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If your business is in Banbury you are in good company, as many have already taken advantage of the town’s combination of excellent location, quality of life and business-friendly environment. Banbury is ideally situated immediately off junction eleven of the M40 motorway, and sits astride the London to Birmingham mainline. The town is the gateway between the key markets of the West Midlands, and London and the South-East. With Birmingham, Luton and Heathrow airports within easy reach, and Oxford Airport (actually in Kidlington) right on our doorstep, communication links from the area are now truly global, and this is reflected by the international nature of many locally-based companies.

As befits a town at the centre of the world-famous Motor-sport Valley, and only 20 minutes from Silverstone circuit, we are hosts to sports and racing car developers Ascari and leading motor-sport specialists Prodrive, as well as a number of smaller specialist firms operating in the sport. But it isn’t just racing cars around here. Businesses from a wide variety of sectors have chosen Banbury as their home, as it combines a high quality of life with the entire infrastructure that a modern business needs. Kraft Foods, iSoft, Karcher and Callebaut are all based in the area, which has notably high levels of business profitability. Alcoa, Vodafone, Hella, Faurecia… many businesses have recognised the advantages offered by the area.

Our economy is driven by knowledge - hi-tech, traditional, business and creative. Warwick, Coventry, Oxford Said and Oxford Brookes business schools are all within half an hour, making world-class business and management skills readily available.

The Oxford University and its science park at Begbroke is a continuing source of innovation, research and development. The Colin Saunders Innovation Centre is one of four set-up within the Cherwell District by a partnership between Oxford Innovation (academic spin-out and innovation specialist advisers) and Cherwell District Council. The Colin Saunders Innovation Centre provides managed incubation space for high-technology start-ups, and has enabled many new businesses to grow and thrive, a fitting tribute to the local entrepreneur after whom the centre was named.

Making life easy for companies wishing to locate to Banbury is the core function of the Cherwell-M40 investment partnership (CHIP). The CHIP partnership brings together key public and private agencies including Oxford Innovation, Barclays and the majority of the commercial estate agents operating in the area to provide key information and support to businesses seeking to locate in North Oxfordshire. Our website contains a wealth of useful information and we have a dedicated team to assist companies looking at coming to the area, and the partnership is proud to have helped many of the major employers in Banbury set-up in the town.

Overall, businesses in Banbury value the central location alongside the high quality of life which helps with the retention and recruitment of staff. There’s commercial property available to suit a range of purposes and taste. The choice is yours - from period urban space to innovative modern business parks. What’s more, average rental rates are substantially lower than in many areas in the South-East.

Nestled between the Northamptonshire Uplands and the Cotswolds, Banbury sits in the attractive rolling countryside of North Oxfordshire. Around Banbury are a network of villages with delightful honey-stoned cottages and inns at their centres, offering the very best of country living, with vibrant and welcoming communities. For those who fancy a bit more bustle, Banbury has a lively town centre and the housing within the town is amongst the most affordable in Oxfordshire, making relocation feasible for key staff coming from a wide variety of areas across the UK and further afield. Banbury offers up a regional retail centre with a good balance between famous high street names and high quality independents as well as a wide variety of dining experiences. Banbury certainly has to rank highly on any list of towns considered by a company looking to be in the south-east of England.

For more economic development information, including statistics and population figures, please ring +44 (0)1295 221863 or E-mail chip@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or visit www.cherwell-m40.co.uk

Whilst every care has been taken in compiling this publication and the statements contained herein are believed to be correct, the publishers and promoters cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies. Reproduction of any part of this publication in any format, without permission, is strictly forbidden. Photography copyright Rosy Burke Design Associates.