Oxfordshire overview

The Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce has a long and distinguished record as the independent voice of business in the county. The Chairman’s chain of office has links stretching back as far as 1906!

Today, the Chamber is a strong and respected voice, and is consulted by local councils, MPs and many other organisations on the key issues facing our county.

• Oxfordshire currently has around 16,000 businesses or organisations employing more than a quarter of a million people between them.
• The majority are smaller businesses – in March 2002, 75% employed between one and ten people. But the bigger companies (those with more than 100 employees) accounted for 45% of the total county workforce. *
• The wholesale and retail trades and hotels and restaurants account for the lion’s share of the companies in Oxfordshire, but manufacturing retains a strong base in the county in terms of employee numbers.
• High profile sectors include the motor industry (Oxford is the home of the hugely successful BMW MINI, and the county has a dynamic role in Formula One and other leading motor sports)
• There are two world class universities and many thriving science, research and engineering companies which have spun out of academic research or made their home in the county to develop links with that sector.

• Economic Development Group
• Transport Group
• Property Group
• Crime & Security Group
The Oxfordshire Chamber was a founding member of a Tourism Group for the county and continues to play a part in this group's work to promote tourism in Oxford and Oxfordshire.

The lobbying groups of the Chamber contribute, along with the Chamber Council of senior members, to the Oxfordshire Chamber's Policy Document, which sets out our lobbying priorities. To read the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce Policy Document 2004, please click here

* Source: Oxfordshire County Council Company Information Database