Oxfordshire’s communities benefit from £8.4m OxLEP investment

Isolated and underfunded areas in Oxfordshire are undergoing an economic revitalisation through one of the Oxford Local Enterprise Partnership’s (OxLEP) major investment programmes.

The Getting Building Fund is an £8.4 million programme of investment secured by OxLEP from the Government in 2020 to support Covid-19 recovery.

This programme features six projects that collectively, according to OxLEP, should create 640 jobs by 2025.

To enable better connectivity in Oxfordshire’s rural communities, £800,000 of the funding was allocated to the Rural Gigabit Voucher Programme.

This scheme, which is part of the Digital Investment Plan delivered by Oxfordshire County Council and Building Digital UK, allows rural residents and businesses to access faster and more reliable internet connections.

OxLEP has also supported ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire…’ through the Getting Building Fund investment – a project delivered by Makespace Oxford, whilst being managed and commissioned by Oxford City Council and backed by Oxfordshire’s district councils.

In a bid to transform vacant high street retail units into affordable premises for small businesses and start-ups to use. The project is predicted to eventually support 112 businesses and create 300 jobs.

Andy Edwards, Co-founder and Executive Director at Makespace Oxford, said: “The Meanwhile in Oxfordshire programme gave us the opportunity to go from two hub spaces to bringing nearly 30 buildings back into use in 18 months – which is pretty much unprecedented –  across the county.

“This was made possible through OxLEP and the capital grant we received from the Getting Building Fund, which went straight into refurbishing those buildings. It has allowed us to respond to the crisis of the closure of many high streets, shops and retail spaces in urban areas by reanimating them through refurbishment.”

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OxLEP is also driving economic growth through its four other projects, delivered via the Getting Building Fund investment.

Nigel Tipple, Chief Executive of OxLEP, said:  “The latest results of the Getting Building Fund programme truly showcase the huge impact that individual projects are having and will continue to have on many Oxfordshire communities.

“After a turbulent economic period for the country, the significant investment that we secured for Oxfordshire has enabled many businesses and communities on a number of fronts, including access to speedier broadband in rural locations, and opportunities to develop new skills that are vital for our future.

“I would like to encourage the county’s business community to continue to engage with us at this time of growth. We can help you to secure funding and offer access to training to support your business venture, however big or small.''

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