New Chair of Enterprise Oxfordshire ‘excited’ by opportunity after appointment

Following a recent recruitment process, Enterprise Oxfordshire has announced the appointment of Dr Alex Reip as the new Chair of its non-executive board of directors.

Alex has been involved in the Oxfordshire innovation ecosystem since moving to the area after completing his PhD, making significant contributions to the local economy, including co-founding the world-leading energy technologies company, Oxford nanoSystems.

Alongside his work with Oxford nanoSystems, Alex has maintained a passion for supporting start-up businesses, using his experience to advise and mentor technology-based companies.

Today, Alex holds a portfolio of non-executive director, trustee and advisory roles across a variety of sectors, including energy, education and innovation-led initiatives.

He is a Non-Executive Director at the Net Zero Technology Centre, an appointed trustee of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and Chair of Governors at North Kidlington Primary School.

Meanwhile, at Brunel University London, Alex is an Honorary Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence, and a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences.

He also serves on the Strategic Advisory Board of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Reading and the Science Strategic Advisory Board at City of Oxford College.

Alex’s appointment follows a transition that saw local economic development functions – formerly led by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) – integrated by Oxfordshire County Council and delivered through what is now Enterprise Oxfordshire.

The organisation’s governance arrangements are overseen by Oxfordshire County Council’s Shareholder Committee, to which Enterprise Oxfordshire’s Board, headed by Alex, reports.

Alex said: “Taking on the role of Chair at Enterprise Oxfordshire at this particular moment feels like a real privilege.

“The region has extraordinary assets – world-class research, deep tech spin-outs and start-ups, and a business community with genuine ambition. However, too many companies still struggle to find the support and investment they need to scale. That’s what I want to help change.

“Working with businesses, education providers, and our local authority and government partners, I believe we are extremely well positioned to deliver great programmes for both people and businesses.

“Our teams have a legacy of creating robust and agile support that is truly driven by our business community, establishing even stronger connections between business and education, as well as working nationally and internationally to drive investment into the county for the benefit of all.

“I look forward to working more closely with our teams to deliver such a significant programme of activity.”

Enterprise Oxfordshire currently oversees the delivery of a comprehensive range of business, skills, investment and trade support services, as well as supporting a variety of strategies to drive Oxfordshire’s economic potential in a sustainable and inclusive way.

Helen Brind, Director of Business and Skills at Enterprise Oxfordshire, added: “We are delighted to announce Alex’s appointment as Chair of Enterprise Oxfordshire.

“Alex is not only a familiar face to many within our organisation, but also across the Oxfordshire business community. He has a strong understanding of the challenges faced by businesses of all sizes on a day-to-day basis, but more importantly, he has a clear view of the outstanding opportunities this county offers.

“I have no doubt he will provide the guidance and insight needed to ensure we continue to deliver outstanding impact for Oxfordshire.

“We all look forward to working with Alex even more closely over the coming months and beyond.”

Cllr Laura Gordon, Cabinet Member for Environment & Economy at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This is a significant appointment for Enterprise Oxfordshire at a pivotal moment for the organisation and for the county’s economy.

“Oxfordshire is one of the UK’s leading innovation regions, but we know that to realise its full potential we must continue to strengthen how we support businesses to start, grow and scale, while ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared across our communities.

“Alex brings a wealth of experience from across the innovation ecosystem, alongside a clear passion for supporting businesses and connecting sectors. I’m confident that, working with the Enterprise Oxfordshire Board, the County Council, and our partners across the county, he will help drive forward the next phase of delivery and ensure the county remains a globally competitive, inclusive and sustainable place to live and work.”

Alex’s appointment comes at a time when the impact of Growth Hubs in the region – of which Enterprise Oxfordshire Business is one – has been highlighted in a recent report.

The Growth Hub Cluster Impact Report – which analysed support delivered by Growth Hubs in Oxfordshire (Enterprise Oxfordshire Business), the South Midlands, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and New Anglia between April 2020 and March 2025 – revealed the significant impact being made across the region.

Overall impacts over the five-year period included:

• Supporting 92,719 businesses
• Delivering 178,563 hours of business support
• Enabling 3,934 new business start-ups
• Helping to create 6,970 jobs
• Helping to safeguard 6,093 jobs

Meanwhile, for every £1 of core government funding, the Cluster attracted an additional £24 to support SME growth, while also delivering £35 of economic and social value per £1.