The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) is urging budding entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses looking to grow in the west of the county, to sign up to its two West Oxfordshire programmes, or risk missing out on the tailored business support offer for the district.

The West Oxfordshire Business Spark programme sets out to help individuals to start their own successful business, or create a profitable ‘extra income stream’, whilst the West Oxfordshire Business Accelerator provides the expertise and support to help small businesses grow – for those already registered and trading.

The support programmes are being delivered by OxLEP Business on behalf of West Oxfordshire District Council, with the project funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Support on offer includes an initial 1:1 to get registered onto the programme, a host of webinars and masterclasses hosted by experts in the field, a branded course handbook, and the opportunity to build your network and connect with over 100 business leaders/entrepreneurs over the course of the programmes.

The Peer Networks strand of the West Oxfordshire Business Accelerator Programme takes place over a course of weekly sessions for three weeks – so it’s vital interested parties book on as soon as possible, to ensure they don’t miss out on a place. The next peer networks series is due to start on Thursday 7th November.

OxLEP previously announced that between October 2016 and March last year, it had worked with over 6,200 businesses from across Oxfordshire, providing around 18,000 hours of support and advice, worth over £28.75 million.

Helen Brind – Growth Hub Manager at OxLEP, said: “The clock is ticking for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the west of the county to sign up to our free business support programmes and gain access to a whole world of expertise and insight into what it takes to succeed in taking those next steps to business success.

“We only have until March 2025 to deliver these programmes – and whilst businesses in the district might be aware of the support we’re offering, we want to stress that this tailored support won’t be here forever, and in order to make sure our SMEs get the most out of the programmes, it’s important to act now.

“We’d also like to stress that whilst only businesses and residents in West Oxfordshire are eligible for these particular support programmes, we remain committed to the entire Oxfordshire business community – and urge anyone looking to reach out to us for business support to fill out our Business Support Tool in the first instance.

“As the Growth Hub for businesses in the county, it is our role to offer a whole host of fully-funded (free!) business support to Oxfordshire businesses – so it’s vital businesses are aware and able to make the most of what is on offer.”

Following the successful launch of the West Oxfordshire programmes, a similar set of programmes have arrived elsewhere in the county – and Oxfordshire businesses of all shapes and sizes, from all 5 of the districts – are invited to go to the OxLEP Business website to find out how the Growth Hub could support them.

To find out more and register your interest in taking part in either of the Spark or Accelerator programmes – or to understand the wider support available to Oxfordshire businesses, fill out the Business Support Tool.

Fill out the Business Support Tool