Surrey Venture Studios underway turning innovative ideas into businesses
Published 12 February 2026
Advice and support, Funding and grants, Innovation
Surrey Venture Studios 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 Studios 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 Studios 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 Studios work?
Surrey Venture Studios 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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High Street Support and Innovation programme launches for Surrey businesses
Published 11 February 2026
Advice and support, Business news
The High Street Support and Innovation Programme will support hundreds of small and medium businesses in Surrey’s town and villages. Find out how you can get involved with this fully-funded scheme, which is running this spring.
The Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme is a county‑wide initiative funded by our Economic Growth Fund to support independent businesses across the whole of Surrey.
It covers all corners of Surrey with dedicated sessions in 22 locations across all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey. And it offers free, practical and locally tailored support across Surrey high streets.
It’s been developed with representatives from district and borough councils plus Business Improvement Districts representatives.
We’ve commissioned Smarter Society and The Retail Group to deliver the programme in spring 2026.
What does the High Street Growth and Innovation programme offer?
In-person business engagement
The Smarter Society outreach team is currently visiting high streets across Surrey meeting business owners face‑to‑face.
Scroll down to see the full list of engagement sessions
Free practical workshops
Join practical, high‑impact workshops delivered locally in each district. Designed specifically for independent retailers and service‑based businesses
Scroll down to see the full schedule of workshops
Business toolkits and resources
Participants gain access to a suite of practical High Street Business Toolkits including
Downloadable guides
Templates and checklists
Short explainer videos
Downloadable resources will be available online soon via our Resources page.
Tailored support
We know not all businesses can attend in person, so the programme is designed to offer multiple ways to engage with the content, including:
In‑person workshops at convenient, local venues
Live virtual attendance via broadcast
On‑demand recordings available to watch at any time
Ongoing access to resources through the Business Surrey website
1‑to‑1 support, where appropriate, for businesses needing tailored guidance
Engagement sessions
The High Street Support and Innovation programme will see teams from Smarter Society visit high streets across Surrey.
They will meet business owners face‑to‑face to share information about the free business support on offer. They will also register businesses for upcoming workshops, gather valuable local insights and answer any questions.
The dates are:
Redhill – 10 February
Oxted – 16 February
Reigate – 17 February
Walton – 17 February
Esher – 18 February
Guildford – 19 February
Leatherhead – 23 February
Dorking – 24 February
Caterham – 2 March
Guildford – 4 March
Camberley – 4 March
Chertsey – 5 March
Egham – 17 March
Ashford – 18 March
Farnham – 19 March
Woking – 24 March
Epsom – 25 March
Godalming – 26 March
Staines – 3 April
Workshop Schedule
Four workshops will be held in all 11 district and boroughs in Surrey. These sessions will help local business owners to:
Attract more customers and boost footfall
Improve in‑store and online visibility
Increase customer spend
Workshops are delivered by experienced specialists from The Retail Group and sessions are held in accessible high street locations across Surrey.
Tandridge
Oxted – 24 February (Workshops 1 & 2)
Caterham – 9 April (Workshops 3 & 4)
Reigate & Banstead
Redhill – 18 February (Workshops 1 & 2)
Reigate – 25 February (Workshops 3 & 4)
Guildford
Guildford (Session 1) – 26 February (Workshops 1 & 2)
Guildford (Session 2) – 4 March (Workshops 3 & 4)
Elmbridge
Esher – 3 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Walton – 10 March (Workshops 3 & 4)
Mole Valley
Leatherhead – 4 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Dorking – 11 March (Workshops 3 & 4)
Runnymede
Chertsey – 12 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Egham – 19 March (Workshops 3 & 4)
Surrey Heath
Camberley (Session 1) – 17 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Camberley (Session 2) – 24 March (Workshops 3 & 4)
Spelthorne
Staines – 18 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Ashford – 25 March (Workshops 3 & 4)
Waverley
Farnham – 26 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Godalming – 2 April (Workshops 3 & 4)
Woking
Woking (Session 1) – 31 March (Workshops 1 & 2)
Woking (Session 2) – 7 April (Workshops 3 & 4)
Epsom & Ewell
Epsom (Session 1) – 1 April (Workshops 1 & 2)
Epsom (Session 2) – 8 April (Workshops 3 & 4)
Support for High Street businesses
We are a Surrey County Council service offering expert advice to help Surrey businesses thrive.
Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your business to grow and succeed.
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. But you need to be quick – applications close on 13 February.
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.
Need further support and advice? Get in touch with our team of experts via the Business Support Form.
Events roundup – February 2026
Published 6 February 2026
Events and awards
Surrey businesses, exciting things are coming! Our fully funded programme of high‑impact events is now underway. Dive into expert-led sessions on marketing or start‑up success and a dedicated sales half‑day workshop – 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.
20 February | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | online | fully funded
Boost your marketing skills with the last in the series of three fully funded online workshops. Together they form a series, if you have missed out on attending our previous sessions, join us for the final session and hear about how to expand your reach and engagement by using smart digital strategies. If you can’t make it, then why not visit our resources page to access our our expert marketing toolkitto help you develop a bespoke plan to achieve your business goals
5 March 2026 | 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | online | fully funded
Discover CRM tools, workflow design, and automation for sustainable growth.
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.
Accelerate your growth & win more customers
19 March 2026, 8.30am – 12.30 noon
Join us for a dynamic and practical fully funded workshop designed to help small and medium-sized businesses unlock sustainable growth and attract more customers. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your sales strategy or build stronger customer relationships, this session will give you the tools to succeed.
Interested in joining us for this packed day of useful tips and advice?
19 March 2026 | 08:30 am – 12:30 pm | Double Tree by Hilton, Woking | fully funded
With over 25 years of experience supporting more than 400 scale-up businesses in Surrey and advising FTSE 100 companies, Roya Croudace, Commercial Director, Founder, and Non-Executive Director brings a wealth of knowledge in accelerating growth for SMEs. Her workshops are known for delivering practical, results-driven strategies that help businesses boost revenue, attract and retain customers, and build long-term success.
Submit your own event
Don’t forget, our events directory is a great way to promote your own business events to a wider audience. If your organisation is hosting or sponsoring a business event in Surrey, you can submit it for inclusion in the directory by completing this simple form.
Free support for Surrey SMEs
All events are fully funded for Surrey businesses and delivered by Business Surrey, a Surrey County Council service offering expert advice to help Surrey businesses thrive. More fully funded sessions coming soon – check our events page for details, and follow us onLinkedInto keep up to date event for you here
Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your SME grow and succeed. Get in touch with a member of the team via our business support form.
Lesh: maternity brand borne out of sleepless nights looks ahead to a bright future
Published 4 February 2026
Advice and support, Business news, Surrey Success Stories
Kat Fellows launched Lesh, a leak-proof nursing bra brand, from her Epsom home in August 2024. Now, with match funding from Surrey County Council’s Economic Growth Fund, she’s scaling the business and plans to hire local mothers as her team grows.
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Kat worked as a director in beauty marketing. “I got pregnant during Covid, not knowing what to expect when I returned to work,” she said. “As time went on, it became clear this corporate life wouldn’t mesh with being a mother.”
She decided to start a business solving a problem she’d experienced firsthand as a breastfeeding mother.
“The second my son latched on, it was amazing – I had this incredible experience,” Kat said. “I loved breastfeeding, but the only thing I didn’t love was that I leaked constantly.”
She cycled through countless disposable and reusable breast pads, and said: “They would move around, and I’d still wake up soaked, lying in a puddle of milk. Sleep is sacred when you have young children. Plus, the disposable ones are so wasteful.”
When she searched for alternatives, nothing met her needs. “Most products had clearly not been live-tested on a mum with oversupply like myself,” she said. I thought, “If no one is doing it the right way, I’m going to do it.”
Live-testing early Lesh prototypes
Kat spent a year and a half developing and testing prototypes during her second breastfeeding journey. “I never had to buy a disposable pad,” she said. “It took that long until I had something I was comfortable launching.”
Since launchingin August 2024, Lesh has gained momentum, and the Economic Growth Fund will help propel it further.
“This grant will allow me to drive brand awareness and grow the business to a place where I can pitch for additional funding to become an internationally recognised brand in the maternity space,” Kat said.
Looking ahead, Kat envisions building a team of local mothers. “The first hire I needed was for social media – I’ve been using an agency, but I’d like that work to go to a local mum. I want to employ mothers who need that extra income. Eventually, I want to convert the garage into an office and warehouse, with local mums supporting customer service, order fulfilment, packaging, and returns.”
Evidently, big plans lie ahead for this innovative Surrey business.
More about the Surrey Economic Growth Fund
To date almost £2 million has been awarded to dozens of recipients via the Surrey Economic Growth Fund. This funding has helped to unlock significant match funding and private investment, growing Surrey’s economy by £9 million.
Any Surrey business looking for funding or help to grow can receive fully-funded support from Business Surrey. Get in touch via our Contact us form.
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.
