• Business networks and Chambers of Commerce
• Business support services
• Government and local authorities
• Environmental information and support
• Technology network
• Business networking
• Social enterprises information and support

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Business networks and Chambers of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce

Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce
Tel: 01235 537405

Banbury and District Chamber of Commerce
Tel: 01295 201140

Bicester and District Chamber of Commerce 
Tel: 0870 206 1421

Didcot Chamber of Commerce

Wantage and District Chamber of Commerce

Witney and District Chamber of Commerce

Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network
Communications network for town chambers and other similar business groups across Oxfordshire. Details of its member groups are listed on the website.

Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Acts as a voice for businesses in the county and represents their views on a regional basis through the Thames Valley Chamber
Tel: 01753 870500

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce 
Tel: 01753 870500

Business networks

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
Lobby group representing the interests of businesses to the government and media. Provides networking and informational events and a monthly magazine: inbusiness.
Tel: 020 7395 8231

Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
Promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Offers a 24-hour legal helpline and networking events to members.
Tel: 0118 945 6848

Institute of Directors (IoD)
A professional network for business directors to receive training, information, advice, conferences and publications.
Tel 020 7766 8866 or Oxfordshire 01865 358447

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Business support services

For commercial property, see your local district council website.

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership

This new Oxfordshire Business Support Service provides you with links to specialist not-for-profit organisations that can give you a wide range of information, advice and guidance on all matters relating to starting and growing a business, from where to go for a small loan to how you can adapt your business to meet the challenges of climate change.

Business Link
Advice, information and support to new and growing businesses.

Oxfordshire Business Support Service
Provides links to specialist not-for-profit organisations that can give you a wide range of information, advice and guidance on all matters relating to starting and developing a business. From the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Oxfordshire Inward Investment Service
Free, confidential service to assist businesses who wish to relocate, or set up in Oxfordshire.

The Science Vale UK partnership
Working together to develop southern Oxfordshire as a global hot spot for enterprise and innoviation in science, high technology and the application of knowledge.  
Tel: 01235 520202

Cherwell M40 Investment Partnership
Provides a range of business services to companies both within the area and to those seeking to relocate to North Oxfordshire.

CHIP
Bodicote House
Bodicote
Banbury
Oxon
OX15 4AA

Tel: 01295 250723
Fax: 01295 221857

Prince's Trust
Assists young people aged 18-30 starting their own business.
Tel: 01865 825998
Fax: 01865 825553

Oxfordshire Business Enterprises
Oxfordshire Business Enterprises (OBE) provides a high quality, free mentoring service to all people starting up their own business. OBE will continue to provide ongoing mentoring and a comprehensive range of business services throughout the first two to three years of business development.
Tel: 01295 227082

Fredericks Oxfordshire
A local loan fund for viable businesses that have been turned down by a bank or a mainstream lender.

Oxford Business Mentors
Oxford Business Mentors is a non profit organisation which provides free mentoring for established businesses (1 year +). Mentoring is by face to face meeting, and the mentors are all people who own and still run a business in Oxfordshire.

The Donut suite of websites:
These are resources for small businesses packed with top tips, advice and tools.

• The Start Up Donut is packed with free advice and resources intended to help new businesses get up and running.  
• The IT Donut aims to assist small to medium sized businesses to choose and use business computer systems.  
• The Marketing Donut aims to assist small businesses to develop a customer service culture.  
• The Law Donut provides legal advice and support from practical guidance on employment law to tips on getting commercial contracts right.
   

Shell LiveWIRE
An online community for young entrepreneurs (aged 16-30) who are starting or running their own business.

Thames Valley Investment Network (TVIN)
Links investors to companies with high growth potential who are seeking funding from £150,000 to £750,000. Part of Oxford Innovation Ltd.
Tel: 01344 753365
Fax: 01344 751601

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Government and local authorities

District councils deliver a wide range of services to the public within their own local areas, many relevant to the business community. Each has an economic development team, providing information and support to local businesses:

Cherwell District Council
Bodicote House
Bodicote
Banbury
Oxon
OX15 4AA

Tel: 01295 252535
Fax: 01295 270028

Economic Development
Tel: 01295 221863
Fax: 01295 221857
Email: economic.development@cherwell-dc.gov.uk

Oxford City Council
Tel: 01865 249811
Fax: 01865 252331

South Oxfordshire District Council
Benson Lane
Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxon
OX10 8ED

Tel: 01491 823000
Fax: 01491 823001

Economic Development
Tel: 01491 823763
Fax: 01491 823015
Email: economic.development@southoxon.gov.uk

Vale of White Horse District Council
Tel: 01235 520202
Fax: 01235 532217

Economic Development
Tel: 01235 547614
Fax: 01235 547612
Email: economic.development@whitehorsedc.gov.uk

West Oxfordshire District Council
Council Offices
Woodgreen
Witney
Oxon
OX28 1NB

Tel: 01993 861000
Fax: 01993 861450

Economic Development
Tel: 01993 861485
Email: business@westoxon.gov.uk

European Information Centre
EU related advice on matters such as public contracts, taxation, company law and EU funding, and may assist companies looking for business partners in the EU.
Tel: 023 8083 2866
Fax: 023 8023 1714

Oxfordshire Libraries Answers Direct
Countywide information service on business matters, taxation, law and government statistics able to draw on range of printed and electronic sources in Oxford Central Library
Tel: 0845 600 3119
Email: libraryanswersdirect@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Trading Standards Service
Advice for businesses on a wide range of trading standards issues, covering: animal health and welfare, fair trading, food, safety, weights and measures, credit, vehicles and traffic and underage sales.
Tel: 0845 051 0845
Fax: 01865 783106

Other useful government contacts

Department for Business Innovation and Skills
Tel: 020 7215 5000

Department for Communities and Local Government
Tel: 020 7944 4400

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Tel: 08459 335577

Department for Transport
Tel: 020 7944 8300

Office for National Statistics
Tel: 0845 601 3034

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Environmental information and support

egeneration
This is an internet-based network of environmental information and support for businesses, managed by the Environmental Information Exchange.

Environmental Information Exchange
Provides SMEs within Oxfordshire with information and support for resolving environmental concerns.
Tel: 01865 483299
Fax: 01865 483242

TV Energy
The renewable energy agency for the Thames Valley.
Tel: 01635 817420
Fax: 01635 552779

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Technology network

Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) help companies and research organisations transfer technologies to and from the rest of Europe by using the IRC Network. Oxfordshire is served by Thames Valley Technology.

Thames Valley Technology Ltd
Tel: 01865 784888
Fax: 01865 784333

Oxford Innovation Ltd
Provides a range of business services for early stage technology companies.
Tel: 01865 811127
Fax: 01865 209044

Oxford Technology Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)
Makes and manages investments in start-up and early stage technology businesses.
Tel: 01865 784466
Fax: 01865 784430

Science Oxford
Encourages the study and application of science and technology in Oxfordshire.
Tel: 01865 728953
Fax: 01865 791854

Oxfordshire Bioscience Network
Public-private partnership, managed by Oxford Brookes University, promoting biotechnology business and research enterprise across Oxfordshire.
Tel: 01865 594640
Fax: 01235 835843

Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network
A network linking private investors with Oxfordshire's rich source of investment opportunities in early stage technology companies. Run by Oxford Innovation Ltd.
Tel: 01865 811143
Fax: 01865 209044

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Business networking

Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
Tel: 01753 870500
Fax: 01753 870501

Banbury Business Breakfast Club
Meets monthly, usually on the first Thursday of the month at various venues in North Oxfordshire.
Tel: 01295 270999
Fax: 01295 661469

Bicester Business Breakfast Club
Meets monthly, usually on the 4th Wednesday of the month at the Littlebury Hotel, Bicester.
Tel: 01869 322 705

More details available on the Bicester and District Chamber of Commerce website.

Technology Breakfast Club
c/o Alison Soanes, Grant Thornton
1 Westminster Way
Oxford
OX2 0PZ

Tel: 01865 799899
Fax: 01865 724420

Oxford Networking Lunch Club
Tel: 01295 270999
Fax: 01295 661469

Milton Keynes Women in Management
Web: www.managers.org.uk/wim

Wantage and District Business Breakfast Club
Tel: 01235 861779
Fax: 01235 863334

Witney Big Breakfast Club
Tel: 01865 881800

Oxfordshire Women’s Forum
Tel: 01865 373625
Fax: 01865 375855

Venturefest
Organisers of an annual networking conference for business in the Oxfordshire area.
Tel: 01865 327813
Fax: 01865 730232

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Social enterprises information and support

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire Food Group
Promotes local produced food and drinks and provides support for local producers.
Tel: 01865 484116

Co-operative Futures
A co-operative policy and development agency, providing free information, advice and support to new and existing co-operative and social enterprises.

Ethnic Minority Business Service (EMBS) - Oxfordshire
Assists members of ethnic minorities to develop their business ideas, providing free advice and training to pre-start and established businesses
Head office: 01865 794431
Fax: 01865 727015

Oxford Training Centre:
Tel: 01865 794006
Email: srini@f2s.com

Banbury Training Centre:
Tel: 01295 269999
Fax: 01295 269999
Email: amandakimberley@f2s.com

Thames Valley Farmers' Market Co-operative Ltd
Promotes local produce and farmers' markets.
Tel: 01235 22726

Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network
Founded as a network of Oxfordshire’s chamber of commerce groups, OTCN now covers town chambers of commerce, business parks, shopping centres, business networking events and other membership organisations and business groups across Oxfordshire. It also has its own groups: NetworkB and the high profile speaker networking event, OxFocus. For members it runs a cost saving, bulk buying group and contract tender alert service.