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Oxford launches first Social Sciences spin-out

Press Release: October 20th, 2003

Oxford University's latest spin-out company, Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI), aims to help local government tackle social exclusion. Expert analysis will facilitate the tasks of identifying deprived neighbourhoods, targeting resources, evaluating programme effectiveness, and strengthening regeneration bids. It is Oxford's first ever spin-out from the social sciences.

OCSI’s consultancy is based on nearly two decades of ground-breaking research, initiated by Michael Noble and George Smith at the Social Disadvantage Research Centre (SDRC) in the University’s Department of Social Policy and Social Work. The research centre is a world leader in area-based deprivation research, with director Michael Noble awarded an OBE for "services to research on poverty and deprivation" in the New Year Honours List 2001.

OCSI provides an ‘applied’ service using administrative data, alongside the research carried out by the SDRC. Aimed at local and regional government and other public sector bodies, OCSI expertise will be an essential aid in identifying, analysing and interpreting the wealth of small area deprivation information released by government.

Significant sums are targeted to regenerate deprived areas. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reports that the Government Single Regeneration Budget is expected to involve funding of £23 billion pounds to disadvantaged areas by 2007. In addition, £5 billion of the 3 year Sustainable Communities programme has been earmarked for regenerating deprived areas. ‘To make the most impact with limited resources, local government needs to get it right,’ said Tom Smith, Director of OCSI. ‘We sort through the mass of data available to allow them to make the best-informed decisions possible about local spending.’

SDRC, on whose research OCSI is based, has a distinguished track record in analysing social deprivation. The centre pioneered the widespread use of national administrative data, creating up-to-date and consistent information on all areas of the country and laying the foundation for the Office of National Statistics’ major initiative on ‘neighbourhood statistics’. Recent SDRC projects include the National Indices of Deprivation, for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. The English Index (IMD 2000) - described as “a reverse Domesday Book” of ward-by-ward deprivation - is currently the basis for allocating several billion pounds funding to deprived areas.

The centre’s latest research concentrates on longitudinal analysis, measuring trends and the impact of major government social programmes on disadvantaged areas for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department for Education and Skills, and HM Treasury. The SDRC is also extending its work to South Africa, with a major research and development initiative supported by both the South African and UK governments.

Notes to Editors:

• Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI), Oxford University’s first spin-out from the Social Sciences, was launched in October 2003 to help local government identify deprived neighbourhoods, target resources and evaluate programme effectiveness.
• Isis Innovation, Oxford University's wholly-owned technology transfer company, has spun out nearly 40 companies to date. The combined value of Oxford's spin-out companies has reached £2 billion, using quoted market capitalisations and investor valuations for unquoted companies.
• For further information:
  • Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion: www.ocsi.co.uk/
  • Social Disadvantage Research Centre: www.apsoc.ox.ac.uk/sdrc/
  • Dept of Social Policy and Social Research: www.apsoc.ox.ac.uk/
  • Isis Innovation: www.isis-innovation.com/