Enterprise Oxfordshire is ready to highlight the achievements, ambitions and collaboration of the county’s business community at its flagship Marketplace and Celebration planned to take place at Oxford’s Town Hall on 18th September, later this year.

Set to bring together Oxfordshire’s SMEs and business leaders, the event will in particular showcase businesses that have been supported by Enterprise Oxfordshire since April 2022.

The event will feature a vibrant marketplace – offering a platform for Oxfordshire businesses to exhibit their products and services – alongside a celebratory awards ceremony, set to recognise outstanding achievements across the area.

Enterprise Oxfordshire also welcome headline sponsor, the Bicester-based organisation, Darcica Logistics, as well as a host of other event sponsors and supporters.

The Marketplace and Celebration event has several opportunities available for Oxfordshire’s business community to engage with – this includes:

• Event awards – any Oxfordshire-based business, which has benefited from Enterprise Oxfordshire’s support since April 2022, are eligible to enter.
• Marketplace stand – Oxfordshire businesses can apply for a marketplace stand by 24 June.
• Support the awards – organisations interested in becoming an event supporter.

Oxfordshire based SMEs are being encouraged to attend the event too, helping them to understand the work of Enterprise Oxfordshire.

Helen Brind – Head of Business and Skills at Enterprise Oxfordshire – said: “This event gives us the opportunity to really demonstrate the drive and ambition of our business community, but also equally, just what our support can provide businesses and individuals.

“We would therefore encourage people to engage in this event and see not only the impact we have made, but also, get a deeper understanding as to how impressive our business community really is in Oxfordshire.”

Last year’s event – held at the University of Oxford’s Examination Schools – saw dozens of businesses attend, many of them showcasing products and services that had been enhanced via the support of Enterprise Oxfordshire.

Enterprise Oxfordshire became the new trading name of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) on 1 April this year.

The change marked the completion of a two-year process that saw the economic development functions – previously led by Local Enterprise Partnerships – altered so that they were to be overseen via a mechanism agreed by respective upper-tier local authorities, in this instance, Oxfordshire County Council.

Oxfordshire County Council now act as Enterprise Oxfordshire’s 100% shareholder, known as a Teckal company arrangement.

Building on its significant legacy as OxLEP, Enterprise Oxfordshire oversees the delivery of a comprehensive set of business, skills, investment and trade support services, as well as supporting a variety of strategies backing Oxfordshire’s economic potential to be delivered in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

Find out more on the 18 September event via the Marketplace and Celebration webpage.

If your organisation is interested in becoming an event supporter, or you have questions about it, contact Enterprise Oxfordshire via: [email protected].