Farmers and growers across Surrey can apply for grants of up to £35,000 plus expert support to innovate their offer as part of a £500,000 package to boost the rural economy.

The Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator is a Surrey County Council initiative designed to help eligible businesses drive growth, become more profitable and improve efficiency.

It offers 100% direct funding of between £10,000 and £35,000.

The grant – which requires no match funding – will support projects designed to modernise operations, improve productivity, diversify and boost long-term resilience.

Participants will also receive expert support to improve their wider business, including specialist consultancy, courses and peer-to-peer learning.

The six-month programme is open to small and medium enterprises in farming, horticulture (including vineyards and hop growers), forestry, beekeeping and equine businesses. It is part-funded by UK Shared Prosperity Funding.

Applications are now being invited until 16 August, 2026. To apply and see full details – including eligibility – visit the Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator page on the Business Surrey website.

Matt Furniss, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth, said: “Surrey’s rural economy contributes a huge amount to our communities and wider economy. But the feedback from farmers and growers is that a lack of funding, time and support is holding them back from adopting the technology that could transform how they work.

“The Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator will give ambitious eligible businesses the tools they need to modernise, diversify and grow. Over time, this will create new jobs and contribute to the ongoing vitality of our villages and towns.

“I encourage anyone who is eligible to apply – and if it proves to be a success, we hope it will provide a model we can build on in the future.”

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Surrey’s economy. According to a recent University of Surrey report, there are about 500 farms in the county, contributing around £502 million a year to the local economy. This accounts for 14% of national farming income.

Surrey County Council has provided a range of support to rural business in recent years.

Fourth generation farmer Alec Clouting, of Ivelle Farm in Cranleigh, is one of several rural businesses to benefit from support and funding through a different route – the Surrey Economic Growth Fund – which helped him to set up a 24/7 meat vending machine at the farm.

He said: “I’m very grateful for the opportunity the Economic Growth Fund has provided me with. And doubled up with the support from the team at Business Surrey, it’s really helped get the project off the ground and build a vision for the future.

“Farming is a very difficult business to navigate with many layers of complexity. And with the recent added pressures of the farm inheritance tax, it’s becoming harder to make small family farms like ours financially viable.

“Many futures have been thrown into uncertainty. So having a futureproof way of selling my produce as profitably as I can will give me the best chance I could wish for!”

To apply and find out more, visit the Surrey Farming Innovation Accelerator page on the Business Surrey website.