Business advice, funding and resources

SCC launched the new Surrey Economic Growth Fund. 

There are three areas of focus:

• Business Growth Grants to support companies to scale up and create jobs. Match funding of between £10,000 and £50,000, covering 50% of project costs is available. Applications close May 2025. 
• The Innovation Spaces Fund focuses on physical infrastructure, such as training hubs, collaborative workspaces, and testing facilities. Bids of £50,000 and upwards are welcomed.
• The Future Surrey Fund will support a small number of high-quality innovative proposals that deliver economic impact at scale. It is open to anyone, including, employer representative groups, local authorities, health bodies, research institutions and schools.

More details on the Business Surrey website.

Fully funded apprenticeships for Surrey businesses

Small and medium enterprises in Surrey can now access full funding for apprenticeships through the Apprenticeship Levy Transfer Scheme. Support local talent, fill skills gaps and grow your business.

Funding is on a first come, first served basis. Please visit Business Surrey to apply.

• Business Grant finder: A continuously updated database covering local, national and international sources of funding, including grants, loans and advisory schemes.
• Government Innovation Funding: If you are a UK based business or research organisation, you may be able to compete for government backed funding. Use this service to research and apply for innovation funding.
• DWP offers free support with your recruitment, including; online job listings, advertising and events.
• You can also search for Net Zero funding opportunities through Service Innovate for businesses and researchers.
• Enterprise Nation provide a search hub to offer personalised finance options for startups, small businesses, and sole traders.
• To find out more about Innovation funding, visit www.gov.uk. 

By better understanding your business energy costs and practices, you will be able to reduce both your costs and emissions.

• Ofgem helps on businesses' energy complaints, microbusiness gas or electricity and provides advice on energy efficiency schemes.
• Compare business energy quotes at Uswitch for business.
• The government is helping businesses with financial support for energy bills, financing schemes and tax incentives for energy efficiency investments.

Information is available to help you understand what the UK leaving the EU means for your business:

• The government’s transition checklist provides a personalised list of actions for businesses on the new rules for travel and doing business with Europe.
• Coast to Capital offers post UK exit advice.
• Surrey Chambers of Commerce and Sussex Chamber of Commerce provide international trade advice.
• Government guidance is available to help businesses which bring goods in, or move goods out of the UK, or EU to get the right commodity code, as well as guidance explaining the new tariffs on goods imported into the UK.
• Government guidance sets out the actions businesses, hauliers and passengers need to take on UK borders. Advice is also available for businesses unsure if they need an export licence.

• Since 31 March 2025, businesses must separate recycling. Find out more gov.uk and Surrey Environment Partnership.

• By 2027, all UK analogue landlines will be switched off, impacting how customers contact and pay your business. Stay informed with Ofcom’s FAQs and Openreach’s factsheets to futureproof your business.

• Surrey Climate Commission  an independent body to support and guide towards a carbon neutral future.
• The Carbon Trust helps businesses and the public sector to cut carbon emissions and supports the development of low carbon technologies.
• Surrey County Council's website includes information on where businesses can dispose of and recycle waste.
• Surreys Greener Future Surreys greener future provide support measures in lowering carbon emissions from their buildings and operations and saving money to help reach Net Zero by 2050.
• Action Surrey can help small to medium sized business, reduce energy costs and your carbon footprint. They can also determine if you are eligible for grants or other finance contributions towards the cost of the installing energy efficiency improvements to your property.
• UK Business Climate Hub The UK Business Climate Hub includes a free carbon calculator and a suite of new tools to help businesses measure, track and report on their emissions and save money by using less energy. It offers detailed advice on everything from sourcing products from green suppliers and reducing emissions from freight and logistics to the most cost-effective ways of installing solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging points.

Love Oxted and Surrey Chambers of Commerce also provide the local community and businesses with:

• Tips on reducing their carbon footprint.
• Advice and guidance on becoming more sustainable.

Visit Tandridge's Climate change information for further guidance and support.

• Business Surrey is a Surrey County Council service providing advice and support for businesses, including training to develop your workforce.
• Gatwick Diamond has an excellent business support network and access to key decision makers in local authorities and financial institutions.
• Surrey Chambers of Commerce runs a programme of events for members and non-members, including business networking, training opportunities and speaker breakfasts.
• Federation of Small Business is a membership organisation for small businesses and the self employed offering membership benefits and 24/7 helpline to support issues including legal, HR, compliance, health & safety & tax protection.
• Surrey Police want to hear from local businesses about retail crime to help shape future policing. Share your concerns, feedback and suggestions.

• Surrey County Council’s new Workforce Wellbeing programme offers free support to businesses with 10+ employees. This programme helps create healthier, more engaged teams without adding extra workload. Visit the Workforce Wellbeing web page

• Department for Business and Trade helps businesses operating in export and global markets.

• DWP can provide advice and support for recruiting staff.

• Trade Association Forum provides trade associations with the same support they provide their own members.

• Enterprise Nation helps connects you to the resources and expertise to help small businesses succeed.

Training

• Training events and webinars across Surrey to help your business grow.
• The Retrofit Academy (TRA) has been awarded £1 million of funding from Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to offer retrofit training and qualifications in England, to help upskill workers.
• The Surrey Chambers of Commerce website offers a hub of training opportunities.
• Skills Bootcamps Hampshire County Council offers Skills bootcamps funded training for employees based in Surrey and Hampshire in Digital marketing, cyber security and green retrofit skills.
• Employability hub provides the skills and qualifications to progress into an apprenticeship, job or higher-level training in construction or care sector. For more information, please e-mail the Employability Hub.
• East Surrey College offer a range of courses (funded and part funded) to businesses, residents and staff. They also offer a range of apprenticeships and careers support.
• John Ruskin is a Further Education College in Croydon offering a wide range of Full-time courses.
• Nescot College delivers all levels of apprenticeships across a wide range of industries. It can also help businesses reach local employees with industry-relevant knowledge and practical skills. For more information, please e-mail the Business Centre, or call on 0208 394 8593.

Webinars

• HMRC’s range of free webinars support businesses, helping to make tax matters easier, quicker, and simpler. Webinars cover topics including PAYE, self-employment, VAT, record keeping and other topics. They last about an hour and are live and interactive so questions can be asked by participants.

A Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led and business funded body formed to improve a defined commercial area.

We have two BIDs in Tandridge, Caterham BID known publicly as Caterham Valley For You is based in Caterham Valley and Oxted BID known publicly as LoveOxted is based in Oxted.