Looking ahead – Jeremy Long, Chair
On behalf of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, I would like to thank you for taking the time to explore this year's annual report, reviewing our impact during the 2021/2022 financial year.
Last year, I delivered a similar message that has once again been demonstrated through this digital publication – there has been significant challenges for all businesses that has required great levels of determination to find positive outcomes. It has been a very turbulent time for many, but we have played a major role in making it less turbulent through many different interventions, whether it be via our Growth Hub, Skills team, capital programmes delivery or our work driving investment into Oxfordshire.
With this all in mind, it has been vitally important for OxLEP to continue to support our business community – we remain agile, adaptable and we will listen to what support is required by companies, based on business need. This will not change.
We are continuing to work closely with the private sector to understand Oxfordshire’s significant sector strengths and promote them – from our world-class visitor economy offer, right through to our globally-leading innovation ecosystem and the new, transformative technologies being generated within the county.
We are committed to building even greater collaborations between business and academia, informing young people of the major opportunities that exist in the county – after all, we have a set of sectors that matches anywhere in the world.
It also extremely important that we all work together to enable a local economy that is globally-competitive, sustainable, diverse and inclusive – one that benefits all communities in the county. OxLEP – alongside our many partners – aims to bring people together to support the development of a more inclusive local economy, with a focus on enhancing opportunities and skills for the benefit of local residents and employers.
Of course – arguably nothing is more important than the climate emergency – though the good news is, Oxfordshire can really play its part in a positive solution for everyone.
We have supported the important role Oxfordshire has to play in this, by leading on the development of the ‘Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ report and by highlighting the county’s major net-zero potential at our official COP26 event. We take this responsibility tremendously seriously, as seen via our lead role in the September 2022 ‘Ox to Zero’ conference.
Continuing to have a business-led response to recover and rebuild the UK economy has been and remains critical. As a local enterprise partnership, underpinned by significant business-led relationships, we are committed to this moving forward for the benefit of not only our local communities, but for the national economy too.
Our role remains vital and we hope you will continue your own respective journeys with us at the forefront of your mind.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Jeremy Long
Chair