Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator Application

The Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator helps farmers and growers drive growth, become more profitable and improve efficiency.

The grant will support digital projects designed to modernise operations, improve productivity, diversify and boost long-term resilience.

Apply by 16 August 2026 for grants of up to £35,000 and expert support for your business.

All applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator – Application Form

Section 1: Business deta

Briefly describe what your business does.
Outline the digital or operational improvements you want to make through the Fund.
£
(minimum £10,000, up to £35,000)
£
(projects must be completed by 31st March 2027)

Section 2: Strategic Fit

Explain how your proposed improvements support the aims of the Fund and strengthen your business.

Prompts:

  • What problem or opportunity are you addressing?
  • How will digital or operational improvements help your business?
  • How will your project support Surrey’s rural economy or rural supply chains?
  • Will it benefit other rural businesses or communities?
Prompts:
  • What problem or opportunity are you addressing?
  • How will digital or operational improvements help your business?
  • How will your project support Surrey’s rural economy or rural supply chains?
  • Will it benefit other rural businesses or communities?

Section 3: Expected Benefits

Part 1: Outputs / Outcomes
Forecast the measurable improvements your project will deliver.

Increased revenue
Increase in revenue linked to project
£
£
Cost savings
Reduction in production/running costs
£
£
Job created
New part or full time job role created as result of project
Job safeguarded
Job which would/may have gone which was kept secure
Staff upskilled
Staff which learned new skills
Productivity
Increased yield or labour hours
£
£
Sustainability
Reduction in water, fertiliser, feed, chemicals or energy use. Increased use of solar or other green energy/technology
£
£
Part 2: Summary of Benefits (Soft/other benefits)

Prompts:
  • Community impact
  • Supply chain improvements
  • Employee wellbeing
  • Environmental or sustainability gains
  • Customer or visitor experience
  • Business resilience and future growth

Section 4: Expenditure & payment schedule

You will find guidance on relevant information in the Handbook.
Please note you cannot start your project until it has been approved. You will need to submit invoices and proof of payment to demonstrate project completion.
Prompts:
  • Main costs (equipment, software, consultancy, training).
  • When each cost will be paid.
  • Any milestones linked to payments.

Section 5: Need for funding & viability

Prompts:
  • Why now?
  • Why can’t you fully fund this yourself?
  • What happens if the grant isn’t awarded?
  • Who will lead the project and what experience do they bring?
  • Funding sources (if project over £35,000)

    Section 6: Deliverability

    Prompts:
    • Timeline and milestones/Key performance Indicators (KPIs).
    • Dependencies and readiness (permissions, procurement).
    • Key risks and mitigation.
    • How progress and success will be monitored.

    Section 7: Supporting information

    Please attach:
    • Supplier quotes (two quotes per grant funded item)
    • Recent business full accounts (three years of full accounts)

    Maximum file size: 134.22MB

    Section 8: Business support

    If you are successful, as part of onboarding on the programme we will conduct an onsite visit (end of August/early September), including a technology and business workshop with a business advisor including technology adoption assessment and delivery of business diagnostic and action plan.

    You are expected to attend short monthly monitoring online meetings.

    The programme also offers a series of in person and online courses. You will be expected to attend at least 70% of these sessions.

     

    Please tick the business topic of support where support would most benefit you.

    Section 9: Declaration

    Business compliance
    Participation