Emilia Hunt: high street dream becomes reality thanks to Growth Fund
Published 30 January 2026
Advice and support, Funding and grants, Surrey Success Stories
Opening a shop was a long-held dream of maker and designer Emilia Hunt, and thanks to help from the Economic Growth Fund, that dream is now a reality.
She opened her self-titled shop on 17 Bell Street, Reigate, in September, selling handmade and bespoke items at accessible price points. As well as her own products, which include homewares, gifts and stationery, she also sells carefully selected items from other makers.
“I know hundreds of makers,”Emilia said.“And I’ve got all the good ones in my shop.”
British made products are the focus of the shop, with three quarters of the products made in the South East.
“Everything in the shop is UK made. I am a real stickler for making sure everything is actually made in the UK. Everything in the shop I have chosen.”
Emilia started her business 10 years ago after taking medical retirement due to cystic fibrosis, and since then has been building a homewares brand which is now stocked in places like Squires Garden Centres.
The High Street dream
It was when she had a small space above an antiques shop that Emilia realised a high-street stop could work.
“You couldn’t see my stuff from the front window,” she said. “Every single person came up and said I didn’t know you were here. But it was so well received. I was talking to my mum and said this could work, people really like it. It needs to be somewhere where people can see it.”
She then found out a shop vacancy was coming up on Reigate high street and made an enquiry with the owners.
“I found out it was very expensive,” said Emilia.“There were two offers higher than mine, but I shared with them my vision and they accepted mine. They’ve given me a chance.”
How the funding has helped
She said she couldn’t have done it without the Economic Growth Fund, which has gone towards helping the shop launch, as well as admin costs and things like a music license to play music on the premises.
On her vision for the shop, Emilia said: “I want it to have a welcoming feel and be accessible for people. I wanted things to be £3.50 and £10, I want people to know handmade doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. It can be done, it doesn’t cost the earth.
“I want to have conversations. I always try to be available for people to ask questions. Obviously, it’s about quality products, but if you make the customer experience the best it can be, that customer is going to remember that and talk about that when they get home, I want people to have the best experience.”
On her advice for budding start ups or established business owners who want to take a leap, Emilia said: “Anyone can do what they really want to do; do some drawing, make something, have a bit more faith in yourself, apply for the funding, see what you can get going. If you have got an idea, just believe in yourself.”
More about the Surrey Economic Growth Fund
Surrey County Council launched the Economic Growth Fund in April 2025 with the aim to support ideas that will accelerate growth, boost innovation and create new employment opportunities.
Approximately £2 million was distributed when the first round of grants was announced in September 2025.
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 the regional Surrey economy.
To register for fully-funded support to start and grow a business get in touch via our Business Support Form.
Source in Surrey to forge closer connections to boost county economy
Published 29 January 2026
Advice and support, Business news, Events and awards, Innovation
Source in Surrey is an innovative initiative to help Surrey businesses benefit more from spending in the region’s £50 billion economy. It’s been developed by Surrey Chambers of Commerce after it secured a grant from Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund.
The six-figure initiative is designed to strengthen the regional economy by connecting small and medium-sized businesses with larger organisations for major contract opportunities.
It kicks off next month, with the first of 10 roadshow events taking place in Woking on February 11.
The programme will also include sales masterclasses. Plus there’s the creation of an AI-powered platform, streamlining connections between buyers and suppliers.
Source in Surrey and the Economic Growth Fund
Source in Surrey is one of several projects funded via the council’s Economic Growth Fund. This pools public and private funds, including government Shared Prosperity Funding, into a single pot.
Since launching in April, more than £3 million has been invested via the council in local businesses and organisations to support business growth, innovation and employment opportunities.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said:“Source in Surrey will tackle a real challenge – helping our smaller businesses access the kind of major contracts that can transform their growth trajectory.
“By connecting SMEs with larger organisations and equipping them with the skills to compete, we’re not just creating jobs and boosting our economy, we’re building a more resilient and collaborative business community across the county.
“We’re pleased to have been able to support the initiative via the Economic Growth Fund and I look forward to seeing our people, places and businesses benefit from closer connections in the future.”
About Source in Surrey
Source in Surrey will look to bridge the gap by focusing on four key areas:
enhancing selling capabilities
improving procurement access
building customer databases
forging closer connections, starting with a county-wide roadshow programme.
Each roadshow session includes a keynote session from a business leader. Attendees will also be introduced to the AI platform for businesses to find and procure suitable contracts.
The roadshows, which are free to attend, take place at:
Dukes Court, Woking (February 11)
Tandridge Golf Course, Oxted (February 24)
Hartsfield Manor, Betchworth (February 26)
Login Lounge, Camberly (March 3)
The Thames Club, Staines (March 11)
Farnham Maltings (March 17)
Reigate Manor, Reigate (March 24)
Guildford Pavilion (April 14)
Epsom Racecourse (April 23)
Brooklands Museum (April 28)
The initiative also includes expert-led sales training courses delivered by Anita Saini of HX Solutions. These start on 10 February at Login Lounge, Camberley, and 10 March at Dukes Court, Woking.
These practical courses aim to equip smaller businesses with the confidence and skills to compete for and win significant contracts.
Louise Punter of Surrey Chambers said:“The Surrey economy is large but much of the spend of the larger organisations is made outside of Surrey. So we want to encourage larger businesses and organisations to ‘buy local’ and make it easier for smaller businesses to win contracts.
“By bringing these different parts of the business eco-system together we will also facilitate other ways of supporting the smaller businesses through training opportunities and economies of scale.”
Employment Rights Act: what does it mean for your Surrey business?
Published 20 January 2026
Advice and support, Skills and workforce, Thought leadership
The Employment Rights Act received royal assent in December 2025. It is the biggest change to employment law in a generation. But what does it mean for Surrey businesses? Our blog looks at some of the impacts.
The Employment Rights Act is designed to modernise the labour market, bringing it into the 21st century. Ministers say it strengthens worker protections and increases employer obligations.
The employment law changes included in the Act will take place over a period of 2 years. Most changes will happen in 2026 and 2027.
New rights include day one paternity leave and statutory sick pay. Plus there are protections for pregnant workers, an end to exploitative zero hours contracts and a new right to bereavement leave.
Ministers claim stronger employment rights are good for the economy, pointing to academic research which shows the happier and healthier workers are, the more productive they are – and the longer they stay in their jobs. This contributes to economic growth.
But there will be a cost – with Government’s own analysis saying there will be a direct annual cost to business of around £1 billion per year.
Employment Rights Act: key headlines
Ending One‑Sided Flexibility
The Act tackles insecure work by introducing rights to guaranteed hours, reasonable notice of shifts, and compensation for short‑notice cancellations. These protections also extend to agency workers, supported by new remedies via employment tribunals.
Fire and Rehire Restrictions
The Act introduces tougher restrictions on “fire and rehire” practices. Dismissals for failing to agree to changes to certain core contractual terms will now be considered automatically unfair, except in cases of severe and genuine financial difficulty.
Unfair Dismissal Changes
Reducing the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from two years to six months, and the cap on compensatory awards will be removed.
Increased dismissal protection for industrial action
Dismissal for taking part in industrial action will become ‘automatically unfair’. This will remove the current 12-week limit for claiming unfair dismissal. This will change in February 2026.
Strengthened Collective Redundancy Rules
The maximum ‘protective award’ for failure to consult in collective redundancy will double from 90 days’ pay to 180 days’ pay. This will change in April 2026.
Family‑Friendly and Sick Pay Reforms
Employees will gain day one rights to statutory sick pay, paternity leave, and unpaid parental leave.
New bereavement leave, including for pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
Removing lower earnings limit for sick pay. Currently, workers must earn a minimum amount to be eligible for statutory sick pay
Establishment of the Fair Work Agency
From April 2026, a new Fair Work Agency will consolidate enforcement of minimum wage, agency rules, exploitation prevention, and holiday pay compliance.
What should employers do now?
Although many changes take effect throughout 2026 and 2027, employers should begin reviewing contracts, policies, shift‑allocation processes, and dismissal procedures now.
By taking early action, you can reduce compliance risks and improve workforce stability.
Need further support and advice? Get in touch with our team of experts via the Business Support Form.
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.
Unlock new opportunities: Join our fully funded business events
Published 16 January 2026
Events and awards
Surrey businesses, get ready! We’re rolling out a series of high‑impact, fully funded events to help you innovate and grow. Dive into expert-led sessions on marketing and start‑up success and more – all free to attend, with no cost to you.
Start-up overview
Kickstart your self-employment journey with our interactive Start-Up Overview workshop. In just one hour, you’ll gain valuable insights into the realities of working for yourself, assess your personal and business readiness, and leave empowered to decide if self-employment is right for you.
23 January | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | online | fully funded
Boost your marketing skills with our series of fully funded online workshops. Together they form a series, but there’s no obligation to attend all three; just choose the subjects that are most relevant to your own business. Or come along to all three and really reap the benefits!
1. Communicate with confidence
22 January 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | online
Learn how to define and express your brand with clarity and impact.
There’s no limit to the number of attendees, just be sure to register early!
2. Build your digital growth engine
12 February 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | online
Explore smart digital strategies to expand reach and engagement.
Hear from Dan Chidley, our trusted coach helping people, organisations, communities and good causes through coaching, mentoring, personal and professional development. Accredited Member of the Association for Coaching. Director level marketing and communications professional with 20 years’ experience: in-house, agency and consultancy. Chartered Marketer and Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
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
Renée’s round-up of grants and funding – January
Published 14 January 2026
Funding and grants
Happy New Year! I’m not one for new year’s resolutions, to me January feels like the perfect time to be planning and thinking (aka hibernating) ready to get going in the new financial year (aka Spring).
I’ve included funded programmes of support for the first time in the round-up to acknowledge that often funding is given over to developing packages of support rather than just as grants. These can be focused on skills development rather than projects or assets so gives a broader variety of opportunities on offer.
Things are always moving so double check the start and closing dates and keep an eye out for my monthly updates. Good luck, and let me know how you get on!
Renée
Enterprise Nation’s Work Reimagined Webinar Series & Prize Draw
Sign up to Enterprise Nation and Dell’s webinar series and download ‘Getting AI-ready: The small business tech checklist’ to simplify set-up, security and updates.
By signing up, you’ll be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a tech bundle worth over £1,000 including a Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 Laptop, a Dell Pro 14 Portable Monitor and Dell Pro Ear Buds.
Tandridge District Council are offering local businesses the chance to apply for a Business Support Grant of up to £1,000. The grant can be used to buy new equipment, upgrade your shopfront, train your team or add energy-saving features.
Whether you’re a new or established business, you can apply for a one-off grant. To qualify for the grant, applicants must be:
Aged 18 or over.
Running a business based in the Tandridge district.
A new or existing business looking to expand in the area.
Innovate UK is offering up to 60 Women in Innovation Awards to women entrepreneurs within SMEs across the UK. The aims of this competition are to support Women in Innovation Award winners:
Whose innovation is aligned to one of the following three high growth sectors defined in the Government’s Industrial Strategy: Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Technologies and Life Sciences.
Who have a late stage start-up with ambitions to grow a scalable business which will involve raising considerable investment in the next 12 to 24 months.
The winners will receive a £75,000 grant and bespoke business support.
The goal of the annual Pitch Competition is to showcase Europe’s very best seed and pre-seed startups. 15 of the most innovative early-stage teams from across the continent will join the EU-Startups Summit on May 7-8 in Malta. Each finalist will have three minutes to pitch their idea on the main stage in front of a large audience of investors, media, and start-up enthusiasts and VC judges. Eligibility criteria include:
Already raised between 0 and €750K in venture capital
Based in Europe (EU, UK, Switzerland, Norway)
Pre-seed or seed stage and founded within 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.
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
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.
Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on funding, business news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.
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.
Surrey Venture Studio launches to turn bright ideas into businesses
Published 8 December 2025
Advice and support, Business news, Innovation
Surrey Venture Studio is an exciting scheme to help Surrey innovators, academics, students and entrepreneurs ignite their ideas to build a business. So if you have an idea ripe for commercialisation and are ready to start your business journey, seize this exciting opportunity!
Do you have a business idea you believe could be transformational and marketable, but you’re unsure how to take the first step or secure funding?
Perhaps you already have designs, prototypes or research that hasn’t yet reached its full revenue generating potential.
If so, then Surrey Venture Studio is here to help you bridge that gap and fulfil your ambitions.
Surrey Venture Studio – round one now closed
Update: Round one applications are now closed, Round two is expected to open for applications in early Summer 2026. Watch this space for more information, or sign up for our newsletter to be kept informed.
What is Surrey Venture Studio?
This is an exciting new pre-accelerator programme to help innovators, academics and entrepreneurs across Surrey explore whether turning an idea into a business is the right path.
This exciting programme includes:
A two-day, in-person ideation workshop
Expert mentoring
Opportunity to progress to a six-month accelerator
Up to £25,000 catalyst grant funding, for successful six-month accelerator participant
Spaces on the workshop are limited and will be offered to applicants whose ideas are at the right stage of development and show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation.
At the end of the two-day workshop, participants will be invited to pitch their ideas ‘Dragon’s Den’-style. The successful applicants will secure a coveted place on the six-month accelerator programme and take a step closer to securing £25k in grant funding to launch their business!
Want to know more? An information webinar was held on January 8. The presentation can be found here and the Q&A summary is available here.
Key Dates
Round one applications open – December 8, 2025
Round one applications close – January 16, 2026
Ideation Workshops
University of Surrey Ideation Workshop – February 5 and 9, 2026
Royal Holloway, University of London Ideation Workshop – February 12 and 16, 2026
University for Creative Arts Ideation Workshop – February 19 and 23, 2026
Open Call Ideation Workshop at Surrey County Council – February 26 and March 2, 2026
Round two applications: expected to open later this year (2026)
FAQs
Got a question about Surrey Venture Studio? Find answers in our FAQs below.
Innovators, academics, students and entrepreneurs based in Surrey with ideas that have strong commercial potential.
No. You can apply with an idea, prototype or early-stage research that could become a marketable product or service.
The workshops will be held at the campus of the host university and Surrey County Council’s HQ in Reigate. University for Creative Arts will host at their Epsom site.
Participants will pitch their ideas to a panel. Successful applicants will join the six-month accelerator programme.
No, there is not an option to attend online. If you have any accessibility issues that prevent you from attending in person, please contact the Surrey Venture Studio project team to ensure your needs are met.
You must commit to the two-day workshop and, if successful, the full six-month accelerator programme at around 2 days per month.
Spaces are limited and offered to those whose ideas show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation.
No, you do not need one to apply. But you’ll be willing to open one before any grant funding can be paid.
No, all applications received before the closing date will be judged equally.
The Fine Print
Surrey Venture Studio is funded by the UK Government and Surrey County Council via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. It is delivered in partnership with the University of Surrey, University for the Creative Arts and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Eligibility: Applicants live, work or study in Surrey and be eligible to work in they UK. Applicants should also comply with UK Subsidy Control
Commitment: Applicants agree to attend the two-day workshop and, if successful, commit to the six-month accelerator at approximately two days per month
Selection: Participation in the workshop does not guarantee progression to the accelerator
Funding: Grant funding is subject to acceptance onto the 6-month accelerator and must be paid into a business bank account
Data Sharing: Applicant data may be shared with programme partners for delivery and monitoring purposes
Intellectual Property: IP remains with the applicant; Surrey Venture Studio does not claim ownership
Withdrawal: Surrey Venture Studio reserves the right to withdraw or amend the programme at any time
Not all applicants or workshop participants will progress. But those applying will need to commit to the full six month accelerator. This is irrespective of whether they are successful.
Level up your business: Upcoming events to inspire and empower
Published 8 December 2025
Events and awards
Surrey businesses – we’ve got an exciting line-up of fully funded events designed to help you grow, innovate, and stay ahead. From practical Net Zero guidance to marketing strategies and start-up support, these sessions are packed with value and completely free to attend because we are fully funding them for you.
Start your Net Zero journey
Decarbonisation is a strategic priority for UK businesses – and SMEs are part of the supply chain. This practical session will help you take the first steps toward reducing emissions.
Hear from our expert, Shelley Lawson who brings practical advice borne of tangible experience. Shelley has helped businesses deliver carbon reductions whilst tackling their biggest issues, and strengthening the bottom line.
Register here: Your NetZero journey starts here
Start-up overview
Kickstart your self-employment journey with our interactive Start-Up Overview workshop. In just one hour, you’ll gain valuable insights into the realities of working for yourself, assess your personal and business readiness, and leave empowered to decide if self-employment is right for you.
18 December | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | online | fully funded
Register here: Your Start-up journey begins here
Become a go-to supplier for the public sector
Want to align with local authority programmes to thrive and grow? Learn more about the public sector supply chain and discover how to unlock local opportunities in facilities management.
Date: 20 January 2026 Time: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm Location: Woodhatch Place, Reigate | fully funded | free parking
Why attend?
Hear from Macro Group, Surrey County Council’s facilities management delivery partner
Boost your marketing skills with our series of fully funded online workshops. Together they form a series, but there’s no obligation to attend all three; just choose the subjects that are most relevant to your own business. Or come along to all three and really reap the benefits!
1. Communicate with confidence
22 January 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | online
Learn how to define and express your brand with clarity and impact.
Hear from Dan Chidley, our trusted coach helping people, organisations, communities and good causes through coaching, mentoring, personal and professional development. Accredited Member of the Association for Coaching. Director level marketing and communications professional with 20 years’ experience: in-house, agency and consultancy. Chartered Marketer and Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
