Support Organisations

There are a number of organisations that play an important role in supporting the development of business in Oxford. The list below sets out some of the major players in this field:

Business Link (Milton Keynes Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire)

Business Link provides a fast, simple, impartial route to business advice and information. Visit the Business Link website for more information.

Oxfordshire Business Enterprises

Oxfordshire Business Enterprises offer a free 'new business advice' service for people looking for help starting a business, or in the early stages of running a business, in the Oxfordshire area. Visit the Oxfordshire Business Enterprises website for more information.

Oxfordshire Economic Partnership (OEP)

Formed in 1998 the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership is a network of public and private sector partners committed to achieving greater success for the economy of Oxfordshire. Activities vary over time in order to respond to and anticipate new opportunities and threats which arise. Visit the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership website for more information.

Enterprise Directorate of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (new name for the Small Business Service)

The Enterprise Directorate works across Regional Development Agencies and key delivery partners to ensure that Government - national, regional and local - understands and responds to the needs of small businesses' and entrepreneurs.  The Government's aim is to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Visit the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform website for more information.

Ethnic Minority Business Service (EMBS)

Helps members of ethnic minority communities to start new businesses with the assistance of existing services and promotes the expansion of existing ethnic minority businesses through specialist advice and assistance. It provides skills training to improve access to the labour market, specifically in business start-up skills, information technology, sewing, basic literacy, numeracy and communication skills. Visit the Ethnic Minority Business Service website for more information.

East Oxford Action

Provide business start-up support for disadvantaged groups and communities. Visit the East Oxford Action website for more details.  

Federation of Small Businesses

The Federation of Small Businesses is the largest campaigning pressure group in the UK promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Visit the Federation of Small Businesses website for more information.

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Industry (incorporating Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce)

The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group is a membership organisation which promotes and lobbies for business development in the Thames Valley region. The Thames Valley Chamber is one of the largest accredited Chambers in the UK. It is an independent business organisation working to serve the interests of its members by offering a wide variety of representation, information, and commercial services. Visit the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce website for more information.

Learning and Skills Council

The Learning and Skills Council exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. Their aim is to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to ensure a workforce of world-class standard. Oxford is covered by the Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Learning and Skills Council. Visit the Learning and Skills Council website for more information.

The Oxford Trust

Founded in 1986 as a charity to promote the study, application and development of science and technology, the Oxford Trust has been instrumental in the economic development of Oxford and Oxfordshire. The Oxford Trust has developed a range of initiatives through charitable and commercial activity. Visit the Oxford Trust website for more information.

Oxfordshire Broadband Partnership

The Oxfordshire Broadband Partnership supports local businesses across Oxfordshire, and is made up of a collaboration of private and public organisations to provide independent, free information and advice to improve availability, access and take up of broadband services across Oxfordshire. Visit the Oxfordshire Broadband Partnership website for more information.

Oxford Innovation Ltd.

Oxford Innovation Ltd. provide a range of services to innovative start-up companies. Visit the Oxford Innovation website for more information.

Oxford Investment Opportunity Network (OION)

Help link investors from across the UK with early stage technology companies with high growth potential. Visit the Oxford Investment Opportunity Network website for more information.

Oxfordshire BiotechNet

BiotechNet provides support for start-up and early stage bioscience companies in Oxfordshire through business and technical advice, and premises and interim management support. Visit the Oxforshire BiotechNet website for more information. 

University of Oxford

The Business Liaison Unit is the main contact point for businesses seeking support services from oxford University. However there are also a number of specific areas of the organisation that may be appropriate: 

• Research Services provide details of the university's research activities in the fields of humanities and social science and sciences, including a searchable database
• Isis Innovation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Oxford, founded to exploit information arising from research at one of the world's premier research institutions
• Continuing Professional Development and Management Development is available at the Saïd Business School and Templeton College
• Conference Oxford provides information on the availability of colleges and other university buildings for business use such as conferences

Visit the University of Oxford website for more information.

Oxford Brookes University

Oxford Brookes University provide a range of research services and promote business development, including consultancy, technology transfer, commercial development and other entrepreneurial initiatives. They also provide training, continuing education and professional development. Visit the Oxford Brookes University website for more information. 

Oxford and Cherwell Valley College

The college's Enterprise Department provides a range of training and consultancy services including. It also manages the Cowley Training Centre. Visit the Oxford and Cherwell Valley College website for more information.

Oxfordshire Trading Standards

Oxfordshire County Council are responsible for Trading Standards in Oxford. They It provides trading advice to businesses to help them to comply with the law. Visit the Trading Standards pages of the Oxfordshire County Council website for more information.

Oxfordshire Bioscience Network

OBN is a business network which supports biotech and healthcare companies by providing regular forums for business networking (BioTuesdays) as well as an international annual conference which hosts hundreds of one-to-one company meetings (BioTrinity), and a web-based news feed on the county's bioscience companies. OBN also acts as a point of contact for new biotech companies in the county, and helps to network them with their peers. OBN also publishes the Oxfordshire BioCluster Map each year. Visit the Oxfordshire Bioscience Network website for more information.

Page last reviewed 25 Apr 2008

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