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards are seen as exemplars in their field and are multi award winning.
Why attend?
Actionable Strategies: learn why getting consumer right will help your business grow.
Expert Guidance: Benefit from Philโs extensive experience and tailored advice.
This webinar is perfect for SME owners and entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses. There is no entry fee, and you can invite as many team members as you like. Be sure to register today to secure your spot!
Looking for free business support?
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing free and accessible support for all businesses in Surrey.
We want you to grow and succeed โ and have a range of ways you can access support for your company.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Need new or upgraded skills to adapt to new ways of working? Or do you just require advice on how to access funding and grants? Our team of experts can provide independent and impartial advice on exploring opportunities and how to tackle various challenges. Contact the team for free via our Business Support Form.
Browse our directory of business support in Surrey. The directory includes more than 120 local, regional and national schemes and initiatives, which can search through quickly and easily.
Find out more about what we do and how to access one of our many business-friendly services by completing our Contact Us form.
How to start a business on a budget
Published 6 August 2025
Advice and support, Thought leadership
Starting a new business can be exciting and rewarding. However, if not properly planned and budgeted for in advance, it can also be a drain on your finances. This is especially the case if you are self-funding the business from savings or a small business loan (known as bootstrapping) instead of securing funding from venture capitalists or other investors.
If you are bootstrapping your business, here are 3 practical tips on how to start a business on a budget.
1. Work out your needs and reduce unnecessary costs
Assuming you’ve already carefully planned and researched your business idea to ensure it is viable and that there is a market for it, the next thing you’ll need to do is assess what you’ll need to actually set it up and run it.
In addition to business tools, equipment, and initial set-up costs, such as regulatory or licensing fees, you’ll also need to know your ongoing overheads, such as material costs, cost of premises (if applicable), inventory, salaries, admin, etc.
In short, you need to know how much you need to generate a profit by taking into account all the costs and expenses you’ll incur running your business.
It’s important during the start-up phase that your business budget is spent wisely.
It may be tempting to spend money on nice-to-haves, but at this stage, you should only buy what you absolutely need. If you need to purchase business tools and equipment, you could consider re-loved or refurbished equipment. Not only will it save you money, but it is a sustainable business option that can go toward your net zero goal.
Also, consider working from home at the start-up phase to lower overheads if you can.
Now is also a good time to be strict with your outgoings and reduce unnecessary expenditures such as pricey subscriptions to services or apps you no longer use.
2. Adopt a low-cost marketing strategy
You’ll need to market your business so people know you exist.
Marketing can take up a huge chunk of a business’s budget, but there are low-cost and free marketing strategies you can use to make your business visible. For an in-depth framework to help you build your own tailored marketing strategy, check out our free Marketing Toolkit.
Online – social media and website
Building a social media presence is low-cost and effective. You can also do this organically instead of using paid advertisements. Research which platforms your ideal clients are using, and start with the one they use the most.
You can then post content to promote your business and also attract your ideal customers with content that interests them and is relevant and helpful.
If you have an SEO-optimised website, you can use it to market your business effectively. Your website doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive, either. There are low-cost and even free options available. If your website isnโt SEO-optimised, do some research into how to optimise it yourself. There are lots of free online resources available from reputable sources like Hubspot to help you do this without having to pay an expert to do it for you.
In addition to showcasing testimonials, products and services on your website, you can start a blog and develop a content marketing strategy to increase website visitors. For example, you can share your helpful SEO-optimised blog content on your social media channels to drive traffic to your website.
Print and out of home
Another low-cost marketing option that may be suitable for your business, is to create and print leaflets at home and distribute them locally by posting through letterboxes, leaving leaflets at suitable venues, and posting them on public notice boards. These can include a link to your website or social media channels, you could also add a QR code linking to the same.
The personal touch
And don’t forget how effective word of mouth can be, so let all your family, friends and wider network know about your new venture and get them to support you, too.
Finally, adding a personal touch to all your customer interactions can go a long way to building brand loyalty, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. For example, if you sell a product online, you could add a personalised handwritten thank you to the delivery note, or if you do business face to face, provide a simple loyalty card or discount on their next purchase.
All this will go toward building a good reputation, which is invaluable.
3. Make use of free online resources and tools
You can use free online tools to help you manage day-to-day business processes such as invoicing and accounting, project planning, appointment setting, graphic design for content, and many others that are available.
By automating business workflows with free online tools, you are not only saving money but also freeing up your time from tedious admin tasks so you can focus on running a profitable business.
Free online business groups and forums, including those on social media platforms such as Facebook or LinkedIn, are also worth researching. They can connect you with other people in your field or industry and can be powerful networking tools. They can also be a treasure trove of valuable free advice on running your business on a budget.
There may even be collaboration opportunities you can leverage. For example, you can work alongside other businesses to increase your visibility or barter and trade with them for services, to further reduce your overheads.
Renรฉeโs July round-up of business funding and grant sources
Published 8 July 2025
Funding and grants
Before I share details of all the grants and business funding that is available, did you know that 280 years ago this July, the first ever recorded womenโs cricket match took place on Gosden Common near Guildford between the eleven maids of Bramley and the eleven maids of Hambledon. Apparently, it drew a large crowd and was reported in several newspapers.
The Sage Small Business XI 2025 Grant is linked to their sponsorship of The Hundred, the British cricket tournament that has taken off in the last few years and which is leading the way in giving womenโs and menโs sport equal billing.
Part of the prize on offer is the chance to get promoted at one of the games which are broadcast live on TV. Now, you might be a cricket fan and the idea of your company being advertised over the hoardings at the Oval sounds like a dream come true, but how many of your potential customers are also cricket fans? Start thinking about the marketing opportunities on offer and how they might be just as beneficial as ยฃ10k.
By the way, if you havenโt been to The Hundred, go! Not only are the Surrey based Oval Invincibles the current menโs holders, but itโs also a great day out!
Good Luck and let me know how you get on!
Renรฉe
Sage Small Business XI 2025
Are your potential customers cricket fans? Sage is giving away a total of ยฃ50k in business grants to 11 deserving small businesses plus in stadium branding at one local The Hundred Cricket Match and 2 x tickets to The Hundred Final.
The competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 or over who are an owner of a small business, charity or not-for-profit thatโs been trading for a year that has fewer than 50 employees.
Closing date: 12:00pm on Monday 7th July
Apply here: Sage x The Hundred | Small Business Competition | Enter to Win
Santander X UK Awards
The Santander X UK Awards is Santander’s flagship entrepreneurship pitching competition. The competition has evolved to supporting 3 categories: university entrepreneurs, start-ups and a new SME category added for 2025.
Their aim is to award equity-free funding with prizes of between ยฃ10-30,000 and support for ambitious UK founders to take their ventures to the next level.
Closing Date: 16 July at 23.59
Apply here: Santander X UK Awards
Adobe Express ยฃ1,000 Grant
From now until August, 2 business owners a month will win ยฃ1,000 and mentoring from Adobe Express and Enterprise Nation.
All you have to do is share a creation you have made by using the templates in Adobe Express. It could be a social post, flyer or logo for your brand, upload it and complete the application for to be in with a chance of winning.
Closing date: until August 2025
Apply here:ย Adobe Express Brand Builder | Win ยฃ1,000 for your marketing strategyย
Future Leaders Fellowships
Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) support talented people in universities, businesses, and other research and innovation environments.
They also allow universities, research institutes, independent research organisations and businesses to develop their most talented early career researchers and innovators or to attract new people to their organisations.
The aim of this competition is to:
Support ambitious research and innovation to tackle difficult and novel challenges.
Support excellence in innovation, across interdisciplinary boundaries and sectors.
Develop, retain, and attract the next wave of research and innovation leaders.
Working with a host organisation a Future Leaders Fellow will receive at least four years of funding to pursue an ambitious programme of innovation.
Closing date: 5 November 2025 at 11am.
More information can be accessed at the IUK website.
RTO Catapult Grant Scheme – Innovate UK
Launched in April this is an easy to access, easy to administer grant from Innovate UK for ยฃ15,000. Apply quickly as the pot ran out by September last year when launched at a similar time. Could be used for product testing, development work or if you need technical expertise to facilitate feasibility.
The fund offers financial support to UK-based independent studios developing commercial games-for-entertainment. Backed by the UK Government, the initiative aims to help companies scale up, attract investment and generate employment in the creative industries.
Grants will range from ยฃ50,000 to ยฃ150,000. The funding can be used to cover staff and contractor costs directly involved in hands-on development activity.
The scheme targets established games studios operating in the UK. Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the funding would clearly support their business growth plans and facilitate further investment.
Closing date: expressions of interest can be made at any time
Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance, providing discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.
A total of ยฃ150 million is available. Loans range from ยฃ2 million to ยฃ20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers meeting environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Co-operative and Community Finance is offering loans of between ยฃ10,000 and ยฃ85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise. โฏ
Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants
The Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT), capped at a maximum of:
ยฃ350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant โ for instance, if you want to install them at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site
If there isn’t anything in this month’s roundup that suits your business’s specific needs, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.
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Surrey Careers Hub engages educators at Surrey FE Teaching & Learning Conference
Published 3 July 2025
Skills and workforce
The Surrey Careers Hub team were pleased to take part in Surrey FE’s second annual Teaching and Learning Conference at Nescot College on Tuesday 1 July.
The event brought together around 200 colleagues from the colleges in theย SurreyFEย group with the aim of collaborating, sharing best practice, and strengthening approaches to teaching and learning. As such, it provided a valuable platform for the Careers Hub team to engage with a broad spectrum of college staff, including teachers and senior leadership teams from across SurreyFE.
Julie Kapsalis, Principal and CEO of Nescot, welcomed attendees on the day, saying: โA warm welcome to everyone joining us today. Nescot is absolutely delighted to host the second SurreyFE Teaching and Learning Conference this year. Thank you to the teams from across the SurreyFE colleges including all the teaching and learning groups who have worked tirelessly to organise todayโs event and to the many speakers and colleagues hosting sessions throughout the day. It’s going to be an incredible day of learning, networking and collaboration.” ย
Delegates were able to network with peers to exchange ideas, share teaching resources, and explore the exhibitor stands in Nescotโs Skills Park (including the Surrey Careers hub stand). Attendees were also welcomed on the day by two specialist greeters: Nescotโs robots, Pepper and NesBot, and also had the opportunity to experience Nescot’s specialist AI and VR technology facilities in the Immersive Learning suite.ย ย
Supporting Surrey’s workforce of tomorrow
Exhibiting at the conference provided an opportunity for the Surrey Careers Hub to showcase its initiatives and discuss how it can support educational institutions in enhancing career guidance for students to help them prepare for the world of work. By interacting with various staff members, the team was able to promote their work and explore potential collaborations that could benefit students as they become the workforce of tomorrow.
The Careers Hub’s support of the event demonstrates clearly the importance of the strategic partnership between Surrey County Council and SurreyFE. This partnership spans multiple programmes at Surrey County Council, highlighting the council’s commitment to supporting educational and career development initiatives across the region.
