Introducing
the Oxford to
Cambridge Partnership

A group of leaders from local government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Arc Universities Group and England’s Economic Heartland are forming a new partnership for the Oxford to Cambridge area. 

This Partnership will champion the Oxford to Cambridge region as a world leader of innovation and business, acting to achieve environmentally sustainable and inclusive growth that brings benefits to communities now and in the future. 

Our Board

The Oxford to Cambridge Partnership Board will include representation as outlined below. As we work towards appointing our formal Board, a Shadow Board is overseeing our initial programme, and will agree governance and funding arrangements. Cherwell District Council is the accountable body for the Partnership, responsible for administering finance, procurement and resources management. 

Independent
Chair of
the Board

Leader,
Chair of the Future Oxfordshire Partnership 

Leader,
Co-Chair of the Central Area Growth Board  

Leader,
Co-Chair of the Central Area Growth Board  

Mayor, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority

Chair, representing
the region’s
LEPs and Business Board

Chair, representative
for England’s Economic Heartland

Chair, representing
the Arc Universities Group

Chair of
the Environment sub-group

Chair of
the Economy
sub-group

Board meetings and meeting notes

Shadow board members

Our scheduled Board and previous meetings:
‍
Friday 2nd December 2022– Agenda | meeting notes (Confirmed at January Board)
Friday 20th January 2023 – Agenda | Item 3 Draft Constitution | Item 5 Communications Paper | Item 5 Additional Paper | Meeting notes (confirmed at March Board)
Thursday 16th March 2023 – Agenda |
June, date to be confirmed

Reporting into the Shadow Board, we currently have two sub-groups: Environment and Economy. These groups meet regularly to progress approved workstream activities. 

Additional meetings:

Thursday 2nd February 2023- Mid year review meeting with government. Presentation.

In the interim period, and until a Partnership Board is appointed, a Shadow Board has been agreed to oversee our initial programme and to agree Partnership governance and funding arrangements.

Cllr Barry Wood, Leader Cherwell District Council sitting as Chair of the Shadow Board.
‍
Cllr Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, representing the Future Oxfordshire Partnership as current Chair
‍
Cllr Pete Marland, Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, representing the Central Area Growth Board as current Co-Chair
‍
Cllr Richard Wenham, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, representing the Central Area Growth Board as current Co-Chair
‍
Cllr Anna Smith, Leader of Cambridge City Council and currently Acting Mayor, representing the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
‍
Professor Alistair Fitt, Pro-Vice Chancellor Oxford Brookes University representing the Arc Universities Group as current Chair
‍
To be confirmed, Representative from England's Economic Heartland
‍
Peter Horrocks CBE, Chair of SEMLEP, representing Chairs of LEPs and Business Boards and, sitting as Chair of the Economy Sub-Group. 
‍
Cllr Bridget Smith, Leader South Cambridgeshire District Council sitting as Chair of the Environment Sub-Group

‍

What are we doing?

Partnership
News
Our
Environment
Programme
Our
Economy
Programme
Data
Observatory
Recruitment of a Chair and Managing Director

‍
‍The Partnership has appointed Berwick Partners, an Odgers Berndtston company to help recruit an independent Chair, two Non-Executive Directors and a Managing Director.  

For information about the roles and how to apply, visit the links below:
Chair and Non-executive Directors: https://www.berwickpartners.co.uk/opportunities/assignment/88158/
‍Managing Director: https://www.berwickpartners.co.uk/opportunities/assignment/88159/

‍

Media Statement - Government backs new Oxford to Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership


Secretary of State Rt Hon Michael Gove MP confirms support for the establishment of an Oxford to Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership...read the press release

Statement of Support Letter


Letter from Secretary of State Rt Hon Michael Gove MP to Cllr Barry Wood outlining support for the establishment of an Oxford to Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership... read the letter

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. 

This section will be updated regularly as we develop our Environment work programme and deliver against agreed actions.   
‍
We are identifying priorities for the programme, including considering options for investable projects, that will help take forward our region’s Environment Principles and work towards our area being a demonstrator for the 25 year Environment Plan. 

Early activity includes:

1) Adding capacity to assist nature recovery actions. This work will develop recommendations for where regional coordination can support more efficient local delivery.
2) Developing regional and joint approaches to embed best practice in minerals planning, delivery, restoration and management to deliver significant biodiversity gains.
3) Scoping for regional water and energy strategy, looking at best practice approaches, standards and tools.

Chaired by Peter Horrocks CBE


In the immediate term, our economy programme activity is focused on scoping out the requirements for an Oxford to Cambridge region international trade prospectus and investment atlas. This will support efforts to coordinate and profile investable projects and collaboration opportunities for key and emerging sectors and capabilities, to showcase the region to a global audience. 

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

This section will be updated regularly as we develop our Economy work programme and deliver against agreed actions.

Economic ProspectusScience SuperPower


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.