Let s do business. South Oxfordshire

Transcription

1 Let s do business. South Oxfordshire

2 An attractive place to work and live Why not base your business in one of the most attractive areas in the country which offers not only a range of business premises, excellent communication and transport links and skilled staff, but also an environment that is attractive and home to a buoyant economy? Superior quality of life Rural setting with urban convenience Exceptional resource base High calibre workforce and expertise Diverse space and facilities Converted barns to state-of-the art offices Central location Excellent rail and air links South Oxfordshire is a great location for business because of its: thriving economy central location with good rail and air links access to skilled workforce comprehensive business support network wide choice of business sites range of meeting and conference facilities Elsfield A40 Oxford A4074 Wheatley B480 8a 8 A329 7 M40 Thame Towersey Chinnor Henton B4015 Stadhampton Chalgrove Culham Didcot Dorchester A4130 South Oxfordshire District Council Wallingford A4130 B4009 Ewelme B480 B481 Watlington Cholsey A417 Ipsden Moulsford Woodcote A4074 Henley Reading

3 South Oxfordshire s story Location Environment Entertainment South Oxfordshire sits in the heart of England on the doorstep of the internationally recognised city of Oxford and just 40 minutes by train from London. London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and Birmingham international airports are all within easy reach by public transport and car. The M40 motorway runs through the east of the district linking Birmingham to the north and London to the south. The A34 runs to the west of the district linking to the M4. By district, South Oxfordshire has the highest number of businesses in the county (2007) A major asset of South Oxfordshire is the quality of its rural and urban environment. It s key towns are Didcot, Thame, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford. These towns act as key service centres to a range of towns and villages across the district. There is a range of housing available throughout the district with 9,000 homes planned for Didcot in the next few years. South Oxfordshire is an ideal location for CPM UK s operations, being close to the motorway network, with good access to rail links but without the difficulties of a fully urban environment. London and Birmingham are both just over an hour away, local staff can get to the office with little traffic disruption and we have space that would be prohibitively expensive if we were London based. Tony Stratton, Chairman, CPM Group, Thame South Oxfordshire is a diverse, exciting and stimulating place to live, work, visit and invest in. If offers something for everyone with a unique blend of entertainment and leisure pursuits, natural beauty, picturesque towns and villages, quality shopping and restaurants. Home for big businesses 15 of Oxfordshire s largest businesses are based in South Oxfordshire. These include RAF Benson, The Centre of Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, Memec Europe and Kidde Fire Protection in Thame, and Invesco in Henley. Other internationally renowned businesses who have chosen South Oxfordshire as their home are: CABI Johnson Matthey HR Wallingford

4 Monument Park, Chalgrove Home for high-tech businesses South Oxfordshire is part of the Science Vale UK which covers Didcot, Milton Park, Grove, Harwell Science and Innovation Centre and Culham Science Centre. The Science Vale UK is an area of economic growth that is well on the way to becoming a global hotspot for enterprise and innovation. Already home to 13% of the region s research and development activity, the area is now also gaining an international reputation as a first choice business location for high technology and scientific companies wanting to make their mark in business and research. Large amounts of economic investment and housing are planned for this area, and Didcot has been designated a New Growth Point within the South East by the UK government. Home for small businesses There are 7,000 VAT-registered businesses in South Oxfordshire, and there is consistent year-on-year growth in stock. In fact, annually the number of businesses registering for VAT in South Oxfordshire is higher than the rest of Oxfordshire and the South East, England and the UK. 1 Small businesses thrive in South Oxfordshire. Businesses registering for VAT in the district have a higher survival rate than the Oxfordshire, South East and England averages. 2 TBAC centres TBAC operate business centres throughout Oxfordshire offering premises for small businesses from offices to workshops, with the support of TBAC mentors. They start from per week, including rent, rates, electricity and insurance. Population South Oxfordshire has a population of around 129, Between 1991 and 2001 the population increased at a greater rate than the English average. 4 By 2026, the population of South Oxfordshire is forecast to reach around 144, Spending power South Oxfordshire residents have the higher income per capita in comparison to the rest of Oxfordshire, South East and Great Britain averages. 6 The environment for global excellence Henley-on-Thames 1 BERR Business registrations, per 10,000 resident population aged 16 and above (2008) % of South Oxfordshire businesses still active three years after their birth, Oxfordshire 68.8%, South East, 66.3% and England 63.5%. Source: Office for National Statistics, Enterprise Births, Deaths and Survivals 2008 (business demography data series) 3 ONS 2008 mid-year population estimate % increase between compared to England s 2.57% 5 143,695 according to Oxfordshire County Council estimates based on planned housing development 6 Gross weekly pay for full time worker by residence is compared to in the South East and for Great Britain (ONS 2009 annual survey of hours and earnings residence analysis)

5 Type of employment Over 56% of employees in South Oxfordshire are employed in managerial, professional and technical roles. 7 This reflects the number of high-tech industries in the area. Employee jobs in South Oxfordshire by industry 9 Sector Employee jobs % Manufacturing 4, Construction 2, Total employee jobs in South Oxfordshire 8 Full time 35,600 (67%) Part time 17,500 (33%) Total 53,100 Services: 45, Distribution, hotels and restaurants 13, Transport and communications 1, Finance, IT and other business activities 16, Public admin, education and health 10, Other services 3, Tourism related 10 5, Key sectors The service sector is overwhelmingly the main employer in South Oxfordshire, with 86% of people working in this sector. In particular, finance, IT and other business activity accounts for over 31% of jobs with distribution, hotels and restaurants accounting for 25.4%. South Oxfordshire offers a home to all types of businesses and is a base to an exciting range of sectors including: Environmental sciences South Oxfordshire is home to an impressive range of environmental sector businesses, with a niche cluster in the Wallingford area. These businesses include world leading research in areas such as environmental hydraulics, management of the maritime environment, agricultural development and research in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Environmental services businesses based in South Oxfordshire include: HR Wallingford The Centre for Hydrology & Ecology CABI Environment Agency Biotech and Healthcare On the doorstep of South Oxfordshire is the University of Oxford, a world leader in life science research. Its department of biochemistry is one of the largest in Europe, specialising in genetics, molecular cell biochemistry and structural biology. In addition, the University of Reading carries out internationally recognised life science and healthcare research projects. Reading is also home to the purchasing and supply agency for the National Health Service (NHS). Biotech and Healthcare businesses based in South Oxfordshire include: Orphan Europe (UK) Ltd Diagnostic Reagents Ltd Alliance Medical Tourism The stunning South Oxfordshire countryside is home to a thriving tourism industry employing approximately 5,000 people 11 with visitors bringing over 209 million to the area in Businesses range from individual characteristic bed and breakfasts to the world renowned and award winning Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons. 7 ONS annual population survey July 2008 June ONS 2008 annual business inquiry employee analysis 9 ONS 2008 annual business inquiry employee analysis 10 Tourism consists of industries that are also part of the services industry 11 ONS 2008 annual business inquiry employee analysis 12 Tourism South East Economic Impact of Tourism in South Oxfordshire (2008)

6 Staff Skilled staff South Oxfordshire has a buoyant job market with a wide range of skilled staff living in the district. Oxfordshire has the highest percentage nationally of graduates in the workforce. Skill levels in South Oxfordshire are relatively high, with levels of qualification at NVQ4 (degree) and above much higher than the national average of 28.6%. Training and staff development The district is close to the universities of Oxford, Oxford Brookes and Reading. Abingdon and Witney college and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College offer a range of employer linked training opportunities and courses. There are also plans to develop a learning park in Didcot to help nurture science and technology skills to support this growing sector. Universities Henley Business School: Oxford: Oxford Brookes: Reading: Colleges Abingdon and Witney College: Oxford and Cherwell Valley College: Train to gain offers funding and support to train your employees to help your business succeed

7 Business Parks South Oxfordshire s range of business locations is varied and flexible to meet all requirements. The full range of business and industrial estates in South Oxfordshire are listed on Examples include: Culham Science Centre Culham Science Centre is one of the UK s most prestigious research centres with a strong focus upon cutting-edge science and technology. The Centre is owned and operated by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and is the home of the UK s fusion research programme, known as the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), and the world s largest fusion experimental facility, JET (Joint European Torus). In addition, Culham plays host to over 40 resident organisations that recognise the value of having their business base at Culham. As a major employment site in southern Oxfordshire, they can accommodate and support companies through their extensive commercial property portfolio and onsite Innovation Centre. Howbery Park, Wallingford Howbery Park is a unique business campus set within 70 acres of beautiful countryside on the banks of the river Thames. The Park contains a number of businesses and research establishments specialising in environmental and geosciences. Howbery Park caters for all sizes of occupiers providing a mixture of existing and bespoke opportunities available for future expansion. They offer both small short term accommodation to larger long term bespoke pre-let plots. Monument Park, Chalgrove Monument Park is a popular and flexible business centre on the edge of Chalgrove in South Oxfordshire, only a short drive from the M40 and Oxford's ring road. The Park is set around landscaped grounds with lawns, a fish pond and a lake. Over 80 companies use space in various sized units including 2 purpose-built serviced office centres, Hampden House & Ashgrove House. The Park offers many other services including meeting rooms, conference facilities and virtual offices. The council produces a quarterly vacant property register covering industrial, office, commercial and land available across the district. The latest list is available at Culham Science Centre Red Kite House at Howbery Park

8 If you need support to find or expand premises in South Oxfordshire or are looking for any advice for your business please contact the economic development team who will be able to act as your point of contact for any other council services, such as planning. We would be delighted to help you find the right location for your business in South Oxfordshire and to assist in pulling together all the information you need in terms of planning, building links with similar businesses and financial assistance. To speak to us about any of these areas of support contact us: Economic Development South Oxfordshire District Council Benson Lane Crowmarsh Gifford Wallingford Oxfordshire OX10 8QW T: E: Visit Links & financial assistance SEEDA or Business Link UKTI Finance South East Enterprise Europe Oxfordshire Economic Partnership Oxfordshire Innovation and Growth Team Science Vale UK Oxfordshire Bioscience Network Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network TBAC Oxfordshire Business Enterprises Federation of Small Businesses Oxfordshire Business Directory Southern Oxfordshire LEADER