Supporting our small business community:
As the Growth Hub for Oxfordshire, we manage two programmes: the Elevate Programme, which supports SMEs to start up and grow, and Innovation Support for Business which helps SMEs to bring new ideas to market. Both programmes are funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and OxLEP.
Watch our film showcasing our OxLEP Business SME Marketplace 2019 to find out more about our programmes and their products.
Elevate programme case studies:
From home baking for friends and neighbours to running their own shop, the Orange Bakery have turned a hobby into a sucessful business.
The Happy Earth Soil company have turned a simple process into sucessful products.
Independent Oxford founders, Rosie Jacobs and Anna Munday share a passion for all things independent and the unique experiences they offer their customers.
What began with a love of music led to starting-up two businesses: Haynes Guitars and Guitar and Bass Build. From his workshop in Banbury, Neil produces very high-quality guitar bodies and necks for electric guitars and basses.
Laura Ridge has moved from big corporate projects to running her own business. And she loves it. Oxford residential rental business, Positive Property Management, was started by Laura in summer 2018.
Paul Bellchambers turned a passion for food into a full-time job by retraining and starting-up The Late Chef.
Fi McFall started making handmade jewellery at home as a hobby and now runs Twisted Root as a full-time business.
Lisa Lloyd is committed to improving mental and emotional health for her clients through her business, It's Time For Change.
The Wonky Food Company started-up to use fruits and vegetables rejected by supermarkets to make processed foods like relishes, and preserves.
Designing and manufacturing for the architectural specification market, Rooflight now employs 75 people.
Watch our film of the Elevate Programme's 2018 Marketplace Event to find out how the programme could help your business.
Innovation Support for Business (ISfB) Case studies:
General Products Ltd have created a new innovation in the world of publishing. |
SYLO have created innovations that are ready to meet the changing workplace environment. |
Aistetic are using computer imaging and deep learning to make online clothes ordering and garment-manufacturing more sustainable. |
DITUS is a micro business which was founded in 2018 and is geared to exploit the upcoming 5G connectivity for mobile devices. |
Creating a circular economy for plastics is Oxford Sustainable Fuels’ mission. |  Luffy AI are developing the control units for legs on multi-purpose walking robots. Up until now, achieving this has been amongst the hardest challenges for applied AI and robotics. |
P3MO, which launched in 2018, is providing a new way for organisations to manage these crucial business transformations: using machine learning and artificial intelligence alongside traditional techniques. | What began as a result of academic research by its founders into alternatives to fast fashion, has led to a thriving magazine and website. |
Watch our case study film showcasing how Hutano Diagnostic Ltd utilise innovation to transform lives with quick and accurate diagnoses of diseases like ebola.
Bringing employers and education together
OxLEP Skills works to bring the worlds of education and employment together, to ensure that Oxfordshire's next generation is equipped with the skills that they need to thrive- with specialist teams working across key areas such as apprenticeships and work experience.
OxLEP Skills case studies:
Usaamah is an Engineering Technician Apprentice at MINI Plant Oxford, and is passionate about his role which gives him both industry-relevant paid work experience in a 'hands-on' environment, whilst completing a degree funded by the organisation:
Katie Harvey is an Apprentice Electrician with Darke&Taylor, completing an NVQ Level 3 qualification, whilst earning a wage out on the job with experienced colleagues:
Leona is one of our own apprentices, completing a Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in PR and Communications, having left university to pursue such a role:
Careers Fest 2019 took place on Tuesday 22 January at MINI Plant Oxford, with over 60 businesses engaging around 1,500 of Oxfordshire's young people in conversation on their future careers and skills. Watch our film on the event, explaining why facilitating conversation between businesses and young people is so important.
Q&A debate:
So that we continue to engage our diverse business community, we hold regular Q&A events right across Oxfordshire. Each event sees a focus on one of our priority areas (either People, Place, Enterprise or Connectivity), with discussion and debate from high-profile panellists.
Take a look at our Enterprise Q&A event: ‘How can Oxfordshire businesses make an impact – nationally and internationally – by embracing innovation', held at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford:
More case studies coming soon!
