Category: Business news

Surrey Venture Studio round two now open

Published 7 April 2026

Business news, Funding and grants

Surrey Venture Studio round two is now open for those with bright business ideas. Apply now to win £25,000 of funding and six-months of expert support to help launch and scale a new start-up.  

Surrey Venture Studio is a unique business growth initiative developed and delivered by the county’s three universities and Surrey County Council.

It is the only programme for tech businesses in the county that offers standout innovative entrepreneurs the opportunity to funding and support to turn their ideas into a reality

More than 30 early-stage innovators completed the first round of the programme, which launched last year.

Now, Surrey Venture Studio is thrilled to announce that applications for the Summer Cohort are open until 8 May. It offers even more of Surrey’s promising tech entrepreneurs to turn their early-stage innovation ideas into viable technology business ventures.

Want to know more?

What is Surrey Venture Studio?

Surrey Venture Studio offers a unique two-day workshop and pitching programme tailored for people living, working and studying in Surrey to explore the business potential of their early-stage tech idea.

Participants receive practical guidance, expert mentoring, and structured support designed to help accelerate their ideas toward commercial viability.

Following the workshops, participants then pitch to a panel of startup experts and investors.

The standout innovators receive £25,000 of funding and a place on the six-month SVS Business Accelerator, giving founders the resources and momentum to take the next major steps in their ventures.

Ody Bassioukas, Surrey Venture Studio Manager, said: “It’s been incredibly energising to see just how much progress can happen in a matter of days, ideas gaining clarity, confidence building, and new pathways starting to take shape. There’s a real momentum in the room, and it’s been inspiring to witness how quickly concepts are evolving into something tangible. The quality and originality of the ideas coming through have been exceptional, and this feels like just the beginning. I’m excited to see how these ventures continue to grow and where the next stages take them.” 

Surrey Venture Studio’s first cohort

The inaugural round saw a remarkably diverse and energetic group of innovators whose ideas spanned multiple disciplines and sectors.

More than 30 early-stage innovators took part in the process at University of Creative Arts, Royal Holloway, University of London and University of Surrey.

Participants had access throughout the workshops to seasoned mentors from across the start-up ecosystem, receiving invaluable insight, challenge, and encouragement.

Elizabeth Baldwin, Founder of Puzzle Proof – a digital, evidence-based, management system for domestic abuse survivors – said: “It’s thrilling to feel like other people see value in this [Puzzle Proof]. I know this problem exists, and I have the opportunity to solve it. I was nearly at the point of thinking, ‘Am I going to take this further? Is this worth pursuing?’ Surrey Venture Studios has given me that push, saying, ‘Yes, this is worth doing. Let’s make this dream a reality.’ I encourage others to take that same leap.”

Iain Jamieson, Chairman S100 Angel Investment Club, said: “I was delighted to be asked to be a judge at the Surrey Ventures Studio workshop for start-ups, where some very exciting new business ideas were showcased.  The event was expertly organised and is exactly the kind of support that is needed to provide nascent entrepreneurs with the ecosystem to succeed. I hope to see many of the participants seeking funding through the S100 angel investment club in the years to come.”

Looking Ahead: Round Two Now Open

Apply for Surrey Venture Studio round two until 8 May. Workshops are taking place in June at locations across Surrey.

Aspirational entrepreneurs and innovators working or studying in Surrey are encouraged to take advantage of this transformative opportunity

Want to find out more about SVS’s Summer Cohort?

You can also sign up for the Surrey Venture Studio newsletter to be kept informed of further rounds.

For full details and terms and conditions visit the Surrey Venture Studio page on our website.

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.

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

  1. McLaren (automotive) – £811 million
  2. Gordon Murray Design (automotive) – £88.9 million
  3. AFC Energy (renewables) – £23 million
  4. Nature Metrics (environmental) – £20.3 million
  5. CelLBxHealth (biotechnology) – £6.8 million
  6. Futura Medical (biotechnology) – £2.75 million
  7. Evolve Dynamics (aerospace) – £2.73 million
  8. The HOPP (sports and leisure) – £2.45 million
  9. Orthofuse (manufacturing) – £2.2 million
  10. Fiinu (financial) – £3.25 million
  11. Bruce’s (pets) – £1.75 million
  12. Hofmeister (beverages) – £1.74 million
  13. Money Guided (financial services) – £1.55 million
  14. Assisted Living Project (property) – £1.54 million
  15. Mater-AI (clean energy) – £1.5 million
  16. Bots For That (accounting) – £1.5 million
  17. BetterPoints (technology) – £1.34 million
  18. Limetrack (technology) – £1.32 million
  19. Cignpost (medical) – £1. 26 million
  20. 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.

Aerial image of Surrey UK

New fire safety rules to reshape high rise residential management

Published 7 March 2026

Business news

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service warn that major changes are coming for those managing high rise homes with new fire safety rules coming into force soon.

From April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will introduce new legal duties for building owners and managers, particularly those responsible for:

  • Residential buildings 18m or seven or more storeys
  • Buildings over 11m operating a simultaneous evacuation strategy

Driven by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, the regulations focus on improving protection for residents who may struggle to self evacuate.

What Responsible Persons must do

Under the new rules, Responsible Persons will be required to:

  • Identify residents needing evacuation support
  • Complete Person Centred Fire Risk Assessments
  • Produce personalised Emergency Evacuation Statements
  • Create a building-wide Emergency Evacuation Plan
  • Store plans in a Premises Information/Secure Information Box for fire crews
  • Share key information with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (with consent)

What this means for your organisation

Residents will see clearer communication and stronger safety measures.

Building managers, owners, and agents will need to update processes, engage proactively with residents, and maintain accurate documentation, particularly for Premises Information/Secure Information Boxes.

Find out more

Visit Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s advice for residents and Responsible Persons webpages.

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.

A man in a black suit, white shirt and tie stands in front of two promotional banners for STEP 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

Register for the Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation via the Smarter Society form (external).

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

Register for the Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation via the Smarter Society form (external).

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

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.

Active Travel Grant for employers – help your staff travel to work in a more sustainable and healthy way

Published 10 February 2026

Advice and support, Business news, Funding and grants

Grants of up to £5,000 are available to help your staff travel to work more sustainably and healthily, and in turn help boost productivity. Applications close on 5th April.

Many people live close enough to walk or cycle to work, but without the right encouragement and support, they find it hard. Something as simple as improved lighting, or an internal comms focus on walking, cycling and public transport can make a big difference.

Supporting staff to travel to work by walking, cycling or using public transport more helps employees be more active. This in turn helps improve mental health, relieves stress, and boosts productivity. Additionally, the cost to businesses of road congestion in Surrey has been estimated at £550m per year – so doing what we can to reduce road congestion will bring benefits to us all.

As well as funding, support is available in the form of a helpful resource toolkit: Surrey’s Smarter Travel Toolkit. Download it today to get started on your journey.

Get inspired

According to the Sustrans Walking And Cycling Index, 50% of adults want to walk and cycle more, compared to just 15% of us who say we want to drive more frequently. Employers can help their staff travel better, feel better, and work better by applying for an Active Travel Grant from Active Surrey, and by following the practical steps in Surrey’s Smarter Travel Toolkit.

Surrey businesses are using their grant for improved lighting, electric pool bikes and charging points, lockers, active travel events, cycling accessories, and bike shelters and servicing sessions.

What are the benefits?

Commuting through active modes improves the physical and mental health of employees and can also enhance job performance. And healthier employees take fewer sick days, boosting productivity. It is estimated that poor mental health costs employers an estimated £45 billion each year.

Improving staff travel options can help widen your recruiting pool

Commuting makes up roughly 10–20% of an employer’s Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Encouraging sustainable travel can help support employers reach their corporate goals and ambitions.
Implementing an employer travel plan signals a strong commitment to sustainability and corporate social responsibility, enhancing the organisation’s reputation and appealing to environmentally conscious customers and employees.

Encouraging active commuting like walking or cycling, and use of public transport, can help alleviate car park capacity issues. 10 to 20 bicycles can typically be stored in the space required for one vehicle.

Healthier and happier employees: the UK Chief Medical Officer recommends adults should aim to be physically active every day. Walking or cycling to work or use of public transport can help employees reach this goal and improve their physical and mental health.

Reducing the need for car parking allows space to be reallocated to other uses, for example more attractive public realm or space for further development.

Travel plans can help to improve access to the workplace for all, especially for people with mobility issues, as a result of reduced traffic.

Wider community benefits: implementing a travel plan can have wider community benefits such as reduced local traffic congestion and improved air quality.

What can you do next?

Apply for an Active Travel Grant today, and download the Surrey’s Smarter Travel Toolkit. Got any questions? Contact Active Surrey on active.surrey@surreycc.gov.uk.

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

Lesh: maternity brand borne out of sleepless nights looks ahead to a bright future

Published 4 February 2026

Advice and support, Business news, Surrey Success Stories

Kat Fellows launched Lesh, a leak-proof nursing bra brand, from her Epsom home in August 2024. Now, with match funding from Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund, she’s scaling the business and plans to hire local mothers as her team grows.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, Kat worked as a director in beauty marketing. “I got pregnant during Covid, not knowing what to expect when I returned to work,” she said. “As time went on, it became clear this corporate life wouldn’t mesh with being a mother.”

She decided to start a business solving a problem she’d experienced firsthand as a breastfeeding mother.

“The second my son latched on, it was amazing – I had this incredible experience,” Kat said. “I loved breastfeeding, but the only thing I didn’t love was that I leaked constantly.”

She cycled through countless disposable and reusable breast pads, and said: “They would move around, and I’d still wake up soaked, lying in a puddle of milk. Sleep is sacred when you have young children. Plus, the disposable ones are so wasteful.”

When she searched for alternatives, nothing met her needs. “Most products had clearly not been live-tested on a mum with oversupply like myself,” she said. I thought, “If no one is doing it the right way, I’m going to do it.”

Live-testing early Lesh prototypes

Kat spent a year and a half developing and testing prototypes during her second breastfeeding journey. “I never had to buy a disposable pad,” she said. “It took that long until I had something I was comfortable launching.”

Since launching in August 2024, Lesh has gained momentum, and the Economic Growth Fund will help propel it further.

“This grant will allow me to drive brand awareness and grow the business to a place where I can pitch for additional funding to become an internationally recognised brand in the maternity space,” Kat said.

Looking ahead, Kat envisions building a team of local mothers. “The first hire I needed was for social media – I’ve been using an agency, but I’d like that work to go to a local mum. I want to employ mothers who need that extra income. Eventually, I want to convert the garage into an office and warehouse, with local mums supporting customer service, order fulfilment, packaging, and returns.”

Evidently, big plans lie ahead for this innovative Surrey business.

More about the Surrey Economic Growth Fund

To date almost £2 million has been awarded to dozens of recipients via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. This funding has helped to unlock significant match funding and private investment, growing Surrey’s economy by £9 million.

Any Surrey business looking for funding or help to grow can receive fully-funded support from Business Surrey. Get in touch via our Contact us form.

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.

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