Tag: grants

Renée’s round-up of grants and funding – February

Published 11 February 2026

Funding and grants

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.

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:

  • Tailored support
  • In-person business engagement
  • Free practical workshops
  • Business toolkits and resources

Last Workshop: 8 April 2026
Find out more: Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme

Made Smarter South East

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.

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

Stelios Awards for Young Entrepreneurs 2026

 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. 

Closing date: 5pm GMT 23 February 2026
Find out more: Young Entrepreneurs UK – Stelios.foundation

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.

Closing date: 25 February 2026
Find out more: Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.

Amazon Innovation Accelerator

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.

Closing date: Dartford Cohort starts 6 March – other cohorts around the country are starting later Find out more: Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.

Fast Forward 15 Programme

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.

Closing date: Early March 2026
Find out more: Home – Fast Forward 15

eBay Circular Fashion Fund

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.

Closing date: 8 March 2026
Find out more: eBay x Circular Fashion Fund | eBay.com

Armourers & Brasiers Venture Prize

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.

Closing date: 15 March 2026
Find out more: Venture Prize | Armourers’ Hall

Eureka Eurostars

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 project duration is 36 months or less.

Start date: 19 March 2026 @ 14:00 CET
Find out more: Eurostars call for projects – March 2026 – Eureka Network

Tech Nation Next Wave

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.

Start date: 22 March 2026
Find out more: NextWave | Tech Nation

The Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme

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.

Start date: 26 March 2026
Find out more: Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.

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.

Closing date: 31 March 2026

Find out more: ttps://lets-crack-on.com

2026 Diamond Education Grant

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.

Closing date: 15 April 2026
Find out more: Diamond Education Grant | SIGBI

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

Closing date: April 2026
Find out more: UK | Goldman Sachs

Business Boost Grants – Elmbridge

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.

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

Business Support Grants – Reigate & Banstead

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.

Closing date: applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: Business Support Grants | Business Support Grants | Reigate and Banstead

Help to Grow: Management Course

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.

Closing date: Courses start at different times but applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: About the Help to Grow: Management Course | Small Business Charter

Greener Homes Alliance Development Loans 

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 

Find out more: Greener Homes Alliance | Octopus Capital 

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 

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: March 2026 

Find out more: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL 

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). 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 

All chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV authorised installer. 

Closing Date: 31st March 2026 

Find out more: Before you start

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.

Closing date: 31 March 2028 (23:59)

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

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.

Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on funding, business news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.

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 launching in 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.

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.

Closing date: 28 January 2026 (16:59:59)
Find out more: Dell Work Reimagined |Smarter devices. Safer data. Less admin.

Tandridge Business Support Grant

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.
  • Able to complete the project by 31 March 2026.

Closing date: Saturday 31 January 2026 (or sooner if funds run out).
Find out more: Business Support Grant (apply by 31 January 2026)

Innovate UK – Women in Innovation Awards

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.

Total projects costs will be 100% funded.

Closing date: 4 February 2026 (11:00)
Find out more: Competition overview – Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 – Innovation Funding Service

EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition

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

Closing date: 8 February 2026
Find out more: Ready to Pitch? Applications for the 2026 EU-Startups Summit Pitch Competition are now open! | EU-Startups

Stelios Awards for Young Entrepreneurs 2026

 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. 

Closing date: 5pm GMT 23 February 2026
Find out more: Young Entrepreneurs UK – Stelios.foundation

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.

Closing date: 25 February 2026
Find out more: Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.

The Small & Mighty Enterprise Programme

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.

Start date: 26 March 2026
Find out more: Small Business Britain | Champion. Inspire. Accelerate.

2026 Diamond Education Grant

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.

Closing date: 15 April 2026
Find out more: Diamond Education Grant | SIGBI

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

Closing date: April 2026
Find out more: UK | Goldman Sachs

Business Boost Grants – Elmbridge

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.

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

Business Support Grants – Reigate & Banstead

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.

Closing date: applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: Business Support Grants | Business Support Grants | Reigate and Banstead

Help to Grow: Management Course

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.

Closing date: Courses start at different times but applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: About the Help to Grow: Management Course | Small Business Charter

Greener Homes Alliance Development Loans 

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 

Find out more: Greener Homes Alliance | Octopus Capital 

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 

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: March 2026 

Find out more: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL 

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). 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 

All chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV authorised installer. 

Closing Date: 31st March 2026 

Find out more: Before you start

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.

Closing date: 31 March 2028 (23:59)

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

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.

Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on funding, business news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.

Renée’s round-up of grants and funding – December

Published 5 December 2025

Funding and grants

As we head into the festive season, it’s the perfect time to start planning for 2026. There are plenty of new grants and challenges launching, so take a look at our latest grants and funding round-up to ensure you don’t miss out. Things move quickly, so check back each month for updates on new programmes and competitions.
Good luck, and let me know how you get on!

Renée

National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies Competition

This competition is operated by Innovate UK (IUK) and supports projects that accelerate the translation of advanced materials innovations into industrial adoption. Projects must align with one of six high growth themes identified in the National Materials Innovation Strategy, or with the strategic opportunity theme of metamaterials and metasurfaces.

Eligible focus areas include net zero energy solutions, future healthcare, structural innovations, advanced surface technologies and materials durability, next generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors, and consumer products, packaging and specialist polymers. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed work will enable faster progression of materials innovation toward industrial application.

The competition will fund feasibility projects with a total budget of up to £2 million. Eligible projects can request grant funding between £50,000 and £100,000.

Closing date: 17 December 2025 (11:00)
Apply here: Competition overview – National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies – Innovation Funding Service

World of Opportunity – SME Exporter Grants Programme

Heathrow is calling for SMEs in every corner of the UK to come forward and share their exporting ambitions. The UK’s hub airport is relaunching its World of Opportunity Programme, which helps UK exporters to sell their goods and services around the world, for 2025-2026.

The Programme is designed to support the UK’s SMEs in boosting their export potential, with previous grants being used for trade missions, research, and training to further exporting ambitions. This programme will provide £2,000 grants to 12 SME businesses across the UK, with one grant awarded to a business from each region and nation.

Closing Date: 31 December
Find out more: World of opportunity | Heathrow

UNltd – Awards for Social Entrepreneurs

The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.

The following levels of funding are available:

  • Starting Up – funding of up to £8,000
  • Scaling Up – funding of up to £18,000 for a social enterprise that has been operating for between one to four years.

In addition to funding, award recipients will be assigned to one of UnLtd’s dedicated programmes to provide support aligned with the needs of their social venture for up to one year.

Closing date: 31 December
Find out more: Awards | UnLtd

Enterprise Nation’s Finance Beyond Borders

Finance Beyond Borders is a free learning programme offering funding and business support to small businesses engaged in, or planning, international trade.

The initiative provides practical guidance and tools to help businesses simplify cross-border payments, manage multi-currency accounts, and strengthen their financial operations. The programme aims to help founders understand how to expand internationally while managing costs, streamline financial management, and make informed decisions.

Through the programme, two grants of £1,000 each are available, alongside a mentoring session and live, interactive webinars. In addition, participants can benefit from an exclusive offer from Airwallex, a financial platform designed to support cross-border transactions, multi-currency management and cost efficiency.

Closing date: 31 December 2025 (16:59)
Find out more: Airwallex Finance Beyond Borders | Scale your business stronger

TechX Clean Energy Accelerator

TechX Clean Energy Accelerator is provided by the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC). The funding is intended to help innovative clean energy start-ups develop their technologies and grow their business.

Applications will be accepted from companies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) three to six, specialising in the following focus areas:

  • CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage)
  • Renewables and grid
  • Hydrogen and alternative fuels
  • Industrial decarbonisation.

Applicants must be developing a novel clean energy technology which is fully owned by the start-up. Up to £50,000 in grant funding is available for selected start-ups.

Closing date: 5 January 2025 (23:59)
Find out more: TechX Clean Energy Accelerator

Green Growth Awards

Small Business Britain, in partnership with BT, is proud to launch the Green Growth Awards. This is a celebration of 100 inspiring UK small businesses that are successfully using sustainability to drive business growth.

From cutting waste and saving energy, to rethinking supply chains and attracting new customers, these businesses are showing that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business too!

Successful businesses will be invited to an awards event in March 2026, hosted by BT. At the event two standout firms will each receive a Green Growth Award. This is a £5,000 grant to help them scale their sustainability goals.

Closing date: 9 January 2026
Find out more: Small Business Britain | Green Growth Awards

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.

Closing date: 28 January 2026 (16:59:59)
Find out more: Dell Work Reimagined |Smarter devices. Safer data. Less admin.

Innovate UK – Women in Innovation Awards

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.

Total projects costs will be 100% funded.

Closing date: 4 February 2026 (11:00)
Find out more: Competition overview – Women in Innovation Awards 2025/26 – Innovation Funding Service

Business Boost Grants – Elmbridge

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.
Find out more: Support for businesses | Elmbridge Borough Council

Business Support Grants – Reigate & Banstead

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.

Closing date: applications can be made at any time.
Find out more: Business Support Grants | Business Support Grants | Reigate and Banstead

Greener Homes Alliance Development Loans 

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 

Find out more: Greener Homes Alliance | Octopus Capital 

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 

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: March 2026 

Find out more: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL 

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). 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 

All chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV authorised installer. 

Closing Date: 31st March 2026 

Find out more: Before you start

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.

Closing date: 31 March 2028 (23:59)

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

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.

Sign up to our newsletter for regular updates on funding, business news, events and support for all Surrey businesses.

Call now open for CoSTAR National Lab’s “Advanced Production Technology” call

Published 28 November 2025

Funding and grants

The CoSTAR National Lab is looking for innovative approaches to advanced production that improve efficiency and enhance workflows—helping create impactful, audience-facing experiences.

If you’re a UK-based creative or technology-focused SME developing technical innovations for production pipelines, this could be the perfect opportunity for you. Potential applications include:

  • Film and TV development
  • Animation and visual effects
  • Games and digital content creation
  • Live performance production
  • Emerging media and new technologies

What’s on offer?

This R&D programme provides a generous support package, including:

  • Access to studio and AI compute facilities
  • World-class research expertise
  • Cash funding
  • Travel and residency stipend (subject to eligibility)

A total of £140,000 in cash funding is available to support 3–5 projects, with up to £40,000 per project.

What are they looking for?

The Lab is keen to explore new workflows and production tools, including (but not limited to) innovations in:

  • 2D and 3D capture or asset production
  • Motion capture or motion extraction techniques
  • AI-powered production pipelines
  • Democratised production*
  • Converged production*

Further details are available in the call brief.
Application deadline: Monday 15 December 2025, 12:00 GMT
Full details and application: https://bit.ly/CSNL_Call2_APT

For information on other sources of funding and grants, read our regular Funding Roundup or sign up for our newsletter.

Costar national lab - advanced production call - funding for creative industries

Renée’s round-up of grants and funding – November

Published 17 November 2025

Funding and grants

Here’s a round up of business grants that have come through my inbox this month, it’s fast moving so check back here every month for updates on what programmes have been released. 

As we reach the end of the year, grants and competitions are gearing up for 2026 so look through to the end to make sure you’ve checked all opportunities.

Good Luck and let me know how you get on!

Renée

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

Hello Tomorrow aims to empower deeptech start-up entrepreneurs from around the world. The project must be in its early stages of development or about to be spun-out from academic labs as long as there is strong proof-of-concept.

It should be based on a new technology, scientific discovery or a complex engineering process. The project may solve an industrial, societal or environmental unmet need or create a new market. There should be a team of at least two people working on the project.

The programme will provide a platform for research and projects, providing equity-free prize money as well as other funding opportunities, global visibility and connections with key players in the deeptech innovation network and other fellow entrepreneurs.

Applicants should be able to fit in at least one of the following ten Global Challenge tracks:

  • Aerospace
  • Advanced Computing & Cyber Security
  • Automotive, Maritime, Rail Transportation and Operations
  • Climate Teach and Environmental Protection
  • Digital Health & Medical Devices
  • Energy
  • Food & Agriculture
  • Industrial AI and Robotics
  • Industrial Biotech and New Materials
  • Medical Biotech and Pharmaceuticals
  • Resource Efficiency and Circular Systems
  • Semiconductors and Advanced Electronics
  • Sustainable Construction & Infrastructure
  • AI Horizons
  • Emerging Pioneers

Closing date: 30 November 2025
Apply here: Hello Tomorrow Challenge

The Pitch

Powered by SeedLegals, the UK and Ireland’s largest pitching competition is back and bigger than ever, taking place in Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and London.

There is a grand prize of £25k for the winner and 2 weeks of exclusive mentoring for all 60 finalists to get pitch-ready before the events.

Closing date: 1 December 2025
Apply here: Enter The Pitch 2026

Paul Hamlyn Foundation – Ideas and Pioneers Fund

The Ideas and Pioneers Fund provides grants to individuals, groups and small organisations who are focused on exploring an innovative new idea or approach for change. Their ideas should be ‘bold and brave,’ have a charitable purpose and be:

  • Challenging injustice – Ideas should show a clear vision to help build a better society and contribute to shifting power and challenging and transforming the root causes of systemic oppression. There is interest in ideas working at a local level as those working at a national level.
  • Emerging – The funding is for ideas that are still forming. Applicants need to have a clear sense of the learning and experimenting they need to do to progress their idea.
  • Long-term potential – ideas with a long-term impact

The funding can support a number of things, including but not limited to research to develop the idea, gathering evidence for a campaign, bringing people or communities together to build power, and paying the applicant or others to deliver these activities.

Closing date: 2 December 2025 (13:00)
Apply here: Ideas and Pioneers Fund | Paul Hamlyn Foundation

2026 Ashden Awards

The initiative recognises work that reduces emissions and delivers environmental, social and economic benefits by organisations delivering practical responses to climate and energy challenges. The awards aim to highlight approaches that strengthen resilience, support inclusive growth and reduce pollution, while encouraging policy and investment support for renewable energy.

Awards will focus on projects improving access to clean energy or protecting and restoring nature. Examples of eligible activities include local renewable energy systems, forest conservation models and clean cooking solutions. Winners will receive:

  • Up to £40,000 in grant funding
  • Tailored communications and organisational support
  • Global media exposure and storytelling support
  • Connections to funders, investors, and policymakers.
  • The opportunity to participate in Ashden’s wider programmes and alumni network

Closing date: 8 December 2025 (23:59)
Apply here: https://ashden.org/awards/

Made Smarter Innovation: SME resource and energy efficiency – feasibility studies

The aim of this competition is to explore new industrial digital technologies for manufacturers. These IDTs will improve the sustainability, resilience and productivity of micro, small or medium-sized enterprise manufacturers by improving energy or resource efficiency.

Projects must focus on the innovation of digital solutions relating to one or more energy or resource efficiencies, and must be affordable, easy to use and scalable across SMEs.
This competition is split into two strands: one focused on Feasibility Studies and one focused on Industrial Research projects.

This competition is jointly operated by Innovate UK (IUK) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

Closing date: 10 December 2025 (11:00)
Apply here: Competition overview – MSI: SME resource and energy efficiency – feasibility studies – Innovation Funding Service

Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry-led R&D Projects Competitions

Innovate UK is providing funding through the Biomedical Catalyst programme to support industry led research and development projects addressing health and healthcare challenges. The competition is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises developing innovative solutions that improve patient outcomes or transform healthcare delivery.

Projects may focus on areas such as disease prevention, early diagnosis, tailored treatments, healthcare transformation, digital health technologies and consumer focused self-care. Eligible sectors include advanced therapies, biosciences, preclinical tools, therapeutics, diagnostics, medical technologies, precision medicine, digital health and healthy ageing, among others.

Applicants must demonstrate commercial and technical feasibility, with proposals showing how the project will enhance the competitiveness and productivity of at least one UK SME partner. The competition has two strands:

  • Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D small projects – up to £500,000 grant funding
  • Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D large projects – over £500,000 grant funding.

Closing Date: 10 December 2025 (11:00)
Apply here: Competition overview – Biomedical Catalyst 2025: Industry led R&D small projects – Innovation Funding Service

National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies Competition

This competition is operated by Innovate UK (IUK) and supports projects that accelerate the translation of advanced materials innovations into industrial adoption. Projects must align with one of six high growth themes identified in the National Materials Innovation Strategy, or with the strategic opportunity theme of metamaterials and metasurfaces.

Eligible focus areas include net zero energy solutions, future healthcare, structural innovations, advanced surface technologies and materials durability, next generation electronics, telecommunications and sensors, and consumer products, packaging and specialist polymers. Applicants must demonstrate how their proposed work will enable faster progression of materials innovation toward industrial application.

The competition will fund feasibility projects with a total budget of up to £2 million. Eligible projects can request grant funding between £50,000 and £100,000.

Closing date: 17 December 2025 (11:00)
Apply here: Competition overview – National Materials Innovation Programme: Feasibility Studies – Innovation Funding Service

World of Opportunity – SME Exporter Grants Programme

Heathrow is calling for SMEs in every corner of the UK to come forward and share their exporting ambitions. The UK’s hub airport is relaunching its World of Opportunity Programme, which helps UK exporters to sell their goods and services around the world, for 2025-2026.

The Programme is designed to support the UK’s SMEs in boosting their export potential, with previous grants being used for trade missions, research, and training to further exporting ambitions. This programme will provide £2,000 grants to 12 SME businesses across the UK, with one grant awarded to a business from each region and nation.

Closing Date: 31 December
Apply here: World of opportunity | Heathrow

UNltd – Awards for Social Entrepreneurs

The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.

The following levels of funding are available:

  • Starting Up – funding of up to £8,000
  • Scaling Up – funding of up to £18,000 for a social enterprise that has been operating for between one to four years.

In addition to funding, award recipients will be assigned to one of UnLtd’s dedicated programmes to provide support aligned with the needs of their social venture for up to one year.

Closing date: 31 December
Apply here: Awards | UnLtd

Enterprise Nation’s Finance Beyond Borders

Finance Beyond Borders is a free learning programme offering funding and business support to small businesses engaged in, or planning, international trade.

The initiative provides practical guidance and tools to help businesses simplify cross-border payments, manage multi-currency accounts, and strengthen their financial operations. The programme aims to help founders understand how to expand internationally while managing costs, streamline financial management, and make informed decisions.

Through the programme, two grants of £1,000 each are available, alongside a mentoring session and live, interactive webinars. In addition, participants can benefit from an exclusive offer from Airwallex, a financial platform designed to support cross-border transactions, multi-currency management and cost efficiency.

Closing date: 31 December 2025 (16:59)
Apply here: Airwallex Finance Beyond Borders | Scale your business stronger

TechX Clean Energy Accelerator

TechX Clean Energy Accelerator is provided by the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC). The funding is intended to help innovative clean energy start-ups develop their technologies and grow their business.

Applications will be accepted from companies at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) three to six, specialising in the following focus areas:

  • CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage)
  • Renewables and grid
  • Hydrogen and alternative fuels
  • Industrial decarbonisation.

Applicants must be developing a novel clean energy technology which is fully owned by the start-up. Up to £50,000 in grant funding is available for selected start-ups.

Closing date: 5 January 2025 (23:59)
Apply here: TechX Clean Energy Accelerator

Green Growth Awards

Small Business Britain, in partnership with BT, is proud to launch the Green Growth Awards. This is a celebration of 100 inspiring UK small businesses that are successfully using sustainability to drive business growth.

From cutting waste and saving energy, to rethinking supply chains and attracting new customers, these businesses are showing that sustainability isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business too!

Successful businesses will be invited to an awards event in March 2026, hosted by BT. At the event two standout firms will each receive a Green Growth Award. This is a £5,000 grant to help them scale their sustainability goals.

Closing date: 9 January 2026
Apply here: Small Business Britain | Green Growth Awards

Business Boost Grants – Elmbridge

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.
Apply here: Support for businesses | Elmbridge Borough Council

Business Support Grants – Reigate & Banstead

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.

Closing date: applications can be made at any time.
Apply here: Business Support Grants | Business Support Grants | Reigate and Banstead

Greener Homes Alliance Development Loans 

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 

Apply here: Greener Homes Alliance | Octopus Capital 

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 

Apply here: Co-op Loan Fund – Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops 

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: March 2026 

Apply here: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL 

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). 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 

All chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV authorised installer. 

Closing Date: 31st March 2026 

Apply here: Before you start – 

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.

Closing date: 31 March 2028 (23:59)

Apply here: Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot – GOV.UK

Further business support in Surrey

If you can’t see something in this month’s roundup 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.

Renée’s round-up of grants and funding – October

Published 17 October 2025

Funding and grants

Here’s a round up of grants that have come through my inbox this month, it’s fast moving so check back here every month for updates on what programmes have been released. 

We’re delighted to release details of those that were successful in Round 1 of the Surrey Economic Growth Fund and am pleased to include details of Round 2 which focuses on Business Growth Grants.  Deadline is 16 November.

Good Luck and let me know how you get on!

Renée

Realise the Remarkable

Enterprise Nation and VistaPrint are teaming up once again to champion the UK’s small business community. This year, six inspiring independent retail businesses will each receive a £5,000 grant, plus expert design support and marketing tools to help them grow with confidence.

Whether you’re expanding, innovating or simply preparing for the future, this is your chance to take the next bold step.

Closing date: 30 October 2025, 11.59

Apply here: Realising the Remarkable | Win a grant for your high-street business | Enterprise Nation

Global Start Up Energy Transition Award 

The Start Up Energy Transition Award is an international competition for start-ups and young companies worldwide that are working on ideas affecting global energy transition and climate change.   

There are five categories of the award, all with the aim of clean energy promotion. The categories are: 

  • Clean Energy and Storage 
  • Mobility and Transportation 
  • Industry 
  • Buildings and Construction 
  • Quality Energy Access and SDG-7 

The winner of each category will receive a prize of up to €10,000  There is also a €5,000 prize for non-winning SGD-7 Finalists. 

Closing date: 31 October  

Apply here: Start Up Energy Transition Award – All Years Recaps 

Farming Innovation Programme: Small R&D Partnership Projects 

This funding is part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme which is delivered in partnership with Innovate UK, investing up to £7.8 million in innovation projects. 

The aim of this competition is to: 

  • Develop solutions with the potential to improve overall productivity, sustainability, resilience and move existing agricultural sectors to net zero 
  • Ensure solutions have positive outputs for farmers, growers or foresters in commercially relevant situations 
  • Develop new agricultural solutions by collaboration through engagement with end users and the UK research community in the innovation process 
  • Accelerate adoption by ensuring knowledge exchange with the wider sector and other stakeholders 

Your proposal must be able to demonstrate how the project will benefit farmers, growers or foresters in England.  Your project’s total eligible costs must be between £1 million and £3 million. 

Closing date: 5 November at 11am 

Apply here: Your application – UKRI

Future Leaders Fellowships 

Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) support talented people in universities, businesses, and other research and innovation environments.  

They also allow universities, research institutes, independent research organisations and businesses to develop their most talented early career researchers and innovators or to attract new people to their organisations. 

The aim of this competition is to: 

  • Support ambitious research and innovation to tackle difficult and novel challenges. 
  • Support excellence in innovation, across interdisciplinary boundaries and sectors. 
  • Develop, retain, and attract the next wave of research and innovation leaders. 

Working with a host organisation a Future Leaders Fellow will receive at least four years of funding to pursue an ambitious programme of innovation.  

Closing date: 5 November at 11am. 

More information can be accessed at the IUK website. 

Global Aurora Tech Award to Support Women Entrepreneurs in IT 

Applications are open for the 2025 Aurora Tech Award, which provides financial prizes to women-led startups in the information technology sector. The award aims to recognise and support women entrepreneurs by offering cash prizes to help advance their businesses. 

Three prizes are available in this round. The first prize is $50,000, the second is $20,000 and the third is $15,000. 

The award is open to startups founded or co-founded and led by a woman from any country.  The funding can be used to support business development and growth activities, enabling recipients to progress their product or service in the market. The scheme is open to companies working in any area of information technology. 

Closing date: 12 November

Apply here: Aurora Tech Award — A worldwide prize for women founders of IT and Tech startups 

Active Travel Grant Scheme

Boost productivity, cut congestion, and relieve workplace parking pressure by applying for a Smarter Travel to Work grant from Active Surrey.  The grant scheme supports employers fulfil their travel plans and enable more staff to travel to work actively, on foot, by bicycle, and on public transport.

Maybe you want to improve pedestrian access within your site, organise events to raise awareness of public transport options or improve cycling facilities?

If you are keen to help your staff travel to work more healthily, actively and sustainably, the Smarter Travel to Work grant scheme offers grants of up to £5,000.

Active Surrey’s Smarter Travel to Work toolkits support employers to create high-quality travel plans in clearly explained steps with templates and tools to help. To be eligible for a grant, you must have used the toolkit to develop a workplace travel plan or have followed a similar process. 

Closing Date: 14 November

Apply here: Active Travel Grant Scheme

Surrey Economic Growth Fund – Business Growth Grant Round 2

Grants to support growth and job creation in local businesses, including new equipment, product development and training.

Open to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Surrey.

Match-funding of between £10,000 and £50,000, covering 50% of project costs.

Closing date: 16 November

Apply here: Economic Growth Fund – Business Surrey

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

Hello Tomorrow aims to empower deeptech start-up entrepreneurs from around the world. The project must be in its early stages of development or about to be spun-out from academic labs as long as they have a strong proof-of-concept.

The project should be based on a new technology, scientific discovery or a complex engineering process. The project may solve an industrial, societal or environmental unmet need or create a new market. Teams of at least two working should be working on the project.

The programme will provide a platform for research and projects, providing equity-free prize money as well as other funding opportunities, global visibility and connections with key players in the deeptech innovation network and other fellow entrepreneurs.

Applicants should be able to fit in at least one of the following ten Global Challenge tracks:

  • Aerospace
  • Advanced Computing & Cyber Security
  • Automotive, Maritime, Rail Transportation and Operations
  • Climate Teach and Environmental Protection
  • Digital Health & Medical Devices
  • Energy
  • Food & Agriculture
  • Industrial AI and Robotics
  • Industrial Biotech and New Materials
  • Medical Biotech and Pharmaceuticals
  • Resource Efficiency and Circular Systems
  • Semiconductors and Advanced Electronics
  • Sustainable Construction & Infrastructure
  • AI Horizons
  • Emerging Pioneers

Closing date: 30 November 2025
Apply here: Hello Tomorrow Challenge

World of Opportunity – SME Exporter Grants Programme

Heathrow is calling for SMEs in every corner of the UK to come forward and share their exporting ambitions. The UK’s hub airport is relaunching its World of Opportunity Programme, which helps UK exporters to sell their goods and services around the world, for 2025-2026.

The Programme is designed to support the UK’s SMEs in boosting their export potential, with previous grants being used for trade missions, research, and training to further exporting ambitions. This programme will provide £2,000 grants to 12 SME businesses across the UK, with one grant awarded to a business from each region and nation.

Closing Date: 31 December
Apply here: World of opportunity | Heathrow

UNltd – Awards for Social Entrepreneurs

The funding is intended to support social entrepreneurs by helping them nurture their social ventures and grow their impact.

The following levels of funding are available:

  • Starting Up – funding of up to £8,000
  • Scaling Up – funding of up to £18,000 for a social enterprise that has been operating for between one and four years.

Together with funding, award recipients will be assigned to one of UnLtd’s dedicated programmes to provide support aligned with the needs of their social venture for up to one year.

Closing date: 31 December
Apply here: Awards | UnLtd

RTO Catapult Grant Scheme – Innovate UK 

Launched in April this is an easy to access, easy to administer grant from Innovate UK for £15,000.  Apply quickly as the pot ran out by September last year when launched at a similar time.  Could be used for product testing, development work or if you need technical expertise to facilitate feasibility. 

Closing date: when the fund has all been allocated 

Apply here: Exploit innovation – Innovate UK Business Growth

The UK Games Fund Content Fund 

The fund offers financial support to UK-based independent studios developing commercial games-for-entertainment. Backed by the UK Government, the initiative aims to help companies scale up, attract investment and generate employment in the creative industries. 

Grants will range from £50,000 to £150,000.  The funding can be used to cover staff and contractor costs directly involved in hands-on development activity. 

The scheme targets established games studios operating in the UK.  Applicants must be able to demonstrate how the funding would provide clearly support their business growth plans and facilitate further investment. 

Closing date: expressions of interest can be made at any time 

Apply here: Home – Content Fund 

Greener Homes Alliance Development Loans 

Homes England and Octopus Real Estate have launched the second phase of the Greener Homes Alliance, providing 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 meeting environmental and social criteria.  Eligible applicants include SME housebuilders and developers operating in England. 

Closing date: Applications can be made at any time 

Apply here: Greener Homes Alliance | Octopus Capital 

Co-operative Enterprise Loans 

Co-operative and Community Finance is offering loans of between £10,000 and £85,000 for new or existing co-operatives across the UK 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 

Apply here: Co-op Loan Fund – Unique lending: to co-ops, from co-ops 

Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) Grants 

The Farming in Protected Landscapes (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: March 2026 

Apply here: Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes FiPL 

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), capped at a maximum of: 

  • £350 per socket 
  • 40 sockets across all sites per applicant – for instance, if you want to install them at 40 sites, you will have 1 socket available per site 

All chargepoints must be installed by an OZEV authorised installer. 

Closing Date: 31st March 2026 

Apply here: Before you start – 

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.

Closing date: 31 March 2028 (23:59

Apply here: Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund Pilot – GOV.UK

Further business support in Surrey

If you can’t see something in this month’s roundup 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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Headshot of Renee Canter, of Business Surrey. She is stood outside in a garden.