Dorking Distilleries set for success thanks to the Surrey Economic Growth Fund
Published 17 January 2026
Funding and grants, Surrey Success Stories
Dorking Distillery is a new custom-made distillery at Denbies Wine Estate, conceived by five co-founders who purchased the artisan drinks brand the Gin Kitchen. The grant from the Economic Growth Fund has been used to help repurpose and convert two fabricated sea containers to create their new distillery.
Co-founder Serena Billinghurst said: “ We are a premium spirits producer using the highest quality ingredients.We have been lucky to work with local artist Charlotte Godfrey to redesign the Gin Kitchen collection range, using the same much loved ceramic bottles, with new artwork which we are excited to share.
“We have built our distillery at Denbies, and are starting by selling the Gin Kitchen range, but also plan to develop a zero-alcohol drink and other spirits over time as well. We will also be offering a refill service, so instead of having to buy another bottle you can visit and refill straight from the still, or receive a refill pouch out in the post.”
Exciting plans for the future
As well as growing the product range, the team at Dorking Distillery has also set its sights on events.
“We would like to host tasting events from the distillery and start organising larger music events in the future,” said Serena. “That is a key part of where we see our growth. The events are an exciting opportunity for us to create more jobs in the county and put Surrey on the map as the place to go for artisan gin tasting.”
The grant from the Economic Growth Fund has helped get the project over the line and enabled the launch.
“This grant has been the life changing boost that we needed to get us over the line with creating the distillery,” Serena said.
“This project has been like an onion, with many layers, it has been a challenging but also an amazing experience and we’re excited to be open!”
What is the Surrey Economic Growth Fund?
Surrey County Council launched the Economic Growth Fund in April 2025 with a focus on supporting ideas to accelerate growth, boost innovation and create new employment opportunities.
With a further £1 million awarded in round two, the total invested locally in 2025 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.
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.
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.”
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
Woodlark Nurseries case study: greenhouse expansion sparks growth
Published 9 December 2025
Advice and support, Funding and grants, Surrey Success Stories
Woodlark Nurseries is family-run nursery in Hersham. Thanks to the Surrey Economic Growth Fund it is doubling its production area, increasing produce, improving efficiency and creating local jobs.
Woodlark Nurseries, run by Graeme Edwards and his father Colin, supplies national and local garden centres including Squires, Garsons Farm and Chessington.
The five-figure investment via Surrey County Council’s Surrey Economic Growth Fund is allowing it to double the size of its production area, increasing output by an extra 270,000 pots per year.
It means the team can produce more plants, allowing them to better serve their customers, support the community and create more local jobs.
The investment has come at just at the right time for the nursery, allowing it to produce a plethora of poinsettia plants just in time for the festive season.
Graeme Edwards, of Woodlark Nurseries, said: “We grow seasonal plants and bulbs, mainly bedding plants but also Poinsettia plants at Christmas, along with planted containers and hanging baskets. Mainly to local garden centres and also national garden centre groups as well as local landscapers and gardeners.
“The funding will allow us to expand and upgrade one of our greenhouse facilities, so we can grow more and grow it better and earlier to match demand from our customers. And to make sure they can get more plants that are grown locally, meaning better quality plants for their customers. The funding will also pave the way for increased efficiencies in production in the future.”
Woodlark Nurseries: supporting the community
The Surrey Economic Growth Fund was launched by the council earlier this year. It brings together a range of public and private funds, including government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, into a single pot.
Woodlark Nurseries was one of the first to receive investment following a highly competitive process. It’s using the grant to expand its production area from 1400m2 to 2800m2.
As well as boosting the business, it will allow the team at Woodlark to support the wider community too.
Graeme said: “We are proud to sponsor both Hersham in Bloom and work closely with Weybridge in Bloom and Claygate Gardening Society which are all fantastic things run by great people, improving the community for everyone, so we’re looking forward to continuing that. If there’s any other local initiatives which are similar and we could work with, we would love to hear from them.
“We also look to employ from the local community so this project will mean we’ll need to expand this.
“And we deal with lots of local garden centres. So this project will hopefully enable us to help them even more by supplying them with locally grown plants, which have a lower carbon footprint and better quality than European imports.
“We’re really looking forward to starting the project and improving our business as well as supporting the local businesses that we deal with even more.”
Surrey Economic Growth Fund
Close to £2 million has been awarded to dozens of recipients via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. This is unlocking significant match funding and private investment.
The successful bids are collectively estimated to grow Surrey’s economy by £9 million. They are also creating or safeguarding 300 jobs and bringing 1,350 residents into employment.
Further applications were welcomed in the autumn. And an announcement of recipients from round two will be made in the new year.
Any business looking for funding or support to grow can receive fully-funded support. Get in touch via our Business Support Form.
Call now open for CoSTAR National Lab’s “Advanced Production Technology” call
Published 28 November 2025
Funding and grants
The CoSTAR National Lab is looking for innovative approaches to advanced production that improve efficiency and enhance workflows—helping create impactful, audience-facing experiences.
If you’re a UK-based creative or technology-focused SME developing technical innovations for production pipelines, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Potential applications include:
Film and TV development
Animation and visual effects
Games and digital content creation
Live performance production
Emerging media and new technologies
What’s on offer?
This R&D programme provides a generous support package, including:
Access to studio and AI compute facilities
World-class research expertise
Cash funding
Travel and residency stipend (subject to eligibility)
A total of £140,000 in cash funding is available to support 3–5 projects, with up to £40,000 per project.
What are they looking for?
The Lab is keen to explore new workflows and production tools, including (but not limited to) innovations in:
2D and 3D capture or asset production
Motion capture or motion extraction techniques
AI-powered production pipelines
Democratised production*
Converged production*
Further details are available in the call brief. Application deadline: Monday 15 December 2025, 12:00 GMT Full details and application: https://bit.ly/CSNL_Call2_APT
For information on other sources of funding and grants, read our regular Funding Roundup or sign up for our newsletter.
Misty Moon Cider: turning food waste into profit
Published 3 November 2025
Funding and grants, Innovation, Surrey Success Stories
Misty Moon Cider is a drinks producer in Farnham that turns surplus fruit into thirst-quenching products. Thanks to the Surrey Economic Growth Fund, the business is investing in new equipment. This will help is scale up, increasing production by six times.
There’s been a bumper crop of apples this season thanks to the hottest summer on record. So a business growth grant from Surrey County Council came at the perfect time for craft drinks producer Misty Moon Cider.
Kathryn Lockett founded the drinks brand in 2021, making sustainable craft cider from surplus garden and orchard apples in Farnham. She wanted to reduce food waste and make use of the area’s abundant apple stocks by creating an artisan cider.
Starting out producing 200 bottles in 2024, the investment will help the business scale up to produce up to 12,000 bottles in 2025. And there will be kegs for pubs and bars by 2026.
Kathryn, who is an international development consultant by day, has been able to invest in new pressing and brewing equipment for Misty Moon.
Before receiving the funding, Kathryn and a small team were pressing and bottling all the cider by hand using small-scale equipment.
“Our new equipment means we don’t have to do everything by hand anymore. It means we’re going to have over 6,000 litres of Misty Moon Cider to sell next year,” Kathryn said.
The funds have also gone towards hiring more student workers in the area. They have helped to pick and press the apples, in what has been a ‘monumental harvest’ this year.
Misty Moon Cider: rooted in nature
Kathryn said: “This is something we started about four years ago, motivated by a love of locally produced craft cider.”
She also wanted to do something to protect the area’s apple trees. Kathryn explained that Farnham has a long history of apple trees and orchards, but many of these have now disappeared.
When people have too many apples from their trees that fall, rot and attract pests, these also risk being cut down.
Misty Moon Cider was the perfect solution, allowing people to donate their surplus apples, avoiding food waste and helping to protect the area’s precious trees.
“This year there’s been a massive crop of apples,” Kathryn said.
As well as donations from people’s gardens, Misty Moon partners with community-based organisations too.
“We get apple donations from the Countryside Regeneration Trust, National Trust Swan Barn and the Enton Community Orchard, where we also help them care for the orchard in partnership with the charity COPSE.
“We’ve just collected 4,500 tonnes of apples in a week that would have just rotted. And we give the apple pomace to the Hairy Pig Company in Guildford, so nothing goes to waste.
“We’re very much about making delicious cider, supporting the community, protecting trees and preventing food waste.”
Misty Moon Cider and local businesses
Misty Moon Cider was first sold at the Farnham Sustainable Festival in 2023. Now it’s stocked in Wine Rack, Hogs Back Brewery Shop, the Star Pub in Godalming and the London Cider House in Borough Market.
Misty Moon Cider is also served at the Michelin ‘Maison’ Restaurant in Farnham.
Support from Surrey’s local independent businesses has been crucial to Misty Moon. And local events are a mainstay for the business, with stands at Farnham Food Festival and various events at Gostrey Meadows.
The grant has made a huge difference to the business. Kathryn said: “It has given us the professional bottling stock of 2,600 bottles that we have been selling this year which has meant we can sell to more people in more places.
“It’s paid for our student workforce which has enabled us to bring in this monumental harvest.
“And crucially, we’ve been able to buy this amazing new equipment, meaning we do not have to hand process everything. It was getting unfeasible doing everything by hand.
“It will give us the boost we need to produce enough stock to keep our product costs down, expand into new markets and get our brand known more.”
Kathryn added: “Cider making is one of the oldest UK industries, it’s around 3,000 years old, and we have everything we need for it right here in Surrey – the apples, the tools, the knowledge.
“However, it is really challenging for small businesses like ours to compete with much larger producers. As such we always encourage people to buy local, support local businesses and support local brewing, whilst enjoying a deliciously tasty Misty Moon Cider.”
About the Surrey Economic Growth Fund
Do you have a business idea that can drive growth across Surrey?
The Surrey Economic Growth Fund from Surrey County Council has the sole focus of driving economic growth across the region.
Applications are now live for the Business Growth Grant scheme, closing at midnight on 16 November 2025.
It is open to all small and medium size businesses in Surrey.
The award is a match-funded grant of between £10,000 and £75,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Funding can support:
Purchasing new equipment or technology
Developing new products or services
Expanding operations or facilities
Investing in staff training and upskilling
We particularly welcome applications from rural businesses, farms, and those contributing to the rural economy.
Aerosensor is a technology firm in Dunsfold Industrial Park led by former F1 engineer Dr Barney Garrood. Thanks to the Surrey Economic Growth Fund, it is creating a new wind-tunnel facility and highly-skilled STEM jobs.
Aerosensor is one of a growing number of Surrey businesses with innovation at its heart.
It is developing new aerodynamic measurement probes for automotive and aerospace applications. And thanks to a five-figure grant from the Surrey Economic Growth Fund, its operation is now expanding.
The grant will support extra staff, infrastructure and the design, build and testing of the probes.
Dr Barney Garrood is founder of Aerosensor. He explains that he started the business in 2023 to create probes for cycling – but then started selling devices to F1 too.
“We have continued doing that and the market has grown to other motorsports and even marine industry,” he said.
He explained that in order to make and develop the probes, the firm needed a wind tunnel to calibrate and test them.
“Without our own wind tunnel, we were at the mercy of how booked up other facilities were. I even had to travel to Bristol once to test one probe. So I decided to build our own wind tunnel.”
Aerosensor: a global leader
The new wind tunnel will be transformative for Aerosensor.
Barney explains: “Having our own wind tunnel means we can halve our turnaround time to develop our existing probes that will make them world leading.
“There are only three other companies in the world that make these things. Having that facility on site is going to massively accelerate our development time and allow us to develop more advanced probes. It’s moved the business forward by about a year.”
He added: “The grant enabled us to fully kit out the wind tunnel with tools and instruments we need. We’ll also be hiring new staff and technicians. I have over 20 years of experience in F1 and we’re going to take people on and train them up in a highly skilled job.”
The growth of his business will have an impact on the wider Surrey economy beyond jobs too.
For example, he also uses external suppliers in the county. And he has helped to enhance Dunsfold Industrial Park’s legacy as an aerodynamic centre.
He adds: “Dunsfold Park has a history of aerodynamic development. The Harrier Jump Jet was developed here. And there’s a lot of racing car heritage here, and with fantastic high-tech motorsport such as McLaren in the area, it is the ideal place.”
About the Surrey Economic Growth Fund
Do you have a business idea that can drive growth across Surrey?
The Surrey Economic Growth Fund is overseen by Surrey County Council with the sole focus of driving economic growth across the region.
Applications are now live for the Business Growth Grant scheme, closing at midnight on 16 November 2025.
It is open to all small and medium size businesses in Surrey.
The award is a match-funded grant of between £10,000 and £75,000, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs.
Funding can support:
Purchasing new equipment or technology
Developing new products or services
Expanding operations or facilities
Investing in staff training and upskilling
We particularly welcome applications from rural businesses, farms, and those contributing to the rural economy.
Business Growth Grants now available to Surrey SMEs
Published 16 October 2025
Advice and support, Business news, Funding and grants
Business Growth Grants totalling £1.7 million are now available to all small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Surrey. Apply now to fund bright ideas to accelerate growth, boost innovation and create jobs.
Businesses can apply for match-funding of between £10,000 and £75,000 towards new equipment or technology. It can also support developing new products or services, expanding operations or facilities, or investing in staff training and upskilling.
The key thing is that businesses demonstrate how they will use the investment to deliver real benefits to the people, places and economy of Surrey.
Apply now via the Economic Growth Fund page before midnight on 16 November. All projects need to be complete by the end of March.
What is the Surrey Economic Growth Fund?
The Surrey Economic Growth Fund launched this year. It includes a range of public and investment streams, including government UK Shared Prosperity Funding.
The idea is to make it as simple and easy-as-possible for those looking to drive growth to apply for funding.
Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said:
“Following the success of round one, I’m delighted to launch round two of the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. The exceptional quality of applications we received first time around has demonstrated just how much ambition and innovation exists within Surrey’s business community.
“We’re committed to maintaining the high standards that made round one such a success. Every application will be rigorously assessed to ensure we’re backing businesses that will deliver genuine economic growth, create quality jobs, and produce tangible benefits for Surrey’s communities.
“Surrey already contributes £50 billion to the UK economy each year. And strategic investments like this will support sustainable growth while delivering benefits to our people and places.”
How do I apply for Business Growth Grants?
You can apply if your business is:
based in Surrey
small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
able to provide match-funding for at least 50% of total project costs
able to deliver the project by March 2026
Projects must clearly demonstrate how they will contribute to economic growth in Surrey. This includes creating new jobs, boosting productivity or supporting innovation.
Bids are assessed against a set criteria. An independent panel, including business representatives makes final decisions.
Not sure where to start? Get in touch with the team via our Contact Us form.
Surrey Economic Growth Fund round one: £2 million funding announced
Published 30 September 2025
Business news, Funding and grants
Surrey Economic Growth Fund round one invests £2 million to Surrey businesses and wider economy. Collectively the grants will provide an economic boost worth millions, creating scores of new jobs and hundreds of local job opportunities.
From vineyards and biotech to manufacturing and AI firms, a diverse range of organisations from all four corners of the county are receiving investment via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund.
The scheme is made up of a range of pooled funding streams. This includes the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Funding and Rural England Prosperity Fund. It was launched by Surrey County Council in April.
Following a highly competitive process, close to £2 million has been awarded to dozens of recipients, unlocking significant match funding and private investment.
The successful bids are collectively estimated to grow Surrey’s economy by £9 million, create or safeguard 300 jobs and bring 1,350 residents into employment.
Economic Growth Fund round one examples
One business receiving funding is Aero Sensor, a world-leading technology firm in Dunsfold Industrial Park led by a former F1 engineer Dr Barney Garrood.
The company is one of only three companies globally developing new aerodynamic measurement probes for automotive and aerospace applications.
The five-figure grant will support the creation of a new wind-tunnel facility to test its designs, creating new highly skilled jobs in the process.
Dr Garrood said: “The grant enabled us to fully kit out the wind tunnel with tools and instruments we need. We’ll also be hiring new staff and technicians. I have over 20 years of experience in F1 and we’re going to take people on and train them up in a highly skilled job.
“Having our own wind tunnel means we can halve our turnaround time to develop our existing probes that will make them world leading. There are only three other companies in the world that make these things. Having that facility on site is going to massively accelerate our development time and allow us to develop more advanced probes. It’s moved the business forward by about a year.”
Agriculture, AI and local supply chains
Other successful bids include Woodlark Nurseries in Hersham creating a new horticultural facility, while Upper Birtley Farm Partnership near Bramley will establish a premium glamping and outdoor education site in the Surrey Hills.
Dorking Distillery received a grant to create a new, custom-built distillery at Denbies Wine Estate, enhancing Surrey’s reputation for world-class food and drink.
And a Godalming business, Sammi-Select, will develop a new ‘practice interview’ tool adapted from an AI platform. This will support marginalised jobseekers such as young people not in education or training and those who are digitally excluded.
There’s county-wide approaches funded too, including allocations for Surrey Venture Studio to support start-ups. This is a collaboration between the county’s three universities. And Source in Surrey, led by the county’s Chambers of Commerce, to encourage larger businesses to ‘buy local’.
Both will offer benefits to many businesses across the county, complementing and enhancing existing support already ongoing through Business Surrey.
“Positive outcomes for Surrey’s communities”
Councillor Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “The new Economic Growth Fund has generated a huge level of interest from across Surrey, demonstrating the real appetite from our amazing business community to drive innovation, growth and job creation in our county.
“Round one was a highly competitive process and we’ve maintained our commitment to only supporting the highest quality bids which fully met the criteria. This ensures every pound invested will deliver genuine growth, create meaningful jobs and produce positive outcomes for Surrey’s communities.
“Our ambition is to position Surrey – which already contributes £50 billion to UK plc every year – as one of the UK’s leading regional economies. This fund is just one of the ways we’re building the foundations to achieve that.”
Round Two of the Surrey Economic Growth Fund is now open. Applicants can expect a streamlined, one-stage process supported by a guidance handbook.
3TOP Aviation embarks on growth plans thanks to £20 million loan from UK Export Finance
Published 8 September 2025
Funding and grants, Surrey Success Stories
3TOP Aviation, a market-leading aircraft trading and refurbishment specialist, has secured multimillion-pound investment to meet growing international demand. This is thanks to support from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK’s export credit agency.
The Leatherhead-based firm acquires mid-to-end-life aircraft and engines for onward trading, leasing and refurbishment. They also dismantle aircraft and rebuild the associated components for onward sale to clients, helping to make the aerospace industry more sustainable.
The company – which employs 18 staff in Surrey plus 16 outside the UK – aims to grow into new global markets and product lines such as new generation aircraft.
As a result of the UKEF-backed financing, 3TOP Aviation is also planning to expand its UK workforce by 20%.
Plus, it is relocating some of its warehouses in France and the US to a larger site in Leatherhead, bringing further benefits to the local economy.
The financing has been secured with backing from UKEF issued under its General Export Facility. This guarantee enabled HSBC UK to provide a trade finance facility of up to £20 million, supporting 3TOP Aviation’s export growth.
Chris Emechete, Managing Director of 3TOP Aviation, said:
“We are delighted to have secured substantial funding from UKEF which helps strengthen our position as a leading UK exporter of commercial aircraft aftermarket services and allows us to further exploit new opportunities around the world.
“We are very active in the aviation market globally, so capital backing from UKEF, a major credit export agency with an impeccable pedigree and reputation, aligns perfectly with our growth plans and aspirations.”
Tim Reid, CEO at UK Export Finance, said:
“3TOP Aviation’s story shows how our support empowers UK businesses to create prosperity at home while growing their footprint internationally.
“Their impressive growth in turnover from £3 million to £70 million in just four years demonstrates the huge potential for British firms by tapping into global markets. That’s where UKEF comes in: we’re here to ensure that lack of finance never stands in the way of firms achieving their true export potential.
“3TOP Aviation brings more than 25 years of industry expertise to the sector, with international offices spanning the United Arab Emirates, United States, Singapore, Germany and India. In the last four years, 3TOP Aviation’s business has boomed with revenue growing from a post-Covid low of £3 million in 2021 to £70 million in 2025.”
Grow your business with UK Export Finance
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency. It’s a government department, working alongside the Department for Business and Trade as an integral part of its strategy and operations.
3TOP Aviation is one of more than 660 companies accessing support from UKEF in the last financial year. It has provided a record £14.5 billion in new financing, supporting up to 70,000 jobs.
UKEF works with over 100 private credit insurers and lenders to help UK companies access export finance. It complements not competes with the private sector.
UKEF helps UK companies to:
win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers
fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans
get paid by insuring against buyer default
Its export finance managers provide free and impartial consultations, helping UK companies to check they are getting appropriate support and exploring how to bridge any gaps.
Skills Bootcamps applications open for Surrey employers and training providers
Published 9 July 2025
Funding and grants, Skills and workforce
Skills Bootcamps applications are being invited from Surrey employers and training providers for 2025/26. Discover how these government-funded courses can upskill your team in a just a few weeks.
Are you a Surrey 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.
Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks for anyone aged 19+ to enter employment, upskill or change career.
We – as part of Surrey County Council – have received £3.1 million from the Department for Education to deliver courses across Surrey during 2025/26.
We’re looking for innovative ideas from employers and training providers to design and deliver courses to equip our 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.
Of if you’re ready to apply, then scroll down to find out more about the process.
Skills Bootcamps 2025/26 – who can apply
Applications can be made by:
independent training providers
further education (FE) colleges
employers
As employers, you will possess the relevant intelligence to support a robust proposal. This includes demonstrating creative design and an understanding of local employers’ needs.
Do you not have experience of skills training? You can partner with organisations that can 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 Skills Bootcamps applications from interested parties under a competitive grant award process. They will form part of Wave 6 of the programme, completing by the end of March 2026.
Applications will need to evidence demand, strategic fit and innovation, setting out:
access to employment post training (preference to partnership bids with employers)
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
your previous experience delivering employer-led training
previous collaboration with local employers (Training providers only)
how you will deliver the programme
We actively encourage joint applications from training providers and employers. Make sure they clearly evidence how the course will fill open vacancies.
There is no closing date. We will asses applications on a rolling basis for suitability. But we do advise applicants to submit entries as soon as possible. This is so courses are delivered before the end of March 2026.
