Oxfordshire business landscape showing resilience as campaign to encourage more organisations to become ‘business superheroes’ builds pace

OxLEP has said it is ready to support even more businesses to be the best they can be following the launch of its latest campaignaimed at backing organisations to develop their own ‘superheroes’ in business.

It follows a recent trend reported by OxLEP that suggests – despite access to finance being key to operations in-and-around the Covid-19 pandemic – that organisations are more broadly prepared to seek out more holistic types of business support and advice.

OxLEP Business’ figures – published in its most-recent impact – show that despite the financial turbulence of BrexitCovid-19 and increased levels of inflation businesses biggest need is in fact not raising finance which paints a promising picture of confidence and resilience. 

The most frequently highlighted business needs by more than a factor of two over ‘raising finance for growth’ were:

• Growing customer base
• Developing a business plan for growth
• Improving communications and marketing
• Upskilling staff and/or expanding workforce
• Launching a new or different product to market

This bodes well for the future of region’s business communitywhich boasts over 43000 registered companies99% of which being SMEs.

In fact when businesses access OxLEP support through activities such as workshops mentoring or networking15% saw a 10% or more uplift in annual growthwhich further highlights the importance of support provisions.

In 2023 OxLEP Business saw the conclusion of two major business support initiatives backed by the European Regional Development Fund investment – Innovation Support for Business (ISfB) and eScalate.

Both of which provided Oxfordshire businesses with dedicated specialist advice webinars workshops and themed activity alongside grants and community support to boost productivity and efficiency.

During the lifetime of the programmeInnovation Support for Business worked with 780 businessestotalling 4500 hours of supportbacked by £1.3 million-worth of grants that leveraged £1.7 million of private investment and almost 100 new jobs.

eScalate delivered 7500 hours of support with 51% of businesses engaged led by womenor have boards with female majorities – way above the national average of 29%.

The update comes following the launch in November of Business Super League campaign – a campaign that encourages organisations to ‘dream big’ and ‘unlock their business superpowers’.

Nigel Tipple Chief Executive of OxLEP said: “Businesses have in recent years had to navigate some considerable challenges. Despite this we are seeing great resilience in our local business community.

“Oxfordshire’s strong commercial and entrepreneurial culture and focus on innovation continues to favour businesses who are now showing great steadfastness and continued desire for growth.

“We are pleased to be supporting organisations at every stage of their journey from setting up to evolving services or going international and will continue our work to support businesses reach their full potential.”

One such success is Fermtecha start-up company formed in September 2022 by founder Andy Clayton – a biologist who has become an entrepreneur.

Fermtech uses a circular economy production system using products such as spent grains from breweries and unwanted potatoes to create animal-free protein that is sold into companies producing plant-based products (such as vegan cheese). 

Fermtech received guidance and support from OxLEP Business at a critical time in their organisation’s journey. As a start-up they were incredibly reliant on business support from external organisations such as OxLEP to help them get started on their journey. 

From initially completing OxLEP’s business support tool Fermtech’s directors were able to question their business decisions and objectives and assess upcoming challenges. This helped them to plan out their goals and think about their future strategyand ultimately to become a better business.

Since receiving support Fermtech has been able to establish its first production site at a laboratory in Oxford and has spurred on the growth of the organisation which now employs 30 people.

OxLEP Business has helped thousands of Oxfordshire businesses like Fermtech through expert advice technical supportand access to funding.

Since 2016collectively OxLEP has: 

• Engaged over 6200 businesses
• Provided over 18000 hours of business support
• Provided support worth over £28750000
• Safeguarded and/or created thousands of local jobs
• Enabled nearly £3bn in foreign direct investment into Oxfordshire projects

Comple OxLEP Business’ online business support tool 

Read the full impact report