Tony Baldry, the MP for Banbury, launched a new business incubator in the Colin Sanders Innovation Centre, already home to 21 start-up businesses.

Companies can rent their own desk space on a monthly basis, with free wireless internet and will also benefit from reception support and access to meeting and conference rooms and communal facilities.

The service differs from ‘hot desking’ as the desk area is for the exclusive use of each client company and the intention is to create a community of start-up companies in a shared workspace.

Mr Baldry (pictured) said: “This is a fantastic initiative. We need a private sector led recovery. Almost all new businesses start as small businesses but historically far too many new small business start-ups have failed — experience shows that those that have had the support of incubators and initiatives such as the Innovation Centre have a much better chance of success."

Centre manager Martin Connor said: “It means that a start-up firm can immediately set up to work from their own desk area with full telecoms and IT systems in place but with the flexibility to commit to as little as one month.”

The centre, currently home to 21 businesses, is on the campus of Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and accessed off Mewburn Road. For details, contact Martin Connor, centre manager, on 01295 817600 or e-mail m.connor@oxin.co.uk.

Mr Baldry also backed a campaign to boost links with education and improve skills, urging the 80 business people who attended the July Banbury Business Breakfast Club to make a pledge on behalf of their company.

Options ranged from giving a one-hour talk to young people about their company or arranging a tour of their premises, through offering a work experience placement or work trial, to working with at Oxford & Cherwell Valley College on its fast-growing apprenticeships programme.

Mr Baldry said: “It was great to be able to welcome so many local employers to the college and encourage them to pledge to strengthen their connections for the future. We know the benefits to business and to the local economy can be huge.”

The breakfast event heard from Prodrive about its long established apprenticeship programme, and Prodrive apprentice and college student Jack Pilling described the benefits of the programme.

OCVC principal, Sally Dicketts, said: “The best, most effective and successful apprenticeship and vocational programmes are always the ones where there is a genuine partnership between business and the college.

“It was brilliant to be able to welcome so many local businesspeople to our Banbury campus and to see the enthusiasm for pledging to work with us.”

Employers interested in discussing links can call OCVC Employer Services on 01865 551015, text APPRENTICE with their name and number to 81400 or visit the website: www.ocvc.ac.uk