B4 Issue 57 by B4 Magazine

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’s s re es hi in K ds us e E 24 or B in LIN xf g az OFF O din ag N & a M HIP O Le RS

B4 MAGAZINE I S S U E

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A P R I L

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DON’T FEAR A.I. A look at the future impact of A.I. Page 64

The Art of Paying Attention

Profit With Purpose

Emotional Intelligence in the workplace

The Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals

Page 95

Page 34

A FORCE FOR GOOD

GLOBAL LEADERS

What will your business legacy be? Page 68

Jarl Severn of Owen Mumford talks to B4 about developing talents and maintaining innovation

B U I L D I N G

B R I D G E S

B E T W E E N

O X F O R D S H I R E

B U S I N E S S E S

BIO

2019

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

WHAT IS B4? Our Vision: A thriving and connected business community where companies and individuals collaborate, learn, share and grow together. Our Mission: To provide the platforms, channels and inspiration to enable companies and individuals to connect, collaborate, learn and thrive. Our Values: B4 is for business people who understand that success is achieved by nurturing long-lasting and trusted relationships. The B4 community encourages authentic ethos, collaboration, reciprocation and a focus on the importance of integrity and honesty.

Magazine One word sums up B4 Magazine: Quality. Not only is B4 Magazine designed to the highest possible standards, the print finish is excellent and the magazine oozes style and sophistication. In terms of content, B4 covers a wide range of businesses from mainstream as well as niche sectors, providing our readers with excellent insight, opinion and advice. B4 is published bimonthly and distributed to 3,000 business decision makers in Oxfordshire and beyond with a growing number of multi copy outlets.

Social Media

20,000+

Not only do we use Twitter and LinkedIn to promote everything B4, the real news we push out to the world is YOUR news. So if you post a press release on the B4 website, we’ll post it out to a network approaching 20,000 connections. Why not use us for specific campaigns where we can schedule your messages to go out to our growing networks? An increasingly effective platform for B4.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS AND RISING

Website Connect on line with the growing network of B4 members through our excellent new website and post unlimited press releases, events, offers and job vacancies. You can also recommend and review other members, introduce members to each other, not to mention we will post any articles you have in B4 Magazine on the website. Get recognised as a business or an individual, build your following and establish yourself in the B4 community.

NO 903 5

B4 Classic Events: High quality sums up B4 events. Superb venues, excellent hospitality, access to some of Oxfordshire’s more exclusive locations and great networking. B4 Classic Events are not to be missed opportunities to relax and develop your networks. B4 Dinners: Connect with senior representatives from some of Oxfordshire’s leading businesses in some of our most spectacular locations. A great way to build and cement invaluable business relationships. Business In Oxford: Oxfordshire’s leading business to business networking and showcase event. Approaching in excess of 700 delegates with over 80 exhibitors and 50 presenters at BIO2018, make sure BIO2019 is on your radar. www.businessinoxford.com

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Events B4 EV ENTS ADMIT

Video Video is proven as one of the most effective means of absorbing information and that’s why we use B4TV to capture the latest news and interviews with our members. Get to know our members and find out more about what makes them a success with B4TV. To get your message and personality across to our growing network and beyond, contact B4 and we’ll do the rest. All you’ve got to do is make sure you don’t fluff your lines...

PEMBROKE COLLEGE FORUM 23RD MAY ‘19 For more information please see www.oxvoice.co.uk/events/

ONE A

PRICE:

DULT

FREE

Richard Rosser Chief Executive & Editor

Colin Rosser Chairman

Keith Simpson Senior Designer

welcome to 57 It was my pleasure to meet with Owen Mumford’s Managing Director, Jarl Severn, to find out more about the history, success and future plans of one of Oxfordshire’s largest employers. As long term supporters of B4 and now Oxfordshire Voice, it was interesting to hear how, at a time when many businesses are delaying key investment decisions, Owen Mumford are pressing ahead with exciting developments to maintain their innovative edge.

Lorna Waterfield

Rob Scotcher Design & Photography

Official E-mail Marketing Partner

Similarly, Karthik Ramanna, Professor of Business and Public Policy and Director of the Master of Public Policy Programme at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, provided a fascinating insight into the work of the Blavatnik and how, in a changing world, the school is empowering its students to help restor trust and civility worldwide. It’s good to hear that just over 18 months after their launch, Focus ORM is growing towards providing its clients with solutions to all their insurance and financial needs and it’s also great to see how Barclays have supported The Oxford Trust’s fantastic new Stansfeld Park development in Headington, which looks superb.

Production Manager & Assistant Editor

PARTNERS

Official HR Partner

Wellers accountants focus on new Managing Partner, Christina Nawrocki, only the firm’s second female to occupy the role in 75 years and Wenn Townsend continue their series of Finance Lunches with a spotlight on TBAT Innovation. This issue of B4 also takes a look at our members from a more personal point of view and this will be a regular feature from now on. We’ve had a lot of fun with ski’s, axes and even a rogue Sunderland scarf! B4 is about the people that make it such a thriving, engaging community and what better way to get to know your fellow members than by finding out what really makes them tick. If you’re a member and want to book your photo shoot in, please give Lorna a call.

Official Cloud Partner

Emma Davis Marketing Executive

Please don’t forget BIO2019 on Thursday 6th June at Mini Plant Oxford – with ticket sales surging towards 500, we are hopeful of at least 600 delegates at the event which promises to be action-packed!

ON THE

We have plenty of events to keep you going for the rest of the year but please make a note for our event at the stunning Weston Library on Monday 17th June – this is an open event so if you have been a B4 member previously and want to find out more about B4 now or you’re interested in coming along as a ‘never been’ a member, everyone is welcome.

HILL

Visual Design Partner

Enjoy Issue 57

Ed Rosser

Richard Rosser Editor

NXT

More about B4 Sue Rosser Credit Control

p6. B4 Platinum, Gold, New & Renewing Members p8. B4 Events Calendar p10. B4 Masterclasses

p11. B4 Classics & Dinners p12. B4 Explore p13. B4 Membership p24. B4 Community News

O X F O R D S H I R E

Official Stationery Partner

Contents events

30 Growing Our Business: Catch up with FOCUS Oxford Risk Management after their first 18 months of business.

8 Upcoming B4 Events

33 Equity Markets: Cazenove Capital look at what we might expect during 2019.

34 Profit With Purpose: Grant Thornton look at what the Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals means for business.

lead

37 The Unsung Heroes: Chapman, Robinson & Moore Accountants talk about how their team behind the scenes are the real heroes.

legal

38 Infrastructure, A Key Ingredient: James Cowper Kreston explain the importance of technological infrastructure in Oxfordshire.

54 Development and Growth: Freeths Solicitors explain how a demand for innovative legal solutions has given them a record year of growth.

41 Meet Proficio Solutions: Find out how Proficio Solutions can help businesses understand their numbers and plan for the future.

56 New Colleagues for Knights: Knights welcomes new colleagues from BrookStreet des Roches following its acquisition in January.

42 Leadership Legacy: Wellers Accountants discuss how leaders are Made, not Born.

58 Oxford’s Housing Challenges: Penningtons Manches, specialists in real estate law, take a look at the challenges Oxford is facing.

16 Owen Mumford, Global Leaders: Jarl Severn talks to B4 about the company’s role, developing talents, and maintaining innovation.

45 Training and Development: Whitley Stimpson’s new director outlines how she will approach the role.

20 A Vision for Trust and Civility: Karthik Ramanna of the Blavatnik School of Government talks to B4 about empowering their students.

46 The B4 Finance Debate: Read our recap of the latest B4 Finance Debate in association with local accountants Wenn Townsend.

news 24 Latest news from the B4 Community 103 Latest news and events from Headway Oxfordshire

finance 26 Supporting The Oxford Trust’s New Build: Barclays explain how high growth businesses are a priority for them due to their hugely positive impact. 29 Cashflow Creators: Ian Roberts discusses how he can provide the additional cash flow funding your business deserves.

50 Wenn Townsend Parliamentary Review: Tony Haines talks about their illustrious history and his thoughts on what the future may bring.

spotlight 63 Oxfordshire’s Apprentices: Businesses and schools celebrated success at OxLEP’s Apprentice Awards - Read on to find out more. 64 Don’t Fear A.I.: B4 spoke to Nick Chatrath, A.I. expert, to find out more about his expertise and the impact of A.I. 68 Business as a Force for Good: Oxford-based Myers-Briggs Company is a “force for good” - B4 Members visited the company to learn more. 70 A Push For Prosperity: Read about how Oxfordshire’s Growth Hub by OxLEP Business is helping SMEs face the future with confidence.

B4 92

105 Does Diet Support Mental Wellbeing?: Helen Money talks about educating employees about how the link between diet and mental wellbeing is important.

73 Your Employees Need You: You HR talk about Maslow’s Hierarchy of fundamental human needs and why it is important for the workplace. 75 Taking HR Personally: Meet Edelweiss HR and learn about their bespoke HR services, tailored to your business.

services marketing 92 Sponsorship Opportunities: Meet Advait Deodhar, a talented Nascar racer looking for sponsorship at Brands Hatch and other circuits.

telecomm 83 Connecting Business, Connecting People: Find out how STL can help your business to stay better connected to your customers. 84 It’s All About The People: Computing Information Systems (CIS) talks to B4 about the past 30 years of success and all they have learned. 89 The Big BT Switch-off: OrangeStripe Telecom discusses the “end of life” for many BT lines approaching in 2025

109 Light Frame Designs: Meet David Rudge, an extremely talented light frame artist with some unlikely beginnings.

110 Modern Art: Matt Smart talks about how art’s greatest investment proposition is cultural and emotional power.

property 78 Latest Commercial Properties from VSL & Partners

106 A Company That Cares: Aston & James discuss how you can improve your company’s CSR through recycling and sustainable products.

lifestyle

76 Property in Spring: Carter Jonas reflect on the property market to date and consider trends and prospects for the future.

health

113 The Cherwell Boathouse: Read all about this iconic and historic restaurant and punt station in the centre of Oxford.

advice 95 The Art of Paying Attention: Mark Carrington discusses the importance of Emotional Intelligence in the workplace.

venues 96 Stylish Relaxation: B4 visited the stylish, beautiful and historic Hartwell House Hotel - Here’s what we thought. 99 Exeter College: Find out how you can experience 21st century facilities in Oxford University’s 4th oldest college. 100 Rooms With A View: Take a look at Tewkesbury Park, the ultimate hotel experience.

community 40 Alex Sayers - XIST2 44 Donna Bowles - Howbery Park 53 Stephen Clarke - Cherwell College 58 Mark Carrington - RKM Partners 62 Ceri-Jane Hackling - Cerub PR 67 Mark Harris -Solid Structures 72 Brian McGregor - TBAT Innovation 74 Chris Jones - BAGP 82 Darren Jeffs - Sandra Homewood Funerals 88 Sean Daly - Solid Structures 94 Jayne Woodley - OCF 102 Michael Pawley - Proficio Solutions 104 Penny Rinta-Suksi -Blake Morgan 108 Kieran Grieves - Hawkwell House

Member Directory 115

Platinum & Gold Members PLATINUM

Everything for the Workplace

2019 BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Become a part of the B4 Community today. Call 01865 742211, or visit www.b4-business.com

FREETHS SOLICITORS FORUM 26TH JUNE â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;19 For more information please see www.oxvoice.co.uk/events/

B4 New & Renewing Members

GOLD

Bodleian Libraries U N I V E R S I T Y O F OX F O R D

O X F O R D S H I R E

B4 Events Calendar MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

May 2019 12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass with Ian Roberts B4 HQ

19:00 – 22:30 B4 Dinner Ticketed event Cherwell Boathouse

11:00 – 12:30 B4 Welcome Brunch New B4 Members Only B4 HQ

18:00 – 20:00 B4 Classic Event Hartwell House Hotel

08:30 – 17:30 B4 Workshop with Cathy Dunbabin B4 HQ

17 12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass with Emprana B4 HQ

18:00 - 20:00 B4 Masterclass with STL Comms Unipart

16:00 – 19:00 OV Forum OV Partners Only Pembroke College

12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass with Peter Collins B4 HQ

18:00 – 20:00 NXT Event Under 30’s Only Tap Social

18:00 – 20:00 B4 Classic Event Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon

June 2019 3

2019

08:00 – 19:00 BIO Business In Oxford 2019 MINI Plant Oxford

12 09:30 – 11:00 OV Think Tank OV Partners Only B4 HQ

18:00 – 20:00 B4 Classic Event Weston Library

12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass with Lola Chapman B4 HQ

11:00 – 12:30 Explore B4 Non embers Only B4 HQ

18:00 - 20:00 B4 Masterclass with Placi Espejo Unipart

12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass Michael Pawley B4 HQ

16:00 – 19:00 OV Forum OV Partners Only Freeths

18:00 – 20:00 B4 Classic Event TOAD

12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass TBAT Innovation B4 HQ

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

B4 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

July 2019 8

18:00 – 20:00 B4 Classic Event Bombay Sapphire Distillery

11:00 – 12:30 B4 Welcome Brunch New B4 Members Only B4 HQ

18:30 – 20:00 NXT Event Under 30’s Only Curzon Cinema

12:00 - 13:30 B4 Masterclass with Alison Haill Unipart House

16:00 – 19:00 OV Forum OV Partners Only Saïd Business School

August 2019 12

18:00 – 20:00 B4 Classic Event Oxford University Sport

11:00 – 12:30 Explore B4 Non embers Only B4 HQ

09:30 – 11:00 OV Think Tank OV Partners Only B4 HQ

16:00 – 19:00 OV Forum OV Partners Only Jurys In Oxford

Events Highlights B4 Classic Event at TOAD Date: Thursday 27th June, 2019. 6pm-8pm. Venue: The Oxford Artisan Distillery, Cheney Lane, Oxford, OX3 7QJ B4 and The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) invite B4 Members and their guests for a tour of this fantastic distillery, the first of its kind in central Oxford. TOAD is a true craft distillery; a rare species found in only a few very special places around the world. They care deeply about the quality of their spirits but also the impact of their production. Using ancient and genetically diverse populations of Rye, Wheat and Barley, grown exclusively on local farms.

Oxfordshire Voice Events

NXT Events

B4 Masterclasses

B4 Classic Events

B4 Welcome / Explore Events

B4 Dinners

B4 Workshop

For further events and to register online, see: www.b4-business.com/events WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

B4 Forthcoming Events

B4 Masterclasses are a great opportunity to learn and share expertise with B4 Members. There is a hidden wealth of knowledge within our community which deserves to be promoted. Hosted by B4 at our offices, Masterclasses run for 90 minutes and include networking, refreshments, presentation and Q&A.

B4 Masterclass with Emprana Date: Friday 17th May, 12pm – 1.30pm. Venue: B4 Offices, The Moat, Northampton Road, Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire OX25 3QL Masterclass with Emprana: Learn secrets to energise your day Founded by Angela Rigby and Tara Mehmet, Emprana is all about bringing self development to the heart of business. Angela and Tara have both had their own businesses and they know that getting good people and keeping good people is the key to success. This master class will show you simple techniques that will rapidly reduce stress, leaving you feeling calmer, more focused and energised. Who’s this for? You have too much on and are far too busy to attend…this is definitely one for you! Could you do with learning secrets to overcoming insomnia, fatigue and general aches and pains? Maybe you are curious to learn how to increase your personal energy store. Are you a team leader? Would you like to understand how you can help the people around you to be more dynamic and resilient?

B4 Masterclass with STL Date: Tuesday 21st May 2019, 6pm-8pm. Venue: Unipart House, Garsington Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX4 2PG Masterclass with Paul Ballinger: How by being smarter with todays’ IT and communications can optimise your profit, increase efficiency and help you provide exceptional customer service. Technology is changing the way we do business - it’s exciting right? Immediately you might think we’re talking about futuristic robots, driverless car or drone deliveries - but we’re not - what we’re talking about is about being smarter with IT and communications that exist today, that will deliver better results for your business tomorrow. A flexible mobile workforce, multi-channels to market, intelligent customer data and a smarter supply chain - all achievable through better use of your current IT and communications, whilst remaining on budget.

B4 Masterclass with Alison Haill Date: Wednesday 17th July, 6pm – 8pm. Venue: Unipart House, Garsington Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX4 2PG Masterclass with Alison Haill: How to Coach Your Team Into Superstars This Masterclass will focus on How to Coach Your Team Into Superstars, looking at these key topics: • How to structure your 1:1 meetings and make them super-productive • How to stretch your top performers • How to motivate under-performers • How to build accountability into action plans so tasks get done Audience This Masterclass is for managers and senior managers.

Please note • Masterclasses are free of charge for B4 Members, but please note there is a £30+VAT fee for non-attendance if you do not let us know at least 72 hours in advance. • Non-member tickets are £30+VAT with no cancellation fee. • Places are strictly limited to 12 guests. • Some Masterclasses take place at the B4 HQ and others at Unipart House, please check the venues and timings for each Masterclass.

SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL FORUM 25TH JUL ‘19 For more information please see WWW.OXVOICE.CO.UK

O X F O R D S H I R E

B4 Classics & Dinners Upcoming B4 Classic Events B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Hotel Date: 9th May 2019 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Venue: Hartwell House Hotel & Spa, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8NR

B4 Classic Event at Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon Date: 30th May 2019 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Venue: Marcham Rd, Abingdon OX14 1TZ

B4 Classic Event at Weston Library Date: 17th June 2019 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Venue: Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3BG

B4 Classic Event at TOAD Date: 27th June 2019 @ 6:00pm to 8:00pm Venue: The Oxford Artisan Distillery, Cheney Lane, Oxford, OX3 7QJ

B4 Classic Event at Bombay Sapphire Distillery Date: 11th July 2019 @ 6:00pm to 8:00pm Venue: Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Laverstoke Mill, London Rd, Whitchurch RG28 7NR

B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House Date: 26th September 2019 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Venue: Rhodes House, S Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3QY

B4 Classic Event at Divinity School Date: 28th October 2019 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Venue: Divinity School, Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3BG

Please note • Classic Events are free of charge but please note there is a £30+VAT fee for non-attendance if you do not let us know at least 72 hours in advance. • It is not appropriate to leave flyers, business cards on tables, or banners at the venue. Any found will be disposed of. • Flash photography and/or video will be taken at these events.

More events being confirmed soon! Register for all of the above at www.b4-business.com

Upcoming B4 Dinner Events B4 Dinner at Cherwell Boathouse Date: 14th May 2019 @ 7:00pm - 10:30pm Venue: Cherwell Boathouse, Bardwell Road, Oxford, OX2 6ST Join B4 Members and Guests for a wonderful evening of fine dining at the award-winning Cherwell Boathouse in Oxford. The restaurant was started in an authentic Victorian working Boathouse, alongside the punt station (established in 1904) on the banks of the river Cherwell by Anthony Verdin, a local entrepreneur and connoisseur of fine wine and food. It is still family owned and run today by John Verdin, Anthony’s eldest son, and his team of hard working, friendly waiting staff who enjoy delivering a professional and special service. The restaurant managers Brice Guibert also sommelier and Julien Minier are always ready to give you their expert advice on the best wine pairings to go with your food.

Please note • The dress code for this event is “Black Tie”. • Platinum members are entitled to a number of free tickets – Please get in touch with us to check your allocation. • Non-Platinum member and guest tickets are £150+VAT per head. • Places are limited to 40 guests so please book early to avoid disappointment.

More dinners being confirmed soon! Register for the above at www.b4-business.com

JURYS INN FORUM 22ND AUG ‘19 For more information please see WWW.OXVOICE.CO.UK

O X F O R D S H I R E

B4 Explore

If you’re thinking about joining the B4 community and want to find out more about how you can get the most out of your membership, come and say hello at our brand new offices in Weston-on-the-Green.

At our Explore B4 days you will get the opportunity to: 99 Meet the B4 team and find out what we all do to help you get the most out of B4

Richard Rosser Chief Executive

Lorna Waterfield Production Manager

Keith Simpson Senior Designer

Rob Scotcher Photographer & Videographer

Emma Davis Marketing Executive

99 H ear how you could get the most out of a B4 membership with a short presentation which will also outline future developments and initiatives 99 Meet other potential members and some of our B4 Connectors who can tell you how they have benefited from B4 99 Get a headshot in our photo studio – with our compliments to use for your own promotional purposes 99 Enjoy light refreshments with our compliments

Timetable Explore B4 meetings take place once a month between 11am - 12.30pm. Visit www.b4-business.com/events for upcoming dates. 11:00 - 11:10

Networking and drinks with other guests

11:10 - 11:20

Tour of B4 HQ and meet the team

11:20 - 11:45

Have headshots taken in the B4 Studio

11:45 - 12:30

Chat about B4 over tea, coffee and refreshments

Location B4 HQ, The Stables at The Moat, Northampton Rd, Weston-on-the-Green, OX25 3QL

Who can attend? Non-members who are interested in finding out about the B4 community. We will be running the Explore B4 days on a regular basis so if you would like to bring your colleagues (up to 3) then please do so and you can get headshots for everyone.

Interested? Visit www.b4-business.com/events for upcoming ‘Explore B4’ dates.

HOWBERY PARK FORUM 17TH SEP ‘19 For more information please see www.oxvoice.co.uk/events/

B4 Membership

B4 B4 has created a trusted community of businesses who have helped, and continue to help, each other grow. At its core, B4 provides the following to its community of members:

Silver package benefits Welcome to B4 -- Personal on-boarding meeting to find out about more about you and your business -- ‘Meet The Community’ photoshoot highlighting your personal interests and hobbies, featured in B4 Magazine

Connections: Making trusted, long-lasting, mutually beneficial connections within the business community. These connections might be for business transactions, to overcome business challenges or create solutions to perpetuate growth; Profile: Increasing your business profile and gaining wider exposure for the services you offer; Knowledge: Sharing your expertise with the community and gaining knowledge from the community in return; Benefits: Perks and offers to brighten your day and for B4 to make your time as a member even more enjoyable; Progress: By bringing together the local business community and local government in a connected and collaborative environment (Oxfordshire Voice), we aim to be the catalyst for solutions to the challenges facing Oxfordshire businesses: transport, skills shortages, social & environmental issues and housing. There are a variety of ways to get involved with B4 and experience all of the great benefits on offer. Take a look at the membership options below to find a package which best suits your needs.

Profile MAGAZINE -- Your business listed in the business directory of 6 issues of B4 Magazine -- 1 full page in B4 Magazine for either an article, advert, or the ‘Meet The Community’ page as above -- 1 NXT Ambassador profile page in B4 Magazine

WEB -----

Personal profile on www.b4-business.com Your business profile on www.b4-business.com Unlimited content uploads to www.b4-business.com 1 NXT Ambassador profile on www.b4-nxt.com for 1 employee under 30 years old

Making connections ------

Access to all B4 Classic Events for all employees Access to all NXT Events for all employees under 30 years old Access to 1 Welcome Brunch at B4 HQ Access to all B4 Masterclasses Host your own meeting at B4 HQ for up to 12 guests (max. 3hrs, tea & coffee included)

And more! -------

Your business profile in the B4 Corporate Directory (1 full page) Access to high res. B4 event photos on Flickr Subscription to weekly B4 e-newsletters Subscription to bi-monthly B4 Magazine Use of B4 logo (subject to terms and conditions) Participation in OV surveys

Rate:

B4 - B4 NXT - NXT* OV - Oxfordshire Voice

£750 + VAT

Gold package benefits

*NXT exposure is only applicable to 18-30 year olds within B4 member companies.

(includes all Silver benefits)

-- Logo at the front of B4 Magazine -- 1 extra ‘Meet The Community’ photoshoot for another employee (2 shoots, 2 pages total) -- 1 extra advert or editorial page in B4 Magazine (2 pages total) -- 1 extra NXT Ambassador profile in B4 Magazine (2 in total) -- 1 extra NXT Ambassador profile on the NXT Website (2 in total) -- Host 1 extra meeting at B4 HQ (2 events total) -- 1 seat at 1 B4 Dinner

Rate:

£2,000 + VAT

Platinum package benefits

(includes all Silver benefits)

-- Logo at the front of B4 Magazine -- 2 extra ‘Meet The Community’ photoshoots for 2 more employees (3 shoots, 3 pages total) -- 5 extra advert or editorial pages in B4 Magazine (6 pages total) -- 2 extra NXT Ambassador profiles in B4 Magazine (3 in total) -- 2 extra NXT Ambassador profiles on the NXT Website (3 in total) -- Host 2 extra meetings at B4 HQ (3 events total) -- 1 seat at 4 B4 Dinners

Rate:

Call today on 01865 742211 or email membership@b4-business.com to find out more.

£5,000 + VAT O X F O R D S H I R E

SCAN TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS

MEETING ROOM / STUDIO / GYM & FULL DAY TRAINING COURSES

visited The Stables for an away day with the team who meet from all parts of the UK. “WeWe couldn’t have asked for more. Whatever we needed was provided…and some. It’s such a relaxing environment but we were still incredibly productive and I would say it was easily one of our most positive team away days. We will certainly be coming back. Jo Stevens Managing Director - Oxford Innovation & Innovation Centres

Facilities include

PEACE & QUIET TO THINK, TO LEARN AND CONNECT

• Meeting Room with seating for up to 12 • WI-FI • Wall mounted flat screen TV for presentations – connect to your laptop • Full equipped studio with photography, videography and editing services on hand should you require them • Parking for up to 30

Catering as required

here’s nothing quite like a change of scenery to stimulate the brain and our new offices at Weston-on-the-Green offer you and your team the perfect opportunity to get away from familiar surroundings and breathe in some country air. Our brand news offices have welcomed over 300 B4 members to our regular masterclasses and various board meetings, and you can take advantage of the meeting room or studio for your next meeting or photo shoot. Whether it’s a 30 minute interview somewhere private or a full day photo shoot, we will be pleased to tailor a package to suit your requirements. We also provide hot or cold food as you require and, of course, the tea and coffee will be piping hot all day.

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE? Please call us on 01865 742211 to find out more about our facilities, or why not book an appointment to see for yourself

Packages Available • One hour to full day bookings for meeting room and studio • Rates calculated on per head per hour basis • Monthly retainer packages so you can drop in when you need to* • Preferential rates for B4 members *subject to availability

The Manor House Hotel

WESTON-ONTHE-GREEN

THE STABLES AT THE MOAT

The Milk Shed

Last left before The Manor if coming from Oxford A34 Knowle Ln.

B430

Subject to availability, you can hire the meeting room or studio for that all important all day meeting or shoot and we’ll be on hand with whatever support you need. We also run full day courses and will be pleased to talk to you about how you can run a course of your own whilst we do all of the organising, even promoting your course! Please do get in touch to discuss your requirements, or why not arrange to pop in and see our facilities for yourself? We look forward to hearing from you. The Stables Team

• Tea and Coffee • Water • Soft drinks • Hot or cold buffet lunches • Snacks

d or xf O

From Oxford City Centre 15 minutes From M40 junction 9 5 minutes

The Stables at The Moat, Northampton Rd, Weston-on-the-Green, Oxfordshire, OX25 3QL

Jarl Severn, Managing Director - Owen Mumford

OWEN MUMFORD

Jarl Severn, Owen Mumford’s Managing Director, talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about the company’s role as a global leader in the medical devices field, developing the talent pool and maintaining their innovative edge. Written by: Richard Rosser Photography by: Rob Scotcher (interview)

About Owen Mumford ‘We are a family company jointly owned by the Owens and the Mumfords and this year we are 67 years old. We have been around in this space that we currently occupy, medical devices, for the last 30 years. We design, we manufacture and we sell through our own organisation all of our own products around the world. We have sales offices from Asia to North America and around Europe as well. That has been our business model for many, many years and so far we have been relatively successful and we certainly enjoy being in this sector.’

About Jarl Severn ‘I was born and raised in Denmark and I came to the UK as a young teenager when my father got a job here. I left school after my A Levels and joined Maersk, a Danish conglomerate and worked for them for about eleven years. I then joined Invacare, a large American

group who specialise in medical equipment. They posted me to Switzerland for five years, after which I returned to the UK and joined Owen Mumford, where I have been for the past ten years.’

There are fantastic “ educational institutions on

the doorstep, with whom we work, so attracting people to the area is always going to be relatively easy, on the surface HQ

”

‘Our Woodstock office is our global HQ and we have over 700 employees here. In the ten years I have been here we have grown the company organically by 70%. As I like to tell the staff and all of our associates,

what has brought us to where we are now will, I very much doubt, be what takes us to our next step and future growth. Technology changes, products change, the markets change and we need to change, we need to adapt to all of those changes. To do that we need to continue to invest and we are going through quite a large investment programme right here in Oxfordshire. We are building a new factory in Woodstock inside our current premises to introduce future products to keep us here in Oxfordshire for the foreseeable future.’

More investment = more people? ‘With modern processes we like to think we can make more with the same number of people and thereby increasing productivity and efficiency. However, we are always looking for new people as there are certain areas of the business that are growing, not least our need for engineers, toolmakers and designers…the

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Manual Assembly

We are always “ looking for new people

as there are certain areas of the business that are growing, not least our need for engineers, toolmakers and designers…the specialist areas where we are looking for good people to join us

”

R&D

specialist areas where we are looking for good people to join us. It is one of the key challenges we have in this area because we are competing with a lot of great companies locally for the same skills.’

As an Oxfordshire Voice partner, are you confident that Owen Mumford can attract the right skills to the business for the future? ‘Oxford is a very desirable area, for many reasons. The geography is fantastic, we are centrally located, we are in the Cotswolds …it’s a wonderful place to be. There are fantastic educational institutions on the doorstep, with whom we work, so attracting people to the area is always going to be relatively easy, on the surface.

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Owen Mumford assembly

Assembly Robots

‘But, actually getting people to settle here and make this their place to work has its own challenges. The infrastructure, communication, houses…all of those elements beg questions which we are keen to see

the right solutions to deal with some of these issues, is very important for us.’

coupled with quite a “large apprenticeship

scheme means that we don’t become reliant on attracting skills, we are actively playing a role in developing skills internally as well as locally

”

answers to in the long term. By joining Oxfordshire Voice, alongside fellow employers in the area, to try and make sure that we can find solutions or at least ask the right questions of the people who can find

How are you working to get around the aforementioned issues like skills, transport, housing etc…? ‘Certainly in terms of skills we are very much involved in local schools – for example we encourage STEM subjects to be prioritised in The Marlborough School here in Woodstock and also Chipping Norton School, so that we have a steady flow of young people who have an interest in engineering to come through the school system and at least consider Owen Mumford as an employer of choice in the future. That, coupled with quite a large apprenticeship scheme means that we don’t become reliant on attracting skills, we are actively playing a role in developing skills internally as well as locally.’

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• State-of-the-art facilities

Egrove Park

Richard Rosser meets Jarl Severn, Managing Director - Owen Mumford

invite our research “andwedevelopment team

to come up with a new globally patentable invention every 30 days. That is quite a tach rate

”

Local development of talent means a more local workforce? ‘Certainly it helps us to attract staff from a more local catchment area. It helps if pupils are interested in engineering and its related disciplines as an attractive career choice - that’s a very important first step. We may not be able to retain them forever, but, just by encouraging STEM subjects to be considered more proactively by boys and girls at school at an early stage is a really important mission for us.’

To see the Jarl Severn and Richard Rosser interview video, scan the QR with your mobile or see: www.youtube.com/user/ b4businesstv/videos

4th Queen’s Award in 2018 and global recognition ‘This was for innovation and that has been one of the cornerstones of our business. We are pioneers and the first in the field of medical devices in many different areas. Last year it was a pen needle for insulin pens that got us recognised and we have had tremendous commercial and business success with that device globally.’

The cost of innovation ‘Innovation undoubtedly comes at a cost. We have a very large research and development team here and we literally invest millions of pounds every year. In fact, we invite our research and development team to come up with a new globally patentable invention every 30 days. That is quite a tach rate. We are very proud to say that we hit that consistently and repeatedly every year. This gives us a very rich source of intellectual property to choose from and then invest in, industrialise and go out and promote and sell in the future.’

Competition

   

info@owenmumford.com 01993 812 021 @OwenMumford www.owenmumford.com

‘We of course patent our inventions – today we have a patent portfolio of in excess of 175 different inventions. But, a patent has a lifespan, typically twenty years, after which we have to contend with competition. It’s then the cost of the product that becomes key. We can’t just rely on cost reduction … we have to continually add new, innovative products so that we can continue to be different and bring value to the customers so that they continue to choose Owen Mumford as their supplier of medical devices.’

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A Vision for Trust and Civility As Professor of Business and Public Policy and Director of the Master of Public Policy Programme at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government, Karthik Ramanna talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about how the school is empowering its students to help restore trust and civility throughout the world. Written by: Richard Rosser

About Blavatnik School of Government ‘The Blavatnik School of Government was established to provide a convening space that would bring together those who are committed to a career in public service, to help them develop ways in which we might improve the performance of governments across the world. One of the things that makes this such an important and interesting venture – something that drew me here to Oxford – is that we are doing it in this moment in history, where trust between governments and the people they serve is at historic lows. ‘If, for instance, we were building this school in the roaring 1990’s, when the Soviet Union had collapsed and there was a general sense that the West had it ‘all figured out’, then this would have been a significantly less interesting venture. But, the fact that we are doing it today, when the whole post World War 2 consensus on what is the purpose of good government is coming undone, makes this such an urgent undertaking.’

Is Trust Hard to Gain and Retain in Today’s World? ‘By some measures, leaders in government, business CEO’s, and even some university professors are trusted less today than building contractors or hairdressers. How did we get here? Part of the issue is that real wages for individuals in the lower

half of the skills distribution across western societies, whether it’s Great Britain or the USA, have more or less stagnated for four decades. So, if you happen to be in the top half of the skills distribution in society, over the course of the last forty years you will have seen quite considerable improvements in your real wages. But, if you happen to be born in the lower half of the skills distribution, things haven’t looked so good.

of the issue is that “realPart wages for individuals

in the lower half of the skills distribution across western societies, whether it’s Great Britain or the USA, have more or less stagnated for four decades

”

‘This is partly due to globalisation and increased competition, particularly for lower skilled jobs, from freer trade with countries like China and India. It has also been brought on by low skilled immigration into rich western societies that has put pressure on jobs in the lower part of the skills distribution. In addition, advances in technology and improvements in automation have made those low skilled jobs increasingly uncompetitive in the context of a market economy.

‘As these political and technological changes emerged over the course of the last four decades, those who were in a position to develop public policies to smooth over those transitions, to create new opportunities for people who would otherwise be left behind – I mean leaders in business and government and university professors – didn’t do what they were supposed to do. They didn’t necessarily choose not to do it for malicious reasons. Sometimes it was simply a case that nobody was paying close attention as the system changed, nobody was ‘at the wheel’ and so, in effect, we allowed a new system to develop that substantially and consistently undermined the capacity of approximately one half of the population to be competitive. That has resulted in tremendous political pressure against the system and against the elite who run the system. That’s how we have ended up in the place we are today.’

So what do we do about it? ‘One of the responses we are seeing in the political process today is rising populism, both on the left and on the right – individuals clamouring for greater restrictions to trade or greater restrictions on immigration or restrictions on the nature and pace of automation. To an extent, some of these populist sentiments and policies might represent part of the eventual portfolio of solutions that develops to manage our growth. But, populism often results in the introduction of policies that, in the long run, detract from the principles of a good and prosperous society.

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If you look at where we are “today, leaders in government,

CEO’s and even some university professors are trusted less than building contractors, or hairdressers

”

‘So, how do we balance that pressure and anxiety that people are experiencing, particularly those who are in the lower half of the skill distribution, with the need to consistently generate the kind of innovation that’s necessary to be competitive in a global economy? This requires trust. It requires those in a position to design the rules of the game – whether they are leaders in business, government, or academia – to be able to make decisions that have long term implications, but that might involve some short term costs. ‘Those making such decisions need to earn the trust of those they serve and convince them that these decisions are in in the interests of society rather than the interests of the decision makers. Once we have recaptured the capacity of people to believe that those that are leading them are actually making decisions in their interests, then we will be able to make some progress. Can we do that? This is why we have created this school – to convene people who are committed to a career in public service, to build skills such as active listening: that capacity to perhaps stop for a moment and appreciate what are the real problems that we ought to solve. We also seek to develop skills like negotiation and coalition building, because the school involves people with very different world views coming together and actually forging pragmatic solutions to pressing problems. It’s going to require analytical rigour and competence to make sound decisions in the long run. And it’s going to require integrity, because there is going to be

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enormous political pressure from those who will be seeking short term solutions and short term value.

Are you making progress? ‘I’m optimistic. It’s deeply encouraging for a school that is so young to be in a position where it is able to serve such a wide range of constituents across all levels of government and across different societies. That’s very encouraging progress. But there is still much work to be done.

We are a constituent “ member of the county of

Oxfordshire and the city of Oxford, and we would very much like to be part of the process of problem solving in this city and in this community

”

‘One of the reasons why I am so keen to have had this meeting with B4 is that we have work to do in this community as well. We are a constituent member of the county of Oxfordshire and the city of Oxford, and we would very much like to be part of the process of problem solving in this city and in this community.’

Is Oxford unique or are there lots of similarities with the other cities around the world? ‘Oxford is very fortunate because the kinds of problems it has to deal with arise from managing economic growth so that it has benefits that are widely felt across society and so that growth is sustainable in an environmental sense. Many other cities and communities across the world have a different problem, which is a problem associated with an insufficient number of economic opportunities and increasing depopulation.’

Has Oxford outgrown itself? ‘From the perspective of the country as a whole, we can’t say we’ve had enough economic growth. The question is how can we channel the economic opportunities that emerge in a city like Oxford to other parts of the country where these opportunities would be very much welcomed. How do we create the infrastructure – for instance, rapid mass transport or relocation incentives – for some of the opportunities that would otherwise remain in Oxford to migrate to parts of the country that are underserved by economic growth? It’s a question of equilibrating the opportunities across the country and across the world, because there are some parts of the world that are doing quite well economically and there are others that would very much welcome those economic opportunities.

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Karthik Ramanna, guest speaker at the launch of Oxfordshire Voice at Blavatnik School of Government

The Blavatnik School of Government’s MPP (Master in Public Policy) ‘The MPP is our flagship programme here at the Blavatnik School, and I think there are three things that make this programme distinctive. The first is that the 120 individuals that are part of the MPP each year represent approximately 60 different countries, so this is a programme that is tremendously diverse geographically. The students have very different experiences and they come with very different cultural perspectives. That creates an incredible opportunity for teaching and learning. ‘The second point is that we made a very deliberate decision not to segment the programme by experience. This means that we have individuals that are at the early part of their careers, perhaps in their early 20’s, and we have individuals that are ‘deeply seasoned’…they might be ministers in their home countries, senior civil servants, or leaders from the private or not-for-profit sectors. We think there is great value in this inter-generational learning, not just for people early in their careers to learn from those who are seasoned, but also vice-versa. ‘The third point of distinction is that, although we are part of a nine-hundred-year-old institution, we are one of the newest parts of the University, so we like to think that we have an entrepreneurial or ‘start up’ mind set. One of the things we do is put the students in the driving seat and allow them to play a huge part in determining what their teaching and learning experience looks like. The kinds

of individuals that self-select and thrive in an environment like the Oxford MPP are those who are committed to rolling up their sleeves and solving problems – that entrepreneurial mind set, the sort that your members would very much empathise with and appreciate.’

Aspirations for the school, Oxford and Oxfordshire and the wider world? ‘The number one thing that I would hope that we as a school and, of course, the world as a whole is able to achieve in five years is restoring a sense of civility to public life. We talked about the erosion of trust between elites and the governed over the course of the last four decades. The lack of civility in public discourse is certainly not going to help us solve that problem. So, although we might not come up with the grand solutions to issues like structural migration, income inequality or climate change within five years, what we must do is restore a sense of civility in public life, because with that, anything is possible.’

 careers@bsg.ox.ac.uk  01865 614 343  www.bsg.ox.ac.uk

To see the Karthik Ramanna and Richard Rosser interview video, scan the QR with your mobile or see: www.youtube.com/ user/b4businesstv/videos

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ABOUT KARTHIK RAMANNA Karthik Ramanna is Professor of Business & Public Policy at the University of Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government and a fellow of St. John’s College. An expert on corporate-government relations, sustainable capitalism, and corporate reporting, Professor Ramanna has studied how organizations build trust with stakeholders and the role of business in designing sensible and responsible “rules of the game.” He has authored dozens of research articles and case studies on non-market strategies in Africa, China, the EU, India, and the US, and he has consulted with several leading professional-service organizations worldwide. His scholarship has won numerous awards, including the Journal of Accounting & Economics Best Paper Prize and the international Case Centre’s Outstanding Case-Writer prize, dubbed by the Financial Times as “the business school Oscars.” At Oxford, Professor Ramanna is director of the Master in Public Policy programme, the Case Centre for Public Leadership, and the Transformational Leadership Fellowship (a bespoke, by-invitation, part-time programme for senior corporate executives considering a second career in public service). Previously, Professor Ramanna taught leadership, corporate governance, and accounting at the Harvard Business School. He has a doctorate from MIT’s Sloan School of Management.

B4 Community News Commercial Edge Launch On Wednesday 6 March, the Carter Jonas team welcomed more than 50 colleagues and associates from across its network to Saïd Business School, for the launch of the firm’s annual Oxfordshire Commercial Edge research report. As well as providing guests with a comprehensive update on the market, it was an opportunity to garner their thoughts on upcoming developments, and discuss new trends and opportunities across the region. www.carterjonas.co.uk

Join Freeths at the Blenheim 7k, Sunday 28 April Blenheim Palace is the stunning venue for the annual Blenheim7k on 28 April, sponsored by Freeths Solicitors. Participants can run, jog or walk for fun or support their chosen charity, making the event perfect for the family and workplace challenges, supporting your company’s charity of the year.

Sarah Foster, Managing Partner at Freeths Solicitors, said: “We support the fun run not only because it enables runners to support charities that are close to their hearts but also to use the time to spend with their families in such beautiful surroundings. We would like to wish all the runners the best of luck.”

There are three events for all ages and abilities: the main 7k, 4-miles for wheelchairs and buggies and 1-miles for under 15s.

For more details and to enter, please see: www.blenheim7k.co.uk

Blenheim launches new search for business entrepreneurs Blenheim is inviting entrepreneurs and new businesses to take part in a start-up scheme aimed at boosting their chances of success. The opportunity is open to any business which is less than two years old or has fewer than five employees, is based within 20 miles of Blenheim, and can provide something which could be stocked in their shops. Applications will need to be submitted by the 10th of May and the successful candidates will be notified by 24th May. They will then have the

opportunity to pitch their ideas to Blenheim’s senior management team over the summer. After undergoing presentation training, they will take part in a final pitch on 26th June when the winning applicant will be selected and awarded with a contract to supply their products to the Estate’s retail outlets. Anyone interested in taking part in the Blenheim Accelerator competition can find out full details and enter online at www.blenheim.org/startup

The Oxford Pass Experience Oxfordshire is delighted to launch the new Oxford Pass. The joint initiative between Blenheim Palace, Experience Oxfordshire and Oxford Bus Company aims to increase tourism to the city and surrounding areas. Initially available for a 12-month trial period, the Pass offers visitors a quick and convenient ‘one stop shop’ combination ticket to both the best attractions and transport links.

Hayley Beer-Gamage, Experience Oxfordshire CEO says: “We are not only delighted to have been involved in its inception, but are extremely grateful of all the help and support we have had from Blenheim Palace and Oxford Bus Company to get this to launch,” she said. The new Oxford Pass helps address many of our current destination challenges and will help to encourage longer overnight stays as well as giving visitors the opportunity to explore both the City of Oxford and wider county of Oxfordshire.”

For more information about the Oxford Pass visit www.oxfordpass.com

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B4 Recruitment Firm Launches New Specialised Candidate Services As recruitment specialists we are increasingly hearing from candidates who are struggling to take the next step in their career, whether that be university leavers, people looking to get back into work, or people looking for a promotion with their existing employer. Consequently, we are establishing a new arm to our business, whereby we can support and coach candidates to ensure that they achieve their career goals. We pledge to offer a unique service, acting solely for the candidate, with only their interests in mind.

Candidates will be able to purchase exclusive career consultation services, such as CV writing support and personalised telephone and faceto-face consultations with our Managing Director. Additionally, we are also focusing on adding a number of free-to-use and easily-accessible career advice documents to our website. Please note that Thompson & Terry will also continue to offer traditional recruitment agency services. https://thompsonandterry.co.uk or call: 01235 797 177

An easy to reach training venue just outside Oxford As well as a selection of modern meeting rooms, Horticulture House offers two rooms specifically designed to accommodate training. Furnished with a screen or projector, whiteboards, flip charts and movable tables to enable different layout requirements. Located in Chilton just off the A34, Horticulture House has a private carpark onsite offering access to a charging point for electric cars. The spacious building offers multiple break-out areas for use during refreshment breaks. We have a range of catering options available and can cater for any dietary requirements. Receive 20% off your first room hire using code B4first If you would like a tour of the facilities or to book a room, please contact us on bookings@hta.org.uk | 0333 003 3550 | horticulturehouse.co.uk

B4 Sponsors New Way To Connect ‘Walking is a man’s best medicine’ said Hippocrates over 2,000 years ago and a growing body of scientific evidence suggests he wasn’t wrong. A good walk can do wonders for your mental as well as physical wellbeing. The endorphins, released into your brain, have a very positive effect on your mood and improve sleep patterns, reduce stress and increase brain power. Jackie Jarvis (The Walking Business Coach and author of In Pursuit of Slow) and Dawn Lillington (Website and Brand designer) have both experienced the negative effects of stress. Walking was their saviour. Jackie said ‘We have combined Business with Walking to help more people experience the positive impact it can have’.

Sponsorship opportunities to show support of Wellbeing

The B4 Netwalk (4 miles) will start from and finish at the B4 offices in Westonon-the-Green on 14th June. Led by founders Jackie Jarvis and Dawn Lillington, Natural Netwalking is a new concept in business networking that is rapidly spreading across Oxfordshire. Do you get enough Fresh Air and Exercise? With the effects of stress in business becoming an ever more serious concern, staff wellbeing is edging higher up many company’s agendas.

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Natural Netwalking are looking for Organisations, Companies or Business Parks to sponsor Netwalking in a Town or City or just a specific location. Interested? contact hello@naturalnetwalking.com or to Book a Netwalk visit www.naturalnetwalking.com - Discounts for B4 members.

Barclays Supporting Oxford Trust’s new build It’s not quite ‘cradle to grave’, but The Oxford Trust’s impressive new facility at Stansfeld Park, Headington, is certainly equipped to support a scientist’s journey from fascinated five year-old to successful entrepreneur. The charity’s aims of inspiring youngsters to love science, encouraging people to explore how scientific research affects their lives and providing a supportive environment for sciencebased, start-up businesses have been brought together seamlessly at this superb new facility on the outskirts of Oxford. The Trust has created an airy, modern complex that houses its first purpose-built science education centre alongside flexible, modern office space designed to welcome new high-tech businesses and help them grow and expand. With support from Barclays – and from relationship director Tony Bullock in particular – the charity and its supporters have invested nearly £13m in a development that benefits from being set in 18 acres of woodland that will contribute to the learning experience of visiting school groups. The Oxford Trust was founded in 1985 by Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, putting to charitable use some of the proceeds from the flotation of their successful Oxford Instruments business that had played a major part in the development of magnetic resonance imagery (MRI) scanners. Having themselves grown a spin-out company from scratch, the couple appreciated the challenges facing fledgling companies trying to get started and find suitable premises in Oxford and were determined to make it easier for others to follow in their footsteps.

provide funding, legal and IP advice. The ‘hub’ approach also gave individuals the opportunity to share ideas, talk to like-minded people and network more easily. The charity’s Chair of Trustees, Dr John Boyle, was an early STEP tenant. The Trust now runs the Oxford Centre for Innovation, OCFI, a cost-effective, supportive and flexible business hub and networking space for 26 science and tech start-ups that together employ around 230 people. In the early days the charity also set up school programmes that supported the Woods’ other goal of

“

High growth businesses are a priority for us, they have a hugely positive impact; they create new jobs and new opportunities for investors and they help to galvanise economic growth as a whole Gary Harris - Barclays

”

improving science teaching and inspiring youngsters to explore the world around them.

In 1986, they bought a builders’ yard in Osney Mead and opened the Science and Technology Enterprise Project – or STEP centre – for tech start-ups. It was the first innovation centre in the region and a catalyst for innovation incubators and science parks that can be found in Oxfordshire today.

“Lady Wood had been a school governor and she knew that when it wasn’t taught well, science could be very dull and could put children off studying it as a route to a career,” explained Jude Eades, director of communications for The Oxford Trust.

Along with office support and lower costs, the STEP centre and subsequent innovation hubs could put entrepreneurs in touch with people who could

The Trust responded by creating a programme of exciting outreach workshops and shows that took science to schools and other groups while at

the same time setting up continuing professional development (CPD) courses aimed at helping teachers deliver more inspiring science lessons. While it was the Woods’ patronage that began the education programmes and helped kick-start a love of science for many young people over the years, the Trust now uses income from innovation centre rents to fund its educational programme in what has become a respected model of sustainability. The Trust’s website explains: “We own and run the Oxford Centre for Innovation (OCFI) and the Wood Centre for Innovation (WCFI), which support STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) enterprise by providing cost-effective, flexible office space for local science and tech start-ups. “Income from this activity is reinvested to support activities of the science and innovation community in the region and Science Oxford’s science education and engagement programmes. “The strength of this model is that it is self-sustaining and supports both ends of the science ecosystem, from inspiring young children about the wonders of science to helping science start-ups to develop and grow.” “It was, and still is, all about inspiring children to engage with science and technology, to show them how the world around them works and how they can play a part,” said Jude. “It is also vital to give teachers the skills to encourage that interest.” The Trust’s educational team took its own brand of hands-on science outreach to more than 27,000 primary school pupils in the past academic year, and Jude is excited about the broader opportunities that the charity will have when the new Science Oxford Centre opens this summer. Alongside the 15 acres of woodland, the building will have an exploration zone full of hands-on exhibits, WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

“

Barclays shares The Oxford Trust’s ambition to support innovative entrepreneurs and businesses in Oxford and across the region Gary Harris - Barclays

”

Stansfeld Park site in Headington, Oxford

workshop and theatre, all geared to inspiring and challenging young people to explore and engage with science. Those who really catch the science bug could find themselves returning to Stansfeld Park as adults in a few years to take advantage of the business opportunities being created at the new Wood Centre for Innovation. This flexible start-up hub, which is expected soon to be home to around 20 high-tech start-ups, will complement the Oxford Centre for Innovation. The grade A+ offices will again be supported by central services, and the entrepreneurs will benefit from the same attractive woodland surroundings, now landscaped and, thanks to welcome support from the Oxford Conservation Volunteers, in a much better condition than when the Trust bought the site. Chief Executive Steve Burgess, who took up his post in 2013, was determined to find a site for a new innovation centre that could be a supportive home to more of the city’s science-based SMEs, but knew that a second site in the centre of Oxford simply wasn’t feasible. When the opportunity arose to acquire the 18acre Stansfeld Park site, owned by Birmingham City Council and previously used as an outdoor education centre for the city’s school children, the charity decided it was an ideal opportunity to build another business hub in an area of the city poised for significant growth, together with a much-needed science education centre on the same site. The old buildings were demolished, with the new complex making better use of the same footprint and leaving the woodland area intact. Rejuvenated ponds to the rear of the building will provide pond-dipping opportunities for youngsters as well as improving the scenery for the business tenants.

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Although its business model is tried and tested, the Trust needed funding help to develop the site after buying it in 2016, and Barclays was quick to step forward.

businesses are helping to fund the learning taking place in the education centre just yards away,” commented Jude. “This joint development really exemplifies both aspects of The Oxford Trust.”

The bank already enjoyed a good relationship with the charity after becoming a key - and continuing - sponsor of the Trust’s Enterprise Awards in 2016, and the fit, in Jude’s own words, was “perfect”.

Both OCFI and WCFI are managed on behalf of the Trust by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s largest operator of innovation centres and itself a spin-out from The Oxford Trust 30 years ago.

As Gary Harris, of Barclays’ High Growth and Enterprise team, pointed out: “Barclays shares The Oxford Trust’s ambition to support innovative entrepreneurs and businesses in Oxford and across the region. Running any fastmoving, high-growth company takes a substantial investment, from both an emotional and financial perspective, and it’s an investment we want to be fully behind.

Meanwhile the relaunched Enterprise Awards continue to go from strength to strength, with the Trust keen to see Barclays stay on board. The 2019 awards will be launched in May. There is more information at www.theoxfordtrust.co.uk

“High growth businesses are a priority for us, they have a hugely positive impact; they create new jobs and new opportunities for investors and they help to galvanise economic growth as a whole.” Occupants are already signing up to move into the new innovation centre when it opens in midApril, with one of the first being a company that uses artificial intelligence and one of the world’s largest imaging databases to improve accuracy in the diagnosis of heart disease by more than 90%. The flexible space means that as companies grow they can expand easily without having to move, while the ‘virtual office’ facilities are particularly useful for start-ups. The centre will also have meeting facilities, although clients of the Wood Centre will also be able to use the more central facilities at the Oxford Centre for Innovation if visitors are, for instance, arriving by train. “This centre will offer first-class facilities for businesses, and it will be great to know that those

 Info@theoxfordtrust.co.uk  01865 810 000  www.theoxfordtrust.co.uk

 antony.bullock@barclays.com  07766 360 104  www.barclays.co.uk/business-banking The views expressed in this article are the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Barclays Bank PLC Group nor should they be taken as statements of policy or intent of the Barclays Bank PLC Group. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no responsibility for the veracity of information contained in the third party guides or articles and no warranties or undertakings of any kind, whether express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information given. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no liability for the impact of any decisions made based on information contained and views expressed. Barclays Bank PLC is registered in England (Company No. 1026167) with its registered office at 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP. Barclays Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register No. 122702) and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Barclays is a trading name and trade mark of Barclays PLC and its subsidiaries.

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CREATORS

A client refers to me as ‘quiet dynamite’ as I’m not one for making small talk and often get called in to diffuse complex circumstances armed with just a sense of humour (I would also like a cup of tea…) and a few sketchy forecasts. Nothing surprises me. I’ve seen it all… and unsurprisingly, one critical situation I recently worked on had been caused by success. Yes, success! Admittedly, success is not something I expect to hinder progress but without commercial acumen, development is a risky business. Written by: Ian Roberts Illustration by: Cartoonstock.com

A customer said ‘Our largest customer drastically affects cashflow through persistent late payments which has a detrimental knock-on in tax quarters when they eventually pay.’ Ah, cash – there it is. Cut the green wire and the biggest customer dies. Don’t cut the green wire and the business effectively become a cheap loan service. These highly skilled Directors enjoying rapid growth without wanting to offend trusted contacts allow unacceptable trading standards to creep in – and heavily paying the price. Drawing on decades of experience in owning and re-building medium sized firms, I worked alongside the team to ensure resources worked in favour of the company and also carried out an audit to streamline efforts against budgets received. Again, unsurprised to see that hidden cashflow obstructing their expansion was over servicing. And that’s a successful company without debt, growing very fast, with a great future ahead of them having the foresight to ask me in for a few cups of tea… So that’s just one example of situations entrepreneurs face daily when operations are happening within the reassuring green glow of success.

Now let’s move into the red…

Success is simple – manage the cash Being in the red is no place to dwell. I could talk about debt management, interest costs, invoice strategies, contractual agreements but ‘one’ is already acutely aware of these words when faced with the red. It’s not just your business life that’s affected either – your personal life suffers too. Family members get dragged in, trying to help with destructive consequences. Call a professional ring me – your first hour is free. Familiarity breeds knowledge – being acutely aware of approaching threats and how to avoid them means you haven’t really lost and that’s a formula worth

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paying for so get me in – the sooner the better (milk no sugar). I acknowledge and thank my spectacular failures daily because they created an ability to pass on priceless insight when it’s needed. I listen first and act later. Clients usually have two requirements… A) the need to drive a stylish car and B) a reassuringly healthy order book. Guess how surprised I am when A is at the expense B. My job is to turn dreams around and it’s no laughing matter. Sometimes life is about risking everything for a dream no one can see but you. I respect that and I need to know everything. Be honest with me – even if we work backwards to make B fit A. ‘Let’s work the problem out. Let’s not make it worse by guessing.’ Apollo 13 Want evidence - I bought my first company at the age of 28 and grew it from £360K to £1.9M. After that I streamlined a heating and gas business, increase turnover from £190K to £500K (within six months). Growing an office furniture and laboratory fit out business was a challenge and who can resist those! I took it to £2.8M before selling to mention just a couple. I rarely discuss this in meetings. I simply did my job. Cashflow Creators can provide the additional cash flow funding your business needs and deserves, I am here to help, My name is Ian Roberts. Let’s cut the green wire.

 info@cashflowcreators.co.uk  07880 355 562  www.cashflowcreators.co.uk

FOCUS

Growing our Business FOCUS Oxford Risk Management has now been trading for a little over 18 months and heading towards our second anniversary in July. Written by: Nick Jones, Managing Director - FOCUS Oxford Risk Management Ltd

Our foundations are now well and truly established and it’s now time for us to grow. Our aim is for FOCUS to be able to provide solutions to all insurance and financial needs – for both commercial and private clients. We are delighted to be kicking off this next step with a brand-new website – a much bigger site which includes the additional services we are now able to offer and some very useful information. www.focusorm.co.uk. Firstly, we have expanded our services and risk management solutions for commercial clients. FOCUS has partnered with one of the largest employee benefits consultancy firms in the world to deliver bespoke employee benefit solutions. Working with Mercer Marsh Benefits, we are able to support our clients with their employee benefit scheme requirements.

“

Wherever possible we always like to meet the businesses we are working with, whether they are new prospects or an existing client. It’s all about providing a first-class service

”

Photography by: Jacqueline Cross Photography

clients with global consistency and locally unique solutions. Working with Mercer Marsh Benefits, FOCUS can now provide employee benefit solutions including: • • • • • •

Death in Service Group Income Protection (Permanent Health Insurance) Group Private Medical Insurance Dental Cover Health Screening Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme.

When thinking about insurance for your business, often the most important asset is forgotten – the key individuals who may contribute heavily to profits. FOCUS is now able to provide business protection solutions for Key Person Insurance, Shareholder Protection and Business Loan protection. Commercial Insurance Director, Paul Monaco, explains more: “Wherever possible we always like to meet the businesses we are working with, whether they are new prospects or an existing client. It’s all about providing a first-class service. We take time to understand their business and provide advice which is specific to their needs.”

Paul Monaco, Commercial Insurance Director - FOCUS

Mercer Marsh Benefits are employee benefits professionals, located in 135 countries and servicing clients in more than 150 countries. They are deeply knowledgeable about their local markets and, through their locally established businesses, they have a unique common platform which allows us to serve 30

Alongside these two key areas, FOCUS has partnered with XACT Group to deliver Health & Safety, Human Resources and Employment Law services, providing a complete business risk management solution. If you require support for your current risk management team or you want a more bespoke solution to the ever changing legislation, we can help. WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

I’m so excited at being able to offer this additional facility. “ Whether you are looking to cover the big ‘C’ claim or just want to feel the comfort of being able to get treatment as early as possible, given the ever-lengthening NHS waiting lists, my team will be happy to advise you, whatever your needs. Roz Wright, Private Client Director - FOCUS

”

Nick Jones - Managing Direrctor

Roz Wright - Private Client Director

Paul Monaco - Commercial Insurance Director

Turning to our Private Client offering, we have added new services here as well to provide a complete insurance and financial advice facility.

When it comes to financial planning solutions and mortgage advice, we feel that our clients deserve the best expert advice. FOCUS are experts in the world of insurance – not financial advice. In order to provide our clients with access to these more complex areas, we have built relationships with two leading Oxfordshire firms – one providing independent mortgage advice and the other providing independent financial advice and are able to make a personal introduction for our clients.

• We celebrate our 2nd anniversary in July and it’s very definitely a case of onwards and upwards.

FOCUS is now able to offer life assurance products – on a whole of market basis. Once we understand your needs and requirements, we are able to recommend protection solutions to suit individual situations – whether that be additional cover for family protection, critical illness cover, income protection or insurance to protect a mortgage. Keeping with the protection theme, FOCUS has chosen to partner with Aviva to deliver an award winning Private Medical Insurance product. Our Private Client team, headed up by Roz Wright, are able to discuss individual circumstances and talk through the options available – including a switch from an existing provider. Private Client Director, Roz Wright comments: “I’m so excited at being able to offer this additional facility. Whether you are looking to cover the big ‘C’ claim or just want to feel the comfort of being able to get treatment as early as possible, given the ever-lengthening NHS waiting lists, my team will be happy to advise you, whatever your needs.”

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Finally, we are about to launch an innovative new product which aims to address the issue – entirely relevant to our area – of cover for businesses in flood-risk areas. FloodFlash removes underwriting uncertainties by basing quotations on the depth of any flooding and a set claim payout value selected by the client. Once a policy is issued, FloodFlash install water sensors at the insured property which provide real-time data. In the event of a flood exceeding the trigger depth, policyholders receive the pre-agreed claims payment within a few days as a cash sum – allowing business owners to prioritise the areas of the related damage they want to address first. So what does the next twelve months hold for FOCUS?

• We plan to expand our current client news bulletin service so that we can share our expertise with a wider audience. • Focus Oxford Risk Management Ltd will be continuing to grow our client services and be the name that everyone recognises as the experts to trust in the world of insurance. I would be delighted to have the opportunity of talking with you to discuss your insurance/ financial needs or recommend you to one of our trusted partners. FOCUS is all about service so please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 mail@focusorum.co.uk   01865 953 111  www.focusorm.co.uk

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Investors will continue to “ be concerned about the risk of recession in major economies; and increased market volatility is likely. Against this more uncertain backdrop we expect 2019 to be a year of low, but still positive, equity market returns

”

WHAT MIGHT WE EXPECT FROM EQUITY MARKETS FROM HERE ? Written by: Tom Allen

Markets continue to carry a heightened level of uncertainty, primarily driven by fears of slowing economic growth, with the prospect of incremental headwinds from the trade spat between China and the US. Monetary policies are also having an impact as the financial system continues to slowly “normalise” from a period of historically low interest rates and quantitative easing. It is reasonable to expect that a tighter liquidity environment lies ahead. Historically, equity markets have started to discount recession in advance of it happening, but at the time of writing, it does feel as though the market appears to be somewhat ahead of itself. Two widely followed barometers of sentiment reflect this: the Credit Suisse Global Risk Appetite Index, which trades between “euphoria” and “panic”, is currently in panic territory, while the spread between bulls and bears in the survey from the American Association of Individual Investors points to the same conclusion. When this occurs, typically markets recover. Investors will continue to be concerned about the risk of recession in major economies; and increased

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market volatility is likely. Against this more uncertain backdrop we expect 2019 to be a year of low, but still positive, equity market returns.

Although we “expect more

challenging markets ahead, we also see opportunities for active managers to perform

companies. It is unlikely that corporate profits will fall without a recession, and while there is the risk of a faster decline in economic activity than expected, we see healthy household balance sheets, a relatively high personal saving rate, strong labour market momentum and high business confidence. We do not expect a global recession in 2019. Although we expect more challenging markets ahead, we also see opportunities for active managers to perform. If you require any further information, please contact Tom Allen.

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Earnings growth forecasts remain susceptible to downgrades. In the US, 2018 growth was boosted by tax cuts. Trade tensions have the potential to be a headwind everywhere, but especially for Asia and emerging markets, while Brexit uncertainty will continue to weigh on domestically focused UK

 tom.allen@cazenovecapital.com  +44 (0)1865 811 363  www. cazenovecapital.com

Paul Holland, Sustainability Services, Grant Thornton

ENABLING PROFIT WITH A PURPOSE But what does this mean for business? Whether you are a local or global business, we operate in an interconnected world and there are global trends that will affect you, your people, your customers and your suppliers as well as the environment and wider society in which you operate. The world is changing, whether it be climate change, resource scarcity, wealth and inequality shifts, or even demographic changes; and business is directly connected with and impacted by these, and more, sustainability matters. Whatever the size or nature of a business, there are many sustainability related factors to be considered, understood and reported on. Even for matters without regulation, many stakeholders demand their businesses to behave responsibly and demonstrate their actions and impact.

Just IMAGINE if… Aside from existing business’s performance contributing to the SDGs, what about new ideas? What can be done differently? It’s this challenge that led us to get involved with ‘Just IMAGINE if…’ – a unique business competition launched by Paul Lindley, founder of Ella’s Kitchen, and the University of Reading. Open internationally, and with

an impressive £75,000 worth of bespoke research to be won, individuals were invited to apply with their own sustainable business ideas that would tackle at least one of the UN’s SDGs. A panel made up of business leaders, academics, social innovators and entrepreneurs judged the entries to select the finalists, who were then paired with a mentor – a business leader or entrepreneur - to support them on the development and presentation of their idea at the innovation event on 28 February.

These are extraordinary “ideas that could make an

impact, not just in terms of being profitable business ideas, but to address the challenge of the SDGs in real terms in both local and global communities Mark Bishop, Partner, Grant Thornton

”

Having worked with many fast growing and entrepreneurial businesses and individuals, we often hear their ideas and plans for the future – not just for business growth, but their desire to make an impact in their communities. Mark Bishop, Partner, Grant Thornton, sat on the judging panel and said

of the finalists, “These are extraordinary ideas that could make an impact, not just in terms of being profitable business ideas, but to address the challenge of the SDGs in real terms in both local and global communities. I’m excited to see them all move forward and make a difference in the world”.

Profit with a purpose During the innovation event, Grant Thornton held a workshop focusing on Goal 8 of the SDGs: Decent Work and Economic Growth. The breadth of this goal means it has the capacity to have a far reaching impact across many of the other SDGs, whether we talk about the basics of human life - poverty, inequality, sanitation; or environmental aspects such as climate, energy and the ocean; or the more obvious connections in sustainable communities, responsible production, and industry and infrastructure. We discussed how businesses as a force for good, providing decent work, can complement strong economic growth, and how this has the power to affect many of the SDG’s. Grant Thornton’s Planning for Growth research found that businesses who are purpose driven, tech confident, invested in the top line and well networked are taking their growth to the next level. And it’s these factors, along with aligning people to the business strategy, which can empower a culture of bold and purposeful decision-making.

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Paul Holland, Grant Thornton and Winner Alexander Wankel, of Kai Pacha Foods

In 2015, at an historic UN summit, world leaders adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDGs aim to transform our world across the most pressing global challenges; from no poverty and zero hunger, to reduced inequalities and quality education. Written by: Paul Holland, Sustainability Services, Grant Thornton

Maggie De Pree, co-founder of The League of Intrapreneurs, and one of Grant Thornton’s Faces of a Vibrant Economy, also joined us to share how working to develop brilliant ideas from inside the system, rather than outside, can help to shift the way business works.

And the winner is… Ten finalists, both UK-based and global, pitched their ideas to an inspired audience during the day. Designed to tackle varying SDG’s, entries ranged from early years coaching, alternative education and food chain innovations, to sustainable fashion and mental health enhancing beauty products, to end-oflife planning and transforming the sex and feminine hygiene industry. All incredible, forward-thinking proposals, but only one could win the research prize. A gala dinner followed the innovation event, during which the winner – voted for by the audience – was announced. Alexander Wankel, of Kai Pacha Foods, has developed a socially and environmentally responsible brand of plant-based milks from climatesmart Andean grains. Sourcing native quinoa at fair prices, the company seeks to provide a sustainable answer to the booming global demand for plantbased alternatives to dairy in a way that minimises environmental impact, conserves genetic resources and promotes climate resiliency.

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Photography by: Grant Thornton

The prize will allow Kai Pacha Foods to obtain the research expertise it needs to enable the company to scale to international markets. It will also provide vital research into quinoa diversity, allowing the organisation to focus on conservation of particularly climate resilient native varieties.

I am so happy for “ Alexander in winning

the opportunity to boost impact and scale his business and to build lasting change through world-class University research

Sustainability matters affect all businesses and provide significant opportunity for growth, as well as to tackle the SDG’s and use business as a force for good. Through a forward-thinking, innovative strategy and by addressing the challenges in identifying key impacts, measuring and reporting performance, with external assurance to back up what is being said, business as a whole can be transformed and we can come together to create a common sense of purpose and direction across our region, and beyond. For more information and insight into how your business is impacted by sustainability matters, please contact Paul Holland, Grant Thornton UK LLP.

”

Competition founder, Paul Lindley OBE

Competition founder, Paul Lindley OBE said: “I am so happy for Alexander in winning the opportunity to boost impact and scale his business and to build lasting change through world-class University research. Every one of our just IMAGINE if… finalists were truly outstanding and I don’t doubt each will go on to turn their ideas into reality. This is not the end of the journey for any of them, indeed it is just the beginning.”

 info@uk.gt.com  0118 955 9240  www.grantthornton.co.uk

Loren Forbes

“

Paul Skinner

The directors at CRM are under no illusion as to how much the success of the business depends on the team, and recognise them as often being the unsung heroes of that success.

Team CRM

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So often the face of a business is its directors, providing the marketing and PR and generally flying the flag. But without the team sitting behind them their efforts would often be in vain. This is very true at Chapman, Robinson & Moore. The team here provide an excellent balance between technical expertise and interpersonal skills, blended with enthusiasm and patience.

The current team ranges in experience and technical skills across a broad spectrum, helping to ensure that all clients are given the support they need. Our longest serving team member has been with us for 21 years, and several more for over 10. This gives a good sense of stability and continuity, but we are always looking to learn from our new team members as well. We are a training office for both the ICAEW and ACCA, and take very seriously the investment that we make in or trainees. Two great examples of people choosing to forge their career with CRM are Paul Skinner and Loren Forbes. We asked them to tell us why they chose accountancy. Paul Skinner joined CRM in 2004 straight from school after completing his A levels. Within 5½ years, Paul had completed all his ACCA exams and became a fully qualified accountant. Paul is our Systems Manager, keeping us up to speed on our accountancy systems and helping the team with their IT problems. Paul said: “Being given the opportunity to ‘earn and learn’ at the same time was very appealing to me WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

as a teenager and meant I didn’t need to go to university. I was attracted to accountancy in school as I had an aptitude for maths and business studies. Although I’m glad that my accountancy exams are all over and done with, I still keep up my continuous development as the technology and legislation changes all the time. “I really enjoy getting to know our clients’ businesses and helping them to save money and grow successfully, there’s more to this job than just number crunching! Now with almost 15 years of experience at CRM, I take great satisfaction from mentoring the younger members of the team, supporting them through their qualifications.” Loren Forbes is a trainee accountant at CRM. She graduated in 2010 and worked in retail before joining NatWest Bank for five years. Loren has been with CRM since early 2018. Loren said: “I enjoyed the client interaction I had in the business growth side of banking and despite having a degree in Ancient History, I enjoyed all things financial, so accountancy was a natural progression for my career. CRM support me with my ACCA studies and I find that the experience I gain at the office is useful in my college work too.

I’m about a third of the way through my three-year qualification and although it’s hard work, I enjoy the challenge. I have been able to try out all the elements of accountancy and supporting clients to get the best out of their business is still my favourite part of the job. I sometimes liken it to solving a mystery – we can provide a solution that the client just can’t see. There is so much experience in the CRM office that if I’m stuck on a particular aspect, the knowledge is right there within the team.” The directors at CRM are under no illusion as to how much the success of the business depends on the team, and recognise them as often being the unsung heroes of that success.

 crm@crmoxford.co.uk  01865 379 272  www.crmoxford.co.uk

JAMES COWPER KRESTON Infrastructure – a key ingredient for successful technology development in Oxfordshire Written by: Sue Staunton

Photography by: Phil Tull

Oxfordshire is one of the main technology hubs within the UK. Fundamental to this is the presence of a significant infrastructure to support the development and commercialisation of intellectual property. This infrastructure can be divided in three: -- Academic research institutions -- Key hubs for innovation -- Incubator and development space for technology businesses

Academic research institutions Oxfordshire is fortunate in having not only the University of Oxford and Brookes University with active technology departments but also Rutherford Appleton and UKAEA at Culham. These have generated much intellectual property, some of which has been commercialised by way of spinout companies or by license deals to industry being entered into.

Key hubs for innovation Over the last few years the county has benefitted from Government investment in the establishment of a number of institutions which have enabled focus on specific technology sectors. The Harwell campus has thereby become a key centre for space technologies, hosting the European Space Agency and the Satellite Applications Catapult.

Just over a year ago, the Rosalind Franklin Institute was established to bring about transformation in the life sciences sector through inter-disciplinary research. More recently the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre was announced to be being built within the county and this Spring the Chancellor

is fortunate “ inOxfordshire having not only the University of Oxford and Brookes University with active technology departments but also Rutherford Appleton and UKAEA at Culham.

”

of the Exchequer announced the establishment of the National Extreme Photonics Application Centre. The existence of such facilities alongside the Diamond Synchrotron not only bring wealth into the area in terms of direct employment but also bring in other businesses to cluster around them – businesses that are accessing the services such facilities can provide. They spin out technologies as well.

Incubator and development space for technology businesses The high level of technology generation from such sources, and the consequential commercialisation thereof, creates a demand for space for technology businesses to occupy. The space requirements start with small units that can be flexibly occupied by the very youngest of companies – some of which needs to be specialist – such as the Bioescalator in Headington which provides units with wet lab space as well as collaborative working areas. Other incubator space is provided by Oxford Innovation at a number of locations across the county – such as at Harwell; Begbroke, Upper Heyford as well as in the centre of Oxford. The company is just about to open doors on its most recent development at the Woods Centre in Headington. As companies develop they need more significant space such as is being offered at the Oxford Science Park; Milton Park; Harwell and Culham. If the development of technology based businesses continues at the pace it has over the last couple of years care has to be taken to ensure that the success does not become a problem - an increasing amount of space will be needed if such companies

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If the development of technology based businesses “ continues at the pace it has over the last couple of years care has to be taken to ensure that the success does not become a problem - an increasing amount of space will be needed if such companies are to remain within the county.

”

Sue Staunton - James Cowper Kreston

are to remain within the county. This is something that a number of parties in the county are looking at at the moment. The technology team at James Cowper Kreston works with many of the technology businesses based in Oxfordshire and with the providers of the essential infrastructure supporting the growth and development of such businesses. Our ability to provide tailored, flexible support from bookkeeping and payroll at a company’s earliest stages to advice on Research and Development Tax Credits and Patent Box alongside strategic financial support and assurance services means that our clients receive an all-round integrated service focussed on their specific needs. To find out more please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our website: www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk

 sstaunton@jamescowper.co.uk  01865 861166  www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk

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Sue Staunton

ALEX SAYERS Sales Director XIST2 xist2.com

What is your role in the business? I’m the front man for the business – I could dress it up and say Account Director but I am everything from new business prospecting, engaging with businesses that have issues with digital marketing, consulting, signing the client overseeing the project and ongoing project and client management. I am not a developer or designer, I do a lot of putting business cases together for keyword searches etc….

What do you enjoy about your work? The variety and people that I meet – I like to think that I say it as it is, I love having a laugh and a joke with my clients. I will see a fresh fruit and veg client one day and Oxford University the next followed by Crocodiles of the World the next day.

What are your hobbies / interests? The Far Peak Climbing Wall in North Leech. We go sailing at Bowmore Sailing Club near Lechlade. We love the outdoors. I go running with Harry my five year old. I am always felling trees for a friend who has a small estate. My wife is one of 14 so less than every month there is a birthday – and Christmas is really expensive! I have four of my own – 6 months, 3, 5 and 7. After all that lot I need my gin in the evenings and enjoy the B4 gin related events. My favourite gin is Sipsmith.

Do you have a favourite sports team? Burnley

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? I live in Gloucestershire so I’m no expert but I am a big fan of central Oxford and love the architecture of the colleges. My idea of a great Friday night is a night in an Oxford restaurant with friends in the summer.

Who inspires you? I think it’s easy for people to say the usual suspects, but only now do I realise how hard it is to bring up four kids and the sacrifices we have to make… for that reason I have to say my parents have inspired me for all they did for my sisters and I. I would imagine my wife would probably say the same about her parents!

Q&A WITH MICHAEL PAWLEY

PROFICIO SOLUTIONS

Michael Pawley is the Founder of Proficio Solutions, which he set up in 2004 after gaining 15 years experience working as an FD in the Property and Construction Sector.

DONE Why use Proficio Solutions? Proficio Solutions helps businesses understand their numbers and use them to take informed decisions about their future. We offer a personal, bespoke and tailored service focussing on the individual needs of the business and its owners. Our services focus around a part-time FD service and may include the provision of bookkeeping. Since setting up Proficio Solutions I have worked with over 30 different companies, gaining a wide range of experience covering the issues and challenges that growing businesses face.

What types of businesses do you work with? Typically our clients are owner-managed service sector businesses with a turnover of between £1-15m. We’ve worked with lawyers, sports coaches, staff placement agencies, consultancies, football agents, executive coaches and many more. There is no sector or business that we are unable to assist.

How do you identify your clients? Often it’s another advisor who will contact us, i.e. a bank manager, accountant or lawyer. They recognise when a company needs the kind of help that we are able to provide. That is why we actively use networks like B4 to grow our circle of trusted contacts. We also receive referrals from previous or current clients.

generally removing the hassles around day to day finance admin. We have also taken companies through the complex process of mergers, acquisitions and restructuring. We work alongside these businesses as they grow, offering support and acting as a sounding board or calm voice of reason.

What Software Accounting Tools do you use and recommend? We are Certified Advisers for Xero, Futrli and WorkflowMax: Xero an excellent cloud-based accounting package. We’ve been using Xero since 2011 and are also a Silver Partner. With the advent of Making Tax Digital this April, more and more businesses will need to submit their VAT returns directly from their accounts software. Xero is already set up for this and we have undertaken Xero’s Migration Certification to qualify us to help businesses migrate from their current system, whatever that may be, to Xero; Futrli an application that permits users to tailor an online dashboard using tables, charts and text. This can be used to monitor a business in real time and produce meaningful financial reports. As a Certified Adviser, we have invested in our own branded Futrli portal allowing clients to login, through our website, to access their information;

What are the key indicators for businesses who could benefit from your assistance?

WorkflowMax a great project management application specifically designed for SME’s and which integrates with Xero;

All businesses run up against brick walls as they grow and business owners find themselves having to deal with issues outside their area of expertise; understanding their numbers, financial and others, is critical to successful growth and having an independent person to work with you to make informed decisions, using those numbers, is really valuable.

ReceiptBank an application that sits alongside your accounts software and extracts the necessary information from invoices and receipts, copies of which are then stored online. For an informal, no-obligation chat with Michael, feel free to call or email him.

How have you helped your clients? We can deliver the practical solutions such as: improved and integrated systems; financial reporting; recruiting accounts staff; securing new borrowing or other finance facilities; resolving problems with HMRC in relation to VAT or PAYE and

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 michael@proficiosolutions.co.uk  01865 400857 / 07795 180795  www.proficiosolutions.co.uk

The Leadership legacy at Wellers At the start of 2019, my colleague Christina Nawrocki took over from Kathleen Parker as Wellers’ new Managing Partner. She has become just the second woman to occupy the role in our firm’s 75 year history. This represents a further, progressive development in our culture and values Christina Nawrocki, Wellers’ new Managing Partner

On top of this announcement we’re also very proud to welcome 3 new leaders to the partnership with the promotions of Ross Andrews, Joe Lennon, and Chris Thompson. Their selflessness, willingness to help our staff, and how they contribute to driving various aspects of the business means they’re well placed to help the firm develop and grow. In this article we discuss the importance of leadership, why we’re bucking the trends in the marketplace and how business is about far more than just short term results and numbers

Why leadership is about legacy • Having been in existence for three quarters of a century, leadership for us is about the individual’s role in terms of their contribution to our history. What we mean by this is successful leadership, in particular every partner, is ultimately judged on their legacy. • It’s about expanding the business by driving our purpose (why we exist) and maintaining the values (what we believe in) that have allowed Wellers to thrive over the years. We’re living in a time of unprecedented technological change. The accounting profession is no exception, many of the traditional methods applied to client work have altered beyond recognition in the last decade. • The point being greater adoption of technology and the impact this can have on human tasks, highlights that business today is actually about people more than ever. As roles change, or disappear, the continued promotion of our values is witnessed in the importance our staff place on relationships with clients, suppliers, and their colleagues and this remains a core component of our strategic direction. • This is reflected in the actions, behaviours, accomplishments, and leadership progression of our employees. If in another 75 years from now, the firm’s vision results in similar inspiration, support and care being applied to help

Written by: Stuart Crook

our clients and our people to achieve their true potential, then that is a sign of true progress and success. • As an example of legacy, Kathleen Parker’s rise to become the firm’s first female managing partner was a watershed moment in our history in 2013. Christina being the second is evidence of our values developing and thriving.

“

As our history demonstrates, business is about the long game, a case of persistence and continuous improvement of our people to deliver an exceptional client service that endures beyond our professional lives.

”

• Whilst quarterly results and targets are of course very important, taken alone they can lead to short termism and a finite viewpoint. As our history demonstrates, business is about the long game, a case of persistence and continuous improvement of our people to deliver an exceptional client service that endures beyond our professional lives. We have a leadership programme in place for our teams at various levels that recognises this at an early stage.

The lack of female leaders in the profession Christina previously headed up our HR function for many years. In this role she was involved extensively in multiple projects across the firm, in particular culture driven initiatives to develop our staff and drive the quality of our client work. This meant her rise to managing partner was a natural progression and in many ways an extension of much of the work she’d performed in the past.

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Wellers’ partners Ross Andrews, Joe Lennon and Chris Thompson

Alas her career progress appears to be a statistical deviation from the industry norm. The numbers make for stark reading. Just 19% of senior positions in the top 1,000 accountancy firms were held by women in 2016 according to research by Visible Women. That’s despite female accounting students now outnumbering their male equivalents. Looking to the wider UK workplace, a survey conducted by the Guardian found of 399 corporates, just 22% had women on their boards in 2017 and 16% had no female members whatsoever!.

The future leaders and our first nonaccounting partner Looking at our latest promotions, at 31 and 33 respectively, Ross Andrews and Joe Lennon have risen to the status of partner quickly. Typically it takes around 15 years from qualification as an accountant to move up the ranks to become a partner. Ross is unusual in that he left school, forewent University and went straight into practice with another firm. Usually then the route is to study the technician level AAT qualification however, Ross fast tracked straight to the ACA exams and became a chartered accountant. Whilst we’re proud that most of our partners joined our firm as trainees, we’ve never been averse to hiring people externally at a more senior level if they share our beliefs and behaviours. Joe and Ross are evidence of this as is Chris Thompson, who has developed our marketing function and becomes our first non-accounting partner. Given the financial background of their people, the leadership of most accounting firms consists of the equivalent of several Finance Directors running different division and operations. This can sometimes limit perspective.

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In promoting Chris we’re recognising the vision those from different backgrounds can bring in terms of thinking differently and strategic perspective. While we pride ourselves on retaining long term members of staff we realise that transformation requires outside influences and skills. Strategy and leadership are based on a shared vision of where everyone wants to go, which is why the leadership team is key. Whatever form that takes in your organisation, be it a group of trustees, a committee, a partnership group or a board you need to ensure it can evolve and develop. It needs to offer opportunities to all and allow everyone to develop at their own pace in an honest and nurturing environment. Give yourself time to reflect and enjoy your achievements and don’t be afraid to revisit the plans when the strategy needs updating. Getting to the destination is almost as important as how much you enjoy the journey!

Leaders are made, not born This all highlights our belief that environment, specifically culture, shapes behaviour. Hence why, with the right training, development, and attitude, anyone has the potential to lead. For us it’s not just about how much an individual wants it but rather how much they’re willing to commit to helping others. Being a leader at Wellers starts as soon as you join and it’s about taking ultimate responsibility for the lives, careers, and success of those in your charge

 stuart.crook@wellersaccountants.co.uk  0333 241 6000  www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

DONNA BOWLES Estates Manager Howbery Park howberypark.com

What is your role in the business? As Estates Manager, I’m responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the estate for the park community and our stakeholders.

What are your areas of expertise? Property management, including the instigation of commercial lettings and the ongoing responsibility for these such as agreeing the terms and conditions for renewal tenancies, rent reviews, and general day to day management for tenants and the estate alike.

What do you enjoy about your work? I love that no two days are the same. I’m fortunate to work with a great team on a business park with a diverse range of companies run by brilliant people. We have a real sense of community at Howbery Park, and I can honestly say that I enjoy coming to work at this beautiful park every day!

Where were you born? Berkeley in Gloucestershire

What are your hobbies / interests? Family is very important to me. I love walking, reading, socialising with friends and family and travelling.

Do you have a favourite sports team? Bath Rugby Club

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? My favourite place in Oxfordshire is the Ridgeway. You can take yourself away from the everyday and enjoy walking and the views.

What do you like about Oxfordshire? I like Oxfordshire’s beautiful countryside and Oxford itself. There’s so much to explore, with so many museums and lovely places to eat.

Training and Development Laura Herbert, newly appointed director of Whitley Stimpson’s Bicester office, outlines how she will approach the role and grow the firm through training and development Laura Herbert

Whitley Stimpson Team

I may be new to Bicester but not Whitley Stimpson having been directly involved with the business for over a decade. Having been made a director of the firm in 2016 taking over the running of the High Wycombe office, I can see similarities in Bicester, particularly with the client base. It’s about working closely with ownermanaged businesses and I have some fresh ideas so when Stephen Payne and Penny Parmar decided to retire from Whitley Stimpson, it made sense for me to transfer. The previous directors all trained within the firm like myself and this is an ethos I very much want to continue. As a director I was lucky to be given the opportunity to learn through Developing Leadership in Practice (DLiP), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) programme. It was a brilliant insight into the bigger picture, working with accountants within other firms to hear about what it means to be a partner and it was a stepping stone for me to start thinking differently. A big part of that was about how you work and engage with other people and make a difference. Training is vital – it is essential for people to have a good understanding of accounting practices. I want to look at how processes are run to ensure continuity across offices and smooth running of workload which will give a better service to clients. Whitley Stimpson has provided me with some fabulous opportunities and brilliant training technically and personally. We work with Reed WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

Business School to support trainees’ development and recently started running apprenticeship programmes for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) at levels 4 and 7.

I believe that such a culture generates loyalty with 19 staff serving 20 years or more with the firm. Six directors trained and qualified internally and we were recently named as one of the top 10 employers in the country by Accountancy Age.

I want people to develop and become part of the firm’s future as managers or directors. We are expanding and our team of 92 which includes directors, professional and support personnel and has increased by 16 in the last year.

It is all about a team effort. Leading an office is not about telling others what to do - staff contribute ideas and have opportunities to develop and progress. I am keen to listen to people about how they see the office developing in future.

Our overall “ philosophy is to give

maximum support to staff and offer continuous learning Laura Herbery, Director - Whitley Stimpson

”

We recruit trainees every year, both school leavers and graduates with 13 now working towards their Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) or Associate Chartered Accountant (ACA) qualifications and six more recently qualifying. We exhibit at careers fairs throughout the year, building relationships with local schools and colleges to offer work experience and trainee positions as well as in-house school sessions to prepare young people for the outside world. Our overall philosophy is to give maximum support to staff and offer continuous learning. Ongoing development programmes include leadership development courses and external mentoring.

All of this means we can continue to grow sustainably. Last year the Bicester office took on additional space and we will be looking to recruit more trainees and expand staff and clients. As Bicester grows, we can grow as a business. I can’t wait to get started, meet the people and businesses of Bicester and grow the firm as part of the community. Just pop in for a coffee and we’ll take it from there! For advice on business or personal accountancy or to book a free consultation, please contact Laura Herbert.

CHARTER ED ACCOUNTANTS AND BUS I NES S A D V I SOR S

 laurah@whitleystimpson.co.uk  01869 252 151  www.whitleystimpson.co.uk

THE B4 FINANCE DEBATE

brought to you in association with Wenn Townsend

Our latest Finance Lunch in association with local accountants, Wenn Townsend, saw TBAT Innovation visit the B4 offices with MD Matt Symonds and Brian McGregor who is developing TBAT’s recently launched Oxford presence. Lee Baker of Wenn Townsend was our host Written by: Richard Rosser Photography by: Emma Davis (lunch images)

Based in the East Midlands and with clients throughout the UK, TBAT are a niche independent consultancy working with technology/R&D focused companies. The TBAT team are highly skilled and experienced individuals that come together to deliver exciting grant funding, R&D tax credit and consultancy projects for their clients. With an exceptional track record, TBAT’s honest and pragmatic approach is their key ingredient. Managing Director Matt Symonds added. “We started back in 2002 – we used to be called ‘The Business Advice Team’ and after extensive rebranding we changed to TBAT. I have been with the company since 2007. Myself and two co-directors own the business. “Our Head Office at Castle Donington is just down the road from East Midlands airport and is bursting at the seams. As a board of directors we sat down and discussed how we could expand, whether it would be north or south. We did lots of research and decided on Oxfordshire and have appointed Brian and Rebecca McDowell to develop our presence here. “We now have an address at Milton Park and our aspiration is to grow a delivery team down here in Oxford, copying what we have in the Castle Donington office. We’re in it for the long term to establish TBAT in Oxfordshire. “We are a very agile business with a team of 25 who cover everything from material science to genetics to aerospace. We don’t profess to know every technology out there but we can service a broad range of clients. The TBAT team has a varied set of backgrounds (ranging from mechanical/ aero engineering, opto-electronic research, genetics, through to chemistry and economics with organisations such as Rolls-Royce, Bombardier Transportation, Toshiba Research, BAE Systems and Alstom Power) that allow them to effectively support a wide range of projects. My personal background is aerospace engineering for Rolls Royce and then I went into programme management and then went to Bombardier for a while in the rail sector.

“We are extremely professional, open and honest with clients and genuinely passionate about informing and supporting people to enable their organisations succeed. Our informal culture allows for strong long-lasting collaboration with our clients. “We fundamentally help R&D and Tech companies get cash to do more development work. So whether it’s grant funding at the front end from people like Innovate UK or Horizon 2020 or whether it’s a tax break at the end of a project to give you cash back into your business to do more interesting projects, then that’s what we are all about. “Our key focus is grants and R&D tax credits but we are also looking at accessing private investment for our clients. Grants will normally give you a maximum of 70% of the cost of your development project so clients are always looking for that missing 30% and we’re looking to help them source it. “We used to do a lot of business and marketing strategy work, what I would call traditional consultancy work, and we have used that commercial background and leveraged it to help our clients grow. “We adopt a more strategic approach by helping to raise the funds and ensure it is used correctly. We have ex-PwC accountants in the team so we can help our clients manage the funds we help to raise. We have purely technology based and purely finance based staff so between us we come up with a well thought out solution.” Lee Baker: “I think it’s great you provide a more rounded service – we don’t have the technical expertise that TBAT have and it’s sometimes the right advice to get a specialist in like TBAT to help.” See TBAT at BIO2019 on 6th June at MINI PLANT OXFORD.

TBAT SERVICES GRANT FUNDING Thinking about accessing grant funding but don’t know how; don’t have the time; or you’re worried

about getting it right? We work with you to support the bid writing process, to give you the best chance of accessing the most suitable grant funding for your organisation, allowing you to remain focused on the day-to-day. Our team of experienced bid writers have a proven track record and a 76% success rate across a vast range of funding schemes and can assist you in identifying and applying into the right scheme for your project. We have successfully helped our clients be awarded £19.9 million in grants over the last 12 months.

R&D TAX CREDITS If you are a UK business that has invested in innovation and completed research and development, you could be eligible to claim R&D Tax Credits. Our aim is to simplify the R&D tax claim process with minimal disruption to your business. We have consultants with expertise in a wide variety of science, engineering, software and healthcare disciplines; therefore, fully understand the science and technology your project is centred around. We do the work, so you can receive the credit, ‘bridging the technical expertise gap’ between you the Client and your Accountant in order to submit a robust, successful and maximised R&D tax credit claim to HMRC.

GRANT CLAIM MANAGEMENT Innovate UK administration and claims management can be very intensive. Compiling the technical reports and financial documentation required for your project to qualify for an acceptable claim can be quite a daunting task, as well as understanding what’s needed by the Monitoring Officer may be something that you or your team may not have experienced before. We have a highly experienced team who’ve worked across the UK and EU grant funding sectors who’re able to guide and support you throughout the setup of the project and the preparation & submission of

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Brian McGregor - TBAT

Matt Symonds - TBAT

claim documentation, and how to best prepare the project for reviews with your Monitoring Officer – all ensuring the claim is processed quickly and you get the cash into your account asap after the reporting period.

In-house research support Due diligence on potential business development opportunities, specific market research, technology positioning and future strategy Our approach has always been to provide open, honest, evidenced support and direction to our clients. To this end we have become noted for our technical and commercial research capabilities.

What is the Programme?

TBAT

Partnership

Hopefully, you have already realised that being part of a Partnership can be worth a lot more to your business then any one client. At TBAT, we believe a level of collaboration is key, as the saying goes: Two heads are better than one. We currently work with accountants, patent agents and solicitors and by doing so, we add value to each other’s clients; and that’s really how the TBAT Partnership programme was born: jointly strengthened offerings, building a comprehensive network of services and providing all clients within the Partnership, the ultimate range of specialist products and services.

In Attendance Lee Baker, Wenn Townsend Accountants We are a ten partner, three office accountancy firm, with our main office being in the centre of Oxford and the other two offices in Cirencester and Abingdon. Our specialism is ownermanaged businesses. We also have a good stake in the not-for-profit sector also and we have a number of large charity clients as a result. We pride ourselves on the quality of our service.

Sue Rees, Sue Rees Associates Ltd For the past 20 years I have been supporting board level executives with executive search services for Chief Financial Officers, Finance Directors and Financial Controllers. Within that I specialise in the pharma, biotec and life science industries. I offer a unique and bespoke service that is tailored to each client.

Dene Parker, Search-a-Patent I run a UK subsidiary of a Swedish intellectual property company. Our client base is split 50% between patent attorneys and 50% with the R&D departments of companies in industry. As our main business is patent searching, we advise companies whether they have a good chance of registering a patent before they go to the time and cost of trying to do so. We also make sure clients are not infringing someone else’s patent.

Joseph Garbett, Garbott Ltd Specialised web development and now cyber security agency based in Kidlington. We solve problems on clients’ websites, which include High Street banks and financial trading platforms.

Helen Fallon, Global CTS

 information@wenntownsend.co.uk  01865 559 900  www.wenntownsend.co.uk

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Global CTS Ltd aims to work with SME’s within the Oxfordshire and Berkshire areas. We deal directly with business owners or senior directors of companies who understand the time and

true cost implications of recruiting the wrong person and the knock-on effects this can have on their business. We aim to help companies achieve their goals and objectives by securing the right calibre of candidate.

Matt Symonds, Managing Director, TBAT I’m now privileged enough to be the Managing Director and part owner of the company, working with a fantastically talented bunch of people who have the same passion and love for the things I do, working with a brilliant set of clients. After a number of years in multinationals, I feel TBAT delivers what they struggle to; flexibility, responsiveness, innovation and a chance to develop close working relationships. Every day is different – different client needs, different market and technology challenges – which is incredibly inspirational.

Brian McGregor, Business Development, TBAT Joined TBAT recently. Based in Castle Donnington for 17 years, TBAT wanted to expand into Oxfordshire and I am heading up the new operation at Milton Park. I help Financial Directors, Accountants and company directors of innovative businesses receive more money for their company. By assisting with grant applications and R&D Tax credits, TBAT helps your business financially. TBAT are an extension to accountants, not a replacement. While accountants are usually experts in tax and know of R&D tax, TBAT are technologists, experts in R&D tax and know how to maximise your claim saving you time and money.

O X F O R D S H I R E

Become part of Oxfordshire’s future success A unique collaboration between the public and private sectors to provide solutions to the key challenges facing Oxfordshire businesses. Oxfordshire Voice has the potential to speak for more than 30,000 businesses across the county. Through Think Tanks, Surveys and Forums, OV are focusing on the following issues which plague many businesses:

1. Skills 2. Housing 3. Transport 4. Connectivity 5. Social Issues 6. Environmental Issues 7. Workplace Wellbeing

OV Forum Dates Transport: How are we aiming to improve access within and to Oxfordshire May 23 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pembroke College, Oxford

The Office of the Future – How is business becoming more agile? June 26 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Freeths Solicitors, Oxford Business Park South

Higher Education – How it could better prepare the next generation for working life July 25 @ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Saïd Business School, Park End St, Oxford

See all events at www.oxvoice.co.uk/events 48

Blue Paper #1 Out Now

Think Tank Decides next topic

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The Blue Paper is the culmination of: • Bi-monthly Think Tanks where OV Partners decide on the topics to be discussed at the monthly forums. • Before the monthly forums, surveys are sent relating to the issue in hand to the B4 community of over 600 Oxfordshire members. • At the monthly forums, the results of the surveys and the issues in hand are discussed in more depth with expert panellists. • The Blue Papers then combine the survey results and the outcomes at each forum into one document designed to stimulate further discussion and debate on line. • It is online where the debate continues, the education and awareness of the issues in hand are raised with local authorities making their plans and policies for the future available. • In time, it is that original voice of businesses in Oxfordshire (voiced through the surveys and the forums) that we aim to see materialise in these plans and policies of the future. • OV will also promote how Oxfordshire businesses are adapting now to overcome the key issues under the spotlight, without needing to wait for future plans and policies to be implemented, thus helping the local authorities to promote solutions, which are working, now.

Continue the conversation at www.oxvoice.co.uk

 

Housing

Transport



  Wellbeing

Social

Workforce





Connectivity

Environmental

 Survey OV members are canvassed on the chosen topic

 Forum The survey forms the basis of open debate on the chosen topic

 Outcomes Forum outcomes are compiled into a Blue Paper

 Blue Paper Presented to local government

O X F O R D S H I R E

 Website Ongoing comment & debate

B4 49

Wenn Townsend Parliamentary Review Feature Wenn Townsend were established in 1876 and have benefitted from the vast experience accrued over this impressive stretch of time. Operating as a general accountancy practice, they serve a varied range of clients, some of whom they have been working with for over 100 years. Currently based in Oxford with additional offices in Abingdon and Cirencester, they have combined their historical pedigree with technological advancements to deliver the best service for their customers. Oxford Practice Development Partner, Tony Haines, elaborates on this illustrious history and shares his thoughts on what the future will bring. Written by: B4 Photography by: Rob Scotcher

140 Years of Experience Our partnership was established in 1876 by Arthur Preston in Abingdon and we have now been providing accountancy services for over 140 years. To put this into perspective, the Institute of Chartered Accountants was established four years later, with Arthur Pearson personally involved in its conception. Throughout our long and accomplished history, we have always adhered to our central principal of providing our clients with the highest level of care and commitment. We strive to be proactive and efficient when dealing with the varied needs of the businesses we work with and it is the quality of service that has allowed us to prosper for so many years. We are a multidisciplinary accountancy proactive offering a varied range of services to a diverse selection of clients. They range from sole traders to multi-national corporations and charities and we are committed to providing each of our clients with a tailored service, no matter their size. We offer assistance with auditing, tax returns, bookkeeping and payroll, alongside various other services. Although most of the businesses we deal with are located in the Oxfordshire area, we also support international clients. Our unceasing commitment has allowed us to retain some client for over one hundred years. Our partner-led approach allows us to promote personal contact between ourselves and our 50

clients, which also helps us to support our focus on tailored accountancy programmes. As well as being personable and adding a vital human element to our service, our partners possess a wealth of experience, which is essential to fulfil the needs of the businesses with which we work. We know what our clients want to achieve and we endeavour to help them to achieve it. We support them in fulfilling their medium and long-term goals.

The key to our “ longevity is undoubtedly our commitment to the quality of the staff we employ. This success is a result of our recruiting criteria and the attributes we focus on training throughout all members of the firm

”

The key to our longevity is undoubtedly our commitment to the quality of the staff we employ. This success is a result of our recruiting criteria and the attributes we focus on training throughout all

members of the firm. This fundamental policy is central to our ability to deliver the excellence our clients deserve and expect.

At a glance wenn townsend chartered accountants: • Administrative Partner and Practice Development Partner: Tony Haines • Founded in 1876 • Based in Oxford, with two additional offices in Cirencester and Abingdon • Services: General auditing and accountancy services • No. of employees: 60 • www.wenntownsend.co.uk

The Challenges of New Legislation The key practice of legislation that will affect the accountancy sector is the implementation of the Making Tax Digital programme. In the lead up to this programme being instituted, we have been educating all of the businesses we work with on their new obligations and requirements. They rely on us to inform them of all developments within the sector. Many are ill prepared for these changes, so this new legislation has significantly increased our workload. Alongside personal meetings, we have recently designed a simple but effective flowchart which WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

“

Clearly, the biggest issue that our sector, and indeed all sectors must face is the uncertainty which surrounds Brexit and our exit from the EU

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we have sent out to our clients. This increases the efficiency with which we are able to inform our customers of these upcoming changes and includes all the information they require. This contains all of the information they require including whether their software programmes are compatible with MTD as well as a section on how we can assist them in becoming compliant. Our clients expect us to be proactive rather than reactive, so these measures are vital to keep ahead of sector changes. Our outsourced bookkeeping department is experienced in the transfer of paper records onto computerised systems. Alternatively, clients can transfer their entire bookkeeping functions to us and we can implement these changes in house. MTD will also change the frequency with which we have to submit the records of our clients. Clearly, the biggest issue that our sector, and indeed all sectors must face is the uncertainty which surrounds Brexit and our exit from the EU. At the time of writing, we are still deeply unsure of the form that Brexit will take, and the type of uncertainty is very difficult to navigate. This issue is clearly more pronounced for our overseas clients and one of the largest companies that we work with have recently contacted us to ask for advice. Crashing out without a deal would be catastrophic for many of our customers. To try to prepare our customers as well as we can, we advise that they draw up plans for every possible outcome. While this may be expensive and timeconsuming, it is a far better alternative than being left unprepared. This preparation includes potential software changes and more general anticipatory measures. Much like our preparations for MTD, it is crucial that we are proactive rather than reactive and this type of active service helps to reassure our clients. Our ability to plan for the future is significantly impacted by this uncertainty. Although we are devising multiple different short-term plans for coping with various Brexit scenarios, longer term planning is becoming increasingly difficult. Whatever the outcome, we know we will be operating I a changed business environment. Leaving an economic group that we have been associated with for such a long period of time will always lead to new challenges. Having being continuously operating for over 140 years, we are not inexperienced with navigating a changing business landscape. We will continue to adhere to our founding principles while adapting to any new challenges that may arise and we are confident that we will be a fixture of the accountancy profession for many more years to come.

Tony Haines, Administrative Partner and Practice Development Partner - Wenn Townsend

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 information@wenntownsend.co.uk  01865 559 900  www.wenntownsend.co.uk

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STEPHEN CLARKE Director Cherwell College cherwell-college.co.uk

What is your role in the business? Chief Executive – we have a property company and the college.

What are your areas of expertise? A lot of it is the strategy of the college and guiding young people on their educational path. It’s a very bespoke education. We are entrusted with educating them 24/7 and that’s a gift for us…I believe everyone has potential.

What do you enjoy about your work? Results Day in August - it’s a huge buzz! Last year we had 94% get their first choice university.

What are your hobbies / interests? Reading – I like Russian novelists and science books. I like all sports but football is my real passion – As my birthplace, Southampton is my first love but I also have a soft spot for Arsenal. The reason for Arsenal also is because I was a semi-pro coach and met George Graham on my FA coaching course and he made a lasting impression on me.

Who inspires you? Richard Dawkins, Sir Martin Sorrell, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? I love Blenheim as I’m a member of the IOD committee – the gardens are wonderful. The historical aspects fascinating also, particularly Churchill’s background. Woodstock is also wonderful.

What do you like about Oxfordshire? I like Oxford – it revolves around education which I find wonderful and inspiring. Having worked overseas, British education is still first class in comparison. The science parks are also full of wonderful companies – we have benefited from them and they have so much to deliver in the future..

DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH Demand for innovative legal solutions from Freeths Solicitors has resulted in a record year of development and growth for this leading law firm. Written by: Freeths LLP

Freeths Solicitors is proud to announce another year of development and growth with the Oxford office growing its headcount to over 115 staff since last year and includes the recruitment of 8 new lawyers into the firm’s various legal departments. The firm’s most recent and noticeable lateral hire is Will Richmond-Coggan, previously a Partner at BDB Pitmans LLP. His specialisms include GDPR, data privacy, technology, and reputation cases.

addition, The Times commended Freeths for inheritance and succession (private client) and family law in their recently published Best Law Firms 2019 supplement. Freeths is one of only 24 firms in the country to be commended in these areas of work.

Freeths through the development of client centric services such as Freeths Advance, Platinum, and The Hub, continue to provide the solutions corporate and private clients want and need in order to achieve their business and personal objectives.

achieved over the last year for clients and the intermediaries we work closely with

The firm’s ability to provide innovative legal solutions coupled with a first-class service is why Freeths has received stellar reviews for its highly regarded corporate, commercial, dispute management and real estate teams in this year’s publication of the UK’s leading legal directories; The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners. In

Sarah Foster, Partner - Freeths Solicitors

I’m very proud of “what our staff have

”

The legal directories are widely regarded as the authoritative guides to the legal profession in the UK. Both guides rank law firms and solicitors in over 70 specialist areas of law. The rankings are

the result of research conducted by 150 editors and researchers. The Legal 500 (the Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2019 edition) ranked Freeths as a Top Tier law firm in the South East in eight of its practice areas: commercial property, family law, contentious trusts & probate, private client (Wills, trusts & probate), clinical negligence (claimant), agriculture & rural estates, charities ,and professional negligence. Freeths were also ranked Top Tier by the Chambers and Partners 2019 Guide to the UK Legal Profession in four of its practice areas: clinical negligence; agriculture and estates; family; and private client wealth (High Net Worth). The demand for Freeths’ legal services is not just limited to Oxford, nationally, Freeths’ staff numbers have increased across all 12 offices, going from 844 to 905. In addition, Freeths opened an office in Bristol on 1st April 2019, taking the total number of offices to 13. Sarah Foster, Managing Partner of Freeths in

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Freeths offices in Oxford

Oxford, commented: “I’m very proud of what our staff have achieved over the last year for clients and the intermediaries we work closely with.

What makes us “ unique is the firm’s culture, which we call ‘freethinking’. In essence, being a Freeths’ lawyer is about a lot more than just knowing the law, it is about entrepreneurialism Sarah Foster, Partner - Freeths Solicitors

”

What makes us unique is the firm’s culture, which we call ‘freethinking’. In essence, being a Freeths’ lawyer is about a lot more than just

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knowing the law, it is about entrepreneurialism, it is about doing the right thing, it is about building trust and most importantly of all, it is about delivering results for the clients we act for and for the clients of the professionals we enjoy working with. In today’s world it is a given that as a lawyer you provide advice on legal matters but at Freeths, being a lawyer is much more than that. A great service requires more than just knowing the law and responding to client’s needs in a transactional way. It is about lateral thinking instead of looking at the problem head on, it is about putting yourself in your client’s shoes, seeing their vision and listening to their ideas so that we can make those ideas happen. It is about being undeniably good and always delivering more to our clients than they expect. These are the qualities that separate a Freeths lawyer from other lawyers. With this in mind, we are keen to hear from lawyers who are looking to take the next steps in their careers as we continue to grow our legal teams.”

Sarah Foster, Partner

 sarah.foster@freeths.co.uk  01865 781 000  www.freeths.co.uk

Knights plc Welcomes new colleagues, positioning it as a leading legal and professional services business in Oxford Written by: Knights plc Photography by: Knights plc

On 1 April, Knights, one of the UK’s fastest growing legal and professional services businesses, welcomed new colleagues from BrookStreet des Roches into its Oxford office. This follows Knights’ acquisition in January of one of the leading commercial law firms outside of London with an impressive reputation nationally in the real estate sector and a strong base of blue chip clients. Knights, which listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in June 2018, acquired the business as part of its strategy to expand its expertise in key markets outside London and its presence in the key market of Oxford. Having established its presence in Oxford in 2016, Knights is now firmly positioned as a leading legal and professional services business in the region. Rosie Gibb, said: “We are delighted to join Knights at this exciting period for the Group. The Company has been highly successful with its ambitions to develop high calibre expertise across the full spectrum of commercial legal and professional services in key markets outside of London. As a previous partnership model, we are excited to be working with the talented team 56

under the corporate structure as we continue to execute our growth plans, supported by a strong ‘can do’ culture and financial position.”

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We are excited to be working with the talented team under the corporate structure as we continue to execute our growth plans, supported by a strong ‘can do’ culture and financial position. Rosie Gibb

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A growing commitment to Oxford Since 2016, Knights has grown its presence in Oxford significantly from 100 professionals to over 160 making it one of Knights’ largest offices. This indicates the Group’s commitment to the county which is a key market outside London due to its strong business community, its significant £23bn

gross value added contribution to the UK economy per year and because it has one of the greatest needs for housing across the UK. The office now hosts a selection of talented real estate, corporate and litigation professionals in Oxford. Its high calibre work ranges from advising on strategic land development projects to property portfolio management for major national chains, through to a range of corporate transactions from MBOs to sale and leasebacks as well as franchise and license agreements and litigation. The quality of its work means it counts McDonald’s, MEPC and Arcadia amongst its blue chip national clients, in addition to recently advising the firm trading as ‘Virgin Experience Days’ on its MBO, backed by Inflexion Private Equity, and Mothercare, on the saleand-leaseback of its headquarters’ premises. Commenting on the integration, Philip Marsh, said: “We are pleased to welcome our new colleagues into the Knights Oxford office, which is now one of the largest and highest quality businesses in the region. The expertise which the team brings to the business in commercial law, real estate and litigation WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

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We are pleased to welcome our new colleagues into the Knights Oxford office, which is now one of the largest and highest quality businesses in the region Philip Marsh

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means we now have significant scale in the region from which we can continue to grow the team as well as our client base and presence.”

Knights’ journey so far Founded in 1759, Knights has transformed from a single office in Staffordshire to a top 100 law firm, with 8 offices and 700 professionals, 200 of which are dedicated to the real estate sector. Following its AIM listing in June 2018, Knights has continued to grow its national presence in key markets outside of London.

Philip Marsh

corporate model and with a healthy culture that we view as the future of the legal industry.”

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We are an ambitious and pioneering company with plans for substantial business growth under our corporate model and with a healthy culture that we view as the future of the legal industry David Beech

In 2013, Knights made the transformational step as the first law firm to adopt a corporate structure with a clear and long-standing separation between ownership and partners. Commenting, David Beech, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Knights has transformed significantly over the past eight years and we have secured our position as the leading legal and professional services business in a number of our regions, most recently in Oxford. We are an ambitious and pioneering company with plans for substantial business growth under our WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

1759 Lounge for the team to enjoy time away from their desks, improved IT systems and a complete paperless concept. This upgraded office has provided a modern, open-plan working environment for Knights staff and generated greater capacity as Knights continues its recruitment drive, attracting some of the best talent which remains central to the growth strategy for Knights in Oxford.

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A unique proposition Knights’ innovative approach makes it a unique proposition for employees, clients and investors alike. With no equity partners or hierarchy and a focus on people and the quality of its work, Knights has a unique ‘one team’ culture that promotes collaboration across the full range of its talented experts. Knights invests in its people and offices to improve productivity and employee wellbeing. In 2018 Knights invested in its Oxford office, fitting it with a

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philip.marsh@knightsplc.com 01865 811 700 www.knightsplc.com @Knightsplc Knights plc

MARK CARRINGTON Director RKM Partners Ltd jmarkcarrington.co.uk

What is your role in the business? I works as a freelancer so cover all bases. I love the variety and the sense of personal freedom.

What are your areas of expertise? Building strategies using a unique visual mapping technique, facilitating the planning process and coaching leaders to implement the results. It’s all market focused, pulls everything together in a logical way and presents a clear picture of what a business is trying to achieve. It’s very difficult to ‘swallow the elephant in one go’ so I help businesses analyse what they want to do in bite size chunks and implement their plans in a logical, effective way.

What do you enjoy about your work? The range of industries, product and service types and geographical markets I’ve worked with have been both fascinating and personally broadening from a business perspective. But it’s those points of clarity that clients reach, with my help, that really stand out - when a group of people see what they need to do and why generates huge amounts of confidence and confidence is the key ingredient to success.

Where were you born? I was born in Chippenham in the West Country.

What are your hobbies / interests? I’m a regular golfer and I would say that golf is an interesting metaphor for life. I’m interested in social psychology and the effect of culture and the way human beings work. Many amateur golfers, me included, will often blame the elements or the quality of the ball or clubs for a bad shot but, at the end of the day, we hit the ball and we’re in control of most things. That’s the same in life and in business …. ‘a good workman should never blame his tools’ is very appropriate.

Do you have a favourite sports team? I don’t have any but I could talk to you about rugby for hours – 6 Nations, Southern hemisphere, World Cup, Chinnor RFC – anything. It’s a passion of mine…..just don’t ask me to play!

MARK CARRINGTON BUILDING CONFIDENCE in PEOPLE

LEADERSHIP FOR OXFORD’S HOUSING CHALLENGES Challenges around Oxford’s housing situation are well-reported. A combination of unique and complex historical constraints, resulting planning protections, together with natural limitations of the floodplain area mean residential space is at an absolute premium. Add to this a student population of nearly 34,000, question marks over green belt development and a public perception that local government’s housing strategy is not clear and the picture is both complex and unclear Written by: Richard Smith, Partner, Commercial Property, Planning and Environmental Law - Penningtons Manches

Planned new accommodation block at Somerville

This leaves us with a housing market under pressure, with poor choice, high prices and a real need for leadership as to how the City plans for the future.

locations. The end result? A shortage of talent in both the public and private sectors, and traffic congestion on the roads in and out of the City.

A City for students, keyworkers and young people

Property trends in Oxford

Oxford’s high student population inevitably puts acute pressure on the private rental market. Both the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University are responding to this by developing additional bespoke accommodation blocks, enabling more students to opt for university housing, freeing up capacity in the private rental sector. Recent planning policy changes, however, have made this more difficult as the city planners seek to limit the criteria for locations of new student accommodation schemes. Some Colleges, such as Somerville, have been able to construct new high quality purpose built accommodation within their own boundaries, but it is not possible for all. At the same time, both key workers and young people find it increasingly challenging to get on the housing ladder; the average young person has to spend 16 years saving up for their deposit for a first home. Even then, their options are too expensive or very poor quality stock; figures from Oxford City Council show that the average house price here is over 17 times average earnings.

Shaping the economy The shortage of affordable housing has wider implications. Oxford’s growing economy as an education hub and location for fast-growth tech companies means its unemployment rate is just 1%. This in turn puts further pressure on the City’s employers. Businesses are essentially competing with the London market or the science and business parks such as Oxford Science Park and Harwell Campus, as employees opt to live in more affordable outskirt WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

Where does this leave Oxford’s property market? From our perspective, the exciting buildings have been centred around the University of Oxford such as the new Maths Institute and the Blavatnik School of Government. Where protection and planning allows, developers are looking at converting old buildings and using permitted development rights. If we look further afield, real innovation and place-making is happening in centres such as Harwell Campus, with its masterplan to blend specialist laboratories, bespoke office space and leisure facilities to create a genuinely unique and modern place to work and live. Looking at more original ways to expand housing options, let’s look at the impact of the successful Westgate development on the centre’s landscape. Despite concerns that the shopping centre would draw shoppers away from the high street, a broader trend to independent and more sustainable shopping could support boutique shops with residential occupation replacing current old office stock on the upper floors. With the option to develop housing above these independent retailers, it is possible this could create a more vibrant city centre.

The Oxfordshire Voice initiative is one such response to the perceived lack of leadership. A collaboration between public and private sector organisations, it aims to inform and influence those policies and decisions that impact the future economic performance and growth of Oxfordshire. For now, decisive action is needed to ensure we retain our thriving, forward thinking economy and behave responsibly for our residents.

Penningtons Manches – specialists in real estate law Penningtons Manches’ award winning real estate team has over 100 people. Richard Smith manages the Thames Valley team, which includes four partners in its Oxford office. The team advises clients from a variety of sectors on a wide range of real estate transactions, disputes, construction projects, planning and environmental law.

 richard.smith@penningtons.co.uk  01865 813 708  www.penningtons.co.uk

Room for real leadership With the local population increase set to put ever more pressure on Oxford, the time for a joint solution – across government, universities and business – is critical. Collectively we need to work together to create a broader vision, think long term and have the confidence to go beyond traditional thinking. Whether it is midrise buildings in the City centre, extending development in the green belt or widening streets to support infrastructure, decisions are needed. We only have to look to our friends in Cambridge to see how an entire landscape and eco-system can be transformed when we dare to innovate.

O X F O R D S H I R E

TRIFECTA

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES The Trifecta 3Peaks Challenge is a team charity challenge for business leaders in Oxfordshire. It’s a 24-hour challenge involving three teams successfully climbing the three largest peaks in the UK, raising money for three charities. Three Peaks, Three Teams, Three Charities – The Trifecta Trifecta trʌɪˈfɛktə/; noun; “a run of three wins or grand events” Business leaders will be challenged to lose a few pounds for a worthy personal challenge and raise a few pounds for three worthy Oxfordshire charities. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate leadership on charitable giving and to contribute to the broader needs of Oxfordshire. We are fundraising for our three charities so they can continue their great works in the community. This is YOUR opportunity to help the participants raise funds for:

To discuss sponsorship further please e-mail ellie.collins@pharmagenesis.com

w. t3

pc .o rg

3 PEAKS / 3 TEAMS / 3 CHARITIES BEN NEVIS - SCAFELL PIKE - SNOWDON | 10th - 12th MAY 2019 Aiming to raise £60,000 for local charities

If this lot can do three peaks in 24 hours, just imagine what you could do to support three great local charities

Daniel Hadland

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Jo Spencer

GOLD

£3000

Multiple opportunities Orhan Ertughrul

Paul Farrow

• Logo featured on the home page of our website • Logo on participant shirts • Named as main sponsor in all post challenge PR • Endorsement from our social media • Main printed logo at ‘Trifecta Fest’

Richard White

Neal Denton

SILVER

• Logo featured on our website

Multiple opportunities

• Logo on one part of the participant kit

£1000

• Endorsement from our social media Lucy Eckley

• Printed logo at ‘Trifecta Fest’

Elaine McKechnie

£500 CLUB Multiple opportunities John Diamond

Huw Mellor

Michael Wellborn

Jo Stevens

• Endorsement from our social media

CERI-JANE HACKLING Managing Director Cerub PR cerubpr.co.uk

What is your role in the business? Managing Director

What are your areas of expertise? PR and communications strategy, campaign planning and delivery, media relations, content creation.

What do you enjoy about your work? Creativity, variety, writing, personal interaction with clients and journalists.

Where were you born? Oxfordshire (John Radcliffe).

What are your hobbies / interests? Kickboxing – twice a week plus a half session. Sparring and learning new techniques – it’s helped me focus and taken my mind off the day to day stresses of work. It’s quite therapeutic and you are achieving something – i.e. the belts, which is a different kind of achievement from securing column inches for a client. Reading – contemporary fiction – Jonathan Coe, Margaret Attwood, Sarah Waters, Ian McEwan. Socialising – I go to home house in London quite a lot to meet friends and clients. I’ve made good friends with a lot of clients over the years and I like to keep up with them. Travelling – went to Australia last year which I loved to see the Foo Fighters. Singapore also and New York this year. Boating – spend a lot of time on the Thames with my partner Nick who owns cruiser.

Do you have a favourite sports team? Wales rugby team (obviously!)

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? Bicester Village. The Thatch in Thame.

Who inspires you? Phoebe Waller-Bridge (writer of Fleabag), Margaret Atwood, Gillian Anderson.

Oxfordshire’s Apprentices, businesses and schools celebrate success at county awards Written by: Mel Ringer Photography by: Vine House Studios

The third annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards took place on Thursday 4th April at Jurys Inn Oxford, where Apprentices, schools and employers were celebrated for their significant achievements. The event was hosted by Simon Newton, Managing Director of electrical engineering firm Darke & Taylor and saw Apprentices from sectors as diverse as shepherding and beauty therapy recognised. The two winners of the overall ‘Apprentice of the Year Award’ were Nairne Barker, an Administrative Support Officer at Oxfordshire County Council (who also won the ‘Advanced Apprentice of the Year’) and Shaun Morton, a Chartered Manager Degree Apprentice at Nielsen (who won ‘Higher Apprentice of the Year’). The Burnside Partnership, who employed their first Apprentice around six weeks after opening for business in 2015, won the ‘The Apprenticeship Employer Award’ for businesses with less than 50 employees. Partner Fiona Wheeler said: “Our Apprentices are absolutely central to our current business and our future plans. We are very lucky to have such conscientious, committed and motivated young people working with us and they have very bright futures indeed.” The award was presented to Anna and Della Burnside by Shirley Popham, Director at Popham Hairdressing, who decided to sponsor the category after her business benefited from winning it last year. Shirley said: “Winning this prestigious award brought new clients and business contacts, as well as an influx of Apprenticeship applications from enthusiastic and committed young people.”

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

The event was organised by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) Skills team. Supporting businesses to build strong relationships with education and training providers is a key part of OxLEP Skills’ work - whether that’s introducing businesses to apprenticeships, meaningful work experience programmes or supporting schools and colleges to understand the type of skills the county’s workforce needs. The team also trains young Apprentices to become ‘Apprenticeship Ambassadors’ providing them with opportunities to talk about Apprenticeships to young people at careers events around the county. Sally Andreou, OxLEP’s Skills Hub Manager said: “It was fantastic to celebrate not only the achievements of Oxfordshire’s talented Apprentices but also those that support them. This includes the vital role that both schools and employers play in helping young people to prepare for the world of work through initiatives such as work experience.” The awards are led and sponsored by employers, with sponsoring businesses judging and awarding the winners. The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) were the headline sponsor this year, with Barclays, Blenheim, Clarkson Evans and Oxford Brookes University being among the other sponsors. If you’re interested in sponsoring the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2020, which will take place on Thursday 2nd April at Williams F1, please contact Melanie Ringer on 07880 042658 or email skills@oxfordshirelep.com. For a list of winners and finalists, please see www.oxfordshirelep.com

Branding Star Back in 2017, B4’s Marketing Executive Emma Davis volunteered as the Design Sponsor for the distinguished event, the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards. As a new employee in the design world the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards provided Emma with the unique experience of introducing and developing an exciting new brand. This involved designing the awards banners, awards programme and their official logo; the stylish logo design depicting both the rural and city aspects of Oxfordshire within a star to represent the shining star Apprentices who are recognised by the awards. This year Emma’s services were once again requested allowing her to continue work for the awards, using her now strong design skills to produce the awards brochure for a third consecutive year.

xLEP Skills xLEP Skills  skills@oxfordshirelep.com  www.oxfordshirelep.com

Welcome, Don’t Fear, AI Nick Chatrath is an AI expert, entrepreneur and coach. B4’s Richard Rosser spoke to Nick just before a speaking engagement in Austria, to find out more about his expertise in AI and the impact it has on our lives and draws interesting parallels with how he manages his life with a clearly defined work / life balance. His current research examines the future impact of AI. Edited by: Richard Rosser

What is the driving force behind your research? “There are a lot of prophecies of doom around AI, people who are saying that the developing pace of technology, which is clearly very fast, means that we are going to be subjugated as humans, or even eliminated. Professor Max Tegmark of MIT called the development of AI “the most important conversation of our time”. “There are these very interesting thought experiments where people say if you give a very, very advanced artificial intelligence a simple goal, then it could undertake that goal in ways that harm humanity. So, for example, if you told the AI to produce paperclips, it might, accidentally, produce trillions of them and cover the entire universe! Some people have painted these very doom-laden scenarios which you can make even worse if you add in wealth inequality, social disorder and the fact that, as humans, we don’t respond very well to threats. But, in my book, I am saying it doesn’t have to be this way – I’m saying we can welcome AI, not fear it.”

Why should we listen to you? “My expertise around AI is helping people be less pessimistic around it and being able to use their own creativity in their response. My interest stems from a number of angles including my involvement in tech startup Coachify and my current position on the board of a tech company, so I have a tech interest as a practitioner. I also have a mathematics background academically so I understand the basis of statistical algorithms used in today’s AI. In addition, I studied and researched philosophy, theology and other similar topics which are very important in terms of AI now and help prepare ourselves, from an ethical point of view, for what is coming. Finally, through my practice as a coach over 20 years I am very experienced in helping 64

people respond to uncertainty and risk, the classic VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world that we are in and which is becoming even more VUCA. So I bring all of this experience and expertise together combined with my fascination of AI as a subject.”

Why hope? “People can look at what’s coming and be quite scared quite quickly by just assuming that the future versions of AI will have certain characteristics that we see today. But, if you go back one hundred years, and if you were to talk to our great grandparents, they couldn’t even have imagined the dimensions of what we see today with the internet, connectivity and technology as it has become. Not only couldn’t they have described it, they couldn’t have even imagined the parameters of what we have today – even me speaking to you on a clear line from a moving car in Austria would have been beyond comprehension. “One basis for the hope that we can have about the future impact of AI is if you start to consider the nature of intelligence. Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard University, persuasively argues that even if we humans could design an omniscient and omnipotent AI, would we be so gifted to do this, yet so idiotic that we would give it control of the universe without testing how it works? And would the AI be ‘so brilliant that it could figure out how to transmute elements and rewire brains, yet so imbecilic that it would wreak havoc based on elementary blunders of misunderstanding?’”*

How will AI develop? “At the moment we are in the phase of Narrow AI which, for example, powers a lot of the functionality on our phones. That’s a narrow application of machine learning with reinforcement learning and other techniques to optimise functions beyond what a human could do in very narrow domains, such as

playing a chess game or optimising travel schedules. Narrow AI is only going to get better and better. There is a question as to whether that will generalise at some point so that a computer could think cognitively like a human. There’s a big debate as to whether that will ever happen because the goals that we give to a machine, if the machine gets better and better at undertaking those goals, it doesn’t mean that it will be able to rise outside of that system and give itself its own goals. “Artificial general intelligence may happen cognitively at some point. If so, I don’t think it will be in very many decades - it will be beyond that. Even if AI can access deeper cognitive intelligence, will it be able to access things like emotional intelligence or deep wisdom? I very much doubt it, but I am not in a position to say never…don’t forget my previous comment about our great grandparents!”

How are we going to keep up with AI if it continues to improve? “You may be aware of the oft-recounted tale of chess master Garry Kasparov’s defeat to the computer known as Deep Blue in New York in 1997. From that moment, computers were regarded as ‘better than humans’ at chess. What’s interesting is that, even today, with significant improvements on the AI side, the best chess player in the world is not a computer, nor a human, but a combination of the two. When you put a human aided by AI, that is where you get the ‘best’ player right now. “So going back to your query regarding e-mails, there is plenty of evidence that when we combine effectively with AI, we can use it to improve our lives, not make them harder. I don’t think we will ever end up with the much fabled fifteen hour working week which is always promised when general purpose technologies get unleashed, but we can always use it to help.”

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Aren’t we on a slippery slope? Bad News Via by Robot: A California man’s family was left devastated in March after his life-threatening diagnosis was delivered to him by a doctor, via a robot. If technology is used like this to save ‘human’ time, then what are the ultimate implications for humans? “In this case and many others like it – for example, staff being made redundant by text or voice mail – humans are at the heart of these decisions for whatever reason… travel schedules, remote locations etc… It’s not tech governing us. However, that’s no different to the introduction of the telephone in the sense that new technology is always put under the spotlight and is regarded as evil when it is used in negative cases. Many people say technology is neutral, which is true in a sense – technology doesn’t have a moral compass of its own, but it does magnify the propensity for good and evil to spread.”

How do you deal with the increasing pace of life? “It has always been important for me to have a good balance in my life. You do see people in the tech world with a seventy- or eighty-hour working week. In my work as a coach, entrepreneur and author, I could work incredibly long, hard weeks, but I have made choices where I am around, pretty much, every weekend. I work from home when I am not abroad so I will work 9 to 5 and have a run during the day just to re-boot. I take twelve weeks off a year and these are my choices. We need a lot less money to survive that we think we need to survive, so often it comes down to the courage and choices that we make as humans, not just what we think the tech will allow us to do.”

NICK CHATRATH

* The quotation from Steven Pinker is taken from the book Possible Minds, edited by John Brockman.

Nick is one of the most sought-after life coaches and leadership coaches in the world. He has coached in all business functions and almost every business sector, as well as sportspeople, politicians, ambassadors, council employees, think tank leaders, military leaders, the unemployed, doctors, nurses, head teachers, school governors, NGO and other non-profit leaders and MBA students. Nick has led a AI and wearables tech startup and currently chairs two boards, including the board of governors at New Marston Primary School.

 Nick.Chatrath@artesiangroup.co.uk  07961 306 294  www.artesiangroup.co.uk www.b4-business.com

Exploring a new business territory can be challenging; full of opportunity but also risk. James Cowper Kreston’s specialist International Services Team has extensive experience in helping global businesses. We provide advice to hundreds of international groups from a large range of sectors and are a credible alternative to the larger accountancy firms, providing a premium service at regional rates. We offer invaluable support to investors and businesses wishing to move into the UK marketplace from abroad and informed advice to UK businesses expanding into Europe or beyond, whether exploring overseas markets or setting up operations or a legal entity. Our expertise in international taxation and business strategy continues to open up a wealth of new possibilities for a diverse range of clients. Wherever you are in your business lifecycle, we have the expertise and experience to advise and support you with: ■ International Audit & Assurance ■ International Tax ■ Expatriate Advisory Service ■ Global Acquisitions ■ Global Strategy and Structuring ■ Employer Assistance/Payroll ■ Outsourced Accounting Services ■ Registered Office Services ■ VAT Returns

For more information as to how we can help you, please contact our partner, James Pitt on +44 (0)1865 861166 or email jpitt@jamescowper.co.uk.

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MARK HARRIS Director Solid Structures (UK) Ltd solid-structures.com

What is your role in the business? As co-director, I identify opportunities by driving marketing initiatives along with Sean. Other duties include project delivery, workload management, Health and Safety, Company Accreditations.

What are your areas of expertise? Providing structural solutions that enhance the architectural design of a project. I enjoy heritage and restoration projects as well as contemporary modern structures. I have a very keen eye for highly detailed designs.

What do you enjoy about your work? I enjoy the variety that every project brings. Seeing a building that I was instrumental in delivering to our clients at the end of a project gives me a buzz. Every single time. I love to see the impact a good project can have on a person, a team, even a whole community.

Where were you born? Swindon.

What are your hobbies / interests? Hunting for rare and unusual antiques in the brocantes whilst on holiday in France. I am also a keen gardener and show our garden bi-annually as part of the National Garden Scheme. I have recently rejuvenated our polytunnel and hope to produce some show stoppers for the local vegetable produce show.

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? I am drawn to unusual places. I am lucky through my work I get access to vantage points not open to the public. The ones I remember include across the roofs at Blenheim Palace, above the painted ceilings of the Sheldonian theatre, in the Ashmolean Museum archives and the Christ Church dining hall roof.

BUSINESS AS A FORCE FOR GOOD

Richard Venables - VSL

Jonna Mundy - You HR Consultancy

What will be your legacy? Written by: Grant Hayward

Oxford based global brand The Myers-Briggs Company recently became a certified B-Corp; a “business as a force for good”. Some B4 members visited the company to learn more Grant Hayward -Collaborent Ltd

B-Corp ‘What will your legacy be’ promotional video

B4 seems to be attracting more responsible and purposeful companies and at the same time more existing members are shifting to embed positive social and environmental impact into their organisations. So, it’s perhaps unsurprising that many B4 members were very keen to attend this invitation-only event. Richard Rosser, who was also there said “It’s great to see so many B4 members looking at how they can improve their businesses in these ways. It’s an area of huge importance to B4 and it will only continue to grow.” Situated on the northern edge of the Oxford ring road, The Myers-Briggs Company, one of the world’s largest business psychology providers, has recently gone through a rebrand to integrate their whollyowned subsidiaries into one global company. To coincide with this, Sian Bishop, Lead Counsel, Europe, at the company said that becoming a B Corp was also an important step in their evolution as a company. She explained “As part of our certification process and subsequent global rebrand, we were able to refocus our values in the context of being a purpose-driven business”.

What is a B Corp?

What will be your legacy?

Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corps are accelerating a global culture shift to redefine success in business and build a more inclusive and sustainable economy. Companies that are certified B Corps include Abel & Cole, Divine Chocolate, Kickstarter, Oxfordshire based Ella’s Kitchen, Actimel, Triodos Bank, Ben and Jerry’s, as well as the highest scoring B Corp in the UK, ClimateCare, based in Oxford.

So, how do you measure your success in business? Is your company striving to be the best in your sector, your region or even in the world? The latest B Corp promotional campaign features an emotive video of a CEO posing for a corporate portrait, reflecting on what his legacy will be. A question for all of us perhaps; what will be your legacy? How about being the best for the world?

The view is that society’s most challenging problems cannot be solved by government and charities alone. As well as improving performance, credibility and becoming more attractive to potential and existing employees, customers and investors, companies in the B Corp community work toward reduced inequality, lower levels of poverty, a healthier environment, stronger communities, and the creation of more high quality jobs with dignity and purpose. B Corps form a community of leaders and drive a global movement of people using business as a force for good.

Penny Rinta-Suksi, Partner at Blake Morgan who was also at the event said she has raised the B Corp movement as something to consider in the firm’s own strategy, given that they want to be a profitable commercial business making a difference in our communities. Speaking about the event she said “I really enjoyed the event and liked the idea of being a ‘for profit’ organisation but also defining our purpose so that we are a force for good…. I hope that our business can move to this model in the near future and encourage other businesses to look into this too.” Being a B Corp might not be right for everyone, but the basic principles make for a sound business model and a free online assessment is available to WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

What do B4 members think? Richard Venables is director at VSL and Chair of Reciprocate, a local responsible business group hosted by Oxfordshire Community Foundation and comprising of a number of B4 members. Having attended the event, he said it was ‘‘…inspiring and good reinforcement of the direction of travel for many Reciprocate members’’. Another Reciprocate and B4 member, Jonna Mundy of You HR also shared her views; “It was invigorating to attend this event! As a business owner, I am passionate about advocating how we can all do so much more, collaboratively, for the greater good of society… after all as our strapline says “it’s all about the people”. “Being of purpose as much as being for profit is vastly becoming the mantra for those that are evolving the emerging shared economy. It’s predicted by 2020 almost 50% of consumers will be focusing their interests more around providers that are recognised as a force for good. Why wouldn’t you consider Be-Corp?”

B-Corps events at The Myers-Briggs Company

Hayley Monks - Think, Inspire & Create

Hayley Monks, MD at Think Inspire & Create was inspired herself by hearing Charmian Love speak at the event. Charmian is Co-Founder and Chair of B Lab UK, the organisation driving the growth of the B Corp movement in the UK and also an Entrepreneur In Residence at The Saïd Business School. Hayley said “It was inspiring to hear Charmian talk about B Corps and see the range and size of business that have B Corp status or are working towards it. The case studies shared, demonstrated that is possible to run and grow a business that is both socially responsible and profitable; creating enthusiasm and interest in the room.” analyse and improve your business. As a trained “B Leader”, I work with this tool whilst supporting businesses to help transform the way they operate and also encourage others to take advantage of it. You can access it at https://bimpactassessment. net. Other models are also emerging, including Blueprint For Better Business and also the locally based “Better Business” featured in previous articles on this topic, championed by Seacourt Print, a global leader in their sector and the way in which they operate.

Why should businesses embed purpose? Increasingly, evidence suggests that becoming a more purposeful business leads to better performance and greater success. At the event, Will Cleare, Head of HR, Europe, at The MyersBriggs Company, explained why his company decided to go through the process to certify and the benefits they have already reaped from doing so. He highlighted they ways in which their employees really embraced this change and that it has been a substantive development in their quest to be an impactful business.

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After the event, Sian Bishop added “Our vision is to enrich people’s understanding of themselves and others, and by doing so within the framework of the B Corp movement, we aim to inspire our employees and other stakeholders, within our community and further afield, to lead more successful, sustainable and fulfilling lives.”

So, what will be your legacy? If you would like to find out more or connect, please contact me at grant@collaborent.co.uk

As Oxfordshire Voice, driven by B4, continues to build momentum, opportunities are surfacing for businesses to take a share in the responsibility for addressing pressing local social and environmental challenges. New and creative opportunities are opening up for companies to work together and with local schools, councils, OxLEP, social enterprise and the voluntary sector to develop powerful and mutually beneficial solutions. The shift in businesses becoming more purposeful referred to earlier, as well as more interest in the subject is gathering pace and is also reflected in the speaker line up for BIO2019. You can hear more there yourself about the B Corp movement from Charmian Love, along with a number of other speakers, including me, on related topics.

    

grant@collaborent.co.uk 07768 603 312 www.collaborent.co.uk @granthayward uk.linkedin.com/in/grantjhayward

HOW THE OXFORDSHIRE SME COMMUNITY IS PULLING TOGETHER IN A PUSH FOR PROSPERITY Oxfordshire’s Growth Hub, run by OxLEP Business, is helping Oxfordshire’s SMEs face the future confidently. Written by: Rod Macrae Photography by: OxLEP Business

Laura Ridge - Positive Property Management

Marketplace Event

There’s an old saying that it takes a village to raise a child. And every parent would agree that having a helping hand can be massively beneficial. So too, in the world of Oxfordshire’s small and medium sized businesses. Big or small, SMEs cannot take on the world on their own. Helping them to connect, collaborate, learn and support each other is the role of OxLEP Business, the Growth Hub for the county.

pace right now, making innovation in commerce of greater importance than ever. For instance, one of our programmes encourages small businesses to innovate, think about new ways of doing things or develop new products and processes.”

It is managed by Helen Brind, who believes it is ideally placed to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit which fuels business. “There is no secret formula and no single way to start, develop or grow a business” Helen tells me. “But there are things many companies have in common and there are people with experience willing to share their expertise.” Helen Brind says one of the biggest advantages of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding and the work of the Growth Hub has been the opportunity to nurture SMEs and foster innovation of all kinds. “The world is changing its 70

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This is our second Marketplace event. It’s a vibrant way of getting our small businesses into one space to share so much of their enterprise, expertise and experience Helen Brind - Growth Hub

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So far, more than 250 companies have stepped forward; taking part in workshops and sought advice and guidance about innovation. I’ve been talking with Helen ahead of an event which is bringing Oxfordshire’s SMEs together. The OxLEP

Business Marketplace event on June 5th will be showcasing the extensive range of support available to small businesses which has been enabled through programmes funded by the ERDF. “This is our second Marketplace event. It’s a vibrant way of getting our small businesses into one space to share so much of their enterprise, expertise and experience.” Helen tells me. “Delegates can discover for themselves the range of products and services created in and delivered by other Oxfordshire SMEs. An event like this gives people who are too busy to look up and scan the horizon and see what else is on offer.” An exhibition area featuring businesses which have participated in the OxLEP Business programmes will be displaying samples and demonstrations. Throughout the event there will be seminars on a range of topics designed for SMEs offering information and advice.

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MORE ABOUT OxLEP Business If you’re looking to start or grow your business or if you have a new idea that you want to bring to market and would appreciate some prompt, friendly, impartial advice - please get in touch with us to discuss your options. www.oxfordshirelep.com/business Twitter @OxLEPBusiness

OxLEP Business Marketplace 9.30 am -12.30pm, 5th June Egrove Park, OX1 5NY Book now using this link: http://tiny.cc/OxLEPbusinessMARKETPLACE enquiries@oxfordshirebusinesssupport.co.uk Helen Brind Growth Hub Manager - OxLEP

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The majority of companies tell us our workshops broaden their horizons by opening them up to new ideas and giving them solid information, which can make a difference to them.

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Helen Brind - Growth Hub

Neil Haynes Luthier

A finger on the small business pulse OxLEP Business has every reason to feel it understands the health of the SME community. Since October 2016, the Growth Hub has engaged with 1,222 businesses and one of its programmes has held 98 workshops tailored for start-ups and growth-focused enterprises. “The majority of companies tell us our workshops broaden their horizons by opening them up to new ideas and giving them solid information, which can make a difference to them,” says Helen, “and our Network Navigators have so far delivered 2,200 hours of one-to-one support.” Laura Ridge used Growth Hub workshops when she was setting up and growing her rental management business. She had big corporate experience but admits that finding there was help on hand to steer her through her new company’s early days was invaluable.

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“The OxLEP Business workshops helped me to cover gaps in my own skill set. Now I use what I learned from the workshops in Positive Property Management all the time.” Neil Haynes, who makes electric guitars and guitar kits near Banbury and sells worldwide from his online site, has been planning for the next stage of his business with support from OxLEP Business. “I attended a finance workshop which gave me ideas on ways of financing my growth plans. I am also exploring how to secure tax relief on the R&D; I need to remain at the cutting edge of manufacture and engineering design.” “I have also spent time with an OxLEP Business Network Navigator. They helped me to think through some of the difficulties I face recruiting the right kind of people to make growth possible. I came away full of ideas about the way ahead.”

 enquiries@oxfordshirebusinesssupport.co.uk  www.oxfordshirelep.com/business 71

BRIAN MCGREGOR Business Development TBAT Innovation www.tbat.co.uk

What is your role in the business? TBAT is expanding into Oxfordshire. My role is to grow the business giving Oxfordshireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s innovative companies local support for financial grants and R&D tax credits.

What are your areas of expertise? Like many of us at TBAT, I also have a science and engineering background. With this knowledge we can help innovative businesses through complicated grant applications and R&D tax claims. We also support accountants with their innovative clients claims.

What do you enjoy about your work? The best part about my work is that I get to find out about amazing innovative projects happening in the UK. We have some very talented clients who are changing lives for the better. Being part of that change by helping these projects with funding is a great feeling!

Where were you born? Dunbartonshire but grew up in the Highland capital, Inverness.

What are your hobbies / interests? Interests? In addition to tech, human psychology and nutrition interest me. It amazes me how regular food can alter your mental clarity and energy levels. Hobbies? Running, cycling and DJing. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably find me playing house music this summer at a pub on the Thames in Abingdon during the weekend.

Who inspires you? I follow the work of Tony Robbins and Rob Moore. They both give a lot of great usable content through their media channels. Tony gives a great insight into what makes us do what we do and how to change it. Rob gives lots of good content for people in business through his Disruptive Entrepreneur podcast.

Achieving full potential Accomplishing and progressing

Sense of connection

Feeling secure, safe and well Air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing

Self Actualisation

Nurturing your talent as a key component of your business strategy and growth plans

Esteem

Developing, appraising, coaching and mentoring basic and advanced training needs

Social

Engaging and including all through effective communications, resolving disputes/conflict

Safety

Wellness is evaluated through effective policies, procedures and good governance

Physiological

People Management best practice infrastructure

Your Employees need You! At You HR Consultancy we are constantly exploring innovative ways to advance our HR offering to clients but sometimes continuing to apply traditional models and methods is what we need… if it isn’t broken why try and fix it? In 1943 American psychologist Abraham Maslow wrote a paper outlining five fundamental human needs. He presented them in a pyramid shape now known across the world as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. This principal can be applied to many areas of life and helps identify the motivation a person needs to succeed in life. At You HR Consultancy our service offerings capture Maslow’s needs in an employment environment and our diagram illustrates how the pyramid can be applied within your business. The pyramid works from the bottom up; without the needs at the bottom being met the individual is unable to focus on anything higher up. Therefore, a successful business ensures that the basic level needs are met.

In using the model we can see in employment terms that: Physiological needs Can be met through having a contract of employment, handbook and job description that clearly defines the expectations from both employer and employee. A place to work that is comfortable, clean and bright, with essential facilities including refreshments, possibly parking/ transportation access, ability to get a bit of ‘fresh air’ when needed, as well as receiving a regular monthly salary and the ability to utilise any other staff benefits (i.e. induction, training/onboarding, annual leave, and other statutory entitlements). The real core basic level needs in employment.

Safety needs These

can be met by having a DSE (Display Screen Equipment) compliant work station, employees feeling secure when in work and a general sense of wellness. Accessing benefits such as a pension scheme, flexible working, occupational health advice along with understanding the emphasis your business places on health, safety and compliance of good governance as a WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

dutiful employer in the working environment are vital components for an employee to feel safe and well. Employees need to feel comfortable to ‘speak up’ whenever there is a concern and feel safe in doing so without fear of reprisal. In today’s working world where working remotely (i.e. from home) is becoming more common, employers should ensure that safety needs extend to remote working, for those employees working off-site.

Social needs Having a sociable team culture is vital. Maintaining effective communication at all levels to ensure an open culture is key to successfully engaging and including all employees. Encouraging social activities inside and outside of work, including remote workers will help satisfy these needs, whether a team lunch, virtual dialling into meetings / walking meetings, wellbeing classes such as yoga, team building events and much more. So much of what can break down in the workplace centres around communication; whether a lack of it, failure to provide clarity, not dealing promptly with difficult conversations addressing miscommunications/ misunderstandings. We are, after all, only human and how we want to be treated socially and in the workplace is broadly the same.

Esteem Celebration of employee achievement is a great way to boost self esteem, loyalty, retention, motivation and a general feeling of respect. Having a robust appraisal system in place will naturally encourage employees to feel valued, to know their worth and appreciation from others in your business’s hierarchy. Appraisals can set out learning needs, levels of competence, share feedback and allow for reflection on performance, along with setting clear ‘stretched’ objectives and set out indicators to recognise exceptional performance, such as bonus schemes and/or other incentives – all being key contributors to addressing self-esteem to keep employees performing at their productive best.

Self-actualisation At the highest level of Maslow’s hierarchy is the need to fulfil what an employee desires to become. This level is often referred to as the ‘growth’ need and varies between employees and sometimes is not always completely fulfilled, though this realisation must be through self-choice and not through the employer failing

to meet the need. Employees generally want to work efficiently and know they’ve done a good job, they want to ultimately be happy and feel they have accomplished something in work-life. Most employees desire to have challenges and a desire to succeed and achieve perhaps in an area of specialism or skill. Employees needs constantly change and there are many drivers that create change in life, whether inside or outside of work. Human nature dictates that we will always desire the level above the one we are on. Recognition, praise and pay rises from previous years won’t motivate an employee for very long and the need to strive to improve will be strong in most employees. It is important to continually adapt to satisfy the need of employees, however, this in turn ultimately increases productivity so investing in your employees is of benefit to both. As time has gone by motivation has widened from the original Hierarchy of Needs but this still remains relevant and as such can help employers achieve organisational goals including improving work environments and thereby recruiting and retaining the best employees!

Need a hand to implement your employee plans? We offer a free HR Healthcheck to explore whether your Hierarchy of Needs are being met and can help make a plan for you to move forwards. We cover Transactional HR, People and Organisational Development, Organisational Change as well as Workplace Wellbeing and offer a range of services that best meet your needs. Get in touch with us to see how we can help you by emailing alice@youhr. co.uk or to book a no obligation meeting call us on 01491 820 764.

 www.youhrconsultancy.co.uk

CHRIS JONES Owner Boys and Girls Promotions boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk

What is your role in the business? Marketing and sales / business development .

What are your areas of expertise? Client relationship building.

What do you enjoy about your work? The variation of jobs – you never know what the next job will be. We have worked in Excel centre in London for Women of Silicon Roundabout (a Google event) through to private parties in wonderful locations.

What are your hobbies / interests? Football, socialising, family and music.

Do you have a favourite sports team? Arsenal and England

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? Rooftop at TVC – a lovely vibe in the summer.

What do you like about Oxfordshire? It’s home, it’s very diverse, I love the university / town contrast. It has so much to offer.

Who inspires you? Stuart Miller at ByBox – Stuart mentored me for a while and I have nothing but respect for him and all he has done in his journey. I am also a huge fan of Gary Vaynerchuk who is an entrepreneur and his mantra is about working for the long haul, not the fast buck.

Helping others? I’d like to do more to help the ethnic youth and give them a helping hand as they come through in the business world. It’s becoming increasingly important to be able to fend for yourself and be disruptive… long gone are the days of 40 year bank careers.

Edelweiss HR

We take HR Personally Our Approach Delivering business success through people solutions. Whether you are looking for assistance with policies and processes, discipline and grievance, restructures, engagement or establishing your own HR department, we can provide the expertise you need. All elements of HR covered by a qualified professional team that will provide best practice. Our approach is to understand your business first and then provide you with realistic and logical solutions to line with current employment law, to drive your commercial success. Offering the right balance amid building your employer brand, managing people risk and delivering efficient results.

What we do? We are passionate about delivering high levels of customer service to our clients and understanding their business in detail.  This will help us form strong business partnerships with our clients. We provide ad hoc HR support to companies who need help on an as required basis as well as providing outsourced HR services on a retained basis. We provide bespoke contracts of employment, employee handbooks and employment policies for companies of up to 100 employees. We support organisations with HR related projects on wide ranging issues from recruitment to redundancies. We offer professional coaching for teams and senior management.

Why us? Our Business Aim: We intend to build on our reputation as an HR team who provides an outstanding service and best practice HR support to businesses in the Cotswolds and London.

What is our USP? Being commercially aware with empathy.

HR Support and Advice What we can help you with: Employment contracts / Policies & procedures / Appraisals & performance management / Company change & restructures / Compensation & benefits / Disciplinary & grievance / Employee relations issues / Mediation & conflict resolution / On boarding / Executive Coaching / Strengthsfinders team workshops and individual coaching / Redundancy, termination, settlement WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

agreements & exit interviews / Training & development / Maternity, Paternity, Shared parental leave.

HR Consultancy

overall business performance. We’ve also designed and delivered 360 feedback tools for clients which have been used at all levels within the organisation, right up to Board level, to improve capability and performance.

We work with clients of all sizes to deliver a whole range of HR Consultancy services and tailor the support to the needs of each organisation.

Organisational change and restructuring

These services could range from developing bespoke organisation development programmes to planning and implementing restructuring exercises.  Our experience means that we’ll take the time to understand the commercial needs of each client and design a suitable programme. We’re also hands-on, so whilst we can develop strategies and plans, we can also implement them and support you through each step of the process.

General HR We implement HR processes and polices that are appropriate to our client’s business needs. We supply only what the client needs and is cost effective to give a solid structure to the needs to the business which is tailored and evolves according to the business. We give the relevant HR advise and structure to manage difficult situations, investing time together to give the correct level of support. HR Strategy: We have worked with many clients to develop a Human Resources Strategy appropriate for the size, sector and growth stage of the organisation. This helps our clients achieve their business goals by developing the appropriate HR strategies and plans to support them. Organisation Development: We have implemented a number of organisational development programmes for our clients. These have included talent management & succession plans, graduate and management development schemes and eLearning modules. These programmes have delivered significant benefits for our clients from increased employee retention to developing key skills for the business. Employee Engagement: High levels of employee engagement has been proven to increase business performance and has a direct result on the bottom line. We’ve worked with our clients to design and implement employee engagement surveys and other programmes to make real improvements to employee engagement levels. Performance Management: Improving employee performance is a key requirement for most organisations. We’ve worked with clients to design bespoke performance frameworks for their organisations which have had a direct impact on

Coaching: Our team of Executive and Senior Management Coaches work with Senior Leaders and their organisations, either face-to-face or virtually, to deliver coaching solutions resulting in real and lasting business impact. We believe passionately that great coaching is transformational for the individual as well as their organisation. Our team balance their expertise in coaching to bring their rich and varied experience to every coaching relationship.  Strengthsfinder: Strengths coaching is increasingly popular around the world as a way to accelerate learning, performance and a positive, high energy culture. Strengths coaching offers numerous benefits, including: Drives innovation and a solutions-focused culture / Boosts resilience and psychological wellbeing / Increases motivation and engagement / Improves self-awareness / Develops diverse, high trust and peak performing teams / Delivers fast results

Community Community is at the heart of what we do both as a business and in our personal lives. We are firm believers in supporting local and are members of numerous local business support groups. Together we can make a difference. Anna Gage has been on the committee of Supporting Wounded Veterans/Skiing with Heroes www. supportingwoundedveterans.com and CWMT www. cwmt.comcharities which support mental health awareness and employment for the vulnerable members of society.

 anna@edelweisshr.co.uk  01367 860310 / 07811 208323  www.edelweisshr.co.uk

L-R: Simon McConnell, Christopher Way, Kate Edwards, Julia Wilson, Lauren Surrage, Tanya Hall, Moira Anderson, Lynsey Pickett and Lorna Kadobinskyj

SIMON McCONNELL Head of Residential Agency, Carter Jonas Oxford The Spring Equinox marks a turning point in the year – and in the property cycle – providing a perfect opportunity to reflect on the market to date, while considering trends and prospects for the spring and summer months ahead. Written by: Simon McConnell Photography by: Aurelien Langlais (portrait)

I joined Carter Jonas in January. Starting a new venture is always exciting, but particularly at the beginning of a calendar year when many of us are filled with fresh energy and new momentum. My appointment followed that of Julia Wilson, who came to Carter Jonas towards the end of last year, and we have both enjoyed working with the existing team to take our business forward. This collaborative approach is vital, particularly as current market conditions can prove challenging for our residential clients, who often need greater support in teasing out market opportunities. During the second half of last year, across Oxford, many buyers and sellers adopted a wait-and-see approach to Brexit, fatigued by the political uncertainty surrounding it and how it would play out. This resulted in a decrease in the

number of transactions during the second half of 2018. While the Oxford property market has been stifled over the past few months, with a reduction in homes coming to the market, there is no doubt that good quality homes are continuing to sell across all price points. Buyers are ever primed to uncover an opportunity and, while it’s rare that sales will complete over the asking price, figures are rarely more than a couple of percentage points below the guide. Spring is thus far proving atypical, not least because market mentality was fixated on 29th March as a watershed moment. That said, there is also now a sense amongst the local market that they are tired of waiting and that the green shoots of activity are starting to emerge.

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Driven by its excellent schools and world class universities – and now its much revered occupancy on the ‘Brain Belt’ – is providing an underlying strength to house prices and helping us to weather the Brexit storm

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Surrounding stations such as Bicester Village have fast become great alternatives from an affordability perspective, particularly for those making the daily trek to the capital Simon McConnell

Inevitably, some vendors will delay on making important decisions as they await clarity over the UK’s departure from the EU, but for others, life needs to move on, and there is much pent-up demand waiting to restore the market’s balance once government gets its ducks in a row. By contrast, buyers are out in force, particularly amongst the second stepper and family demographics. Many simply need more space and to trade up in order to unlock the next phase in their life, for example, moving to a three-bed house in order to accommodate a second child, or moving to a larger property outside of the city to make the most of the fresh air and a bigger garden. Needless to say that Oxford’s enduring desirability, driven by its excellent schools and world class universities – and now its much revered occupancy on the ‘Brain Belt’ – is providing an underlying strength to house prices and helping us to weather the Brexit storm. While there are examples of price adjustments, values are largely holding steady and buyers are prepared to pay when they identify value. Of course, it’s not just the city centre or the geography within the Oxford Ring Road that attracts buyers; the new developments outside the city, in proximity to Oxford and Didcot Parkway, as well as Bicester Town and Bicester Village Stations, have sparked the interest of many. Oxford and Didcot Parkway have long been the primary choice for commuters into London each day,

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with trains taking as little as 40 minutes. However, surrounding stations such as Bicester Village have fast become great alternatives from an affordability perspective, particularly for those making the daily trek to the capital. Homes surrounding Bicester North and Bicester Village are, traditionally, less expensive compared to those in the centre of Oxford, and a season ticket is upwards of £200 less than from Oxford Station. From both of these stations, commuters can reach London Marylebone station in as little as 47 minutes. Oxford Parkway is another alternative for those on the northern fringe of the city. The extra ten minutes added to the train journey does have its benefits, with a £100 saving on an annual rail pass and a staggering £600 saving on an annual parking permit. Oxfordshire as a whole has also had to absorb a large number of new build properties, particularly in the lower to middle price ranges. The incentives being offered by developers such as part exchange and Help to Buy make these attractive propositions. Buyers are using their position to drive a hard bargain and developers are ostensibly receptive when it comes to securing a sale. Meanwhile, the rental market remains buoyant. Whilst stock levels remain roughly the same, demand appears to have grown as prospective enquiries have increased over the last few months. The in-town and city markets are performing particularly well through renewals.

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Twelve months ago, we described property market conditions as cooling, cautious and conservative. Going forward, the expectation in Oxford and the surrounding areas is that the market might be subject for a couple of months more to political uncertainty, but by the time the summer is in full bloom, optimism will prevail. As we start to see hints of sunshine, you can be certain that Oxfordshire will remain a key UK destination, thanks to its continuing appeal to businesses as a hub of innovation, its global reputation as a centre of educational excellence and the sheer beauty of its architecture and landscape. And, whatever challenges we face over the coming months, it is vital to have a good team behind you so that can traverse the current nuances of the market. If you are looking to buy, sell, let or rent a property, or would like to speak with a member of the Carter Jonas team about any of your property requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 simon.mcconnell@carterjonas.co.uk  01865 404 406  www.carterjonas.co.uk

32 CORNMARKET STREET /1-3 GEORGE STREET Oxford, OX1 3ES TO LET 3,949 sq ft Ground floor retail unit in prime Oxford City Centre location with basement storage, only 50 years from the New Theatre and central shopping areas.

NETWORK @ LINK 9 Longlands Road, Bicester, OX26 5AH TO LET 14,158 sq ft to 61,864 sq ft New warehouse and production units set within the Link 9 development which fronts onto Bicester ring road with quick access to Oxford, the A34/M40 and A43/M1.

141 PARK DRIVE EAST Milton Park, Abingdon, OX14 4SR TO LET 5,102 sq ft to 27,264 sq ft High quality, unique and flexible space for innovative companies in the science and technology sector for your new home to relocate or grow.

4630 OXFORD BUSINESS PARK Oxford, OX4 2SU TO LET 3,720 sq ft to 7,762 sq ft A two storey refurbished office building in the heart of the business park, close to the new Oxford Factory restaurant and Oxford Works business lounge.

unrivalled local and regional expertise Richard Venables rvenables@vslandp.com Tom Barton tbarton@vslandp.com Duncan May dmay@vslandp.com

news Another development set to take shape in booming Bicester “The town is at the heart of a dynamic regional economy which is being driven forward by knowledge-based industries and advanced logistics. “The Oxford-Cambridge Knowledge Arc and proposed Expressway will act as a stimulus for further significant economic growth in the area.” Bicester is expanding rapidly expanding with the town’s population set to increase from 30,000 to 50,000 by 2031 giving employers access to a local workforce.

Work is due to start on another major industrial scheme in Bicester fuelled by anticipated demand. Albion Land’s Axis J9 will be a 500,000 sq ft development featuring buildings for production, research and development and distribution. It will be situated just three miles from Junction 9 of the M40, a short distance from major housing developments and Bicester Village. Commercial property specialists VSL & Partners have been appointed to market the new scheme along with Colliers International and White Commercial. VSL director Tom Barton said: “Bicester is booming and there is a lot of interest in this new development thanks to its great location near the M40 while the rapidly expanding population will provide a local workforce for employers.

“The Oxfordshire economy is the subject of major central government investment and Axis J9 is a great example of the type of development that is to come.” Axis J9 follows on from the success of the nearby Link 9 commercial development where construction over 40 acres is continuing. Totalling 200,000 sq ft, phase one of Axis J9 will comprise five buildings ranging from 23,000 to 65,000 sq ft with construction set to start in August and completion set for April 2020. Phases two and three will offer space of up to 250,000 sq ft with smaller units ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 sq ft.

The town is a focus for development due to its excellent road and train connections coupled with the ready availability of land to accommodate infrastructure projects. A new rail connection to London and Oxford was recently opened as well as road junction improvements to the M40 and Bicester town. This has already encouraged further development including expansion of the Bicester Village retail park and a comprehensive redevelopment of the town centre. A further 10,000 homes are set to be built by 2031 with several schemes currently ongoing such as Graven Hill, the UK’s largest self-build residential project. For further information or to speak to one of the VSL experts, please call 01865 848488 or visit www.vslandp.com

Simon Parsons, director at Albion Land, said: “Bicester is now one of the most rapidly expanding distribution and manufacturing locations in the South East.

Deals...

3 Omega Southmead, Didcot, 29,770 sq ft LETTING

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4220 Nash Court Oxford Business Park, 4,885 sq ft LETTING

First Floor, Kemp House Cumnor Hill, Oxford, 9,433 sq ft LETTING

Your property Our priority. Over the past four years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won a number of national awards including Best Letting Agent in the UK.

breckon.co.uk

Consistency is key.

DARREN JEFFS Director Sandra Homewood Funerals homewoodfunerals.co.uk

What is your role in the business? We are a small company and work as a team – so everyone supports each other and we all do what we need to do. Our collective primary function is to look after families who are going through probably the most difficult time of their lives. We also work with SeeSaw supporting the young children who have suffered a bereavement.

What are your areas of expertise? Funerals are notoriously expensive and we will do our level best to make sure our clients receive the best possible service we can. We like to think we are a very honest and genuine team who go the extra mile to ensure the whole process is as emotionally and financially painless as possible

What do you enjoy about your work? Helping to guide families through the bereavement process. We make friends with a lot of our clients. We do make a difference – it’s a difficult process but we pride ourselves on making our clients as comfortable as possible throughout and eliminate the fear of what they are going through.

What are your hobbies / interests? I am keen on F1 and Classic Cars – I used to work for Jordan Grand Prix for 13 years in the pit lane. I have the truck models which we used to travel around Europe in and I used to organise everything that went in to the trucks. I once went karting with Ralf Schumacher and beat him to pole position – sadly he overtook me on the second lap and left me for dust! I also worked for Goodyear for four years and they were four ‘good years’ I can assure you! Socialising – we do like Victors in Westgate. I also love getting the Salter’s Steamer in the summer from Abingdon to Oxford.

Connecting Business. Connecting People At STL we provide IT and communications to enable your business to work better, smarter and faster in the modern workplace. We help your business stay better connected to your customers and enable your people to communicate and collaborate securely and reliably. We understand the complex challenges that the SME and enterprise market face, and how to survive and grow you must ensure operational and cost efficiencies, whilst delivering exceptional customer service. IT and communications play a pivotal role in delivering this. It’s become vital to have the right combination of connectivity and tools to better communicate and collaborate. At STL we have a set of solutions that will keep your business connected. We help you talk to your customers, plan and manage your transition to the digital workplace and smartly collaborate with your supply chain so that the engine keeps running reliably and securely. STL Communicate: Empowering your business with greater control and flexibility to drive business performance, by offering a scalable and reliable voice and mobile solution to support your future growth.

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STL Connect: Communicate and collaborate securely and reliably using fixed and mobile connectivity, cloud based platforms and advanced collaboration tools. Real time, high speed bandwidth with smarter automation for self service.

We’d love to hear from you and help you better connect your business and people through intelligent solutions for the modern workplace. Connecting Business. Connecting People.

At STL we pride ourselves “ on working with market leading partners and products to deliver the best communication solution for your business

”

STL Collaborate: Providing IT services and support customer services to ensure that your communications – the lifeblood of your business – are optimised, secure, reliable and compliant. “We put the customer first, keep it simple and make a difference together – it’s in the DNA of everything we do.”

 sales@stlcomms.com  0800 316 0123  www.stlcomms.com

30 YEARS OF SUCCESS HAS TAUGHT US… IT’S STILL ALL ABOUT PEOPLE For Oxfordshire-based managed IT services provider CIS, 2019 marks 30 years of successfully supporting local business growth and business continuity. CIS have gone from strength to strength, with up to 30% YoY growth, dozens of awards, multiple acquisitions, and a prosperous future ahead.

The secret of our strength is our mission to help customers achieve their own commercial success through building long-term, collaborative relationships with them. CIS aims to support the strategic vision of our clients with the best managed services and innovative tech solutions. We know none of this is possible without the right people. So for 30 years, we’ve always focused on our people first. We know great people create great results. When we have the best people in place, they align with our vision and the complex needs of our customers, achieving great results. Through thousands of engagements with numerous clients, we have seen clear patterns in customer satisfaction. Clients inevitably say they want an IT solutions provider to be highly effective, communicative, proactive, collaborative, flexible and value-focused – this describes our people’s characteristics perfectly.

CIS has the bonus of our leadership team being local and international technology leaders, able to impart specialist knowledge, share vast experience and innovative ideas. We have all the ingredients to keep customers at the forefront of their industries and ahead of their strongest competition.

TEAM CIS TODAY 231 combined years of experience delivering IT services to the business community of Oxford – the city, the county and beyond. Meet the team supporting business growth through applied technology innovation and a consistent focus on adding immense value.

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

Neill Lawson-Smith

Ashley Baker

Dan Hadland

Founder & Managing Director 36 Years in IT, 30 with CIS

Head of Finance 10 Years in IT, 8 with CIS

Head of Innovation 14 Years in IT, 5 with CIS

As founder, Neill is our Managing Director and our visionary. Looking out over the technology horizon, Neill focuses on making sure CIS is equipped to bring value to its clients in the long term.

Ashley came to CIS from Bridge3, one of our several acquisitions over the years. He’s responsible for all things financial and prides himself on efficiency and accuracy. “It’s simple really, if CIS pays too much, our clients have to pay more for our solutions. I take my role seriously when it comes to keeping our costs competitive. If we’re good with our spending, we can pass any savings along to our clients.”

Dan joined the CIS team in October 2013 having previously worked for Hewlett Packard and other local Oxfordshire businesses. Dan enjoys all aspects of IT but specialises in networking and virtualisation. An alumnus of the University of Portsmouth, he graduated with a 1st in Computer Network Management and Design.

His task is to prepare ahead with future technologies which will help our clients stay ahead of their competitors, improve efficiency and propel their businesses forward with the greatest IT value. Neill brings a distinguished IT background, having gained top honours at degree level in 1989, as well as over 30 years of practical IT hands-on experience to the company. As a Fellow of the British Computer Society, Chartered Engineer status, including Chartered IT Professional, Neill has skills and experience vital in the development of strategic IT plans through to full and effective implementation. Neill offers a host of ideas and solutions for companies ranging from the smallest start-ups and growing firms, through to multi-national corporations. While there have been many projects completed for larger organisations, such as Argos, British Airways, Sony Entertainment Europe, London’s prestigious Reform Club and St Paul’s Cathedral, Neill’s focus remains in developing innovative, cost-effective and reliable IT strategies for the SME. “I am truly focused on the people in our company and making them the best possible team to deliver solutions to our clients. Our company has always been about people. Our IT services are based around people and we excel at understanding our Clients as people, so we can understand their needs and exceed their expectations.” Neill is married with four children and in his leisuretime enjoys supporting a local youth orchestra and steam railways

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In addition to helping to create client value for money, Ashley is instrumental in the billing solutions we use to help CIS clients understand what they’re getting for their money. “Clients don’t just want a number on a page any more. Our clients really want to better understand their IT spend. They want to have flexibility in payment methods. Some want monthly operational expenditures, while others prefer annualized capital expenditure models, and still others need convenient leasing solutions. It’s no longer enough to just give good services and value. A company needs to make those solutions affordable and accessible.” Ashley also manages the procurement team. No matter if it’s a server for a client solution, or a license renewal a year down the line, Ashley makes sure the finance departments serves to increase client value or decrease client costs.

“We live in an exciting time. There are so many impressive technologies that’s it’s hard to identify the best ones. It’s difficult for us to vet solutions, so how much harder is it for growing SMEs to identify the most viable IT solutions and best practices. I enjoy taking the best of Enterprise IT solutions and delivering them to the SME. The role of my team is to find and validate cutting-edge solutions, and make sure our clients are empowered to quickly and easily benefit from them.” Dan is continuing his IT education, currently completing Check Point Certified Expert and VMware Certified Professional status. Dan puts all that experience and knowledge together to drive new product development and product innovation for CIS. This ensures an innovative future for CIS and our clients.

Clients inevitably say they want an IT “ solutions provider to be highly effective, communicative, proactive, collaborative, flexible and value-focused – this describes our people’s characteristics perfectly

”

Whately Hall Hotel Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 0AN 01295 253261 H6633@ACCOR.COM

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forefront of their industries and ahead of their strongest competition.

”

Matt Grantham

Michael Wellborn

Head of Operations 16 Years in IT, 11 with CIS

Head of Sales and Marketing 25 Years in IT, 1 with CIS

As the Head of Operations, it’s Matt’s responsibility to make sure each client receives the value they intended to receive by working with CIS. From the initial client analysis, to the solution architecture, to delivery of the solution, and all the way to the ongoing support, Matt directs the engineers who create that value for our clients. “Often clients who come to us have not had the level of communication they wanted. They don’t know what’s possible very often. When they see our proactive alerting systems and receive our periodic health checks, they are pleasantly surprised at the level of communication possible.”

Michael is value driven, and believes without value, there is no solution for clients. From the High-Tech industry in Silicon Valley, California, Michael brings 25 years of experience succeeding in relationship-driven, solution sales. “I try to maintain a consultative approach to client’s needs, with a focus on Time-ToValue and ROI. This is achieved through quality needs analysis and aligning a client’s needs with well-crafted solutions.”

With over a decade of experience with CIS, Matt has an unrivalled familiarity with our clients. Client familiarity and lessons learned from their implementation allows Matt and his team to better serve new clients and their unique set of needs. “Being proactive is key. Clients don’t want to call support and have an engineer tell them they should have changed something in their environment to avoid the issue they’re experiencing. The client wants us to call to warn them there’s a problem coming and hear how we’re going to fix it before it affects their company. I don’t know why more IT companies don’t operate that way.” “With more than 160 years of IT experience across the team, quality solutions for hard questions are easy to come by. We’re very collaborative in our approach. We have a lot of good ideas for clients, the trick is to work with the client to discover the one idea which will best serve their unique needs.” A specialist in the Microsoft Suite of solutions, virtualisation and Cloud solutions, Matt’s often leading the team’s work on the company’s most complex projects. Matt’s noted for his ability to design and develop solutions which incorporate a fundamental understanding of the needs and requirements of individual users, line managers, senior management and stakeholders. A key component and the foundation to having a successful technical team, is training to keep our teams up to date with the latest products.“ From cyber security to cloud, we’re continually challenging our team with the latest technical products”. Matt makes sure the CIS team are familiar with these new solutions. “The training objectives throughout the year allow us to remain one step ahead of the competition. It also allows us to remain highly effective and remain proactive in our client solutions.”

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Michael has also helped to build smaller companies into multinational market leaders and eventually an IPO. “I’ve had the good fortune of serving clients globally, with projects over most of the Americas, the UK, and much of the EU. At its core, sales is simply high quality service. It’s not my job to sell people things they don’t want or need. My job is to help clients find the value they need through creative, collaborative and quality IT solutions.” We believe our focus on people is the reason why we’ve weathered the storms, consistently achieved year-on-year growth, and have built a respected and recognised position in the business community. If you would like to discuss how CIS and our people can help you solve your own technology or business challenges, and support your growth, just get in touch. Call 01367 700555 – ask for any of the team above. Alternatively, email solutions@cisltd.com and we’ll get straight back to you.

Talk To Us For a no-obligation chat with one of our experts about your IT requirements, please get in touch.

 solutions@cisltd.com  01367 700 555  www.cisltd.com

SEAN DALY Director Solid Structures (UK) Ltd solid-structures.com

What is your role in the business? I am founder and co-director of Solid Structures. My roles are strategic business development, expanding and developing our team, and continuously developing our BIM capability through the use of the latest technology and training.

What are your areas of expertise? I excel at client engagement through clear and transparent communication. As far as engineering itself is concerned, I enjoy solving very complex geometric problems through the use of BIM modelling.

What do you enjoy about your work? My approach to structural problem solving is to really understand the structural issues through freehand sketching and then developing a solution using BIM modelling. On an interpersonal level, I enjoy employing people who shows passion and promise and then motivate them to develop them to their full potential.

Where were you born? Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire

What are your hobbies / interests? I enjoy woodland crafts and have in the last year I took a hedge laying course. I was chosen as the winner of the beginner’s pairs’ class of the North Cotswolds hedge lane competition. I also regularly do 5-a-side football training and take part in the Parkrun in Banbury.

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? Wild Thyme in Chipping Norton gets my vote for seasonal produce prepared simply but deliciously. Hook Norton, my local village also remains a firm favourite for its sense of community, the hallmark of a proper village. Oxfordshire’s narrow country lanes for getting really up close with change in seasons.

VoIP can transform the “efficiency of a business

with the functionality it brings…and many a salesperson will tell you the savings are massive Nigel Pursall - OrangeStripe Telecom

”

2025 is fast approaching for the big BT switch off… In 2025 BT will end the life of some conventional exchange lines that are still currently widely used. Hosted telecoms or our On Premise box will remove the requirement for these legacy lines, however you will still retain all your important numbers. Interviewer: Nigel Pursall Photography: Rob Scotcher

Virtually every conversation we have that relates to telecom system upgrades will result in the end user giving a brief of, “we need voice over IP”. Voice over IP is internet-based telephony where your calls in & out of the office use bandwidth on your broadband. VoIP can transform the efficiency of a business with the functionality it brings…and many a salesperson will tell you the savings are massive. The savings can be worthwhile if you choose the right type of voice over IP for your business. The buzz word for the past decade or so has been ‘Hosted’ or ‘Cloud’ telephony. Very good and very functional, however is it the right choice if you have an office of 10 or more people who aren’t necessarily all using the phone at the same time. For every user you have connected to a ‘Hosted’ system, you will pay a monthly rental, typically £10 per handset. I’ll leave you to work out the figures. An extremely popular alternative to a Hosted system is our On Premise box that will provide for up to 20, 50, 100 or even 300 users. The handsets are connected directly to the box, so no need for a

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

rental per user per month. The method of making and receiving calls is by connecting a modern version of exchange line that are shared between handset users, delivered via your broadband to the On Premise box. For 10 or so handsets you would typically need 3 maybe 4 lines at typically £10 per line. So now the question is one of cost…and again, I’ll leave you to work out the figures. What about security…? We have a very secure ‘Drop all’ firewall which resides within our On Premise box that will block anyone who isn’t a friendly IP address. So, just like Vinyl coming back with a vengeance, so has a very modern version of the telephone box on the wall. Hosted communications is effective and extremely quickly implemented if it’s the right choice for your business…but it isn’t the be all and end all. The features available whether it be Hosted or On-Premise box are very much the same. Another consideration is that you actually don’t necessarily need a desk handset, but just an App on your iOS or Android device will do the same. Over the years we have had the pleasure of working with some amazing businesses in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. Our strategic partnerships with

some of the major UK telecoms service providers empowers us to provide any solution any business is ever likely to need. We can bring a lightweight demonstration box to you to provide an overview of Hosted verses On Premise box. We will also be pleased to talk to you with a view to reducing your costs for fixed line rental, mobile SIM only, fibre to the premises broadband (subject to coverage), office Wifi coverage, and data cabling & networking. For further information please contact Nigel Pursall.

OrangeStripe Telecom  hello@orangestripe.co.uk  08008 49 43 49  orangestripe.co.uk

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INTRODUCING

Driven to be a winner and on track to succeed after his championship winning 2018 Euro Nascar debut Strangebrew’s Phil Strachan introduces us to yet another of his talented and far from bland friends. Back in 2013, Phil introduced Buckinghamshire rising star Tom Ingram to Richard Rosser and B4 following his success in winning the Ginettta GT Supercup Championship - see issue 29. Since then, Tom has gone on to secure a regular drive with Speedworks and he is still sponsored by Hansford Sensors of High Wycombe in the highly competitive British Touring Car Championship. He very quickly became a major title contender, winning the Independent Championship in both 2017 and 2018 and only very narrowly missing winning the BTCC Championship outright in 2018. Now in a works Toyota, he is certain to be a major player in 2019.

When I first met Advait Deodhar back in early 2016, it was immediately apparent to me that he shared many qualities with Tom Ingram – namely commitment, determination and professionalism combined with raw ability, sublime racecraft and the required work ethic to succeed. He struck me as a born winner, someone who was really going to go places and lead from the front and someone who would be a wonderful ambassador for any team, business, brand or individual who chose to work with and support him. From that early meeting, we have become very good friends. As I already knew from my contact with Tom, motor racing is an incredibly competitive business long before getting in a car or getting on the grid. Securing a drive, getting a seat to demonstrate your ability, can take a very long time and a lot of effort – and it can also be a very expensive business. As fans of Formula One will know, many of the drivers have to pay for their seats, for the privilege to compete. Rather than being paid to drive and winning the seat purely on the merits of ability, they pay for their right to drive – either themselves or through the sponsors and sponsorship monies they can bring to the party. Money talks and often the best and most deserving drivers miss out simply because they have not got or cannot raise the monies to fund their drives. Unfortunately, the same is true of other forms of motorsport. Advait, you were born in Mumbai and you had done very well in your early years of motor racing in India from 2012 to 2014. You had a great track record, with many podiums in all 92

categories that you competed in even though you did not start racing until you were 22 after you graduated in automotive design. So what brought you to the UK in 2015? It was quite simply the fact that the UK, and in particular the south of England, is the home of motor racing and of so many of the leading racing teams across all forms of motorsport. After a lot of hard work and a quick career progression in India, I needed to step up to the next level. It was a no brainer really and so I took a leap of faith and relocated to London on a one way ticket. I was determined to succeed and I saw this as the best way to give myself the opportunity to do so.

“

It really is very close racing on some of the most challenging and historic racetracks in Europe Advait Deodhar

”

Your chosen route to success does not follow the well trodden path through the various single seater formulas and on perhaps one day to Formula One - you are looking to go into Le Mans style endurance racing which is a very different thing indeed. That is correct. This has great appeal for me and to date my ideal route forward has been to secure a drive in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. However, this

is easier said than done, the biggest problem being funding to ‘buy’ the seat/the drive with a team either on a season long basis or on a race by race basis. I have worked very hard for three and a half years trying to raise the funds for a drive in this series but have been unsuccessful so far. I have heard that it can cost many thousands per race to buy a drive in such categories, so I totally understand the need for you to find a sponsor who could also benefit from your success and similarly from your role as an ambassador for them. Ideally, you have to be looking for a major, series-long sponsor and some secondary sponsors too – perhaps on a race by race basis. Absolutely correct – it is not a cheap game. It costs upwards of £210,000 per season to drive in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. What I really need is a sponsor/sponsors who love cars and motor racing and who believe in my ability and the exposure and return that they will get from their investment and my role as an ambassador for their business or brand. Your first competitive racing since you came to the UK at the end of 2015 was in fact the Euro Nascar Elite Club Championship in 2018 which incredibly you then proceeded to win on your debut – What else have you been doing in the intervening time to keep your hand in and to earn some money to fund your racing? I had no money when I came to the UK and over the last few years, while seeking sponsorship, I have been employed and trusted in specialist driving and instructing roles including: WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

“

What I really need is a sponsor/sponsors who love cars and motor racing and who believe in my ability and the exposure and return that they will get from their investment and my role as an ambassador for their business or brand. Advait Deodhar

”

- - Working at select events with Rolls Royce, delivering track experiences in all their cars for their Clients at Millbrook, Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit and MYRA Proving Ground. -- Working extensively with Alfa Romeo and Abarth on-track and on proving grounds in their full range of models. -- In 2016 and 2017, I worked as a racing instructor at Thruxton Motor Racing Circuit. I am also a certified BMW Performance Instructor, doing extensive work with BMW on track activities with their M range of cars and I got a job as a yacht charter & sales broker with TJB Super Yachts and have been working extremely hard on that front. I’ve been funding my racing through those earnings. Impressive – and exciting. You are clearly held in very high esteem by these quality brands. So, what does the future hold for you in racing terms? Having won the Elite Club category in my 2018 Euro Nascar debut year, I made the decision to move up to the next Elite 2 level for 2019 in the Nascar Whelen Euro Series. It is a very full 8 weekend/16 race Championship that commences in Valencia on 13/14 April and runs through to the final race in Zolder on 5/6 October. Home interest is at Brands Hatch on 1/2 June. Having been with you as one of your sponsors at the Brands Hatch weekend last year when you had your first drive in the Elite 2 Category, I can certainly vouch for the very close racing WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

that this increasingly popular Euro Nascar series delivers. Yes, it really is very close racing on some of the most challenging and historic racetracks in Europe including Hockenheim - and I am really looking forward to it. The cars are very fast and very well set up and there is a very high calibre of drivers this year – indeed, Jacques Villeneuve, the1997 Formula One World Champion, is competing in Elite 1. At this moment, I am uncertain exactly what the longer term holds for me but my first drive in the Euro Nascar 2019 Elite 2 Category is in Valencia on the weekend of 13/14 April in the Mustang of the Austrian Dexwet-DF1 Racing Team. I met Norbert and his team at Brands Hatch and they are certainly very well organised and prepare the cars very well – but my big question is how are you funding the drive at Valencia and how are you planning to fund your drives across the full season? I am still looking for sponsors large or small, ideally across the whole series or on a race by race basis just as you sponsored me last year at Brands Hatch. You know how affordable the sponsorship is with packages starting at hundreds of pounds for secondary sponsors. But it is really tough. At the moment, I am investing every penny that I have and every penny that I earn, including what I can earn from my role as a charter and sales broker with TJB Super Yachts, to try to secure drives. But it truly is a hand to mouth, race by race existence just now. I am determined to succeed and will continue my search for suitable primary and secondary sponsorship partners.

Your determination, commitment and ability are not in doubt or in short supply, Advait. What you do need though is the kind of break that Tom Ingram got when he was successful in being selected to join Speedworks and being sponsored by Hansford Sensors of High Wycombe who had the vision to see his potential and to believe in Tom and in the positive benefits they would get from sponsoring him and being associated with him. That is exactly what I need, Phil - and your support and encouragement is very much appreciated. I wish you all the very best in Euro Nascar in 2019, Advait, and I will certainly be at Brands Hatch in June to watch you compete. I have absolutely no doubt that any business, brand or individual who decides to sponsor you will be well rewarded by being associated with you and will benefit from having you as an ambassador.

ANYONE WISHING TO DISCUSS PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT BRANDS HATCH OR OTHER CIRCUITS CAN CONTACT ADVAIT DIRECTLY ON 07443 775353

 phil@strangebrew.co.uk  07770 753 975  www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk 93

JAYNE WOODLEY Chief Executive Oxfordshire Community Foundation oxfordshire.org

What is your role in the business? bringing people together to enable our common good; helping people to change their toxic relationship to money; enabling people to leave a legacy that they can be proud of - knowing they have given more than they have taken and challenging people’s perceptions about Oxfordshire, not everything is as green and wealthy as one might imagine.

What are your areas of expertise? make connections between people, Seeing the big picture and joining up the dots, understanding the power of data and evidence to enable change.

What do you enjoy about your work? To contribute to a growing movement and urgency to change society and our systems so they leave no one behind. However, am realistic and this isn’t a one woman mission here.. will only be achieved through open and collaborative partnerships, shared ambition and much more targeted focus on the priorities for change, and an absolute commitment to making a real and measurable difference to people’s lives. It’s essential we act with urgency

Where were you born? Wroughton, in Wiltshire.

What are your hobbies / interests? Yoga, travelling – love meeting different people from all around the world Gardening, cinema.

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? Pretty partial to anywhere in the Cotswolds, just love the Chocolate box perfection and designer feel to it all

What do you like about Oxfordshire? All the green spaces, and so many of the people I meet who really want to give back

THE CASE FOR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 70% of customers are lost due to EI-related reasons. 50% of the time in business is wasted through lack of trust (a key EI trait). EI is a better overall indicator of leadership performance than IQ and managerial competencies. 7% of Leadership success is due to intellect, the rest is attributed to trust, integrity, authenticity, honesty, creativity, presence and resilience (all EI attributes).

LEADERSHIP AND THE ART OF PAYING ATTENTION How many times do we hear people say “they don’t seem to be listening” or “there’s no strategy” or “do I really have to do their job for them?” It’s either happened to you or you’ve noticed it happen to someone else, maybe in those meetings where everyone declares commitment to the goal but secretly thinks “no way!” We’ve all been there and maybe you’ve witnessed it in the last 24 hours Written by: Mark Carrington

If you’re hearing any of those things, it points to some kind of performance gap at team level, business unit or in the entire organisation. It’s quietly costing time, money and quite possibly loss of credibility. The immediate point is that it’s not the hearing some of these expressions that matters, it’s the paying attention to what’s really going on and taking some action.

The Performance Gap Most businesses have a plan, some are more detailed than others, but a plan exists none-the-less. But when it comes to implementation, something fundamental seems to take hold in every case there’s a gap between what is planned and what actually happens.

are five main reasons for some kind of performance gap. The first is having an unrealistic and poorly understood plan but let’s assume you have one (although you might want to double-check). The other four reasons are people-based and relate to causes that are cultural, include attitudes and habits, are structural in terms of leadership and management practices and lastly involve the absence of the most important and effective skills. So how can we get leaders and teams to perform better?

Focus on KASH For people to perform well they need four things: Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills and Habits. In the context of leadership and management, we’re not talking about the technical knowledge, skills and habits, these are a prerequisite for executing any job well.

The gap also has a tendency to both widen and close along an implementation journey. It starts off being imperceptible but eventually shows up in a number of ways: in the performance metrics, return on investment calcs, the project reporting or just the realisation that it is beginning to take twice as long and cost twice as much (that old rule-of-thumb).

It turns out that the most effective leadership skills, the ones that make the most difference, come under the banner of Emotional Intelligence. And along with developing emotional intelligence comes the art of paying attention to both ourselves and our needs but more importantly, what is going on in others.

It’s the same for most start-ups, high growth businesses or more mature organisations and there

The good news is that it’s a largely underdeveloped resource which exists within every business because

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it’s a capacity that sits within us all. It’s a set of skills that can be developed in exactly the same way as for key account selling, customer service or people management. As a leadership capability it’s needed at all levels of the organisation from Board Chairman to CEO, across senior management or anyone representing the business on the phone, front of house or out on the road. We can measure it, help your leaders transition to new levels of performance and coach them to make positive change stick. To get some more emotional intelligence KASH into your business, give me a call on 07939 642 169. A quick chat will tell us if we should talk more. And if you need a new plan, one that everyone buys into, I have a unique visual mapping technique which brings everyone onto the same page.

MARK CARRINGTON BUILDING CONFIDENCE in PEOPLE

 mc@jmarkcarrington.co.uk  07939 642 169  https://jmarkcarrington.co.uk

HARTWELL HOUSE HOTEL

STYLISH RELAXATION Interviewer: Richard Rosser

Photography: Hartwell House

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B4 have had the pleasure of working with the impressive team at Hartwell House Hotel near Aylesbury for over seven years. We will again be visiting this wonderful Historic House Hotel on May 9th for a B4 Classic Event and if you’re not booked in, I strongly suggest you do. This is a gem, a masterpiece, effortlessly combining style and sophistication with warmth, first class hospitality and, most importantly, a smile. Although it was a pleasure to meet Adam who showed us to our room following the short trip from Oxford (25 minutes on a bad day), I wondered where Martin was, the long-standing head porter who has greeted us since we have been visiting Hartwell. “Oh he’s still with us’ said Adam with a wry smile, ‘he’ll be in tomorrow.’ Adam then informed us that we had been ‘triple-upgraded’ – I wasn’t sure if that was a high board dive but soon discovered that we had been given pride of place in room 16, right at the centre of the house. With a glorious lounge overseeing the vast grounds of Hartwell and a bedroom to match, we were certainly privileged. It was a shame we were only staying the night! But, true to form, we were up against time and made our way downstairs to the hotel bar and an aperitif in the lounge…..room after room at Hartwell is full of treasures, beautifully decorated and oozing history. Dinner and service were immaculate as ever. Tina chose the pan seared sea scallops with caramelised cauliflower puree,

a glorious lounge overseeing “theWith vast grounds of Hartwell and a

bedroom to match, we were certainly privileged. It was a shame we were only staying the night!

”

almond and golden raisin dressing, whilst I went with the smoked salmon served with traditional accompaniments. I stayed with fish for main, opting for a delicious cod dish and Tina had the roasted breast of guinea fowl, creamed potatoes, sautéed pancetta, wild mushrooms, spinach and glazed baby onions. Although dessert was looking unlikely after two amazing courses, we took a short break before tucking into caramelised pear tart tatin with vanilla ice cream. This gastronomic extravaganza was accompanied by a delightfully chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot, yellow label, an unusual choice for dinner but why not?! However, I must admit to sneaking in a cheeky glass of Gavi Di Gavi, Magda Pedrini, 2016. After a superb night’s sleep in a gargantuan and wonderfully comfortable bed, we enjoyed a light breakfast and made our way over to the spa. Tina had booked a full body massage which was much needed after a ten day stint at work, by all accounts a fantastic massage loosening up very tense shoulders. I managed to get a twenty minute run in on the treadmill followed by a relaxing swim in the impressive indoor pool. Sadly our time at Hartwell had come to an end but thank you to Christie, Adam and General Manager, Matthew Johnson, for another ten out of ten stay.

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HISTORY... Hartwell House has a remarkable history, stretching back almost a thousand years to the reign of Edward the Confessor. It has been the seat of William Peveral the natural son of William the Conqueror; of John Earl of Mortaigne who succeeded his brother Richard the Lion Heart as King of England in 1199; and of Louis XVIII, the exiled King of France who held court there from 1809 to 1814. Louis was joined at Hartwell by his Queen, Marie Josephine de Savoie, his niece the Duchesse D’Angoulême, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, his brother the Comte d’Artois, later Charles X, and Gustavus IV theexiled King of Sweden. In the 1930’s, the estate took on the appearance of a giant auction house as hordes of collectors and dealers descended on Hartwell for the 1938 sale of its contents. Those who came to view included Queen Mary and the Dukes and Duchesses of Gloucester and Kent. They brought with them a picnic lunch, which was served in the Dining Room by a body of liveried footmen. After the sale the house was purchased by millionaire recluse Ernest Cook, grandson and co-heir of the Victorian travel tycoon Thomas Cook, and subsequently vested in the Trust that bears his name. For the duration of the Second World War Hartwell served as an Army billet, a training ground for British and American troops. Later, in 1956, Hartwell was let to The House of Citizenship, a finishing school and secretarial college which remained in occupation until 1983. A fire in 1963 caused extensive damage, and destruction of much of the architectural detail inside the house. In 2008 Historic House Hotels, including Hartwell, and the interests in all its properties, were donated to the National Trust.

 info@hartwell-house.com  01296 747 444  www.hartwell-house.com

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Exeter College

Day Meeting Packages Put Cohen Quad on the Map 21st century conference facilities by Oxford University’s fourth oldest college Written by: Natasha Hawkins

Photography by: PS Unlimited and Ben Robinson

Since opening in 2017, Exeter College’s striking Cohen Quad site has impressed clients with its stunning architecture, state-of-the-art conference rooms and convenient, central location.

• • • •

WiFi access Up to three tea and coffee breaks Audio-visual facilities A delicious selection of lunch packages freshly made by a dedicated catering team

With day delegate packages starting from £60+VAT per person, Cohen Quad offers stylish meeting spaces and appetising catering all under one roof. Delegates can also enjoy the comfort and convenience of staying in one of the Cohen Quad’s 90 stylish single ensuite rooms. All bedrooms are lift accessible and many boast impressive views across the iconic Oxford skyline. Packages are inclusive of: • Hire of the award-winning 110 seat auditorium • Hire of up to two further breakout rooms WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

 conferences@exeter.ox.ac.uk  01865 279 653  www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences

TEWKESBURY PARK ‘Rooms with a view – Tewksbury Park is the ultimate hotel experience’ - writes Frank Webster Written by: Frank Webster Photography by: Tewkesbury Park Hotel

Being memorable for the right reasons is a challenge for any business in today’s competitive, constantly evolving world, but none more so than for the hospitality industry. The Romans were of course famous for creating memorable places where one could visit for pleasure, relaxation and for your overall wellbeing. These days, hotels need to be many places at once and be up to the ‘guest contentment challenge’ vis-à-vis pricing and the overall fully-integrated guest experience. And so it is to their credit that the multi-award winning independent family-owned team behind the refurbishment of Tewksbury Park, have managed to achieve the perfect modern-day equivalent; the ultimate pamper and leisure package (with obligatory Spa treatment rooms), and the added promise of truly great food, (this being clearly central to the hotel’s offering), as well as a notable and genuine wish to offer ‘the perfect stay’. The food menu was distinctly different and thoughtful, with a focus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients - the result was delicious and deceptively filling.

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Having undergone major refurbishment, this Four Star, 93 bedroom ‘pet-friendly’ hotel, originally extended from an 18th century manor house, is set high on a hill, providing stunning views overlooking the Cotswolds, Malverns and the historic town of

Tewksbury Park, “have managed to achieve the perfect modern-day equivalent; the ultimate pamper and leisure package

”

Tewkesbury with its magnificent Abbey and also offers the perfect photo opportunity later in the day for amazing, dramatic sunsets. In addition, the 6,533 yard Par 73 Tewksbury Park Golf Course offers additional relaxation (or a good

walk spoiled) with its numerous challenges, including veteran oaks which guard a number of the holes. The hotel is located on the edge of Tewkesbury, which might not be the wealthiest town in the Cotswolds, but it’s certainly not lacking charm, character and beauty, and is just a few minutes off the M5 at junction 9, within an hour of Birmingham and Bristol, also reachable via train, the nearest station is Ashchurch, just three miles away. A truly outstanding modern hotel experience requires a scrupulous focus on amenities, placemaking and a lifestyle experience – you want a comfy night’s sleep, great locally sourced seasonal food and affordable beverages, and for those who cant be without it, no-messing-around quality wifi. Tewksbury Park’s brand flows through its interior designed colour schemes adding a feeling of elegance yet calm sumptuousness, with additional nice touches in the Historic Suite’s that include DAB radio, Nespresso machines and fresh Cotteswolds Dairy milk.

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A truly outstanding “ hotel experience requires a scrupulous focus on amenities, placemaking and a lifestyle experience

” IN A NUTSHELL A wonderful hotel that rises to the occasion offering a truly hotel experience; beautifully decorated with comfy beds, gorgeous views, great facilities, incredible food and friendly staff - what’s not to like?

   

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enquiries@tewkesburypark.co.uk +44 (0)1684 272 300 www.tewkesburypark.co.uk @tewkesburypark

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MICHAEL PAWLEY Managing Director Proficio proficiosolutions.co.uk

What is your role in the business? Founder and dDrector.

What are your areas of expertise? Working with small to medium sized businesses with a really good understanding of what makes their numbers tick and with a real emphasis on looking forward rather than backwards. Combine that with my law background – which I read at Bristol – and I have a really good understanding of legal issues and numbers, a good combination. So I often get involved in legal documents / contracts.

What do you enjoy about your work? The sheer variety, face to face time with people and whilst we could do what we virtually, I always prefer to go to client’s premises and work from there. My measure of success as an outside FD is ‘do I get invited to the Christmas Party’?! Clients have ranged from lawyers to football agents to staffing agents. All of my clients tend to be people businesses and that’s where I get my buzz.

Where were you born? Pinner in Middlesex.

What are your hobbies / interests? Rugby has been a constant throughout my life – played at school (Merchant Taylors, Northwood in Middlesex), played a bit at University and then really more involved as a spectator until I got into coaching at Andover Rugby Club in 2002. Dan is my eldest son and played at Andover. I coached and referred until 2014 – got my badges and loved it. I have been a Harlequins season ticket holder throughout – that eats up a lot of our time (my wife and I). We go all over the UK and follow them abroad when we get the chance! I love reading also and good food and wine.

Do you have a favourite sports team? Harlequins RFC.

Who inspires you? Ian Robertson – very knowledgeable and so well respected throughout rugby.

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news Looking for an opportunity to get involved supporting a local charity? Headway Oxfordshire, a charity that supports hundreds of people every year who have acquired brain injury within the Oxfordshire community, are encouraging individuals and local businesses to show their support by fundraising and choosing them as “Charity of the Year” for their 30th anniversary. Step into Summer – 6-mile Sponsored Walk If you prefer your feet down on the ground, get your colleagues, friends and family together and take part in Step into Summer 2019 on Sunday 23rd June, and join us on a 6-mile sponsored walk around scenic Oxford. Passing some of the most iconic landmarks in Oxford, such as Bodleian Library, Carfax Tower, University Parks, Broad Street and Magdalen bridge. include two-course carvery dinner, prize-giving and evening comedy entertainment.

Skydive for Headway Join our team of 15 and take to the skies on Saturday 18th May! Have you ever wanted to jump out a plane? Well now is your chance to do just that, whilst raising vital funds to support those affected by brain injury.

Sponsorship opportunities are available, and we would love to hear from you to discuss the various options. Auction and raffle prizes are greatly received.

Golf places and local sponsorship opportunities This year, our annual charity golf day takes place on Friday 27th September, entering our 8th year! Join us for a fantastic day of golf and comedy. Tickets include 18-holes of golf, light lunch, a delicious twocourse carvery dinner, charity auction and evening comedy entertainment, hosted by none other than Comedian, Aaron James.

Bring the fun inside your office – Hats for Headway Day Hats for Headway Day on Friday 24th May is taking place during Action for Brain Injury Week, commencing 20th May, and is a great opportunity for businesses, schools, colleges and universities across Oxfordshire to get involved, to have a fun day, and at the same time, highlighting the importance of wearing a cycle helmet. The format of the day is very simple! Wear your favourite hat – the funnier the better – for a day and donate £2 to Headway Oxfordshire in return.

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Aaron is a professional host and comic with an amazing back catalogue of high level national and international sporting events and television appearances - including Premier League Football, Golf days for Aston Martin, Porsche and more, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, C4 Big Breakfast, Only Fools & Horses and on radio shows on Radio 2, Talksport and 5 live. To find out more, visit www. aaronjamescomedian.co.uk/. There will also be a charity auction, raffle and golf prizes to be won. For the first time at our annual charity golf day, we will be opening the evening event so that you can invite guests. There are a limited number of tickets available, so please get back to us as soon as possible should you wish to share the fun with your partner or friends. Tickets for the evening event

Oxford Half Marathon Places Get your running gear on and join #teamHWO! Have you ever wanted to run a half marathon? Well now is your chance to do just that. The Oxford Half is returning on the Sunday 13th October 2019, and you could be joining the Headway Oxfordshire team. We have 7 places left!

For individual or group bookings/ sponsorship enquiries, please contact Sharelle Holdsworth. To find out more about Headway Oxfordshire, visit our website www.headwayoxford.org.uk.

 events@headway-oxford.org.uk  01865 670 541  www.headwayoxford.org.uk

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PENNY RINTA-SUKSI Partner Blake Morgan LLP blakemorgan.co.uk

What is your role in the business? Commercial Partner. Client Partner to key accounts. Lead the local government sector team in England. Also a NonExecutive Director at the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

What are your areas of expertise? Commercial advice and contracts; franchising; partnering and joint-venturing; corporate governance; EU procurement projects for local authorities, education providers, utility companies and public sector; and local authority leisure projects.

What do you enjoy about your work? The wide variety of work that I do in different sectors; helping fantastic clients find solutions to achieve important outcomes. Developing a highly capable team at various stages in their career, whilst developing myself in the process. Being part of an evolving firm that is transforming into an even better business. The autonomy and business support that I have.

Where were you born? Kent.

What are your hobbies / interests? Skiing is my passion. I also enjoy cycling, running, circuit training, walking and being outdoors - preferably with my family. I am very sociable but I also enjoy reading and listening to music and audiobooks.

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? The Chilterns and the copses near where I live in South Oxfordshire. The most beautiful countryside you can find, and so accessible and unspoilt. We also have a great variety of pubs nearby, which we enjoy frequenting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one need never get thirsty!

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Does diet support mental wellbeing? Written by: Helen Money

In the past few years employee mental wellbeing has come to the fore. Companies are starting to acknowledge mental illness and their role in supporting employees. From nine years experience of running workplace wellbeing talks and workshops, up until a couple of years ago I had never been asked to speak on mental wellbeing. However looking back over the last two years over eighty percent of the companies that have invited me in have asked for a mental wellbeing element to be included and many for this to be the sole focus. Can diet support mental wellbeing? It certainly can, from taking away the symptoms of vitamin and mineral deficiency and blood sugar fluctuations that overlay and exasperate the side effects of mental illness through to having a significant reduction in symptoms. Companies can support employees by providing information on how diet can affect mental wellbeing and creating an environment that makes it easy for people to make healthy food choices. Mental wellbeing covers a wide range of conditions from bi polar and schizophrenia through to dementia and Alzheimer’s. However it is stress and depression that from my experience is the main focus of companies. Despite the attention grabbing headlines that occur in the media and adverts that flash up on the internet, there is no one ‘superfood’ that prevents mental illness. However, research does show that diet quality does make a difference with Mediterean style diets high in fruit, vegetables and oily fish being supportive and diets high in sugar and saturated fat, termed ‘cafetiere’ or ‘western’ style being detrimental. Choosing complex carbohydrates over simple sugars stabilises blood sugar levels and reduces the extremes that are felt from that conquer the WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

world at double speed feeling just after having a big chunk of cake to that lack of energy and irritable feeling an hour later when blood sugar levels have dropped. Carbohydrates also play an important role in increasing serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter that contributes to the feeling of happiness and the target of some anti depressant medication. Other nutrients thought to be influential in depression are omega 3 and vitamin D. Research suggests that supplementing with omega 3 (EPA and DHA) can

“

Supporting employees by providing information and increasing awareness of the link between diet and mental wellbeing is important

”

reduce the symptoms of depression and also vitamin D. The B vitamin complex supports the nervous system and again are linked to mental wellbeing. For example one of the symptoms of Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency is anxiety and deficiency of vitamin B12 has been linked to depression. Gut bacteria is a very hot topic in nutritional science at the moment and amongst other things there is now strong evidence that gut bacteria can influence the brain - from neurological diseases through to mental illness. Researchers at Oxford University are currently looking at the impact of probiotics (fibre that provides the feed for good bacteria to thrive) on anxiety and depression. Some of this work is currently being displayed in a special exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, ‘Bacteria World’.

Supporting employees by providing information and increasing awareness of the link between diet and mental wellbeing is important but how easy is it for employees to implement that in the working environment? Environment has become an area of emphasis for Public Health England in the reduction of chronic disease as it has been recognised that whilst many people may know what they should be eating, actually doing it is much more difficult. This also applies to mental wellbeing. And where a person may blame themselves for being weak, it is often actually very difficult to make the healthy choice for various reasons such as availability or powerful marketing messages. Making the healthy choice becomes even harder when suffering from stress as hunger increases along with cravings for carbohydrates; especially sugar. Companies should consider not only what foods they offer to employees within the working environment but also how it is displayed. Helen Money Nutrition offers a range of workplace wellbeing services to educate and enthuse employees to make healthy food choices. From short talks that include quick, easy and practical meal and snack ideas through to full day events including 1:1 sessions, workshops and tastings.

 helen@helenmoneynutrition.com  07961 394201  www.helenmoneynutrition.com

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CSR Stands for ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ and is a mechanism for businesses to consider their impact on society and put responsible, ethical processes in place to support individuals, the local community and the environment.

A Company that Cares

Improving your Company’s CSR Written by: Darren Aston

Improving your company’s CSR can be highly beneficial for any size business. Becoming a company that cares not only improves your feel good factor, it is also an important part of building trust with your employees and customers as well as improving your competitive advantage and raising your brand awareness. Here are some suggestions on how you can improve your company’s CSR:

1. Pilot Begreen B2P Rollerball Pen Recycled Bottle to pen! When a water bottle becomes the body of a retractable roller ball gel pen! These pens take eco to the next level! (Pk10) Black 143672

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2. Silvine A4 Everyday FSC® Notebooks Originated from sustainable forests certifi ed by the FSC® organisation. These notebooks are 100% post consumer recycled paper. (Pk5) 793044

3. Silvine A4+ Notebook Carbon Neutral The emissions from the paper manufacture and distribution of Silvine Carbon Neutral notebooks are completely off set by planting woodland in the UK. (Pk5) 15339

4. Cambridge A5+ Recycled Notebooks For the environmentally conscious, the notebooks feature a fresh green look and has 70gsm recycled paper. (Pk3) 283129

5. Pukka Pad A4+ Recycled Notebook Wirebound Combine quality with eco-friendly credentials with these notepads manufactured from sustainable sources. 80gsm recycled paper. (Pk3) 507877

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Even if your business is small, you can still make changes to improve your CSR. Not every change needs to be drastic. Sometimes the simplest changes can have the biggest impact. Simple steps such as choosing to source from companies that have a CSR policy, buying recycled paper and sustainable products, sponsoring local events or putting volunteers forwards to support local causes can help improve the external perception of your business and your company’s CSR.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint Look to introduce energy conservation and waste reduction processes in your workplace. Introduce recycling schemes and dedicate an enthusiastic employee as your environmental champion. Consider your products and supply chain from every angle. Are you efficient? Are you buying sustainably? Look into options for offsetting your carbon pollution. Switch your power provider to a company that is investing in renewable energy sources.

Become More Active With Your Local Community Develop a positive relationship with your local community. Look for opportunities to support or sponsor local events and activities. Ask your employees for recommendations for charities to support that are close to their hearts. Ensure you are supporting the local business community wherever possible. Give employees set days to volunteer for local charities or run volunteering days as team building exercises. WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

6. RCPLA 7oz Clear Water Cups This plant-based water cooler style cup is made from renewable, lower carbon, recycled materials. Unlike its plastic counterparts, these dispoable cups can be commercially composted with food waste. (Pk100) 163143

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7. Kraft DoubleWall PLA Paper Cups TThis recyclable cup is ideal for all hot drinks and soup on the go! It is made from two layers of sustainable board with a plant-based PLA lining and can be commercially composted with food waste (Pk25) 8oz 164313 / 12oz 165549

8. Kraft Hot Cup PLA Plastic Lids Designed to fi t the cups, this hot cup lid is made from plant-based CPLA, which is 67% lower in carbon than plastic. They’re heat resistant up to 85°C, with a tight fi t and sleek design and compostable with food waste (Pk50) 8oz 166777 / 12oz 167921

9. Natural Birchwood Cultery This range of natural cutlery is made from sustainably sourced birchwood and is 100% compostable and biodegradable. It looks attractive and doesn’t split or splinter. (Pk100) Knives 169037 / Forks 170160 / Spoons 139576 / Tea Spoons 140675

10. 5 Star™ Eco Copier Paper Recycled

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Buy More Sustainably Sustainable purchasing is one of the most common areas that will be used to evaluate how responsible your business is. From fair trade coffee to recyclable cups and paper, choosing the most sustainable products available will show your partners that you’ve made socially responsible choices and that you take your CSR duties seriously. Encourage employees to use less plastic and introduce recyclable alternatives in the office. These small changes make a big statement.

Innovate Ask your employees to make recommendations on how you can improve your CSR. If you are able to empower your employees to make decisions on improving your company’s CSR, they will be able to identify areas of improvement that you may not have considered. Help to drive the change through the business with a sense of ownership. Consider setting up a committee who meet regularly to discuss improvements they can make in their area of the business.

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the changes are seen as a positive culture change and a shift towards more modern working practices and sustainability. This culture change can only be led from the front and filtered down through the business.

11. EcoSort™ Recycling System The perfect choice to promote recycling around your offi ce. They are manufactured in the UK, come with colour coded lids and designed to fit into tight and narrow spaces. Check out the full range on our website. Grey Maxi Bin 70L 557604 / Green Mixed Recycling Lid 100637

Shout It From The Rooftops 11. Be sure you’re telling everyone about all this amazing work you’re doing! Ensure your logo appears at every local event you support or sponsor. Publish regular press releases and good news stories around the work your business is doing in the community or for charity. Publish your CSR policy on your website and make it visible. Include highlights of your CSR commitments in proposals to new customers and write regular newsletters to your current customers talking about all the great work you’re undertaking.

Everything for the Workplace

Lead From The Front It’s important that changes to a company’s CSR are driven from the very heart of the business, that

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

 sales@aston-james.co.uk  01993 706 900  www.aston-james.co.uk 107

KIERAN GRIEVES Sales Manager Hawkwell House Hotel hawkwellhouse.co.uk

What is your role in the business? To promote the hotel facilities and services to the local Oxford market, building contacts and enhancing guest experience.

What are your areas of expertise? Networking, tele sales, event coordination, team management, hospitality.

What do you enjoy about your work? I love meeting people and working in a hotel gives me the opportunity to meet new people every day. I’m passionate about putting the guest experience at the heart of decisions and the same ethos is shared with my colleagues at work. Common goals!

Where were you born? Sunderland.

What are your hobbies / interests? I like running but need to do more! I like football, Sunderland but they need to win more, I like reading and listening to music – a bit of a film buff but sadly one of my best hobbies is working at the hotel.

Do you have a favourite sports team? Sunderland AFC, always great crack and you never know what you’re going to get!

Where is your favourite place(s) in Oxfordshire and why? I’m new to the area but there are a few places I’ve visited that have blown me a away: Ashmolean museum – think it’s an incredible collection of curiosities and well set out. Thame, gorgeous village. Wallingford, as above. Abingdon, looks like there’s a few good pubs around. The walk long the river from Iffley into the city

What do you like about Oxfordshire? I love that everything happened here, historically. We’re in the heart of history. I also really like the scenery, diversity of the people and how close we are to other areas which have been so far away growing up – bath, south wales, Bristol etc

HAWKWELL HOUSE OXFORD

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DAVID RUDGE

LIGHT FRAME DESIGNS

I’ve never been particularly good at sitting still for long so it wasn’t long before I decided I needed something practical to keep the boredom at bay. I found different ways to pass the hours, from sketching to needlepoint but on a dull Thursday afternoon, I began working on a Batman silhouette picture which I later decided to back light within a frame. The rest, as they say, is history. Numerous designs followed, most of which were given to friends or family for gifts, however the following Christmas I decided to sell my wares at our local Christmas market. That Christmas was the first taste of the potential the frames had. From the market stall and the subsequent commissions and orders, I took over £1000. It was in that moment, I found myself feeling rather grateful for that haemorrhage! At the time I was working in the care industry, meaning my business had to fit into the few part time hours available. However, the business continued to flourish with the Christmas seasons being my busiest. This balancing act worked well for the first two years, but in January 2018 I made the decision to make DR Light Frame designs, my full-time job. In Spring of that year, a friend informed me of the Blenheim WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

Palace start up competition for local entrepreneurs. I was sure my fledgling business wouldn’t meet the grade for such a competition but, deciding I had nothing to lose, I entered. A few tense weeks passed before I was informed I had made the final 8. The subsequent, somewhat nerve-wracking presentation in front of the panel and the fellow competitors was something I shall never forget and an experience I felt very privileged to be a part of. Being chosen as a Blenheim Palace start up finalist was the boost I needed at a time when I really didn’t know just how viable my business was. It also gave me the confidence to apply for other big events across the country and take my art further afield.

“

The last 14 months have been a learning curve which continues to throw me from pillar to post at times, but I simply love what I do

”

In November 2018 I spent 4 busy days selling my frames at the ‘Simply Christmas’ exhibition in Birmingham, I also had a shop at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials as well as at many local craft markets and fairs. This year has started with many more exciting events in the diary, with Countryfile Live in August; Comicon, London in May; Country Living Magazine’s Christmas fair later in the year and of course numerous local craft events. I

have also recently been accepted as a regular art trader at Covent Garden’s prestigious Market, which has already proved to be a wonderful opportunity for the business and something I am enjoying thoroughly. With many more exciting ventures in the pipeline, I’m very much looking forward to what lies ahead. The last 14 months have been a learning curve which continues to throw me from pillar to post at times, but I simply love what I do. I have had the pleasure of creating over 400 commissioned frames over the years and the uniqueness of every frame is something very special. From family pets to beloved cars; I really have seen it all. So, what else is there left to say but, thank you brain. That little kick you gave me all those years ago has led me on an awfully big adventure

DAVID RUDGE

Lying on a hospital bed whilst in immense pain and feeling untold terror, seems like a very unlikely place for a new business venture to stem from doesn’t it? But the brain haemorrhage I suffered in November 2014 was the spark that lit this little venture of mine. Haemorrhage recover time involves sitting, a lot of sitting!

FRAME DESIGNS

 www.drlightframedesigns.co.uk  07814 142 658 / 01993 898 084  drlightframes 

daveslightframes

109

Ushering in Banality 1988. Polychromed wood. 96.5 x 157.5 x 76.2 cm. Edition 1 of an edition of 3 plus AP. Private Collection.

MODERN ART Written by: Matt Smart matt.smart@mail.com

PR Photography by: David Fisher

We live in a delightful 16th century farmhouse. The doorbell rings and the mood changes. We have had a sound sensitive light system installed, and a delivery has turned the room orange. In the family none of our voices sound like a doorbell, so I wonder if the robotics think that we are in a fit of pique. If you are looking for a word to rhyme with ‘orange’, a lighting-mood robot might tell you that it is “ding dong”.

companies and leaders - is cultural and emotional power. Throughout history this is shown through civilisations, and business titans’ collections. Art is a mood adjuster and communicator. Like a cheerful or powerful song, good art (that is well conceived and produced) can change a viewer’s emotions, just as “mood lighting” does. Careful art choices show social and intellectual capital, magnifying your mission and ethos.

Art’s main functions, at home and in business, are mood and communication. It has investment value, yet the successful artist creates with the same intent as an inventor creating a new technology: to achieve or solve or share something they think is important. Investment in products will support the product’s concepts and sustain the company - or studio which makes it. Investment in artworks for financial return has similar risks to investing in technology companies. The greatest gains come with novelty’s risk: will the concept prove itself in the market?

Art’s greatest investment proposition – for companies and leaders - is cultural and emotional power

Art’s greatest investment proposition – for 110

“

”

World-leading sculptor Jeff Koons is in exhibition at the Ashmolean. The Ashmolean is an historic museum, which rarely exhibits Western modern art. Koons is a superb choice, not only for international inclusivity and monumental sculptural quality, but because it is rare that one artist conveys so many of the benefits of modern art. Koons’ pieces are

extravagantly loud, yet highly subtle. Koons is among the most successful living artists, in recognition and financially. His father was a successful designer, using colours and forms to shape the mood of a room – which means the mood of people experiencing the room. Koons is acutely aware of art’s power over emotions. Art has fashions. Since the early 20th century, in many art movements, ‘Thought’ was everything. From cubism and Duchamp’s ‘readymades’, to abstract expressionism, into Brit Art, “concept” outshone visual beauty. Curators and critics have often been suspicious of anything that looks good, because an attractive piece may lack depth. Henri Matisse was, and is, often considered unengaging in the art world, because he refused to express intellectually, and instead focussed on celebrating beauty. Koons too has been reviled in art circles because his work has aesthetic merit. It has deep content, but some artworld voices find the concepts too metaphorical to grasp or believe, such as the notions of developmental attraction in Koon’s

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One Ball Total Equilibrium Tank (Spalding Dr. J 241 Series) 1985. Glass, steel, sodium chloride reagent, distilled water, one basketball. 164.5 x 78.1 x 33.7 cm. Edition 2 of an edition of 2. Collection of BZ + Michael Schwartz, New York.

Jeef Koons with Seated Ballerina 2010–15 Mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent colour coating. 210.8 x 113.5 x 199.8 cm. Artist’s proof of an edition of 3 plus AP. Collection of the artist.

Antiquity 2 (Dots) 2009–12. Oil on canvas. 259.1 x 350.5 cm. Collection of the artist.

Gazing Ball (Silenus with Baby Dionysus) 2013. Plaster and glass. 202.2 x 86.4 x 85.4 cm. Artist’s proof of an edition of 3 plus AP. Collection of the artist

Artwork by Matt Smart from the Chromantics exhibition

balloon pieces. Among Koons’ many works on display at the Ashmolean, perhaps the closest to what postmodernism has considered worthy is the water-suspended basketball (‘One Ball Total Equilibrium Tank’), because it is more conceptual than aesthetic.

of 50 artists in “a celebration of the colourful”. The purpose: to convey beauty, desire and wonder.

communication: aesthetics and message, desire and identity. If you are interested in how art is moving, Oxford provides an intercontinental masterclass. Happy viewing.

After a century of concept-led movements, the art world is now starting to welcome beauty. Global markets and big art buyers include nations whose intellectual and wealthy moguls care little for British or American post-modern irony or socio-political observation. Tomorrow’s passionate works about intellectual issues will need to accept a shift toward technique and beauty. Koons excels at both, to convey concepts. When I ran a gallery I realised that, if art is visually appealing, the public listens. This combination of beauty and concept is a way to view Koon’s significance now. Few artists do it consciously and successfully. Also focused on aesthetics to engage content, “Chromantics” is an Oxfordshire-based exhibition

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

“La Grande Fracture” is a forthcoming exhibition in Paris, building on the 2018 OVADA exhibition “The Great Divide”. Curator Tommy Watkins established galleries and collectives in New York before moving to Oxford. “La Grande Fracture” shows visually gripping works based on bold concepts, with potent content being prerequisite.

Exhibitions: “Jeff Koons”, Ashmolean Museum, until 9th June 2019. “Chromantics”, Cornerstone Gallery, Didcot, 3-28 April 2019. “The Great Divide” (“La Grande Fracture”), Paris.

It is a collaboration of Paris gallery associations and over 60 artists from 4 continents, including many respected rising street artists who have shown in London and overseas major cities. In these two exhibitions, some artists tick both boxes, like Jeff does. We can be excited and proud that Oxfordshire has this timely concentration of outstanding quality, highly relevant modern art. This is not just great art. It is what art is about. From the business perspective, art’s strength is cultural and emotional

 www.ashmolean.org  MattSmart.org 111

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THE CHERWELL BOATHOUSE The Cherwell Boathouse is an iconic restaurant and punt station close to the centre Oxford. Established in 1904 and it has been a family run for over 50 years as a working Boathouse and restaurant with over 80 handmade punts in the water.

The well known restaurant is open all year round, serving modern English food with a European influence. Head chef Paul Bell produces seasonal menus, using local suppliers where possible. There is a set menu from £29.75 for three courses, currently items featured include Roast rump of lamb flageolet purée with purple sprouting broccoli and salsa verde or Smoked haddock with tagliatelle fennel, samphire and langoustine bisque. Desserts are a highlight featuring Black currant éclair with Bramley apple compote and lemon thyme ice cream or Chocolate arctic roll with orange marmalade and toasted almond crumb. There is also a simpler midweek lunch offering at £14.50 for two course. All this can be enjoyed on the Al fresco decking during the Summer months, watching the river activity of expert and novice punters and the river wild life overseen with friendly and attentive service in a relaxed environment. The restaurant also has a superlative wine list that has won awards from the Good food Guide and Imbibe magazine. For the wine lover, our reputation is first WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

and foremost for outstanding value for money. The list has a high proportion of famous producers and is exceptional for its rare wines and older vintages. The list is managed by restaurant manager and sommelier Brice Guibert who is always pleased to offer advice and help.

trailing fingers in the silky water, admiring the wildlife, picnicking on a river bank, dropping in at the Vicky Arms or drifting downstream past the University parks. The punting season is mid March to mid October open ten am till dusk.

The Marquee on the terrace overlooking the river is a wonderful places to celebrate all types of occasion. We can cater for corporate days out , functions and parties with conference facilities and the option of punting alongside. The Marquee can accommodate groups from 25- 125 guests in a variety of formats from informal to 3 course sit down meals and incorporating music and dancing. The seasonal Teahut café opens from mid-April to mid-September offering a lower price point and more immediate and accessible fayre for those who have come to punt and not necessarily to dine. Punting can be the perfect occasion for families, groups, romantic couples, it is a truly timeless, slightly eccentric, quintessentially Oxford, idyllic pleasure: sailing leisurely upstream or down river,

 info@cherwellboathouse.co.uk  01865 552 746 Restaurant 01865 515 978 Punts

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LOCAL, FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT. At Berry Recruitment we take pride in our work and in combining candidates with exactly the right temporary and permanent client opportunities. We are committed to fair and sustainable working practices and treating our staff, clients, agency workers and suppliers with the utmost respect. Above all we take pleasure in achieving success and providing a professional, friendly and innovative service which truly beneﬁts our customers.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO SERVICE.

Whether a requirement is large or small, last minute or pre-planned, our experienced team works in partnership with many businesses across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties to provide a completely consultative and results driven service. Every request will receive our full attention and we will liaise closely with you to agree the right course of action. We will then commit ourselves to achieving successful recruitment outcomes time and time again. Furthermore our team are always on hand to advise: perhaps in relation to a particular requirement or perhaps more general recruitment matters such as salary benchmarking or the latest legal developments.

OUR VALUES.

Our values have served us well thus far and we have attained excellent customer satisfaction scores for a number of years and can refer to a growing list of private and public sector clients.

VALUING OUR STAFF PROFESSIONALISM INTEGRITY INNOVATION QUALITY OF SERVICE

If you’d like to ﬁnd out more about our credentials over coffee and croissants, please get in contact, we’d love to hear from you:

COMBINING TALENT WITH OPPORTUNITY. WWW.BERRYRECRUITMENT.CO.UK

01865 777733 oxford@berryrecruitment.co.uk Find us on:

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ADVICE.......................................................................................................115 BUSINESS SERVICES...............................................................................117 CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES..................................................119 EDUCATION........................................................................................119 FINANCE....................................................................................................119 HEALTH & LEISURE...............................................................................121

ADVICE ACCOUNTING Wenn Townsend P Tony Haines Partner 01865 559 900 OXON www.wenntownsend.co.uk James Cowper Kreston P 01189 590 261 OXON www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk Andy Cowie B Marketing & Business Development Director Sue Staunton PC Partner & Head of Technology James Pitt P Partner

Wellers P Debbie Austin Partner 0333 241 6000 OXON www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

Grant Thornton UK LLP P 01865 799 899 OXON www.grant-thornton.co.uk Wendy Hart Managing Partner Jim Rogers Assurance Partner 01189 559 114 BERKS Chapman, Robinson PBC & Moore Accountants Tony Hobbs Managing Director 01865 379 272 OXON www.crmoxford.co.uk The MGroup Partnership G Ian Walker Business Development and Corporate Finance 01865 552 925 OXON www.theMgroup.co.uk

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Whitley Stimpson Ltd G 01494 448 122 BUCKS www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Jonathan Walton Director Stuart Haigh Director 01869 252 151 OXON Critchleys 01865 261 100 OXON www.critchleys.co.uk

B4 Board

Forty3 Consulting 07980 898 834 OXON www.forty3consulting.co.uk

Collaborent BC Grant Hayward Founder & Director 01865 881 047 OXON www.collaborent.co.uk

That Oxford Girl www.thatoxfordgirl.com

Ridgefield Consulting 01865 245 511 OXON www.ridgefieldconsulting.co.uk

BUSINESS ADVICE James White PNBC Sales Success James White Managing Director 0800 046 1651 OXON www.jameswhite.business

Oxford Professional C Consulting Alison Haill Founder & Owner 01865 436 791 OXON www.oxfordprofessionalconsulting.com Sandler Training C Anneli Thomson Managing Director 01608 611 211 OXON www.oxford.sandler.com

Artesian Transformational G Leadership Ltd Nick Chatrath Managing Director 07961 306 294 www.artesiangroup.co.uk Lucy Tulloch Coaching C Lucy Tulloch Owner 07810 205 781 OXON www.lucytullochcoaching.co.uk

NXT Board

Two One Services C Zena Kennedy Owner 07730 927 888 OXON www.facebook.com/twooneservices

CMC Partners 01844 319 286 OXON www.cmc-partners.co.uk

Richardsons Accountants 01844 261 155 OXON www.richardsons-group.co.uk

FC Webster Consulting BC Frank Webster Director uk.linkedin.com/in/ frank-webster-1735238

PSI Consultants 07548 248 948 OXON paulinejsiddons@gmail.com

Auditel 01865 582 888 OXON www.auditel.co.uk

B4 Connector

HR..................................................................................................................121 IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS............................................................121 MANUFACTURING................................................................................121 MARKETING & DESIGN..........................................................................122 PROPERTY & BUILDING.........................................................................122 R&R..........................................................................................................123

Libreea 01183 800 856 OXON www.libreea.co.uk

Seymour Taylor 01494 552 125 BUCKS www.stca.co.uk

Connecting to Excellence Diane Wilkinson Managing Director 01865 430 470 OXON www.dianewilkinson.co.uk

Explosive Learning C Solutions Cath Convery Learning Lead 01235 861 805 OXON www.explosivelearningsolutions.com Endeavour Consulting 07711 825 005 OXON www.endeavour-consulting.co.uk

Mark Carrington 07939 642 169 www.jmarkcarrington.co.uk Vistage International C (UK) Ltd Peter Collins Group Chairman 01489 770 200 www.vistage.co.uk Exalta 01803 712 411 www.exalta.co.uk ANPR Consulting C Helen Joy Director 07434 962 871 www.anprconsulting.co.uk Highfield Business Associates Martin Gubb mgubb@btinternet.com

LEGAL Penningtons Manches LLP P Richard Smith Partner 01865 722 106 OXON www.penningtons.co.uk Hedges Law PB Nicola Poole Managing Director 01491 839 839 OXON www.hedgeslaw.co.uk

Leading Edge Coaching 01488 638 119 OXON www.leadingedgecoaching.co.uk

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ROOFTOP RESTAURANT The Rooftop Restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a business lunch, afternoon tea or a pre-theatre set meal.

OPENING HOURS Mon‒Wed, 10AM‒4.30PM Thu‒Sat, 10AM‒10PM Sun, 10AM‒4.30PM T 01865 514751 ashmolean.org/cafe-and-restaurant

PickMeUp - Advert - B4 Magazine - 194mm x 136.5mm - Feb2019 - PRINT with bleed.pdf 1 20/02/2019 10:37:13

CMY

Contacts Freeths LLP P 01865 781 000 OXON www.freeths.co.uk Sarah Foster C Managing Partner Mark Emery C Partner Rebecca Howlett C Commercial & IP Partner Stuart Elliston CB Principal Manager, Business Development Isabel Protheroe N Legal Assistant

Gardner Leader LLP G Derek Rogers Managing Partner 01635 508 080 BERKS www.gardner-leader.co.uk Knights G 01865 811 700 OXON www.knightsplc.com Philip Marsh C Oxford Office Leader Victoria Marcham C Business Development Manager Blake Morgan LLP G Stephen Schneider Senior Associate 01865 248 607 OXON www.blakemorgan.co.uk Everyman Legal C James Hunt Owner 0845 868 0960 OXON www.everymanlegal.com Boardman, Hawkins & Osborne LLP 07867 334 231 OXON www.bholegal.co.uk Brethertons 01869 252 161 OXON www.brethertons.co.uk Lewis Silkin 0207 0748 494 OXON www.lewissilkin.com David Parry C Employment Law David Parry Owner 01993 848 247 OXON www.parryemploymentlaw.com

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Blandy & Blandy 0118 951 6800 BERKS www.blandy.co.uk

Moorcrofts LLP 01628 4700004 www.moorcrofts.com Addis Law C Sally Addis Director 01865 339 457 OXON www.addislaw.co.uk

John Randle Associates 01865 339 319 OXON www.johnrandleassociates.com

BUSINESS SERVICES ARCHIVE & STORAGE Oxford Duplication Centre CB Cheryl-Lee Foulsham Business Manager 01865 457 000 OXON www.theduplicationcentre.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Aston & James Office PCB Supplies Ltd Darren Aston Director 01993 706 900 OXON www.aston-james.co.uk CRS Document Solutions 01235 555 531 OXON www.copyrightsystems.co.uk ForPOS 01865 820 925 OXON www.forpos.co.uk

B4 Oxfordshire Community Foundation B Jayne Woodley CEO 01865 798 666 OXON www.oxfordshire.org

Bicester Vision GC Graeme Laws Partnership Manager 01868 324 244 OXON www.bicestervision.co.uk

Headway Oxfordshire C Jamie Miller CEO 01865 326 263 OXON www.headway-oxford.org.uk

Oxford Direct Services G Ajud Mohammed Marketing & Brand Manager 01865 335 400 OXON www.bicestervision.co.uk

Blue Skye Thinking 01242 262 731 OXON www.blueskyethinking.org

NETWORKING GROUPS

CLEANING SERVICES Oxford CleanTech Ltd Jose Gouveia Managing Director 01865 596 105 OXON www.oxfordct.co.uk

Excel Dry Cleaners 01865 511 773 OXON www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk WH Mobile Valeting 07979 480 886 OXON www.whvaleting.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Oxford City Council P Samuel Kabiswa Principal Regeneration & Economic Development Officer 01865 249 811 OXON www.oxford.gov.uk Oxfordshire County P Council Bev Hindle Strategic Director for Communities 01865 792 422 OXON www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

CHARITIES Sobell House GCB Tim Wraith Corporate Partnerships Manager 01865 857 067 OXON www.sobellhouse.org Helen & Douglas House C Lucy Walker Community Fundraising Manager 01865 799 150 OXON www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

OxfordshireLEP P 01865 261 433 OXON www.oxfordshirelep.com Nigel Tipple Chief Executive Richard Byard Director of Business Development Sebastian Johnson B Head of Innovation & Inward Investment Rob Panting CN Communications Manager

B4 PBN Richard Rosser CEO 01865 742 211 OXON www.b4-business.com Lorna Waterfield B Production Manager NXT PBN Edward Rosser Founder 01865 742 211 OXON www.b4-nxt.com Emma Davis N Marketing Executive

Opendoorz 07818 453 105 OXON www.opendoorz.biz Natural Netwalking 01491 833 222 OXON www.naturalnetwalking.co.uk Business Buzz C Katrina Sargent Co-Founder & Regional Lead 0844 358 5800 OXON www.business-buzz.org

TRANSPORT Oxford Bus Company PB Phil Southall Managing Director 01865 785 400 OXON ww.oxfordbus.co.uk Findlay Chauffeurs G Claire Hickson Managing Director 0845 644 7099 OXON www.findlaycs.com London Oxford Airport 01865 290 710 OXON www.londonoxfordairport.com

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Pyjama Day

Friday 21 June Bed socks

Wear your sleepwear all day at work to support us during Children.s Hospice Week

Night cap

Raising vital funds to help local ter inall ill children graphic design | web design | digital marketing video & photography | marketing campaigns | events

Onesie Chill out in yo ur py

like Alexanda an jamas all day d Helen & DouglasJackson at House

Download your fundraising pack online today

Donate £2 to wear your pyjamas all day at work

01993 885122 hello@adsoxford.co.uk The Planing Shed, Blenheim Palace Sawmills Combe, Oxfordshire OX29 8ET

Slippers

Find out more at www.hdh.org.uk or call 01865 799166 #HDHPyjamaDay2019

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Registered charity: 1085951

Find your

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HAMPTONS INSPIRED RESTAURANT AND BAR

Opened in May 2018, our restaurant and bar takes pride of place on the beautiful garden terrace of the Westgate centre in the heart of the historic city. With a 50 cover terrace with views of the famous spires of Oxford, the venue boasts some of the best views of the city. Serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails daily, our Oxford restaurant is looking forward to welcoming you!

University of Oxford venue for any occasion

Conference Oxford Call 01865 276190 or email enquiries@conference-oxford.ox.ac.uk www.conference-oxford.com

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Photos: Chris Andrews Publications, Oxford University Images / Bodleian Libraries

WWW.VICTORS.CO.UK 307 THE WESTGATE, QUEEN STREET, OXFORD, OX1 1PG

01865 689 064

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EAT

CELEBRATE

Contacts TRANSLATION Conversis Craig Harrison Managing Director 07956 170 682 OXON www.conversis.com

TRAVEL City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager 01865 790 522 OXON www.citysightseeingoxford.com Not Just Travel C Sian Pages Franchisee 0800 530 0621 OXON www.notjusttravel.com

ASSISTANTS Admin Support And Solutions 0330 333 5111 www.adminsupportandsolutions.co.uk

CONFERENCE EVENTS & VENUES CATERING SERVICES

Bombay Sapphire Distillery Amy Dobson G Sales and Marketing Manager 01256 890 090 BERKS distillery.bombaysapphire.com Venue Services, Bodleian Library G 01865 277 224 OXON www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Alice Ogilvie C Head of Venue Services Kate Del Nevo C Facilities & Events Officer Saïd Business School G Martin Garside Conference Manager 01865 422 757 OXON www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing Horticulture House GC Anne Clark Director of HR 0333 003 3550 OXON www.horticulturehouse.co.uk

Tewkesbury Park Hotel 01684 272 311 www.tewkesburypark.co.uk

Oxford Fine Dining 01865 728 240 OXON www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

Pembroke College 01865 276 484 OXON www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences

Blenheim Palace P Hospitality 01993 813 874 OXON www.blenheimpalace.com /hospitality

Whately Hall 01295 253 261 OXON www.accorhotels.com

Dominic Hare B Chief Executive Officer

Events @ Ashmolean 01865 610 406 OXON www.ashmolean.org /venue-hire

Stephanie Duncan C Head of Marketing

Wendy Ball B Head of Events

Rhodes House P Isabelle Barber Business Development Manager 01865 282 599 OXON www.rhodeshouseoxford.com Cumberland Lodge GC Daren Bowyer Chief Operating Officer 01784 432 316 www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk

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The King’s Centre C Sue Edridge Customer Relations & Marketing Manager 01865 297 400 OXON www.kingscentre.co.uk Oxford Town Hall 01865 252 195 OXON www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk Oxford University Event Venues 01865 276 905 OXON www.venues.ox.ac.uk Hartwell House Hotel 01296 747 444 BUCKS www.hartwell-house.com

EQUIPMENT HIRE Moonlite Productions P Tom Rowlands Head of Business and Production Manager 01296 488 900 OXON www.moonlite.co.uk

EDUCATION Activate Learning P Bernard Grenville-Jones Group Executive Director 0800 612 6008 www.activatelearning.ac.uk Oxford Brookes University, Business School Giles Orr Head of CPD 01865 485 858 OXON www.brookes.ac.uk/business

Abingdon & Witney College 01235 216 394 OXON www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk Cherwell College 01862 242 670 www.cherwell-college.co.uk

FINANCE FINANCIAL ADVICE

Howbery Business Park 01491 822 305 OXON www.howberypark.com

Lamb Catering 01865 511 995 OXON www.lambcatering.co.uk

CONFERENCE VENUES

Oxford Event Hire 01865 760 158 OXON www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk Oxford Marquees 01865 373 173 OXON www.oxfordmarquees.co.uk

EVENT PLANNING Tina Rosser Event Solutions 07824 154 642 OXON

EVENTS Business in Oxford 2019 P 01865 742 211 OXON www.businessinoxford.com Oxfordshire Business Awards www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk

Marie Giraud CN Events Sales and Communications Manager

West Oxfordshire Business Awards 01993 220 690 OXON www.woba.org.uk

Conference Oxford C Marie O’Connor Head 01865 287 378 OXON www.conference-oxford.com

Cowley Road Works 07816 681 704 OXON www.cowleyroadworks.org

Exeter College 01865 279 600 OXON www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences

Boys and Girls Promotions 01865 595 707 OXON www.boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk

EVENT RESOURCES

Cazenove Capital P Management Tom Allen Head of Oxford Office 01865 811 360 OXON www.cazenovecapital.com Cashflow Creators BC Ian Roberts Owner 01865 920 581 OXON www.facebook.com/ cashflowcreators ArchOver 020 3021 8100 OXON www.archover.com Proficio Solutions Limited Michael Pawley C Director 07795 180 795 www.proficiosolutions.co.uk Optimum Wealth Management 01865 511 098 www.optimumwealthmanagement.com TBAT Innovation 01332 819 740 www.tbat.co.uk Gener8 Finance 03331 218 888 www.gener8finance.com

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WH MOBILE VA L E T I N G W W W.W H VA L E T I N G . C O . U K T: 01865 378904 / 07979 480886 E: waynehedgeruk@aol.com

VA L E T

Oxford Hop On - Hop Off

SERVICE • Mini Valet £40 to £60 • Standard Valet £70 to £90 • Full Valet £90 to £150 • Ultimate Valet £140 to £200 • Interior Valet £60 to £80 • Exterior Valet £40 to £70 • Machine Polish £100 to £150 • Deodorise £40 to £70 • Car Protection £80 to £100 • Clay bar Treatment £40 to £60 • Convertible Roof Clean & Protect £30 to £100 • Headlight Restoration £60 to £100

City & University Tour City and Un tour inclu iversity des walking to a free ur

For further details and prices visit www.citysightseeingoxford.com 01865 790522

“Stress-free ordering process, service was second to none, equipment is high standard & you can return dirty! I have no problem recommending OEH”

MEETING ROOM / STUDIO / GYM & FULL DAY TRAINING COURSES

01865 760 158 hello@oxfordeventhire.co.uk www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk

Contacts INSURANCE

WELLBEING

FOCUS Oxford Risk P Management Ltd Nick Jones Managing Director 01865 953 111 OXON www.focusorm.co.uk

Helen Money Nutrition Helen Money GC Owner 01865 339 672 OXON www.helenmoneynutrition.com

Spencer Insurance C Jo Spencer Owner 01235 868 535 www.spencerinsurance.co.uk

BANKING Barclays Corporate Banking P Trevor French Head of Business and Corporate Banking 0800 015 4242 OXON www.barclayscorporate.com NatWest C Howard Feather Business Growth Enabler 01865 305 175 OXON www.natwest.com Metro Bank Oxford C Grant Shergold Local Business Manager 07855 097 403 wwww.metrobankonline.co.uk

HEALTH & LEISURE FITNESS Optimum Body 07703 484 063 OXON www.obsportsmassage.com

HEALTH CARE Tara Tripp Hearing Care G Vincent Tripp Practice Manager 01865 910 202 OXON www.tripphearing.co.uk

FUNERAL HOMES Sandra Homewood Funerals 01869 208 000 OXON www.homewoodfunerals.co.uk

SPORT Frilford Heath Golf Club P Alistair Booth Director 01865 390 864 OXON www.frilfordheath.co.uk

HR HR CONSULTANTS You HR PBC Jonna Mundy Owner 07703 719 464 www.youhrconsultancy.co.uk Think Inspire and Create Hayley Monks G Managing Director 0844 414 6056 OXON www.thinkinspireandcreate.com Meraki HR 01280 848 415 www.merakihr.com Edelweiss HR 01367 860310 www.edelweisshr.co.uk SYLO Associates 01844 216 290 www.sylo-associates.co.uk

RECRUITMENT

B4 WEB IT & TELECOMMS TELECOMMUNICATIONS STL Communications Ltd G Nina Lees 01993 777 113 OXON www.stlcomms.com Orange Stripe Telecommunications 0845 241 7772 OXON www.orangestripe.co.uk 45G 01865 686 172 OXON www.45g.co.uk

IT SERVICES InTouch CRM P Matthew Ruddle Lead Nurturing Expert 0333 200 7273 www.intouchcrm.co.uk

Computing Information P Systems (CIS) Ltd 01367 700 555 OXON www.cisltd.com Michael Wellborn C Manager of Sales & Marketing Neill Lawson-Smith B Managing Director

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Digital Aid Consulting P Stuart Gibson Digital Strategy Consultant & Founder 07788 446 259 www.digitalaidconsulting.com Alberon C Tim Ault Managing Director 01865 263 220 OXON www.alberon.co.uk WebBoutiques Ltd C Ed Hollingshead Co-Founder 01865 883 852 OXON www.webboutiques.co.uk Garbott Ltd 01865 689 798 OXON www.garbott.co.uk

XIST2 01993 835 117 OXON www.xist2.com

MANUFACTURING Unipart PB Frank Nigriello Director of Corporate Affairs 01865 383 339 OXON www.unipart.com

Global CTS GBC Helen Fallon Director 01235 209 154 OXON www.globalcts.co.uk

CQR Consulting G Simon Glover Operations Manager 01865 987 182 www.cqr.com

Owen Mumford P 01993 812 021 OXON www.owenmumford.com

Sue Rees Associates Ltd 01865 292 141 OXON www.suerees.co.uk

Databasix 07777 610 900 OXON www.dbxuk.com

Gavin Jones B Group Finance Director

The Career Boutique B Katherine Betram Founder 0845 520 4010 OXON www.thecareerboutique.com

Bongo IT C Andrew Elder Marketing Director 01865 988 217 OXON www.bongoit.co.uk

A R Hine Associates C Alan Hine Owner 01865 339 313 OXON www.alanhine.co.uk

IMEurope Ltd 01993 866 166 OXON www.imeurope.co.uk

Thompson & Terry Recruitment 01235 797 177 OXON www.thompsonandterry.co.uk

Jarl Severn B Director

G-Smatt Europe GB Orhan Ertughrul Executive Vice President 01865 688 228 OXON www.g-smatteurope.com

MARKETING & DESIGN ADVERTISING

claireLOGIC 01865 989144 OXON www.clairelogic.net

B4 Magazine PB Richard Rosser Managing Director 01865 742 211 OXON www.b4-business.com

Oxford City FC 01865 744 493 OXON www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

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Contacts CORPORATE IDENTITY Recognition Express P Andy Olejnik Managing Director 01295 257 611 OXON www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk Strangebrew PBC Phil Strachan Director 07770 753 975 BERKS www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk Brand New Dawn 01865 400 640 OXON www.brandnewdawn.com

Marketing Sense 01865 883 579 OXON www.marketing-sense.co.uk ADS C Mandy Biddle Business Development Manager 01993 885 125 OXON www.adsoxford.co.uk OJI Marketing 07463 994 834 OXON www.ojimarketing.co.uk Juicy Designs 07500 291400 www.see-blue.co.uk

Warpline 01235 841 503 www.warplinefilms.co.uk

PRINTING Carbon Colour 01235 438 938 OXON www.carbon.co.uk Minuteman Press 01865 247 010 OXON www.oxford.minutemanpress.co.uk Fine Print 01993 777 450 OXON www.fineprint.co.uk

Harvey Fuchs Consulting 07887 998 601 OXON www.harveyfuchs.com

SEEBLUE 01367 820 929 OXON www.juicy-designs.com

Seacourt Ltd 01865 770 140 OXON www.seacourt.net

DESIGN

MEDIA/DIGITAL MARKETING

PUBLIC RELATIONS

House on the Hill P Keith Simpson Senior Designer 01865 742 211 OXON www.hothdesign.co.uk

Imageworks 01865 865 656 OXON www.imageworks.co.uk

Build Your Brand Story 07850 198 681 OXON www.buildyourbrandstory.com

Zanzi Digital 01865 595 260 OXON www.zanzidigital.co.uk

Cerub PR 01494 461 784 OXON www.cerubpr.co.uk

Indulge Media C Paul Wood Managing Director 01865 686 093 OXON www.indulgemedia.com

Papa Romeo PR BC Claire Thompson Managing Director 07811 339 577 OXON www.paparomeopr.com

Brown Creative 01235 762 297 www.browncreative.co.uk

FRAMING Isis Creative Framing G John Brooks Owner 01865 203 420 OXON www.isiscreative.co.uk

MARKETING Forty3 Consulting G David Greenaway Sales Consultant & Coach 07980 898834 www.forty3consulting.co.uk Brand Asylum C Andrew Hancock Creative Director 1235 828 508 OXON www.brandasylum.co.uk Ellard Outloud 07812 587 224 OXON www.ellardoutloud.co.uk B Engaging 01993 775 490 OXON www.bengaging.co.uk Heart of Business C Jackie Jarvis Owner 07801 293 022 OXON

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PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY Studio8 P Clark Wiseman Managing Director 01865 842 525 OXON www.studio-8.co.uk Oxford House Ltd CN Frederick Jewson DOP 7817 395 660 OXON www.frederickjewson.co.uk The Plastic Goldfish Company C Chaz Snell Commercial Photographer 01865 809 449 OXON www.plasticgoldfish.co.uk Glue Films 01235 819 187 OXON www.gluefilms.co.uk Digital Gold HQ 01235 819 187 OXON www.digitalgoldhq.com

Spacecraft Consulting C Olivia Lane-Nott Director 07968 081 128 OXON www.spacecraftconsulting.com Big Foot Communications C Emma Gascoigne Communications Consultant 07968 081 128 OXON www.linkedin.com/company /big-foot-communications Coconut PR 01491 821 630 www.coconutpr.com Fabulous PR 01844 281746 www.fabulouspr.co.uk

MARKET RESEARCH

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTURE Gray Baynes + Shew 01865 305 130 OXON www.gbsarchitects.co.uk Adrian James Architects 01865 203 267 OXON www.adrianjames.com

BUSINESS PARKS & OFFICE SPACE Oxford Innovation PB Jo Stevens Managing Director 01865 811 191 OXON www.oxin.co.uk Arlington (Oxford Business Park) Daniel Williams Development Director 0118 370 3065 www.arlington.com

Boston House 01235 772 992 www.bostonhouse.co.uk Begbroke Science Park 01865 283 700 OXON www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk Harwell Campus 01235 250 091 OXON www.harwellcampus.com

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS VSL and Partners PBC Richard Venables Director 01865 848 488 OXON www.vslandp.com Carter Jonas P Scott Harkness Partner 01865 511 444 OXON www.carterjonas.co.uk Lambert Smith Hampton G Simon Butler Associate Director 01865 587 713 OXON www.lsh.co.uk

Nielsen 01865 742 742 OXON www.nielsen.com

WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

B4 Bracknell Enterprise & Innovation Hub Shelley Furey G Centre Manager 01344 388 000 BERKS www.bracknell-hub.co.uk Digitizelectric 01865 517 018 BERKS www.digitizelectric.com

ESTATE AGENTS Breckon & Breckon P Keith Stacey Managing Director 01865 244 735 OXON www.breckon.co.uk CherryPicked Residential 01865 339 546 OXON www.cherrypickedresidential.co.uk Wallers Estate Agents 01865 435 175 OXON www.wallersestateagents.com

LETTING AGENTS

Solid Structures 01608 690 858 OXON www.solid-structures.com

Milton Hill House 01235 831 474 OXON www.miltonoxfordshire.co.uk

Tap Social 01865 236 330 OXON www.tapsocialmovement.com

Mulholland Landscape Consultants C David Mulholland Director 07734 253 579 OXON www.mulhollandconsultants.co.uk

Hawkwell House 01865 749 988 OXON www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

Ashmolean Rooftop Restaurant 01865 553 823 OXON www.benugo.com/restaurants/ rooftop-restaurant

PMS Oxford 01865 407 554 OXON www.pmsoxford.co.uk

PROPERTY SERVICES Bicester Roofing G Michael Staniford Managing Director 0870 264 6454 OXON www.bicesterroofing.co.uk Darke & Taylor Ltd G Simon Newton Managing Director 01865 290 000 OXON www.darkeandtaylor.co.uk Marriotts Chartered Surveyors 01865 316 311 OXON www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

Breckon & Breckon PB Greg Barnes Director 01865 201 111 OXON www.breckon.co.uk

JT Interiors 01993 700 515 OXON www.jtiuk.com

Finders Keepers 01865 302347 OXON www.finders.co.uk

Headington Carriers 01993 811276 www.headingtoncarriers.co.uk

College and County 01865 722 722 OXON www.collegeandcounty.biz Righton Group Limited 01865 311 696 OXON www.rightonstay.co.uk

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS COEL P Dan Brown Director 01865 986 822 OXON www.coel.uk.com Kempton Carr Croft G Rob Kerrigan Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer 01628 771 221 BERKS www.kemptoncarr.co.uk Ridge and Partners LLP 01993 815 101 OXON www.ridge.co.uk WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

R&R ACCOMMODATION Macdonald Randolph Hotel Les Wood PC General Manager 844 879 9132 OXON www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk Jurys Inn Oxford P Julia Cook Director of Sales 0203 564 5225 OXON www.jurysinns.com/hotels/oxford Marriott Courtyard Oxford South 07741 910 400 OXON www.marriott.co.uk/hotels Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon 01235 553 456 OXON www.oxfordabingdonhotel.com

Conifers Guest House 01865 763 055 OXON www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk Mercure Oxford Eastgate Hotel 01865 248 332 OXON www.accorhotels.com

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Monocom G Andra Pirvu Project Manager 01865 826552 OXON www.monocom.com Sam Strange Magic G Sam Strange Owner 01865 742 211 OXON www.samstrangemagic.co.uk Oxford Castle & Prison 01865 260 666 OXON www.oxfordcastleandprison.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES PoppyRed Cake Company 07493 081 012 OXON www.poppyredcakecompany.co.uk

The Cherwell Boathouse 01865 552 746 OXON www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk

SHOPPING Westgate Shopping Centre Brendan Hattam P General Manager 01865 263 600 OXON www.westgateoxford.co.uk Neve’s Bees C Julie Macken Deputy Queen Bee https://nevesbees.co.uk OXC 07837 244 826 OXON www.oxcuk.com D.R Light Frame Designs 01993 898 084 OXON www.drlightframedesigns.co.uk Alexandra Roman 01295 721 629 OXON www.alexandraroman.co.uk Kathryn Croxson 07437 378 542 OXON www.kathryncroxson.com

Neve’s Bees 07891 633 356 OXON www.nevesbees.co.uk TOAD 01865 767 918 OXON www.spiritoftoad.com Chadlington Brewery 07967 210 151 OXON www.chadlingtonbrewery.com

RESTAURANTS Victors Oxford 01865 689 064 www.victors.co.uk Pizza Pilgrims C Gavin Smith Operations Director 01865 808 030 OXON www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk

B4 is designed by ON THE

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SERVICES

HILL

01865 742211 / hothdesign.co.uk

© Designs-on Ltd and B4 Magazine. Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure that the content of this publication is accurate and correct in every way, the publishers cannot be held responsible or liable for any inaccuracies or errors within the publication. Information reproduced from this publication is permitted with the express permission of the publisher and the advertiser, where relevant. All information is correct at time of going to press.

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