Call now open for CoSTAR National Lab’s “Advanced Production Technology” call
Published 28 November 2025
Funding and grants
The CoSTAR National Lab is looking for innovative approaches to advanced production that improve efficiency and enhance workflows—helping create impactful, audience-facing experiences.
If you’re a UK-based creative or technology-focused SME developing technical innovations for production pipelines, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Potential applications include:
Film and TV development
Animation and visual effects
Games and digital content creation
Live performance production
Emerging media and new technologies
What’s on offer?
This R&D programme provides a generous support package, including:
Access to studio and AI compute facilities
World-class research expertise
Cash funding
Travel and residency stipend (subject to eligibility)
A total of £140,000 in cash funding is available to support 3–5 projects, with up to £40,000 per project.
What are they looking for?
The Lab is keen to explore new workflows and production tools, including (but not limited to) innovations in:
For information on other sources of funding and grants, read our regular Funding Roundup or sign up for our newsletter.
Surrey Business Awards 2025 – celebrating the best businesses in the county
Published 19 November 2025
Events and awards
Business Surrey was proud to be a sponsor at the Surrey Business Awards 2025. The awards culminated in a glittering event last week (12 November) at Guildford’s G Live to celebrate the successes of businesses across Surrey.
Each year, this highly anticipated event celebrates the incredible achievements and contributions of businesses and individuals across Surrey. The calibre of entries is consistently outstanding, with exceptionally high quality submissions, making it a hard task for the judges who consider each category.
For the 2025 awards Business Surrey’s Enterprise Mentor, Renée Canter was delighted to judge the Best New Business category. Renée was inspired by the professionalism and creativity shown by the founders and teams of a hugely varied group of organisations all doing great things across Surrey.
For a full list of finalists and winners see the Surrey Business Awards website. Why not enter next year for the chance to showcase your business and join the ranks of Surrey’s most successful and innovative companies.
Looking for further advice?
Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing expert support and advice to all businesses in Surrey. Our aim is to help you start, grow and thrive.
Upcoming Business Surrey events: learn, connect, grow
Published 18 November 2025
Events and awards
Business Surrey is here to help local businesses thrive with fully funded webinars, workshops, and networking opportunities. Whether you’re starting out, scaling up, or looking to future-proof your business, these events are designed for you.
Meet Trading Standards: Stay compliant and confident
Running a business means navigating complex regulations. Join our expert-led webinar to understand the role of Trading Standards and how to avoid common compliance pitfalls.
Live Q&A with Trading Standards expert Phil LeShirley
Who should attend? Business owners, managers, and anyone responsible for compliance or product safety.
Register here.
Start-up Surrey online workshop – Funding options
Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to help growing businesses navigate the funding landscape.
Discover the full range of funding options available to early-stage and scaling businesses, with a special focus on grants and private equity.
Our expert speaker, Mark Taylor from Grant Hero, brings extensive experience in securing innovation funding, including successful bids with Innovate UK. Mark has helped more than 20 businesses access grants and accelerate growth.
In this session, we’ll cover:
How different funding routes work
What funders are looking for
How to choose the right approach for your stage and ambitions
You’ll also gain practical insights into crafting a compelling fundraising narrative, so you leave with a clear understanding of the funding landscape and the confidence to take your next steps.
Decarbonisation is a strategic priority for UK businesses – and SMEs are part of the supply chain. This practical session will help you take the first steps toward reducing emissions.
Hear from our expert, Shelley Lawson who brings practical advice borne of tangible experience. Shelley has helped businesses deliver carbon reductions whilst tackling their biggest issues, and strengthening the bottom line.
Register here.
Start-up overview
Kickstart your self-employment journey with our interactive Start-Up Overview workshop. In just one hour, you’ll gain valuable insights into the realities of working for yourself, assess your personal and business readiness, and leave empowered to decide if self-employment is right for you.
17 December | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Online
Register here.
Become a go-to supplier for the public sector
Want to align with local authority programmes to thrive and grow? Learn more about the public sector supply chain and discover how to unlock local opportunities in facilities management.
Date: 20 January 2026 Time: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Location: Woodhatch Place, Reigate | Fully funded | Free parking
Boost your marketing skills with our fully funded online workshops:
1. Communicate with confidence
22 January 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Learn how to define and express your brand with clarity and impact.
2. Build Your digital growth engine
12 February 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Explore smart digital strategies to expand reach and engagement.
3. Build, automate & accelerate
5 March 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Discover CRM tools, workflow design, and automation for sustainable growth.
Hear from Dan Chidley, our trusted coach helping people, organisations, communities and good causes through coaching, mentoring, personal and professional development. Accredited Member of the Association for Coaching. Director level marketing and communications professional with 20 years’ experience: in-house, agency and consultancy. Chartered Marketer and Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Surrey firm named among UK’s fastest-growing companies
Published 29 October 2025
Business news, Innovation
Guildford-based technology firm Crowd Connected has been recognised as one of the UK’s 50 fastest-growing private companies in the UK Fast Growth Index 2025. This prestigious ranking celebrates innovation and commercial success across the country.
Celebrating innovation in spatial intelligence
Crowd Connected specialises in real-time location systems (RTLS) and spatial intelligence. Its solutions make it possible to measure the use of physical spaces more easily. Sectors such as events, commercial real estate, healthcare and higher education make use of Crowd Connected’s software.
“Being named in the UK Fast Growth Index is testament to our commercial momentum and our mission to make physical spaces measurable, efficient, and intelligent,” said James Cobb, Founder and CEO of Crowd Connected. “Recognition like this reflects the UK’s strength in location intelligence and smart-building technology.”
From events to smart buildings
The company initially gained traction in the events industry, providing real-time visitor navigation and behavioural analytics at exhibitions and conferences. Since then it has expanded into smart buildings and healthcare. Its technology enables indoor navigation, asset tracking, and occupancy analytics, helping organisations optimise people and resource management.
A broad picture of UK growth
The UK Fast Growth Index, founded by Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, showcases the most dynamic and high-performing private businesses across seven UK regions. Jones-Evans said: “The [2025] Index highlights how innovative companies like Crowd Connected make a measurable impact on both regional economies and national productivity. These high-growth firms are proof that advanced digital technology continues to drive the UK’s competitiveness.”
Explore the full list
Crowd Connected joins 49 other standout companies in the 2025 Fast Growth Index. Access the full list of the Top 50 fastest-growing companies via the official website: UK Fast Growth Index – Top 200
Support for Surrey businesses
We offer expert business support and additional on-demand resources for growing businesses.
Contact our team of experts to discuss how we can help your business thrive by completing our business support form.
One-stop shop for training and jobs to help more people in Surrey find work
Published 21 October 2025
Advice and support, Skills and workforce
Surrey jobseekers can find jobs, learn new skills and access employment support in a single, simple and accessible way via Surrey County Council’s new STEP Surrey gateway services portal.
Latest figures show that more than one in six people of working age in Surrey (17.9%) are not currently in work. Of these, 22,400 people want to work but can’t find suitable employment.
Barriers include:
education (30%)
long-term health conditions (20.2%) and
care responsibilities (19%).
STEP Surrey aims to change that, providing a single gateway for those looking for work, regardless of their circumstances, background or experience.
The aim is to make it easier for job seekers to access the help and support they need, while helping local employers fill vacancies and skills gaps. Visitors will be able to access a live jobs board which is updated twice a day bringing thousands of live jobs together into a single platform.
Those who need extra support will be able to contact dedicated experts who can provide bespoke guidance to help people in Surrey find work and learn new skills.
Surrey Skills Conference
STEP Surrey was launched last week at the first ever Surrey Skills Conference, which brought together 200 employers, education, academics and government delegates to discuss how skills can power the county’s future economy.
It was organised by the council, in partnership with Surrey Chambers of Commerce, with keynote contributions from Robert West, Head of Employment and Skills at the Confederation of British Industry and Holly Hobbs, a Gen-Z influencer and co-founder of urfuture.
Key topics included how to make the most of the transfer of skills powers locally from government, and addressing challenges, such as driving business growth by equipping people who are out of work with the skills that employers need to thrive.
Employment support for Surrey residents
Delegates also learned more about upcoming government-funded programmes available in Surrey. This includes Connect to Work, which will support 2,500 people with complex barriers to work into local employment over the next five years; and WorkWell, which provides coaching to those with health challenges to get into, return to and stay in work.
Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said:“Surrey is a diverse, vibrant and well-connected region contributing more than £50 billion a year to the UK economy – we have a great economic story to tell.
“But beyond those headlines, we know there are challenges, not least the tens of thousands of residents who are currently out of work but want to work.
“The Government has brought renewed focus to work, health, economic inactivity and skills, and thanks to devolution, for the first time we can shape our approach to skills and employment across a single Surrey footprint.
“STEP Surrey is central to that mission – making it easier for every resident to access the training, support and opportunities they need to thrive in our local economy.”
To access help for people in Surrey to find work, training and skills support, visit www.stepsurrey.co.uk.
Solve recruitment challenges and access untapped talent through Connect to Work programme
Published 20 October 2025
Skills and workforce
In today’s competitive job market, businesses face persistent recruitment challenges. Hard-to-fill vacancies, high turnover costs, and skills gaps are impacting productivity across Surrey. Connect to Work offers a practical solution that helps businesses access untapped talent and solve recruitment challenges, while building stronger, more diverse teams.
Connect to Work is a government-funded supported employment programme delivered by Surrey County Council. It helps adults who face complex barriers to employment find and keep sustainable work. This includes people living with disabilities, health conditions, and those experiencing other significant challenges in accessing the job market.
The programme matches suitable candidates with employers and provides dedicated employment specialists who support both the employee and employer for up to 12 months.
The benefits to business
1. Fill hard-to-fill vacancies
Access a motivated talent pool that’s often overlooked. In sectors like hospitality, retail, warehousing, and care where recruitment is particularly challenging, Connect to Work can help you find committed employees who are ready to work.
2. Build a diverse, high-performing workforce
Diversity drives innovation and better decision-making. By widening your recruitment, you gain fresh perspectives and tap into skills that might otherwise be missed. Many Connect to Work candidates bring exceptional attention to detail, reliability, and unique problem-solving approaches.
3. Improve staff retention and reduce costs
Employees supported through programmes like Connect to Work often demonstrate high loyalty and commitment, staying in roles longer. This reduces your recruitment and training costs while building institutional knowledge and team stability.
4. Boost productivity through better job design
Connect to Work helps identify opportunities for job carving – tailoring tasks to match different skill levels. This allows your experienced staff to focus on complex, high-value work while essential routine tasks are handled efficiently by other team members.
5. Enhance workplace culture and your reputation
Inclusive workplaces foster empathy, collaboration, and mutual support, with studies showing improved morale across the board when businesses embrace diversity. Plus, an inclusive hiring approach enhances your reputation, helps you connect with diverse customer bases, and makes you an employer of choice for top talent who value inclusive workplaces.
Support through the process
Connect to Work removes the uncertainty from inclusive hiring, and you’ll get support from the team’s employment specialists every step of the way.
They can help:
Identify suitable roles and adapt job descriptions if needed
Match you with pre-screened candidates ready to work
Provide ongoing support to both you and your new employee for up to 12 months
With guidance on reasonable adjustments and workplace support
Support you to access any additional funding or resources available.
By partnering with Surrey County Council’s Connect to Work programme to support people into work, you’ll access reliable talent, reduce recruitment costs, and build a workplace that performs better and stands out for all the right reasons.
You can also keep up to date with all the latest news from Business Surrey by signing up to our newsletter or checking out our events page.
How to deal with late payments – advice for Surrey businesses
Published 15 October 2025
Advice and support
Late payments cost the UK economy almost £11 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? Here’s some advice on how to deal with late payments for small businesses in Surrey.
It’s 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 it’s 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 Commissioner’s 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 £10,000, 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.
What’s 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, we’ve 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 isn’t a webinar – it’s 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 Surrey’s 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.
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. Here’s how you can start:
By participating in these programmes, you’re not just offering a visit, you’re opening minds, broadening horizons, building futures, and strengthening your community. Join us in making a lasting impact.
If you’d 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.
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 we’ll explore the ins and outs of marketing and communications. Whether you’re 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 – 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 Daniel’s 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 – 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.
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