Podcast
Oxford+
Hosted by Susannah de Jager · EN
Welcome to Oxford+, the podcast series that explores the myths and truths of the Oxford investing landscape hosted by Susannah de Jager. Since moving to Oxford, Susannah has collaborated with experts, entrepreneurs, and government to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital. Oxford+ aims to inform, inspire, and connect. We'll talk to Founders, investors, academics, politicians, and facilitators and explore how Oxford is open for business.
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Lord William Hague on Talent, Technology, and Capital
Mar 1700:42:16Tap to summarizeHow does the UK turn world-class ideas into world-class companies, without selling the best outcomes abroad?In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Lord William Hague, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and former UK Foreign Secretary, about the UK’s scale-up gap and what it will take to build an innovation economy that keeps more value at home. They discuss why universities sit at the centre of growth, how pension capital and other long-term investors can help close the funding gap, and why procurement and slow decision-making can quietly kill promising companies before they reach commercial scale.The conversation lands in the reality of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, which government has positioned as a long-term national growth project. Recent reporting on the corridor highlights the scale of the ambition and the industries driving it, alongside the claim it could add £78bn to the economy by 2035. From foreign takeovers of UK spinouts to the need for faster infrastructure delivery, this episode offers a clear, systems-level view of what Oxford’s ecosystem reveals about the UK’s economic future.(00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+ (02:26) - What the Chancellor of Oxford Actually Does (07:36) - Oxford’s Global Position and Talent Flywheel (09:57) - The Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the Need for Speed (14:05) - The Scale-up Capital Gap and Pension Capital (15:09) - Unicorn Spinouts, Foreign Buyers, and Ownership (19:47) - Procurement as a Hidden Blocker to Innovation (23:34) - Why Britain Moves Slowly and What Could Change (27:19) - The Ellison Institute of Technology and Oxford’s Next Phase (31:22) - US Politics, Talent Flows, and Global Competition (38:44) - AI, Education, and Avoiding Brain Rot (40:05) - Social Media, Youth Mental Health, and Regulation Lord William Hague: Lord William Hague of Richmond is the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and a former Leader of the Conservative Party. He studied PPE at Magdalen College, Oxford, later completing an MBA at INSEAD, and served as MP for Richmond for 26 years, including as Leader of the Conservative Party (1997–2001) and as Foreign Secretary (2010–2014). As Minister for Disabled People, he was responsible for the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and he co-founded the Campaign to Prevent Sexual Violence in Conflict. He was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in November 2024 and took up his duties in February 2025.Connect with Lord William Hague on LinkedInSusannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn and Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for Exclusive ContentOxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya, HSBC Innovation Banking, and James Cowper Kreston.Produced and Edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.
Transcribe →Oxford+ in Brief with Hannah Scott, CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech
Mar 1000:11:20Tap to summarizeWhat would success look like if Oxfordshire got climate innovation truly right, not just in ideas, but in deployment at scale? In this Oxford+ bonus episode, Susannah de Jager speaks with Hannah Scott, CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech, about the practical barriers that stop climate tech startups moving from promise to global impact.Hannah unpacks why scaling hardware and deep tech takes longer, costs more, and often hits the Valley of Death between Series A and Series B, where funding needs can jump dramatically. She argues the UK needs more patient capital, including family offices, and reflects on whether pension reform will genuinely shift investment towards British IP and industrial capability. That question has new urgency, with the government saying the Mansion House Accord could unlock up to £50bn for UK businesses and major infrastructure.The conversation also looks forward: what Oxford might become by 2050, and how to weigh heritage, housing, equity, and innovation. Finally, Hannah frames AI as both opportunity and risk for net zero, and asks what it means to move forward more sensibly.Hannah Scott: Hannah Scott is the CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech, a not-for-profit business network building a world-leading climate tech innovation ecosystem in Oxfordshire with impact beyond. She leads the organisation in managing and engaging members, connecting them with funding, customers, and business expertise whilst facilitating scale-up innovation through events, programmes and projects. Hannah is also Co-Founder of the Climate Tech SuperCluster, which showcases, develops and scales climate-critical technologies across the UK and Europe. She sits on the Oxford Economic Growth Steering Board and was named to edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2023. Having helped launch Oxfordshire Greentech in 2019 whilst working for sustainability consultancy Bioregional, Hannah has now stepped into full-time leadership of the network and continues to deliver successful events, commercial opportunities and projects with climate and social impact.Connect with Hannah Scott on LinkedIn or visit Oxfordshire GreentechSusannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn and Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for Exclusive ContentOxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya, HSBC Innovation Banking, and James Cowper Kreston.Produced and Edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.
Transcribe →Building a World-Leading Climate Tech Ecosystem in Oxfordshire
Mar 300:43:37Tap to summarizeHow do you turn a county into a world-leading climate tech ecosystem, and why does collaboration matter more than competition when tackling the climate crisis?In this episode of Oxford Plus, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Hannah Scott, CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech and Co-Founder of the Climate Tech SuperCluster, about building networks that connect climate innovators with the funding, expertise and corporate partnerships they need to scale. They explore how Oxfordshire has quietly become one of the UK's most important regions for climate innovation, with emerging specialisms in energy tech at Harwell, fusion at Culham and sustainable chemistry at Begbroke.With the UK climate tech sector now valued at $75.3 billion but investment falling 67% since 2023, Hannah explains how business networks like Oxfordshire Greentech help startups leapfrog challenges, access visibility and navigate the valley of death. From the recent launch of a green ammonia demonstrator at Harwell to the formation of a cross-European climate tech supercluster spanning Amsterdam, London and Paris, this conversation reveals how local action can drive global climate impact.Whether you're an entrepreneur looking for support, an investor seeking deal flow, or a corporate wanting to engage with cutting-edge climate solutions, this episode offers a practical roadmap for plugging into one of the UK's most dynamic innovation ecosystems.(00:00) - Welcome to Oxford Plus (03:01) - The Range of Climate Tech Innovation in Oxfordshire (05:21) - Geographic Reach Beyond Oxfordshire (08:31) - The Climate Tech SuperCluster (12:05) - Cross-Regional Collaboration with Cambridge Cleantech (16:30) - Day-to-Day Support for Members (24:48) - Key Events Throughout the Year (29:09) - Access to Finance Conference (31:00) - Networking Innovation and Speed Dating (33:55) - Climate Solutions Conference (35:06) - Connecting Startups with Local Government (38:34) - How Investors Can Engage (39:18) - The MIT Five-Stakeholder Model Hannah Scott: Hannah Scott is the CEO of Oxfordshire Greentech, a not-for-profit business network building a world-leading climate tech innovation ecosystem in Oxfordshire with impact beyond. She leads the organisation in managing and engaging members, connecting them with funding, customers, and business expertise whilst facilitating scale-up innovation through events, programmes and projects. Hannah is also Co-Founder of the Climate Tech SuperCluster, which showcases, develops and scales climate-critical technologies across the UK and Europe. She sits on the Oxford Economic Growth Steering Board and was named to edie's 30 Under 30 Class of 2023. Having helped launch Oxfordshire Greentech in 2019 whilst working for sustainability consultancy Bioregional, Hannah has now stepped into full-time leadership of the network and continues to deliver successful events, commercial opportunities and projects with climate and social impact.Connect with Hannah Scott on LinkedIn or visit Oxfordshire GreentechSusannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn and Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for Exclusive ContentOxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya, HSBC Innovation Banking, and James Cowper Kreston.Produced and Edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.
Transcribe →