Blenheim Palace is creating a new business and innovation centre to support entrepreneurs and start-up companies. Due to open in September, the 28,000 sq ft business and innovation centre is located on the Windrush Industrial Park, a 28-acre commercial estate situated within a prime commercial area at West Witney, Oxfordshire.
Blenheim Estate purchased the Windrush Industrial Park last year and is currently refurbishing Windrush House, a large office building at the entrance to the Park. The building will be rebranded as ‘Witney Business and Innovation Centre’ and provide offices and business support for up to 50 small and growing companies.
Blenheim Palace has appointed Oxford Innovation, a leading operator of business and innovation centres, to manage the centre.
Oxford Innovation now manages seven centres in Oxfordshire, part of a network of 20 centres stretching from Portsmouth to Yorkshire and used by over 500 companies. Business support services provided include access to funding through its business angel investment networks as well as mentoring and business planning advice.
Blenheim Palace at Woodstock is widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest palaces and is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, the birthplace of Winston Churchill and a World Heritage site. Witney Business and Innovation Centre is the latest business initiative from Blenheim Palace through its estate arm which manages over 600,000 sq ft of commercial property across Oxfordshire and a significant residential and agricultural portfolio.
John Hoy, chief executive of Blenheim Palace, said: “The growth of local businesses is crucial to the recovery and sustainable growth of the economy. At Witney Business and Innovation Centre, companies will benefit from flexible letting arrangements and a supportive environment with access to the funding and advice they need to help them to succeed.”
Chris Allington, managing director of Oxford Innovation’s business and innovation centres division, said: “This prestigious appointment provides the opportunity to create a thriving centre in a prime commercial location just outside of Witney. Working closely with local stakeholder organisations including West Oxfordshire District Council, our ambition is for Witney Business and Innovation Centre to become a focal point for enterprise in West Oxfordshire and a generator of local employment – we estimate that the centre should create around 290 jobs.”
Resources: Oxford Innovation website
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