ODS has existed for many years, born out of the need to maintain Oxford City Council's housing stock, parks and streets. It was formally established in 2012 to serve the community's needs and provide commercial services where capable.

In 2018, ODS was made a wholly owned company by its sole shareholder, Oxford City Council. It is now made up of two companies that work together to deliver cost-effective public and commercial services.

Becoming a separate entity opened ODS up to new possibilities and ambitions. We are building more homes and maintaining streets, parks and properties. We are constructing more highways and buildings. We are providing more managed services, repairing vehicles, conducting MOTs, recycling waste, controlling pests and removing trees. We are working for more local authorities, businesses, schools, universities and residents now across the county.

We create social value – through the services we deliver directly to residents and through the excellent commercial services we provide to businesses, institutions and other local authorities.

Our commercial customers are reassured to know that many of our people have unrivalled expertise in their fields and have probably seen more and done more than most of our competitors ever will.

But we are still hungry to find new, better ways of doing good for our communities and customers, sustainably and in a cost-efficient way.