Launched in July 2025, The Wire was created to help businesses connect beyond the walls of their own innovation centre.
One year on, it has grown into a national community of more than 1,600 members across 30 innovation centres, giving entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders access to a much wider network of people, expertise and support.
For businesses navigating growth, the right introduction or piece of advice can make a real difference. Whether a founder is looking for a trusted supplier, funding guidance, specialist knowledge or someone who has faced a similar challenge, The Wire provides a place to ask questions and make connections.
"Having that opportunity to get personalised support made a real difference. I came away with a clearer sense of where to focus my efforts and what my next steps might be. The Wire provided me with a community where you can connect with people, ask questions and get practical support when you need it."
Danny Langford - Founder, ReadingSpace @ Vulcan Works
A growing and active community
Between July 2025 and July 2026, The Wire welcomed 1,330 new members. The community now includes 1,483 business members representing more than 1,000 businesses.
During its first year:
- 1,517 members were active
- 664 members contributed to the community
- 17,352 interactions took place, including posts, comments, reactions, messages and event participation
- 41 livestream events were delivered across the network
These figures represent much more than activity on a digital platform. Behind each conversation is a business sharing expertise, seeking support, building a relationship or exploring a new opportunity.
Practical support for growing businesses
The Wire has developed into a practical business support hub where members can:
- Take part in business discussions and peer-to-peer conversations
- Promote products, services and collaboration opportunities through the Marketplace
- Access resources, guides and practical business tools
- Watch training sessions and event recordings through the Replay Hub
- Find funding opportunities, grant information and finance guidance
- Connect with advisers, experts and fellow entrepreneurs
- Join specialist communities based on their sector, interests or stage of growth
Members can also connect with specialists from Oxford Innovation Advice for business growth support, mentoring and strategic guidance, as well as Oxford Innovation Finance for help navigating funding and investment opportunities.
Local connections with national reach
Every Oxford Innovation Space centre has its own dedicated area on The Wire, helping businesses connect with their neighbours, centre teams and regional partners.
Alongside this local community, members can access expertise and opportunities from across the wider Oxford Innovation Space network. A founder in one centre can start a conversation with a specialist, adviser or potential collaborator based elsewhere in the country, making geography less of a barrier to connection.
The network includes businesses working across a wide range of industries. Technology, software, data and AI represent 36% of the business community, followed by business and professional services at 29%. Health and life sciences represent 8%, with creative, marketing and media, and engineering and manufacturing each representing 7%.
Individual centres also bring their own areas of strength. These include engineering and manufacturing at Culham Innovation Centre, industrial and engineering businesses at Harwell Innovation Centre, life sciences at The Catalyst, technology and health innovation at The EpiCentre, creative and marketing businesses at Innovation Centre Knowledge Gateway, and built environment and property expertise at Witney Business and Innovation Centre.
By bringing these communities together, The Wire helps turn local expertise into opportunities for businesses across the national network.
Conversations shaped around real business challenges
Some of the strongest engagement during The Wire’s first year took place around activities focused on practical business needs, including community discussions, events, onboarding campaigns and content programmes.
Members are using the platform to explore subjects including AI adoption, digital transformation, funding, sales growth, leadership development and business resilience. Specialist groups have also emerged around areas such as AI and emerging technology, marketing, solopreneurship and wellbeing.
“Lots of other founders. I’ve done bits of business and collaborations with other members. Really fantastic community.”
Wellsprings Innovation Centre customer
“It’s been a good platform to use, especially for connecting with other businesses across the innovation centres.”
Fareham Innovation Centre customer
Bringing the community together live
The Wire’s 41 livestream sessions attracted 314 participants during its first year. These events gave members an opportunity to learn from experts, ask questions, share experiences and meet businesses from across the network.
Recordings and supporting resources are also available through the platform, allowing members to revisit sessions or access useful content at a time that works for them.
Looking ahead
The first year’s figures provide an encouraging picture of The Wire’s growth, but its wider value can also be found in the introductions made, knowledge shared, problems solved and new opportunities discovered.
In just 12 months, The Wire has brought together more than 1,600 members across 30 innovation centres and generated more than 17,000 interactions. By combining local communities with national connections, business support, specialist expertise, training, funding guidance and shared resources, it is helping businesses access the knowledge and people they need to move forward.
Because innovation does not happen in isolation. It happens when people connect, collaborate and grow together.
Already part of an Oxford Innovation Space centre? Speak to your centre team to find out how to join The Wire and start connecting with the wider community.
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