Oxford Edge – Christ Church's new Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The centre, backed by the venture builder Blenheim Chalcot, will operate in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s entrepreneurship hub, EnSpire Oxford and the Saïd Business School.

Students will benefit from education in the core principles of entrepreneurship from Christ Church and University of Oxford tutors as well as Blenheim Chalcot’s network of experienced entrepreneurs, and its educational programmes. This will go hand-in-hand with practical support from established entrepreneurs drawn from Oxford’s community of alumni and its wider ecosystem.

The Oxford Edge Centre, based at 37 St Giles in the heart of Oxford, will support a broad range of ventures, ranging from social and civic entrepreneurship to innovation in science and technology.

With meeting rooms, classrooms and state of the art work space, Oxford Edge is a response to growing student demand for entrepreneurial education and will help provide the pathways to innovation that play a key role in the University of Oxford’s vision. By offering the space and backing for students to build on their ideas and develop the skills and entrepreneurial mindset needed to succeed in the very early stages of launching a venture, it will play an important role in Oxford’s development as a major global innovation hub. 

Undergraduate and postgraduate students from all divisions of the University visited the newly refurbished centre on Friday, with opportunities to tour the building, speak to tutors and centre staff, and learn more about University of Oxford entrepreneurship opportunities and about successful Blenheim Chalcot spin out companies. A full programme of events, workshops and lectures will be hosted at Oxford Edge from Trinity Term, and details of a funded vacation scheme for students will be advertised soon.

Charles Mindenhall, Founding Partner of Blenheim Chalcot and Christ Church alumnus, said: "Innovative thinking and entrepreneurship lie at the heart of growing a successful economy and productive society. That is why Blenheim Chalcot is so keen to champion and support this initiative, which we hope will inspire and equip Christ Church and Oxford students to pursue entrepreneurial careers and endeavours. We look forward to making our entrepreneurial programmes and leaders available to help educate students on the skills and capabilities needed to build great new businesses and organisations."

In 2023, Vice-Chancellor Irene Tracey chaired an Independent Review of University Spinout Companies, whose recommendations to fund and support university spinouts were accepted in full by the Government. Professor Tracey said: “I’m delighted at the launch of Oxford Edge. As our review of university spin-out businesses for government highlighted last year, infrastructure is vital if a city is to become a hub of spin-out creation. This Centre will help us achieve our ambition of making Oxford a global innovation hub.”