Contractor GRAHAM has commenced work to transform a 19th century Oxford Power Station into a world class Global Leadership Centre.

Saïd Business School University of Oxford held a ground-breaking ceremony at Osney Power Station to launch its new Global Leadership Centre

The old Osney power station, which opened in 1892, was Oxford’s first electrical power plant. From 2024, it will serve to power the development of leadership models now and for the future. The GLC will support high-level business and leadership education with a range of formal and informal teaching spaces. Teaching will take place face-to-face or remotely, using a range of resources, including state-of-the-art digital tools, designed to reach diverse teams globally.


Construction partner GRAHAM has been appointed to deliver the project and will carry out a full internal refurbishment of the existing building to create a number of new, high-quality teaching spaces alongside leisure and dining facilities. 121 hotel-style bedrooms will be created to accommodate some of the business school’s students. The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Paul Polman, chair of the board at Saïd Business School, Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Sue Dopson, Interim Dean at Saïd Business School.

Professor Dopson, said: "This is a transformative moment for Oxford Saïd and the wider community of the city of Oxford. I feel honoured to be part of a team which is propelling us out of the Victorian era of the Osney Power Station and continuing its story, by harnessing the best of new technology. Ultimately the Global Leadership Centre will provide opportunities to develop ideas to address global challenges. I look forward to seeing the benefits locally, nationally and internationally."

Rob Joyce, Development Director at GRAHAM, added: "This project will create a world-leading centre for education that honours both the industrial nature of the building’s history while providing a space that allows for both traditional and modern teaching practices to accommodate the changing needs of the evolving student population. We’re delighted to be onboard and can't wait to get started."