Our insights

We produce data-driven insight reports designed to help policy makers and funders develop eddective SME policy. 

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Growth
UK business support system “not fit for purpose” under funding pressure

Our latest report warns that the UK’s business support system is struggling to deliver impact and risks falling short without stronger foundations and better use…

Finance
Breaking Barriers: Unlocking Financial Access for SMEs

Breaking Barriers to SME Growth: Oxford Innovation Advice calls for policy shift from finance supply to financial capability The latest insight report from Oxford Innovation…

Innovation
Unlocking SME Innovation: Insights from the Frontline

This report presents the insights and reflections of ten experienced business advisors working directly with hundreds of SMEs across the UK. It aims to influence…

Innovation
Unlocking SME Productivity: A Deep Dive into Management Practices

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the cornerstone of the UK economy, driving innovation, employment, and economic resilience. Yet, unlocking their full productivity potential remains…

Finance
Insight report. Investing in Women

Oxford Innovation Advice latest insight report: “Investing in Women” Oxford Innovation Advice has released its latest insight report, Investing in Women, a comprehensive exploration of…

Manufacturing
Insight report. SME Manufacturers: Skills and Digital Adoption

Our latest report calls on more Government funding to help SME manufacturers make the digital skills transformation they need to enhance growth. Nearly 85% of…

Innovation
Oxfordshire’s Innovation Engine 2023

An insightful new report and interactive dashboard has been published by Advanced Oxford in conjunction with Elsevier. Oxfordshire’s Innovation Engine 2023 report assesses the growth…

Manufacturing
Supporting Green Manufacturing Report: The environmental performance of SMEs

Our latest insight report highlights the need for incentives for SMEs to improve their environmental performance and meet net zero targets. Following the conclusion of…

Finance
Influencing Local Investment Plans for Businesses

As Councils and Combined Authorities are in need of writing their Local Investment Plans as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund by 1st August…

Manufacturing
SME Survey: What Support do SME Manufacturers need in the future?

In January 2022, our largest and leading business support programme for SME manufacturers, the Manufacturing Growth Programme, carried out an online survey in which they…

Finance
SME Finance: Do small businesses need help to rebuild from Covid-19?

Over 1.5 million SMEs have received approximately £66 billion worth of Government-back Covid-19 loans, as of January 2021. This includes the Bounce Back Loan Scheme,…

Growth
Manufacturing Barometer special focus: Trading beyond Brexit

Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit, there are some signs of optimism from businesses across the SME manufacturing sector. SME manufacturers are slowly…

Manufacturing
Manufacturing Barometer special focus: Shaping the future of SME Manufacturing

Taking the pulse of over 400 manufacturing SMEs across England, including those supported by our Manufacturing Growth Programme, showed that whilst many businesses are still…

Growth
SME Manufacturers and the Covid crisis

The survey data found that during the Covid crisis SME manufacturers have been squeezed between sharply weakening demand and poorer supplier performance. The results clearly…

Innovation
Covid-19 Impact on Innovative SMEs – 17 April-9 July 2020

The analysis is based on conversations with 73 SMEs in the South East. These SMEs are innovative: they are developing a new product, process or…

Growth
SME Manufacturing support and COVID-19

Analysis of support provided to manufacturing SMEs across 17 LEP areas shows that: While the number of manufacturers supported has been maintained since the start…

Growth
Challenging the preconceptions of SME leadership

In this report we draw on Oxford Innovation’s experience of working with over 2,000 SME leaders to explore the topic of SME leadership. Key points…

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Covid-19 Statement

Update – Wednesday 15th December 2021

Our Innovation Centres remain operational and accessible, and provide a safe environment for our staff and customers. We continue to assess the risk of COVID-19 alongside the latest guidance from government. In the meantime our Innovation Centre remains COVID-19 Secure and fully open for business. Our detailed risk assessment can be found here.