Oxfordshire: £8.4 million funding brings hundreds of jobs

A further 256 roles have been safeguarded in the county thanks to the £8.4 million investment delivered by the Getting Building Fund, which has supported six major projects.

The funding, championed by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP), has also enabled the future expansion of the University of Oxford’s Clinical BioManufacturing Facility, which played a key role in producing the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

Helen Ryan-Wallis, director of strategic development and programmes at Enterprise Oxfordshire, said: “We are proud to share the achievements of the Getting Building Fund and just some of the significant outcomes reached through this Government investment.

“The fact that the fund has brought 646 new jobs into the county, and over time will enable so many more, just goes to show what can be achieved for local communities through this kind of investment, particularly following such a turbulent time as the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Enterprise Oxfordshire (Image: Enterprise Oxfordshire)

“We are pleased to have secured such significant investment and utilised it in such a way that has delivered so extensively for the county, focusing on key priorities such as the climate challenge and the regeneration of our high streets, something we continue to focus on, for instance through our Helping High Streets programme.

“We will continue to support our communities and partners to unlock vital opportunities and outcomes such as those provided through this investment.”

Other supported projects include the Green Construction Skills Centre, which delivers training programmes to address the growing demand for green construction skills, and Mini TESA, the Energy Systems Accelerator pilot.

Mini TESA brings together academic and industry researchers in a multi-disciplinary hub that focuses on the transition to low carbon energy solutions.

The ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire’ scheme, also backed by the fund, transformed vacant retail units in high streets across the county into affordable premises for more than 140 organisations, including independent shops, cultural venues, creative studios and co-working spaces.

A total of 401 businesses were supported through the fund, while 508 opportunities were created for new learners, demonstrating its broad impact on the county’s economic growth and education sector.

The Business Investment Fund, part of the Getting Building Fund, awarded grants of up to £100,000 to 51 small and medium-sized businesses.

These grants supported capital projects aimed at economic recovery and job creation across industries such as food and drink, creative, life sciences, green tech, and high-value manufacturing.

Recognising the shift toward hybrid work, the Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme has also improved connectivity for 2,441 homes and businesses.

Enterprise Oxfordshire became the trading name of OxLEP in April last year, marking the completion of a two-year transition that saw local economic development functions move under arrangements agreed by Oxfordshire County Council.

The council now acts as Enterprise Oxfordshire’s sole shareholder under a Teckal company arrangement.