A COUNTY business leader has called on the Government to create an enterprise zone for Oxfordshire.

Frank Nigriello, chairman of Oxfordshire Business First (OBF), wants to see county firms given Government finance and support to fuel their growth.

He said: “We have a lot of firms such as Siemens Magnet Technology and BMW with the Mini plant in the advanced high value manufacturing field and that industry sector is growing.

“Then there are the existing companies looking to grow. The Government needs to do a lot more for those businesses.”

In March, Chancellor George Osborne announced 21 enterprise zones would be established in the UK and the first four in Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and London have been confirmed with seven more set for cities such as Leeds, Birmingham and Sheffield.

Each will benefit from tax breaks for businesses, simplified planning rules and super-fast broadband Internet.

But while Mr Nigriello accepts areas in the Midlands and the north have higher unemployment and fewer start-up businesses than Oxfordshire, it does not mean the county’s entrepreneurs could not be encouraged to be even more successful.

He added: “The Government is focusing on areas of deprivation but it also has to consider how it can uphold high growth areas and allow them to flourish.”

“The Government should invest in areas that can grow and that are strategic for Britain’s future. Oxfordshire should be one of those areas.”

Mr Nigriello who was recently appointed to head up OBF, the new name for the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership, also believes there should be more investment in skills where there needs to be a “radical rethink” in areas such as apprenticeships.

Mr Nigriello’s comments were welcomed by Phil Lacey, operations director at LTi Metaltech, a high-tech manufacturing business at Milton Park.

He said: “For us, it is the availability and development of a pool of skilled personnel in the locality which is a greater threat to growth, and we would like to see the Government recognise and address this problem urgently.”

Earlier this year the company, which produces cryogenic pressure vessels for the healthcare sector, unveiled a £1.5m investment programme, creating 30 new jobs.

Ed Vaizey, the Wantage MP and minister for communication, culture and the creative industries, said: “I am aware of Oxfordshire’s desire to be an enterprise zone.

“It is a high growth area with first rate hi-tech companies and I would encourage representations being made to the Chancellor.”