Headline Sponsor

We are thrilled to welcome Oxfordshire County Council as the headline sponsor for the Marketplace and Celebration 2026. As the upper-tier local authority, Oxfordshire County Council delivers essential public services across the region – including managing major infrastructure, highways, schools, social care, and public health – to support a thriving, sustainable community.

In their role as headline sponsor, the Council will have the distinct honour of reviewing the exceptional talent on display and selecting the overall winner for 2026 from the pool of individual category winners.

Sponsors of Socially Responsible Business of the Year

Tap Social Movement is an Oxford-based social enterprise and craft brewery founded in 2016 to provide training and employment for people in prison and those recently released. By offering meaningful work and a supportive community, they aim to break the cycle of reoffending and help individuals gain the skills and confidence needed for long-term success.

Today, they operate several popular venues across Oxfordshire, including taprooms and a bakehouse, proving that a successful business can be built on a foundation of social justice and second chances.

Sponsors of Innovation in Customer Experience of the Year

SS+A enable commercial success, and futureproof visitor economy and retail organisations and destinations, by putting humans at the heart of customer experience design.

As Ambience Architects, their mission is to help organisations across the globe flourish in changing markets; empowering them to be more purposeful, people-centric, and profitable.

They offer strategy development through to implementation support across guest, operational and financial services, based on their many decades of first-hand experience in these sectors and disciplines.

Sponsors of Business Leader of the Year

The IoD is a thriving membership community for directors in the UK and beyond, where you can connect with other leaders, develop your skills and be heard.

At a time when great directors have never been more important, the IoD offers professional development, valuable connections and influence.

Through its prestigious chartered qualifications and world-class resources, the institute ensures that leaders are equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape with excellence and integrity.

Sponsors of Environmentally Sustainable Business of the Year

Velocity Cycle Couriers is one of Oxford’s leading eco-friendly delivery partners, providing fast, reliable, and zero-emission logistics for businesses across the city.

By using a specialised fleet of cargo bikes, they offer a sustainable alternative to traditional vans, navigating urban traffic with ease to ensure timely point-to-point deliveries.

Their commitment to green infrastructure helps local organisations reduce their carbon footprint while supporting a cleaner, less congested future for the Oxfordshire community.