What business support is available for small businesses in Surrey?

Start with Business Surrey(opens in a new tab). It is the publicly funded business support service for the county, covering start-up advice, growth, marketing, skills and signposting to specialist help. There is no membership fee, so there is little reason not to use it before paying for anything else.

Funding and grant information for Surrey organisations is published by Business Surrey at funding and grants(opens in a new tab). Grants are usually competitive, tied to a specific purpose such as equipment, technology, energy or skills, and often require match funding.

Before applying, it is worth checking whether your organisation is actually ready. Our free funding readiness checklist walks through the documents, figures and evidence most applications ask for.

Surrey Chambers of Commerce(opens in a new tab) offers a county-wide network across every sector and size of organisation, with events, training and representation. It suits organisations whose customers and suppliers sit well beyond the Surrey Hills.

For a comparison of the main options, see our guide to business networking in Surrey.

The Federation of Small Businesses(opens in a new tab) provides national membership support: legal and HR helplines, insurance, tax investigation cover and lobbying on behalf of small businesses. It is support at a national level rather than local relationships.

Sometimes the answer is not a programme but a person who has done the work before. The Surrey Hills member directory(opens in a new tab) lists organisations across the area, including specialists in:

• Finance
• Accountancy
• HR
• Legal services
• Marketing
• Websites and SEO
• Sustainability
• Mentoring
• Business strategy
• Training

Surrey Hills Enterprises Power Hours allow members to book focused one-to-one support with other members who have specialist expertise. Instead of general advice, you get an hour on your own situation with someone who works in that field.

Mentoring is another form of member-to-member business support. Phil Howell is a mentor who has supported a number of Surrey Hills Enterprises members with their businesses, and is a good example of the expertise that already exists within the membership.

Specialist knowledge often comes from other members rather than from a formal programme. 5D Sustainability has provided sustainability expertise within the network, helping organisations understand carbon measurement and practical reduction steps.

Connections also develop through the wider Surrey Hills Enterprises community. Azets and Shooting Star Children’s Hospices are an example of support and connections developing in that way, between organisations that might not otherwise have met.

If you are not sure which of these applies, work in this order. It costs nothing to follow and avoids paying for help you did not need.

1. Write down the single problem you most want solved this quarter.
2. Check whether Business Surrey already covers it for free.
3. If money is the constraint, look at funding and grants and test your readiness.
4. If knowledge is the constraint, find a specialist rather than a programme.
5. If isolation or reach is the constraint, join a network and commit to it.

• Where should I start when looking for business funding?
• What grants are available for small organisations in Surrey?
• What makes a small organisation ready for a grant application?
• Can Surrey Hills Enterprises help me get funding?
• Where can I get free carbon footprint support in Surrey?
• What do members receive?