news New networks, extra events as OTCN grows The Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network continues its rapid growth with two new member groups linking up to take the total to 26 (and counting!). One is a new group aiming to bring together businesses in Shrivenham, the other a Women’s Business Network for Greater Leys and Blackbird Leys in Oxford. There are details of both at www.otcn.co.uk. Meanwhile the Business Headington group is building its membership. Waitrose and In Oxford Group, publishers of B4, are among its new members and took part in a meeting to plan a 2010 programme of events and initiatives for the area (see picture). The events network which sits alongside the member groups and their 1600+ member businesses in OTCN is also growing. ‘#oxtweetup’, which brings together individuals and businesspeople who are linked on the social media site Twitter, ‘Ladies that Lunch…and Men Too’, ‘Chippy Lippys’ and ‘4Networking’ take the number of events networks within OTCN to 15 and a combined database in excess of 3,500. There are details at www.otcn.co.uk/ events_network.htm which also links in our now successfully launched high profile monthly speaker/networking event, OxFocus. Bringing together Business in Headington. Picture by Alison Nicholson/OTCN
A busy channel to business From re-use and recycling to social media and grant funding for rural businesses, the Network is proving to be a valued route to communicate with business across the county.
• Radio stations JACKfm and FM107.9 who worked with us to promote their drive to encourage local businesses to use new digital and social media as part of their marketing mix.
OTCN Ltd, the not-for-profit limited company that is the driving force behind the Network, is working with a number of organisations to promote key events or initiatives to Oxfordshire business. Among those making use of the Network’s communications channels are:
• The Southern Oxfordshire LEADER programme which is urging local farmers, growers, foresters, and food businesses in southern Oxfordshire to bid for a share of a £1.89m fund. There’s more on that at www.southernoxfordshireleader.org.uk (see picture)
• The www.retrader.org.uk website that allows businesses and other organisations to pass on materials they no longer need and get pre-used materials from others.
Organisations which would like to consider ways they can draw on the strength of the Network should contact us via iain@otcn.co.uk
LEADER Leaders, Jane Bowler, Miles Saunders and Anne Gow, three of those to successfully bid for funding so far. Picture by Alison Nicholson/OTCN
Positive stories of county’s economy OTCN and its member groups are in prime position to monitor developments in the county’s economy. A notable milestone for our retail centres was the re-letting of the last of the nine ex-Woolworths premises in the county. In Henley this is part of a remarkable retail turnaround. In the year since the local paper, The Henley Standard, launched its ‘Think Local’ campaign a total of 25 retail businesses started trading. The Oxfordshire Craft Guild, a member organisation of OTCN, had a very successful Exhibition at the Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock. 35 Guild members took part in the six-week exhibition, showcasing a wide variety of quality craftsmanship and achieving overall sales 25% higher than in the previous year. There’s more about the 75-member Guild, which includes
www.b4-business.com
ceramicists, glass workers, jewellers and silversmiths, textile artists, and workers in wood, papier mache and stone, at www.oxfordshirecraftguild.co.uk Our towns also continue to build a reputation for innovation, the latest being the launch of the world’s first dedicated town iPhone application for Thame (see www.thamenews.net/readmore.asp?Content_ID=5180) …and OTCN Ltd continues to develop its track record in project delivery. Work is underway to create portraits of Oxford Covered Market traders which will be the feature of our Heritage Lottery-funded project there; we’ve announced the three Witney schools to secure prizes in our ‘Bags of Life’ recycling/re-use initiative for the town, and we’re scoping new ideas to promote business in Oxfordshire’s towns through 2010 and beyond.
www.otcn.co.uk
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