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The UK's leading
innovation centre specialists
As the UK’s leading provider of workspace that offers growth and innovation services, we’re building the future with innovation centres, jobs and income. We do this by partnering with and advising building owners, local authorities and knowledge institutions on the design, planning and running of business centres.
Founded by the Oxford Trust in 1987, we are now the UK's leading provider of innovation centres - flexible workspace and support for early stage science, technology and innovative SMEs.
Our founding mission was to provide three crucial areas of support for technology start-ups – as experienced by our founders Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, when they spun out Oxford Instruments from the University of Oxford in the 1950’s. That was:
- (Really) flexible and affordable workspace – whether that’s an office, workshop or laboratory
- Access to funding that fills the gap between what an entrepreneur can raise themselves through family and friends and what a Venture Capital firm might fund
- Support from highly qualified mentors, coaches and other entrepreneurs through part-funded business support programmes
Though much has changed in the past 30 years, our mission hasn’t, and along the way we have built up a wealth of experience and stories of success – for us and the SMEs we support.
Discover our story
Discover how we have developed Oxford Innovation from two portakabins in 1987, labeled the "Oxford Science Slum", to UK's leading provider in Innovation Centres, helping over 1,000 entrepreneurs develop and grow.
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1987Oxford Innovation was created as a spin-off from the
Oxford Trust, an independent charitable foundation,
to provide affordable office space and support for
entrepreneurs in Oxfordshire. -
1994Oxford Innovation creates The Oxford Investment
Opportunity Network (OION) connecting businesses
with investors, and moves to a £1.5m site. -
2000Oxford Innovation opens the Harwell Innovation
Centre and begins to establish itself at the heart
of the UK's small business ecosystem. -
2001Oxford Innovation becomes an independent
company, and opens Culham Innovation Centre. -
2002OCFI wins an award for excellence, and steadily
continues to increase its number of UK-based
Innovation Centres. -
2003Oxford Innovation is recognised as a Fast Track
100 company by The Sunday Times, with 12
centres in operation, providing flexible workspace
and support to over 250 customers. -
2006Oxford Innovation merges with SQW to establish
SQW Group. Bringing together two market leaders in
the fields of economic development and regeneration
and business support for high-growth companies. -
2008CEME Innovation Centre opens in Rainham,
providing a foothold for Oxford Innovation to develop
in Greater London. -
2010Lily House, Bracknell, Ocean Village Innovation
Centre and The Nucleus open. -
2011Oxford Innovation opens Scott Bader Innovation
Centre and Harborough Innovation Centre. -
2014Oxford Innovation opens One St Aldates in Oxford
City Centre. -
2015Fareham Innovation Centre opens for business,
achieving 100% occupancy in its first year of operation.
The centre is currently expanding its premises to
accommodate demand. -
2016Future Space, Innovation Factory and OCFI's drop in
space, The POD, opens for business. -
2017Ashton Old Baths opened for business in May, a digital
hub in Ashton under Lyne for creative industries based
in a renovated Victorian bath house.
Our Group
In 2006, SQW merged with Oxford Innovation to establish SQW Group. The Group brings together two market leaders in the fields of economic development and regeneration, technology commercialisation and business support for high-growth companies.
Our sister division, Oxford Innovation Services, provides practical support to help ambitious businesses and start-ups succeed. Through a team of over 35 business coaches they have worked with over 2,500 companies in the last three years.
Our sister company, SQW, are a leading independent provider of research, analysis and advice in economic and social development. They work with a wide range of clients across both public and private sectors.
Meet the makers
As innovators in the business growth and incubation sector, we deliver results by doing and seeing things differently. We also understand that our expertise in running innovation centres comes from our belief in collaboration, respect and challenging collective thinking.
Meet the makers
As innovators in the business growth and incubation sector, we deliver results by doing and seeing things differently. We also understand that our expertise in running innovation centres comes from our belief in collaboration, respect and challenging collective thinking.
Our clients include
Interested in finding out more?
Talk to our Business Development team about how we can help.
