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.

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

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.

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.

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

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
Charlie and Ginger LTD
DigiKind Ltd (Kathy Kyle)
Fit with Frank
Hurtwood Events CIC
Kampyro Ltd t/a Emovement
Lesh
MS Venison Ltd
Mantisonix
More Meals Ltd
Morpheus Fluid Ltd
Old School Longcross Ltd (t/a Old School Windscreens)
Parcours Velo Ltd
Porky Whites Ltd
Rawlings Opticians
Rhizo PTX
Shetland Pony Club (registered as Shetland Pony Centre LLP)
Silvermere Gymnastics
Star Player Ltd
Surrey Signs & Display Limited
Systems & Networks Training
The Nourishment Academy (t/a Strength & Bloom LTD)
West Fisher Winery

Three people sit at a table discussing a business proposal. Behind them is a Business Surrey promotional banner.

Surrey Venture Studio launches to turn bright ideas into businesses

Published 8 December 2025

Advice and support, Business news, Innovation

Surrey Venture Studio is an exciting scheme to help Surrey innovators, academics, students and entrepreneurs ignite their ideas to build a business. So if you have an idea ripe for commercialisation and are ready to start your business journey, seize this exciting opportunity!

Do you have a business idea you believe could be transformational and marketable, but you’re unsure how to take the first step or secure funding?

Perhaps you already have designs, prototypes or research that hasn’t yet reached its full revenue generating potential.

If so, then Surrey Venture Studio is here to help you bridge that gap and fulfil your ambitions.

Applications for the summer cohort are now closed.

Please register your interest to be notified when future cohorts open
Ask the Surrey Venture Studio project team questions directly by getting in touch
Follow the Surrey Venture Studio LinkedIn page for all updates.

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

What is Surrey Venture Studio?

This is an exciting new pre-accelerator programme to help innovators, academics and entrepreneurs across Surrey explore whether turning an idea into a business is the right path.

This exciting programme includes:

A two-day, in-person ideation workshop
Expert mentoring
Opportunity to progress to a six-month accelerator
Up to £25,000 catalyst grant funding, for successful six-month accelerator participant

Spaces on the workshop are limited and will be offered to applicants whose ideas are at the right stage of development and show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation.

At the end of the two-day workshop, participants will be invited to pitch their ideas ‘Dragon’s Den’-style. The successful applicants will secure a coveted place on the six-month accelerator programme and take a step closer to securing £25k in grant funding to launch their business!

FAQs

Got a question about Surrey Venture Studio? Find answers in our FAQs below.

Innovators, academics, students and entrepreneurs based in Surrey with ideas that have strong commercial potential.

No. You can apply with an idea, prototype or early-stage research that could become a marketable product or service.

The workshops will be held at the campus of the host university and Surrey County Council’s HQ in Reigate. University for Creative Arts will host at their Epsom site.

Participants will pitch their ideas to a panel. Successful applicants will join the six-month accelerator programme.

No, there is not an option to attend online. If you have any accessibility issues that prevent you from attending in person, please contact the Surrey Venture Studio project team to ensure your needs are met.

You must commit to the two-day workshop and, if successful, the full six-month accelerator programme at around 2 days per month.

Spaces are limited and offered to those whose ideas show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation. 

No, you do not need one to apply. But you’ll be willing to open one before any grant funding can be paid.

No, all applications received before the closing date will be judged equally.

The Fine Print

Surrey Venture Studio is funded by UK Government and Surrey County Council via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. It is delivered in partnership with the University of Surrey, University for the Creative Arts and Royal Holloway, University of London.

Eligibility: Applicants live, work or study in Surrey and be eligible to work in they UK. Applicants should also comply with UK Subsidy Control
Commitment: Applicants agree to attend the two-day workshop and, if successful, commit to the six-month accelerator at approximately two days per month
Selection: Participation in the workshop does not guarantee progression to the accelerator
Funding: Grant funding is subject to acceptance onto the 6-month accelerator and must be paid into a business bank account
Data Sharing: Applicant data may be shared with programme partners for delivery and monitoring purposes
Intellectual Property: IP remains with the applicant; Surrey Venture Studio does not claim ownership
Withdrawal: Surrey Venture Studio reserves the right to withdraw or amend the programme at any time

Not all applicants or workshop participants will progress. But those applying will need to commit to the full six month accelerator. This is irrespective of whether they are successful.

Apply directly via the Surrey Venture Studio application form.

Or if you have any questions contact the Surrey Venture Studio project team directly.

A woman in a white lab coat and wearing blue gloves looks into a microscope. She is working in a laboratory.

State of Surrey economy winter 2025 research: residents report worries about employment

Published 3 December 2025

Advice and support, Business news, Skills and workforce

The State of Surrey economy winter 2025 research reveals resident worries about work and employment. Extra support is now available from Surrey County Council after new data showed one-in-three (32%) know someone who has lost their job in the last year.

The findings, generated by Surrey County Council’s ongoing in-house resident panel research, highlights the growing day-to-day concerns facing the 1.2 million residents in the region.

Responses show more than half report their own personal financial circumstances had worsened in the last year. And, of those currently employed, more than one in five expressed worries about losing their job within the next 12 months.

It comes as the recent government figures show more than 26,900 people in Surrey are out of work but actively seeking employment.

The council – working with government, employers and training providers – is responding directly to these challenges. This includes stepping up its county-wide offer for those who are out of work or looking to gain new skills to boost their career.

Employment support available for Surrey residents

The launch of STEP Surrey, a new single gateway for skills and employment, is now live. This brings together help for jobseekers to learn new skills, find work and access employment support in one place.

Skills Bootcamps, providing free fast-track training in growing sectors such as construction, cyber security, gaming and green industries, are also available.

For those with barriers to work, there is dedicated employment support available.

This includes Connect to Work, a pioneering government-funded programme which aims to support 2,000 residents with disabilities and other complex challenges into suitable sustainable employment over the next five years.

And WorkWell provides free one-to-one coaching service for Surrey residents with health issues to start, stay or return to work.

For business owners, budding entrepreneurs and freelancers, the Business Surrey website offers business support and start-up advice.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “While Surrey’s economy is performing well overall, our residents are not exempt from issues facing the whole of the UK. These findings show that many of our residents are being directly impacted by challenges such as the cost-of living, unemployment or health issues. While I appreciate this can bring stress and anxiety, the positive news is there is help available.

“We are using enhanced responsibilities from Whitehall to work with government, employers and training providers to ensure there is expert support available alongside local job opportunities from businesses who are desperate to recruit local talent.

“I encourage those impacted to get in touch via STEP Surrey so that we can provide them with the bespoke support they need to find work that works for them and their loved ones.”

What is the State of Surrey economy winter 2025 research?

The State of Surrey economy winter 2025 research is carried out by Surrey County Council’s residents intelligence unit.

More than 550 people took part in October’s resident panel survey. This asks a range of questions on the economy.

Responders identified inflation, housing and infrastructure as the biggest economic challenges currently facing the county. And nearly 70% felt the economic situation in Surrey had worsened over the past year.

For more information on the council’s resident panel, contact research@surreycc.gov.uk