Budding entrepreneurs, ambitious start-up and established business leaders and organisations ready to start or grow in West Oxfordshire are set to benefit from two, new business support programmes, being brought to the area at a critical, economic time.

Set to launch this April, the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) will introduce two new programmes for businesses, namely the West Oxfordshire Business Spark programme and the West Oxfordshire Business Accelerator.

OxLEP Business will be delivering the programme on behalf of West Oxfordshire District Council, with the project funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The two new programmes will support organisations to develop, commercialise ideas and bring them to market, as well as supporting already established businesses to grow further.

The West Oxfordshire Business Spark strand of the programme will help more people to start their own successful business, or create a profitable ‘extra income stream’, with support covering key areas including business fundamentals, understanding customers, marketing and sales, financial planning and developing a first-year action plan. Join the Spark introductory webinar to find out more.

The West Oxfordshire Business Accelerator will back SMEs in the area with big potential to grow and create further jobs. Join the Accelerator introductory webinar to find out more.

The support will be built around conducting a strategic business review to create a support delivery plan and a three-year business growth action plan, as well as providing a leadership development programme for senior managers in the business, plus one-to-one support on key areas such as productivity and innovation.

Helen Brind – Growth Hub Manager for OxLEP – said: “This new support programme provides entrepreneurs and small business leaders with a growth mindset with fantastic guidance, advice, practical skills and strategies, as well as openings into potential finance opportunities and indeed, the window to a new network of likeminded individuals, local to their organisation.”

The programme will run for 12 months and support will only be available to residents and businesses in West Oxfordshire. A link to register for this support is below.

Although this programme is only available to West Oxfordshire-based organisations, OxLEP are keen to point out that businesses right across the county can continue to benefit from multiple areas of support, provided by them.

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 added: “Given our track record of supporting thousands of Oxfordshire businesses over the past decade, we are delighted to have secured the opportunity to deliver this support on behalf of West Oxfordshire District Council and hope that we can bring some positive influence and results to this part of the county’s business community.

“I would like to stress though that our commitment to the whole of Oxfordshire very much remains the case.

“We continue to offer a vast array of support to our business community at whatever stage they are at and our business support tool – which takes a short time to complete, resulting in a bespoke business action plan – remains the best way for organisations to make initial contact with us and we call on interested businesses to do this.”

Cllr Duncan Enright, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economy, West Oxfordshire District Council, added: “This is just the sort of support the energetic and innovative entrepreneurs of West Oxfordshire need, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis.

“I have met many promoters of ventures and people with ideas who can help grow our economy and offer jobs that will help put food on the table and pay the bills of their loved ones, and we are extremely pleased to be partnering with OxLEP to deliver this support.

“West Oxfordshire has brilliant people with the energy and genius to drive our dynamic, local economy. The support that will be given to our businesses in the coming year, whether small ones that are currently ready to grow, or new ones that are the dynamos of the future, will only enhance their chances of success and growth.

“We look forward to being partners in OxLEP’s programme and enjoying what it has to offer our budding and fruiting economy in this lovely part of Britain.”

If you are interested in receiving support from this new programme, you should attend the webinars linked above or register through OxLEP’s business support tool.