The Enterprise Oxfordshire Business Marketplace and Celebration event shines a light on the incredible SMEs, innovators and leaders right here in the county.
Oxfordshire businesses are being encouraged to seek the recognition they deserve and enter the 2026 Enterprise Oxfordshire Business Marketplace and Celebration event (MAC 26) awards, following a call for an extension to the deadline for entries.
With the deadline now extended until Monday 10th of August, businesses are still able to enter categories such as ‘Business Leader of the Year’, ‘Start-Up of the Year’ and ‘Growth Business of the Year’ ahead of the awards evening taking place on Wednesday 4th of November at Oxford Town Hall.
To take part in the Marketplace and Celebration Event – whether as an exhibitor or to be nominated for an award – businesses or individuals should have engaged with Enterprise Oxfordshire Business at any point since April 2022.
Bringing together dozens of people from Oxfordshire’s business community, the event also showcases a wide range of organisations through a special marketplace arrangement, before the night’s winners are announced.
It is expected that this year’s event will follow in the footsteps of previous gatherings, which have created a critical space for leaders and entrepreneurs to network, share business ideas and celebrate commercial achievements.
Last year’s event – which was also held at the city’s Town Hall – brought together around 200 people from across the county, representing a range of sectors.
The event forms part of Enterprise Oxfordshire Business’ commitment to the county’s business community – whether organisations are starting out, growing or taking on a new challenge – by creating a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services, while also celebrating success through a series of special awards chosen by business peers.
All categories across the awards are completely free for businesses and individuals to enter.
Earlier this year, the impacts of Growth Hubs in the region – of which Enterprise Oxfordshire Business is one – were highlighted in a key sector report.
The Growth Hub Cluster Impact Report, which analysed support delivered by Growth Hubs in Oxfordshire (Enterprise Oxfordshire Business), the South Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and New Anglia collectively between April 2020 and March 2025, revealed the significant effect being made across the region.
Overall impacts over the five-year period included:
- Supporting 92,719 businesses
- Delivering 178,563 hours of business support
- Enabling 3,934 new business start-ups
- Helping to create 6,970 jobs
- Helping to safeguard 6,093 jobs
Meanwhile, for every £1 of core Government funding, the Cluster attracted an additional £24 to support SME growth, while also delivering £35 of economic and social value.
Sarah Beal, Business Support Service Manager at Enterprise Oxfordshire Business, said: “Our track record of impact, combined with opportunities such as the Marketplace and Celebration Event, showcases the real value of engaging with Enterprise Oxfordshire Business.
“These platforms give businesses and entrepreneurs the chance to connect, showcase what they do and access the support that can help them take their next step with confidence.”
Just last month, the Business strand of Enterprise Oxfordshire also announced details of their 2026/27 business support offering – and what the county’s businesses can expect in terms of a comprehensive support ecosystem, access to relevant advisors and offering inclusive, accessible support across the business landscape.
Sarah Beal added: “Events like this, alongside our wider Growth Hub support, demonstrate the real impact that targeted, accessible business support can have.
“Whether a business is just starting out or looking to scale, we want to encourage people across the county to engage with us, access support and be part of Oxfordshire’s growing business community.”
Enterprise Oxfordshire became the new 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.
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