Farmers and growers across Surrey can apply for grants of up to £35,000 plus expert support to innovate their offer as part of a £500,000 package to boost the rural economy.
The Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator is a Surrey County Council initiative. It’s designed to help eligible businesses drive growth, become more profitable and improve efficiency.
It offers 100% direct funding of between £10,000 and £35,000.
The grant requires no match funding. It supports projects designed to modernise operations, improve productivity, diversify and boost long-term resilience.
Participants will also receive expert support to improve their wider business, including specialist consultancy, courses and peer-to-peer learning.
The six-month programme is open to small and medium enterprises in farming, horticulture (including vineyards and hop growers), forestry, beekeeping and equine businesses. It is part-funded by UK Shared Prosperity Funding.
Applications are now being invited until 16 August, 2026. To apply and see full details – including eligibility – visit the Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator page.
Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Surrey’s rural economy contributes a huge amount to our communities and wider economy. But the feedback from farmers and growers is that a lack of funding, time and support is holding them back from adopting the technology that could transform how they work.
“The Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator will give ambitious eligible businesses the tools they need to modernise, diversify and grow. Over time, this will create new jobs and contribute to the ongoing vitality of our villages and towns.
“I encourage anyone who is eligible to apply – and if it proves to be a success, we hope it will provide a model we can build on in the future.”
Applying to the Farming Innovation Accelerator
The programme is open to Surrey-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) whose primary activity involves owning, renting or actively managing agricultural or rural land.
Projects must demonstrate how the proposed digital project will deliver measurable improvements. This includes productivity, efficiency, profitability, resilience, sustainability or business growth.
To support your application, we’ve produced:
- Farming Innovation Accelerator guidance handbook – including examples of projects and detailed eligibility
- Farming Innovation Accelerator FAQs
We advise that all prospective applicants read the above documents before submitting a proposal via the Farming Innovation Accelerator application page.
Support for rural businesses
Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Surrey’s economy. According to a recent University of Surrey report, there are about 500 farms in the county. Together, they contribute around £502 million a year to the local economy. This accounts for 14% of national farming income.
Surrey County Council has provided a range of support to rural business in recent years.
Fourth generation farmer Alec Clouting, of Ivelle Farm in Cranleigh, is one of several rural businesses to benefit from support and funding through a different route. The Surrey Economic Growth Fund helped him to set up a 24/7 meat vending machine at the farm.
He said: “I’m very grateful for the opportunity the Economic Growth Fund has provided me with. And doubled up with the support from the team at Business Surrey, it’s really helped get the project off the ground and build a vision for the future.
“Farming is a very difficult business to navigate with many layers of complexity. And with the recent added pressures of the farm inheritance tax, it’s becoming harder to make small family farms like ours financially viable.
“Many futures have been thrown into uncertainty. So having a futureproof way of selling my produce as profitably as I can will give me the best chance I could wish for!”
To apply and find out more, visit the Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator page.
