Facing the Dragons
Entrepreneur Academy winner announced
 
 
A group of people standing together in a formal room with stained‑glass windows and decorative architectural details, posing for a graduation-style photo. Beneath the image is the text ‘Reigate & Banstead Entrepreneur Academy 2026’ with a ribbon graphic that reads ‘Congratulations.’ Logos for R&B Business and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council appear at the bottom.

The Economic Prosperity Team recently wrapped up its 2026 Entrepreneur Academy with a thrilling Dragons’ Den finale! Delivered in partnership with East Surrey College, this 6-month business start-up programme supported 14 budding business owners,  helping them to refine their ideas and learn the ropes of starting a successful venture.

 

Huge congratulations go to our overall Academy winner, Kind Teas as well as our two highly commended runners‑up - Under the Arch and Nicki Day Creative.

 

Thank you to Entrepreneur Academy 'student' Emma Sears (Reel Feel Productions) for making this fantastic video about the programme!
 
 
Introducing Banstead Business Group
 
 
Logo for the Banstead Business Group featuring the words ‘Banstead Business Group’ in green and gold text, centered on a white background with a dark green border.

A warm welcome to the new Banstead Business Group, set up to serve Banstead and the surrounding villages.  The Group will provide an informal monthly networking meeting over a coffee to build relationships and support the local community.

Members will be connected through a WhatsApp group to share meet-ups and keep conversations going between coffees. If you’re a local business owner and would like to join this free network, email Charlie Brown from Browns Wealth Management (Subject: Banstead Business Group).
 
 
Events round up
 

APRIL

14th - Redhill Micropreneurs (Bel4, Redhill, 09:00-17:00) Free Co-Working Day

14th - Health & Wellbeing networking (The Market Stores, Reigate, 19:00-21:00)

15th - RH Networking (Bel4, Redhill, 19:00-21:30) Try your first RH Networking event for free

21st - Discover more about the Surrey Venture Studio (online, 12:00-13:00)

 

Surrey High Street Growth & Innovation Support Programme (free online sessions):

14th - Attracting More Customers & Encouraging Them to Spend More (10:00-11:00)

14th - Making Better Use of Promotions & Social Media to Drive Sales & Growth (14:00-15:00)

 

MAY

11th - Health & Wellbeing networking (The Market Stores, Reigate, 19:00-21:00)

21st - RH Networking (Bel4, Redhill, 19:00-21:30) Try your first RH Networking event for free

28th - FSB Connect Reigate & Banstead  (Town Hall, Reigate 08.00-10.00)

 

JUNE

3rd - Source in Surrey Free Sales Training Workshop (Reigate Town Hall, 08:45-13:00)

10th - Health & Wellbeing networking (The Market Stores, Reigate, 19:00-21:00)

17th - RH Networking (Bel4, Redhill, 19:00-21:30) Try your first RH Networking event for free

25th - FSB Connect Reigate & Banstead (Town Hall, Reigate 08.00-10.00)
 
 
 
Surrey Venture Studio takes off for second round of support
 
 
Illustration of a white and blue rocket labelled ‘Surrey Venture Studio’ launching into space, with flames beneath it, a view of Earth’s clouds below, and a starry sky with the moon in the background.

Applications for Round 2 of the Surrey Venture Studio’s entrepreneurial workshops are officially open. SVS is a pre-accelerator programme helping innovators and entrepreneurs across Surrey to explore whether turning an idea into a business is the right path. It is a competitive programme with catalyst grant funding of up to £25k up for grabs. Closing date for applications: 8 May

 

The Surrey Venture Studio is geared towards people who have a business idea that they believe could be transformational and marketable, but are unsure how to take the first step or secure funding. These may be innovators who have designs, prototypes or research that hasn’t yet reached its full revenue generating potential.

 

The programme includes: 

  • A two-day, in-person ideation workshop
  • Expert mentoring
  • Opportunity to progress to a six-month accelerator
  • Up to £25,000 catalyst grant funding, for successful six-month accelerator participant 

Spaces on the workshop are limited and will be offered to applicants whose ideas are at the right stage of development and show strong potential for innovation and commercialisation. 

 

Applications for the summer cohort are now open and will close on 8th May 2026 - apply now.

 

For more information, join the Discover Surrey Venture Studio – Your Gateway to Innovation webinar on Tuesday, 21st April, and learn how Surrey Venture Studio can help you turn your idea into a thriving business. This is your chance to hear directly from our delivery partners, understand the programme structure, and get your questions answered.
 
 
Are you a small B2B business owner looking to grow sales?
Register with Supply Connect
 
 
Promotional graphic for the Supply Connect programme featuring the text ‘Helping small businesses unlock government contracts.’ The design includes logos for Enterprise Nation, Newable, and sponsorship by JPMorgan Chase. Several small images show different types of work, including metalwork with sparks, a commercial kitchen scene, a person using a tablet, and construction scaffolding. A button reads ‘Unlock growth.

Do you have a product or service that would be of interest to public sector buyers? Register for free with Supply Connect - a programme designed to unlock government contracts for SMEs.

 

Complete a short form to get started and access free tools, expert advice and practical insights.
 
 
Grow your business with confidence
Business Academy
 
 
A person with braided hair is sitting and holding an open laptop, with a pink and white background behind them.”

Whether you’re starting out, scaling up, selling overseas, or sharpening your digital skills, business.gov.uk has got you covered. With live online webinars and on-demand content covering on a whole range of topics, this free resource is worth exploring in more detail.
 
 
In case you missed it
Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme
 
 
Promotional graphic showing a person standing with folded arms in the doorway of a business, wearing a brown shirt and blue apron. The image includes the Business Surrey and Surrey County Council logos, along with the text ‘Get practical support for your high street business.

For businesses unable to attend an in-person workshop, the Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme is running two free online sessions on 14 April:

10:00 -  Attracting More Customers & Encouraging Them to Spend More

14:00 - Making Better Use of Promotions & Social Media to Drive Sales & Growth

 

 

The Surrey High Street Growth and Innovation Programme is a county wide initiative delivered by Surrey County Council and Business Surrey in partnership with Smarter Society and The Retail Group.

The programme is designed to strengthen independent high street and town centre businesses through a series of free, in‑person and online workshops.
 
 
Apprenticeship support for SMEs
 
 
A group of three people standing around a workbench in a workshop, looking at architectural or technical drawings. One person in a checkered shirt is pointing at the plans with a red pencil, while the others, wearing aprons, stand on either side. Various tools and wooden materials are visible on the table and in the background.

The DWP has announced a major youth employment drive alongside the biggest transformation of apprenticeships in a decade.

 

An Apprenticeship Incentive of £2,000 will be paid to SMEs for each new apprentice aged 16-24 taken on. In addition, for every young person a business hires (aged 18-24 and on Universal Credit), a new Youth Jobs Grant of £3k will be paid to that business.

 
 
 
Flat‑lay image showing a cup of coffee, a printed newspaper, a tablet displaying a ‘Business News’ article about economic growth with a line chart, and a smartphone showing financial graphs and charts.

Tadworth resident and business owner, Louise Camby, has released a compilation of her composer grandfather's iconic music. Johnny Douglas from Kingswood was a renowned composer, arranger and conductor and probably best known for his beautiful score for the 1970 film The Railway Children. To honour his memory, Louise has released a triple album box set of his iconic music on both vinyl and CD. 

Having recently discovered a box of cassette tapes when going through a stack of shoe boxes at the family home, Louise realised she had stumbled upon more of her grandfather's compositions - the music to Spider-Man and his Amazing friends, The Incredible Hulk and Dungeons & Dragons. She has recently released them as a triple album box set on both vinyl and CD and as digital downloads. For more information.