2.3 Removing barriers to growth

For businesses to be competitive, they need support with and advice about barriers to growth. A number of issues which are regularly identified by business include finance, appropriate premises, lack of affordable housing, transport, access to sales and international markets, recruitment, red tape and legislation.

There are many and varied organisations offering support to business; from the generalist advice offered by Business Link and Oxfordshire Business Enterprises to support offered by membership organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses. Specialist advice and consultancy for more technology focussed businesses is available through universities, research organisations, Enterprise Hubs and the Innovation Advisory Service (IAS). Other agencies such as UK Trade & Investment, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Ethnic Minority Business Service (EMBS), the Prince's Trust, Co-operative Futures and the Plunkett Foundation, amongst others, offer business support which focuses on particular models of business or on particular sections of the community.

The high birth and survival rate of companies in Oxfordshire has created a great demand for finance. Oxfordshire is fortunate in having Oxfordshire Investment Opportunity Network, the most successful technology business finance network in Europe, and a number of private investor ("business angels") and venture capital organisations, willing to invest in start-up companies. There is, however, still a funding shortfall in sectors such as new media and software, where there remains a limited understanding of the sector by investors. There is also a shortfall in second-round funding.

Much has been done in the County by organisations such as Oxford Innovation to ensure access to start-up business accommodation which is appropriate, affordable and not subject to financially-restricting, long-term leases. Appropriate space to expand is still in short-supply, however, and there is continuing pressure on land allocated for employment. The Local Authorities have a key role to play in planning terms to ensure that land is available to meet the needs of business.

Many businesses consider themselves to be overburdened with bureaucracy and regulation. Government has been working to quantify this burden with the ultimate aim of reducing it through simplification. The benefits to the economy of this should be enormous.

Environmental issues are one area where legislation and costs will increase. Companies will have to reduce their use of resources such as water and energy and produce less waste in order to conform to tightening legislation and maintain competitiveness by deferring ever increasing costs. One opportunity is to encourage businesses to utilise the waste of other firms, for example, Oxford Wood Recycling collect waste wood to be reused in another form.

The Oxfordshire Sustainable Business Partnership has been established to promote increased business productivity through reducing waste and efficient use of resources.