The Oxford Trust has officially opened its new £9 million Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington, marking another major milestone in its 40-year history of enabling science and technology companies to start, grow and stay in Oxford.
The new facility was formally opened by Rt. Hon. Dame Anneliese Dodds MP, Member of Parliament for Oxford East, on Friday 17 July. The event was attended by Mrs Marjorie Glasgow BEM, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, leader of Oxford City Council councillor Susan Brown, vice chair of Oxfordshire County Council councillor Roz Smith, the Lord Mayor of Oxford councillor Chewe Munkonge and Mark Beard, chairman of Beard Construction. It brought together representatives from Oxford’s science and innovation community, business leaders, partners and stakeholders.
A new facility for Oxford’s innovation ecosystem
Located in the heart of Headington’s internationally recognised health and life sciences cluster, the Aspen Building provides two floors of high-quality CL2 laboratory and office space for science and technology start-ups, SMEs and scale-up businesses. The development also includes a dedicated STEM resources room that will enable The Oxford Trust to expand its science engagement and outreach activities across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, delivered by Science Oxford.
The building responds to growing demand for flexible specialist mid-sized laboratory and innovation space within Oxford’s thriving science and technology ecosystem, and has already attracted strong interest from prospective occupiers.
Sustainability at its core
Designed with sustainability in mind, the Aspen Building has been awarded BREEAM Excellent certification and will deliver at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain across the surrounding woodland site. Environmental features include photovoltaic roof panels, battery energy storage, air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and enhanced landscaping to support biodiversity.
The Aspen Building was delivered by construction partner Beard and has supported jobs, skills development and investment in the local economy throughout its construction, creating the specialist facilities that innovative science and technology businesses need to grow in Oxford.
A mission-driven model
The Aspen Building represents the next phase of The Oxford Trust’s unique charitable business model, which reinvests income generated through its innovation centres into inspiring young people and communities through its STEM education and public engagement programmes, delivered by its dedicated Science Oxford team.
John Boyle, chair of trustees at The Oxford Trust, said: “The opening of this new facility is a proud moment for the Trust. By creating additional laboratory and office space for growing science and technology businesses, while expanding our STEM education facilities to expand delivery through Science Oxford, this new building perfectly reflects our charitable mission to encourage the pursuit of science.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank everyone who has made this vision a reality: our staff, led by Steve Burgess and Nicki Campling, together with Beard, ADP Architects, Gleeds and all the partners involved in delivering this outstanding facility.”
Steve Burgess, chief executive officer at The Oxford Trust, said: “The opening of the Aspen Building is a landmark moment for The Oxford Trust and a significant investment in Oxford’s innovation future. This facility provides the specialist laboratory and workspace that science and technology companies need to scale successfully, while strengthening the capacity of the Headington Science Cluster and Oxford’s wider innovation ecosystem.
“What makes Aspen unique is that every company we support also helps create wider social impact. Income generated through our innovation centres is reinvested into our STEM education and engagement programmes, delivered by our fantastic Science Oxford team, enabling us to inspire thousands of young people, families and communities. The opening of the Aspen Building strengthens both sides of that mission: supporting innovation today while helping develop the scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”
What they are saying
Rt. Hon. Dame Anneliese Dodds MP, member of parliament for Oxford East, said: “I am proud that Oxford East has long been a place where innovation, enterprise and opportunity come together. The Oxford Trust’s Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation is a great example of how investment in local facilities can support growing businesses, create high-quality jobs and keep Oxford at the forefront of scientific discovery. Equally important is The Oxford Trust’s work with schools and local communities, helping ensure that young people from across our constituency can see a future for themselves in science, technology and innovation. This investment in both people and place is delivering real benefits for residents across Oxford East, now and for the future.”
The Lord Mayor of Oxford, councillor Chewe Munkonge, added: “The Aspen Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation is a fantastic addition to Oxford’s innovation landscape and demonstrates the city’s continued commitment to supporting science, technology and entrepreneurship. It is particularly encouraging to see a development that combines economic growth with investment in education and community benefit, creating lasting impact across Oxford.”
Building on a strong foundation
The Aspen Building sits alongside the fully occupied Linden Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation, which is home to pioneering life science and deep tech start-ups including DJS Antibodies, PicturaBio, Lumai, Exogene, Jack Fertility, Pure Capture, Densix, Helio, Bioarchitech and Newrotex. Together, the two buildings further strengthen The Oxford Trust’s ability to support high-growth science and technology businesses while generating long-term social impact through science education.
Over the past 12 months, the charity has supported science and technology companies employing hundreds of people across its two innovation centres. Through Science Oxford, it has also engaged more than 32,000 young people, families and community participants through STEM education and public engagement activities.
For more information, visit The Oxford Trust.
Photos by Ed Nix
