Frequently Asked Questions

The Oxford Trust’s Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington provides laboratory, technical workspace and office space for science and technology companies, particularly suited to science and technology companies in sectors including life sciences, health tech and deep tech.  Set in 15 acres of woodland, it also offers meeting and conference spaces, co-working in Barclays Eagle Labs and virtual offices. 

The Oxford Centre for Innovation, located just off the High Street in Oxford city centre, offers office space, co-working and meeting facilities for innovation-led businesses looking for a central Oxford location. 

Companies based at either site benefit from joint access to both our centres for meetings and co-working.

If you need laboratory or technical workspace alongside offices, the Wood Centre for Innovation is likely to be the best fit. If you’re looking primarily for flexible office or co-working space in central Oxford, the Oxford Centre for Innovation may suit you better.

If you’re not sure, talk to our centre teams and we’ll help you find the space that best matches your requirements.

The centres are owned by The Oxford Trust and managed on our behalf by Oxford Innovation Space, whose experienced on-site teams provide day-to-day support to companies based at both centres. 

Yes. You can easily arrange a viewing of either centre. Our centre teams can show you round, help you explore all the options and find the right place for your business.

You can contact us by filling out our Get in touch form on the website or call 

Oxford Centre for Innovation 01865 261400 

Wood Centre for Innovation 01865 945500

The Oxford Trust has more than 40 years’ experience in supporting science, technology and innovation in Oxford.

By locating your business in one of our centres, you’re also contributing to something bigger. Income from our centres supports The Oxford Trust’s STEM education and engagement programmes, delivered through Science Oxford, helping to inspire the next generation of scientists and innovators.

Our innovation centres have:

• Grade A offices
• Class II R&D laboratories, ready to occupy and bespoke designs (Wood Centre for Innovation only)
• Technical workspaces (Wood Centre for Innovation only)
• Co-working in Barclays Eagle Labs
• Virtual office services
• Meeting rooms and conference facilities

Depending on your requirements, companies can take anything from a small office, laboratory or technical workspace from 150 sq ft through to larger units of 1400 sq ft. Spaces are flexible and can be combined and configured to suit clients’ operational requirements.

Space ranges from 150 sq ft to larger spaces of 1400 sq ft with the option to combine spaces to accommodate larger requirements. View our floorplans or contact the centre team to discuss current availability.

Yes. At the Wood Centre for Innovation companies can take lab and office combinations to suit your business.

Yes. We offer flexible configurations to suit individual company requirements. Talk to our centre team about what you need and the options available.

Yes, we offer a move-in support service if required to make setting up your new workspace as simple and seamless as possible.

We have pricing packages tailored to your requirements, helping you find the right space at the right price.

The Oxford Trust offers flexible licence and lease agreements from just six months, helping companies scale without necessarily committing to long-term traditional commercial leases too early.

Move-in times depend on the space you need and whether any configuration or fit-out is required. Where suitable space is ready to occupy, we will work with you to make the move-in process as straightforward as possible.

Yes. One of the benefits of being based in our innovation centres is the flexibility to take additional or different space as your requirements change, subject to availability. Talk to the centre team about your growth plans so we can explore the options with you.

At both centres:

• One-to-one business support
• Information and networking events
• Reception and admin services
• Superfast broadband
• Shared kitchens or kitchens within offices
• Weekly cleaning
• Maintenance
• Water, gas and electricity
• 24-hour access and CCTV
• Meeting rooms 
• Bike storage
• Showers and changing facilities

At the Wood Centre:

• Conference theatre 
• Café 
• Outdoor spaces 
• Car parking and EV charging 
• Shared laboratory facilities 

Our shared laboratory facilities at the Wood Centre for Innovation include liquid nitrogen storage, autoclave, water purifier and dark room. We also have an on-site shared lab supervisor.

Our centres support science, technology and innovation-led businesses at different stages of growth, from early-stage start-ups and university spinouts to scale-ups working in fields such as life sciences, diagnostics, AI, digital health, engineering and deep tech. You don’t need to be affiliated to the University to rent space.

The Wood Centre for Innovation is suited to companies that require lab or technical workspace alongside offices, while the Oxford Centre offers office space. 

The centres support businesses from early-stage start-ups requiring virtual office services through to scaling companies requiring larger laboratory, technical workspace and offices. 

Hundreds of businesses have fledged from our innovation centres over the last 40+ years including Mirada Medical, Perspectum Diagnostics, Navenio and more recently Ultromics, Infleqtion, Learning with Experts, Createc, QuantrolOx, Quantum Dice, Habitat Energy and DJS Antibodies.   

Yes, our centres support University of Oxford spinouts as well as founders, start-ups an innovation-led businesses from across Oxfordshire.

Yes. We welcome international science and technology innovation-led companies looking to establish or grow a presence in Oxford. Talk to our centre teams about workspace, virtual office facilities and business support options.

Both our centres are more than a place to work. They provide the environment, flexibility and support that science and tech businesses need to start, grow and succeed in Oxford. Companies based in our centres benefit from:

• Joint site access for co-working and meetings in the Oxford Centre for Innovation in the city centre and the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington
• A thriving community of science and technology businesses
• Networking and community events
• Knowledge-sharing events
• Access to one-to-one business support
• Opportunities for collaboration with neighbouring businesses

And because the centres are owned by The Oxford Trust, your occupancy helps support our charitable STEM education and engagement programmes, delivered by our Science Oxford team.

Businesses have access to one-to-one business support, access to business development tools, networking events, mentoring opportunities and specialist resources such as Exit Right, designed to support business growth and investment readiness. See more here: https://theoxfordtrust.co.uk/innovation-centres/business-support/

Yes. The Oxford Trust’s Escalator Support Programme is designed to help promising young science and technology-based companies get a start in Oxford. The programme is directed to organisations that really need financial support before they either raise venture capital or become revenue generating. 

Companies interested in locating to our Oxford Centre for Innovation or Wood Centre for Innovation can apply for support via our centre managers, Oxford Innovation Space. Support is subject to approval from The Oxford Trust.

Yes. The Oxford Trust actively supports the innovation ecosystem and is developing investment-focused initiatives designed to connect innovative businesses with potential investors and funding opportunities. 

Both centres have active business communities, regular community events and informal networking opportunities. Companies frequently collaborate, share expertise and make valuable introductions through the innovation centre network. 

The centre sits within the Headington Science Cluster and is close to transport links and key centres of R&D:

• University of Oxford Old Road Campus
• NHS research and teaching hospitals
• Oxford Brookes University

Its location places businesses close to one of the UK’s leading ecosystems for scientific research, talent, and collaborators. 

The centre is also close to shops and cafes in Headington.

The Oxford Centre for Innovation offers a central Oxford location near transport links and key centres of R&D:

• University of Oxford’s science facilities
• Saïd Business School 

Located just off Oxford’s High Street, the Oxford Centre for Innovation is close to cafes, bars, restaurants, galleries and theatres, making it attractive for businesses that value city-centre connectivity. 

Yes. Companies based at either innovation centre can access facilities at both sites, including meeting space, co-working areas and the wider business community.

The Wood Centre for Innovation provides on-site parking, bike storage and EV charging facilities.

Right in the heart of Oxford, the Oxford Centre for Innovation does not have tenant parking but does provide bike storage. 

Yes. Both centres provide secure 24-hour access. 

At the Wood Centre for Innovation, there’s a boardroom, meeting rooms and informal co-working spaces as well as a 100-seat theatre and café.

In the Oxford Centre for Innovation, there is a boardroom, informal co-working space, phone and meeting booths.

Yes, if you are external, you can still book meeting and co-working space in our centres. Clients based in our centres get a discount on bookings for meeting space.

Yes, investors can use the meeting spaces at both centres.

The Wood Centre for Innovation has strong sustainability credentials, including biodiversity enhancements and low-carbon building features. 

In addition, income generated from the centres is reinvested into The Oxford Trust’s STEM education programmes, delivered through Science Oxford, creating measurable social impact.