You may be eligible to claim between £50,000 to £140,000 if your proposal can demonstrate at least one of the following:

• Collaboration involving more than two rural businesses.
• Substantial, quantifiable benefits for more than three rural businesses. The extent of the benefit to other businesses will be a major factor in assessing the application for grant aid. Evidence will need to be provided to prove the levels of benefit and the business relationship that will exist.
• The project will act as beacon to other businesses in the region by providing best practice, innovation, demonstration facilities and/or good quality advice on how to replicate the enterprise.

In Banbury and Bicester

Bicester Hotel's investment of £8m, creating jobs and improved facilities options in Cherwell, is looking very impressive. The extension to the new 4 star hotel includes 52 luxury rooms with en-suite facilities, an Orangery, a new à la carte restaurant, brasserie and conference facilities.

Telford Road Industrial Estate in Bicester is bearing fruits of recent investment. A development of a former industrial unit and associated office buildings into “The Bicester Business Park” and “The Bicester Business Centre” respectively, is now well under way. The total investment in the project will be near to £3 million and will add affordable and flexible space for growing businesses.

Despite the financial maelstrom that we are all facing Richard Venables of VSL & Partners wants us to reflect on some of our key advantages.

In one of its biggest projects ever, Cherwell District Council has embarked on a £27 million sports centre modernisation programme.

The three main sports centres in Banbury, Bicester and Kidlington are seen as central pillars to achieving the Council’s Strategic Priority of “A safe and healthy Cherwell”. The investment will leave all three sports facilities well placed to keep the personnel in your business fit and healthy.

A new dedicated Business Payment Support Service, designed to meet the needs of businesses affected by the current economic conditions has been launched by the Chancellor in today’s Pre-Budget Report.

This targeted support will give businesses a fast and streamlined service for arranging to pay their HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) tax bill to a timetable they can afford. In addition to this, HMRC will offer further practical help by not imposing additional penalties or surcharges on the tax within a time to pay arrangement.

The Federation of Small Businesses – over the past twelve months the Oxfordshire Branch has been busy representing the needs of small businesses in the partnerships responsible for ensuring that the local economy is vibrant and growing. Over the year we have been given a great deal of assistance by a wide range of individuals and organisations.

“Media coverage on the general state of the economy is generating speculation around current and future trends with commercial property.

Performance of the commercial property markets is directly related to national and international trading conditions, along with the confidence and profitability of the corporate sector. Conditions of weaker demand and rising costs have been created by the dislocation of the financial markets, coupled with inflationary pressures. It is also likely that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for the UK will fall short of the sluggish expectation of 1.7%.

Enterprising Cherwell!!

Anybody considering starting their own business in Oxfordshire can gain independent advice, free-of-charge through Oxfordshire Business Enterprises (OBE).

Prodrive was named ‘Business of the Year’ at the Motorsport Industry Association’s annual awards presentation.