BOSSES at Oxfordshire business parks have pointed to growing signs of confidence in the county economy with a raft of firms moving in and snapping up available space.

Monument Park at Chalgrove is now almost fully occupied – with nine businesses moving into office accommodation in recent months taking the overall number to more than 80, employing 600 people.

It is a similar picture at Milton Park, near Didcot, where there have been 41 new lettings with 15 firms expanding within the park, which employs about 6,500 people.

And at the Grove Business Centre, managers are predicting a busy two days next week as they throw open their doors to prospective new tenants.

Paul Mabbutt, managing director of Jennings which runs Monument Park, said: “As well as companies moving in, there is a lot of growth among businesses already established on the park.

“Many are seeing their order books increasing and are starting to invest. It is a very positive situation.”

Mr Mabbutt added that Jennings’ other sites at Thame and Berinsfield were now full occupied along with business support organisation TBAC’s small office centres in Abingdon and St Clement’s, Oxford.

James Dipple, managing director of Milton Park, said the announcement of Oxfordshire becoming an Enterprise Zone – which will create 8,400 jobs by 2016 – would also be a major boost.

He added: “This make us ideally poised to undertake new developments in 2012 and we’re currently reviewing our master plan to that effect.”

Meanwhile, Simon Ames, director of the Grove Business Centre, said business confidence was returning following the recession of 2008-09.

He added: “The situation has really moved on now and we have 50 small companies in the business centre which is more than 70 per cent occupied and there are now more than 500 people working here and on our site at Grove Technology Park.”

On Friday and Saturday next week, prospective tenants and budding entrepreneurs will get a chance to view the facilities of the centre, which is within Grove Technology Park.

Park manager Steve Head said: “These facility days provide an opportunity for small business owners to sample a range of serviced offices and to receive first hand information on the economic benefits.”

For more information or to book, call 01235 772992 or email info@grovetechpark.com