Description
This role has a salary of £61,784 per annum, based on a 36‑hour working week. This is a fixed‑term contract until 31st March 2027, with the possibility of extension subject to ongoing programme funding in 2027/28 and beyond.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Surrey's rural economy. Join our dedicated Economy and Growth Team and make a meaningful impact on farming and rural businesses across the county. If you're a credible sector professional with hands‑on experience in agriculture, land‑based industries, or rural enterprise development, and you're passionate about helping businesses innovate, diversify, and thrive - we encourage you to apply.
This role will work remotely, visiting farms and rural businesses across Surrey, with regular travel throughout the county.
Our Offer to You
1. 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
2. Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
3. A generous local government salary related pension
4. Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
5. Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
6. An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
7. Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
8. Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
9. A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
About the Team
The Economy and Growth team is dedicated to driving sustainable economic development across Surrey, working collaboratively as 'One Council' to support strategic priorities that benefit the county's 1.2 million residents. The team provides key services in business support, innovation, skills, and infrastructure, and works with major employers and local partners to strengthen the regional economy, home to 110,000 businesses contributing £50 billion annually to the UK economy.
This new role will focus specifically on strengthening the resilience, productivity, and long‑term sustainability of Surrey's farming and rural business community.
About the Role
Surrey County Council is seeking an experienced and credible Farming & Rural Business Support Advisor to work directly with farmers, landowners, and rural enterprises across the county. This pivotal role will help rural businesses adopt new technologies, improve operational processes, explore diversification opportunities, and access relevant funding and support.
As the Farming & Rural Business Support Advisor, you will:
10. Visit farms and rural businesses to understand their operations, challenges, and ambitions
11. Provide tailored advice on technology adoption, digital tools, and process improvement
12. Support businesses to identify diversification opportunities and new revenue streams
13. Help businesses navigate grants, funding programmes, and innovation initiatives
14. Build trusted relationships within rural communities and with key stakeholders
15. Contribute to workshops, events, and knowledge‑sharing activities
16. Maintain a strong understanding of agricultural policy, rural innovation, and sector trends
17. Deliver high quality reporting and intelligence on the sector
You will be responsible for delivering high‑quality support at pace to strengthen Surrey's rural economy.
Your application
In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our :
18. Recognised experience working within agriculture, land‑based industries, or rural business development
19. Strong understanding of farming operations, rural challenges, and sector trends
20. Experience supporting businesses to adopt new technologies or improve processes
21. Proven ability to identify diversification opportunities and support business development
22. Strong communication, relationship‑building, and stakeholder engagement skills
23. Ability to work independently across multiple sites and manage a varied caseload
24. A collaborative mindset and a proactive approach to supporting rural communities
To apply, we request that you submit a CV and you will be asked the following four questions:
25. Please describe your experience working with farming or rural businesses. What specific roles, responsibilities, or projects demonstrate your credibility in this sector?
26. What do you see as the biggest challenges currently facing farming and rural businesses in Surrey, and how would you approach supporting businesses to address them?
27. Describe a time when you supported a business to diversify or identify new revenue opportunities. What analysis did you carry out, and what was the outcome?
28. Tell us about a time you worked with multiple stakeholders (e.g., landowners, councils, suppliers, community groups). How did you manage differing priorities and maintain progress?
Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description and ourto get an insight into working at Surrey.
Contact us
Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 08/03/2026 with interviews taking place in person at Woodhatch Place, Reigate between 17th March and 24th March 2026.
We look forward to receiving your application,