Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership declared it would be vigilant to help ensure the county is not affected by the recession. The declaration was issued after the publication of Government figures confirmed that Britain had entered into a double dip recession.

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership stated: “The Oxfordhire Local Enterprise Partnership is concerned at the news that the UK has entered into a double dip recession. But, despite this bad news, what is striking is that Oxfordshire is not just weathering the storm but is leading the UK’s economic come-back”.

“Latest figures show that the number of unemployed people decreased across the county. On top of this, there has been a series of good news announcements such as:

• South Oxfordshire District Council planning to build a new £15 million leisure centre in Didcot by 2016
• Arkanum plans to be build a new community hospital in Bicester
• BMW to create 150 jobs at its Oxford plant.

“This shows the resilience and innovation of Oxfordshire in adapting to the changing global economic pressures. We are concerned as to how the national economy may impact upon Oxfordshire. That is why the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership is implementing its inward investment plans to help create more jobs as well as being successful in gaining over £9 million from the Government to improve local infrastructure”.

“Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership will be vigilant in ensuring the negative national economic head winds do not blow Oxfordshire off its positive economic course”.