A new publication highlights support for more than 1,700 businesses and entrepreneurs, supporting 211 jobs to be created and 878 jobs safeguarded across Oxfordshire.
Enterprise Oxfordshire has published a major new report showcasing the significant impact its business support services continue to have on businesses, entrepreneurs and communities.
The Enterprise Oxfordshire Business Impact Report for 2025/26 – entitled ‘Starting, Growing, Thriving’ – brings together the achievements, outcomes and success stories from a year of the organisation’s growth hub supporting the county’s business community through a comprehensive range of programmes, services and initiatives.
It outlines how Enterprise Oxfordshire has helped create the conditions for a stronger, more resilient and inclusive economy, whilst supporting people and businesses at each stage of their journey – from aspiring entrepreneurs taking their first steps into business ownership, through to ambitious companies seeking to innovate, expand and create jobs.
Among the headline findings, Enterprise Oxfordshire announced that its growth hub generated more than £45 million in social value – calculated using the Social Value TOM System™, the UK standard for Social Value measurement – during the 2025/26 financial year, through its various activities and programmes.
The report also highlights how the organisation’s support helped create 211 jobs and safeguard a further 878 jobs, underlining its contribution to economic prosperity throughout Oxfordshire.
The publication also showcases the scale and reach of support provided over the past year.
During 2025/26, Enterprise Oxfordshire’s growth hub supported 1,710 business contacts, delivered more than 3,700 hours of support and helped 224 individuals start their own business.
The report also demonstrates Enterprise Oxfordshire’s commitment to ensuring support is accessible to businesses and entrepreneurs of all sizes, sectors and backgrounds.
Through its online business support tool alone, tailored support plans were developed for 796 businesses, ranging from people considering starting a business for the first time through to established and scaling organisations looking to achieve their next stage of growth.
Of those completing the support tool, almost a third were pre-start businesses, while other users represented start-up, established, growing and scale-up businesses, highlighting the breadth of Enterprise Oxfordshire’s support offer and its ability to help businesses regardless of where they are on their journey.
The report also demonstrates Enterprise Oxfordshire’s commitment to creating a business support environment that is inclusive and representative of Oxfordshire’s diverse communities.
More than half of participants supported during the year were women, while people from ethnic minority backgrounds (17 per cent) and people with disabilities (13 per cent) were also well represented across programmes and activities.
Paula Mullin – Enterprise Oxfordshire’s recently appointed new Managing Director – said: “This report is a powerful illustration of the difference Enterprise Oxfordshire is making to businesses, entrepreneurs and communities across our county.
“The figures detailed within the report are significant in their own right, but they only tell part of the story – behind every job created, every new business launched and every support programme delivered are individuals who have gained the confidence, knowledge, skills and connections needed to take their next step.
“Whether someone is exploring a business idea, launching a start-up, introducing a new product, adopting new technology or looking to grow an established company, Enterprise Oxfordshire remains on-hand to provide the support, guidance and networks they need.”
During the reported year, Enterprise Oxfordshire supported 25 businesses to successfully launch a new product or service, while 36 businesses adopted new technologies, systems or processes, helping them improve productivity, resilience and competitiveness.
As well as providing specialist advice and practical support, the organisation continued to play an important role in bringing people together.
Across the year, Enterprise Oxfordshire delivered 389 hours of networking support, creating opportunities for businesses to share knowledge, build valuable relationships and uncover new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Paula Mullin added: “We are proud of the impact we have delivered – and will continue to deliver – and grateful to the partners, stakeholders and businesses we work with across Oxfordshire who help make this possible.
“As we look ahead, we remain committed to supporting a thriving, innovative and inclusive economy that creates opportunity and prosperity in every part of the county.”
The publication reveals that support was delivered to businesses from across Oxfordshire’s five current districts, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to delivering countywide impact and ensuring that businesses – regardless of location – can access opportunities to start, grow and thrive.
It also highlights the success of several targeted programmes delivered during the year, including support for Oxfordshire’s high streets, which saw 115 eligible businesses sign up to receive dedicated assistance.
Enterprise Oxfordshire currently oversees the delivery of a comprehensive range of business, skills, investment and trade support services, as well as supporting a variety of strategies to drive Oxfordshire’s economic potential in a sustainable and inclusive way.
Oxfordshire County Council now acts as Enterprise Oxfordshire’s sole 100% shareholder.
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