Our support and events
We want you to know that, first and foremost, we are here for you - the Oxfordshire business community.
Our business support and events schedule is designed to help you and is particularly important at this critical time. We have new support programmes and a number of existing programmes we feel can support our business community both during and after the Coronavirus pandemic.
OxLEP Business Support Tool:
If you need business support, help or advice, please complete our business support tool and we will connect you with a personal business advisor and provide information to help you through the months ahead.
Peer networks:
Over 150 businesses from across Oxfordshire benefited from our first fully-funded peer networks support programme, created to develop potential for future growth and productivity for our business community.
The Peer Networks programme brought together diverse cohorts of business leaders so they could discuss business challenges with groups of peers. Delivered through a series of high-impact group sessions, businesses gained valuable feedback from peers and identified practical solutions to overcome future challenges.
We have now launched our second peer networks programme. By registering your interest in our second programme, your business will:
- Overcome challenges and be able to act upon new opportunities
- Build a trusted network of connections to support you now and in the future
- Be able to take the first steps to improve long-term personal and business performance
Please register for this programme and we will be in touch soon with further information:
Business Investment Fund:
In March 2021, OxLEP Business announced a new capital investment fund, created to support Oxfordshire’s innovative business community to move into an effective renewal phase following the COVID-19 pandemic and potential effects of Brexit.
The Business Investment Fund was the latest initiative to be launched by OxLEP Business, recognising our commitment to supporting the Oxfordshire business community at this critical time.
This £2.1m capital fund aims to support scalable businesses from across the county through a variety of matched grants, ranging from £25,000 through to £100,000 per business. Through funding, eligible Oxfordshire businesses will deliver outcomes for the county’s economy through several key areas.
As of 19 March 2021, The Business Investment Fund's expression of interest process closed. Thank you for your interest. Further details on the fund will be published on the OxLEP Business website.
Find out more on the Business Investment Fund
Existing programmes:
eScalate:
The eScalate programme supports growing businesses that have scale-up potential. It also supports SMEs that are social enterprise, social entrepreneurs, enterprising charities and other purposeful businesses committed to enabling positive social and environmental impact.
Innovation Support for Business (ISfB):
ISfB is a programme designed to drive and commercialise the innovative business ideas of Oxfordshire's SMEs and entrepreneurs.
Skills for Business:
Skills for Business provides practical support to small to medium-sized businesses to identify and evaluate their skills and learning needs including upskilling current staff.
Events:
We have moved our own business support events to online platforms to ensure that we can provide you with the guidance that you need.
We are holding regular digital events including; Q&As, our 'New to OxLEP Business' series, Brexit support events, and growth hub-specific events, all aimed at informing our business community of the support that's available to them.
Take a look at our latest events.
Brexit support events:
'UK transition webinar: Value Added Tax (VAT) in the post-EU landscape' (16 March 2021)
'UK transition webinar: Routes to market - how to navigate in the post-EU landscape' (16 March 2021)
'UK transition webinar: Keep your business moving - what Oxfordshire SMEs need to know about the EU exit' (2 February 2021)
Growth hub support events:
'Growth Hub 2021-22 Launch' (27 May 2021)
'New to OxLEP Business' webinars:
'New to OxLEP Business' breakfast webinar (episode two – 14 July 2021)
'New to OxLEP Business' breakfast webinar (episode one - 23 April 2021)
Digital Q&As:
‘How critical is this time for our cultural and creative sectors?’ (20 November 2020)
‘How critical is it for the county to remain connected post COVID-19?' (19 October 2020)
‘What impact will Coronavirus have on our rural economy?’ (21 May 2020)
‘What impact has Coronavirus had on Oxfordshire’s workforce?’ (14 May 2020)
‘How can Oxfordshire’s visitor economy recover from the Coronavirus pandemic?’ (7 May 2020)
‘Supporting businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic’ (30 April 2020)
Head to our 'events' section to find out more on future events
How our business support programmes can help you:
eScalate: Find out how OxLEP Business can help your growing business.
