Business leaders, budding entrepreneurs and those with a desire to start their own business in West Oxfordshire are being encouraged to take note of key upcoming dates, critical to two new business support programmes being delivered by OxLEP.
The newly-launched West Oxfordshire Business Spark programme and the West Oxfordshire Business Accelerator programme are set to kick-off their respective activities in the coming weeks, with the first cohort of ‘Spark’ recipients set to begin their journey on 1 May.
Organisers OxLEP Business are encouraging those interested and eligible in the programmes to sign-up as soon as possible, taking advantage of the available support and start to put their growth or start-up plans into practice.
OxLEP Business will be delivering the two programmes over the next year, on behalf of West Oxfordshire District Council, with the project funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Support will only be available to residents and businesses in West Oxfordshire.
The West Oxfordshire Business Spark programme has been developed to specifically support more people – whatever their age might be – to start their own successful business. Guidance delivered via the programme will cover key areas including business fundamentals, understanding customers, marketing and sales, financial planning and developing a first-year action plan.
The ‘Spark’ programme in particular hopes to attract ‘silver-preneurs’ – those over the age of 50 who are looking to bring a business idea to life, or potentially looking to come out of retirement to try something new – as well as younger people, ready to build on a new business idea and commercialise it.
Meanwhile, the West Oxfordshire Business Accelerator programme is going in-search of small, West Oxfordshire businesses who have the potential to grow and ultimately create further jobs in the area.
The Accelerator’s suite of support includes conducting a strategic business review to create a support delivery plan and a three-year business growth action plan, as well as providing a leadership development programme for senior managers in the business, plus one-to-one support on key areas such as productivity and innovation.
Helen Brind – Growth Hub Manager at OxLEP – said: “With the first events for these programmes taking place in May, we want to ensure as many people in West Oxfordshire are aware of this new support and hope that by engaging with them as early as possible, they are able to action the learning and opportunities our top-class support programmes will provide, making the desired positive impact.
“If you are a West Oxfordshire-based SME leader, or somebody with a great business idea that perhaps isn’t quite sure how to bring it to market, we would really encourage you to get register your interest in our programmes at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Although both programmes are only available to West Oxfordshire-based organisations, OxLEP are keen to point out that businesses right across the county can continue to benefit from multiple areas of support, provided by them.
OxLEP previously announced that between October 2016 and March last year, it had worked with over 6,200 businesses from across Oxfordshire, providing around 18,000 hours of support and advice, worth over £28.75 million.
To find out more and register your interest in taking part in either with Spark or Accelerator programmes – or to understand the wider support available to Oxfordshire businesses – head to the OxLEP Business website.
