Introducing The Cultivate Growth Series…an inspiring programme of lunchtime networking events and podcasts designed to inform, inspire and empower SMEs in Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem.
Whether you’re a scaling start-up, exploring new markets, building skills, or simply want to be part of a wider innovative community, this series offers something for everyone.
Devised by Oxford Innovation Space’s Innovation Directors, Wendy Tindsley and Robert Nicoll, the series offers an opportunity to meet like-minded people, whilst also hearing from industry leaders, sharing their knowledge, passion and expertise.
Let’s cultivate growth together!
FREE in-person Cultivate Growth events are held at Grassroots Workspace, Oxford with sign-up via Eventbrite.
Podcasts can be found here https://open.spotify.com/show/5VPEM79gcOtkWBkKhQK7Nm
JOIN US at our next event:
February 11th @ Grassroots Workspace, Oxford
Capitalising on Trade Secrets & Intellectual Property (IP)
12-2pm Lunch included
Speaker: Dom Icely, Impact IP
Join us at Grassroots Workspace to learn how to boost your business with trade secrets and IP strategies, cutting through the jargon to help shape an investible proposition or to bring a product to market.
Impact IP supports clients on their path to the commercialisation of their technology, focusing on the medical, life sciences (biotech, pharma), agritech, and green technology spaces, protecting innovations which improve people’s health and home.
Reserve your FREE spot via Eventbrite and follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date.
Overview of the series so far…
Cultivate Growth launched in October 2025 @Grassroots
Topic: Grant Funding & High Growth Support
For our first Cultivate Growth event we were joined by two speakers, whoshared their powerful insights and expertise on the topic of fundraising, a vital and often challenging business growth opportunity for many start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs.
We were delighted to welcome John Caines, OBE who has a wealth of successful entrepreneurial experience, a recipient of an OBE for services to entrepreneurship and business, author of The Effective Entrepreneur and currently Non-Executive Chair of several businesses. John provided an uplifting insight into his extensive experience in innovation, entrepreneurship and angel-funded businesses.
Nathan March, Ecosystems Innovation Manager from Barclays Bank Innovation Banking provided a fascinating insight into his experience of connecting businesses and partners with opportunities that drive corporate, commercial and economic growth. He shared overviews of the Local Enterprise Partnership and Innovate UK, as well as the current funding landscape, the UKRI funding checker tool, as well as Barclays Innovation Banking and Barclays Eagle Labs.
November @Grassroots
Topic: How to Hack the US
Turning out attention to the US, this workshop was aimed towards founders, CEOs, and senior leaders ready to explore growth opportunities in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Delivered by Paul Essery, founder of Tech Business Connected, his presentation provided a practical diagnostic tool to identify key knowledge and connections, as well as expert insights on legal and regulatory essentials, strategic partnerships and distribution, cultural nuances and funding investment pathways.
January 2026 – PODCAST
Topic: Evolving Business Support at Oxford Innovation Space
Join Rob Nicoll, Innovation Director at Grassroots, as he sits down with Neil Griffin, Business Support Director at Oxford Innovation Space. Together, they explore how business support has transformed within Oxford Innovation Space centres over the years, sharing valuable insights into what the future holds for supporting growing businesses.
LISTEN HERE: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2vj55nF9EXwIGTiAOgw3uN?si=19d9e253a63d48df
January 2026 @Grassroots
Topic: Mighty Mindsets
We kicked off the New Year with an interactive workshop that focussed on maximising leadership. Katy Tuncer, Innovation Coach, Horizon37 Founder introduced the Mighty Mindsets framework which helps leaders discover how fast mindset coaching significantly impacts performance. In just 90 minutes, the workshop showed how the right mindsets can empower, focus, refresh, centre, and unleash leadership, leaving with proof of what’s possible and a plan to embed habits for lasting success.
“Great, actionable advice and insightful workshop examples.”
“Brilliant workshop, and so interesting to see mindset work so specifically tailored for business and followed up with actions too!”
Don’t miss out – come join us at our next event.
Reserve your FREE spot via Eventbrite and follow us on LinkedIn to keep up to date.
Further events for March onwards being announced soon…
