Our expertise

For over 40 years, our work has had a positive impact on local economies and society, helping regions, cities, institutions, businesses and communities to flourish. 

Within SQW Group, our four companies have distinctive specialisms. Our expertise in social and economic research can be deployed to develop strategies for sustainable local economic growth while our other three companies deliver specialist support to help people start-up or scale-up their business to the benefit of local economies. But whether working as an adviser or as a delivery partner, everything we do is about what will work in each specific place.

One to one advice session

One mission.
Four companies.
Four decades of experience.

Our teams share a mission to help policymakers devise and deliver the policies and interventions that help businesses, communities and economies thrive.

Working closely with local authorities, government departments, growth hubs, universities, investors, developers, private and public sector organisations, we advise policymakers, transform places and champion innovation.

We work right across the UK from Cornwall to Scotland – often working in some of the most economically deprived areas – helping to make a difference.

Map of UK showing locations of SQW Group offices and innovation centres

Our companies

SQW Group was formed following the merger of Oxford Innovation and SQW. Today the group operates through four companies.

We are the UK’s outstanding provider of business support for SMEs, providing specialist expertise and advice to help businesses accelerate their growth. We design and deliver programmes that nurture a culture of innovation to generate sustainable growth and economic prosperity for our customers. We have supported over 34,000 SMEs across the country.

We run the UK’s largest network of innovation centres and work closely with universities, local authorities, developers, science parks and businesses. We create environments for entrepreneurs to innovate, collaborate, develop their technologies and grow their businesses.                                                                                                                                                                      

We are a specialist in providing growth and development capital for innovative businesses through our angel investment community, Oxford Investment Opportunity Network Ltd (OION) and our fund, the Oxford Innovation EIS Growth Fund. We are an FCA regulated fund manager and have been raising funds for businesses since 1994. Today, our angel network is one of the largest in the UK.

SQW is a leading independent provider of research, analysis and advice in economic and social development. Operating across the UK and internationally, SQW work for clients from the public, private and voluntary sectors to research, develop, implement and evaluate social and economic development interventions across a wide range of policy domains.

Oxfordshire

Belfast

Mansfield

Northampton