Blueprint sets out to boost the Creativity, Culture, Heritage and Tourism sectors of Oxfordshire’s thriving economy.

OxLEP and its partners launched a new Investment Plan for Oxfordshire’s Creativity, Culture, Heritage and Tourism (CCHT) sectors at Blenheim Palace on Monday 11th July. The Investment Plan aims to build upon the vibrancy and success of these sectors within Oxfordshire’s economy.

Read the full CCHT Investment Plan here.

Oxfordshire attracts 26.7 million visitors per year, spending £1.86 billion in the local economy, supporting 32,000 jobs – 10% of the county’s workforce. The Investment Plan demonstrates the diversity of these sectors and the opportunities that exist to expand and develop new ideas. It aims to build upon the county’s reputation for innovation, outstanding heritage and the quality environment we live in to attract local, national and international investment.

The Investment Plan identifies 35 proposals amounting to £44.5 million worth of investment potential which inform and support OxLEP's Strategic Economic Plan.

The Chief Executive of OxLEP, Nigel Tipple said, “I am delighted with the level of engagement and commitment shown across the county and look forward to working with partners to secure the investment needed to support the growth of these sectors over the next few years”.

The Minister of State for Culture & Digital Economy and local MP for Wantage & Didcot, Ed Vaizey, has shown support for this Investment Plan saying,

“Oxfordshire is internationally recognised thanks to its outstanding cultural offer of museums, galleries and festivals. Its creative industries offer high growth and value, while the tourism sectors supports over 32,000 jobs in Oxfordshire alone. As the Chancellor George Osborne said in last year’s Autumn Statement, our creative industries are "one of the best investments we can make as a nation". The business case for heritage and tourism investment is just as strong.

“In Oxfordshire, our CCHT sectors are heavily interlinked. They provide a uniform vision for a place where people want to live and work, and for which our neighbours here and abroad want to invest and visit.“In March, I published the first Culture White Paper in more than 50 years, which will help guide and shape investment priorities in culture for Oxfordshire for several years. It is great to see this Investment Plan consider some of its key themes - including how culture can be used in place-making.

“This Investment Plan provides an ambitious blueprint for the future of CCHT in Oxfordshire and I very much look forward to working with OxLEP, my parliamentary colleagues and others to ensure its successful implementation.”