Get Surrey Working Plan launches to bring thousands into work

Published 17 March 2026

Business news, Skills and workforce

The Get Surrey Working Plan is a bold cross-county plan to bring thousands of people back into work in Surrey. It’s now been launched with the backing of Surrey County Council, government ministers and employers.

The Get Surrey Working Plan brings key partners together to focus on supporting 26,900 economically inactive residents who want to work but currently face barriers to employment.

Surrey currently has a lower-than-average rate of economic inactivity at 17.8% compared to the national average of 21.2%. But around 131,000 of its working age population are not currently employed.

Government ministers and local leaders across government, Jobcentre Plus, health and business are pledging to work together to tackle the issue through a series of interventions. This includes multimillion pound schemes such as Connect to Work, Skills Bootcamps and WorkWell.

The new STEP Surrey portal will streamline access to services. It will help residents finding the right support, learning new skills and finding jobs. Plus they can access assistance in a simple and easy way.

What is the Get Surrey Working Plan?

The Get Surrey Working Plan was formally launched by representatives from the One Surrey Growth Board at Redhill JobCentre Plus.

The plan identifies the key reasons for tens of thousands of Surrey’s working age residents not working. This includes long-term health conditions and caring responsibilities.

It also addresses Surrey’s skills mismatch problem. Currently many highly skilled professionals commute to London for work, leaving local employers struggling to fill vacancies. Key sectors including health and social care, automotive, and technology are particularly affected by recruitment challenges.

To bridge this gap, the plan will deliver targeted business support and skills development programmes. The aim is helping employers fill vacancies while supporting workforce planning and inclusive employment practices.

The soon-to-be-devolved Adult Skills Fund will focus on priority sectors and skills gaps. This enables residents to gain qualifications aligned with local employer needs.

Young people without skills or access to further learning will receive early intervention support in schools to reduce the risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment, or training), with clear vocational pathways and work experience opportunities.

Why is the Get Surrey Working Plan important?

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth and Chair of the One Surrey Growth Board, said: “While the economic picture in Surrey is largely a positive one, we know that there are thousands of people out there who are currently out of work but not in employment.

“Through the Get Surrey Working, we’re committed to breaking down those barriers and creating a truly inclusive labour market where everyone has the opportunity to access good quality employment and reach their full potential.”

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: “The Get Surrey Working Plan is a perfect example of how partners can come together to support people into work and help local businesses find the talent they need.

“Surrey is a county with real strengths – a thriving economy, top-class businesses and talented people – yet we know there are many more people who want to work but face barriers that hold them back.

“By bringing together local employers and support services we can reach people where they are and give them a genuine route into good work. This kind of practical, locally-led support is exactly what we need to get Britain working.”

The plan has been developed through partnership working. Key stakeholders include public health colleagues, Jobcentre Plus, Surrey Chambers of Commerce and employment support providers.

The aim is to avoid duplication of services and ensure support reaches those who need it most. This is through coordinating the employment and skills offer across Surrey with a clear, joined-up local service.

To access employment and skills support through STEP Surrey, visit: www.stepsurrey.co.uk

High Streets Support programme gathers pace – with online events now available

Published 16 March 2026

Advice and support, Business news, Innovation

The High Streets Support and Innovation programme continues to be delivered across Surrey this spring. Nearly 140 businesses have registered so far – and online events are now available.

The Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme is open to a wide range of businesses. This includes independent retailers, start-ups, market traders, charities and social enterprises.

It helps high street businesses in winning new customers, boosting sales and creating growth as part of wider efforts to strengthen and futureproof centres of the community.

It’s funded by Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund and delivered by specialists Smarter Society and The Retail Group. It includes free practical workshops, online resources and one-on-one tailored support.

There is also a focus on 22 high streets in all 11 of the county’s district and borough areas, with detailed workshops developed to help retailers attract more customers, boost footfall, improve visibility and increase customer spend.

Business can register for the support directly via the Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme enrolment form.

What is the High Streets Support scheme?

The High Streets Support scheme is developed in collaboration with economic development teams from district and councils. Representatives from Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) across Surrey have also been involved.

It launched last month with workshops running through February, March and April in key locations.

The Smarter Society outreach team is already pounding the pavements of Surrey’s high streets, meeting hundreds of business owners face-to-face and signing retailers up for workshops.

In the first few weeks, nearly 140 businesses have registered and 75 received support across five areas.

Four free workshops will take place in each district and borough. This will cover practical topics such as increasing footfall, improving online and in-store visibility, getting more from social media and promotions, and planning for growth.

Matt Furniss, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “High streets are the lifeblood of our communities. They’re integral to the character and vitality of our towns and villages, which is why we’re committed to supporting them alongside our district and borough partners and Business Improvement Districts.

“This programme is a real investment in the people behind Surrey’s independent businesses, giving them the tools and knowledge to thrive – which is good for our economy, our residents and our communities.”

Geoff Baxter, Managing Director of Smarter Society, said: “The Surrey High Street Growth & Innovation Programme is gaining real momentum. Businesses across the county are engaging enthusiastically with our on‑street support and workshops, and we’re proud to see such strong early signs of growth and innovation on Surrey’s high streets.”

High Streets support – online events

Are you a high street business struggling to attend in person? We’ve just released a series of online sessions to allow you to pick up tips and advice virtually.

Recordings will be available on demand afterwards.

Hybrid event in Camberley – 24 March, 10am – register via eventbrite
Hybrid event in Camberley – 24 March, 2pm – register via eventbrite
Online only event – 14 April, 10am – register via eventbrite
Online only event – 14 April, 2pm – register via eventbrite

How do I sign up?

The programme is free and open to any business trading on a Surrey high street. To find out more, visit the Business Surrey High Streets page.

Or register direct via the Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme enrolment form.

Three people stand posing in a busy high street next to a promotional banner for Surrey County Council's Business Surrey service.

A high street florist smiles as she stands next to a colourful display of flowers in her shop

Fundraising data for 2025 sees £1 billion boost to Surrey economy

Published 9 March 2026

Business news, Funding and grants, Innovation

Fundraising data for 2025 highlights a £1 billion boost to Surrey’s economy in the last year. The top 20 businesses alone brought in millions of pounds and created dozens of new roles, helping cement Surrey as one of the UK’s regional economies.

Data supplied by private company data platform Beauhurst and its partners Mercia Ventures shows there were 111 fundraisings from registered businesses with trading offices in Surrey in 2025. In total more than £1 billion is estimated to have been raised.

This is nearly half the total amount raised across the whole of the south east (£2.25 billion). Plus one in six deals in the last year across the south east took place in Surrey (111 out of 667).

The largest was McLaren, the Woking-based automotive company, which is estimated to have raised £811 million in December 2025.

The figures are highlighted in a report called The Deal 2026, compiled by Beauhurst Insights and Mercia Ventures.

It examines all equity investments received by UK-headquartered companies across all industries.

Key findings from The Deal include:

Amount raised into UK companies in 2025 has increased by 3.34% from last year
Number of first-time deals in 2025 has increased by 23.6% year on year
Amount raised has also reached a record high since 2020, up 74.3% to £6.27b
Total number of deals has continued to ease, down 7.87% from 2024

Fundraising in 2025 – top 20 Surrey businesses

McLaren (automotive) – £811 million
Gordon Murray Design (automotive) – £88.9 million
AFC Energy (renewables) – £23 million
Nature Metrics (environmental) – £20.3 million
CelLBxHealth (biotechnology) – £6.8 million
Futura Medical (biotechnology) – £2.75 million
Evolve Dynamics (aerospace) – £2.73 million
The HOPP (sports and leisure) – £2.45 million
Orthofuse (manufacturing) – £2.2 million
Fiinu (financial) – £3.25 million
Bruce’s (pets) – £1.75 million
Hofmeister (beverages) – £1.74 million
Money Guided (financial services) – £1.55 million
Assisted Living Project (property) – £1.54 million
Mater-AI (clean energy) – £1.5 million
Bots For That (accounting) – £1.5 million
BetterPoints (technology) – £1.34 million
Limetrack (technology) – £1.32 million
Cignpost (medical) – £1. 26 million
SchoolsMobile.com (technology) – £1.09 million

Fundraising data 2025 and The Deal

The fundraising date for 2025 is presented in a report titled The Deal 2026.

Will Clark, Managing Director for Mercia Ventures, writes: “This year’s data suggests that the UK equity market is not retreating so much as refining its focus, and that founders remain firmly at the centre of that recalibration.”

He adds: “While the overall number of deals eased again in 2025, the amount of capital being deployed did not. Total equity investment rose modestly year on year, and average deal sizes continued to increase, passing £4m for the first time since 2021.”

Funding support for your Surrey business

Looking to raise funding or investment into your Surrey business? Our team of experts are on hand to provide fully-funded advice to all Surrey businesses.

Get in touch via our Business Support Form to see how your business could access finance to help you grow.

Surrey prepares for devolution of adult education functions

Published 26 February 2026

Business news, Skills and workforce

The devolution of adult education functions will mean greater local oversight and control over skills and training opportunities for over 18s in Surrey. In time, this could have a big impact on your business while supporting wider efforts to grow the regional economy.

Surrey County Council’s Cabinet this week reviewed a paper setting out progress towards the devolution of adult education functions and related funding from central government.

Commitment to transfer these functions was secured as part of the County Deal agreed in 2024. It also forms part of the government’s wider devolution agenda.

Council leaders this week endorsed the proposed approach, which will see some responsibilities and funding currently held by the Department for Education transferred locally.

Surrey’s total adult education package for the next financial year is close to £20 million.

Devolution of adult education functions – what’s involved?

The majority – £11.2 million for the 2026/27 academic year – is made up of the Adult Skills Fund. This is the main adult education budget for those aged 19 and over. It’s designed to equip adults with the skills needed for meaningful, sustained employment and career progression.

A further £887,000 will support the Free Courses for Jobs scheme. This provides Level 2 and Level 3 courses for low-earners and those currently out of work. About £180,000 of this is ring-fenced to construction.

Ministers have approved the transfer of adult education responsibilities for the next academic year. Formal parliamentary approval is expected in the coming weeks.

Cabinet also agreed to receive Surrey’s allocation of devolved post-16 capacity funding. It’s estimated to be £7.7 million for each of the next two years. This will fund capital improvements to classrooms and teaching spaces, ensuring future learner demand can be met.

The council will now create local guidance for how Surrey – as a designated devolved area – will allocate the post-16 capital funding. Full details will be published soon.

A further round of Skills Bootcamps has also been agreed for the next financial year. This ensures hundreds of Surrey residents will receive free fast-track training in growing sectors.

How can training providers get involved?

Further education and other training providers can find out more about the opportunities are invited to a webinar on March 16.

This will provide details of the planned approach to allocating funding and include a Q&A session.

There will also be an update on the new Local Skills Improvement Plan (2026-29) for Surrey. This will be published later this year.

The plan sets out the county’s skills needs, bringing employers and other partners together to co-create solutions for driving economic growth, including adult skills provision. In line with guidance for devolved areas, the county council is jointly producing this with Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

For further information or to register interest in attending the webinar, contact economy.growth@surreycc.gov.uk. Or get in touch via our Contact Us form.

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Surrey Venture Studio underway turning innovative ideas into businesses

Published 12 February 2026

Advice and support, Funding and grants, Innovation

Surrey Venture Studio is underway turning innovative ideas into businesses. The scheme is funded by Surrey’s Economic Growth Fund giving innovators and entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their bright ideas to a Dragon’s Den style panel to win a £25,000 cash boost.

Surrey Venture Studio has been developed by the county’s three universities – Royal Holloway University of London, University for the Creative Arts and University of Surrey – to boost innovation, launch successful businesses and create jobs.

Funded by Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund, it brings together entrepreneurs, academics and students for intensive two-day workshops before they present their ideas to an expert panel.

Successful participants secure places on a six-month accelerator programme with the possibility of receiving up to £25,000 in catalyst grant funding to launch their businesses.

The first event was held this month at the University of Surrey’s Surrey Technology Centre in Guildford. 13 budding entrepreneurs worked through their ideas in specialist sessions.

Further fully-booked workshops are scheduled this month. They’ll take place at Royal Holloway University of London, University for Creative Arts’ Epsom campus, and Surrey County Council’s headquarters in Reigate.

It is one of dozens of innovative projects funded by the council’s Economic Growth Fund. This has seen millions of pounds of government and private funding invested to drive growth, create jobs, improve infrastructure, increase productivity and upskill Surrey’s workforce.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “In less than a year, the Economic Growth Fund has seen millions of pounds of funding invested in creating jobs and boosting growth across Surrey.

“Surrey Venture Studio is just one of dozens of projects which secured funding from the competitive process – and I’m looking forward to seeing some of these bright ideas develop and grow into fully-formed businesses in the months and years to come.”

How does Surrey Venture Studio work?

Surrey Venture Studio is designed to support those with ideas, prototypes or early-stage research that haven’t yet reached their full revenue-generating potential.

The programme provides expert mentoring and structured support to help innovators determine whether turning their idea into a business is the right path forward.

Successful accelerator participants will commit approximately two days per month over the six-month programme. They’ll also receive ongoing mentorship and support as they develop their business propositions.

Chris Pett, Digital Innovation Sector Lead at SETsquared, who led the first sessions, says: “The idea is that we’re building people up to the point where they feel more confident and capable to get out of the building and discover potential market opportunities based on the spark of an idea they’re thinking about right now.

“For a lot of them, this could result in a major change in their career from academic research into becoming an entrepreneur and potentially building a business.”

Speaking at the first workshop, Caroline Fleming, Director of the Surrey Innovation District at the University of Surrey, said: “We are delighted to launch this Surrey Venture Studio programme. We’ve got a brilliant collection of really bright minds – students, entrepreneurs and academics from the University of Surrey and the wider community – and we’ve been giving them some tips on how to think about what they need to do to develop their business.

“They’ve been really engaged, coming up with some fantastic questions and feedback. Hopefully they get really good value out of our workshop.”

A second round of applications is expected to open in spring 2026.

For further information visit the Surrey Ventures Studio page on the Business Surrey website.

You can also follow the project at the Surrey Venture Studio LinkedIn page.

A group of people - some sitting and some standing - pose for a picture in front of promotional banners for Surrey Venture Studios and Business Surrey.

High Street Support and Innovation programme launches for Surrey businesses

Published 11 February 2026

Advice and support, Business news

The High Street Support and Innovation Programme will support hundreds of small and medium businesses in Surrey’s town and villages. Find out how you can get involved with this fully-funded scheme, which is running this spring.

The Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme is a county‑wide initiative funded by our Economic Growth Fund to support independent businesses across the whole of Surrey.

It covers all corners of Surrey with dedicated sessions in 22 locations across all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey. And it offers free, practical and locally tailored support across Surrey high streets.

It’s been developed with representatives from district and borough councils plus Business Improvement Districts representatives.

We’ve commissioned Smarter Society and The Retail Group to deliver the programme in spring 2026.

It will include:

In-person business engagement
Free practical workshops
Business toolkits and resources
Tailored support

Who can take part in the High Street Growth and Innovation programme?

The programme is open to any business on a Surrey high street. This includes:

Independent retail and service‑based businesses
Start‑ups and early‑stage ventures
Pop‑ups and market traders
Charities, CICs, mutuals and cooperatives

What does the High Street Growth and Innovation programme offer?

In-person business engagement
- The Smarter Society outreach team is currently visiting high streets across Surrey meeting business owners face‑to‑face.
- Scroll down to see the full list of engagement sessions
Free practical workshops
- Join practical, high‑impact workshops delivered locally in each district. Designed specifically for independent retailers and service‑based businesses
- Scroll down to see the full schedule of workshops
Business toolkits and resources
- Participants gain access to a suite of practical High Street Business Toolkits including
  - Downloadable guides
  - Templates and checklists
  - Short explainer videos
- Downloadable resources will be available online soon via our Resources page.
Tailored support
- We know not all businesses can attend in person, so the programme is designed to offer multiple ways to engage with the content, including:
  - In‑person workshops at convenient, local venues
  - Live virtual attendance via broadcast
  - On‑demand recordings available to watch at any time
  - Ongoing access to resources through the Business Surrey website
  - 1‑to‑1 support, where appropriate, for businesses needing tailored guidance

Engagement sessions

The High Street Support and Innovation programme will see teams from Smarter Society visit high streets across Surrey.

They will meet business owners face‑to‑face to share information about the free business support on offer. They will also register businesses for upcoming workshops, gather valuable local insights and answer any questions.

The dates are:

Redhill – 10 February
Oxted – 16 February
Reigate – 17 February
Walton – 17 February
Esher – 18 February
Guildford – 19 February
Leatherhead – 23 February
Dorking – 24 February
Caterham – 2 March
Guildford – 4 March
Camberley – 4 March
Chertsey – 5 March
Egham – 17 March
Ashford – 18 March
Farnham – 19 March
Woking – 24 March
Epsom – 25 March
Godalming – 26 March
Staines – 3 April

Workshop Schedule

Four workshops will be held in all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey. These sessions will help local business owners to:

Attract more customers and boost footfall
Improve in‑store and online visibility
Increase customer spend

Workshops are delivered by experienced specialists from The Retail Group and sessions are held in accessible high street locations across Surrey.

The cover a range of themes held over morning and afternoon sessions, as follows:

Attracting more customers and encouraging them to spend more (workshop 1 and 4)
Making better use of promotions and social media to drive sales and planning for growth (workshop 2 and 3)

Tandridge

Oxted – 24 February (Workshops 1 & 2)
Caterham – 9 April (Workshops 3 & 4)

Reigate & Banstead

Redhill – 18 February (Workshops 1 & 2)
Reigate – 25 February (Workshops 3 & 4)

Guildford

Guildford (Session 1) – 26 February (Workshops 1 & 2)
Guildford (Session 2) – 4 March (Workshops 3 & 4)

Elmbridge

Esher – 3 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Walton – 10 March (Workshops 3 & 4)

Mole Valley

Leatherhead – 4 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Dorking – 11 March (Workshops 3 & 4)

Runnymede

Chertsey – 12 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Egham – 19 March (Workshops 3 & 4)

Surrey Heath

Camberley (Session 1) – 17 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Camberley (Session 2) – 24 March (Workshops 3 & 4)

Spelthorne

Staines – 18 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Ashford – 25 March (Workshops 3 & 4)

Waverley

Farnham – 26 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Godalming – 2 April (Workshops 3 & 4)

Woking

Woking (Session 1) – 31 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Woking (Session 2) – 7 April (Workshops 3 & 4)

Epsom & Ewell

Epsom (Session 1) – 1 April (Workshops 1 & 2)
Epsom (Session 2) – 8 April (Workshops 3 & 4)

Online events

Hybrid event in Camberley – 24 March, 10am – register via eventbrite
Hybrid event in Camberley – 24 March, 2pm – register via eventbrite
Online only event – 14 April, 10am – register via eventbrite
Online only event – 14 April, 2pm – register via eventbrite

Support for High Street businesses

We are a Surrey County Council service offering expert advice to help Surrey businesses thrive.

Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your business to grow and succeed.

Get in touch with a member of the team via our business support form.

And make sure you always hear about upcoming events by registering for our regular e-newsletter.

Source in Surrey to forge closer connections to boost county economy

Published 29 January 2026

Advice and support, Business news, Events and awards, Innovation

Source in Surrey is an innovative initiative to help Surrey businesses benefit more from spending in the region’s £50 billion economy. It’s been developed by Surrey Chambers of Commerce after it secured a grant from Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund.

The six-figure initiative is designed to strengthen the regional economy by connecting small and medium-sized businesses with larger organisations for major contract opportunities.

It kicks off next month, with the first of 10 roadshow events taking place in Woking on February 11.

The programme will also include sales masterclasses. Plus there’s the creation of an AI-powered platform, streamlining connections between buyers and suppliers.

Source in Surrey and the Economic Growth Fund

Source in Surrey is one of several projects funded via the council’s Economic Growth Fund. This pools public and private funds, including government Shared Prosperity Funding, into a single pot.

Since launching in April, more than £3 million has been invested via the council in local businesses and organisations to support business growth, innovation and employment opportunities.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Source in Surrey will tackle a real challenge – helping our smaller businesses access the kind of major contracts that can transform their growth trajectory.

“By connecting SMEs with larger organisations and equipping them with the skills to compete, we’re not just creating jobs and boosting our economy, we’re building a more resilient and collaborative business community across the county.

“We’re pleased to have been able to support the initiative via the Economic Growth Fund and I look forward to seeing our people, places and businesses benefit from closer connections in the future.”

About Source in Surrey

Source in Surrey will look to bridge the gap by focusing on four key areas:

enhancing selling capabilities
improving procurement access
building customer databases
forging closer connections, starting with a county-wide roadshow programme.

Each roadshow session includes a keynote session from a business leader. Attendees will also be introduced to the AI platform for businesses to find and procure suitable contracts.

The roadshows, which are free to attend, take place at:

Dukes Court, Woking (February 11)
Tandridge Golf Course, Oxted (February 24)
Hartsfield Manor, Betchworth (February 26)
Login Lounge, Camberly (March 3)
The Thames Club, Staines (March 11)
Farnham Maltings (March 17)
Reigate Manor, Reigate (March 24)
Guildford Pavilion (April 14)
Epsom Racecourse (April 23)
Brooklands Museum (April 28)

The initiative also includes expert-led sales training courses delivered by Anita Saini of HX Solutions. These start on 10 February at Login Lounge, Camberley, and 10 March at Dukes Court, Woking.

These practical courses aim to equip smaller businesses with the confidence and skills to compete for and win significant contracts.

Louise Punter of Surrey Chambers said: “The Surrey economy is large but much of the spend of the larger organisations is made outside of Surrey. So we want to encourage larger businesses and organisations to ‘buy local’ and make it easier for smaller businesses to win contracts.

“By bringing these different parts of the business eco-system together we will also facilitate other ways of supporting the smaller businesses through training opportunities and economies of scale.”

Businesses can find out more on the events page of the Surrey Chambers website . Or email the team at sourceinsurrey@surrey-chambers.co.uk.

Need additional help and support? Get in touch with our team of experts via the Business Surrey business support form.

Three people stand smiling in front of promotional banners for Source in Surrey and Business Surrey

Employment Rights Act: what does it mean for your Surrey business?

Published 20 January 2026

Advice and support, Skills and workforce, Thought leadership

The Employment Rights Act received royal assent in December 2025. It is the biggest change to employment law in a generation. But what does it mean for Surrey businesses? Our blog looks at some of the impacts.

The Employment Rights Act is designed to modernise the labour market, bringing it into the 21st century. Ministers say it strengthens worker protections and increases employer obligations.

The employment law changes included in the Act will take place over a period of 2 years. Most changes will happen in 2026 and 2027.

New rights include day one paternity leave and statutory sick pay. Plus there are protections for pregnant workers, an end to exploitative zero hours contracts and a new right to bereavement leave. 

Ministers claim stronger employment rights are good for the economy, pointing to academic research which shows the happier and healthier workers are, the more productive they are – and the longer they stay in their jobs. This contributes to economic growth. 

But there will be a cost – with Government’s own analysis saying there will be a direct annual cost to business of around £1 billion per year.

Employment Rights Act: key headlines

Ending One‑Sided Flexibility
- The Act tackles insecure work by introducing rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts, and compensation for short‑notice cancellations. These protections also extend to agency workers, supported by new remedies via employment tribunals.
Fire and Rehire Restrictions
- The Act introduces tougher restrictions on “fire and rehire” practices. Dismissals for failing to agree to changes to certain core contractual terms will now be considered automatically unfair, except in cases of severe and genuine financial difficulty.
Unfair Dismissal Changes
- Reducing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years to six months, and the cap on compensatory awards will be removed.
Increased dismissal protection for industrial action
- Dismissal for taking part in industrial action will become ‘automatically unfair’. This will remove the current 12-week limit for claiming unfair dismissal. This will change in February 2026.
Strengthened Collective Redundancy Rules
- The maximum ‘protective award’ for failure to consult in collective redundancy will double from 90 days’ pay to 180 days’ pay. This will change in April 2026.
Family‑Friendly and Sick Pay Reforms
- Employees will gain day one rights to statutory sick pay, paternity leave, and unpaid parental leave.
- New bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
- Removing lower earnings limit for sick pay. Currently, workers must earn a minimum amount to be eligible for statutory sick pay
Establishment of the Fair Work Agency
- From April 2026, a new Fair Work Agency will consolidate enforcement of minimum wage, agency rules, exploitation prevention, and holiday pay compliance.

What should employers do now?

Although many changes take effect throughout 2026 and 2027, employers should begin reviewing contracts, policies, shift‑allocation processes, and dismissal procedures now.

By taking early action, you can reduce compliance risks and improve workforce stability.

More details on the changes can be found in the government’s Employment Rights Act factsheet.

Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, also has a helpful online Employment Right Bill section on its website.

Need further support and advice? Get in touch with our team of experts via the Business Support Form.

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Economic Growth Fund round two recipients announced

Published 15 January 2026

Business news, Funding and grants, Innovation

Greentech innovators and gourmet food producers are among businesses benefiting from a further £1 million investment from Surrey Economic Growth Fund round two.

Nearly 30 companies and entrepreneurs are receiving individual grants of up to £75,000 in the latest round of funding.

The investment, which is largely made up of UK Shared Prosperity Funding from government, will unlock millions of pounds of match funding while creating dozens of local jobs.

Among the recipients are Mantisonix, a University of Surrey spinout in Guildford, which has developed ultrasonic technology to sustainably destroy “forever chemicals”. The new facility will reinforce Surrey’s position as a leader in environmental innovation.

MS Venison will create a new butchery facility in Oxted while family-run catering business Afromufasa will purchase a new food truck, creating up to eight jobs in Weybridge.

Godalming-based DIY Her Way will look to provide online training for 100 women to become electricians, helping addresses Surrey’s shortage of skilled tradespeople.

Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “This investment represents another significant step in strengthening and growing Surrey’s economy.

“The quality and breadth of the bids within the hundreds of applications that we received is testament to the vibrancy of the business community across the county.

“I’m delighted we have been able to support close to 30 companies with their innovative ideas to grow and look forward to seeing them delivering benefits to our people and places over the months to come.”

What is the Surrey Economic Growth Fund?

Surrey County Council launched the Economic Growth Fund in April with a focus on supporting ideas to accelerate growth, boost innovation and create new employment opportunities.

About £2 million was distributed when the first round of grants was announced in September.

With a further £1 million awarded in round two, the total invested locally this year now stands at more than £3 million.

The Economic Growth Fund is one of several ways the council supports businesses and a growing Surrey economy.

To register for fully-funded support to start and grow a business get in touch via our Business Support Form.

Growth Fund case study: Streetwise Technology

Among those to benefit from the Surrey Economic Growth Fund are Rhevia in Reigate. The firm used to be called Streetwise Technology. It uses hardware and AI to make highways safer for pedestrians while improving vehicle flow.

Dorian Isaacson, of Rhevia, said: “Being selected for funding by Surrey County Council was a huge vote of confidence for us at a critical stage of our growth.

“The grant has been genuinely transformational, it enabled us to recruit two new team members and significantly advance our technology, making our product more sophisticated and commercially viable.

“That progress has directly helped us win new customers and accelerate our growth. As we scale, we expect this to translate into high-value jobs, continued innovation, and a growing contribution to the Surrey economy.”

A man in a blue suit and white shirt smiles while posing for an image in front of a Business Surrey promotional banner.

Economic Growth Fund round two – full list of recipients

The businesses to win funding in round two of the Surrey Economic Growth Fund are:

Afromufasa
Aqua Broadcast Limited
Batts Hill Distillers
BecDan Limited
Carpet Ease Limited
Carry on Coffee
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Three people sit at a table discussing a business proposal. Behind them is a Business Surrey promotional banner.

Woodlark Nurseries case study: greenhouse expansion sparks growth

Published 9 December 2025

Advice and support, Funding and grants, Surrey Success Stories

Woodlark Nurseries is family-run nursery in Hersham. Thanks to the Surrey Economic Growth Fund it is doubling its production area, increasing produce, improving efficiency and creating local jobs.

Woodlark Nurseries, run by Graeme Edwards and his father Colin, supplies national and local garden centres including Squires, Garsons Farm and Chessington.

The five-figure investment via Surrey County Council’s Surrey Economic Growth Fund is allowing it to double the size of its production area, increasing output by an extra 270,000 pots per year.

It means the team can produce more plants, allowing them to better serve their customers, support the community and create more local jobs.

The investment has come at just at the right time for the nursery, allowing it to produce a plethora of poinsettia plants just in time for the festive season.

Graeme Edwards, of Woodlark Nurseries, said: “We grow seasonal plants and bulbs, mainly bedding plants but also Poinsettia plants at Christmas, along with planted containers and hanging baskets. Mainly to local garden centres and also national garden centre groups as well as local landscapers and gardeners.

“The funding will allow us to expand and upgrade one of our greenhouse facilities, so we can grow more and grow it better and earlier to match demand from our customers. And to make sure they can get more plants that are grown locally, meaning better quality plants for their customers. The funding will also pave the way for increased efficiencies in production in the future.”

Woodlark Nurseries: supporting the community

The Surrey Economic Growth Fund was launched by the council earlier this year. It brings together a range of public and private funds, including government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, into a single pot.

Woodlark Nurseries was one of the first to receive investment following a highly competitive process. It’s using the grant to expand its production area from 1400m2 to 2800m2.

As well as boosting the business, it will allow the team at Woodlark to support the wider community too.

Graeme said: “We are proud to sponsor both Hersham in Bloom and work closely with Weybridge in Bloom and Claygate Gardening Society which are all fantastic things run by great people, improving the community for everyone, so we’re looking forward to continuing that. If there’s any other local initiatives which are similar and we could work with, we would love to hear from them.

“We also look to employ from the local community so this project will mean we’ll need to expand this.

“And we deal with lots of local garden centres. So this project will hopefully enable us to help them even more by supplying them with locally grown plants, which have a lower carbon footprint and better quality than European imports.

“We’re really looking forward to starting the project and improving our business as well as supporting the local businesses that we deal with even more.”

Surrey Economic Growth Fund

Close to £2 million has been awarded to dozens of recipients via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. This is unlocking significant match funding and private investment.

The successful bids are collectively estimated to grow Surrey’s economy by £9 million. They are also creating or safeguarding 300 jobs and bringing 1,350 residents into employment.

Further applications were welcomed in the autumn. And an announcement of recipients from round two will be made in the new year.

Any business looking for funding or support to grow can receive fully-funded support. Get in touch via our Business Support Form.