Major Government-funded programme brings in 646 new jobs, supports 401 businesses, and creates opportunities for 508 new learners in the county
Jun 08, 2026
The Getting Building Fund was announced in August 2020, to provide a much-needed boost to Oxfordshire businesses and communities in the wake of Covid-19.
Enterprise Oxfordshire – formerly OxLEP – are pleased to announce the significant achievements of the Getting Building Fund, which has seen six major projects within Oxfordshire supported by £8.4million of Government investment, in collaboration with both private and public sector partners.
Six years since the fund was launched, the programme has achieved significant success, including the creation of 646 new jobs, 256 jobs safeguarded, 401 businesses supported, 508 opportunities created for new learners and 2441 new super/ultrafast broadband connections enabled in rural areas.
With a focus on supporting communities and the regeneration of high streets, one project supported is ‘Meanwhile in Oxfordshire…’, which has seen the transformation of vacant retail units in high streets across the county into affordable premises for more than 140 organisations, including independent shops, cultural venues, creative studios and co-working spaces.
Several of the projects also set out to support the county’s emerging green economy and low-carbon initiatives to address the climate emergency, with the Green Construction Skills Centre helping meet the forecast demand for green construction skills through a series of training programmes – and Mini TESA (the Energy Systems Accelerator pilot) bringing together academic and industry researchers in a multi-disciplinary hub that focuses on the transition to low carbon energy solutions.
Another project has enabled the future expansion of the University of Oxford’s Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility – a major leader in the production of vaccines for early phase clinical trials, including the world-renowned Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine – potentially increasing the UK’s share of the global vaccine manufacturing market.
The county’s business community was also supported through the Fund, with the Business Investment Fund supporting 51 scalable, small-to-medium-sized businesses with grants up to £100,000 for capital projects with the ability to deliver tangible outcomes aligned to driving economic recovery, growth and job creation.
Successful recipients came from a broad range of sectors, including creative industries, food and drink, life sciences, the visitor economy, green tech and high-value manufacturing.
The final project has recognised changing work patterns, seeing the Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme make more funding available to help homes and businesses in rural areas of Oxfordshire get access to much faster and more reliable internet connections.
Helen Ryan-Wallis, Director of Strategic Development and Programmes at Enterprise Oxfordshire, said: “We are proud to share the achievements of the Getting Building Fund and just some of the significant outcomes reached through this Government investment.
“The fact that the Fund has brought 646 new jobs into the county – and over time will enable so many more – just goes to show what can be achieved for local communities through this kind of investment, particularly following such a turbulent time as the Covid-19 Pandemic.
“We are pleased to have secured such significant investment and utilised it in such a way that has delivered so extensively for the county, focusing on key priorities such as the climate challenge and the regeneration of our high streets – something we continue to focus on, for instance through our Helping High Streets programme.
“We will continue to support our communities and partners to unlock vital opportunities and outcomes such as those provided through this investment.”
Enterprise Oxfordshire became the trading name of OxLEP in April last year, marking the completion of a two-year transition that saw local economic development functions move under arrangements agreed by Oxfordshire County Council.
The Council now acts as Enterprise Oxfordshire’s sole shareholder under a Teckal company arrangement.