22 minute read
B4 Member News
B4 COMMUNITY NEWS
BH&O: more support for our community
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The lawyers and team at specialist family law firm Boardman Hawkins & Osborne LLP are taking part in the Great Legal Bake-off. This is a nationally organised event, raising much needed funds for free legal advice charities.
BH&O believe that everyone in our society should have access to legal advice where possible, and the legal aid cuts from a few years ago have made this more and more difficult. As a result, legal advice charities are struggling in an environment of more cuts, against a background of greater demand.
The team at BH&O recently took part in the Oxford Legal Walk, and this will be the second year they have taken part in the Great Legal Bake-off. Their event is taking place at their Abingdon based offices on Wednesday 12th February when they will be selling cakes and bakes for two local charities; Abingdon Citizens Advice and Flag DV (a legal advice charity operating across the Thames Valley offering advice to the victims of domestic abuse).
Partner Ruth Hawkins confirms “This marks the firm’s strong commitment to supporting our local community, and to giving something back.”
The MGroup Partnership - more ACCA success
The MGroup Partnership are celebrating success as five members of the team recently passed their final ACCA exams to become qualified accountants. Since joining the firm, Ben Kinchin, Alice Nelson, Ollie Squire, Rob Chowne and Jordan Lyne have been working hard in their studies to obtain the professional qualification. It is a fantastic achievement as a firm to have such a high success rate and to watch them develop into valuable members of the team.
www.themgroup.co.uk
Blenheim 7k 19th April
4 miles on wheels and 1 mile junior races Blenheim Palace provides the stunning setting for this family-friendly event, sponsored by Freeths Solicitors and the Oxford Business Park. You can run, jog or walk the spectacular route around the grounds and with a junior 1 mile event for under 15s and 4 miles
Run for fun, or bring a team and fundraise for your favourite charity. Great for a workplace challenge. All finishers receive a medal. Trophies for individual winners as well as teams.
Entry fee for the run includes entry to the palace park grounds.
For more information see: www.blenheim7k.co.uk
Bicester Hotel and Spa
This April, Bicester Hotel and Spa will bring a high-end, sports performance gym to Oxfordshire. As well as a Performance Gym there will also be a 200m Swimming Lake, outdoor Grass Running Circuit and Assault Course. The Performance Gym will be equipped with premium Matrix equipment appealing to training enthusiasts, amateur sports people, professional athletes and teams looking for a facility which can be used for elite sports performance training.
Unique to Oxfordshire, thisstate mof the art new facility will provide an inspiring space for people training for triathlons, Iron Man events, Powerlifting and Olympic Weightlifting to name a few. With the Assault Course offering a great area for team building and Tough Mudder practice.
As well as swimming, the 200m Lake will be open to Paddle-boarding and other water sports.
To celebrate the opening, Bicester Health Club is offering three months free to the first 100 new members to sign-up.
www.bicesterhotelgolfandspa.com
The CBA team is delighted to announce that the tickets are now on sale for the 9th Cherwell Business Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner, taking place on Friday 15th May 2020 at the stunning Heythrop Park, Enstone.
The Awards span all business sizes and sectors, new and long-established, as well as recognising innovation and sustainability and with 9 award categories, there is something for everyone!
Last year, more than 260 guests enjoyed a fantastic evening celebrating the hard work, success and entrepreneurship of business people within Cherwell district. During the evening guests enjoyed a drinks reception and 3-course dinner, with a band and photo-booth adding a real sense of fun and celebration to the night.
This year, the event promises to be just as fabulous, so if you would like to be part of the 2020 celebrations, tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite at a cost of £85 per person. You can buy them individually, or full tables can be booked for 10/12 people.
www.cherwellbusinessawards.co.uk
Local dignitaries, including David Johnston, OBE, MP for Wantage, and Vale of the White Horse Councillor Bethia Thomas, attended the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the new Zeus building at Harwell Campus. Zeus is the first in a new collection of multi-occupier hybrid buildings.
Having won the project through an Architect competition, Allies and Morrison has worked to create a welldesigned and efficient building that will sit both elegantly and sensitively in its natural environment. Providing high-quality yet functional space, the thoughtful design aims to retain the cluster of trees on the plot.
Named after one of the 14 experimental nuclear reactors (now decommissioned), built and located at Harwell in the 1950/1960s, Zeus is a speculative development for science, technology and engineering organisations. With the requirement for this type of hybrid space in the UK increasing Zeus has seen high levels of demand.
Zeus will complete in September 2020, with Barnwood Construction appointed as the main contractor.
www.harwellcampus.com
Getting Business People Walking and Talking Together
Natural Netwalking is on a mission to #getbusinesspeoplewalking, enjoying the benefits of fresh air and exercise whilst doing business. It is known as the healthier way to Network.
With a successful first year, testing the concept and gaining a positive reaction from the Oxfordshire business community, Natural Netwalking is set to expand. Companies, as well as, individuals are supporting this initiative with Mark Barclay, Hedges Law and MD2MD recently joining as members.
www.naturalnetwalking.co.uk/ membership-sponsorship Natural Netwalking are now building a team of Netwalk Leaders and have created a win-win business model that enables Leaders to own a Netwalk within the brand and link together to offer more Netwalking Benefits for members.
Interested? Join one of our monthly Netwalk Leaders Opportunity Webinars. www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/naturalnetwalking-21761743290
Enjoy a relaxed, healthy way of making connections. We look forward to seeing you on a Netwalk soon www.naturalnetwalking.co.uk
One of Oxfordshire’s Leading Family Wealth Lawyers has been appointed to the new Panel of Guardians
Jane Maitland, a partner in Freeths Solicitors’ family wealth department, which is ranked as one of the UK’s Top Family Wealth Teams by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, has been appointed to the newly formed Panel of Guardians.
The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017 came into force on 31 July 2019 and created the role of ‘guardian’ for missing persons. Guardians are given authority to safeguard and manage a person’s assets after their disappearance or whilst they are in prison. The role provides similar powers to those of an attorney or deputy for a person lacking mental capacity.
Previously, a missing person’s assets essentially became ownerless because financial institutions were unable to take instructions from family members. This was difficult for families because the missing person’s money became inaccessible for ongoing expenses, resulting in unpaid bills and property falling into disrepair. If a person disappears or is detained in prison, a guardian should be considered to preserve and manage their assets until they return or are found to have died or are declared presumed dead after they have been missing for 7 years. Jane’s appointment means she has been recognised as a court-approved guardian.
Jane Maitland, said: “This appointment builds on the work that I have done on the Office of the Public Guardian’s panel of deputies looking after the finances of those who are mentally incapacitated and as an Independent Administrator of contested estates. The Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017, which is informally known as Claudia’s Law, supports families in incredibly difficult circumstances by removing the worry about the every day financial affairs of their missing relative. As a member of the newly formed Panel, I will bring to the role over 30 years of experience in advising people on their family affairs.”
www.freeths.co.uk
Cherwell Business Award nomination for Executive Support Solutions
Exec Support Solutions is proud to have been nominated in the ‘Micro Business Award’ for the Cherwell Business Awards this year.
Whilst still a relatively new business to the Cherwell Valley region, Exec Support Solutions is making a biggerthan-micro impact amongst the business community. Founder and Director, Jennifer Williams, launched Exec Support Solutions in August 2018 after a successful corporate career as a Personal Assistant and since then the business has gone from strength-tostrength.
16 The business was also nominated in the same Business awards for 2019 but the feedback indicated the business was a little too young so here’s hoping 2020 will be the year for the win! Winners will be announced at the Awards ceremony held 15th May 2020 at the beautiful Heythrop Park in Enstone.
www.execsupportsolutions.com
My Sales Guru is proud to support Wooftastic Oxfordshire, which you can find on Facebook
As an owner of 3 dogs, its not always easy to know which businesses are and are not dog friendly, which is why I am supporting the work of Wooftastic.
In the UK, there are around 8.5 million dogs. People love to take their dogs with them, whether it’s on holiday or just to the local pub. Unfortunately, it not always easy to find out where people can take their dogs and be welcomed with open arms – a cuddle for the dog that is, not the owner!
Wooftastic Oxfordshire post details of dog friendly venues in Oxfordshire. These could be hotels, B and B’s, cottage rentals, pubs, cafes, tourist attractions, walks etc.
If you like the idea, please share. If you’ve got any recommendations, you can contact Wooftastic Oxfordshire on Facebook via the message button.
New sponsorship opportunities for Oxford Bubble Rush
If you are looking for a great way of getting your brand seen by thousands of people in Oxford to help a local charity, this could be the opportunity you are looking for.
Helen & Douglas House, has just launched seven great sponsorship packages for their 2020 Bubble Rush event taking place on 7th June in Oxford which hopes to attract 1,500 participants. This great family fun run, now in its 3rd year, is a big favourite with Oxfordshire families.
The sponsorship packages start at £200 for finish line treats, £350 for radios and first aid, £500 for water and three packages at £1,500 to sponsor the medals, t-shirts or bag drop which would carry your logo.
But be quick as the medal or t-shirts will be going to print in March. For more information on these great sponsorship opportunities, please contact Amy at: abottali@helenanddouglas.org.uk.
To help, Oxfordshire based cyber security experts CQR have launched a new ‘Making Cyber Simple’ guide. The free introductory guide covers everything you need to know to start you on your cyber security journey. It includes practical tips and a jargon-free overview of the 9 core elements that can help protect your organisation against some of the most common cyberthreats.
B4 Members can download a complimentary copy of the guide here: www.cqr.com/making-cyber-securitysimple-guide/
CQR’s experienced cyber security consultants have helped hundreds of organisations worldwide to manage their customer and employee data. Visit www. cqr.com to find out more.
Future proofing your archives!
Having successfully merged into a centre for conversion, digitising and archiving, Oxford Duplication can now take all old formats within audio, video, image and text and preserve them to modern digital
What is digital archiving? This is the long-term preservation of analogue materials into digital data so that it remains accessible for people in the future. So from your old wedding video to corporate and historical archives, we can convert all your old media into digital files.
Examples of work: Family Video Tape Conversion, Cine Film Transfers, Book and Document Scanning, Slides and Negatives, Photographs and Albums, Microfilm and Microfiche, Optical Recognition Services, Broadcast Legacy Tapes, CD DVD USB Duplication, Audio Tapes and Restoration, Archival Scanning, Wide Format Scanning and much more…
www.theduplicationcentre.co.uk
CQR Making Cyber Security Simple
Cyber Security can be a challenging topic to master. It’s a fast-evolving area and despite becoming a hot topic in both our boardrooms and in the media, many organisations find it difficult to know where to get started.
Your organisation is certain to hold some form of data but are you confident you have the necessary controls in place to protect it?
Blenheim Palace Offers Half Price Entry For Sustainable Travellers
Visitors to Britain’s greatest palace will save 50% off the admission if they travel to the Oxfordshire UNESCO World Heritage Site using sustainable transport. The offer, which is valid from 14th February to 31st March, is open to anyone who arrives either via public transport, by bike or in a fully electric vehicle*.
The aim is to help raise awareness of Blenheim’s commitment to responsible tourism and environmental issues and to encourage visitors to consider greener alternative transport options. Woodstock and Bladon residents will be able to take advantage of this discount if they present their walking permits when purchasing tickets. “Our aim is to be leading the way when it comes to green issues among the UK’s visitor attractions,” said Blenheim Palace CEO Dominic Hare. “We have seen a steady growth in visitors making use of public transport links, cycling or simply walking over recent years”
*Hybrid vehicles will not be eligible and neither will be visitors arriving on foot as there is a risk this would wrongly encourage people to drive and then try to park in Woodstock and surrounding areas.
SME’s with legacy IT systems have been given a further year to comply with complex new digital tax rules
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) introduced the new Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme in April 2019.
Since then, most self-employed people and business owners with a turnover above the £85,000 VAT threshold have been forced to file their returns online using specialised software.
HMRC has introduced a new concession that will give some businesses more time before they have to file their first return. Those with complex or legacy IT systems now have until April or October 2020, depending on their filing deadline, to make their first submission.
John Skinner, senior manager at Whitley Stimpson says: “HMRC identified that a small number of businesses using particularly complex IT systems would face difficulties with the 2020 deadline putting those digital links in place. They have introduced a process to apply for additional time so that businesses are not penalised while making their best efforts to comply with all other MTD requirements.”
www.whitleystimpson.co.uk
Afternoon Tea at Exeter College – back by popular demand!
Exec Support Solutions is proud to have This Easter Exeter College will once again open its doors to the public for their now-legendary homemade afternoon teas.
With booking opening for Mothers’ Day and Easter Sunday, tickets are expected to sell out fast!
This is a rare and exclusive opportunity to take tea in Exeter’s Jacobean Dining Hall - once graced by JRR Tolkien, Philip Pullman and Roger Bannister - and
sample homemade scones and jam, sandwiches and petit fours created by their award-winning chefs.
For more information, email conferences@exeter.ox.ac.uk
Unipart House to host charity community gallery for Oxfordshire Art Weeks
Local artists are being invited to sell their work at Unipart House in Cowley to help raise money for Oxford Food Bank as part of Oxfordshire Art Weeks.
The Unipart House community gallery runs from 19 to 21 May 2020 and is accepting applications to display art, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and photography. The deadline to apply is 31 March.
Artists chosen to display their work will do so for free, with 10 percent of any art sold donated to Oxford Food Bank, the nominated charity for Unipart Group in Cowley.
Debs Astles, Unipart Group HR director - corporate responsibility, said: ‘We want to open up Oxfordshire Art Weeks to our employees and the wider community to help raise money for our nominated charity Oxford Food Bank which saves £1m of food from landfill every year, redistributing it to 80 charities across Oxfordshire.’
To apply email artweek@unipart.com
In the second of a series of five NEXUS introduction events at Jurys Inn, home of BIO2020, we welcomed an inspirational line up of speakers to give more than a few great reasons why supporting and collaborating with local charities, social enterprises and startup businesses can be so beneficial for everyone.
There’s no better example of the business community and charity working together than the Twin Town events which have been running biannually since 2014. Created by Brendon Cross of STL and Nick Streeter of the beneficiary charity, SpecialEffect, Twin Town 2020 will see cumulative funds raised soar well beyond the £1 million mark. Guests at the event on Tuesday 4th February heard how Twin Town was created and has established itself in such a short space of time and how the benefits of Twin Town for SpecialEffect run far beyond the event itself.
Find out more about Brendon and Twin Town in the next edition of B4 out later this month. Brendon commented about the NEXUS event, “NEXUS is a brilliant example of great businesses coming together with excellent charitable causes and good opportunities to compare notes with likeminded people. Well done B4.”
Nick Streeter added, “Fantastic to have the opportunity to meet likeminded companies and charities at our debut B4/ NEXUS event and not only talk about the transformational benefits for the people SpecialEffect help, thanks to the Twin Town Challenge, but also learn more about the amazing partnerships and work across the business and charity sector in Oxfordshire.”
The NEXUS introduction events are also an opportunity for charities, social enterprises and start-up businesses to promote themselves to potential supporters, an opportunity which B3’s (no relation to B4!) Kate Reid took to tell those in attendance more about the superb work that B3 is doing and how a supporter could benefit. Kate added, “Hearing about the Nexus partnerships already in place was a highlight. It was obvious how much value both sides placed on the collaboration, both gaining more than they anticipated, without too much pressure on either side.”
We also heard from Leah Spasova of LifeSexperts who highlighted the growing issue of sexual abuse in the workplace and explained how a potential supporter could benefit from partnering with her organisation. Leah commented, “It is through partnerships that we can accomplish the brave and big goals we have and the Nexus program is a great platform that helps organisations and businesses to join forces and empower each other to reach new heights.”
A glowing example of a NEXUS partnership in operation is that between Sobell House and YouHR. Ian Mundy of YouHR commented, “The NEXUS event helped You HR to bring to life the evolving partnership we have established with Sobell House and some of the great work we envisage taking place to support such a great charity over the next 12 months. Thank
NEXUS Introduction Event focuses on the inspirational Twin Town phenomenon
you B4 for providing the platform and opportunity for us to further our mission to give back to our local community.”
Tim Wraith of Sobell House, who have been supporters of B4 for a number of years but can now benefit from the community without having to invest a penny, is equally engaged with NEXUS and YouHR, “It was great to be at the NEXUS introduction event at Jury’s Inn. Obviously I always like the opportunity to talk about the incredible work of Sobell House, but equally I loved hearing from everyone else. The NEXUS programme is such a positive initiative and a fantastic way to bring different partners together. Our partnership with
You HR is such a ‘win win’ for us and its brilliant to see it working for so many others.”
If you would like to find out more about NEXUS, why not visit the website or come to one of our future NEXUS introduction events. See more below:
www.nexus.b4-business.com
Future dtes for your diary
Monday 9th March Wednesday 8th April Wednesday 13th May
WHO WILL YOU SUPPORT?
INTRODUCTION EVENTS
9th March, 8th April & 13th May at JURYS INN OXFORD
If you would like to discuss NEXUS with the B4 team, please call us on 01865 742 211 or email us at NEXUS@B4-BUSINESS.COM
FOCUS on Giving Back to SpecialEffect
We have launched our new fundraising initiative with SpecialEffect.
We first came to hear about SpecialEffect in 2014 at business meeting. In the corner of the room was
and us to give back and help the charity. From now on, new customers quoting ‘SpecialEffect’ will pay exactly the same as they’d have paid anyway but the money that FOCUS donates from their policy will help SpecialEffect improve the lives of more disabled people.”
The policies taken out can be for either personal or business insurance solutions, such as home and motor insurance, life insurance, commercial insurances, Directors & Officers liability, motor fleet, cyber insurance etc.
To find out more about how FOCUS can provide you with bespoke insurance solutions and help SpecialEffect contact us on 01865 953 111.
a banner about SpecialEffect. This got us talking about the charity and the Twin Town Challenge.
Following this meeting FOCUS began supporting SpecialEffect in 2015 in the run up to the Twin Town Challenge 2016 event, which we became a main sponsor of as well as participating as a team in our dear old farmyard Porsche.
Since then, we’ve expanded our support for SpecialEffect by taking part in events, sponsorship, donations, volunteers and provided insurance for Twin Town Challenge as well as becoming Twin Town Challenge participants in 2016, 2018 and again for the final time in 2020.
2020 sees us kicking off a new and innovative way of supporting SpecialEffect - by donating 20% of earnings from new insurance policies taken out by SpecialEffect friends, families, supports and connections.
Quite simply, if you mention SpecialEffect when you call FOCUS for a new insurance policy, then it will have an immediate positive impact for the charity.
Managing Director, Nick Jones, explains:
“I wanted to find an alternative way of supporting SpecialEffect and this seemed like a great opportunity for our new clients (SpecialEffect supporters)
The power of your body!
Two recent success stories have included a 26 year old that arrived in a wheelchair, with CFS and had been in it for 3 years. Following our programme, 11 weeks later, she was completely out of her wheelchair, and her Mother sent us a review informing us that the “wheelchair is now in the garage”.
The next, a poorly puppy. His stomach was super sensitive, he was waking us up 4-5 times a night. By scanning is body field, changing his diet, delivering the information into his cells through bio-imprinted remedies that his bodyfield needed to kick start its own super innate healing abilities, he stools changed, his fur coat started to show a sheen and even changed colour slightly, the white of his eyes became white – previously pink tinged, and that was just within 1 week!
Never underestimate the power of your own body’s healing ability if you deliver the correct toolkit to help reenergise the system and deliver the information that it requires to the right places.
Raising your glass
Premium British Honey and Infused Spirits brand, The British Honey Company (BHC), is raising a glass in honour of its forthcoming acquisition of the ongoing business of The London Distillery Company (LDC), known for its organic distillery drinks. The transaction, which is part of the BHC’s ambitious growth strategy, will be completed in early 2020.
Launched in 2014, the BHC is famed for its award-winning fruit and honey infused spirits, marketed under the Keepr’s brand. Many of the Keepr’s spirits are infused with the BHC’s proprietary British Honey from its fully traceable apiaries. The impressive spirits range with seasonal lines spans eight gins, four vodkas, two rums, two bourbons and a whiskey which will be ready in 2022.
First established in 1807 and reestablished in 2011, The London Distillery Company is an urban independent craft distilling business. The company produces world class spirits - including the multi-award winning Dodd’s Gin and Kew Organic Spirits, as well as being the producers of the first whiskeys from London for over a century - LV-1767 Rye Whiskey and the 109 Cask Single Malt.
Michael Williams, Founder and Chief Executive of BHC, comments “The combined business will offer an enhanced range of products whilst expanding into a new customer base, which includes major supermarkets including Waitrose and leading quality stores such as Harvey Nichols and Fortnum and Mason. We are very excited to merge the businesses and build our expert team, as we seek new ways to expand our offering and and increase sales through additional channels here in the UK and around the world.”
www.britishhoney.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth House
Worcester College
Mansfield College ■
Beard specialise in complex construction projects from £200k to £20m
We deliver all types of projects, including new builds, refurbishments, and design and builds
We work across the education, arts and culture, commercial, religious, defence and health sectors
We have four offices: Oxford, Swindon, Guildford, and Bristol
We create an environment where everyone from site tradesmen to Beard director enjoys their work and gives it their best
We strive to deliver all our projects promptly and faultlessly
