DeveloperOxford NorthOxford · Employment & Skills
Oxford North: jobs, training and local businesses for the new innovation district
Connecting Oxford residents with the work, the apprenticeships and the local businesses that come with the city's flagship new innovation district at Oxford North.
Developer and main contractor
Oxford North & Hill Group
Oxford North is the developer behind the new innovation district on the northern edge of the city. Hill Group is the Tier 1 main contractor delivering the Canalside parcel: 317 new homes, two lab buildings up to 115,000 sq ft, start-up and grow-on workspace from 3,000 sq ft, and a new neighbourhood centre.
As of December 2025 the scheme has created 2,123 jobs on site, 28% from the local Oxfordshire labour market against a 15% S106 target, with apprenticeships, work experience, school engagement, site tours and volunteering all exceeding their commitments.
Already delivered
Oxford North's construction phase
put local people first.
Before a single office opens, the numbers are already in, and they beat every target set when planning was granted. Every one is a local household.
Source: Oxford North Employment Monitoring Report, Storey Consulting (construction phase to December 2025).
“Oxford North is a great example of how large, new developments can bring real benefits to our communities. Oxford North has gone beyond the targets we set them. It shows that it is perfectly possible to bring these jobs to local residents, and that there are no limits.”
Councillor Susan Brown · Leader of Oxford City Council
The commitment now
As Oxford North opens,
the jobs come to you first.
The businesses moving into Oxford North's labs, offices and workspace sign up to the same promise the developer made, written into their leases. Here is what that means if you live nearby.
Local people see the jobs first
Every vacancy is advertised to local residents for at least four weeks, through partners like DWP, Aspire and St Mungo’s, before it goes anywhere else.
15% of new jobs, local hires
Occupiers commit to reasonable endeavours for 15% local recruitment. The construction phase reached 28%, so the bar is set high.
The Oxford Living Wage
Every employer at Oxford North is bound by their lease to pay at least the Oxford Living Wage to everyone working on site.
Apprenticeships every phase
At least four new apprenticeships per phase, with preference for local 18 to 25 year-olds, paid day-release and real on-the-job training.
Local firms get a fair shot
Local companies and suppliers are given the chance to bid for facilities, services and goods across the estate.
Everything is evidenced
Progress is reported to Oxford City Council every quarter, so the commitments made at planning are visibly kept.
“Local” means you live in an Oxfordshire postcode, or within 30 miles of Oxford North. Commitments summarised from Oxford North's End-Use Community Employment & Procurement Plan (Schedule 7, Phase 1A), draft for Oxford City Council approval.
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About
About Opportunity Oxford
Oxford North is a new innovation district on the northern edge of the city, delivering 317 new homes, two lab buildings up to 115,000 sq ft, start-up and grow-on workspace from 3,000 sq ft, and a new neighbourhood centre. Opportunity Oxford makes the employment, training and local-business commitments real for residents on the doorstep.
The platform brings together the live jobs, apprenticeships and skills bootcamps tied to Oxford North and the wider Oxfordshire skills plan, alongside the local businesses serving the new neighbourhood.
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