Championing

We have played a vital role in CHAMPIONING our economy, bringing together our key private sector assets and highlighting their unrivaled potential to local, national and international stakeholders.

This year has seen us continue to play our part in demonstrating how, by investing in Oxfordshire, we can create future opportunities and prosperity for the UK.

By championing the Oxfordshire economy through every strand of our work, we have made real impact in showcasing just why we are one of the world's most effective, resilient and innovative economies.

Whether this has been via highlighting a business environment that backs entrepreneurs to think big and translate their ideas into thriving and successful businesses, or by showing how our globally-renowned innovation ecosystem can accelerate the UK's economic recovery from the potential effects of COVID-19 and Brexit for the benefit of both our residents and 'UK PLC'.

Our Creative Industries Showcase, delivered with Oxford Brookes University, highlighted how our creatives are at the centre of this inspiring sector in the UK and internationally too.

Working in partnership with our MPs, we have championed our transformative technologies to international investors through our House of Commons economic briefings.

We are giving a platform to the innovation and determination that sits behind Oxfordshire's desire to become a global leader in creating a zero-carbon future for us all.

Championing what apprenticeships can bring, not just to our businesses but to thousands of young people in Oxfordshire is a passion running through our 'DNA'.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, we regularly convened our business community at key visitor economy attractions in Oxfordshire, including Oxford-based distillery TOAD.

At Venturefest 2019, we championed our potential and drive to support Oxfordshire's ambition to become a top-three global innovation ecosystem.

“No other part of the UK has the breadth and depth of assets, knowledge capability, skills and business capacity, which also makes Oxfordshire a leading location for investment, as well as having the genuine ability to attract the world’s most talented people.”

Nigel Tipple - Chief Executive

400 individuals, including investors and foreign embassy officials, engaged through our House of Commons series.

350 creative sector representatives brought together through our maiden showcase event.

£1.35bn could be added to our economy, spearheaded by the Oxfordshire Energy Strategy which we continue to champion.

"By continuing to showcase our four, key transformative technologies to international audiences, we are able to demonstrate how these sectors could generate up to £180billion for the UK economy by 2030, vital in a post-Brexit economy."

Sebastian Johnson - Head of Innovation and Inward Investment

Creating a platform for our creatives

June 2019: The Oxfordshire Creative Industries Showcase – held at Oxford Brookes University’s Clerici and the Sir Kenneth Wheare Hall – saw creative industry professionals, entrepreneurs and fast-growing businesses working within the sector come together to highlight some of the significant opportunities that exist now and in the future.

We help to convene effective relationships between education and business, championing a workforce for the future

Summer 2019: Our OxLEP Skills team help support employers and schools, by facilitating and champioining meaningful encounters, helping to inspire young people to fully-understand the opportunities that exist in Oxfordshire.

Championing our small business community and all that they bring to our economy

November 2019: Our OxLEP Business team brought our business community together in central Oxford to celebrate our many inspirational entrepreneurs, who have turned their ideas into a host of successful enterprises.