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Oxford Innovation Space has appointed Sarah Agar-Brennan as its new Business Development & Marketing Director, strengthening its senior leadership team as the company enters its next phase of growth. An award winning entrepreneur, Sarah joins from the University of Hull where she was Head of Commercialisation and Business Development, and prior to this started and grew her own businesses, receiving offers of investment from Dragon’s Den and securing international partnerships.
The appointment comes at a significant point in Oxford Innovation Space’s development, following its recent B Corp certification and the milestone of growing its portfolio to more than one million square feet of innovation space.
Today, Oxford Innovation Space operates 32 innovation centres and supports more than 1,000 innovative SMEs across the UK and Ireland. The business recently achieved B Corp certification with a score of 85.9, reinforcing its commitment to balancing commercial performance with positive social and environmental impact.
More than 200 people applied for the new Board-level role, reflecting strong interest in joining a growing business with a clear purpose and ambition for the future.
As Business Development & Marketing Director, Sarah Agar-Brennan will bring together commercial growth, market insight, strategic partnerships and brand to build a strong and sustainable pipeline of new opportunities across the UK and Ireland.
The role will be central to Oxford Innovation Space’s growth strategy as increasing numbers of universities, local authorities, developers and investors seek partners capable of creating and operating places that enable innovation, enterprise and inclusive economic growth.
Jo Stevens, Managing Director of Oxford Innovation Space, said:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to welcome Sarah to Oxford Innovation Space. We had an exceptional level of interest in the role, with hundreds of applications, which says a great deal about the business we have built and the exciting opportunity ahead of us.
“We have a strong platform for growth, but we’re ambitious about what comes next. Sarah’s appointment brings together business development and marketing at Board level and will help us strengthen our market presence, build new partnerships and create the next generation of opportunities for Oxford Innovation Space.
“Importantly, Sarah shares our belief that how we grow matters just as much as where we grow. Coming shortly after our B Corp certification and passing one million square feet of innovation space under management, her arrival feels like a very natural next step in our journey.”
Sarah Agar-Brennan said:
“I’m delighted to be joining Oxford Innovation Space at such an exciting point in its development. What particularly attracted me to the business is the combination of commercial ambition and genuine purpose, and its long-standing commitment to helping entrepreneurs and innovators succeed.
“There is a significant opportunity to build on that platform, strengthen our partnerships and tell an even more compelling story about the impact innovation spaces can have on businesses, places and local economies. I’m really looking forward to working with colleagues across the business and our partners to help shape the next chapter of growth.”
Oxford Innovation Space has been supporting entrepreneurs and innovative businesses for almost 40 years. Its network now spans more than 30 innovation centres across the UK and Ireland, from Belfast and Bristol to Stockport and Newcastle, supporting businesses from early-stage start-ups to scaling science and technology companies.
Its recent B Corp certification forms part of a wider commitment to ensuring that future growth delivers measurable economic, social and environmental impact. Oxford Innovation Space is employee-owned as part of SQW Group.
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