South and Vale Economic Development

16/06/2026

Join us for an informal drop-in networking event and meet your friendly, local Economic Development team!

Are you a small business based in South Oxfordshire or Vale of White Horse? If so, we'd love to meet you.

We are hosting an informal, drop-in breakfast session designed to help you connect with your local Economic Development team. Whether you are looking for guidance on growth, need support navigating local council services or simply want to know what resources are available to you, this is your chance to ask questions in a relaxed, friendly environment and meet other like-minded businesses.

📅 Thursday 9 July
🕤 9.30am - 11.30am
📍 Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon

There is no need to stay for the whole session - please feel free to drop in and stay for as little or as long as you like.

Coffee and pastries will be provided! Please note that spaces are limited. Register for your free place below.

Join us for an informal drop-in networking event and meet your friendly, local Economic Development team!

10/06/2026

Did you know that your local council has a business support team?

If you’re running a business in South Oxfordshire or Vale of White Horse, the Economic Development team is here to help you thrive! Whether you’re a startup or an established company, we offer free, impartial advice and signposting to a wealth of resources.

We can support you with:

✅ Expert Guidance: Free and impartial advice tailored to your business needs.

✅ Resource signposting for grants, loans, and national support schemes.

✅ Specialist Advice: Access guidance on everything from net zero, business rates and the visitor economy.

Find out more via our website – links below.

https://www.southandvale.gov.uk/economic-development/

01/06/2026

The next COCO Women Founders Thame Networking & Business Mastermind Event takes place this Wednesday at The Thatch, from 10am - 2pm.

Whether you’re a seasoned founder or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, these monthly meet-ups offer invaluable networking opportunities, expert business and personal growth insights, and a supportive community to help you thrive.

Register for your place below!

21/05/2026

Are you a local business owner looking for the latest news, funding opportunities and resources?

Don’t miss out on the South and Vale Business Support newsletter. Delivered biweekly, it’s packed with essential updates to help your business thrive, including:

✅ The latest business news
✅ Opportunities
✅ Grant funding alerts
✅ Resources
✅ Events

Join over 2,000 other local entrepreneurs who stay informed. Simply sign up via our website – we’ve done the hard work for you! Link in comments.

https://tinyurl.com/SODCnews

14/05/2026

We had a great time yesterday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Abingdon for our Visitor Economy Connect session!

Local hospitality leaders recently joined us for an insightful session featuring Kirk Dennyschene of Bluezone Media, who shared how AI can revolutionise business marketing. We also heard from Graham Haynes (Tourism South East) regarding the latest Visit Southern Oxfordshire stats, and previewed our plans for the upcoming May half-term and summer campaigns.

Big thanks to Keeley Dennyschene for hosting!

07/05/2026

Councillors head to Culham Campus!

Last week, members from both councils, including Leaders Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers (South Oxfordshire District Council) and Cllr Bethia Thomas (Vale of White Horse District Council), visited Culham Campus alongside our Economic Development team, organised by the Chair of South Oxfordshire District Council, Cllr Katharine Keats-Rohan.

Their visit included an overview of research and development at Culham from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, a visit to the Joint European Torus (JET) and Culham's Robotics Centre RACE. Members also met with apprentices at Oxfordshire Advanced Skills Centre (OAS) for high-tech training, and heard more about on the Campus' status as an AI Growth Zone.

With planned growth at the campus, it was a great opportunity for the councils to find out more about the projects taking place and understand how members can work with partners at Culham to support delivery of economic and community benefits for the local area.

Culham Campus

05/05/2026

The countdown is on! Next Thursday, we’re bringing together local tourism and hospitality organisations at the Hilton Garden Inn in Abingdon for a morning of networking, using AI for marketing, and insights into our Southern Oxfordshire project.

If you haven’t secured your spot yet, now is the time, as spaces are going quickly and only a few remain!

Don't miss the chance to connect with peers and help shape the future of our local tourism landscape. Register for your FREE space below. 👇

https://visitoreconomyconnectmay.eventbrite.co.uk

01/05/2026

Most people assume the council just wants their money for council tax and business rates, but the business support team can help you for FREE.

We’ve designed a new leaflet to outline how we can help businesses in South and Vale.

Visit our website to find out more!

https://www.southandvale.gov.uk/economic-development/

24/04/2026

There's something for everyone this weekend in Southern Oxfordshire!

📍 Fleetwood Shack at The Beacon, Wantage
📍 'Go Electric: Abingdon' by Vale of White Horse District Council and Oxfordshire County Council
📍 Watlington Concert Band – A British Celebration
📍 Fairmile Vineyard open tour & taste
📍 St Georges Day Celebration with Love Wantage
📍 ‘Jazz in the Vines’ The Christian Garrick Corktet at Oaken Grove Vineyard

Find more local events on our website - link in our 'About' section! 🌟

23/04/2026

Tickets are going fast for our next Visitor Economy Connect event!

Visitor Economy Connect is a networking and support session focused on the visitor economy, aimed at engaging local hospitality businesses.

This time, we'll be covering how to use AI for marketing your business, a current hot topic!

Wednesday 13 May • 10am - 12pm
Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon

This session will cover what ChatGPT is and what it can do, getting set up, free vs. Pro, using the mobile app, customing ChatGPT for your business and prompting basics.

Register for your free place via Eventbrite. 👇
https://visitoreconomyconnectmay.eventbrite.co.uk/