Whether you’re a startup finding your footing or an established organisation looking to grow, connecting with local business networks can be transformative. Oxford is home to a wide range of business communities that provide opportunities to share knowledge, build partnerships and unlock growth.
Explore the networks on this page to find the communities that best suit your goals – and get involved.
Talk of the Town
Talk of the Town is a quarterly meetup hosted by Oxford City Council’s City Centre Management team for businesses based in Oxford city centre. The network is open exclusively to businesses located within the city centre area, defined as between Little Clarendon Street in the north, east to Magdalen Bridge, south to Folly Bridge and west to Oxford Station.
These gatherings bring together local businesses to:
- make new connections and strengthen existing relationships
- share ideas and insights with fellow city centre traders
- help shape the future of the city centre
- stay informed about key issues affecting businesses in the heart of Oxford
East Oxford Business Association
The East Oxford Business Association (EOBA) brings together businesses from across East Oxford to network, share information, find peer support and collaborate on issues affecting the area. The association provides opportunities for businesses to connect with one another, raise common concerns and contribute to strategies to promote the local economy. Businesses located in East Oxford are welcome to be part of the network and join monthly meetings.
You can find further information about the East Oxford Business Association by emailing economicdevelopment@oxford.gov.uk
Advanced Oxford
Advanced Oxford is a group of senior leaders from knowledge-intensive, innovation-driven businesses and organisations in Oxfordshire who are working together to support the long-term development of the area as a dynamic and prosperous place to work and live.
Visit the Advanced Oxford website
B4
With a packed calendar of more than 75 events each year, B4 creates meaningful business connections and opportunities for collaboration. Their community includes some of Oxfordshire’s most respected organisations including Blenheim Palace, Unipart, the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes. Their events are hosted in prestigious venues such as Rhodes House, RH England and Soho Farmhouse. B4 not only empowers individual businesses through connections but also strengthens the fabric of the wider Oxfordshire business community.
Business and Intellectual Property Centre
Based in Oxford’s Westgate Library, the BIPC offers a wide range of free resources to support entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, including one-to-one guidance, co-working space, market research tools, and regular events and workshops. It’s a great place to join Oxford’s community of entrepreneurs.
Explore what BIPC has to offer
Business Buzz Oxfordshire
Looking for friendly, fuss-free networking? Business Buzz Oxfordshire is all about bringing local businesses together in a relaxed, welcoming space. They have eight vibrant groups meeting monthly across the county including Oxford city and Cowley, giving you the chance to connect, collaborate, and grow your business community.
Find your nearest Business Buzz Oxfordshire event
Community Action Groups Oxfordshire (CAG Oxfordshire)
The CAG Oxfordshire team provide free, day-to-day support for community action groups, helping members to set up their group, develop impactful projects, and access practical resources. This includes guidance on insurance, funding, communications, training, and collaboration with local and national government. CAG Oxfordshire’s collaborate groups connect members and interested stakeholders working on similar themes to facilitate collective action.
Visit the CAG Oxfordshaire website
BioUK (formerly OBN)
BioUK (formerly OBN) is a not-for-profit membership network that catalyses growth for the life sciences industry. Whether you’re an emerging entrepreneur, R&D SME, investor, analyst, pharma company, science park, TTO or technology / professional services organisation, OBN can provide opportunities to meet, learn, and grow.
Visit the BioUK webside to find out more
OSEP
The growing OSEP community consists of social entrepreneurs, social enterprises, enterprising charities and an increasing number of mainstream companies and entrepreneurs, eager to use their businesses to have a more positive impact on society and the environment across Oxfordshire.
OSEP provides specialist support to help people and organisations achieve this, liaising closely with Enterprising Oxfordshire to refer and signpost those needing support, both ways. As well as this direct support, OSEP runs networking events, often in collaboration with other groups and networks locally.
For over 10 years, OSEP has also been influencing local strategies and policies locally, working closely with the public, voluntary and private sector, to help influence the way business is done, and help shape the local economy so it works for everyone.
Owned by Oxford
Owned by Oxford is all about redirecting wealth back into the local economy, under community control and for community benefit. The partnership supports growing locally led, community owned businesses that meet local needs and tackle Oxford’s inequalities.
Find out more on the Owned by Oxford website
Oxford Business Community Network (OBCN)
OBCN is a welcoming independent networking group, supporting business leaders from across Oxfordshire. They host regular Business Breakfasts, Supper Clubs and other events throughout the year. OBCN offer a relaxed, yet effective environment to build genuine connections, grow your network and support your business.
Visit the Oxford Business Community Network
Oxford Innovation
Oxford Innovation supports economic growth by providing businesses with advice, finance and space for entrepreneurs to innovate and collaborate.
Visit the Oxford Innovation website
Oxford Technology and Media Network
The Oxford Technology and Media Network connects senior leaders and owners from media and technology businesses to meet, exchange ideas and collectively learn through events with world class speakers.
Oxford Technology and Media Network website
OxfordSTEM.Network
The friendly meet-up for STEM-sector leaders.
Founders, CEOs and MDs of established science, technology, engineering, mathematics and manufacturing organisations, plus service providers already working with clients in these sectors, are warmly invited to join us at our open meetings. No pitching, no pressure. Designed to encourage sharing and collaboration amongst peers, we facilitate introductions.
“We’ve just signed a contract with a technology partner – there’s no chance in a million years we’d have met them if it hadn’t been for the introductions through OSN.”
Find our more on the OxfordSTEM.Network website
Oxfordshire Greentech
Oxfordshire Greentech is a business network supporting the growth of the climate tech innovation sector in Oxfordshire. The networks brings together businesses and organisations to encourage innovation, collaboration and knowledge transfer, to facilitate the transition towards a sustainable, low carbon future in Oxfordshire and the world.
Visit the Oxfordshire Greentech website to find out more
Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership (OIEP)
The OIEP is a county-wide group that brings together employers, businesses, education providers, community groups and local government. The partnership aims to work together to create opportunities and benefits for all people within Oxfordshire. They do this by sharing knowledge, expertise and resources, and create links between different areas of work. They are focused on four areas to deliver their vision: education, employment, social value and procurement, and place shaping.
Make a pledge and join the inspiring organisations across the county who are working to make Oxfordshire a fairer place to live and work.
Oxfordshire Women in Business
Oxfordshire Women in Business is a welcoming community of female business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals who want to network, collaborate, and develop their skills.
Events are relaxed, friendly, and focused on meaningful connections. Whether you’re a start-up founder, freelancer, or part of a small business team, you’ll find a space to connect with like-minded women, gain valuable insights, and leave feeling inspired.
Find out more on the Oxfirdshire Women in Business website
Oxfordshire+ B Local (B Corps)
The Oxfordshire+ B Local is a growing group of B Corps based in Oxfordshire and the immediate surrounding region. B Corps use their business as a Force for Good, ensuring decisions made within the organisations satisfy all stakeholders, equally, alongside the interests of shareholders.
The Oxfordshire+ B Local also welcomes those who are “B Curious”, keen to find out more about the movement, as well as learning and sharing with likeminded people and organisations. The UK is the fastest growing country for B Corps globally and has more B Corps than any other.
Vkisit the Oxfordshire+ B Local website
Responsible Business Involvement Network (ROBIN)
ROBIN is a network of like-minded people from business, as well as all other sectors, who come together to share skills and resources. It is growing strongly, with members of all sizes representing a wide range of interests.
Members collaborate by sharing skills and resources creatively to increase their impact on the local economy and within local communities. These can be one-off opportunities, but so often lead to the development of closer relationships and further new opportunities and associations.
