Oxford City Council and ODS go beyond Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership pledges to make Oxford a fairer city

Oxford City Council, and its wholly owned companies ODS and OX Place, have made significant progress across most Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership (OIEP) pledges, going above and beyond the original 13 committed to in summer 2023.  The annual audit, completed earlier this month, revealed the Council had actually made progress on 35 of the possible 39 pledges. 

This reflects the Council's commitment to making the city’s economy work for everyone. 

Progress highlights from the first year 

Oxford City Council and companies have delivered on commitments across five key themes: 

Supporting the local and social economy 

• The Council has embedded social value into its procurement process, with social value now accounting for 20% of its procurement criteria. 
• ODS has maintained its commitment to local businesses, with 73.07% of its 2023/24 spending going to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and 59.63% to local suppliers. 
• The "Match My Project" platform, launched in November 2023, has connected 83 businesses with 50 community organisations, enhancing local employment and social value opportunities. 

Creating employment opportunities 

• The Council and ODS are recognised as Disability Confident Employers, demonstrating leadership in inclusivity and support for employees with disabilities. 
• The Council continues to support employees to volunteer in the community, with ODS introducing a staff volunteering bank offering 200 hours for community projects. 

Inclusive recruitment practices 

• Oxford City Council has launched new inclusive recruitment guidance and training, ensuring that hiring practices are free from bias and accessible to all.  

Improving training and educational attainment 

• Oxford City Council and ODS have supported work experience placements with local schools, including work with EMBS College, Cherwell School, and others to provide essential career advice and training opportunities. 
• The Council has pledged up to 25% of its unused Apprenticeship Levy, c.£72,126, to support small businesses and apprenticeships across Oxford. 
• ODS has pledged £48,084 of Apprenticeship Levy and advocates for apprentices within the business to help support the growth of apprenticeships in the city.

Providing fairer wages 

• Oxford City Council and ODS continue to be Oxford Living Wage employers and champion a livable wage for all. 
• Since the Council launched the Oxford Living Wage, over 25,000 employees from 100 employers have benefitted from wage increases.  

For more information about OIEP and how you can become a member, please visit the OIEP website. 

Comment 

"I’m really delighted with the progress that we have made this first year. The pledges have meant real focus on what needs to be done to improve inclusivity and fairness in our city and to support small businesses locally. 

“Our progress across these pledges, those we committed to and beyond, demonstrates our dedication to creating an economy that benefits everyone in Oxford. This is one of our key priorities as a council." 

Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council