Farming and Rural Business Advisor

• Category: Economic Growth and Development
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Working hours: 36 hours per week
• Posted on: 18 February 2026
• Directorate: PLACE
• Location: Surrey - please see advert for details

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

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Optionto buy up to 10 days ofadditionalannual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity,adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• 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:

• Visit farms and rural businesses to understand their operations, challenges, and ambitions
• Provide tailored advice on technology adoption, digital tools, and process improvement
• Support businesses to identify diversification opportunities and new revenue streams
• Help businesses navigate grants, funding programmes, and innovation initiatives
• Build trusted relationships within rural communities and with key stakeholders
• Contribute to workshops, events, and knowledge‑sharing activities
• Maintain a strong understanding of agricultural policy, rural innovation, and sector trends
• 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 behaviours :

• Recognised experience working within agriculture, land‑based industries, or rural business development
• Strong understanding of farming operations, rural challenges, and sector trends
• Experience supporting businesses to adopt new technologies or improve processes
• Proven ability to identify diversification opportunities and support business development
• Strong communication, relationship‑building, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work independently across multiple sites and manage a varied caseload
• A collaborative mindset and a proactive approach to supporting rural communities

To apply, we…