Construction-focused Skills Bootcamps applications now open for Surrey employers and training providers
Published 17 April 2026
Funding and grants, Skills and workforce
Are you a Surrey construction-based employer struggling to recruit? Does your team have skills gaps you’d like to fill? Apply today for Skills Bootcamps funding to equip your business with the talent and know-how to thrive.
Surrey employers and training providers are invited to submit applications for construction skills-based Skills Bootcamps delivery in 2026/27. These government-funded courses can upskill your team in a just a few weeks.
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for anyone aged 19+ to help them enter employment, upskill or change career.
Surrey County Council has a funding pot of £1.2 million to deliver Skills Bootcamps courses across Surrey during 2026/27.
We’re looking for innovative ideas from employers and training providers in the construction sector to design and deliver courses to equip our Surrey residents with the skills to grow our future economy.
Think Skills Bootcamps may be a good fit to help you upskill your team or address your workforce needs? Get in touch to find out more by emailing skillsbootcamps@surreycc.gov.uk. A member of the team will then arrange a one-to-one discussion to talk through your challenges and objectives and help you to see if Skills Bootcamps could be a good fit for your business.
Or if you’re ready to apply now, just scroll down to find out more about the process.
Skills Bootcamps 2026/27 – who can apply
Applications can be made by:
Independent training providers
Further education (FE) colleges
Employers
As an employer, you already have all the relevant information and background understanding you’ll need to put together a robust proposal. This includes demonstrating creative design and an understanding of local employers’ needs relevant to the construction industry.
If you’d like to get involved, but don’t have experience of skills training?
You can apply in partnership with another organisation. They would need to be able to evidence proven experience and strong local networks to design and deliver innovative courses shaped around the needs of jobseekers and employers.
We are now accepting construction skills-based Skills Bootcamps applications from interested parties under a competitive grant award process. Successful applicants will form part of Wave 7 of the programme, with courses completing by the end of March 2027.
Future applications will be accepted for other courses from late May to early June.
Applications will need to evidence demand, strategic fit and innovation, setting out:
Access to employment post training (preference will be given to bids written in partnership with employers that show clear progression into job roles)
How you will meet demand in the local economy, using evidence such as Surrey Economic Growth Strategy and Labour Market Information
Who your target learners are and how you will ensure positive outcomes
Your previous experience delivering employer-led training
Previous collaboration with local employers and commitment from current employers to support delivery and provide employment opportunities
How you will deliver the programme
We actively encourage joint applications from training providers and employers. When applying, please be sure to clearly evidence how the course will fill open vacancies.
We are keen to see applications focused on helping economically inactive people to enter employment.
The first round of applications is open until 29th May. We will assess applications on a rolling basis for suitability. But we do advise applicants to submit entries as soon as possible. This is so courses can be delivered before the end of March 2027.
Small Business Britain develop great resources and deliver several programmes of support for small businesses that are well worth looking at. This month they launched their annual Great British Pitch which this year is internationally themed with the opportunity to pitch to Indian based buyers (see details below if you’re a food and drink, consumer or retail business).
Kathy Kyle, a Surrey based artist and textile designer had the opportunity to pitch last year and wanted to encourage others to apply: “I am so grateful to Small Business Britain, BT and DBT for their support at the Great British Pitch! It was well brilliantly organised and a fantastic opportunity for me to connect and bring my brand to a broader audience. Since engaging with DBT and others, I have connected with an even broader audience and am now collaborating with the British Embassy Paris and am showing at Premiere Classe Who’s Next.”
Things are always moving with funded support programmes so keep an eye out for my monthly updates. Good luck, and let me know how you get on!
Renée
Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme
This High Street Programme will support hundreds of small and medium businesses in Surrey’s town and villages throughout Spring 2026. It covers all corners of Surrey with dedicated sessions in 22 locations across all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey. It offers free, practical and locally tailored support across Surrey high streets including:
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. 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!
Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme created to drive growth amongst the South East’s manufacturing SMEs and makers. The Made Smarter team will provide advice and support to manufacturers and makers to:
help them switch to advanced and automated technologies
identify the right technologies and tools
and use them to make everyday improvements to your business.
Support elements include:
Match-funding of up to £20,000 (50% is available)
Expert advice, guidance and support
Bespoke digital roadmap for your business
Leadership training
Workforce training
Fully-funded student internship (up to 300 hours).
The programme is open to SME manufacturers and makers based in the South East. In order to be eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and not be part of a wider group, or be funded by Private Equity, with a turnover below £44 million, and not have received state aid of more than £315,000 over the last three years.
Are you interested in pitching your great, British business to international buyers in India, and are you available for an in-person event in central London on Tuesday, 16th June? This year The Great British Pitch is focused on businesses in the Food & Drink, Consumer and Retail sectors.
You’ll be offered the support you need to be ready to pitch, and will be joined on the day by export experts, there to offer their advice and to help get you match ready for your time to shine. As well as having the chance to pitch your business across the world, via livestream to buyers specific to your industry niche, you’ll have chance to network with other small business owners, all keen to find exciting, new, global markets for their products and services.
This 6 week programme for sole traders and micro businesses, concludes with a plan to support the next year of business growth. It will be delivered entirely online.
What does the course include?
Inclusion in an exclusive, supportive community to ask and answer questions, access experts and teachers, share experiences and network with other small businesses.
Live weekly sessions recorded and available on a private Small Business Britain website available exclusively to course participants.
Weekly worksheets to embed learning outcomes accessible on the private website hub, developed by each week’s expert trainers.
Development of an Action Plan: a twelve-month plan to grow and flourish with support of expert mentors.
1 hour of 1-2-1 and group mentoring over the six weeks from expert mentors around the UK.
The Diamond Education Grant offers financial support to women seeking to enter or return to the workforce or transition into growing industries by gaining new skills.
The grant prioritises women facing significant financial need or barriers to employment, with an average award of around £1,000. Funding can be used for course fees or essential materials, such as books or equipment, but not for living expenses. Applications are open to women who are permanent residents in eligible Federation countries, which includes the UK. Preference will be given to applicants aged 30 and over.
Grants are available for courses taking place during the academic year from September 2026 to July 2027. The funding is intended for one year only, with vocational courses receiving priority.
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme is designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the country.
Participants in the fully funded programme identify and execute the steps necessary to enable them to scale their ventures, create employment and expand to new markets. Each participant develops a business growth plan throughout the course to implement back in their businesses. Eligibility criteria:
Business operating for at least three years
Have between 5 and 50 employees
Business should have turnover of at least 250,000 GBP in the previous financial year
Applicant should not have any recent management education
Applicant should be the primary owner or main decision-maker of the business
Early-stage businesses developing sustainable consumer goods can apply to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, an equity-free programme designed to support innovation addressing environmental challenges.
The accelerator aims to help entrepreneurs develop skills and expand their businesses while improving the climate impact of their products. Each year the programme focuses on different sustainability areas including circular economy, recycling technology and sustainable consumer products.
One of the 2026 challenges is the Consumer Product Programme, which targets startups producing physical business-to-consumer goods. Eligible products must have recently launched or be close to entering the market and demonstrate measurable sustainability improvements. Examples include items made from recycled or upcycled materials, reusable everyday products, eco-friendly gadgets and technology, more sustainable clothing, shoes and accessories, and alternatives to plastic.
Selected participants will take part in a nine-week accelerator that includes workshops, mentoring and access to Amazon’s network. Businesses will receive a £10,000 cash grant, $10,000 in AWS Activate credits and a £1,500 travel grant. Additional support includes a climate impact assessment, guidance on selling through Amazon and an opportunity to present their business to investors during a London Demo Day.
Applicants must be brand owners and operate in the early stages of development. Businesses must also be registered in the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
The Invention for Innovation (i4i) THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training programme funds early stage innovations which tackle health inequalities. This is a full researcher-led funding opportunity.
THRIVE supports clinicians and researchers to accelerate the translation of healthcare innovations tackling health inequalities from bench to bed, speed up patient benefit and concurrently expand the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and clinicians.
THRIVE offers up to £150,000 over 9 months to support the development of a technology-based product or service, and a structured programme of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, peer support and networking. Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising (spin-out vs licensing) or sustaining their innovation (Intrapreneurship) and leave the programme with a plan to achieve their goals, a network of support and with the skills for the next steps of commercialisation.
Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs Competition
The Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs Competition supports micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in addressing barriers to commercialisation and scaling within the UK.
Eligible projects must aim to improve the resource efficiency or resilience of supply chains in the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan frontier industries, including automotive, aerospace, advanced materials, batteries, agri-tech and space.
Applicants should have developed a basic version of their product or service, such as a prototype or Minimum Viable Product (MVP) at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or higher, that targets improvements in supply chain efficiency or resilience.
Projects must demonstrate a clear focus on one or more of the specified supply chains.
Applications are open for the 2026 Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF), which provides grants for businesses investing in equipment and technology. The support is intended to help improve productivity, animal health and welfare and slurry management across agricultural and forestry operations.
A total of £50 million has been allocated across three themes. Up to £20 million is available for productivity equipment and a further £20 million has been set aside for projects that improve animal health and welfare. Another £10 million has been allocated for slurry management. Applicants can request between £1,000 and £25,000 under each theme.
Businesses may apply to more than one theme, with a combined maximum grant value of £75,000 if applications are made across all three categories. The funding is intended for the purchase of eligible equipment and technology that supports operational improvements within farming and forestry enterprises. Eligible applicants include farming and forestry businesses in England involved in the production or processing of agricultural, horticultural or forestry products. Contractors and growers working in these sectors may also apply where proposed purchases support the stated objectives.
This round is expected to be the final standalone FETF round in its current format, with future arrangements due to combine elements of several grant initiatives from 2027.
The Secure Software for Resilient Growth Competition aims to support the development of secure and resilient software supply chains in the UK through increased adoption of the Software Security Code of Practice (SSCoP). The initiative reflects the role of cyber security as a frontier technology in the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the need to strengthen cyber resilience across digitally transforming sectors.
The competition therefore seeks to improve baseline cyber resilience across UK software supply chains.
Projects supported through the programme are expected to increase awareness, adoption and implementation of the SSCoP. They should also contribute to the commercial growth of cyber resilient technology supply chains in the UK and address at least two of the four themes set out in the SSCoP.
The competition forms part of a wider set of UK government cyber security codes of practice and complements initiatives such as the Cyber Essentials scheme, which promote recognised approaches to managing cyber security risks.
Sponsored by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and administered by Leonard Cheshire Disability, this initiative celebrates business ability by recognising disabled entrepreneurs who have set up their own company.
The programme is open to disabled entrepreneurs in the UK who own at least 50% of a UK registered for-profit business with an annual turnover of £200,000. This year, prize money totalling £300,000 will be distributed as follows:
The UK Government has opened Round 11 of the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), a £288 million capital grant programme supporting the transition to low-carbon heat networks. The scheme funds technologies such as heat pumps, geothermal energy, and waste heat recovery to help reduce carbon emissions from heating systems.
Heat networks supply heat from a central source to multiple buildings, lowering reliance on individual gas boilers. The GHNF provides funding to public, private and third-sector organisations in England involved in developing heating and cooling networks.
Grants can cover up to, but not including, 50% of eligible commercialisation and construction costs, with a maximum of £1 million available for commercialisation support. Individual funding requests may be spread over multiple years.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is inviting applications for its Materials Innovation Partnerships Grant, which supports collaborative research between academic institutions and businesses. The grant is intended to advance materials research with potential for industrial use.
EPSRC has allocated up to £7.5 million for a minimum of four projects. Each project can receive £250,000, representing 80% of the full economic cost. The total full economic cost must be at least £312,500.
The initiative focuses on co-created and co-delivered research between industry and academia aimed at translating materials discoveries into practical applications. Projects must be led jointly by a primary academic partner eligible for EPSRC support, such as a UK university or research institute, and a primary business partner. The partners must have an established collaborative relationship of at least one year before applying.
Proposals must address one or more themes from the National Materials Innovation Strategy. These include materials for energy solutions, future healthcare, structural innovations, advanced surface technologies, next generation electronics telecommunications and sensors, and consumer products packaging and specialist polymers.
The National Entrepreneur of the Year Competition is accepting applications from young people across the UK seeking financial support to develop or expand business ventures. The annual awards are organised by the Peter Jones Foundation and supported by FRP Advisory.
The competition provides cash awards to individuals aged 16 to 21 who are either running a revenue-generating small business or have a developed concept, including a prototype or minimum viable product. Entrants are required to demonstrate the viability of their idea or enterprise as part of the application process.
Successful applicants progress through stages that may include pitching their business proposals, with finalists given the opportunity to present to Peter Jones CBE. Financial awards include £10,000 for the overall winner, £5,000 for the runner up and £1,000 for finalists.
The funding can be used to support business growth, product development or operational costs associated with early-stage enterprises. The competition aims to support young entrepreneurs at different stages of development, from concept to established small businesses.
Women-led startups working in deeptech and digital innovation can apply for support through Open Horizons, a Horizon Europe-funded initiative. The scheme forms part of a wider effort to advance female entrepreneurship and reduce the innovation gap across Europe.
Up to €55,000 in equity-free funding is available per applicant. In addition to financial support, successful startups will benefit from mentoring, strategic matchmaking and opportunities to co-design and test paid pilot projects with leading European corporates.
Eligible applicants must be early-stage or inception-phase startups led by at least one woman in a key executive role, such as CEO, CTO or Founder, with a minimum 25% ownership stake. The business must be based in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country, including the UK.
Projects must operate within deeptech or digital fields. Areas of focus include Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Computing, Cybersecurity, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Metaverse, Energy, Green Tech, AgriTech and FinTech.
This is the third and final Open Call under the €1.2 million programme.
The business boost grants can help your business with:
Grant support up to £2,000 to help businesses improve their shop fronts or signage
Grant support up to £2,000 to help bring a shop that has been empty for at least 3 months back into commercial use
up to £1,000 to help town or village wide projects to drive new footfall, investment, street-scene improvements or sustainability.
All applications need at least 50% match funding and 2 quotes for each element. Town and village centre independents can also apply for support to help sell online with the digital high street boost and small and medium sized business can get help to invest in energy efficiency projects with the green business boost.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time.
Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme
Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce. Staff taking the training must be in qualifying roles.
Eligible ASC employers can claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. This funding is for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for in financial year 2025 to 2026, as well as those paid for in financial year 2024 to 2025.
Business Support Grants of up to £1,000 for residents and businesses with fewer than 5 employees based in Reigate and Banstead.
Grants can be used to help fund things like marketing, new equipment or training. Please note the grant is NOT available for the development of prototypes or for IT equipment such as laptops, unless you are a brand new start up and do not possess any IT hardware.
The Help to Grow Management Course runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions, 1-to-1 mentoring and peer networking. Whether you need to identify more efficient ways of working, target new markets, or create a plan to take your business and team to the next level, the Help to Grow Management Course will provide the knowledge and support you need.
To join the Help to Grow Management Course you should:
Work for a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise based in the United Kingdom
Employ between 5 and 249 employees
Be a member of the senior leadership team and have direct reports.
The full course is worth £7,500 but it is 90% government funded so small businesses pay just £750 per person. Our local Business Schools are Kingston University, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Southampton, University of Brighton and Brunel University of London.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT). This is capped at a maximum of:
£350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant. For example, if you install at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket per site
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot is a £50 million capital grant programme supporting large-scale research and development projects within the UK life sciences sector. The fund aims to strengthen health resilience, drive innovation and deliver economic benefits through significant investments in research capacity, facilities and technologies.
Projects should demonstrate how they will enhance the UK’s ability to respond to health emergencies and long-term healthcare challenges, for example by expanding or creating R&D capacity, improving manufacturing processes, accelerating clinical research or deploying new technologies.
Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants
The FiPL programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.
Co-operative and Community Finance offers loans of between £10,000 and £85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK. Loans are to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise.
Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance. The scheme provides discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.
A total of £150 million is available. Loans range from £2 million to £20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers who meet environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
If you can’t see something in this month’s round-up that suits your business’s specific needs, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.
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Surrey 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.
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
South East manufacturers get £3.1m digital transformation boost through Made Smarter
Published 30 March 2026
Advice and support, Funding and grants, Innovation
Hundreds of manufacturers across the South East are set for a major digital upgrade after the Government confirmed fresh funding for the Made Smarter programme from April.
The £3.1 million investment will give SME manufacturers across the region access to expert technology advice, leadership training, digital skills development and match-funded grants to help boost productivity, drive innovation, create high-value jobs and cut carbon.
Made Smarter South East is a government-backed, industry-led programme delivered by Surrey County Council in partnership with 11 local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships across the South East region.
Made Smarter’s impact in the South East
Since launching in April 2025, the programme has supported 273 manufacturers, participated in 137 diagnostic workshops, developed 93 digital roadmaps, delivered 41 leadership and digital champions training interventions, placed 6 digital interns, and approved grants for 20 technology projects.
Over the last year, manufacturers have secured over £307,000 in matched funding to enable over £1 million of investment in technologies ranging from ERP systems and 3D printing to robotics and automation.
Bryan Vint, Programme Manager for Made Smarter South East, said:“This new wave of funding is a huge boost for manufacturers across the South East. In our first year we have already shown what the region can achieve when SMEs have access to the right advice, skills and technology.
“The continuation of the programme gives businesses the confidence to plan ahead, invest in digital tools and build the skills they need to grow. We are excited to help hundreds more manufacturers unlock productivity, resilience and long-term growth.”
The support available with Made Smarter
Made Smarter is designed to give manufacturers a fast and practical route into digital transformation. Businesses begin with an expert digital assessment to identify their technology and skills priorities, followed by a tailored roadmap to guide future investment.
Leadership development programmes, workforce training and digital internships help companies build the capabilities needed to adopt new technologies and embed change across their organisations.
To support technology adoption, businesses can also access match funding of up to 50 percent, with grants of up to £20,000 available for capital technology projects.
How one Surrey business has benefitted from the programme
Cambertronics, based in Cranleigh, Surrey, is a contract electronics manufacturer providing design, prototyping and full turnkey production for sectors including automotive, marine, agritech and industrial electronics. Through Made Smarter South East, the business completed a Digital Transformation Workshop and joined the Leadership and Digital Champion programmes to help shape its digital strategy and build internal capability for change.
Jasper Whitefield, Business Development Manager, Cambertronics, Cranleigh, Surrey, said:“We’ve invested heavily in advanced manufacturing equipment over the years, but many of our systems still rely on manual processes. We wanted to explore how digital technology could help improve traceability, streamline processes and give us better visibility across the business.
“The Digital Transformation Workshop helped us identify clear priorities, including automated barcoding, ERP integration and strengthening leadership capability across the team. Taking part in the leadership and Digital Champion programmes is helping us build the confidence, skills and internal ownership needed to drive that change. It means we can modernise our operations, respond faster to customers and continue delivering the quality and expertise they expect as the business grows.”
To learn more, and start your journey to digitisation with free support from Made Smarter, visit the Made Smarter website.
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.
Picture credit: Cambertronics
Surrey County Council supporting farmers to diversify in a tough climate for rural economy
Published 17 March 2026
Advice and support, Funding and grants, Surrey Success Stories
Rural businesses in Surrey are finding ways to adapt and thrive thanks to funding and support from Surrey County Council.
Rising costs, falling prices and policy uncertainty have left farming communities across the UK struggling to make ends meet. But across Surrey, farmers are finding ways to adapt – and Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund is providing the investment to make it possible.
From a new vineyard in Surrey Hills, to shepherd hut stays and meat vending machines, a new generation of farming entrepreneurs are finding innovative ways to diversify, sustain and futureproof their businesses.
About £380.000 in funding has been invested in Surrey’s rural economy in recent months via the Economic Growth Fund, unlocking more than £100,000 in private sector investment and supporting dozens of jobs.
Support is set to be stepped up later this year with a dedicated farming business support specialist working with farms and rural businesses across Surrey to help them navigate challenges.
Anyone interested in finding out more can get in touch using our contact us form.
Diversifying to overcome challenges
Louise Wilkinson is the third generation of her family at Upper Birtley Farm, and she returned with her two children after a career in hospitality. Her father still runs the arable side of the business, growing wheat and oats in a market which is very challenging to make a profit.
Something needed to change – and Louise’s solution was to bring in shepherd’s huts offering rural escapes, alongside a community events space hosting courses with local beekeepers, foragers and butchers.
Alongside her hospitality experience, Louise said camping on the land with her daughters is what gave her the idea to create a countryside escape.
“It’s about adding to British farming,” she said. “We have this piece of land that can’t be farmed for whatever reason , and it makes the farm more sustainable.”
With a test run planned for April and a full launch targeting the May bank holidays, Louise is building something that she hopes will carry the farm through for another generation. “I’m third generation with two children who will be excited to grow up here,” she said. “It’s everything really.”
Innovative ways to increase sales and grow markets
Almost a decade ago, fourth-generation farmer Alec Clouting was at a farming event and spotted vending machines selling local produce. He immediately saw their potential, but without the funds to make it happen, the idea stayed on the backburner.
Now, thanks to the Economic Growth Fund, it’s becoming reality, and Alec was able to buy a shipping container, commercial freezer and vending machine to sell frozen beef, lamb and pork directly to consumers, seven days a week at Ivelle Farm in Cranleigh.
Most of the farm’s meat currently goes to livestock markets and on to supermarkets – a model that leaves farmers with little control and thinner margins. Selling direct means better profit margins while making a connection with consumers locally.
“I am a big believer of people being in touch with where their food comes from,” Alec said. “For the local community to be able to come to the farm where it comes from and get it direct.”
The model also creates a ripple effect, supporting a local butcher and abattoir and strengthening a network of rural businesses. Looking further ahead, Alec sees franchise potential – a blueprint that other farms could replicate.
He said: “Farming is a very difficult business to navigate with many layers of complexity, and with the recent added pressures of the farm inheritance tax, it’s becoming harder to make small family farms like ours financially viable. So having a future-proof way of selling my produce as profitably as I can will give me the best chance I could wish for.”
Using natural resources in new, sustainable, ways
Jason and Emma Robertshaw bought Blakes Lane Farm in 2018, but they weren’t sure what came next – only that they wanted to put the land to good use. The land was home to a run-down equestrian centre and was used by tenant sheep farmers. They soon discovered the farm sits on the same chalk that extends beneath the English Channel into France’s Champagne region.
“We started planting vines in 2020,” Jason explains. “It was a pretty small-scale experiment to see how they grow. We then realised we’ve got the ideal growing climate for sparkling wine.”
That experiment has grown into The Guildford Vineyard, an English sparkling wine producer now building a purpose-built, sustainably-designed winery – with match funding from the Economic Growth Fund providing the financial foundation they needed. When at full capacity, the vineyard aims to produce 10,000 bottles a year, with ambitions to export to Japan alongside domestic sales to restaurants and hotels. And the tenant farmer’s sheep will remain on the land grazing between the vines in winter, which brings in regenerative farming practices, something which was important to the plan, as Jason comes from a farming family.
“We couldn’t have done it without the grant,” the couple said. “We wouldn’t have been able to build the winery. It has been fantastic.”
The Surrey Economic Growth Fund
To date almost £2 million has been awarded to dozens of recipients across the county 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 – rural or urban, looking for funding or help to grow can receive fully-funded support from Business Surrey. Get in touch via our Contact us form.
Renée’s round-up of grants and funding – March
Published 11 March 2026
Funding and grants
I’m often asked what funding is available. I share this blog but I often ask my own question back : “do you mean funding or finance?”
There is grant funding around, but realistically not very much, and it’s often focused on projects and specific outcomes rather than covering day to day operational costs. If you’re a business caught in the chicken and egg scenario of investing (aka spending) to grow then it can be a tricky place. I often signpost people to the British Business Bank who offer guidance on what finance options there are as well as managing the Start-Up Loan Scheme for any business in the 1st 3 years of trading. So if you are looking for finance to grow your business they are well worth looking at for advice.
Things are always moving with funded support programmes so keep an eye out for my monthly updates. Good luck, and let me know how you get on!
Renée
Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme
This High Street Programme will support hundreds of small and medium businesses in Surrey’s town and villages throughout Spring 2026. It covers all corners of Surrey with dedicated sessions in 22 locations across all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey.
It offers free, practical and locally tailored support across Surrey high streets including:
Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme created to drive growth amongst the South East’s manufacturing SMEs and makers. The Made Smarter team will provide advice and support to manufacturers and makers to:
help them switch to advanced and automated technologies
identify the right technologies and tools
and use them to make everyday improvements to your business.
Support elements include:
Match-funding of up to £20,000 (50% is available)
Expert advice, guidance and support
Bespoke digital roadmap for your business
Leadership training
Workforce training
Fully-funded student internship (up to 300 hours).
The programme is open to SME manufacturers and makers based in the South East. In order to be eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and not be part of a wider group, or be funded by Private Equity, with a turnover below £44 million, and not have received state aid of more than £315,000 over the last three years.
This 6 week programme for sole traders and micro businesses, concludes with a plan to support the next year of business growth. It will be delivered entirely online.
What does the course include?
Inclusion in an exclusive, supportive community to ask and answer questions, access experts and teachers, share experiences and network with other small businesses.
Live weekly sessions recorded and available on a private Small Business Britain website available exclusively to course participants.
Weekly worksheets to embed learning outcomes accessible on the private website hub, developed by each week’s expert trainers.
Development of an Action Plan: a twelve-month plan to grow and flourish with support of expert mentors.
1 hour of 1-2-1 and group mentoring over the six weeks from expert mentors around the UK.
The CVC DIF-Allia Accelerator Challenge is open to UK-based impact-driven startups and social enterprises seeking to scale their activities. The six-month programme provides structured support aimed at strengthening commercial development and long-term growth.
Participants receive expert mentorship, coaching and tailored guidance to refine their business models. This includes testing assumptions with users, developing a clear impact narrative and preparing for expansion. The programme concludes with a Pitch Day, where selected ventures present their progress. As part of the initiative, participants can compete for a share of up to £50,000. This financial support is intended to help organisations advance to the next stage of development following completion of the programme.
The challenge is open to startups and social enterprises operating in the UK with a proven concept and evidence of early traction. Applicants are expected to be generating revenue or preparing to raise seed investment. Support provided through the programme can be used to strengthen commercial strategy, validate products or services and build readiness for growth and investment.
IOSH Certificate in Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing
How good are you at spotting signs of stress in your team?
Build a healthier, happier and more resilient workforce with free accredited training for your business, fully funded by the Department for Work & Pensions.
Study online, in a virtual classroom, or at 12 regional centres to gain your IOSH Certificate in Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing. There are 5,000 free course places available until 31 March 2026 for qualifying SMES.
Innovate UK has opened the SNPN 5G Assured Integration Competition to support collaborative research and development addressing system level integration challenges in advanced connectivity.
The competition aims to enable UK based components to be combined into complete, secure and operable end-to-end systems suitable for early market evaluation. Work supported includes non-recurring engineering, interoperability testing and verification needed to integrate multi-vendor Core, RAN and supporting hardware or software components.
Projects must integrate UK anchored advanced connectivity components across Core, RAN, hardware or software layers. Engagement with potential end users or adopters is expected to ensure solutions reflect operational needs.
Up to £18.5 million has been allocated for industrial research. Individual projects can request between £2 million and £4 million in grant support, with no single organisation able to claim more than £3 million.
Applications must be collaborative. The lead applicant must be a UK registered organisation and may be a business, academic institution, research and technology organisation, charity, not for profit organisation or public sector body. Partners must also be UK registered and drawn from similar organisation types.
Defra, in collaboration with Innovate UK, is providing support through the Farming Innovation Programme for farmers, growers and foresters in England preparing Full ADOPT Grant submissions. The scheme is intended to improve application quality and encourage wider participation in innovation-related funding.
The support is aimed at individuals interested in on-farm trials or experiments that test new or emerging solutions in agriculture, horticulture or agri-forestry. Funding will be used to engage an external Project Facilitator to assist in developing Full ADOPT Grant applications.
Projects must address a clear challenge or opportunity on-farm or immediately post-farmgate. They should aim to enhance productivity, sustainability or resilience, including support for net zero farming practices. Proposals must also show how findings will be relevant to others in the sector and tested under real-world conditions.
Up to £100,000 has been allocated for the scheme. Grants of £2,500 will be made available to successful applicants. Eligible applicants must be active farming, growing or forestry businesses based in England and able to demonstrate that they are established, including sole traders. Only single applicants may apply.
The Stephen Lloyd Awards support early-stage projects aiming to achieve social or environmental change in the UK.
Successful applicants will receive at least £25,000 in funding, alongside pro bono support from social enterprise mentors. Shortlisted candidates will be awarded up to £2,500 to develop their ideas and may also access expert guidance.
The funding aims to help ideas progress from concept to implementation. UK-registered organisations and charities, are eligible to apply. Proposals should address a problem systemically and can take various forms, including new enterprises, expansions of existing initiatives, lobbying efforts or policy change campaigns.
The Diamond Education Grant offers financial support to women seeking to enter or return to the workforce or transition into growing industries by gaining new skills.
The grant prioritises women facing significant financial need or barriers to employment, with an average award of around £1,000. Funding can be used for course fees or essential materials, such as books or equipment, but not for living expenses. Applications are open to women who are permanent residents in eligible Federation countries, which includes the UK. Preference will be given to applicants aged 30 and over.
Grants are available for courses taking place during the academic year from September 2026 to July 2027. The funding is intended for one year only, with vocational courses receiving priority.
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme is designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the country.
Participants in the fully funded programme identify and execute the steps necessary to enable them to scale their ventures, create employment and expand to new markets. Each participant develops a business growth plan throughout the course to implement back in their businesses. Eligibility criteria:
Business operating for at least three years
Have between 5 and 50 employees
Business should have turnover of at least 250,000 GBP in the previous financial year
Applicant should not have any recent management education
Applicant should be the primary owner or main decision-maker of the business
Early-stage businesses developing sustainable consumer goods can apply to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, an equity-free programme designed to support innovation addressing environmental challenges.
The accelerator aims to help entrepreneurs develop skills and expand their businesses while improving the climate impact of their products. Each year the programme focuses on different sustainability areas including circular economy, recycling technology and sustainable consumer products.
One of the 2026 challenges is the Consumer Product Programme, which targets startups producing physical business-to-consumer goods. Eligible products must have recently launched or be close to entering the market and demonstrate measurable sustainability improvements. Examples include items made from recycled or upcycled materials, reusable everyday products, eco-friendly gadgets and technology, more sustainable clothing, shoes and accessories, and alternatives to plastic.
Selected participants will take part in a nine-week accelerator that includes workshops, mentoring and access to Amazon’s network. Businesses will receive a £10,000 cash grant, $10,000 in AWS Activate credits and a £1,500 travel grant. Additional support includes a climate impact assessment, guidance on selling through Amazon and an opportunity to present their business to investors during a London Demo Day.
Applicants must be brand owners and operate in the early stages of development. Businesses must also be registered in the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
The Invention for Innovation (i4i) THRIVE (Translate Healthcare Research through InnoVation and Entrepreneurship) funding and training programme funds early stage innovations which tackle health inequalities. This is a full researcher-led funding opportunity.
THRIVE supports clinicians and researchers to accelerate the translation of healthcare innovations tackling health inequalities from bench to bed, speed up patient benefit and concurrently expand the entrepreneurial mindset of researchers and clinicians.
THRIVE offers up to £150,000 over 9 months to support the development of a technology-based product or service, and a structured programme of entrepreneurial training, mentoring, peer support and networking. Through the programme the innovators will explore the market for their innovation and identify potential routes for commercialising (spin-out vs licensing) or sustaining their innovation (Intrapreneurship) and leave the programme with a plan to achieve their goals, a network of support and with the skills for the next steps of commercialisation.
The UK Government has opened Round 11 of the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), a £288 million capital grant programme supporting the transition to low-carbon heat networks. The scheme funds technologies such as heat pumps, geothermal energy, and waste heat recovery to help reduce carbon emissions from heating systems.
Heat networks supply heat from a central source to multiple buildings, lowering reliance on individual gas boilers. The GHNF provides funding to public, private and third-sector organisations in England involved in developing heating and cooling networks.
Grants can cover up to, but not including, 50% of eligible commercialisation and construction costs, with a maximum of £1 million available for commercialisation support. Individual funding requests may be spread over multiple years.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is inviting applications for its Materials Innovation Partnerships Grant, which supports collaborative research between academic institutions and businesses. The grant is intended to advance materials research with potential for industrial use.
EPSRC has allocated up to £7.5 million for a minimum of four projects. Each project can receive £250,000, representing 80% of the full economic cost. The total full economic cost must be at least £312,500.
The initiative focuses on co-created and co-delivered research between industry and academia aimed at translating materials discoveries into practical applications. Projects must be led jointly by a primary academic partner eligible for EPSRC support, such as a UK university or research institute, and a primary business partner. The partners must have an established collaborative relationship of at least one year before applying.
Proposals must address one or more themes from the National Materials Innovation Strategy. These include materials for energy solutions, future healthcare, structural innovations, advanced surface technologies, next generation electronics telecommunications and sensors, and consumer products packaging and specialist polymers.
The business boost grants can help your business with:
Grant support up to £2,000 to help businesses improve their shop fronts or signage
Grant support up to £2,000 to help bring a shop that has been empty for at least 3 months back into commercial use
up to £1,000 to help town or village wide projects to drive new footfall, investment, street-scene improvements or sustainability.
All applications need at least 50% match funding and 2 quotes for each element. Town and village centre independents can also apply for support to help sell online with the digital high street boost and small and medium sized business can get help to invest in energy efficiency projects with the green business boost.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time.
Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme
Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce. Staff taking the training must be in qualifying roles.
Eligible ASC employers can claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. This funding is for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for in financial year 2025 to 2026, as well as those paid for in financial year 2024 to 2025.
Business Support Grants of up to £1,000 for residents and businesses with fewer than 5 employees based in Reigate and Banstead.
Grants can be used to help fund things like marketing, new equipment or training. Please note the grant is NOT available for the development of prototypes or for IT equipment such as laptops, unless you are a brand new start up and do not possess any IT hardware.
The Help to Grow Management Course runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions, 1-to-1 mentoring and peer networking. Whether you need to identify more efficient ways of working, target new markets, or create a plan to take your business and team to the next level, the Help to Grow Management Course will provide the knowledge and support you need.
To join the Help to Grow Management Course you should:
Work for a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise based in the United Kingdom
Employ between 5 and 249 employees
Be a member of the senior leadership team and have direct reports.
The full course is worth £7,500 but it is 90% government funded so small businesses pay just £750 per person. Our local Business Schools are Kingston University, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Southampton, University of Brighton and Brunel University of London.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT). This is capped at a maximum of:
£350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant. For example, if you install at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket per site
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot is a £50 million capital grant programme supporting large-scale research and development projects within the UK life sciences sector. The fund aims to strengthen health resilience, drive innovation and deliver economic benefits through significant investments in research capacity, facilities and technologies.
Projects should demonstrate how they will enhance the UK’s ability to respond to health emergencies and long-term healthcare challenges, for example by expanding or creating R&D capacity, improving manufacturing processes, accelerating clinical research or deploying new technologies.
Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants
The FiPL programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.
Co-operative and Community Finance offers loans of between £10,000 and £85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK. Loans are to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise.
Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance. The scheme provides discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.
A total of £150 million is available. Loans range from £2 million to £20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers who meet environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
If you can’t see something in this month’s round-up that suits your business’s specific needs, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.
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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 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.
Lots of new support has been added this month and I’m pleased to announce details of 2 funded programmes that we manage:
The Made Smarter South East team have funding for another year to deliver their programme of support to manufacturers and makers across Surrey and the SE.
We’ve also just launched the Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme for any SME based on a high street across Surrey. This is being delivered by Smarter Society and The Retail Group throughout Spring 2026.
I’m also working on writing some guidelines for applying for grants. The first tip I have to share is to check the small print! What are the eligibility criteria for the grant or programme you’re thinking about applying for? Do you and your project meet those criteria? If you’re not sure reach out and ask … it’s good to clarify and good to build relationships.
Things are always moving with funded support programmes so keep an eye out for my monthly updates. Good luck, and let me know how you get on!
Renée
Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme
This High Street Programme will support hundreds of small and medium businesses in Surrey’s town and villages throughout Spring 2026. It covers all corners of Surrey with dedicated sessions in 22 locations across all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey.
It offers free, practical and locally tailored support across Surrey high streets including:
Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme created to drive growth amongst the South East’s manufacturing SMEs and makers. The Made Smarter team will provide advice and support to manufacturers and makers to:
help them switch to advanced and automated technologies
identify the right technologies and tools
and use them to make everyday improvements to your business.
Support elements include:
Match-funding of up to £20,000 (50% is available)
Expert advice, guidance and support
Bespoke digital roadmap for your business
Leadership training
Workforce training
Fully-funded student internship (up to 300 hours).
The programme is open to SME manufacturers and makers based in the South East. In order to be eligible businesses must have fewer than 250 employees and not be part of a wider group, or be funded by Private Equity, with a turnover below £44 million, and not have received state aid of more than £315,000 over the last three years.
The creator and owner of the easy family of brands is offering cash prizes totalling £300,000 to three young entrepreneurs in the UK for the third year. Applicant entrepreneurs must be a director of the company and own shares of more than 50% overall. The Awards are open to owners of start ups aged 34 or under, born in 1992 or later.
Businesses must have been registered at UK Companies House in the last five years, registered in 2021 or later, with accounts showing revenues of at least £500,000 per annum for the latest financial year.
Small Business Britain x Adobe Express Marketing School
A free 6-week online programme starting Tuesday 25th February. Discover how Adobe Express helps you and your business stand out by making impactful social media assets, flyers, logos etc.
What the Programme Includes:
Six interactive weekly workshops recorded and available on a private Small Business Britain website available exclusively to course participants led by Adobe experts.
Real-life examples demonstrated on a business from our community.
Fun and quick weekly homework challenges to practice skills, with feedback and community support.
Access to a private LinkedIn group for peer-to-peer advice and expert guidance.
Opportunities to win Adobe Express Premium memberships and exclusive prizes.
A free programme for UK SMEs, including access to a share of the £100,000 Innovation Grant and a visit to an Amazon fulfilment centre. Designed to help businesses adopt technology with confidence, work smarter and grow faster.
The Amazon Innovation Accelerator programme is run by Be the Business, with delivery support from Growth Studio, and funded by Amazon. Programme participants have the opportunity to:
Submit their innovation proposal at the end of the sprint for a chance to win a share of £100,000, helping bring their vision to life.
Spend a day at an Amazon fulfilment centre, exploring cutting-edge robotics and automation and taking part in workshops.
Take part in a six-week innovation sprint.
Join a network of SMEs selected for their innovation potential.
Running successfully since 2014, the Fast Forward 15 Programme has enabled female event professionals to achieve life changing results in both their careers and personal growth. Countless women have realised their potential with promotions, leadership roles and significant progress in their career. It is funded with a small contribution required for course materials.
FF15 runs for 12 months during which, 15 mentees and mentors work together to set and achieve objectives and goals. The programme includes two education days, monthly 1-to-1 mentoring, and concludes with a graduation ceremony to celebrate the cohorts achievements. FF15 has also helped to support a number of entrepreneurial start-ups with female founders.
The eBay Circular Fashion Fund supports startups and small businesses developing solutions that promote a circular approach to fashion. It focuses on work that extends product life, keeps materials in use and reduces waste across the sector.
The programme recognises organisations contributing to changes in how fashion products are designed, used and managed at end of life. Its purpose is to support the development of solutions aligned with circular economy principles within the fashion industry.
Grant funding and non-financial support are available to shortlisted applicants. Eight finalists will each receive a grant of $50,000, alongside access to mentoring and workshops covering product development, marketing and industry partnerships.
Applicants will be shortlisted to 12 businesses incorporated in the USA, Canada or Australia and 12 incorporated in Europe, the UK or Switzerland. All finalists will be invited to pitch online to a global judging panel. One business will be selected as the Global Winner and may receive a $300,000 investment from eBay Ventures.
UK applicants must have trading for between six months and six years and be registered with Companies House, while charities and social enterprises may apply if appropriately registered.
The Armourers & Brasiers Materials Science Venture Prize is offering equity investment of £25,000 to UK-based start-ups working in Materials Science technology.
The award is structured as an equity investment rather than a research grant and is intended to support the commercialisation of a product or technology. Applications are open to all UK-based materials scientists who have a start-up technology. Applicants may be associated with a university department or a private business. The award is aimed at early-stage ventures seeking to commercialise innovative research.
The investment can be used at a very early point in the commercialisation process. Eligible uses include forming a company, developing a prototype to demonstrate proof of concept, undertaking market research or completing other essential start-up activities. The prize may also be used alongside other sources of finance. In addition to the investment, winners gain access to a committee of mentors with experience in seedcorn investment and research commercialisation, as well as professional public relations support.
Eurostars is a funding instrument that supports innovative SMEs and project partners by funding international collaborative R&D and innovation projects. By participating, organisations can access public funding for international collaborative R&D projects in all fields. To have a successful Eurostars application you must:
Define your project idea.
Collaborate internationally, sharing expertise.
Develop products, processes or services that can be easily commercialised.
Your project consortium must have an innovative SME in the leading role, but it can also include other types of organisations like large companies, universities, research organisations and more. To apply, you must meet 7 international eligibility criteria:
The project consortium is led by an innovative SME from a Eurostars country.
The project consortium is composed of at least two entities that are independent of one another.
The project consortium is composed of entities from at least two Eurostars countries with at least one organisation coming from an EU or Horizon Europe Associated Country
The budget of the SMEs from the Eurostars countries (excluding any subcontracting) is 50% or more of the total project cost.
No single participant or country is responsible for more than 70% of the budget of the project.
The Tech Nation Next Wave Competition is a national pitch programme that showcases early-stage UK tech startups, providing them with national exposure, curated access to investors, and the chance to compete for a share of £2 million in investment, while fostering connections that support growth and cross-regional collaboration across the UK tech ecosystem.
The programme has a total investment of £2 million worth of investment available. Six companies will receive investment opportunities of £335,000 each. The competition is open to early-stage, UK-based tech startups, typically at pre-seed or seed stage, with strong growth ambitions. Eligible businesses are SEIS-eligible, operate a tech-led (often SaaS) business model, and are led by founders seeking investment and national scale. It is primarily aimed at B2B companies, although B2B2C businesses may also be eligible where revenue is primarily generated through B2B channels.
This 6 week programme for sole traders and micro businesses, concludes with a plan to support the next year of business growth. It will be delivered entirely online.
What does the course include?
Inclusion in an exclusive, supportive community to ask and answer questions, access experts and teachers, share experiences and network with other small businesses.
Live weekly sessions recorded and available on a private Small Business Britain website available exclusively to course participants.
Weekly worksheets to embed learning outcomes accessible on the private website hub, developed by each week’s expert trainers.
Development of an Action Plan: a twelve-month plan to grow and flourish with support of expert mentors.
1 hour of 1-2-1 and group mentoring over the six weeks from expert mentors around the UK.
IOSH Certificate in Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing
How good are you at spotting signs of stress in your team?
Build a healthier, happier and more resilient workforce with free accredited training for your business, fully funded by the Department for Work & Pensions.
Study online, in a virtual classroom, or at 12 regional centres to gain your IOSH Certificate in Managing Occupational Health and Wellbeing. There are 5,000 free course places available until 31 March 2026 for qualifying SMES.
The Diamond Education Grant offers financial support to women seeking to enter or return to the workforce or transition into growing industries by gaining new skills.
The grant prioritises women facing significant financial need or barriers to employment, with an average award of around £1,000. Funding can be used for course fees or essential materials, such as books or equipment, but not for living expenses. Applications are open to women who are permanent residents in eligible Federation countries, which includes the UK. Preference will be given to applicants aged 30 and over.
Grants are available for courses taking place during the academic year from September 2026 to July 2027. The funding is intended for one year only, with vocational courses receiving priority.
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK Programme
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK programme is designed to provide high-quality, practical education and business support to leaders of high-growth small businesses and social enterprises across the country.
Participants in the fully funded programme identify and execute the steps necessary to enable them to scale their ventures, create employment and expand to new markets. Each participant develops a business growth plan throughout the course to implement back in their businesses. Eligibility criteria:
Business operating for at least three years
Have between 5 and 50 employees
Business should have turnover of at least 250,000 GBP in the previous financial year
Applicant should not have any recent management education
Applicant should be the primary owner or main decision-maker of the business
The business boost grants can help your business with:
Grant support up to £2,000 to help businesses improve their shop fronts or signage
Grant support up to £2,000 to help bring a shop that has been empty for at least 3 months back into commercial use
up to £1,000 to help town or village wide projects to drive new footfall, investment, street-scene improvements or sustainability.
All applications need at least 50% match funding and 2 quotes for each element. Town and village centre independents can also apply for support to help sell online with the digital high street boost and small and medium sized business can get help to invest in energy efficiency projects with the green business boost.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time.
Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme
Eligible adult social care employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). The LDSS is available for non-regulated care staff, including deputy and Care Quality Commission-registered managers and agency staff, within the adult social care workforce. Staff taking the training must be in qualifying roles.
Eligible ASC employers can claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. This funding is for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for in financial year 2025 to 2026, as well as those paid for in financial year 2024 to 2025.
Business Support Grants of up to £1,000 for residents and businesses with fewer than 5 employees based in Reigate and Banstead.
Grants can be used to help fund things like marketing, new equipment or training. Please note the grant is NOT available for the development of prototypes or for IT equipment such as laptops, unless you are a brand new start up and do not possess any IT hardware.
The Help to Grow: Management Course runs over 12 weeks and includes online and face-to-face sessions, 1-to-1 mentoring and peer networking.
Whether you need to identify more efficient ways of working, target new markets, or create a plan to take your business and team to the next level, the Help to Grow: Management Course will provide the knowledge and support you need. With just one session a week, it is designed to fit around existing work and personal commitments. You will finish the course ready to lead on the delivery of increased profitability, innovation and growth.
To join the Help to Grow: Management Course you should:
Work for a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise based in the United Kingdom
Employ between 5 and 249 employees
Be a member of the senior leadership team and have direct reports.
The 12-week course provides more than 50 hours of learning and 1-2-1 mentoring. The full course is worth £7,500 but it is 90% government funded so small businesses pay just £750 per person. This is paid directly to the business school once registration is completed.
Our local Business Schools are Kingston University, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Southampton, University of Brighton and Brunel University of London.
Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance. The scheme provides discounted development finance to small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders. The initiative supports the construction of energy-efficient homes across England.
A total of £150 million is available. Loans range from £2 million to £20 million. Interest rate reductions of up to 2% are available for developers who meet environmental and social criteria. Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Co-operative and Community Finance offers loans of between £10,000 and £85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK. Loans are to assist with the expansion, setup, or development of a co-operative enterprise.
Loans will only be made to economically viable enterprises that are democratically owned and controlled organisations registered in the UK.
Closing date: Applications can be made at any time
Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants
The FiPL programme provides grants to farmers and land managers in the Surrey Hills for one-off projects to make improvements to the natural environment, climate change mitigation, cultural heritage and public access on their land.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides support for organisations towards the cost of installing up to 40 electric vehicle chargepoint sockets at their sites.
The scheme covers up to 75% of the total costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints (including VAT). This is capped at a maximum of:
£350 per socket
40 sockets across all sites per applicant. For example, if you install at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket per site
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot
The Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot is a £50 million capital grant programme supporting large-scale research and development projects within the UK life sciences sector. The fund aims to strengthen health resilience, drive innovation and deliver economic benefits through significant investments in research capacity, facilities and technologies.
Projects should demonstrate how they will enhance the UK’s ability to respond to health emergencies and long-term healthcare challenges, for example by expanding or creating R&D capacity, improving manufacturing processes, accelerating clinical research or deploying new technologies.
If you can’t see something in this month’s round-up that suits your business’s specific needs, check out our Support Directory, or contact our team of experts via our Business Support Form.
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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.
