New MD for Oxford Innovation
The UK’s leading operator of innovation centres, Oxford Innovation, announces Jo Willett as its new Managing Director in the same month as celebrating the company’s 30th anniversary.
Formerly Business Development Director, Willett first joined Oxford Innovation in 2000 and has seen the company grow from 30 employees to a team of nearly 130. During this period, Oxford Innovation has also merged with SQW Group to form a business focussed on the encouragement of enterprise and place-making.
Willett takes up the helm from Chris Allington, who retired earlier this year and has been tasked with building an even stronger network of centres to create thriving economies across the UK with dynamic communities of entrepreneurs benefitting from Oxford Innovation’s support.
The company currently has 24 centres in all countries of the UK following the recent opening of an innovation centre in Belfast.
Jo Willett, Managing Director, Oxford Innovation said: “We have developed a niche in making buildings work by helping to attract and support communities of SMEs. Our expertise is complemented by great business coaching services, clients with ambition to make places work and established relationships with investors. My role as MD will be to ensure Oxford Innovation stays true to its roots whilst continuing to grow as we look to open more innovation centres in the years ahead.”
Oxford Innovation has helped over 10,000 SMEs to become sustainable businesses since renowned entrepreneurs, Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, founded the company in 1987 as a subsidiary to The Oxford Trust. The company became part of SQW Group in 2007.
David Crichton-Miller, CEO, SQW Group, said: “With extensive knowledge and experience of designing and operating innovation centres, combined with her understanding of incubation and scale-ups, Jo is the perfect person to drive Oxford Innovation forward whilst safeguarding its heritage. Jo understands exactly what it takes to make property work for building owners, for the businesses within each centre and for regional economic success.”
During Willett’s time at Oxford Innovation, she has played an instrumental role in opening more than 25 new innovation centres and has worked on many feasibility studies for new centres. She is also expert at ensuring innovation centres support business growth and a recognised speaker at international conferences on incubation best practices.
For further information about Oxford Innovation, visit: oxin.co.uk
More in Business Parks
Ad-hoc co-working space and meeting rooms now available at Witney Business...
Witney Business & Innovation Centre (WBIC) is pleased to be providing additional social workspaces to enhance its current business space offerings to meet the needs of the local start-ups and businesses, continuing the legacy of Windrush House being the ‘hub’ of the community.
HR consultant moves office from garden studio to Howbery Park’s Manor...
Jane Fryatt, who set up her own HR consultancy in 2018 in her garden studio, has moved to offices in the Manor House at Howbery Business Park. Jane has been coming to Howbery Park since 2012 as all of her children have been to Puddleduck Nursery. After setting up her own business at home six […]
Howbery Business Park hosts forest school activities in enchanting woodland clearing
A woodland clearing in the beautiful grounds of Howbery Business Park near Wallingford has been transformed into an enchanting space for children to play and learn in the great outdoors. Wild Wood Warriors Forest School, Puddleduck Nursery and Howbery’s grounds team have worked together to create an area where young minds can appreciate the wonders […]
From this author
The Oxford Trust’s 2025 impact review highlights support for 350 science...
The Oxford Trust has published its 2025 Impact Review which marked its 40th anniversary year with strong results across both its innovation centres and its Science Oxford STEM education and engagement programmes.
The Oxford Trust appoints Michelle Webb as associate director of operations
The Oxford Trust, the UK charity dedicated to advancing science innovation, education and enterprise, has appointed Michelle Webb as its new associate director of operations to support operational leadership and delivery across the organisation’s innovation programme and two Oxford innovation centres.
Newrotex takes new R&D lab space at the Wood Centre for...
Newrotex, a clinical-stage biotech start-up developing innovative silk-based medical devices for nerve repair, has taken 1,680 sq ft (156 sq m) of manufacturing and R&D laboratory and office space at The Oxford Trust’s Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington, Oxford, as it enters a critical phase of clinical and operational scale-up.