Providing Student Entrepreneurs with the Resources to Thrive

Enterprising Oxford is a University of Oxford initiative that connects all these resources in one central place. We support entrepreneurs at every stage, from the development of skills, networks, and business ideas, to pitching, finding laboratory and creative spaces, and scaling up from initial foundations. This includes a signposting and concierge service to help users find the resources and opportunities they need to develop their entrepreneurial skills or ideas when they need them. The website collates entrepreneurship-related events and activities, and the weekly newsletter provides curated suggestions to subscribers. The calendar is regularly updated, providing a rich picture of opportunities for those interested in skill or idea development. The bonus is that many of the events and activities are open to staff and the wider Oxfordshire community as well.  

According to GovGrant, an average of 15.8% of spinout companies produced by UK universities have their origins in the University of Oxford, more than any other university across the country. As well as access to novel research and world-class facilities, this rate of commercialisation has been made possible through the skills and development provided by the university’s entrepreneurial support. We encourage entrepreneurs to lay down their roots in the region and to consider their local environment to be an extension of their resource.  

For the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, and to make the ‘triple helix’ model a long-term advantage to its growth and prosperity, keeping entrepreneurs in the region is critical. Oxford is a very global university, reflected in our students and staff, but also in outlook, and we cannot afford to miss the opportunities right in front of us. The number of companies spinning out from the University grows each year, as does the number of companies working in collaboration with us. We have a growing and thriving ecosystem in Oxfordshire, with a wide variety of sectors well represented, including medtech and health, biosciences, automotive, IT & digital, and creative industries to name but a few. All these innovations rely on the talent pool that the Arc continues to draw in. 

Of course, there are even larger regional obstacles present in the ecosystem. House prices are high and space for development near the city is scarce. Travel within the county can be difficult due to infrastructure challenges and sheer volume of commuters. But one of the biggest hurdles to overcome is the perceived lack of opportunity – students often do not venture out to see the breadth of exciting companies on their doorstep, and many of these companies are not proactive enough in trying to attract these students. We are training our students to be entrepreneurial, and then waving as they head off to places they think have more opportunities, both in the UK and abroad.