Creating a thriving zero-carbon economy in Oxfordshire

OxFutures started as a £3.2m, three-year project to boost low carbon economic development in Oxfordshire. It is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and run through a collaborative partnership between the Low Carbon Hub, Oxford City Council, the University of Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Cherwell District Council and Bioregional. The programme is made up of three distinct parts, GreenLab, GreenFund & GreenTech.

Phase 2 of the programme allowed funding for three years (until 2020) to offer free energy audits to SMEs in Oxfordshire to identify energy saving opportunities, to reduce energy bills and cut carbon emissions. The project had grants available which then part-funded the implementation of the measures recommended by the audit. It also supported innovation by encouraging knowledge sharing between academics, local authorities and SMEs and providing grant support for new low-carbon start-ups, and those developing new low-carbon products and technologies.

A post-Brexit extension of the programme continued with support for a further three years. The extension was continued by partners, Low Carbon Hub and Oxford Brookes to run to March 2023. As of March 2022 the team met their target early, having supported almost 200 SMES with fully funded energy assessments a full year ahead of schedule.

This means we are no longer accepting applications for energy efficiency or innovation support through this programme.

If your organisation is looking to improve the energy performance of your buildings, we may still be able to help through Energy Solutions Oxfordshire.

The project has delivered 175 energy audits to businesses and organisations across Oxfordshire and funded more than 35 of them, reducing their energy bills and carbon emissions. A further 14 innovation companies have received funding to boost Oxfordshire’s development as a UK leader in the new low carbon economy. Knowledge sharing in the sector has been strengthened with the establishment of a new network, Oxfordshire Greentech. You can find out more about its impact in our Annual Social Impact Reports.

Funded projects

Here are some of the projects funded through OxFutures:

• Ecosync: a start up aiming, through innovative technology, to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint of buildings by 40%
• Shed Oxford: a volunteer organisation who received a grant to improve the energy efficiency of their community workshop
• The Folly: a restaurant in central Oxford which received a free energy audit and decided to install an energy saving induction oven to save gas and prevent overheating.