What is OBAG?

OBAG is a new organisation for businesses across Oxford. Our main aim is to bring together representatives from the major shopping neighbourhoods in Oxford city: the city centre and High Street, the Covered Market, St Clements, Cowley and Iffley roads, Jericho, Summertown, Botley road and Osney Mead, Headington, Marston, Littlemore and Blackbird Leys.

Our membership is currently drawn primarily from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with shop fronts, and includes cafes, hairdressers, printers, hotels, restaurants, builders’ yards, shops, cinemas, theatres and mechanics.

Who is on the committee?

The OBAG committee mostly comprises owners of small independent businesses with a shop front in the city of Oxford. Between us we are able to bring several decades of experience and an in-depth, long term knowledge of Oxford to the group.

Why was OBAG established?

There are well over 1,000 SMEs with a shop front in Oxford.  

In recent months, many Oxford business owners have become concerned about the new challenges they’re facing in the city: of particular concern are council policies including Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, the expansion of the Zero Emission Zone pilot scheme, the planned workplace parking levy, and proposed additional traffic filters (ie. bus gates).

Fellow business owners tell us that they do not feel as though they have a voice in helping to shape the changes taking place around us, despite those changes directly affecting them and their businesses. OBAG was formed to champion the needs of these business owners, and to give them a voice. 

We believe in a sustainable positive future for local businesses – one that must be supported by fair, evidence-based solutions, which effectively tackle local problems. To achieve this objective, we support greater engagement between local SME businesses, local government, and other key stakeholders, such as property developers and travel companies.

Why is it important to safeguard Oxford’s SMEs with a shop front?

Independent SMEs with a shop front are the life blood of our fantastic city.  

Each of our shopping neighbourhoods creates employment. For example, in Jericho there are 54 businesses with a shop front employing around 450 people (source: Business Survey - Jericho Connections). Across the wider city, SME owners are substantial local employers. 

We are a diverse community, with many business owners not having English as a first language. We are dedicated to ensuring that these communities, in particular, have a voice in decisions made that affect them. All too often, we feel that inequality is created when our small businesses are negatively impacted by council proposals. Many business owners feel they don’t have the social capital to effectively engage with the council: our aim is to change that.

You say you want a sustainable future for Oxford… how would that look?  

We want a city that remains accessible to all, as we rightly shift towards a zero carbon future: zero emissions buses, more electric car charging facilities, better cycling access – including better quiet ways for cycling and more bike storage - are just a few things we are very much in favour of! With ‘eyes on the ground’ across the city, we are well placed to help improve our local environment, mindful of the challenges such projects inevitably create for local residents and businesses alike.

How might OBAG’s relationship with the councils work in practical terms?

OBAG aims to enter into a permanent, structured dialogue with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and other interested stakeholders. We wish to become directly involved in the early stages of new proposals and policies that are likely to affect the city’s SMEs.

We are also specifically asking for the creation of a Small Business Champion within Oxfordshire County Council - mirroring an arrangement already introduced by Oxford City council. Oxfordshire County Council’s Small Business Champion should have the necessary business experience to understand SMEs’ needs and properly represent their interests at county level.

How can I get involved?

There are several ways you can get involved as a business owner, stakeholder or councillor, depending on your availability.  For the moment, supporters can follow us on Twitter and sign up to our mailing list below.

(Question not answered? We’d be happy to help! Reach us at info@oxfordbusinessactiongroup.co.uk)