Virtual Solutions

Virtual Solutions from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

During this time of unprecedented change, the School is learning to adapt to new ways of working and offering, where possible, virtual solutions for our clients.

Written by: Verity Donovan Photography by: David Fisher

Oxford Said has a range of platforms available to help stay connected moving forward. Future events will rely on a degree of social distancing for some time, and with this in mind, we will be able to offer a blended conference experience, utilising both physical conference rooms and a virtual solution, allowing larger numbers of delegates to attend without the need to restrict numbers.

The Oxford HIVE

The Oxford HIVE (Hub for International Virtual Education) is one of the UK’s first immersive virtual meeting and presentation experiences, seamlessly connecting people across the world in a virtual learning experience.

Our virtual classroom can be utilised for the following types of events: • In-house training • Public lectures to a global audience • Presentations to boards and committees • Team meetings

Benefits include: • Engaging and interactive for the participants • Increase engagement and interaction with attendees over traditional webinar methods • Reduce cost of travel, accommodation, and carbon footprint • Connectivity across the world • On-site technical support

One-Touch Video (RapidMooc)

We recently won the Best In-House Technology award at the annual Academic Venue Awards, hosted in London, for our RapidMooc video platform solution.

The One-Touch Video Recording Studio Service allows anybody to record an educational or promotional video without any on-site technical support or without the need for later editing. The role of video in education has increased exponentially in the last few years. This system allows us to produce high quality videos to support courses and other events without the necessity of external media specialists. The Studio was implemented using a new technology integration provided by RapidMooc, establishing effective support policies with the AV team. The studio is set up in such a way that it can be used autonomously. The process for recording a video consists of three simple steps.

The recorded video is copied to a USB key to be shared via Vimeo, YouTube or other internal systems. The video can be edited later but this is not necessary in most cases.

Rapidmooc has been used to create successful videos for a variety of purposes including: • Mini lectures presenting academic content • Short summaries of academic papers • Pitches for elective lectures • Staff training and induction videos • Presentations of student projects • Video CVs summary

The technology contains the following highlights: • Easy to use, no technical skills required, no postproduction needed • Real time chroma key recording monitored live on a large TV screen: what you see is what you get. • Video background captured from your own device using a simple HDMI cable or Apple

Airplay • Customizable teleprompter (text size, speed) including a text editor • Auto generated closed captions for accessibility • Integrated tools for video post-production • Videos can be exported to USB Key, YouTube, and Vimeo

The conference team recently used the technology to produce videos regarding health and safety information, which can be sent to the event organiser prior to the event as well as playing on-screen upon arrival for all delegates. The videos are bite-sized and easy to digest rather than word-heavy PDF instruction guides.

We are looking to provide more how to guides in the future as well.

Virtual Tour (360 degrees)

As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing the need for physical show arounds with clients, we have recently completed a virtual tour for the Park End Street main venue. The Thatcher Business Education Centre (TBEC) was completed last year so we are delighted the portfolio is now complete. The virtual platform allows prospective clients, as well returning clients to view our facilities, floor plans, individual rooms, and layout styles as well as links to download the conference and hospitality brochures and room capacities.

The unique ‘doll’s house’ feature demonstrates the true sense of the scale of the space and how each area is linked with communal areas, restaurants, and meeting rooms. Studies show users spend three times longer on websites with virtual tours, giving us the opportunity to stand out from our competitors. The virtual tours are available to view via our website and are are another useful edition during this time when clients are not able to come and view rooms in person.

LiveChat

The conference team is shortly launching a LiveChat functionality on the conference webpages. The team will be managing the chat and will be responsive to any enquiries. The system also has an out-of-hours function, ensuring our clients both current and new, can access all the information they need in a fastchanging and flexible working day.

For more information on all our services please do contact us below:

conference@sbs.ox.ac.uk 01865 288 846 www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/about-us/venue-hire

Will Electric Vehicles see the return of the Company Car?

Owen Kyffin, director of Whitley Stimpson accountants and business advisors explains how you could save money by driving an electric car.

Written by: Owen Kyffin

Photography by: Whitley Stimpson

When I started out in business the company car was the norm and almost expected part of a remuneration package. However successive Chancellors have continued to increase car benefit charges and reduce the rate of tax relief available to the employer to a point where they have fallen far from favour.

For example, a reasonably standard diesel Ford Mondeo would cost a higher rates tax payer around £3,500 a year in tax plus about the same again if fuel is also provided. If you add to this the Class 1A cost of around £1,200 and an annual tax deduction to the employer worth only around £300 it’s not hard to see why the company car’s popularity has waned.

The Government is now encouraging drivers to make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to choosing a car which means considering these alternatives is a far more attractive proposition - especially if you are running your own business.

Combine this with the fact that electricity is not considered to be a ‘fuel’, which means that you can enjoy using electricity paid for by your employer

“The Government is now encouraging

drivers to make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to choosing a car which means considering these alternatives

is a far more attractive proposition ” for both business and private journeys without triggering a fuel benefit charge (a significant saving compared to if you drive a petrol or diesel car) and the attraction is clear to see.

All zero emission cars may be eligible for financial incentives that encourage clean energy use in the UK which include:

£3000 plug-in grant - subsidy of up to £3,000 deducted from the purchase price of eligible new zero emission vehicles for vehicles with a list price under £50,000.

Exempt from London Congestion Charge - cost of commuting by car for 3 years could be up to £8,970, when driving into the zone on a daily basis. From October 2021, the C-Charge exemption will be removed from plug-in hybrids and only be available to fully electric vehicles. Access to clean air zones, including the London Ultra Low Emission Zone without paying the noncompliance fee of £12.50. The cost of paying the ULEZ over 3 year could be up to £13,650.

No Vehicle Excise Duty - 0% Benefit in Kind (BiK) starting April 6th 2020 and 1% for the following tax year - from 6th April 2020, new and existing zero emission cars will be eligible for a 0 percent BiK rate for the 2020/21 tax year. The BiK rate will rise to 1 percent in 2021/22 and to 2 percent in 2022/23, being held at 2% for 2024/24 & 2024/25.

No car fuel benefit charge - claimable for up to 100% of the cost of qualifying low emission and electric cars. By choosing a zero-emission car, your business can claim a 100%-year one deduction for the cost of the vehicle.

Benefits of zero emission vehicles for businesses include:

100% First Year Allowance - exempt from paying Benefit in Kind on electricity provided by their employer to charge an electric company car.

Reduced National Insurance contributions - based on the vehicle’s P11D value and relevant BiK rate are applicable as determined by the official carbon emissions and fuel type.

Eligible for salary sacrifice schemes

There remains a significant problem in that there are currently no hybrid models meeting Government set requirements. Fortunately, there are tax breaks for drivers of hybrid models with shorter electric-only ranges, and whilst they are nowhere near as generous, they could still be between 5% and 8% offering significant savings for higher rates tax payers.

Whitley Stimpson, one of the largest independent accountancy practices in the area with offices in Banbury, Bicester, High Wycombe and Witney, has a fully qualified team of tax specialists who can advise on all the latest company car matters.

If you’d like to discuss the savings and benefits available by using an electric car, please contact Owen Kyffin.

owenk@whitleystimpson.co.uk 01295 270 200 www.whitleystimpson.co.uk