Welcome to the
Oxford to Cambridge
Partnership

A group of leaders from local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Arc Universities Group and England’s Economic Heartland, with government, have formed a new pan-regional partnership for the Oxford to Cambridge area. 

Our Mission is to secure a future in which our communities prosper from the very best in environmentally sustainable ways of living and working. We collaborate to accelerate economic opportunities created through the region's innovation strengths to achieve significant environmental enhancements and to unlock investment for inclusive, high quality sustainable development.

What are we doing?

Environment & Sustainability
Innovation &
Economy
Data
Observatory
All Partner
Conference
Chaired by Cllr Bridget Smith


‍Our environment group brings together contributors and experts from local government, environmental NGOs and nature partnerships, water and energy groups, central government agencies, LEPs and universities. 

At its September 2023 Board meeting, the Partnership agreed its environment work programme. This programme was developed with input from a wide group of organisations and guided by a specially convened oversight group drawn from the Partnership's core membership. 

The adopted work programme brings focus and prioritisation to the Partnership's environmental agenda and aligns with the Partnership's endorsed Environment Principles. 

Actions to be taken forward include:

1) Refreshing the Environmental Principles to reflect changes in the policy landscape and to articulate regional aspirations for environmentally progressive sustainable growth. 
2) Supporting the delivery of the Environment Agency's Integrated Water Management Framework programme.
3) Exploring the application of green finance for large landscape and catchment-scale investment opportunities.
4) Supporting cross-boundary Local Nature Recovery Strategy Compliance.
5) Developing and articulating a vision for a South Midlands Community Forest.
6) Leaning on the region's satellite and drone expertise to explore opportunities for innovative tools and techniques that quantify and monitor habitat condition and quality. 
7) Identifying best practices and exemplars about incorporating people, nature and biodiversity in the built environment. 
8) Engagement with organisations across the electricity distribution network to unlock opportunities to create a flexible distribution system. This partner-led project will examine known electricity supply constraints and seek to establish a roadmap that provides certainty to investors and stakeholders. 
9) Supporting regionally significant environmental infrastructure and sustainable land management practice.  

For more information about this Work Programme, please contact Nathan Vear CEnv MIEMA FCMI, Environment and Sustainability Lead.
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Group meetings and meeting notes

Monday, 6th March 2023 | Meeting note
Wednesday, 24th May 2023 | Agenda | Meeting notes
‍Monday, 4th September 2023 | Agenda | Item 3 Work Programme

Chaired by Peter Horrocks CBE


The Partnership has commenced work to develop an Oxford to Cambridge region international prospectus and investment atlas. This will support efforts to coordinate and profile investable projects and collaboration opportunities for key and emerging sectors, capabilities and environmentally sustainable infrastructure, to showcase the region to a global audience.

For more information the project phases of this work, click the Investment Atlas link below.

Other early activity includes mapping and bringing together innovation networks and clusters with the intention to create a region-wide innovation and data hub.

Economic ProspectusScience SuperPowerInvestment Atlas

Group meetings and meeting notes

Friday 31st May 2023 - Agenda | Item 3, Terms of Reference | Item 4, International investment prospectus and atlas | Item 5, Innovation network of networks research | Item 6, Data observatory | Meeting notes
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We are scoping out our data and analysis needs to create a region-wide evidence base to inform future priorities and support partners in their investment decision making.

This will create a shared data and analysis solution for partners by enhancing analysis, synthesis and the translation of data and support knowledge exchange.

The observatory work programme is being shaped by multiple partners, including representatives from local authorities, LEPs and universities, England’s Economic Heartland and government departments and Arm’s Length Bodies, such as the Environment Agency. 

Join us for our inaugural All Partner Conference. We've got an action-packed day planned, including several programme workshops, facilitated by our partners, for you to join.

When? Friday, 24th November 2023.
Where? The Ridgeway Centre, Wolverton, Milton Keynes.

Please register your attendance and choose your workshop preferences through our Eventbrite Link.

Outline Agenda

9:00 - 9.45:     Arrival and networking
9:45 - 10:30:   Plenary and welcome address
10:30 - 11:15: Panel discussion and Partner questions
11:15 - 11:30: Break
11:30 - 13:00: Workshop sessions - phase 1
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch and networking
14:00 - 14:30: Plenary
14:30 - 16:00: Workshop sessions - phase 2
16:10 - 16:30: Plenary and conference wrap up, closing session
16:30 - 17:30: Networking drinks

Workshop choices for Phase 1:
1) Green economy innovation & skills. Lead, Arc Universities Group
2) Developing approaches to integrated water management. Lead, Environment Agency
3) Local Nature Recovery Strategies - shaping how we can work cross-boundary to support delivery. Lead, Natural England
4) Creating the region's investment prospectus: storyboarding our global investment narrative. Lead, ekosgen
5) Unlocking regional potential through data. Lead, Arthur Le Geyt Data Observatory Lead and and Better Futures

Workshop choices for Phase 2: S
1) Innovation in local transport systems, connecting to regionally and nationally significant infrastructure. Lead, England's Economic Heartland.
Sessions 2-5 are repeated in the second workshop session for attendees to choose from.

Logos banner includes Oxford to Cambridge Partnership, Funded by UK Government, The Oxford to Cambridge Arc Universities Group, England's Economic Heartland, supported by the Environment Agency, Natural England, ekosgen and Better Futures.

Our Board

The Oxford to Cambridge Partnership Board representation is outlined below. Cherwell District Council is the accountable body for the Partnership, responsible for administering finance, procurement and resources management. 
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Dipesh J Shah OBE,
Chair of
the Board

Cllr Susan Brown, Leader Oxford City Council,
Chair of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership 

Cllr Peter Marland, Leader Milton Keynes Council,
Co-Chair of the Central Area Growth Board  

Cllr Jonathan Nunn, Leader, West Northamptonshire Council
Co-Chair of the Central Area Growth Board  

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Peter Horrocks, CBE, Chair SEMLEP, representing
the region’s
LEPs and Business Board

Cllr Liz Leffman, Chair, representative
for England’s Economic Heartland

Prof. Alistair Fitt Chair, representing
the Arc Universities Group

Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader South Cambridgeshire District Council,
Environment sub-group Chair

Peter Horrocks CBE, Economy
sub-group Chair

Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director, Innovation Clusters and Harwell Campus, UKRI-STFC, Non-executive Director

Prof. Lynette Ryals OBE, CEO MK:U & Pro-vice-chancellor, Cranfield University, Non-executive Director

Board meetings and meeting notes

Our scheduled Board meetings:
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Friday, 2nd December 2022– Shadow Board Agenda | meeting notes (Confirmed at January Board)
Friday, 20th January 2023 – Shadow Board Agenda | Item 3 Draft Constitution | Item 5 Communications Paper | Item 5 Additional Paper | Meeting notes
Thursday, 16th March 2023 Shadow Board – Agenda | Meeting notes
Thursday, 15th June 2023 – Shadow Board Agenda and meeting papers | Confirmed meeting notes
Thursday, 14th September 2023 - Board meeting Agenda and meeting papers. Meeting recording. Minutes (unconfirmed)
Thursday, 23rd November 2023
Thursday, 29th February 2023

Additional meetings:

Thursday 2nd February 2023- Mid year review meeting with government. Presentation.
Thursday 30 March 2023- Annual Performance Review meeting with government. Meeting notes

Partnership documentation:
Oxford to Cambridge Partnership Constitution Download
The Partnership's mission statement and strategic priorities Download
Letter from Secretary of State, Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP, endorsing proposal to set up a Pan-regional Partnership Download

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