Client profile: Science Oxford

Science Oxford is an independent charitable body promoting the pursuit of science and enterprise in Oxfordshire.

Founded in 1985 as The Oxford Trust, its original purpose was to support local science and technology start-up businesses and to encourage science education. Many of its early projects have since been taken up across the UK and over time, the Trust has developed wider interests.

In 2005 the name ‘Science Oxford’ was created to reflect the organisation’s wider purpose.

Recent developments

The arrival in 2008 of new Chief Executive Ian Griffin has provided the catalyst for a major re-brand. This has produced three distinct families of operation, with clear links between them.

The families are called Science Oxford Networks, Science Oxford Live and Science Oxford Next

Scale of activities

In 2008, Science Oxford worked with 284 local high-tech companies. They also worked with 94% of the county’s secondary schools, 58% of maintained primary schools and 70% of independent schools.

3000 visitors came to the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, (hosted by Science Oxford).

Not only that, but e-newsletters were sent to 1800 recipients, the website received 100,000 visitors, and 262 STEM Ambassadors were trained.