Enterprise Oxfordshire

Enterprise Oxfordshire is the economic development organisation for the county of Oxfordshire in England. It operates as a limited company and, since 1 April 2025, has used the trading name 'Enterprise Oxfordshire'. The organisation was originally launched in March 2011 as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), one of the local enterprise partnerships established across England to drive local economic growth. Its mission is to champion and develop Oxfordshire's economy, acting as a catalyst and convener to support an inclusive and sustainable economy for the benefit of businesses and residents. The organisation works across three broad areas: investment, skills and business support. It helps attract appropriate and sustainable investment into the county, supports people and businesses in fulfilling their potential, and assists businesses in achieving their ambitions. It operates through partnerships that bring together public, private, academic and third sector organisations, taking a 'whole system' approach to innovation, collaboration and productivity. Enterprise Oxfordshire reports significant delivery outcomes. It states that it has historically secured £1 billion in funding for Oxfordshire for long-term benefits to businesses and communities. During 2024/25, it supported 979 jobs in Oxfordshire through helping to land foreign direct investment projects, and directly supported 1,887 businesses across the county. It has secured more than £5 million worth of apprenticeship levy pledges from large Oxfordshire businesses to be retained in the county, and enabled more than £850 million of further funding for Oxfordshire through its Local Growth Fund investment by 2025. Governance and ownership changed following a national policy shift. In March 2023, the then Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced at the Spring Budget that economic development functions previously led by Local Enterprise Partnerships would be overseen via mechanisms agreed by upper-tier local authorities. After a two-year transition process, in November 2024 Oxfordshire County Council's full cabinet announced that OxLEP Ltd would remain, with the County Council acting as the organisation's 100% shareholder. From 1 April 2025, the organisation adopted the trading name 'Enterprise Oxfordshire' while maintaining its operations and aligning its priorities with the strategic priorities of the local authority. As an employer, Enterprise Oxfordshire describes itself as a remote-working business with access to multiple locations in Oxfordshire as required. It operates a 30-hour full-time working week, offers a flexi-time policy, a contributory pension scheme and a day off on the employee's birthday. Its stated values are trust, accountability, collaboration, focus and mindfulness, and its mission is to inspire and collaborate to deliver opportunities for economic prosperity across Oxfordshire's communities.

Enterprise Oxfordshire was formally launched in March 2011 by the then Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP, as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP). It was established with the responsibility of championing and developing the Oxfordshire economy, as part of a national framework of local enterprise partnerships created to drive local economic growth across England. Over more than a decade, the organisation worked to strengthen the county's economy by building relationships between businesses, academia and the public sector. In March 2023, the then Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced at the Spring Budget that the economic development functions previously led by Local Enterprise Partnerships would be altered so that they would be overseen via a mechanism agreed by respective upper-tier local authorities. This policy shift initiated a two-year transition process for OxLEP. During this period, OxLEP and Oxfordshire County Council worked closely to create a refreshed and clear governance process while maintaining operations and meeting the changes required by Government. In November 2024, Oxfordshire County Council's full cabinet announced that OxLEP Ltd would remain, with the County Council acting as the organisation's 100% shareholder. OxLEP would then adopt a new trading name. From 1 April 2025, the organisation began operating under the trading name 'Enterprise Oxfordshire', marking the completion of the transition process. The change saw economic development functions previously led by Local Enterprise Partnerships altered so that they are overseen via a mechanism agreed by respective upper-tier local authorities, in this instance Oxfordshire County Council. Throughout the transition, the organisation reviewed its priorities to ensure close alignment with the strategic priorities of the local authority. It continues to operate a 'whole system' approach bringing together public, private, academic and third sector organisations to support businesses and communities, seeking opportunities to innovate, collaborate, improve productivity and reduce duplication. The organisation aims to be at the forefront of conversations that matter to businesses and communities and to implement new activities that reflect its role post transition and support local democratic institutions.

• 2025

  From 1 April 2025, the organisation began operating under the trading name 'Enterprise Oxfordshire', completing a two-year transition process.

• 2024

  In November 2024, Oxfordshire County Council's full cabinet announced that OxLEP Ltd would remain, with the County Council acting as the organisation's 100% shareholder.

• 2023

  In March 2023, the then Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced at the Spring Budget that economic development functions previously led by Local Enterprise Partnerships would be altered to be overseen via a mechanism agreed by respective upper-tier local authorities.

• 2011

  Formally launched in March 2011 by the then Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP, as the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP).

Economic development organisation and convener for Oxfordshire, operating as a partnership between public, private, academic and third sector organisations.

1. 1Enterprise Oxfordshireenterpriseoxfordshire.com
2. 2Our story | Enterprise Oxfordshireenterpriseoxfordshire.com
3. 3Governance | Enterprise Oxfordshireenterpriseoxfordshire.com
4. 4Work for us | Enterprise Oxfordshireenterpriseoxfordshire.com
5. 5Enterprise Oxfordshirewikidata.org