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
Conferences and events
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
Thursday, 25 February 2024 | Agenda | Item 2 Minutes 4 September | Item 3 Revision of Environment Principles | Item 3 a G 7 Communique | Item 3b Just Transition to Net Zero | Item 4a Habitat Monitoring | Item 4 b Environment Agency IWMF update | Item 5 Strategy Update | Minutes (Unconfirmed)  

Chaired by Dr Barbara Ghinelli


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 activity includes mapping and bringing together innovation networks and clusters with the intention to create a region-wide innovation and data hub. The aim of this work is create an environment to develop partnerships and deeper collaboration among network leaders and managers across the region.

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

Tuesday 14 November 2023 - Agenda | Item 2, Minutes from previous meeting | Item 4 Innovation networks of networks update | Item 5, Proposal for a high-tech accommodation study

Tuesday 13 February 2024
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‍We have scoped out data and analysis needs to create a region-wide evidence base to inform future priorities and support partners in their investment decision making. 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. 

The Oxford to Cambridge Data Observatory aims to be a service providing transparent, unbiased, high quality, and frequently updated economic and environmental evidence, equipped with robust research and analytical capability to support our partners in policy, business case development and project monitoring, all managed through a central team.

The Observatory will provide three key outputs:
1. a maintained data portal
2. a regional overview report
3. a bespoke analyst support service

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21 - 23 May 2024
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Colleagues from across the Region will be at this year's UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Investment Conference (UKREiiF) in Leeds, from Tuesday 21 May to Thursday 23 May.  

We are there to showcase the investment potential and dynamic innovation ecosystem that characterises the Oxford to Cambridge region.  Our pan-regional collaboration is on a mission to accelerate economic opportunities created by our region’s science, technology, and business strengths, and to work with investors, real estate professionals, developers and government to achieve significant environmental enhancements and unlock investment for inclusive, high quality sustainable development for our region.

Our aim is to help shift the dial on business and investment decisions from being ‘cautiously optimistic’ to 'confidently ambitious'

If you're attending UKREiiF 2024, head across to the Oxford to Cambridge Region Pavilion for a packed programme of events. Download our full event programme.


18 June 2024
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‍Creating a scientific superpower - Tuesday 18th June, 8am to 5pm | QEII Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE

We're delighted to be supporting the Creating a Scientific Superpower conference, back for its third year.

Throughout the day, you'll be hearing from experts and participating in discussions centred on unleashing the UK's potential as a scientific powerhouse, fostering a globally competitive environment, and boosting national productivity through cutting-edge manufacturing and advanced R&D.  

Download the programme and register for this event.

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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

Biography

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  

Co-Chair of the Central Area Growth Board  

Mayor Dr Nik Johnson, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Al Kingsley, CEO Net Support Ltd.
representing
the region’s
Business Boards

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

Dr Paul Leinster CBE, OEP, Water Resources East, Bedford Local Nature Partnership

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 (Confirmed)
Thursday, 23rd November 2023 - Board meeting Agenda and meeting papers.|  Meeting recording | Minutes (unconfirmed)
Thursday, 29th February 2024 - Board meeting agenda and meeting papers | Meeting recording |  Minutes (Unconfirmed)
Thursday 6 June 2024
Thursday 19 September 2024
Thursday 28 November 2024
Thursday 27 February 2025
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Additional meetings:

2 February 2023- Mid year review meeting with government. Presentation.
30 March 2023- Annual Performance Review meeting with government. Meeting notes
17 November 2023 - Mid year 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
Terms of References
1. Innovation and Economy sub-group
2. Environment and Sustainability sub-group
3. Branding and identity informal steering group Download ‍