Renée’s round-up of grants and funded programmes - September

I always get a Back to School feeling in September and this change in season is a great time to reflect on progress made so far in the year and focus on what goals are still ahead. We’ve been focused on developing our support for the Autumn and Winter and I’m pleased to announce the launch of Start-Up Surrey. Directly funded by Surrey County Council, specialist consultancy Incuhive will deliver expert support to founders and fledgling businesses to either help them gauge whether starting a business is a good idea, or how to take those first few steps.

Just into my inbox comes details of the anticipated launch of the South East Investment Fund. £210 million has been committed to investment in our region, recognising that there has been disparity in access to funding for small businesses across the country. There are debt and investment funds and all the details can be found on the British Business Bank’s website.

Things are always moving with grants and funded programmes so keep an eye out for my monthly updates. Thank you to everyone who took part in my LinkedIn Survey. I wanted to make sure this round -up was hitting the spot and I’ve made some tweaks to hopefully keep it useful but also readable! Good luck, and please do let me know if you have any successes!

Renée

Made Smarter South East

Made Smarter South East is a government-funded programme created to drive growth amongst the manufacturers and makers. The team provide advice and support to SMEs to help them switch to advanced and automated technologies and then use them to make everyday improvements. Support elements include:

Match-funding of up to £20,000
Expert advice, guidance and support to create a bespoke digital roadmap for your business
Leadership and workforce training
Fully-funded student internship (up to 300 hours).

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Made Smarter South East: funding & support for manufacturers

Source in Surrey

Source in Surrey is an initiative delivered by Surrey Chambers of Commerce. It is dedicated to supporting local businesses to win more customers, connect with each other, access opportunities, and strengthen local supply chains across the county.

An AI-powered business to business platform has been developed to streamline connections between Surrey based buyers and suppliers.

Alongside the AI-tool, a programme of roadshows, training, and events bring businesses together in person creating opportunities to learn, network, and build the relationships that power successful local supply chains. Together, this combination of AI and face-to-face engagement will help Surrey businesses be more connected, expand their customer base, and keep business local.

Closing date: ongoing
Find out more: Homepage | Source In Surrey

Small & Mighty Programme

This six-week programme to supercharge sole traders and micro businesses, concludes with a growth plan to support the next year of business opportunity. It will be delivered entirely online, allowing access from anywhere in the UK with flexible learning enabling opportunities for all.

Start date: 18 September 2026
Find out more: Help to Grow: Management Course | University of Surrey

Help to Grow: Management Course

The Help to Grow Management Course runs over 12 weeks and is for you if 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. So pleased to share that the University of Surrey has just become accredited to deliver this and their first cohort will begin in this Autumn. To be eligible you need to:

Work for a Small or Medium-sized Enterprise based in the United Kingdom
Employ between 5 and 249 employees
Be a member of the senior leadership team and have direct reports.

The full course is worth £7,500 but it is 90% government funded so small businesses pay just £750 per person.

Start date: October 2026
Find out more: Help to Grow: Management Course | University of Surrey

Farming Futures Research Competition for Agricultural Automation

Defra, in partnership with Innovate UK, has opened applications to the Farming Innovation Programme’s Farming Futures R&D Fund for collaborative industrial research projects focused on automation and robotics in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.

Up to £20 million is available to support R&D that improves productivity, sustainability, environmental outcomes, resilience and progress towards net zero emissions while delivering benefits for farmers and growers in England. Individual projects must have total eligible costs between £500,000 and £2.5 million.

Applications are invited from collaborative partnerships only. The lead applicant must be a UK registered business of any size working with at least one other eligible UK organisation. Supported activities may include robotic and automated machinery, imaging, sensing and monitoring systems, post-harvest automation for on-farm and immediate post-farm gate operations, or intelligent systems for food storage and energy management.

Closing date: 30 September 2026 (11:00)

Find out more: Competition overview – Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage Project Deve

Natwest Accelerator

If you’re a business with ambitions to grow, NatWest Accelerator is here to support you. Whether you’re looking to increase sales, find funding, or sharpen your leadership skills, the Accelerator has the practical tools, coaching and connections. You may be looking for:

a community of other business owners to connect with and bounce ideas off
access to experienced coaches and mentors to provide you with confidence or ask those challenging questions
the opportunity to attend masterclasses and networking events, or learn from a range of business voices
Workshops that equip with you with business-critical skills

Closing date: Ongoing

Find out more: NatWest Accelerator | Free coaching, community & hubs for UK founders | Enterprise Nation

Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage Project Development Studies Competition

Innovate UK and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have opened a competition to support Phase 1 project development studies for electrochemical ultra long duration energy storage (ULDES) technologies. The competition is delivered through the UKRI R&D Missions Accelerator Programme. Individual grants are expected to range from £350,000 to £700,000.

The aim is to support studies that advance the development, scale-up and UK manufacture of technologies capable of supplying cost-effective electricity to the UK grid for at least 100 continuous hours and with an operational lifetime of at least 25 years.

The competition is open to single applicants and collaborative projects led by UK registered businesses of any size. This call forms Phase 1 of a planned two-phase approach. A further competition is expected in mid-2027 to support large-scale technology demonstration projects.

Closing date: 30 September 2026 (11:00)

Find out more: Competition overview – Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage Project Development Studies – Innovation Funding Service

Critical Minerals Accelerator

The Accelerator is intended to support UK-based projects that strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains and help scale innovative technologies towards commercialisation. It focuses on minerals listed in the 2024 UK Criticality Assessment and growth minerals set out in the government’s Critical Minerals Strategy.

Support is aimed at projects at Technology Readiness Levels 6 to 8. The available grant awards are expected to range from £150,000 to £3 million across multiple projects through a competitive process. Eligibility is limited to UK registered businesses with operations in the UK, with the lead applicant required to be a UK registered business committed to developing innovation and subsequent commercial activity within the UK.

Closing date: 30 September 2026 (23:59)

Find out more: Critical Minerals Programme: Critical Minerals Accelerator – GOV.UK

MSK Innovation Accelerator

MedTech SuperConnector at Imperial College London is accepting applications for the MSK Innovation Accelerator Programme, a six-month part-time initiative aimed at translating early-stage musculoskeletal (MSK) health innovations into MedTech solutions.

The accelerator combines training, masterclasses, access to experts and one-to-one sessions valued at more than £80,000 worth of academic and commercialisation support. All provided without equity requirements or joining fees for eligible applicants. Support covers development of a product and market entry roadmap and introductions across the MSK innovation space. Participants may also pitch to the ORUK Investment Committee.

Ongoing support is available through the Joint Venture MSK Innovation Network, which connects entrepreneurs, investors, clinicians, manufacturers and other stakeholders. Participants can also access ad hoc advice from clinical experts during the accelerator.

The accelerator is open to UK-based innovations in MSK health at Technology Readiness Level 3 or above, with technologies at proof-of-concept stage. Applicants must own the intellectual property or have written permission to use and commercialise it, and it must be protectable though it does not need to have been filed.

Closing date: 4 October 2026 (23:59)

Find out more: ORUK MSK Innovation Accelerator Programme — Orthopaedic Research UK

The Advanced Manufacturing: Measurement and Sensing Pilot Competition

The pilot is intended for UK registered SMEs developing a technology, product or service based on measurement, sensing or instrumentation. Projects must address a defined problem within UK advanced manufacturing supply chains by improving productivity, resource efficiency or resilience. Eligible supply chains include automotive, aerospace, battery, space and the commercial production of advanced materials.

Participants are expected to commit time and resources to activities that may include peer-to-peer networking, investor engagement and international market exploration. The competition is open to single applicants only, rather than collaborations.

Closing date: 7 October 2026 (11:00)

Find out more: Competition overview – Advanced Manufacturing: Measurement and Sensing Pilot – Innovation Funding Service

Unloc Young Entrepreneurs Challenge

Verizon and Unloc are accepting entries for the Unloc Young Entrepreneurs Challenge, an annual competition intended to identify young talent (aged 16 to 25) across mainland Europe.

The challenge is aimed at entrepreneurs with a technology-led idea for a new business, or those who have already started trading and are seeking support to progress development. Eligible applicants can apply with a pre-start concept that is not yet trading, or with a business that has been trading for no more than three years.

The overall winner will receive a £10,000 grant and a mentorship package. In addition to the financial award and business support, the winner will attend the One Young World Global Summit in Tokyo.

Closing date: 9 October 2026

Find out more: The Young Entrepreneurs Challenge

vHive Animal Health Incubator

The vHive Animal Health Incubator at the University of Surrey is designed to support early-stage start-ups and entrepreneurs in animal health by providing access to resources, training and expertise in areas such as business planning, product development and commercialisation. No equity or IP share taken to take part in the vHive Incubator but there is access to the £100,000 annual Zoetis-vHive Collaboration Fund, which funds projects between vHive members and University of Surrey academics

Closing date: 12 October 2026 (23:59)

Find out more: Incubator – vHive

Farming Innovation programme Small R&D Partnership Projects Competition

Innovate UK has opened Round 5 of the Farming Innovation Programme Small R&D Partnership Projects Competition, supporting collaborative industrial research in England’s agricultural and horticultural sectors.

A total of £7.8 million has been allocated for projects in this round, intended to back research and development that benefits England’s farmers, growers, foresters and related businesses. Projects must develop new solutions to major on-farm or immediate post-farmgate challenges or opportunities. Each application must have total eligible project costs between £1 million and £3 million.

The competition is open to collaborations only that are led by a UK registered business of any size. To be eligible, projects must address at least one of the following subsectors: farmed animals, plants, novel food production systems or bioeconomy and agroforestry.

Closing date: 14 October 2026 (11:00)

Find out more: Competition overview – Ultra Long Duration Energy Storage Project Deve

The Varsity Pitch Competition

The Varsity Pitch Competition is an early-stage business pitching competition for current students and recent graduates (those that graduated in 2023 or later). It provides opportunities for learning, networking and raising the profile of new businesses.

Categories include Product, Home & Everyday Design; Education, Work & Society; Consumer, Commerce & Experience; Digital, Health & Deeptech; and Climate, Energy & Smart Mobility. The cash prizes are intended to support development of winning business ideas. All finalists will receive ongoing support to promote their achievements.

Closing date: 18 October 2026 (23:59)

Find out more: TATA VARSITY PITCH 2026 | Discover. Pitch. Grow. Apply Now.

OFWAT Innovation Fund – Water Efficiency Lab (WEL)

Ofwat has opened the second round of its Water Efficiency Lab (WEL), a challenge-led competition supporting new technologies, processes and approaches designed to reduce water demand in England and Wales. This year’s theme is reducing customer-side leakage, defined as leaks from pipes or fittings that are the customer’s responsibility. This includes internal plumbing such as toilets, taps and valves, as well as external supply pipes within property boundaries.

Individual entries can request between £150,000 and £1.5 million, with the WEL providing a maximum of 90% of an entry’s total costs.

Closing date: 20 October 2026 (13:00)

Find out more: Water Efficiency Lab – Water Innovation Fund

The Churchill Fellowship

Each year the Fellowships offers support to UK citizens who wish to carry out research projects that require overseas travel. Funding is awarded to allow Fellows to spend up to two months investigating inspiring practice in other countries, either by travelling overseas or online from the UK, in order to identify new and better ways of tackling a wide range of current challenges facing the UK.

Up to 120 fellowships are awarded each year to UK citizens, resident in the UK and aged 18 or over. There is no upper age limit or any other restrictions. Applicants need to be addressing a clearly stated need or issue in UK society and exploring one of the current annual themes:

Building a society that cares
Building prosperous, resilient economies
Caring for our natural environment
Civic and democratic engagement (new this year)
Climate change
Making space for the arts
Promoting lifelong health
Supporting engagement in education
Tech for All

Closing date: 20 October 2026 (midday)

Find out more: Application form – The Churchill Fellowship

Advancing Innovation in Accelerated Cancer Diagnosis Competition

Innovate UK (IUK), working with the Office for Life Sciences (OLS), has announced a competition to support the clinical validation and evaluation of early cancer diagnostic technologies and devices. Delivered on behalf of the OLS Cancer Healthcare Goals work, the competition is intended to help accelerate innovations that enable earlier detection and diagnosis of cancer, with particular attention on less common cancers.

Applicants must propose projects that develop, validate or evaluate diagnostic technologies or approaches with a clear potential for clinical and health economic impact. Projects may also generate evidence to support regulatory approval and potential future adoption by the NHS. Each project must have total eligible costs between £1.5 million and £4 million.

The competition is open to collaborative projects only led by a UK-registered business of any size, an academic institution or an NHS organisation, and the consortium must include at least one UK-registered micro, small or medium-sized enterprise claiming grant support.

Closing date: 28 October 2026 (11:00)

The 4YFN Awards

The 4YFN Awards are open to registered digital technology start-ups worldwide. They are intended to recognise and support companies developing scalable, innovative products or services that address real-world challenges.

The awards provide cash prizes and wider visibility for 20 start-ups, with the aim of helping them connect with investors and industry leaders and accelerate business growth.

Closing date: 26 October 2026

Find out more: Welcome to the 4YFN27 Awards! | 4YFN Barcelona 2026

National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Round 1

The National Materials Innovation Programme supports the translation and adoption of advanced materials innovations across the UK’s eight growth driving sectors, associated frontier industries and foundational industries and inputs identified in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy and sector plans.

This competition aims to accelerate the translation and adoption of materials innovations through collaborative industrial research, supporting the priority opportunity themes of the National Materials Innovation Strategy.Proposals must address a significant materials innovation and align with at least one competition theme and associated sub-theme.

Projects should result in materials that overcome a technical hurdle and deliver enhanced performance, functionality or efficiency.

Closing date: 28 October 2026 (11:00)

Find out more: Competition overview – National Materials Innovation Programme: CR&D Rd1 – Innovation Funding Service

Spelthorne Business Growth Service

Business mentoring, workshops, business clinics & networking to support the growth and start-up journeys of businesses based in Spelthorne Borough Council.

Closing date: December 2026

Find out more: Apply To Spelthorne – MyGrowthPod

Your Councillor Community Fund

Have you got an idea that could make a difference where you live? Each Surrey County Councillor has £10,000 to spend in your local area on projects that can make a real difference to people in your local community. If you have an idea, now is a great time to find out more about the Your Councillor Community Fund.

Last year, the fund supported more than 350 local projects. The fund can support a wide range of activities and improvements. Projects funded in the past include:

Workshops for young people in schools
Improvements to green spaces and nature areas
Events for people who may feel lonely or isolated
Equipment for local sports clubs

Closing date: End of January 2027

Find out more: Funding now open for Your Councillor Community Fund – Surrey County Council

UK Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups (VFRS4SU)

This grant programme reimburse’s eligible visa application fees for UK-based scale-ups hiring international specialists and their dependants. It is intended to reduce costs associated with overseas recruitment in the Clean Energy, Life Sciences and Digital and Technologies sectors.

Eligible businesses can apply for up to £25,000 per year, capped at £5,000 per hire. The grant supports fees incurred on or after 9 June 2026.

Closing date: 1 March 2027 (23:59)

Find out more: Visa Fees Reimbursement Scheme for Scale Ups – GOV-UK Find a grant

Business Boost Grants – Elmbridge

The Elmbridge Business Boost Grants can help with a variety of projects:

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.
Town and village centre independents can also apply for support to help sell online with the digital high street boost
SMEs can get help to invest in energy efficiency projects with the green business boost.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Support for businesses | Elmbridge Borough Council

Business Advice for Mole Valley Businesses

Businesses across Mole Valley can now benefit from expert guidance provided by IncuHive, fully funded by Mole Valley District Council. Whether you’re launching your first venture or growing an established company, IncuHive’s team of experienced advisers are on hand to offer practical, tailored support.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Business Advice – Mole Valley for Business

Business Advice – Waverley

Waverley Borough Council fund IncuHive (who are specialists in small business development) to offer free tailored support to all local businesses in the borough of Waverley, including advice on business planning, funding and mentoring.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Grow your business

Business Advice – Guildford

Guildford Borough Council fund IncuHive (who are specialists in small business development) to offer free tailored support to all local businesses in the borough of Guildford, including advice on business planning, funding and mentoring.

Closing date: 31 March 2027
Find out more: Guildford Borough Council

Innovate UK – Innovation Loans

Innovate UK has opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) competition for its Innovation Loans, offering repayable finance to support late-stage R&D projects with a clear route to commercialisation. At full stage, eligible businesses can apply for between £100,000 and £5 million to support experimental development projects only.

Projects must align with at least one Industrial Strategy Sector: advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies or life sciences.

Closing date: ongoing
Find out more: Competition overview – Innovation Loans Expression of Interest – Innovation Funding Service

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.

Closing date: When the fund is exhausted.
Find out more: Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme – GOV.UK

The Workplace Charging Scheme

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).

Closing Date: extended to 31 March 2027

Find out more: Before you start

Youth Jobs Grant

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched the Youth Jobs Grant, a payment for employers (of any size) that recruit young people aged 18 to 24 who have been claiming Universal Credit and searching for work for six months or more.

The payment is £3,000 per eligible hire. Roles supported by the grant must be at least 25 hours per week and expected to last at least four months. Eligible expenditure can include wage costs, NI contributions, pension contributions, recruitment and administration costs.

Closing date: October 2028

Find out more: Youth Jobs Grant – GOV.UK

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 R&D 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.

Closing Date: 31 March 2028 (23:59)

Find out more: Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot – GOV.UK

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.

Closing date: Extended to March 2029

Find out more: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL

Co-operative Enterprise Loans

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

Find out more: Co-op Loan Fund – Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops

Further business support in Surrey

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.