Wine Down Relaunch 🍕
2026-05-22 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Grassroots Workspace, 46 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT, United Kingdom
We’re excited to announce the return of our Wine Down event!

Join us on Friday 22nd May from 3–4pm for an hour of great conversation, community spirit, and a well‑deserved break.
We’ll be serving wine and pizza, and creating a relaxed space where our Grassroots members can connect with one another, take a breather from the week, and enjoy a stronger sense of community across the building.
You’ll also have the chance to meet and network with the Centre Team, who will be on hand throughout the event.
We can’t wait to see you there and raise a glass together! 🍷✨

Cultivate Growth: Business Leader Development
2026-06-02 | Online
The Cultivate Growth programme started in October 2025, and since then there have been a series of face to face meetings, combined with podcasts, and general support for our business leaders. Our ambition has to been to provide a structured course for business leaders to supplement our programme. Something to cover leadership, sales, finance, etc. in a bite sized pieces and in a digestible format.
We are delighted to announcement that we are working with Oxford Brookes University to deliver that business leader training, and promoting their Help to Grow programme. This course would normally cost £750* but there is currently a grant that covers this cost. It is 12 weeks long and the syllabus is just the sort of thing that I wish was available to me 25 years ago. Don’t fret, much of the training is done online, so it’s not a weekly hike to Headington but now we have ubers, even those trips are less painful.
I would encourage people to take a serious look at this. The details are outlined below:
Practical leadership development for ambitious small business leaders
Help to Grow: Management is a flagship, government‑backed leadership and management programme designed to help small and medium-sized businesses unlock sustainable growth. Developed and delivered by expert business schools accredited by the Small Business Charter, the course supports leaders to build confidence, capability and a clear plan for the future.
What is the course?
This 12‑week programme blends practical learning with real-world application. It is specifically created for SME leaders who want to strengthen their strategic skills while continuing to run their business. The course combines:
12 structured modules
Peer group learning sessions
One-to-one mentoring with an experienced business mentor
From the very first session, participants begin developing a Growth Action Plan, ensuring learning translates directly into measurable business improvement.
What will participants learn?
The curriculum focuses on the core areas that drive productivity, resilience and long-term success. Key themes include:
Strategy and innovation – clarifying direction, strengthening competitive advantage and identifying growth opportunities
Digital transformation – understanding how digital adoption can improve efficiency and scalability
Customer engagement and marketing – building demand through clearer value propositions and targeted marketing strategies
Leadership and culture – enhancing employee engagement, purpose and organisational resilience
Responsible business and performance – improving financial management and sustainable business practices.
Who is it for?
The course is open to UK businesses that:
Have been operating for more than one year
Employ 5–249 people
Are led by a senior decision-maker such as a founder, director or senior manager
The programme is ideal for leaders who may be technical experts or experienced managers but want formal development to support the next stage of business growth.
Why join?
Participants benefit from:
Practical, immediately applicable learning
Expert academic insight aligned to real SME challenges
Peer support and shared learning across sectors
Continued access to a national alumni network of business leaders and free events after completion.
With 93% of participants saying they would recommend the course, Help to Grow: Management is already making a tangible difference to thousands of UK businesses.
A unique opportunity to grow with confidence
Whether you are planning your next phase of expansion, navigating uncertainty, or looking to professionalise how your business is run, Help to Grow: Management provides the tools, confidence and support to lead with purpose and drive lasting performance improvement.
The next course starts on the 2nd June and you can easily register online (Register onto a course | Small Business Charter). Remeber this course is currently free, please be sure to select ‘Innovation Oxf‘ when you see the section about ‘how you heard about the course’.
* – the £750 funding is subject to meeting the universities criteria for entry into the programme.

Innovation Roadshow 2026: Grassroots
2026-06-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Grassroots Workspace, 46 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT, United Kingdom
The Innovation Roadshow is on its way to Oxford.

Innovation involves challenging the status quo, thinking outside the box, and taking calculated risks to drive progress and achieve breakthrough outcomes.
Innovate UK grants provide opportunities for UK businesses to drive growth by innovating, developing novel and enhanced products, processes, or services.
Join Monika Dabrowska, the Director of Innovaction Global and a Monitoring Service Provider at Innovate UK, for an exclusive Innovation Roadshow workshop. Monika will share practical tools and three key focus areas to strengthen your grant applications:

Identifying Project Problem
Fostering Innovation
Evaluating Project Impact

She will also reveal her 10 Top Tips for preparing a successful Innovate UK proposal, increasing your chances of securing funding.
Make your funding journey less worrying and join our interactive workshop at the Grassroots in Oxford where we will provide more information and answer any questions you may have.
Who should attend?
This workshop is ideal for both newcomers to Innovate UK funding and those looking to strengthen their grant application skills.
The event is aimed at Founders, Managing Directors and Senior Managers of:

Innovative businesses
Currently engaged in or planning R&D projects
Interested in applying for Innovate UK grants in the near future.

Registration opens from 9:30am. There will be refreshments throughout the event.
Places are limited to 20 attendees; an early response is recommended.
About the presenter
Monika Dabrowska is the Founder & Director of Innovaction Global, an innovation consulting company that helps organisations improve performance and achieve their goals and vision by raising grants and managing R&D funded projects.
Monika is also a Monitoring Service Provider at Innovate UK. She is assigned to successful grant application projects and is a key point of contact for participants.
Monika has 15 years of experience in obtaining EU and UK funding and providing management for R&D and investment projects to public and private organisations. Working with maritime, healthcare, energy, and IT companies, she is adding value to teams looking for intelligent, insightful information.

Wine Down
2026-08-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Grassroots Workspace, 46 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HT, United Kingdom
We’re excited to announce the return of our Wine Down event!

Join us on Friday 21st August from 3–4pm for an hour of great conversation, community spirit, and a well‑deserved break.
We’ll be serving wine and pizza, and creating a relaxed space where our Grassroots members can connect with one another, take a breather from the week, and enjoy a stronger sense of community across the building.
You’ll also have the chance to meet and network with the Centre Team, who will be on hand throughout the event.
We can’t wait to see you there and raise a glass together! 🍷✨

Grassroots Summer BBQ
2026-09-03 12:00 - 15:00 | Keble College, 25 Banbury Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3PG, United Kingdom
Join fellow Grassroots members for an exclusive afternoon of exceptional food, drinks and networking at our Summer BBQ.
📅 Thursday 3 September 2026
🕛 12:00pm – 3:00pm
📍 Keble, Parks Road
Take the opportunity to step away from the office, reconnect with the community, and enjoy a relaxed summer afternoon with fellow members.
Your ticket includes:

A complimentary BBQ
A free bar
Informal networking with the Grassroots community
A beautiful outdoor setting to celebrate the season

This is an exclusive members-only event. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to register early to avoid missing out.
With thanks to our sponsors HSBC Innovation Banking, Richardsons Chartered Accountants, and Mills & Reeve for their generous support in making this event possible.
