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Our story
Over a decade of high-class support for Oxfordshire’s businesses, multi-million-pound infrastructure investments and helping to build a pipeline of talent for our many critical sectors.
Working with the public and private sector, it is our mission to champion and develop Oxfordshire’s economy, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy.
We were formally launched by the then Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP, in March 2011 as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) with the responsibility of championing and developing the Oxfordshire economy.
We have made considerable progress in strengthening the county’s economy by establishing robust and effective relationships between businesses, academia and the public sector.
The present day
From 1 April 2025, we have operated under the trading name of ‘Enterprise Oxfordshire’, with the change marking the completion of a two-year process that saw the economic development functions – previously led by Local Enterprise Partnerships – altered so that they are to be overseen via a mechanism agreed by respective upper-tier local authorities, in this instance, Oxfordshire County Council.
The shift in policy was originally announced by the previous Chancellor Jeremy Hunt at the then Government’s Spring Budget in March 2023.
Since then, both us and Oxfordshire County Council worked closely to ensure a refreshed and clear governance process was created, whilst maintaining operations and meeting the changes required by Government.
What followed in November 2024 saw the County Council’s full cabinet announce that OxLEP Ltd would remain, with the County Council acting as the organisation’s 100% shareholder – known as a Teckal company arrangement.
OxLEP would then adopt the new trading name, as well as maintaining its independent company status.
Building on its significant legacy as OxLEP, Enterprise Oxfordshire oversees the delivery of a comprehensive set of business, skills, investment and trade support services, as well as supporting a variety of strategies backing Oxfordshire’s economic potential to be delivered in a sustainable and inclusive manner.
Elsewhere in England
The introduction of Enterprise Oxfordshire mirrors many new arrangements to have been confirmed across England.
Depending on the frameworks developed between respective local authorities and former LEPs, areas in England now have a variety of arrangements in-place, each suited to support their own local economic development activity and priorities.
Some former LEPs have been fully integrated into upper-tier authorities, some continue as independent organisations with a governance link in-place with their authority, whilst others have been closed permanently.
The creation of Enterprise Oxfordshire is a specific arrangement for this county.
Our achievements and track record of success
£1bn worth of funding
Together with our partners, we secured around £1billion-worth of funding for Oxfordshire, including central government and European investment. Such investment has had, and continues to, have a major impact on businesses and communities across our county.
£3.3bn programme of activity
We oversee and continue to report on an infrastructure and investment programme worth around £3.3billion to our county, that will deliver impacts for decades to come.
£94m in match funding enabled
Our Local Growth Fund projects have invested £107.5million and enabled £94milion in match funding, across 30 projects that are enhancing the lives and skills of people, enriching places, sparking enterprise and boosting connectivity in Oxfordshire.
£840k plus of grants allocated to our visitor economy
Our Visitor Economy Grant Scheme, which began in 2022 and continued through to May 2024 delivered grants ranging from £5,000 through to £24,999 per business, supporting 52 organisations at a critical time.
A mission with a real purpose
Our mission is to inspire and support business, to secure investment and drive opportunities for economic prosperity across our communities.
Approach
We maintain trust and accountability in everything we do.
Attitude
We welcome new ideas and work collaboratively.
Achievement
We are focused on achieving our goals.
Awareness
We are mindful of our personal, team and social responsibilities.
30-hour working week
In April 2023, we signed-up to a 30-hour working week pilot scheme for an initial six months, originally through to 30 September 2023 – however, given that many of our operational activity peaks during the autumn and winter months, a decision was made to extend the trial period for a further six months, so a greater assessment could take place. This was subsequently extended through to 31 March 2025.
Now, Enterprise Oxfordshire staff operate across a 30-hour working week on a permanent basis, with full-time staff currently active Monday to Thursday during a normal period, supporting our staff to re-energise, re-focus and enjoy valuable time away from work.
Our part-time staff function on a pro-rata basis. There is no reduction in pay for any member of staff.
Throughout this process, we have received support and guidance from 4Day Week Global – a not-for-profit organisation that aims to encourage businesses, employees, researchers and governments around the world to better understand the benefits of a four-day working week.
Our move to a 30-hour working week is driven by the company’s desire to be a stand-out ‘employer of choice’ in Oxfordshire and, in doing so, also improve its staff retention, recruitment capabilities and maintain its efficiency too.
The approach does not represent our teams delivering more work in less time, but aims to create a cultural shift, maintaining operational efficiency whilst working smarter.