Make this summer count: Free business resources to help your surrey business grow

Published 12 August 2026

Advice and support

Summer can be a great time to take a step back from the day-to-day demands of running your business and focus on the bigger picture. While clients, suppliers and customers may be taking holidays, it can create valuable breathing space to review what’s working, identify new opportunities and put plans in place for the busy months ahead.

Business Surrey has a range of fully funded resources to help Surrey SMEs build confidence, develop new skills and strengthen key areas of their business. From sales and marketing to leadership, recruitment and sustainability, our practical toolkits and expert-led content are available whenever it suits you.

Why not block out a couple of hours in your diary over the summer to focus on something you’ve been meaning to tackle? It could be refreshing your social media strategy, creating a marketing plan for the autumn, developing a stronger sales pipeline, or following up on those promising leads that haven’t quite converted yet. A small investment of time now could deliver significant results in the months ahead.

Start with the boost your business guide

If you’re not sure where to begin, our boost your business guide is the perfect starting point. Packed with advice from our expert business advisors, it covers key areas including:

Marketing and promotion
Recruitment and people management
Funding and finance
Business growth planning

The guide is designed to provide easy-to-access, practical tips that you can start implementing straight away.

Find out more by downloading our boost your business guide here.

Strengthen your sales pipeline

If generating consistent sales is a priority, our sales toolkit provides practical guidance to help you develop a stronger, more predictable sales process.

Through expert videos and practical worksheets, you’ll learn how to:

Build an effective sales strategy
Attract more prospects
Improve conversion rates
Create a tailored sales action plan

It’s an ideal resource for businesses looking to accelerate growth in the second half of the year.

Find out more by downloading our sales toolkit here.

Refresh your marketing strategy

Summer is a great time to review whether your marketing activities are delivering the results you need.

Our Marketing toolkit includes videos and worksheets across four self-learning modules to help you:

Clarify your target audience
Strengthen your messaging
Develop a tailored marketing plan
Apply proven marketing techniques

By the end of the programme, you’ll have a bespoke marketing strategy aligned to your business goals.

Find out more by downloading our marketing toolkit here.

Support for high street businesses

If you operate a customer-facing or retail business, our high street growth resources offer practical guidance to help you build resilience and increase performance.

You’ll find support covering:

Marketing and promotion
Customer engagement
Operational efficiency
Business planning

These resources are designed to help you create a tailored action plan that supports your specific growth goals.

Find out more by downloading our high street toolkit here.

Build strong foundations with HR support

Planning to recruit new staff or grow your team?

Our HR Foundations toolkit guides businesses through the essentials of workforce management, including:

Creating effective policies and procedures
Recruitment planning
Performance management
Developing management skills

Whether you’re hiring your first employee or expanding an existing team, this toolkit can help you put the right foundations in place.

Find out more by downloading our HR Foundations toolkit here.

Develop your leadership skills

Strong leadership can be the difference between managing a business and leading one successfully.

Our leadership toolkit consists of a five-part webinar series designed for business owners, managers and professionals. The series explores practical leadership techniques, delegation skills and real-world applications to help you lead with greater confidence and effectiveness.

Find out more by downloading our leadership toolkit here.

Start your net zero journey

Customers, supply chains and procurement frameworks are placing increasing emphasis on sustainability.

Our Net Zero toolkit helps businesses create a practical carbon reduction plan through a series of easy-to-follow videos and worksheets. You’ll develop a tailored roadmap that can help:

Reduce your carbon footprint
Lower operating costs
Improve competitiveness
Support bids and tenders

Find out more by downloading our net zero toolkit here.

Learn at your own pace with on-demand webinars

Not everyone can attend live events, which is why our on-demand webinar library gives you access to a wide range of expert-led business support sessions at a time that suits you.

Explore topics including:

Business growth
Marketing
Finance
Leadership
Sustainability
Sales and customer acquisition

These recordings allow you to build new skills and gain valuable insights whenever it fits into your schedule.

Find out how to access our on-demand library here.

Access key economic and business documents

Our document library is Business Surrey’s central repository for business growth resources.

Highlights include:

Surrey’s Economic Growth Strategy 2025-2035
The Surrey Skills Plan
One Surrey Growth Board outcomes
Surrey Business Leaders’ Forum reports

These documents are particularly valuable for businesses considering grant applications or seeking a deeper understanding of the county’s economic priorities.

Find out how to access our document library here.

Fully funded free support for Surrey SMEs

All resources and events are fully funded for Surrey businesses and delivered by Business Surrey, a Surrey County Council service offering expert advice to help Surrey businesses thrive. More fully funded sessions are coming soon – visit our events page for the latest information, or explore our resources page for details of upcoming Business Surrey events, our range of toolkits and our webinar library. Follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date on the latest news and success stories!

Our experts are on hand to provide tailored advice to help your SME grow and succeed. Get in touch with a member of the team via our business support form.

And make sure you always hear about upcoming events by registering for our regular e-newsletter.

Skills Bootcamps careers – upskilling Surrey

Published 5 March 2025

Skills and workforce, Surrey Success Stories

A passion for change

After nine years in retail, Claudia was driven by a passion to change how excess and unwanted products were managed within her organisation. This led her to enrol in a Sustainability Skills Bootcamp, eager to dive into Life Cycle Assessment and waste management for a more sustainable future.

She saw an Instagram ad from Surrey County Council. This perfectly aligned with her sustainability interests and sparked her decision to enrol.

The Skills Bootcamp journey: learning and thriving

The Skills Bootcamp journey allowed Claudia to juggle full-time work and study with the support of the training providers at Activate Learning.

“The instructors were fantastic, making complex topics accessible and engaging.”

Practical exercises were the star of the show. These enabled real-world application straight back into the workplace. Learning about the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) was incredibly rewarding.

Career transformation and bright prospects

Completing the Skills Bootcamp was a game-changer. Claudia’s new skills and knowledge impressed at interview, leading to a role in a new company with an active approach to sustainability.

A brighter, sustainable future

The Skills Bootcamp has empowered Claudia with the expertise to make a significant impact in her career. She is now equipped to champion sustainable practices in her industry. This case study showcases the incredible potential of practical, targeted education in driving real-world change.

“I highly recommend the Surrey County Council Skills Bootcamp in Sustainability.

This well-structured course provides a great balance of theory and practical application – making it easy to integrate sustainability principles into both personal and professional settings.

The course offers valuable insight into the vast field of sustainability, helping you identify areas you may want to specialise in.

For me, it was a fantastic addition to my skillset, and it played a key role in helping me secure a new job with a company that has sustainability at its core.

This course truly allows you to demonstrate your commitment to this field – it is a great stepping stone for anyone looking to make a real impact!”

Fast-track learning for businesses

We offer Skills Bootcamps in sectors that are crucial to Surrey’s future economy.

Therefore, they can also be used by local businesses to upskill current employees at a discounted rate.

Large employers will need to contribute 30% of the cost. Small or medium employers (SMEs) will contribute 10%.

There is no cost to a business recruiting someone who has recently completed a Skills Bootcamp.

To find out more about the courses on offer, delivered through out training providers, visit the Skills Bootcamps website.

Please note that funding for the current round of courses runs until the end of March 2025. Therefore, some courses may now be unavailable or have reached capacity.

Support for Surrey businesses

Not quite the right fit for your business? Speak to our team of experts who can provide tailored advice to help your business grow and succeed. Get in touch to find out more via our business support form.

You can also register to receive our newsletter, packed with the latest information on events, funding and more, for all Surrey businesses.