B4 Issue 38

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B4 MAGAZINE ISSUE 38 DECEMBER 2015

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY CIS Ltd talk about how to avoid heavy fines on the forthcoming EU Data Protection Regulation with encryption

CARTER JONAS

W W W . B 4 - B U S I N E S S . C O M

EUROPEAN CAPITAL BID

CULHAM INNOVATION CENTRE

B U I L D I N G B R I D G E S B E T W E E N B U S I N E S S E S

Welcome to B4 in print

on-line

You’re holding it right now. High quality, printed bi-monthly and circulated to 9,000 business decision makers throughout the Thames Valley.

With the new site launching soon, the B4 website provides B4 Members with a great platform to promote their business by giving them access to upload unlimited press releases, event details, job vacancies and offers.

How it could help your business: This magazine lands on the desks of key decision makers. Having an editorial or advert in here could gain you potential clients.

How it could help your business: The B4 website attracts over 6,000 unique visitors every month. Sharing your content and having your business listed on the B4 site is bound to attract some attention!

Get started today By becoming a B4 Member you immediately join over 600 other businesses across the Thames Valley benefiting from the following as part and parcel: B4 Magazine: Business listed in the B4 Magazine Business Directory.

B4 Website: Business listed in the B4 Website Business Directory and ability to upload

unlimited content as above.

B4 Events: Access to B4 Events at no extra charge - Members can even bring guests.

B4 Social Media: Member tweets and mentions are re-tweeted through the B4 Twitter accounts.

What is B4, you ask? ‘B4’ stands for ‘Building Bridges Between Businesses’ and that is just what we do. So how do we do that? Well we provide you with 4 very clear platforms as follows:

events

social

High quality networking events that B4 Members can attend in some stunning locations. A great opportunity to meet other members and guests interested in joining B4.

We promote B4 news through our B4 Twitter accounts and also post out your news, giving you excellent added reach.

How it could help your business: Our events always have an interesting focal point to them, whether it be an activity like our Day At The Races or a tour around Williams’ F1 Collection. We make networking a wholly enjoyable experience.

How it could help your business: Our accounts in all areas have a total follower count of over 9,000. Tweet us and we’ll re-tweet you - A great way to get yourself seen.

B4 Interested in becoming a B4 Member?

Call 01865 742211 today with membership starting at just £250+VAT for 12 months.

ON THE

PLATINUM MEMBERS

HILL

Residential Letting 路 Property Management

B4 platinum & gold members We would like to thank our B4 Gold & Platinum Members for supporting the B4 Business network. To find out more about joining them and over six hundred B4 Member companies, please call us on 01865 742 211.

GOLD MEMBERS

With annual memberships just £250+VAT*, entitling you to a business directory listing and unlimited press release, event, job vacancy and offer uploads, it’s no wonder our membership is increasing daily.

Members are also invited to events in all B4 areas, up to 12 per annum. Call us now on 01865 742 211 to book your membership or e-mail sales@b4-business.com for more details.

The B4 Website – the most efficient way to network your business from your PC!

*Quoted rate is per company entitling selected employees to attend B4 events. The Ambassador scheme is separate and subject to a different charge of £250+VAT for the first Ambassador.

B4

B4

contributors

COMPANIES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN THIS ISSUE

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20

23

25

29

31

34

37

42

46

50

54

58

62

88

B4 partners Official Events Software Partner

Official Cloud Partner

Preferred supplier of Home Entertainment

ON THE

Official E-mail Marketing Partner

Official Photographer

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Official Transport Partner

Official Stationery Partner

HILL

Visual Design Partner

www.b4-business.com

Contacts If you want to contact B4 Magazine Telephone: 01865 742 211 info@b4-business.com Publisher B4 Magazine is published by Designs On Ltd, The Firs, Headington Hill, Oxford, OX3 0BT Chairman Colin Rosser colin@b4-business.com Editor Richard Rosser editorial@b4-business.com Art Editor Keith Simpson artwork@b4-business.com Sub Editor Lorna Dodson assistanteditor@b4-business.com Features Editor Matt Wright matt@b4-business.com Proofreader Sue Rosser B4 Events events@b4-business.com Editorial contributors Olivia Lane-Nott Rachel Warren Jo Sensecall Claire Thompson B4 Photography Rob Scotcher Studio Photography Studio8 Telephone: 01865 842525

welcome to B4 38 The Innovation and Technology Issue…..where would we be without it? Some might say a lot less under pressure. There’s seemingly no hiding place from work these days and I’m sure Cornwall is such a popular holiday retreat because of the lack of a decent mobile signal!

But innovation is a necessity if we’re to stay ahead of the competition. We’re certainly a more efficient office since adopting the excellent cloud services provided by CIS Ltd who’s CEO, Richard Marsh, is featured on our cover and who also provide our feature lead article. Read more about the benefits of the cloud and how it can revolutionise your office.

Each business with an Ox fordshire, Berkshire or Buckinghamshire postcode is entitled to one free copy per issue.

For additional copies and for businesses outside of the three counties, there is an annual subscription charge of £25.

Meet The Writers

We also find out more about Oxford’s bid to become the European Capital of Innovation, find out how to defend ourselves from cyber bullies with Alberon and discover more about cyber liability with Focus. There’s also an interesting feature from EIFLA about architectural visualisation.

If you are thinking of updating your accounting software or adopting an online accounts package, Stuart Crook of Wellers talks you through the potential pitfalls. We meet the commercial property team at leading Oxfordshire law firm, Henmans Freeth and Andy Williams, the new head of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and mapping at Carter Jonas who is charged with bringing Military decision making tools to the urban and rural property sector.

38. Richmond Villages Written by Richard Rosser

Take note of the stark warning from DCResponse – the National Grid have confirmed the risk of blackouts this Winter has increased compared with a year ago leaving spare capacity at some power stations at just 1.2%, the worst for more than a decade. Read more and find out how you can protect your business inside.

B4 had the pleasure of meeting David Westerby, the Village Manager of the new Richmond Retirement Village in Witney to find out more about this award-winning provider retirement villages.

We’ve also got some great articles to give you inspiration for some pampering in the new year at Danesfield House’s Spa Illuminata, Tylney Hall, Ashdown Park and The Feathers.

Subscriptions For free Subscription, please contact: Telephone: 01865 742 211 info@b4-business.com

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42. NOPS Written by Robin Swailes

Looking forward to our event at the wonderful Weston Library on February 25th, we meet the team at Indulgence Boutique Catering who have some mouth-watering solutions to your catering conundrums!

Thank you for your support in 2015 and we look forward to celebrating our 10th anniversary year with you in 2016.

Happy New Year and enjoy B4! Enjoy B4!

46. Carter Jonas © 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.

B4 Magazine is printed by

Written by Olivia Lane-Nott Richard Rosser Editor

About

B4

Magazine

B4 Magazine was established to provide Thames Valley businesses with a clear voice to raise their profile and to help businesses connect. Direct mailed to nine thousand business decision makers in once every two months, B4 is regarded a leading free distribution business publication in the region. B4 stands for Building Bridges Between Business and that is what B4 helps businesses to do, aided by our first class website at www.b4-business.com, monthly B4 Classic and Masterclass Events.

B4 is funded by paid for display advertising and editorial. Underpinning B4 is a membership of over 600 of the Thames Valley’s leading businesses.

WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE ON

66. Ashdown Park Written by Kelly Gavaghan

lead 17 Don’t become the Talk, Talk of the town: CIS explain how encryption will

soon change from a “might do” to a “have to” 19 CIS Acquires Agile Networking Ltd: Read all about this recent acquisition of

this customer driven and energetic

IT Company.

54 Complete Catering: Read about their

year of fun, creativity and diversity for Jon Kay

and Simon Coomber.

57 Sarah Wiseman Gallery: The gallery

has launched its brand new website and is

thrilled by the responses so far.

84 Indulging in the Oxford Events Market: Indulgence Catering enter the

Oxford scene with their new head of events

and marketing.

property 42 Is it all over for the Buy to Let Investor?: Oxford property expert Robin

Swailes explores recent legislation designed

to slow property investment for small players.

news 13 B4 News 61 Jurys Inn Oxford News 69 Short Let Space News 81 Oxfordshire Community Foundation News 99 Aston & James News

feature 16 The Innovation & Technology Feature

46 Put your business on the map:

Carter Jonas explain how accurate and

detailed maps of land and property assets are key.

20 Pilot lab space scheme launched:

Read about Culham Innovation Centre’s new

affordable shared laboratory and office space.

62 VSL & Partners: Check out the latest

commercial property opportunities.

23 Blackouts are on the increase:

See how DCResponse can help protect your

business this winter.

25 Beware the Cyber Men: Catch up

with Alberon in the war against cyber-crime.

health 82 Strong Body, Strong Mind: We take

a look at Brookes Sport, the extensive yet

lesser known gem of Oxford Brookes University.

27 Architectural Visualisation: EIFLA’s

blend of creative genius and state of the art

technology makes them a leader in their industry.

29 Don’t get lost in Cyberspace: Cyber

criminals are increasingly targeting SME

businesses - See how FOCUS can help keep

you safe.

31 The European Capital of Innovation: Read about how Oxford is

bidding to become the capital of Innovation.

spotlight 38 Richmond Villages Witney welcomes residents: Read all about

their recent extensive renovations in this

interview with Village Manager David Westerby.

8

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B4

contents

advice

hr

events

37 Online Accounting: Wellers

Accountants takes a look at how you can find

the right Accounting Software for your needs.

33 Is your HR serving you well?:

Do you think of the HR function when you

think of innovation? Right Hand HR explains

why perhaps you should.

10 B4 Members’ Events 11 B4 Events 40 Business In Oxford 2016 48 Living In Oxford Awards 2016 53 B4 Events 77 B4 Events

45 Make Time For Your Team: Oxford

Professional Consulting explains how to fine

tune your team.

73 How’s My Business Doing?: SR

Consulting’s Jonathan Lane sets out some

questions that all businesses owners should answer.

services 50 Workplace Essentials: See how Aston

& James can help you find the right products

and services for your business.

legal 34 The Commercial Property Team:

Meet Henmans Freeth’s experts and see how

they can help you with a wide range of

commercial property issues.

charity

education

91

74 French for business? Bien sûr!:

Alliance française d’Oxford tells us why

French for business makes sense.

Should businesses get involved with charity work?: Twin Town explains what businesses can get out of raising money for a charity.

r&r 58 Spa Illuminata: There are no

conspiracies regarding Danesfield House

Hotel’s luxurious spa - Read about it here.

65 A cut above the rest: Read about how

Malikas Indian Restaurant in Oxford is

standing out from the crowd.

66 Ashdown Park: Read The R & R

Collection’s review of this stunning Sussex jewel.

70 Tylney Hall: Read The R & R Collection’s

review of this timeless and peaceful getaway.

78 Bespoke Hotels: Read about the

group’s proven track record of success over

the years.

95 Thinking of Oscar: See how you can

help this charity to save lives by improving

hospital care for young children.

87 The Attentive Red Lion: Experience

this hidden gem of a pub in Oxford City Centre.

88 Dining at Lady Margaret Hall: Did

you know you can dine in such a grand

college hall setting? No? Read all about it here.

marketing 96 Stand out from the Crowd:

Strangebrew’s Phil Strachan talks about the

importance of being seen to be different.

www.b4-business.com

92 The Feathers Hotel: Read about this

inviting country retreat that combines historic

charm with a fun personality.

contacts 101 9

B4 diary

In Association with Carter Jonas

Event Organiser

Venues

The Oxford Union, Frewin Court, Oxford, OX1 3JB

Sarah Wiseman Gallery, 40/41 South Parade, Oxford, OX2 7JL

Date

15th Jan

16th Jan

Time

Event Details

10am - 12:30pm

Join us for a debate to discuss “How should Oxfordshire plan to meet its housing needs?”. Our distinguished panel comprises Nicola Blackwood MP, Andrew Smith MP, Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Professor William James and HBF’s Andrew Whitaker. Places are limited so please RSVP to helen. sampson@struttandparker.com or 01865 366672 to reserve a seat.

12pm - 5pm

Oxford artist Sarah Spackman will be having a solo exhibition of new work at Sarah Wiseman Gallery. Her still life paintings explore silent connections with everyday objects; working in a softly hued palette with splashes of vibrant colour, she elevates our perception of the humble and simple.

For more information please call 01865 515123 or visit www.wisegal.com.

An important free seminar around the new EU Data Protection Regulation coming into practice in 2016. Learn how to avoid the fines that come with data breaches.

The Bunker, West Venture Building, New Greenham Park, Newbury, Berkshire, RG19 6HN

Your IT helps make your business a success and we believe the Cloud can help you achieve your goals more efficiently, helping your business to grow whilst being more cost-effective and Ultra-Secure.

28th Jan, 31st Mar, 26th May

9.45am - 2pm

What’s involved at this event?

• What you need to know about the new EU Data Protection Regulation.

• Find out what Private Cloud is and how it works.

• Learn why it’s important to store your data in the UK. • Discover how remote working makes your business more efficient.

More info here: protection-event

Sandler Training, Cromwell Business Park, Chipping Norton, OX7 5SR

Kilimanjaro

27th Jan

Sep 2016

2:30pm 4:30pm

TBA

http://www.cisltd.com/eu-data-

Urban Element will demonstrate how to put LinkedIn to work for your marketing and branding. Build a presence for your business on LinkedIn. Create your page, attract followers, and post company updates to drive engagement. Leverage LinkedIn to build a great reputation – and drive new business relationships! Please note this event is for Business Owners and Directors only. Price: £45.

Please contact ukevents@sandler.com for more details.

Conquer Kilimanjaro: Conquer the world’s highest freestanding mountain having trekked through jungle, moorland, highland desert and ice! £3,800 minimum sponsorship. £345 registration fee required.

Email events@helenanddouglas.org.uk for further info.

B4 Members can feature their events on this page, subject to availability – please get in touch for your complimentary listing.

10

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B4 10th Birthday Year Yes we’re 10 next year and to celebrate we have some great events already lined up for 2016. With the new B4 website launching, there’s never been a better reason to join B4. Here’s some of the events you can look forward to in the first quarter of 2016.

Wednesday 27th January 2016: B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Hotel & Spa B4 is pleased to announce that our first 2016 event will be held at the magnificent Hartwell House Hotel, set in 90 acres of landscaped parkland near Aylesbury.

Hartwell House is no stranger to people of influence: its most famous resident was Louis XVIII, exiled King of France, who lived here with his court for five years. Learn more about this fascinating venue from the enigmatic Jonathan Thompson, Hartwell’s General Manager who is always the perfect host. www.hartwell-house.com Oxford Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8NR

Wednesday 10th February, 2016: B4 Platinum & Gold Members only at Ashmolean Museum Having enjoyed a wonderful B4 Classic Event at this iconic venue in the heart of Oxford several years ago, this will be a more intimate occasion strictly for B4 Platinum and Gold Members. Following a welcome drinks reception, guests will be split into smaller groups and taken on behind the scenes tours of this incredible museum, before reconvening for drinks, canapés and networking.

Founded in 1683, what started as a single room of paintings and curiosities grew into an institution of superlatives. It is home to the biggest collection of Raphael drawings; the most significant collection of Anglo-Saxon artefacts apart from the British Museum; and the greatest Chinese collection in the West.

In 2009, the museum’s interior was entirely redesigned in a £61 million project that not only doubled the gallery space but fundamentally rethought the way in which the collections were displayed. www.ashmolean.org Ashmolean Museum, Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH

Thursday 25th February, 2016: B4 Classic Event at Weston Library incorporating the 2016 Living in Oxford Awards B4 were fortunate to be asked to stage one of the first events at this recently refurbished venue in the heart of Oxford earlier this year. In 2016, as for this year, the event will also host the Living in Oxford Awards, a separate event which takes place in the final hour of the evening.

The Weston Library began its life as the New Bodleian Library, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott and constructed in the 1930s. Its recent renovation has brought it in line with the modern standards and requirements for a 21st century library by creating high quality storage for its valuable special collections at a level that conforms to the British Standard for these materials; developing the Library’s facilities for the support of advanced scholarship; and expanding access for the public to national and international treasures through new exhibition galleries and other facilities. Take a tour of the historic old Bodleian Library or explore the newly renovated Weston Library. www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG

See more events on page 53 & 77 www.b4-business.com

11

collection

Leading Hotels, Restaurants, Golf Clubs and Spas

“Designed to give you the personal touch when booking something special�

To feature your establishment in The R&R Collection, Call 01865 742211.

B4

news

Pensions boost is good deal for some days expert A boost for pensioners could be a good deal for many people, expert Stuart Haigh said this week.

Stuart, a director at Whitley Stimpson, the leading accountancy and business advisers with offices in Bicester, Banbury and High Wycombe, said: “A new scheme announced by the Government whereby pensioners can buy more pension is, in the main, a much better deal than annuity deals being offered by private pension companies.

“However, the Department of Work and Pensions

Is advising people to get financial advice and we are well placed to help in this respect.”

The Government scheme is open to anyone who is already receiving a state pension or is due to receive one before 6 April 2016, which means that men are eligible if they were born before 6 April 1951 and women are eligible if they were born before 6 April 1953. It has been launched to compensate such people as they will not be eligible for the new and generous flat rate pension starting in April 2016.

Anyone needing advice can contact Stuart Haigh on 01869 252151. www.whitleystimpson.co.uk

Success to success with Bridgett Solutions

After many years in the hospitality industry, I decided several years ago to start my own business and work on specific projects and as the cliché goes I’ve never looked back.

Working on a project by project basis means there are always new and exciting challenges, certainly never a boring moment and by the variety of projects it means that I can utilise my

past experience and contacts to adapt to the new situation.

Currently I am involved with the lovely boutique caterers Indulgence, who are probably the most enthusiastic team I have ever come across and have talent in bucket loads. I am delighted to say their business is going from strength to strength and their profile in the City of Oxford and historic houses just grows.

Another new project for me is working alongside the Stonor estate. The first thing that struck me

was the idyllic positioning of the house in one of the prettiest deer parks. When driving through the village there is the quintessential cricket pitch which overlooks the estate – now what could be better on a summers afternoon?

Stonor will soon be opening its doors and welcoming visitors to the house and park, they have lots of exciting plans for next year so please if you want to find out more it would be great to hear from you. Contact Jane on: 07841 205 025 or jane@bridgettsolutions.co.uk or see www.bridgettsolutions.co.uk

The Royal County of Berkshire Show 2016 (17-18 Sep): Sponsor, Trade, Visit!

The Royal County of Berkshire Show (still widely known as ‘the Newbury Show’) is deservedly regarded as one of the region’s best days out for the entire family. With an exciting main arena programme, show-jumping, carriage driving, displays of rural crafts and activity, and more than 2000 animals, there is something for everyone and plenty of opportunities to ‘have a go’.

More than 600 tradestands offer a diversity of

food, crafts and gifts not available on any high street. Great to visit but with over 60,000 visitors it is also a significant opportunity for businesses, as traders or sponsors, to build brand awareness and reach new customers.

So put the dates in your diary (17-18 Sep 2016) and whether you are interested in exhibiting, sponsoring or perhaps even hiring the showground for your own event, please contact us at office@ newburyshowground.co.uk or 01635 247111.

The tour to Val d’Isere

Attention all skiers! Prime Energy have secured a fantastic deal on an all inclusive ski package at Skiworld’s flagship chalet in Le Madeleine resort.

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All costs include flights, transfers, 7 nights stay, 6 nights’ supper & wine, Skiworld “Enhanced” service, PLUS your 6-day ski pass.

All rooms are superb and to the highest spec, so no need to price rooms individually. The chalet also has a hot tub on the balcony, with a serving hatch for drinks (champagne) served from inside the chalet-mega!

For more details about the chalet and the

“Enhanced” package, see Skiworld’s website here: www.skiworld.co.uk/ski-resorts/ france-ski-holidays/val-disere/madeleine

The knock-out price for this trip: £1191 all included.

Please contact Barry at Prime Energy on 01869 352000 or barry@primeenergy.org TODAY to secure your place. ONLY 4 SPACES LEFT ON GOING TO PRINT.

13

Corporate AS A COMPANY, HOW DO YOU SAY ‘THANKS’ TO YOUR STAFF, YOUR CUSTOMERS OR SUPPLIERS?

WE HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR YOU. vouch have been providing fantastic offers to the general public for over three years now, great places like:

with more vouchers coming up for sale weekly

It’s a great way for you to buy a voucher at a 50% discount (at least) and say ‘thanks’ to someone for their hard work. Corporate vouch offers you the opportunity to buy 12 vouchers for the price of 10*

Just call 01865 742211 quoting ‘Corporate vouch’ and we can put a package of vouchers together for you.

To see the full range of vouchers, see the www.vouchoffers.co.uk site

Follow vouch on Twitter or sign up for the e-newsletter at www.vouchoffers.co.uk

giving you much more for less *the credit you get for the two vouchers you don’t pay for is equivalent to the average of the 10 vouchers you do pay for.

B4

news

OxLEP Now Looking for a New Chair Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) Ltd are currently seeking to appoint a new Chair. This is an opportunity for an experienced business leader to become the Chair of the Oxfordshire LEP (Ltd) and play a pivotal role in driving growth in the local economy and creating sustainable jobs.

As Chair of the Oxfordshire LEP you will have a unique opportunity to drive a dynamic and vibrant economic agenda which puts the needs of business, our residents and communities front and centre. Oxfordshire has already demonstrated

significant progress indeed recent recognition that we have the most Innovative economy across the 39 LEPs nationally reinforces our potential. This position is reinforced with an ambitious Innovation led Strategic Economic Plan setting the foundations for successful City Deal and Local Growth Fund submissions which together contribute in excess of £175m into the local economy; leveraging over £1bn of investment from across the public and private business sectors.

To arrange a confidential and informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Beryl

xLEP

driving economic growth

Manners PA to the Chief Executive on 01865 261433 or beryl.manners@oxfordshirelep.com

Promotions for Oxford Lawyers at Blake Morgan Law firm Blake Morgan has promoted four lawyers in its Oxford offices which took effect on November 1st 2015. Kathryn Woodward in the firm’s succession and tax team, Catherine Morgan in the family team and Cheryl McCready in the real estate division are all promoted from senior solicitor to associate. Andrew Lang, a solicitor in the commercial services team, is promoted to senior solicitor.

All are based at the firm’s offices at Seacourt

Tower, Oxford. Mike Wilson, Blake Morgan’s regional senior partner for the Thames Valley, said: “At Blake Morgan we are firm believers in nurturing and developing talent, and these well-deserved promotions are evidence of that commitment. I would like to congratulate all those who have been promoted and wish them the very best in their new roles.” Blake Morgan’s Oxford Office is open from 8.00am to 6.00pm, if you would like to get in touch email info@blakemorgan.co.uk or phone 01865 248607.

Blandy & Blandy Expands Again With Arrival of Nineteenth Partner Reading-based law firm Blandy & Blandy is delighted to welcome corporate lawyer Jonathan Williamson as the firm’s nineteenth partner. Jonathan joins Blandy & Blandy’s Corporate and Commercial team from boutique London firm Oury Clark, where he was Head of Corporate and Commercial.

Highly experienced in acting for clients ranging from PLCs to SMEs, Jonathan advises businesses in relation to mergers and acquisitions, joint

ventures, private equity, IPOs and other capital raisings, corporate governance and general corporate and commercial matters. Ranked in both Chambers UK Guide and The Legal 500 directories, Blandy & Blandy’s team is described as ‘extremely competent and accomplished’, ‘a local stalwart’ and ‘large enough to have the relevant expertise, but small enough and local enough to be able to provide a personal service.’ www.blandy.co.uk

Toni&Guy and the IOEE launch creating enterprise

Working in partnership, TONI&GUY and the IOEE have developed a visionary programme, bringing together the very best of enterprise education expertise and the UK’s leading hairdressing brand. Designed specifically to appeal to those

www.b4-business.com

undertaking fashion, hairdressing, and beauty courses, the programme will hone innate entrepreneurial ability and nurture in students a belief in the possibility of a rewarding and enterprising future. This is not the first time the two organisations have worked together; the IOEE has previously worked with Toni&Guy to design and develop a number of superb qualifications specifically for delivery within TONI&GUY academies.

The IOEE is the UK’s definitive source of expertise in enterprise and entrepreneurial endeavour.

Complementing the IOEE’s input, is TONI&GUY’s exceptionally broad industry perspective, along with its deep understanding of how creative people respond within learning situations.

For further information see www.centres.ioee.co.uk

15

B4 innovation

& technology feature

Welcome to the B4 Innovation & Technology feature. Here you can expect to find great insights into the ever-changing world of technology and innovation within the Thames Valley, with great pieces from Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd, Alberon, FOCUS Oxford LLP and many more.

This issue’s lead article and sponsor is Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd.

Contents 17 & 19 CIS Ltd 20 Oxford Innovation 23 DCResponse 25 Alberon 27 EIFLA 29 FOCUS 31 Oxford City Council

B4

feature

Don’t become the Talk, Talk of the town Encryption will soon change from a “might do” to a “have to” – See Why… WRITTEN BY: RICHARD MARSH

So what’s happening here?

Why your should business be concerned

You’ve heard it on the radio, you’ve seen it in the news. With the recent high profile cyber-attack on telecoms giant Talk Talk, following those on businesses such as British Gas and the Ashley Madison dating site, the security of stored and transmitted data is once again topping the media agenda. What’s perhaps surprising is the lack of reaction from a sizeable proportion of businesses, which despite the constant torrent of hacking news stories, persist with outdated and insecure practices when handling valuable data in their everyday work tasks. However there’s about to be a real sea change with the introduction of EU data protection regulations next year, which will place a legal duty on everyone who holds electronic data concerning EU citizens to implement appropriate security measures and to have a clear data protection policy. There will be punitive sanctions for non-compliance.

Whatever the size of your business, a significant loss of personal data represents a catastrophe of mammoth proportions and proves terminal for many.

The New EU Data Protection Regulation In March 2014, the European parliament voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of legislation to protect the security of its citizens’ data. The resulting legislation is due to come into force in 2016 with penalties of up to 100m Euros or 5% of annual turnover per data breach.

What is Data Encryption?

Encryption is widely agreed to be the best form of data security available, since it renders any stolen data absolutely useless to unauthorised parties. If, following the worst-case scenario of a hack into your systems, you’re able to prove that personal data was subject to technological protection measures such as encryption, there’s no need to even notify affected data subjects of the breach. www.b4-business.com

As well as sanctions imposed under this legislation, there’s the cost of notifying anyone whose data has been compromised and the subsequent loss of customer confidence and reputational damage to the business. Whilst ‘traditional’ crime figures continue on a downward trend, cyber crime statistics are

Encryption is widely “agreed to be the best

form of data security available, since it renders any stolen data absolutely useless to unauthorised parties

”

rising dramatically. No MD or business owner wants to find themselves in the position of the Talk Talk CEO who had to announce to her entire customer base that all of their personal information was now potentially in the public domain!

crime, with a higher tendency to have inadequate security measures and sometimes lacking in the technical expertise needed to implement top grade counter measures to protect their systems. This is where we at CIS come in. As a Sophos partner and with highly-trained, experienced and qualified technical engineering staff, we’re able to provide you with the knowledge and expertise needed to keep your data private and safe.

Is your data protected?

CIS is providing a free seminar to explain and demystify the new EU Data Protection Regulation coming into force in 2016.

The seminar will be held at our Bunker Data Centre which is located at the West Venture Building (The Bunker), New Greenham Park, Newbury, Berkshire, RG19 6HN. What’s involved at this event?

• What you need to know about the new EU Data Protection Regulation.

• Find out what Private Cloud is and how it works.

• Learn why it’s important to store your data in the UK. Use the contact details below to book your place.

SMEs in the firing line CONTACT DETAILS Although media reports centre on the highest profile hacking cases, small and medium-sized enterprises are a particular target for hackers. Some view them as the “soft underbelly” of the UK’s fight against cyber

solutions@cisltd.com 01367 700 555 www.cisltd.com

17

Our Seasonal gift to you...

Managing your property in Oxford for just 5% in the first year!

Reducing your managment fee for the first year means you can have some extra funds for the seasonal holiday.

Seasons greetings from our team of twenty dedicated girls and boys.

Join our 25 year established family business. Ring Debbie our Director or Sidney our MD for further information on this fabulous offer:

01865 318547

NOPS, 48 WALTON STREET, JERICHO, OXFORD OX2 6AD • Telephone: +44(0)1865 318538 • www.nops.co.uk

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CIS Acquires Agile Networking Ltd, a customer driven and energetic IT Company based in the historic city of Oxford CIS is proud to announce its latest acquisition, Agile networking (www.agilenetworking.co.uk.) Agile was founded in 2003 by Richard Hobley (Managing Director) to provide comprehensive IT resources to businesses within Oxfordshire needing full managed IT services and support.

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD MARSH

Moving forward, CIS will be working diligently to ensure Agile’s clients obtain an enhanced level of Customer experience; ensuring that the latest technologies are used that’s currently adopted

by CIS’s own clients.

Richard Marsh, the CEO of CIS says: “After our previous acquisition of Bridge3 and now Agile Networking, CIS has a new exciting portfolio of clients to work with. Furthermore, to help and ensure the same level of support is received that our current clients enjoy. CIS is recruiting more staff, organising more training and implementing further sales support to guarantee a first rate client experience all-round.”

Agile is a reputable Microsoft & Sophos Gold certified partner. On top of that, a VMware & Veeam silver partner. This high level of accreditation works hand in hand with CIS’s accolades and achievements, which is only a good thing for driving the business forward.

The acquisition “changeover” will be in place from 1st November 2015 and any contracts or agreements in place will be honoured by CIS. In light of this, CIS will be keeping both Richard & Hester as part of the CIS team and service, this will be part of

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our business growth plans, positively increasing the overall support experience currently received at CIS.

“Joining CIS was

an easy decision to make. All of our clients can rest assured that CIS will be adhering to the same ethics that all of our clients are used to

”

Richard Hobley, the MD of Agile Networking

CIS will be looking to visit all Agile Networking’s clients in the near future as an introduction to the their business growth plans, positively increasing the overall support experience currently delivered by

CIS. CIS will be looking to visit all Agile Networking’s clients in the near future as an introduction to the new working relationship and to make sure all services and solutions are optimised.

Richard Hobley, the MD of Agile Networking says: “Joining CIS was an easy decision to make.

All of our clients can rest assured that CIS will be adhering to the same ethics that all of our clients are used to. Additionally, CIS will be leading the way with Private Cloud migration which is important to adopt in this day and age. Hester and I will still be on hand with helping CIS during the transition phase. We welcome any questions or queries on our recent developments which we see as a positive step forwards.”

Please feel free to contact CIS for further information, or any questions that you may have on this latest developments.

CONTACT DETAILS solutions@cisltd.com 01367 700 555 www.cisltd.com

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is an exciting time “forThisCulham Innovation Centre as we are launching new initiatives that are designed to specifically cater for Oxfordshire’s successful and growing science and technology community, helping numerous start-ups and university spin-outs take the next step on their journey

”

Centre manager, Sandie Alcock at Culham Innovation Centre

Centre manager, Sandie Alcock at Culham Innovation Centre

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www.b4-business.com

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Pilot lab space scheme launched at Culham Innovation Centre Oxford Innovation is helping to solve a significant problem for science and technology start-ups across the county by investing in Culham Innovation Centre to create sought after and affordable shared laboratory and office space.

WRITTEN BY: KELLY LEA

Located at Culham Science Centre in the heart of the Science Vale, new and established businesses that move to the centre will also benefit from a unique Technical Support Package, provided

by Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, making the centre a prime location for any science or technology business.

Centre, said: “This is an exciting time for Culham Innovation Centre as we are launching new initiatives that are designed to specifically cater for Oxfordshire’s successful and growing science and technology community, helping numerous startups and university spin-outs take the next step on their journey.”

This pilot lab space scheme will see 700 sq. ft. fitted-out with benches and sinks, designed to accommodate up to three businesses. The newly fitted office space, known as the Business Studio, will provide a permanent desk for up to 4 people in a shared area.

“Our innovation centre model enables businesses to grow at their own rate without the costly overheads often associated with traditional laboratory and office leases. We also have the added bonus of being located on a site with some of the world’s best science and engineering minds, creating a community which can only serve to benefit any business that moves to here.”

Work has started at Culham Innovation Centre, which also includes the refurbishment of communal areas and has recently completed the installation of highspeed broadband.

In addition, Oxford Innovation is about to launch cross-centre networking events, matching likeminded communities from its seven Oxfordshire centres, to encourage future collaboration.

The first event will see businesses from Culham Innovation Centre and Cherwell Innovation Centre at Upper Heyford meet to discuss science and technology projects at Culham in January. Future events are being rolled-out in 2016 with plans to open these events to businesses across Oxfordshire.

Sandie Alcock, centre manager, Culham Innovation www.b4-business.com

Culham Innovation Centre has over 10,000 sq. ft. of office space, lab and workshop space with suites available from 100 sq. ft. and is home to a number of science and technology businesses such as Tokamak Solutions, Isis Instruments and Laplacian and has supported successful companies such as Reaction Engines and Oxis Energy.

comprising 1,334 sq. ft., with flexible licence agreements available for temporary and long-term agreements.

An Innovation Centre differs from a standard business centre by offering a raft of practical support that proactively encourages the development of start-ups, entrepreneurial and high-growth companies. For further information, visit: www.culham-ic.co.uk

About Oxford Innovation Oxford Innovation is a leading operator of business and innovation centres that provide office and laboratory space to companies throughout the UK. Culham Innovation Centre is one of seven local centres managed by Oxford Innovation in Oxfordshire.

The company also provides innovation services to entrepreneurs, including business-planning advice, fund raising, coaching and mentoring.

About Culham Innovation Centre Culham Innovation Centre is located on Culham Science Centre and offers over 10,000 sq. ft. of office space, lab and workshop space, with suites ranging from 100 sq. ft. to a more extensive area

CONTACT DETAILS culham@oxin.co.uk 01865 408 300 www.culham-ic.co.uk

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Need To Freshen Up Your Image?

For all your Graphic Design, Photography & Print needs

Call us on 01865 742211 www.hothdesign.co.uk

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Blackouts are on the increase! Protect your business this Winter Winter is fast approaching, and with that comes the arrival of cold weather and the increased risk of blackouts for your business.

WRITTEN BY: RACHEL WARREN

The National Grid have recently confirmed the risk of blackouts this Winter has increased compared with a year ago. The closure of some power stations has left spare capacity on the system at just 1.2%. The worst for more than a decade.

An article in The Times this month, also raised concerns over blackouts this Winter due to under investment in the energy network.

“It’s clear that the UK is at a high risk of blackouts, mainly due to power stations closures and under investment, and with this comes the catastrophic impact a power interruption can have on business systems and operations. Having a plan in place is essential” said Jack Ogden, Commercial Director of DCResponse.

Whilst large or corporate businesses frequently have Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) solutions they can fall back on, small and medium enterprises often do not protect themselves adequately against power outages.

Plan and prepare before the outage occurs!

It is vital to have a formal strategy in place, with the following considerations: • Determine how your business would be affected in the event of an interruption in power, and what solutions need to be put in place to minimise impact.

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• Think about what processes and equipment are essential to keep your business operating and what type of UPS solution is required.

• If you already have a contingency plan in place, will it be effective? If your business has grown it may be that your solution does not reflect your business needs today.

• Proper testing of your UPS equipment and associated batteries is critical. Simply because your UPS is up and running, doesn’t mean it’s fully operational. Testing is a complex operation, and includes Planned Preventive Maintenance (PPM), protection settings, calibration, functional load testing, fault testing, battery run down test and filter integrity amongst other things.

• Alongside regular testing, your UPS, generator and associated batteries should be regularly maintained and serviced. The UPS battery is by far the most vulnerable part of your UPS. Normal battery life expectancy is 4 years, dependent on frequency of use, duration of use and environmental conditions such as heat and humidity.

• Don’t do nothing. Losing power for as little as a quarter of a second can trigger events that may keep IT equipment in your business unavailable from 15 minutes to many hours, and the recovery process can take months. Downtime is costly.

London Economics stated that SME’s can lose up to £44,000 an hour due to power outages and other disturbances.

• No company can afford to be unprotected

from power issues. The costs associated with an unanticipated loss of business and production far exceeds the cost of putting a UPS solution in place.

So, being prepared is an essential component of your business planning, especially as the likelihood of your business suffering a power outage is now higher than ever.

Contact DCResponse DCResponse is a British company based in Witney, Oxfordshire, and we are UPS, generator and maintenance experts.

We are a leading provider of power protection solutions to a wide range of organisations within the UK. Our work spans across many industries including education, medical, retail, motorsport, financial, government, engineering and construction.

Our clients include large and small businesses, as well as household names such as New Look, Aston Martin, Venture Photography and Oxford University.

If you would to get in touch to discuss your power protection and business continuity requirements please contact DCResponse today.

CONTACT DETAILS sales@dcresponse.co.uk 01993 708 855 www.dcresponse.co.uk

23

THE PERFECT MATCH

F O R YO U R M U S I C & YO U R H O M E BeoSound Moment is a new intelligent, wireless, music system that integrates your music and streaming services into one, bringing the music listening experience back into your home.

b an g - ol u f s e n .com

BEOSOUND MOMENT

Bang & Olufsen of Oxford 6 S o u th Parad e, Sum m ertown, Oxford OX 2 7 JL Tel: 0186 5 511241 Emai l : oxford@ba ng-olufsen.com We b: www.ba ng-olufsen.com /oxford

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Beware the Cyber Men Dave Miller, senior web developer at Alberon, explains that keeping your website up-to-date is vital protection in the war against cyber-crime.

WRITTEN BY: SARAH AIREY

When did you last receive the news that you have won millions on a mysterious lottery, been bequeathed thousands of dollars, or a final cry for help from a desperate loved one, having lost wallet, passport, and …. despite hospitalisation and multiple broken limbs … are still able to email you, their last hope, for rescue?

But these well-known scams from the darkest side of the internet are no laughing matter. They represent the tip of a very dangerous iceberg, and last year the cost of cyber-crime worldwide was estimated at US$445 billion (£266 billion).

To protect your business, website security is paramount. Dave Miller, web developer at Alberon, Oxford’s web design and software specialist, says that: “Every day websites are open to attack. Once in, the hackers can play havoc with your, and your customer’s, data, leaving your business in danger.”

Hackers typically try to get into the admin area of a website. Most of the attacks are automated using computer programs to systematically try every site to find the vulnerable ones. Dave says that the Alberon website has prevented 2,000 bogus login attempts over the past month alone. So not just cybermen and women – but cyberbots too.

Once in, hackers can do what they want. Dave says: “The most troubling examples are when sites that store customer logins and personal data are hacked. This data can be used to hack into more sensitive accounts (e.g. Google, Apple, Amazon) or for identity fraud.”

“The worst example I have seen is an ecommerce site which stored credit card data and unencrypted passwords. The weak admin passwords were hacked. We had the job of cleaning it up, but the damage was done and the company had the painful job of informing customers about the data breach.” Please note that this site was most definitely NOT written by Alberon!

people don’t think about security until it’s too late.”

day websites are open “toEvery attack. Once in, the hackers

Periodic security reviews are also crucial. Dave says: “I was recently asked to check a web-based database belonging to a company in London.

It took less than 5 minutes to figure out how to get into their admin area without a password, giving me full access to their customer data and passwords. The client had no idea that their security was so weak. So I encourage any business with doubts about their website security to come to us and get their site tested for vulnerabilities.”

can play havoc with your, and your customer’s, data, leaving your business in danger Dave Miller, Web Developer - Alberon

”

“Even sites with no personal data can be used to launch phishing attacks, send massive amounts of spam, or run blackhat SEO campaigns – which can get the site banned by Google and most email providers, causing big problems.”

He explains that “Most website hackers are not sophisticated. They’re mostly looking for easy prey - people with weak passwords or out-of-date software. They rarely target specific sites, but try every site they can find. This means no-one is safe - every website owner needs to be on guard.”

So how to protect your website?

First of all, make security a top priority. “Sadly most

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“The absolute minimum is to ensure each user has a strong, unique password and install security updates on a regular basis.” This means keeping your website up-to-date as essential protection against the barrage of threats.

The message is clear. If you are to win the battle, it is crucial to work with trusted and experienced web developers who know about security and follow best practices. Alberon developers undergo frequent security training to ensure they can build secure websites and software solutions.

To arrange a security review of your website or for more information see below.

CONTACT DETAILS hello@alberon.co.uk 01865 794009 www.alberon.co.uk

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EIFLA

Architectural Visualisation EIFLA is an Architectural Visualisation Company specialising in producing 3D Renderings/CGI’s and 3D Fly-Through Animations.

WRITTEN BY: NIGEL J BLANCHARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY: EIFLA

The world is getting more hi-tech with every day, and EIFLA has access to all the modern technologies to match their highly qualified team of artists. The blend of creative genius and state of the art technology gives them the ability to march ahead in the industry.

They were cheap and horrible images”, but clients – who include developers, architects, planning consultants, interior designers and estate agents – are impressed by what is now available.

More and more photorealistic Computer Generated Images (CGI’s) are being used to complement detailed planning applications. Many applications fail to get planning consent due to the lack of detailed information produced at planning committee meetings. EIFLA can produce photorealistic images which can be superimposed within the existing street scene, giving planning officers and committee members a real insight on how the development will look. It will also help residents to understand the impact a development may or may not have.

Chesterfield sofa in the sitting room’, or a certain brand of appliances in the kitchen, we can do that.

EIFLA, an Oxfordshire based company, work closely with architects, town planners, designers and estate agents to produce 3D images which are almost as convincing as photographs. They also deal in superrealistic 3D animation, which conveys before-andafter scenarios at the touch of a button, including highly realistic previews of the way a building will look in the context of an existing setting.

“Many of our clients are looking for us to produce interior images that can really show off a room before it has been built. EIFLA will turn them into 3D realistic images and animation with computer-assisted design drawings, interior and exterior specifications. Our clients normally specify down to the tiniest detail, and we spend time on drilling down, so if someone says: ‘I want a blue Chesterfield sofa in the sitting room’, or a certain brand of appliances in the kitchen, we can do that.”

Nigel Blanchard, Founder of EIFLA - “The technology available now is far superior to old-style CGI’s, which did not really look much like genuine photographs.

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“ I want a blue

”

“They may specify exactly what type of taps in the bathroom, exactly what coffee brand and shaped

coffee jar, or that all book titles need to be about history.”

More and more house builders are using 3D animation fly-through, offering a three-dimensional walk through a property or development. YouTube is the biggest search engine now, so websites of house developers and estate agents have to have video content such as animation and video clips.

Overseas investors can now get a great feel on what their investment will look like, once it’s been built.

In Oxfordshire, EIFLA has just done a before-and-after animation for estate agent Breckon & Breckon. They used a slider to show prospective buyers the way a house would look once it had new rendering. Due to the high quality images and the unbeatable pricing structure, EIFLA is becoming one of the recognized providers for 3D visuals. EIFLA has 18 international artists working around the clock, and Nigel runs his business from his newly built space-age style pod, invented by York-based architect Chris Sneesby’s firm Archipod and which has been featured on the Channel 4 TV series Grand Designs.

CONTACT DETAILS hello@eifla.co.uk 0800 142 2473 www.eifla.co.uk

27

Where you see land, we see potential.

With a network of 50 offices throughout the UK, we have the local market knowledge, expertise and outstanding track record for helping landowners extract the maximum value from their land.

The Strutt & Parker team can advise you on everything from planning, viability, valuation and disposal of the site. To find out more about the latest planning updates and how these could unlock the potential of your land please call our Development & Planning team on 01865 366666.

269 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7LL 01865 366666 | struttandparker.com/oxford

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Cyber Liability Insurance – Don’t get lost in Cyberspace “A cyber-attack is a deliberate exploitation of computer systems, technology dependent enterprises and networks.

Cyber-attacks use malicious code to alter computer code, logic or data, resulting in disruptive consequences that can compromise data and lead to cybercrimes, such as information and identity theft.” Techopedia.com WRITTEN BY: PAUL MONACO, COMMERCIAL INSURANCE MANAGER, FOCUS OXFORD LLP

Cyber criminals are “increasingly targeting

SME businesses due to the lack of security, awareness, risk management and training, which makes them easy-pickings.

”

Cyber-attacks on large companies are becoming increasingly covered by the media, with examples such as Paddy Power; in 2014 it revealed that back in 2010 a large-scale data breach resulted in the theft of the personal details of 650,000 of its users.

‘Life is short have an affair’ may be the tagline line used for the worldwide dating website Ashley Madison which facilitates cheating among its 37 million users, but since the data was stolen from the company that owns Ashley Madison, Avid Life Media, many of these users will now not be thinking ‘life is short have an affair’. Moral judgements and ethical debates aside, any business regardless of size, which collects customer or client data, whether it be personal or financial, is at risk of a cyber-attack.

Cyber criminals are increasingly targeting SME businesses due to the lack of security, awareness, risk management and training, which makes them easy-pickings. A study, undertaken by Kaspersky Labs in 2014 (which is one of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies) which covered firms ranging from hairdressers, builders, doctors surgeries, retail stores and architects found, that a staggering 82% thought they were not a target for attack because they were too small or didn’t have anything worth stealing.

However, the threat to smaller firms is real according www.b4-business.com

to the Federation of Small Business, 41% of small firms were hit by cybercrime in 2013 with these numbers rising year on year with 60% of ALL targeted cyber-attacks in 2014 being aimed at SME businesses.

It is your responsibility to safeguard employees and/or customer’s personal data otherwise it can be constituted as a breach of the Data Protection Act (DPA). This could result in compensation to individuals who suffered damage from the breach or severe penalties from the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) where you can be fined up to £500,000.

Surprisingly, 95% of all security incidents involve human error and employees pose the biggest vulnerability to the IT system.

Vulnerabilities caused by human error include: • Using “unpatched” applications where software updates containing fixes or patches are not installed.

• Using easy-to-guess passwords or default passwords.

• Opening an infected attachment or unsafe URL. • Falling victim to social engineering scams (such as phishing).

• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) comes with

risks if employee-owned devices are infected, which can spread malware to the company’s IT system.

Educating employees on how to protect sensitive data using security best-practices is crucial to safeguarding your business.

As well as education of employees and securing your IT systems with rigid cyber-security, a comprehensive cyber liability insurance policy will also provide vital protection for your business. The discussion with your broker should be detailed and include both first party considerations such as, loss/damage to digital assets, reputational damage and business interruption from network downtime amongst others. Third party considerations also need to be discussed and should include security & privacy data breaches, loss of third party data and investigation into a privacy breach.

If you would like a further discussion around cyber liability insurance for your business and/or your current insurance programme then please do get in touch and I would be happy to meet with you.

CONTACT DETAILS paul.monaco@focusllp.co.uk 01865 813 310 www.focusllp.co.uk

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Self defence for your business If you run a small or medium-sized company, there’s a 2-in-3 chance that you’re a prime target for cyber baddies.* So we’re here to help you fend off the hackers, scammers and fraudsters that can damage your income and reputation.

We provide black-belt level protection for all your vital data and ecommerce channels with custom-designed software and web technology, so you can keep things secure and your customers happy, today and into the future.

Get Alberon on your side. Call 01865 794009 or email grow@alberon.co.uk

the software and web solution specialists *Source: Symantec 2015 Internet Security Threat Report, Volume 20

www.alberon.co.uk

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Oxford bids to become European Capital of Innovation Oxford is aiming to be crowned Europe’s Capital of Innovation 2016 and win a prize of €950,000 to build on the city’s achievements and create a lasting culture of innovation across many aspects of people’s lives.

WRITTEN BY: CHOFAMBA SITHOLE

The City Council is coordinating a multi-sector team that includes the County Council, the two universities, local businesses and third sector organisations, to bid for the European Commission’s ’iCapital’ award. The competition was originally launched in 2014, with Barcelona as the inaugural winner.

The prize rewards the best performing city in connecting citizens, public organisations, education and business sectors with innovative activity that includes products, tools and concepts of processes that make a place better for people to live.

Oxford’s offer to Europe is to proactively share its innovation strategy with cities right across the continent while also ensuring more local people can benefit from the opportunities created by innovation.

The team behind the bid will demonstrate the city’s ambitious plans to scale up the benefits of innovative activities across all sectors and communities by actively involving residents.

The bid partners recognise the wider benefits the iCapital accolade could bring to Oxford in terms of sharing ideas with Europe, promotion of Oxford’s

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famous brand, wider funding opportunities for research, business investment and civic pride.

Councillor Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, said: “We have a world class innovation ecosystem and we want to spread this widely across our communities. We will offer a bursary scheme to link young people from Oxford to other European cities to work on innovative ideas and schemes that will improve the quality of life. We want to share Oxford’s energy and skills in a spirit of partnership with cities across Europe. We will share, learn, collaborate, create and re-invest the benefits to improve housing, transport, health services and communications.”

House on the Hill Design, part of The In Oxford Group which publishes B4, has been heavily involved in supporting the bid, including the development of the brand and website for the iCapital bid – www. oxfordicapital16.com; Richard Rosser, Chief Executive, The In Oxford Group said ‘We were delighted to be involved with the bid and to help bring the ideas to fruition through the website. Although it would be great to win,

irrespective of the outcome, the process of putting the proposal together in a relatively a short period of time with the support of such an impressive portfolio of partners demonstrates there is a keen appetite to continue promoting Oxford as a hot spot for innovation.”

Lynn Shepherd, Executive Chair of Venturefest Oxford, said: “Innovation and entrepreneurship have always been part of Oxford’s rich heritage and Venturefest Oxford is proud of the part it plays in this vibrant ecosystem. I truly believe that Oxford is in a strong position to win this prize and I’m very pleased to be part of the bid team.”

The competition closed on 18 November 2015 and an independent high level jury will select the most “innovative, inspiring, integrated, interactive and impactful” winner in March 2016.

CONTACT DETAILS Mpeachey@oxford.gov.uk 01865 252021 www.oxfordicapital16.com

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CLIENT SUPPORT AUDIT ACCOUNTANCY CHARITIES COMPANY SECRETARIAL CONSULTANCY FINANCIAL PLANNING FORENSIC ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS PAYROLL TAXATION TRUSTS

OXFORD 30 St. Giles, Oxford OX1 3LE Tel . 01865 559900 email . information@wenntownsend.co.uk CIRENCESTER 5 Gosditch Street, Cirencester GL7 2AG Tel . 01285 659778 email . partners@wenntownsend.net ABINGDON 10 Broad Street, Abingdon OX14 3LH Tel . 01235 548700 email . abingdon@wenntownsend.co.uk www.wenntownsend .co .uk

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Is your HR serving you well?

Do you think of the HR function when you think of innovation? Most likely you think high tech, medicine or possibly materials, such as graphene. Yet, people management practices are rapidly changing with five generations cohabitating in the workplace with different sets of skills, values and expectations; mobile technology offering increased opportunities for remote and flexible working; HR IT software enabling data management and integration between HR information and Payroll; and Social Media impacting on the ability to recruit as well as providing the ability for each and every employee to become an ambassador for the business.

WRITTEN BY: STEVE SWEETLOVE MD

Increasingly the way you manage your people determines your ability to recruit and retain talent and keep competitive advantage. Younger generations are more likely to pay attention to how your core business values match theirs before they apply for jobs or sign your contract. Employers offering employee benefits and training programme have a competitive edge, especially at a time when key skills are increasingly in short supply and economic growth is fragile.

Hootsuite, for example, has from the outset built time for fitness in the working day, enabling staff to work flexibly to go to the gym, set off for a run, fit a swim in… Heldergroen, a design studio in the Netherland, encourages its employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance by making their desks simply disappear at 6pm and transforming the space for networking events, yoga classes or even food festivals etc. But simpler initiatives are also effective, right down to rethinking approaches to flexible working and honing recruitment and selection processes to take account of the new ways of communicating the opportunities you offer.

In the area of Big Data, HR IT is also playing a significant role in managing your employees and www.b4-business.com

their information. From the simple holiday planner to managing complicated shift patterns and zero hours contracts, working out holiday pay or complying with your auto-enrolment obligations, HR IT ensure that your business keeps complete, compliant, easily accessible and reliable information and makes your payroll much less likely to get it wrong. HR IT systems can also help you keep on top of your staff training needs by alerting you when certificates are about to expire; manage your staff appraisals process; identify

HR IT ensure that your “ business keeps complete, compliant, easily accessible and reliable information and makes your payroll much less likely to get it wrong

”

anymore, it is an employment service one-stopshop offering compliance advice; HR best-practice; training, Payroll services and an HR IT system PeopleLog. We have offices in 5 locations so as to ensure that there is always somebody you can talk to but we also are a team of 28 professionals with widespread industry expertise so that you can benefit from the same level of expertise as the big corporates. We pride ourselves in offering practical tailored solutions that will suit your circumstances and your business objectives rather than simply focus on complying with the letter of the law. We are realistic rather than legalistic and we never lose sight of your vision!

If you would like to discuss how we can help, please contact us below. You can also visit our website for more information on the services we offer, a list of our regular free events or to read our industry related blogs. We look forward to helping you soon.

sickness patterns that need attending to as well as keep track of name or bank account changes.

CONTACT DETAILS It can be difficult to keep up with new ways of working as well as changes to the employment legislation when you are an SME. This is why Right Hand HR is not just an HR outsourcing company

enquiries@rhhr.com 01494 457 681 www.rhhr.com

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Meet Henmans Freeth’s Commercial Property Team Our team of specialist lawyers advise corporations, individuals and charities on a wide range of commercial property issues.

WRITTEN BY: HENMANS FREETH PHOTOGRAPHY BY: TOM WELLER

Partner Samantha Leigh is a “very forthcoming” (Chambers, 2016) specialist in our rural team but she is an experienced commercial property lawyer, and continues to use her commercial property expertise in the rural sphere. Samantha works in the team advising on the management and sale and purchase of investment property portfolios consisting of both commercial as well as rural properties and is known for her sensible commercial advice. She gains most of her work from recommendation.

Our team of experts, co-headed by Partner Patrick Whetter and Director Adrian White, has again been recognised by The Legal 500 (the Clients Guide to the UK Legal Profession) 2015 as a top tier team in the South East.

The Team Patrick is “very approachable” (Chambers, 2016) and “thinks outside the box”. He has particular expertise in commercial landlord and tenant, freehold acquisitions and disposals and all aspects of property portfolio management. He deals with a variety of complex commercial transactions including conditional contracts and options, sale and leasebacks, corporate support transactions and secured lending. Patrick is always keen to add value when the opportunity arises and to become involved in strategic and commercial decisions early in the negotiation stages of transactions.

Adrian White - Director

Adrian deals with a range of commercial property transactions but specialises in property development, particularly planning, construction and environmental matters. He deals with options, contracts conditional on planning, promotion agreements, collaboration agreements, planning agreements and development agreements. He has significant expertise in brownfield development, particularly the complex issues involving contaminated land, and the re-use of listed buildings. Adrian acts for a number of national and local charities.

They are superb. It’s thanks to “them that we got through our matter without having a nervous breakdown. I can’t recommend them highly enough Patrick Whetter - Partner

34

Chambers, 2016

”

Samantha Leigh - Partner

Lesley Pollock, Director and Oxford Head of Charity Property, acts for a number of national and other charities on their acquisitions, disposals and property management of commercial property nationally.

She has been a commercial property lawyer for more than 30 years and her experience also extends to rural and residential properties.

www.b4-business.com

B4

regularly advise clients on lease renewal proceedings, break notices, breach of covenant disputes, forfeiture and possession claims, title and rights of way disputes, dilapidations, rent and service charge recovery and Party Wall Act disputes. They also work closely with our development team and advise on disputed option and promotion agreements. Consistent with the team approach of resolving disputes better, faster and cheaper they are both keen on using all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation, Land Registry Adjudications and PACT arbitrations.

Extremely high-quality and “ user-friendly service – the team gives actionable advice in a timely manner Chambers, 2016

legal

”

Anna Power - Associate

Anna Power, Associate, assists Adrian with planning and environmental issues. Anna also manages her own property development case load which includes site acquisitions (including option agreements and conditional contracts), site assembly and infrastructure agreements and property portfolio management.

Clare Bellis - Director

They are extremely thorough, “ very knowledgeable and possess good communication skills ”

Lesley Pollock - Director

Desh Patel is an Associate who works closely with Patrick on a broad range of commercial property transactions. Desh particularly enjoys property finance matters and he works closely with our excellent corporate team. Desh advises on the property aspects of high value commercial restructures as well as financial lending matters. He also acts for key commercial clients in their property portfolio management.

Chambers, 2016

Laura Hodgson - Solicitor

Laura Hodgson, solicitor, handles a broad range of commercial property transactions, including commercial landlord and tenant matters, investment property and lettings of commercial/offices/retail shops/units. Since joining the firm Laura has also dealt with development and planning matters working alongside Adrian and Anna.

Desh Patel - Associate

www.b4-business.com

A wide range of commercial property disputes are also handled by Director Clare Bellis and Associate Andrew Dashwood-Begg. They aim to provide a solutions focused approach, working closely with clients to understand their commercial aims and to deliver a prompt and cost effective service. They

Andrew Dashwood-Begg - Associate

CONTACT DETAILS welcome@henmansfreeth.co.uk 01865 781000 www.henmansfreeth.co.uk

35

Conference @SaïdOxford Your future is our business The combination of stunning spaces, impressive technology, delicious food and unbeatable locations makes Saïd Business School, the centre for Oxford’s conferencing

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B4

advice

How to find the right online accounting software solution Stuart Crook explains what to review when adopting online accounting software or updating an existing package.

Invest in it

Checklist sign off

Automation needed*

Plan for profits

Client aware of requirements*

WRITTEN BY: STUART CROOK

Advanced Growth Plateau

Skills

Decline Systems and processes review

Why* Start up

1st Brick wall

Good times

Payback

Manual

Excel

What is online accounting software?

The term refers to accounting software that’s based in the cloud. Both the software application and your data are stored on the provider’s servers (or servers used by your provider). As a user all you then need is a computer with internet connectivity to log in and access your accounts.

In the past you were limited to just a desktop based computer which contained both the software and your data. No more. Today, the web and cloud storage have empowered you to be able to obtain all your organisation’s financial information and customer account details from any device, at any time, in any location.

Do you really need software? What’s your budget?

Where are you in your business lifecycle? If you’re just starting then you can probably make do with a spreadsheet. If your business is early stage or maturing, then you’ll probably have plenty of customers and be dealing with a considerable number of transactions. The significant time and effort of processing these manually will justify a move to online accounting software.

Given the large number of providers out there, a good way to reduce the vast product options (there are many providers out there) is to start out by setting a budget. Packages tend to vary from £5£29 per month but be warned, cheaper software tends to not have the functionality or flexibility of the more premium products. So make sure you www.b4-business.com

(Template)

Fast growth

Online

In-house Issues Pro’s-con’s

2nd Brick wall

A/C’s system

sign up to a package that has the capacity to grow with your business.

Know your reporting requirements To understand whether a package is suitable for your business, you must have knowledge of the reports you need to extract and at what time intervals. This could depend on the sector you operate in. Think about the format of your accounts. Do they need to be broken down into segments, does the software have this capability?

Create a checklist of requirements and compare it against the features of the packages in question. Use this to conduct a cost benefit analysis to help narrow down your search. If you can integrate the front end or customer facing package with the finances you’ll cut down on the number of transactions required and reduce the amount of time needed to prepare the figures.

User friendliness and who needs to access the software?

Will you be the only person accessing your organisation’s financial information or will there be other members of staff who need this? If they do will their access rights need to be limited? Check the software terms of use carefully, how many licenses are included as part of the license agreement? Within that can you limit what different users can see and do through their accounts?

As a general rule you want to avoid software that isn’t intuitive. Keep things simple where possible so that

financial intelligence can be accessed and shared both quickly and easily. Also note the customer service and help available. More often than not complex issues will require more than just email support to resolve them.

How secure is your data?

Considering the high profile hacking cases in recent years, you want to be sure that your data is stored securely. That’s especially the case when you consider that many providers use third party data storage specialists. Where exactly is your information and customers’ data being stored?

Check the provider is compliant with rules 7 and 8 of the Data Protection Act 1998 and that they have sufficient firewalls in place to handle malware, Trojans and spyware. What disaster recovery plans do they have in place if any and, do they hold any safety certificates?

Overall, conduct a thorough search because it pays to do your homework and, take your time before making a selection. The investment should prove very valuable because the software will equip you with the necessary financial intelligence to make better informed strategic business decisions moving forward.

CONTACT DETAILS oxford@wellersaccountants.co.uk 01865 723 131 www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

37

Richmond Villages, Witney David Westerby is the Village Manager of the new Richmond Retirement Village in Witney which has only recently started welcoming its first residents following an extensive period of development. In total, there will be 205 residents by this time next year ably supported by almost as many highly trained staff and it is the quality of these staff and the development itself which sets Richmond Villages apart from the field as the UK’s leading provider of award-winning retirement villages.

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD ROSSER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RICHMOND VILLAGES & ROB SCOTCHER

In total there are five sites (Painswick, Letcombe Regis, Bede Village, Northampton and Nantwich) in the Richmond Villages’ portfolio, acquired two years ago by Bupa, with a further two opening soon (Aston-on-Trent in Derbyshire and Evesham).

This is a relatively new appointment for the engaging David, but it is quite clear in conversation that David is already more than impressed with Richmond Villages. Having travelled the world as the son of a military father, David has experienced many different places and cultures but there’s a clear sense of calm as he outlines what is in store for residents fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the wonderful facilities and surroundings of the latest addition to the Richmond Villages’ portfolio.

Praise indeed from a man who holds an HND in Hospitality Management and who has just completed

38

an HND in Health and Social Care. David has also undertaken a significant number of supplementary training programs developing specialist knowledge in both the care and hospitality sectors.

“My last position was as the Registered Manager of a premium quality residential and nursing home with independent living apartments in Gloucestershire.

The centre was able to accommodate 59 guests within the main building and provided for complexed needs in addition to looking after those with dementia. I truly enjoyed this role because I could see the value the team and I brought to people’s lives. I am very proud that the centre achieved a ‘good’ rating from the CQC, the regulator.

“I commenced my career in the hospitality sector and rose quickly through the ranks. I have operated a medium-sized group of hotels which included

de-luxe and budget models, large and boutique properties and I have also managed a small group of select restaurants in London.

“My experiences seem to sit well with the Richmond Villages’ model. I have seen and can see the fantastic value that it brings to resident’s lives. It’s not just the value associated with the capital acquisition made by clients in the very beginning but the fantastic level of facilities and activities provided that create social interaction and well-being – Richmond Villages achieves that so well. I think one of the most desperate conditions to suffer in life is that of loneliness and I think the village arrangement provides the perfect solution to help prevent that.

Clearly if someone wants a bit of solitude (don’t we all from time to time?) the facilities and open spaces provide for that.

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B4

“There is a fantastic stepped approach to developing care needs at Richmond Villages. From a fantastic variety of de-luxe apartments with two en-suite bedrooms, kitchen, lounge, dining room and hall (1500 sq ft) to a single en-suite bedroom within the care home. I love the assisted living apartments (we call them Suites). Equipped in the same way as an apartment but with a smaller kitchen and without a cooker, the suite offering includes a full hospitality package where all services can be provided – food, laundry and, of course, care services. There are charges for these services but when you put them up against what can be sourced in a typical home environment, they are vastly superior and need not necessarily be that much more expensive.

“There are wonderful facilities inside the Village Centre at Witney including a Wellness Spa, pool, sauna, salt room, experience shower, gym, hairdresser, library, restaurant, bar, a full activities suite, beautiful architecture and stunning gardens.

www.b4-business.com

“Activities are really important for Richmond Villages as we develop and stimulate social interaction.

Family and friends can also come and dine and even take advantage of the pool – it’s great to see grandparents interacting with their grandchildren.

Friends and family can also come and stay on site in some of our ‘Retreats’ suites which is a growing and expanding part of the business.

“The critical element of the site is that if or when care is needed, the Richmond Villages’ team are there to make things happen and to liaise with multi-disciplinary bodies ensuring that an individual’s preferences are taken care of at all times.”

The first tranche of apartments is currently being released with 28 of the 30 already sold with the first residents expected to move in shortly after our interview. The final phase of apartments are available in summer 2016 and of the 49 available, over 50% have already been sold. David adds, “As an organisation, Richmond Villages are always looking

spotlight

for new sites as there is an increasing demand for the product and services that we provide. In the United States, retirement communities are widespread and I see us going, ever-increasingly, that way. We need to find the sites with the right demographics, suitable staff and the other key ingredients which make Richmond Villages’ communities so desirable.

“It’s a privilege to be working with such a forward thinking group, one that genuinely cares about people and one that insists on providing the ultimate in quality and care.”

Interested in finding out more? Please contact Mark Young below.

CONTACT DETAILS mark.young@richmond-villages.com 01993 768 557 www.richmond-villages.com/witney

39

BUSINESS

Sponsor or Present at Oxfordshire’s leading event for the business community

6

Brought to you by

DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO: • Network with other sponsors and presenters • Receive exclusive coverage in the event programme and the post event supplement, both circulated with B4 Magazine to 9,000 business decision makers throughout the Thames Valley • Receive a video of your presentation to use for your own marketing purposes • Receive invaluable presentation support before the event from Sandler Training UK, WEIE and Oxford Professional Consulting

SPONSOR / PRESENTER PACKAGE Sponsoring at Business in Oxford 2016 will be about much more than speaking for 12 minutes. We have created a package which gives you great networking opportunities before and at the event, fantastic exposure in the pre event programme and the post event supplement and superb presentation advice to ensure that on the day you are ready to make the most of your platform at Oxfordshire’s leading business event of the year. In addition to live-streaming all 80 presentations on the day, giving unlimited access to those beyond the Saïd, the video of your presentation will be given to you so you have a permanent record of your performance to put on your website and send out through your social media channels.

PRINT EXPOSURE Business in Oxford 2016 Programme

Pre Event Sponsors Lunch sponsored by Oxford Innovation

BUSINESS

All sponsors will be invited to the Business in Oxford sponsors lunch where they will have the opportunity to not only meet other sponsors and make great contacts but also enjoy a relaxed lunch at one of Oxford’s leading restaurants.

TUESDAY 30TH JUNE - 7.30AM - 7.30PM SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL

9,000 copies of the programme will be sent out with B4 Magazine in February 2016 and each sponsor will have a full page devoted to their business and presentation giving Oxfordshire’s business community a perfect insight into what presentations they can register for.

OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

In Association with

xLEP

driving economic growth

Business in Oxford 2016

ISSUE 36 AUGUST 2015

ON LINE

KEEPING YOUR FOCUS Focus Oxford LLP celebrating 25 years. Read more inside

DANESFIELD HOUSE

W W W . B 4 - B U S I N E S S . C O M

TOURISM FEATURE

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Presence on www. businessinoxford.com as one of our sponsors with information about your business and an overview of your presentation.

NEWBURY SHOWGROUND

B E T W E E N

Pre Event Drinks A perfect opportunity for you to get to know the other presenters in your POD and all of the other event sponsors.

Compare notes and discuss strategies or just make great connections to help your business.

OVERALL EVENT SPONSOR

A great networking opportunity in itself, mix with over 300 representatives from Oxfordshire businesses, a fantastic opportunity to make invaluable contacts

r

NETWORKING

a r Ye de s ce n ard the pla nta w of d Sa A le 2n 014 edia Tit 2 M se e th al ri in anci nterp Fin / E E SM

MAGAZINE

st

B4

Each sponsor’s presentation will be reported on by B4 in our post event supplement sent out with B4, once again to 9,000 Thames Valley decision makers. You will have a full page report of your presentation together with photos of you and any co-presenters in action.

Be

Post Event supplement

B U S I N E S S E S

EVENT COLLATERAL Your logo will be included on all event collateral including adverts, promotional brochures, event banners and much more.

We will also be promoting your involvement as a sponsor through social media including Twitter and LinkedIn.

YOUR PRESENTATION The event itself and the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your business and its services to the Oxfordshire business community. It’s a great chance for you to Inspire, Engage and Inform, the three key building blocks of Business in Oxford. It’s not a SELL SELL SELL platform, it’s a soft sell, a far more effective way for you to build relationships and do more business.

O V E R A L L EVENT SPONSOR

VIDEO OF YOUR PRESENTATION COURTESY OF STUDIO 8 We will be live-streaming all 80 presentations at Business in Oxford 2016 and a video of your performance will also be made available to you after the event to use as you see fit. All 80 videos will also be available on the Business in Oxford website so your presentation can be viewed at any time by anyone in the world!

WHY NOT ATTEND THE FOLLOWING PRE EVENT WORKSHOPS?

5 steps to a better presentation with Sandler Training UK Talking at events can always be difficult… whether its running to a tight schedule, attracting the right crowd or even just remembering what you were going to say! To help our presenters get as much as they can out of Business in Oxford, Anneli Thomson will talk us through the 5 steps we need to keep in mind to make sure your talk sparkles.

Whether you are new to presenting or an experienced speaker, Anneli will make sure there are some useful tips you can take away and use before the big day.

• The seven Deadly Sins of Presenting • Make it Count - Understand what matters in your presentation • How to Build Credibility • The Most Important Preparation you Need to do • How to Make Money from your Talk Find out more about Sandler UK at www.uk.sandler.com

Boost Your Presentation Skills with Alison Haill of Oxford Professional Consulting Are you a natural in front of an audience or do you stand stiffly and read from your cards? Can you keep to the time allotted or do you ignore the clock?

Alison shares techniques to increase your impact and confidence, using her own experience as a speaker and her ability to pinpoint tiny changes that make a big difference. Her tips include how to:

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• Manage nerves and boost confidence • Speak with authority • Grab and keep the audience’s attention • Give them value • Be memorable • Manage your timing Find out more about Oxford Professional Consulting at www.opcOxford.com

PRICING Sponsors package

£1,500+VAT Presenters package

£750+VAT

DATE / VENUE  Thursday 21st April,

2016

How to make your presentation memorable using social media with WEIE You’ve probably heard it before: social media isn’t going anywhere. We’ve seen it disrupt everything from the way people communicate with one another, to the way brands market themselves.

This 45-60 minute masterclass with Lydia Igweh from Oxford based digital marketing agency, WEIE, will help you with the following: Before your presentation • How to define your presentation‘s engagement goals • How to connect and build interest with your audience before your presentation • How to create a more interactive presentation by incorporating social media After your presentation • How to start building relationships with your audience after your presentation • How to leave your audience wanting more information from you and more engagement through social media Find out more about WEIE at www. weieagency.co.uk

 Saïd Business School,

Oxford

CONTACT US  B4, The Firs,

Headington Hill, Oxford OX3 0BT  01865 742211  businessinoxford.co.uk

essence it is not all over “forIn the property investor in Oxford as prices will remain buoyant all the time the demand outstrips supply, however the modern day Landlord will have to have his wits about him, be aware of changing legislation and take good advice.

�

Robin Swailes - North Oxford Property Services

42

www.b4-business.com

B4

property

Is it all over for the Buy to Let Investor?

Robin Swailes, Oxford property expert, explores the recent tax legislation which is designed to slow property investment for the small players.

WRITTEN BY: ROBIN SWAILES PHOTOGRAPHY BY: STUDIO8

Recent changes in the way “Buy to Let” Landlords are taxed could lead many into the red says Oxford property guru.

Soon, Landlords will be unable to claim the full mortgage interest tax relief from their rental income before paying tax. Starting in 2017 over a three year period, only 50% of the mortgage interest will be eligible for deduction, in effect, cutting relief from 40% or 45% to 20% by April 2020.

If you are seeking to capitalise upon the favourable supply /demand ratio that makes the Oxford property market so attractive, you now need to proceed with caution in the light of these changes.

Landlords who invest in property in South East England are paying inflated prices per square foot with sales in Oxford frequently achieving a staggering £1.000. By way of comparison, a Landlord in Hull for example, is likely to achieve only £154 per square foot. (example: five bed detached sale £325.000 Marlborough Ave, Hull).

Although it should be noted that in this example where the Oxford price achieved is some 6.5 times higher than Hull, the yield is not exponential when comparing these locations. An Oxford one bedroom apartment may average £900.00 per month while Hull will still command £450.00 per month. Hull, therefore, has a 3 times higher rent role than Oxford per pound invested.

What does all this mean to the investor?

This means that Landlords in Oxford and South East England receive a lot less rental income than their counterparts up country. In fact, buying a rental property in Oxford with a 75% mortgage will seldom bring you a rental profit in the first few years.

The Landlord who invests in Oxford and the South East, relies upon capital growth to make a return in the early years. Property investors, in these circumstances, must view their investment as a medium to long term proposition which benefits the community and allows working people to www.b4-business.com

live in areas they would not otherwise be able to afford. For many, purchasing these properties is often unaffordable for the tenant.

The point is, that by reducing the mortgage interest claimable, many of these Landlords who have invested their life savings to secure a future in property for their retirement, will be forced into a negative yield scenario. This means they will no longer break even in the early years, will make a loss on their investment and incur cash flow problems as the income will not cover expenditure.

Considering the 2015 Autumn Statement, the Government has ruled that, if you want to buy an investment property to let, then you will pay a substantial 3% extra in taxation for the privilege of doing so after April 2016. This, of course, hits Oxford investors many times harder than in Northern areas such as Hull, for example. This Government strategy seems counter productive since the demand for rental properties in Oxford and the South East of England vastly exceeds supply as compared to other areas in the U.K.

The inevitability and implications of future interest rate rises to costs will be an additional burden to private Landlords.

Landlords will now only be able to claim 50% of the extra interest offset against their rental income.

What can be done to preserve your investment and avoid the potential of losing your hard earned savings through very demanding property tax disincentives?

If you, as a Landlord, transfer one or all of your rental properties into a company by incorporating the business, you will reduce these draconian tax burdens on the rental income.

In a business, you are allowed to claim full interest for a loan taken out for the purpose of purchasing it. You are only paying tax on the profit and, better still, if you keep the profit in the company then this retained small company profit only attracts corporation tax at a rate of 20%.

There are disadvantages to incorporating your property portfolio. You may have to revalue your property before incorporating it from a person to a business and this may incur capital gains tax if the property value has increased above the allowance.

It remains to be seen how this government initiative will impact upon the small property investor who makes an important contribution to the U.K.’s rental sector. Only time will tell if these changes will translate into upward pressure on rents and, therefore tenants, whom it is assumed are supposed to benefit from these punitive tax burdens imposed upon private Landlords.

In essence, however, the outlook will remain positive for the Oxford property investor since supply cannot match the insatiable domestic and International demand for rental property in the city and it’s environs.

Developments in rail infrastructure and reduced commuting times to London, for example, will only serve to further increase this supply/demand disparity in favour of the Oxford property investor.

To conclude, the property investor will need to keep their wits about them, be abreast of these and future changes and be prepared to take good advice.

Robin Swailes is not a financial advisor, but he has hands on experience in the Oxford property market. He is associated with North Oxford Property Services, established twenty five years ago and now a leading player in the Oxford property letting sector. North Oxford Property Services offers the opportunity to new Landlords to enter the Oxford rental market.

Robin@NOPS.co.uk

CONTACT DETAILS post@northoxfordproperty.co.uk 01865 318 538 www.nops.co.uk

43

Christmas Party Nights Celebrate the festive season at one of the UK’s finest racecourses, and experience the fun, thrills and glamour of our spectacular Christmas parties

Shared Party Nights on Friday 4, Saturday 5,Friday 11, Saturday 12,Friday 18, Saturday 19 December Bespoke private parties are available for a minimum of 50

Packages from £54.95 inc. VAT

Book Now

Sparkling Wine Buck’s Fizz on arrival Three Course Dinner Tea & Coffee Disco & Entertainment (Drinks packages available)

Book online at newburyracecourse.co.uk/christmas2015 Call 01635 40015 or email Christmas@newburyracecourse.co.uk

B4

advice

Make Time For Your Team If you run a team of any sort you’ll know it’s important to get the best out of them. You might know that, but what do you do to ensure it happens? B4’s Editor, Richard Rosser, spent two days on an Oxford Professional Consulting course “Coaching Skills for Managers” led by Alison Haill, to find out about fine-tuning your team.

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD ROSSER

I haven’t been on a serious training course for about twenty years. I know that’s not good, nor something to be proud of, let alone print in a magazine! But I trust Alison and believed her when she told me it would be worth taking time out of the office….she was right.

Along with five other delegates, through case studies, handy techniques, practical exercises, sharing our own experiences and solving problems, I learnt about the coaching approach to managing people and came away with excellent ideas and new skills to put into practice with my team.

3. Set up a structure for regular 1:1 conversations

explanations, and to be positive. So it is similar to the Radiator and Drain idea.

I’m sure, for many of you, it is already a routine. If it’s not, set it in motion. Listen to your team, find out their problems, allow them to set their own goals (aligned to company ones) and agree areas for improvement. Write it all down, date it and see how they have progressed in three months.

Chris Bantock, Managing Director of BeSeen Marketing commented: “The course was extremely enlightening - I learned new tools and techniques for coaching which will be used to help staff, friends and family, not for a week after the course but for many years to come.“

4. Discover your team’s skills

Alison’s techniques were excellent and memorable.

After the course she facilitated a follow up conference call as a refresher and to encourage us to implement the new skills. The results were very encouraging: each course participant had learned skills which, when put into action, had genuine and positive effects.

Listen more. Deep listening, without jumping in, is a skill which will provide you with more information about your colleagues and help them achieve point 2, below.

By arranging one to ones, get your team members to tell you what they like. You might discover, as I did, that one of your team has a passion for something that you were thinking of hiring in. Gear work to your individual team member’s skills….it will make for a much more positive working environment. It can’t all be good, but if you at least know what the individuals like, then you can structure the working week to give a good balance between the mundane, necessary tasks and jobs they enjoy.

2. Allow your team to think for themselves

5. Be Positive and stay “above the line”

Let your colleagues come up with the solutions to problems – don’t do the thinking for them. They’ll feel more of a sense of achievement if they are allowed the freedom to think and suggest. They will become lazy if you continually provide them with the answers.

On the course I was surprised that nobody in the room had heard of the Radiator and Drain concept….where radiators radiate positive energy and drains drain it away. The ‘Above the Line’ concept encourages individuals to find solutions and be accountable instead of giving excuses and

Here are 5 key lessons learned:

1. Listen

www.b4-business.com

Find details about Alison’s courses and one to one training at the website below.

Next dates for this course: 6-7 January 2016

CONTACT DETAILS alison.haill@opcOxford.com 01865 436 791 www.opcoxford.com

45

Put your business on the map Accurate and detailed maps of land and property assets are key to their efficient management, and really help the swift resolution of boundary disputes, and the electronic landscape has certain advantages when it comes to looking after its physical counterpart, according to Andy Williams, the new head of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and mapping at Carter Jonas who is charged with bringing Military decision making tools to the urban and rural property sector.

WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA LANE-NOTT, SPACECRAFT CONSULTING PHOTOGRAPHY BY: AURELIAN LANGLAIS

Andy Williams, Carter Jonas’ new Head of GIS & Mapping

46

www.b4-business.com

B4

property

About Andy Williams A fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and chartered geographer, Andy has joined Carter Jonas from the British Army where he served for 18 years, most recently at the Royal School of Military Survey in Thatcham where he was a senior instructor, and also chief geographic officer for the MOD’s support in the 2012 Olympics. Andy’s remit is to grow the firm’s delivery of GIS and mapping services both internally as it supports it commercial, planning and development, residential, rural teams, and externally to provide direct consultancy services for developers, investors, landowners, and the professional services industry.

So much information essential to the running of any property asset, from a business park to a country estate, is tied up in the knowledge of key personnel - detailed facts of land drains, culverts, and other drainage features is acquired over years of onsite experience, but often it cannot be shared with contractors, who have to be led around, and it remains vulnerable to changes of staff.

Topographic surveys can be carried out relatively inexpensively, leading to the production of land terriers that aid the management of tenancies and scheduled maintenance. Carter Jonas offers the facility to securely host this commercially-sensitive information and make it accessible to estate personnel through interactive mapping portals.

Surveying has come a long way, and the latest application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology can even assist farmers to identify the spread of invasive species and target crop spraying operations. The best results are obtained when a GIS is used to combine remote sensing data with local knowledge and accurate information about soil conditions and ground water, before planning precisely where, and where not, to take action. Such surveys can be completed leading to the production of mapping portals which can aid the management of tenancies and scheduled maintenance.

Scanning technology is also useful for evaluating and monitoring buildings, bridges and earth banks that may be at risk from subsidence, erosion, or structural defects. Firms that integrate surveyors with mapping, architects, and masterplanning have a distinct advantage when it comes to looking after old assets and visualising new developments.

Landlords and owners considering planning applications need to access information on the environment beyond their boundary; this information can be freely available, but often attracts a charge. There are also questions of scale and resolution, the traditional post-election

www.b4-business.com

Carter Jonas bolsters national mapping team

red/blue constituency map is not necessarily a good indicator of local opinion on a given topic; experience counts when cutting through the chaff to find the right information to support the right decision.

Assessing the impact of a proposed change of use starts to realise the full power of GIS and operator.

Combining socio-economic distributions with additional information on access to transport and utilities neatly describes the need for and viability of a scheme, or the potential catchment of a new service provider.

The national GIS & Mapping team is based in Carter Jonas’ 95 people-strong Oxford office and is a fully integrated spatial information service. In other words, digitally connecting location, people and activities, that harnesses accurate GPS surveys and a state of the art GIS enterprise to deliver powerful planning and decision making tools in a digestible format.

Andy Williams explained: “As the new head, I have brought with me substantial experience of Military Surveying and Geospatial Intelligence. I am already making improvements to our services

with an operational focus that means clients can access a National service with the responsiveness you would expect from a local agent.

“My vision for the GIS & Mapping team is to be the biggest seller of referencing services to infrastructure development across the country. We already work hand in hand with firmwide teams for their clients using GIS analysis to identify the optimum locations for strategic national assets, and finding good locations for new businesses, houses, and infrastructures. We have a great team in place consisting of mapping technicians and land referencers who can help our clients.”

Andy concluded: “The science is in databases and tools to exploit big data sets, whilst the art is in harnessing opinions as objectively as possible.

How GIS applies to real estate is about making sure you have the right asset in the right place to achieve the aim.”

CONTACT DETAILS andy.williams@carterjonas.co.uk 01865 511 444 www.carterjonas.co.uk

47

Living in Oxford Awards

Sponsor Opportunities

Following on from the success of the inaugural Living in Oxford Awards at Weston Library where over 250 guests enjoyed a fast moving ceremony to celebrate winners in 15 categories, the 2016 event will build on this success and take place on Thursday 25th February, once again at the recently refurbished Weston Library.

Your business could present one of the Living in Oxford Awards to a leading Oxfordshire business, whether it’s The Randolph Hotel, Oxford’s only five star hotel, Blenheim Palace, one of England’s leading attractions or one of Oxford University’s world famous colleges.

Entering the Awards is simple – Just call us on 01865 742211 today to discuss. The public voting will start on 1st November 2015. Then it’s down to you to tell all of your customers to vote for you and the general public to back you!

You could then be joining those below who were successful at the 2015 Awards: (NB not all winners logos are shown)

Simply pick a category that you would like to sponsor and send your application form (enclosed) to confirm your sponsorship and we will be in touch to tell you what we need next.

Overall Awards Sponsorship - £2,500+VAT • Present the overall Living in Oxford ‘Number One’ trophy presented to the business receiving the most public votes across all categories. This could be a restaurant, an attraction, a hotel or a charity. Every business is in with a chance of winning this prestigious Award.

• Receive 10 VIP tickets to the Awards ceremony on 25th February, 2016 • Your logo on all certificates as main sponsor • See your logo on all Awards collateral, on and off line – the Awards will be known as: The Living in Oxford Awards sponsored by Your Business

MAIN SPONSOR

Category Sponsorship - £500+VAT • Present the winner with their certificate • Receive 4 VIP tickets to the Awards ceremony on 25th February, 2016 • Your logo on all certificates • See your logo on all Awards collateral, on and off line

2016 Awards Categories • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Favourite for Culture Favourite Place to Eat Favourite Attraction Favourite for Nightlife Favourite for Education Favourite for Business Favourite Event Favourite for Kids Favourite for Leisure Favourite for Health & Beauty Favourite for Accommodation Favourite for Shopping Favourite Charity Oxfordshire’s Favourite (overall winner)

• Favourite Oxford University College • Favourite Gallery • Living in Oxford Magazine Loyal Customer Award

2015 Living in Oxford Awards winners Modern Art Oxford - Favourite for Art and Culture La Cucina - Favourite Place to Eat Oxford Castle - Favourite Attraction The Duke of Cambridge - Favourite for Nightlife City of Oxford College - Favourite for Education Hedges Law - Favourite Other Business Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials - Favourite Event Stagecoach Oxford - Favourite for Kids Millets Farm Falconry - Favourite for Leisure Bare UK - Favourite for Health & Beauty The Randolph Hotel - Favourite for Accommodation Blackwell’s - Favourite for Shopping CLIC Sargent - Favourite Charity Oxford Castle - Oxfordshire’s Favourite City Sightseeing - LIO Magazine Loyal Customer Award

To enter please call 01865 742211

Workplace Essentials WRITTEN BY: GEMMA MALLON

2015 was a great year for Aston & James.

They celebrated their 25th year in business, as well as winning a multitude of awards to show how a company which started out as a small entrepreneurial venture has grown from strength to strength.

They believe in building relationships to know and understand their customer’s business. This allows them to implement relevant and suitable solutions, along with great products to supply every area of their customers’ business. One order, one delivery, one invoice.

Hopefully you will have seen Aston & James’ most valued services detailed in the last issue of B4 magazine. These include: Stationery, Facilities

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Management, Ink & Toners, Furniture, Machines & MPS, Print, Gifts & Workwear, Shredding, and Eco Solutions. They can supply any and every product for your workplace.

During 2016 Aston & James are working with new and existing customers to explore their facilities management requirements. This can range from catering, janitorial, workwear, personal protection equipment, security, electrical, access & handling, packaging, and health & safety.

Facilities management is a huge area which contains many different products, with different levels of requirements for individual businesses.

The one product area which will remain the same for all companies however is health & safety.

There are some important health & safety elements to consider when running your business, one being a First Aid kit. First Aid kits are a legal requirement for every workplace, and 75% of UK employees can’t find their kit*.

“Aston & James’ range

of workplace First Aid kits all confirm to the new standard BS-8599-1, and are HSE Compliant.

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This is a shocking statistic. Think, if there was an accident in your office right now would you know where to look? Health & safety in the workplace is very important. Having the correct First Aid kit to fit your business is vital to ensure you have the right equipment to hand if/when an accident occurs.

The Health & Safety (First-Aid) regulation 1981 requires employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.

“45% UK businesses

fail to keep their First Aid boxes checked and stocked to the required level*

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The minimum level of First Aid equipment is a suitably stocked and properly identified First Aid container. Every employer should provide, for each work site, at least one First Aid container supplied with a sufficient quantity of First Aid materials suitable for the particular circumstances.

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Aston & James can help you get the right First Aid kit to fit your business to ensure that if an accident were to happen your workforce has the right equipment to act accordingly.

There are three different sizes of First Aid kits: • 1-10 persons • 1-20 persons • 1-50 persons Of course for larger organisations with more than 50 employees businesses must have the right number of large (1-50 persons) kits to match the number of employees.

Aston & James have seven First Aid kits in their range which can be used within any business environment. Each of the different kits contain a variety of First Aid essentials. Aston & James can work with you to understand which of the seven would best suit your business requirements. They even supply defibrillators.

In addition they also supply travel First Aid kits which are great for employees who are on the road. With 629,000 major injuries to employees reports in 2015*; Aston & James offer an extended range of British Standard compliant travel and motoring First Aid kits, so you can ensure that your employees don’t get caught out on the road.

services

Products include: • Car and truck kits • Employee travel kits • European motoring kits • Winter car kits A well-stocked First Aid kit, kept within easy reach, is a necessity in the workplace. If you already have a First Aid kit you may need to replenish the stock, which is another area Aston & James can help with.

Having supplies gathered ahead of time will help you handle an emergency at a moment’s notice.

Aston & James have the knowledge and understanding of these products to help new and existing customers install the right equipment for their needs. Get in contact today to see how they can help you with your health & safety requirements.

Their team can help you find the right products and services for all areas of your business; as well as save you some money! *St John Ambulance Service (2015 UK Information Mailer) HSE Compliance and Office Safety.

CONTACT DETAILS sales@aston-james.co.uk 01993 706 900 www.aston-james.co.uk

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T H E

OX F O R D S H I R E

RESTAURANT

AWARDS

6 I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

Your guide to your City

THE OXFORDSHIRE RESTAURANT AWARDS 2016 will see:

A New Venue – Weston Library New Awards Categories The Awards meal cooked by Award winning chefs And much more To sponsor next year’s Awards please call us on 01865 742211 2015 Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year

The White Hart at Fyfield To enter next year’s Awards which will be staged on Tuesday 11th October at Weston Library, visit www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk and download the application form To sponsor next year’s event, please call the team on 01865 742211

B4 10th Birthday Year Yes we’re 10 next year and to celebrate we have some great events already lined up for 2016. Combined with the new B4 website launching in August, there’s never been a better reason to join B4. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Thursday 21st April, 2016: Business in Oxford 2016, Saïd Business School The 3rd Annual Business in Oxford event will build on the success of the first two years, showcasing a wide range of Oxfordshire based businesses. Presenting in a series of themed PODS, the event is fast paced, with ample opportunities for networking. This event will be free to B4 members in 2016. For more information visit www.businessinoxford.com.

Saïd Business School, Park End Street, Oxford, OX1 1HP www.sbs.ox.ac.uk

May 2016: B4 Classic Event at The Compleat Angler We will be returning to this stunning riverside location for the second time in May next year. Located on the banks of the River Thames with unparalleled views of the Marlow Weir in the heart of Buckinghamshire, you’ll find the world-renowned Macdonald Compleat Angler. Situated just 20 minutes from Heathrow Airport and 5 minutes to Maidenhead with fast train connections into London, you can be in the city in just over an hour. There are plenty of reasons to indulge in this picturesque and popular part of England, not least the opportunity to see rowing Olympians train on the River as part of the nearby Marlow Rowing Club. And, if you’re in the area on business or at a board level strategy meeting in one of our new high-tech meeting rooms, you’ll also be connected by free, unlimited WiFi powered by The Cloud.

Marlow Bridge, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1RG www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our-hotels/macdonald-compleat-angler

June 2016: B4 Classic Event at Henmans Freeth The B4 Classic Event at leading law firm Henmans Freeth will provide B4 members with a unique behind the scenes experience at one of the regions largest law firms. Henmans Freeth have a national reputation for handling commercial and personal matters for a wide range of individuals, businesses, institutions, and third sector organisations. Clients face complex challenges in various environments and they come to Henmans Freeth because they need lawyers that have the experience and expertise to solve problems quickly and successfully. More than half of the partners are acknowledged as legal experts within their fields.

The firm prides itself on giving clients consistently excellent service wherever and whenever they need it.

Henmans Freeth, 5000 Oxford Business Park South, Oxford OX4 2BH www.henmansfreeth.co.uk

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Complete Catering

It’s been a year of fun, creativity and diversity for Jon Kay and Simon Coomber at Complete Catering, a year in which the team have really engaged in some fantastic events and worked with some fabulous businesses.

Since taking over the business in 2011, Jon and Simon have identified what they really specialise in as a business. Sometimes finding your forte can take time, it’s a journey which takes many roads, you learn from your experiences.

Complete Catering is more than just a caterer, producing events has been a major growth area for the business over the last couple of years, this has enabled Complete Catering to shine and become recognised in the marketplace.

Our ethos rests on “A commitment to encompassing bespoke food trends and event menu design is at the forefront of our food ethos” Over the last two years Complete Catering has been involved in festival catering at EMS and Bestival and Summeranza, over the last few years also involved with Oxfordshire’s Firework Display and Jack FM’s Firework Hospitality Event, where they were catering for over 600 people, amazing events that showed real diversity in their catering.

Previously Complete Catering assisted CRC Student Chefs to cook for 1,000 on The Normandy Beaches.

Complete Catering led Trainee chefs from Cambridge and joined the D Day anniversary events in Normandy – cooking up a commemorative three-course dinner for 150 Canadian veterans and a massive 1,000 meals for visiting students.

The huge catering exercise, cooked in a field kitchen on Juno beach in Courseulles-sur-Mer, was carried out by Complete Catering and just eight students from Cambridge Regional College, helped by two chef lecturers from the college.

The veterans had travelled back to Normandy for the 70th anniversary of the D Day landings.

Also making the trip across the Atlantic were 1,000 Canadian students visiting the site which commemorates the one million men and women who served in the Canadian Army during D-Day and World War II. Together the team cooked a three course dinner of carpaccio of beef, roast loin of pork with fondant potatoes and cider sauce, and apple and berry crumble for the veterans. On top of that, they cooked 1,000 pizzas and pasta meals for the students, as well as 1,000 packed lunches, all from a field kitchen.

Complete Catering continues working with many local Charities, once again supporting many good causes, working with Charities such as the Oxfordshire Round Table, Against Breast Cancer and Helen & Douglas House.

is a must. Complete Catering may be running a catering facility, or turning their hands to business events, awards, conferences or product launches.

Complete Catering has the ability to make your event remembered, make it special and give you the confidence that you are working with professionals, a company you can trust, they won’t let you down.

Not only when you are you looking for a company who you feel comfortable with, one you can trust, a business that has the resources to deliver, on time and on budget, you are looking for quality food, a taste of excellence, with imagination and flair, Complete Catering have proved on many occasion they have the credentials to fit.

So the year ahead offers one of excitement and opportunity, as we look to develop our relationships and partners around Oxfordshire, we ask you to help us in continuing our success, if you are having an event for your business or know of a business which offers an opportunity, remember Complete Catering, its more than just a taste!

CONTACT DETAILS Business relationships are going from strength to strength working with Drayton Golf Centre, Worton Park and Oxford United FC, our services will differ, tailoring to the needs of their clients

jon@completecatering.co.uk 01235 820 840 www.completecatering.co.uk

Complete Catering has “ the ability to make your event remembered, make it special and give you the confidence that you are working with professionals, a company you can trust, they won’t let you down.

”

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“A commitment

to encompassing bespoke food trends and event menu design is at the forefront of our food ethos

�

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START 2016 STRONG

Sandler Training are holding a series of masterclasses for business owners and directors who are looking to make 2016 their best year yet Date: 21st January 2016.

Where: 20 Cheriton House, Cromwell Park, Chipping Norton, Oxon. OX7 5SR. Timing: 9.30am - 11.30am Please register by emailing Sophie at ukevents@sandler.com or call 01608 611211

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are delighted by “theWefeedback we have had on the site from our customers who are enjoying the experience of using the site and from our artists who greatly appreciate the improved representation of their work

”

Sarah Wiseman Gallery At the beginning of October, Sarah Wiseman Gallery launched its stunning new website, www.wisegal.com. Art collectors are very used to previewing and purchasing works online so our aim was to give them a high quality experience that matched visiting Sarah Wiseman Gallery in person. The design is deliberately clean and simple to let the art work take centre stage. We invested a lot in the photography to give as accurate an experience as possible of the art work, the images are high resolution and quick to down load.

WRITTEN BY: SARAH WISEMAN

The site includes an online shop to make the gallery’s collection even more accessible. It was a complicated business choice as many of the art works that we sell require specialist shipping arrangements, so we decided that the online shop would focus on our limited edition prints, smaller paintings and crafts. We can and do ship art works to anywhere in the world but to arrange the best solution for a client we need to prepare a quote; so for larger pieces we ask that clients make an enquiry first.

We are delighted by the feedback we have had on the site from our customers who are enjoying the experience of using the site and from our artists who greatly appreciate the improved representation of their work.

The gallery itself remains as vibrant as ever and even though we spend more and more time online there is nothing like visiting a gallery in real life to experience an exhibition. In September this year we proudly presented famous artist Angie Lewin’s first solo exhibition in this area, it was a huge success. www.b4-business.com

Her prints are world renowned and the exhibition brought visitors from far afield to see and purchase her work.

We as a gallery continue to pursue and present the best artists from and to Oxford and our exhibition programme for 2016 is shaping up to be one our best yet. We start with Oxford artist Sarah Spackman in January 2016, ‘A Closer Look’ which will include 22 new paintings, her still life work elevates the everyday into the extra ordinary. This exhibition will mark a high point in her career and with the collectors already registering interest we hope it will be a brilliant start to the New Year.

2016 will also see the conclusion of a project with Oxford artist Athol Whitmore. ‘A Multitude of Stories’ an art work made up from thousands of donated toy cars that will be installed in the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital in the Radiology Department.

This project has been long in the planning and all parties are really grateful for the generous donation and support from Bicester Village that is making the full realisation of it possible.

Then in March 2016 we will be responding to one of our most frequently asked questions ‘Where do you find your artists?’ The answer is mostly through the artists that we are already working with. Artists by their nature are natural networkers and will never hesitate to introduce a new artist to their gallery contacts. Andrew Hood is one such artist; I have worked with him for over 10 years and throughout that time he has recommended many artists that I now successfully work with from the Jamaica Street Studios in Bristol. The exhibition will be a special celebration of that relationship between the artist and gallery, introducing a new group of artists from the studios as well as having a key selection of great new works from artists we already have existing relationships with.

CONTACT DETAILS info@wisegal.com 01865 515 123 www.wisegal.com

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Spa Illuminata Danesfield House The main house completed in 1901 is a unique, dazzling, bright white building featuring neo Tudor style architecture, with castle style turrets, tall chimney pots and an impressive 30 metre high clock tower. Internally the house boasts an airy lavish feel to include a vaulted, panelled Grand Hall complete with minstrel’s gallery. A beautiful south facing terrace at the rear of the hotel overlooks the established topiary, gardens and river beyond. This quintessentially British hotel offers seventy nine luxury bedrooms in total, beautiful private dining rooms and relaxing reception areas. The hotel also has the added benefit of a luxury Spa for members, day visitors and hotel guests.

Spa Illuminata Danesfield House is open daily and emanates timeless luxury in keeping with the rest of the magnificent country house hotel. Offering individual or corporate rate Spa membership, with benefits including a complimentary night’s stay in the hotel, discount on treatments and retail items purchased from the Spa boutique alongside discounted food within the Spa and hotel. Nutritional

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advice and a personal gym induction with one of our highly qualified personal trainers will launch you inside the world of wellbeing.

From the moment you walk through the Spa’s private entrance, the warm and welcoming staff provide a relaxed, informal and most importantly a ‘come as you are’ atmosphere. Becoming a member here will make exercising and focusing on your overall wellbeing a pleasure ensuring a quality experience alongside an atmosphere of calm and relaxation.

Ease yourself into the beautiful blue 20m mosaic tiled swimming pool, framed by Jacuzzi, steam room and Sauna, the pool, with a continuous temperature of 31 degrees, is surrounded by comfortable loungers that take in the outstandingly beautiful views of the Chiltern Hills. Perfect whilst relaxing and enjoying poolside service from the extensive drinks menu.

Spa guests are offered a wide array of indulgent treatments from luxury Swiss skincare brand La Vallee, cult Parisian skincare from Darphin and British brand Aromatherapy Associates. Professional

and friendly therapists offer treatments ranging from holistic massages to anti-aging facials and skin polishes in one of the eight private treatment rooms or a dual couch VIP suite. A specialised men’s treatment menu is available too! Nestle under the duvets and pillows of the darkened sanctuary lounge as you unwind after your luxurious treatments.

Our opulently decorated Jessica nail suite with its own Pommery Champagne bar offers manicures, pedicures and the latest technology GELeration treatment. St Tropez tanning and lifestyle classes such as Chi Gong and Pilates, a fully equipped Matrix gym to work out and Spa package days all add to the magic of the hidden serenity at Danesfield House Hotel and Spa. Meet and make new friends unwinding in the comfortable lounge area with bespoke tea from Camelia’s Tea House, or take in the sun on a south facing private terrace whilst enjoying indulgent or healthy food and beverage options! For simple escapism, the Spa has it all. Contact Liz Gibney, Spa Manager lgibney@danesfieldhouse.co.uk

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Situated between the towns of Marlow and Henley in a glorious secluded setting amidst 65 manicured acres of formal and informal gardens, with exceptional views of the River Thames and the Chiltern hills beyond, stands the spectacular Danesfield House Hotel and Spa. A luxurious country retreat converted twenty five years ago from a magnificent family home to become one of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

WRITTEN BY: LIZ GIBNEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MARK SEYMOUR

to find out more. To make a reservation for a Spa day or a one off treatment please call Spa Reception on 01628 891 881.

Spa Illuminata Danesfield House has a sister Spa situated in the heart of London’s Mayfair. Exuding a classical elegance and with true origins of a Roman and Greek spa, it is discreetly removed from the busy bustle of the world outside. Spa Illuminata Mayfair simultaneously soothes and excites your senses. From the street level entrance you enter the Illuminata boutique, where you can browse a selection of prestigious fragrances, make-up and gift ideas together with extensive Parisian skincare collections from Darphin used in both of our Spa’s for beauty treatments. The incomparable range of treatments and products include luxury Swiss skincare from Bellafontaine, hair and body treatments by Moroccanoil, and the cosmeceutical approach of Environ. ‘MediSpa-Illuminata’ offers highly technological, result driven treatments with effective and long lasting results.

To take guests deeper into their own state of inner

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calm, the London Spa experience begins in one of our luxurious therapeutic crystal steam rooms.

The beautiful fragranced steam encourages and induces deep levels of relaxation throughout the

treatments. Private, complimentary consultations begin their journey to help you create your own unique experience.

Meet and make new friends “unwinding in the comfortable

To top this off our sister spa, Spa Illuminata Mayfair, has just picked up the prestigious Condé Nast Best Day Spa 2016 award.

lounge area with bespoke tea from Camelia’s Tea House, or take in the sun on a south facing private terrace whilst enjoying indulgent or healthy food and beverage options!

”

entire body, preparing and revitalizing the skin to increase any product absorption during the following hands on treatment of their choice. Clients are offered the flexibility to come for as long as they like, with programmes of exquisite beauty therapies ranging from one to four hours, all offering use of the relaxation room in between and after

Please contact Spa Reception on 02074 997 777 or email info@spailluminata.com to book treatments.

Spa Illuminata redefines the nature of the spa, where feeling beautiful is being beautiful. Break the hustle and bustle of modern, city life by visiting our haven of tranquility within central London or escape for the ultimate country house hotel break.

CONTACT DETAILS enquiries@danesfieldhouse.co.uk 01628 891 010 www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk www.spailluminata.com

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news

The Oxford Hotel becomes Jurys Inn Oxford WRITTEN BY: DEBBIE PRIESTLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JURYS INN

In an exciting new development on 25th November 2015 The Oxford Hotel rebranded to Jurys Inn Oxford.

Commencing late 2015, the hotel begins a refurbishment programme that will include the transformation of all its bedrooms, including the introduction of a new Jurys Inn bespoke ‘Dream Bed’ featuring upgraded mattresses, pillows and bed linen.

Public areas including the lobby, bar and restaurant are also being refurbished to incorporate a bright, contemporary décor, chic furnishings and stunning artwork alongside complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel.

Conference and Banqueting facilities will also be upgraded to reflect the Jurys Inn standard. The rebrand also brings a number of new benefits to the hotel including; all day Costa Coffee Bars, fantastic breakfasts, stylish en-suite rooms with Freeview TV and of course the renowned Jurys Inn customer service.

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Frequent customers can also enjoy Jurys Rewards - a free loyalty programme allowing guests to earn 10 points for every Pound spent. These points can be swapped for free room nights and shopping vouchers.

• The Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire • The East Midlands Skyway Hotel, East Midlands Airport • The Inverness Hotel, Inverness • The Aberdeen Skyway Hotel, Aberdeen Airport

This significant development of the Jurys Inn portfolio is part of the wider Amaris Hospitality business strategy. Amaris Hospitality currently comprises 89 individual hotel properties, from four separate portfolios trading under leading brands such as Jurys Inn, Mercure, MGallery, DoubleTree

by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn.

Jurys Inn Oxford would like to personally assure you that there will be no change to existing bedroom, meeting and event bookings and the team look forward to welcoming you soon.

In addition to The Oxford Hotel, the following hotels, which previously sat within the Hotel Collection portfolio have also now rebranded to Jurys Inn, bringing the total number of Jurys Inns to 36 hotels located in key cities throughout the UK, Ireland and Prague: • The Parc Hotel, Cardiff • The Golden Valley Hotel, Cheltenham • The Middlesbrough Hotel, Middlesbrough

Should you wish to discuss any aspect of your booking, please do not hesitate to contact Debbie Priestley, General Manager, or a member of the team on 01865 489988.

CONTACT DETAILS Debbie_Priestley@jurysinns.com 01865 489 988 www.jurysinns.com

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OXFORD INDUSTRIAL PARK Various Units TO LET 9,000 – 40,221 sq ft A high quality secure industrial estate with a range of units available which will be comprehensively refurbished to a high standard.

HARCOURT HOUSE Marston Road, Oxford TO LET 17,979 sq ft A unique and stylish office development within walking distance of the City.

3 OMEGA Southmead Industrial Estate, Didcot TO LET 29,770 sq ft Self contained high bay distribution/ production premises with independent fenced and secure yard with ample HGV parking

BUILDING ONE Abingdon Business Park TO LET 27,697 sq ft Headquarters office facility, prominently located on Abingdon Business Park, a mixed use high technology and office campus set within 50 acres of landscaped grounds.

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

news Sixfold Win For Leading Commercial Property Firm Commercial property consultants VSL & Partners has been officially ranked as Oxfordshire’s Most Active Agent 2015 by the prestigious EGi Deals Competition for the sixth year in succession.

Leading property publication, Estates Gazette and it’s EGi assessment team gathered information regarding deals transacted in the last 12 months, covering all sectors of the market including industrial, office, retail and leisure across the UK. Once again, it was VSL’s dominance in the office and industrial markets, which helped it secure the Most Active Agent title for another year. Duncan May, Associate Director of the firm is also ranked as The Most Active Dealmaker in Oxfordshire for 2015 for the most transactions undertaken.

Duncan explains: “We‘re absolutely delighted to have been ranked as EGi’s Most Active Agent in Oxfordshire once again. 2014 was an outstanding year where we advised on transactions totaling 694,329 sq ft and we have seen an increase in take-up so far in 2015, so this pattern is set to continue. We have taken on an additional two specialist surveyors, which means that we now have the largest dedicated commercial property agency team in Oxford, which further consolidates our position as leader in our field.”

VSL has also been mentioned in the CoStar 2015 Awards, announced Monday 5th October which recognise the outstanding individuals and companies of the past 12 months. CoStar is known as the UK’s most widely read commercial property news service and data was analysed from over 8,300 agents across the UK. VSL & Partners was noted for completing the seventh largest deal in the Thames Valley and Western Corridor region at Windrush Court in Cowley and was also

placed tenth in terms of number of instructions transacted and eighth across the region in terms of the number of disposals completed.

For further information or to speak to one of VSL & Partners’ experts, please call 01865 848488. www.vslandp.com

Deals Done...

Unit 10, Oxford Industrial Park, Yarnton

Unit 15, Oxford Industrial Park, Yarnton

The Studio, Grove Street, Summertown

Letting of 20,661 sq ft of high specification industrial space

Letting of 14,354 sq ft of high specification industrial space

Letting of 987 sq ft of contemporary modern offices

to First Light Fusion Ltd.

to Production Quest Ltd.

to Trotman Repp Ltd.

30A Pony Road, Horspath Trading Estate, Oxford

Unit 11 Chiltern Business Centre, Oxford

First Floor, Pony Road, Oxford

Letting of 1,609 sq ft of workshop/storage space

Letting of 977 sq ft to Powells Home Improvements Limited.

Letting of 4,918 sq ft to Race Hut Oxford Ltd

to Print Concern Limited.

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Malikas

In a city known for its Indian restaurants, what is there to mark one of them above the rest? Well, I believe that for restaurants you have to look first at the food and second at the service, and in both these categories Malikas excels!

WRITTEN BY: JOHN HOBART PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MALIKAS

The Meal • Mixed Starter (lamb and chicken tikka and sheek Kebab) - £4.95 • Baza Maach (Fried fish with mixed spices) - £4.85 • Murgh Nawabi (chicken breast stuffed with mince and medium spiced) - £9.45 • Sag Paneer (spinach cooked with homemade cheese) - £6.95 • 175ml Glass of Opal Ridge Shiraz Cabernet - £4.60

Good Points • Excellent Food, tasting delicious and beautifully presented • Friendly Service • Great food knowledge • Value for money • Smart and tastefully decorated.

• Fast and friendly welcome

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We headed to Malikas on a cold, damp Thursday evening looking for a cheerful environment and good food to help shake off the January blues.

Coming in from the drizzle we were immediately welcomed, our coats taken, and a choice of tables offered in a half-full restaurant. This attentive service was going to be something we got used to during the evening - always there, but never imposing on conversation or enjoyment.

The menu has all the traditional dishes you would expect, with classic Starters, Currys, Balti, Tandoori and Biryani options as well as a range of Chef’s Specialties and fish dishes. If you are overwhelmed you can opt to let the Chef choose a four-course feast for you for under £20!

I always like trying something new, so after a helpful conversation with the waiter opted for a starter of Baza Maach (Fried fish with mixed spices), main of Murgh Nawabi (chicken breast stuffed with mince and medium spiced) and a side of Sag Paneer (spinach cooked with homemade cheese) all washed down with a glass of red. Meanwhile my dining companion had asked for a special dish not on the menu (with extra green chillies!) and a pint of Cobra – the waiter was happy to oblige.

Malikas prides itself on its food, and rightly so – it was superb, beautifully presented, delicately spiced, and absolutely delicious. It was no surprise to hear the Chef has won national awards for his curries and loves experimenting, so asking for options not on the menu is welcome!

Despite well-earned confidence in their excellent food, Malikas doesn’t sit back on its laurels. They have refurbished the restaurant twice in six years and constantly update the menu - testing new dishes and exploring customers’ preferences. As a result a contemporary feel runs through the restaurant, from décor to menu, all with an effortless attention to detail, and complemented by knowledgeable and friendly staff.

We had entered Malikas wanting to cheered from the depressing January weather, we were rewarded with a warm atmosphere, superb food, and an allround first class experience - Thank you Malikas!

CONTACT DETAILS malikasrestaurant@yahoo.co.uk 01865 723 029 www.malikasrestaurant.co.uk

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Ashdown Park Hotel Kelly Gavaghan tells us why Sussex’s secret jewel just shone a little brighter.

Set in the splendour of the Ashdown Park and Forest there has been a mansion house on this site since 1815 until 1867 when a Member of Parliament, Mr Thomas Charles Thompson promptly knocked it down and rebuilt the impressive neo gothic mansion that still stands proud today. Emerging like a Phoenix - not quite from the ashes but through the trees - the building had a certain ethereal quality in the hazy autumnal dusk that had us spellbound from the moment we set our eyes upon it.

Ashdown Park became a country hotel in 1993 after Elite Hotel Group acquired the estate. They set about making Ashdown a world class leading luxury hotel to be proud of. The hard work has certainly paid off as they can boast a generous clutch of prestigious industry awards and accolades, amongst which AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence and AA Notable Wine List were two that we later discovered were well deserved.

Valet parking on arrival allows you to drive up to the main entrance to be greeted by a concierge, with your bags whisked off into the foyer for check in and the car parked for you. From the moment you arrive there is a sense that people here want to you to relax 66

and enjoy while they take care of everything.

This was the ongoing theme throughout the next 24 hours and I can tell you, we weren’t complaining!

The mansion contains guest bedrooms, private dining rooms, cocktail lounges and civil ceremony and occasional rooms as well as the famous Anderida Restaurant where our table had been pre booked for 8pm. We, however were taken by golf buggy to the Country Club just a couple of hundred yards away from the main building and shown to a tastefully decorated and comfortable suite on the ground floor. A luxurious queen size bed with the softest cotton sheets, comfortable lounge area and whirlpool bath in the spacious bathroom instantly pleased us. Within minutes we had filled the whirlpool with hot soapy bubbles then settled down for a refreshing snooze wrapped in soft, fluffy bathrobes.

At 7pm we walked the short distance to the mansion and to the cocktail lounge adjacent to the restaurant. After a cocktail we were escorted to our table in the Award Winning restaurant. The dining experience at the Andreida is one of the best I have ever experienced in my 20 years as a restaurant reviewer. The silver service was

so professional that there was no need for a waitress to ask if ‘everything is ok?’ because it was. More than ok. Every detail was taken care of from entree to dessert and delivered with such effortless finesse – and yet this level of service is expertly timed and well-rehearsed, ensuring an impeccable experience for the diner and in order to do justice to the award winning food and wine.

Michelin trained Andrew Wilson is Ashdown’s Head Chef whose talent and training shines through in his simple but superb food. “Taste, taste, taste” is the mantra of all good chefs. You can just tell that Andrew has an incredible palette and loves to taste his food because the flavours are sublime! The word Anderida is Roman for ‘hunting ground’ which is appropriate for Head Chef Andrew who likes to take his inspiration from the wild game that roam the forest at Ashdown. The highest quality meat (venison, guinea fowl, and ox cheeks) masterfully married to locally grown, fresh vegetables, (just the right amount of crunch to a root vegetable or an impossibly smooth truffle mash) will leave you with a foodie memory that will linger for a very long time.

It is no wonder that Ashdown Park is a favourite for weddings, picnics and alfresco www.b4-business.com

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Highlights dining, private dining and conferences alike. The food here is incredible and we fell into a deep slumber satisfied and content with our lot thank-you-very-much.

We awoke next morning to the sun shining through the windows and just before our breakfast arrived at 8.15am as requested.

Rolling up the blinds we were treated to the breath-taking beauty of the park in all its glory. A blanket of trees casting Autumnal hues of rich burgundy reds, russet browns and burnt gold leaves greeted us ‘good morning’ whilst pheasants and partridges made merry just feet away from our own private terrace.

Slipping into our robes, Richard and I sat happily in each other’s company eating a Full English Breakfast made with locally sourced produced, sipping tea and just gazing at the view beyond. For us it was idyllic and I can quite honestly say that my partner and I haven’t enjoyed a Saturday morning so much in a very long time.

We wanted to draw every last piece of pleasure from our stay and so after breakfast we walked 10 feet from the Country Club’s front door and into the Country Club. A steam room, sauna, www.b4-business.com

Whirlpool and 100 lengths in the pool was enough to ease the guilt brought on by our indulgence. An aromatherapy massage just rounded everything off nicely before the long drive home.

Some might say that I am a lucky girl, fortunate to review restaurants and hotels as I have done for so many years but I can assure you, dear reader that sometimes it really does feel like hard work. However, not so this time. Our visit to Ashdown Park was a pleasure from the moment we arrived. Professional, well trained staff, stunning setting, perfect facilities for a weekend break such as golf, tennis, forest walks, bike and horse riding, a peaceful spa and above all else the culinary excellence.

The grounds are incredibly well maintained and the tasteful decoration throughout the mansion and the Country Club that despite the age difference blended seamlessly together. Would I be happy to return to Ashdown again? Without a doubt dear reader, without a doubt.

The Richard Towneley Suite is a sympathetically converted chapel, complete with stained glass windows and vaulted ceiling, with working pipe organ.

Great for dinners, wedding receptions, and business meetings with a twist

The Summer house facing the lake is another feature for wedding ceremonies or outdoor meetings

The hotel is situated in the heart of Ashdown Forest, with free roaming deer and the inspiration for Winnie The Pooh

Family and dog friendly, there are several Fairway Suites that lead straight out into the 186 acres of parklands Ashdown Park Wych Cross, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5JR

See more about the R&R Collection at: www.therandrcollection.co.uk 67

Inspirational events, conferences and banqueting

Situated in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and set within more than 2000 acres of landscaped Parkland and Formal Gardens, Blenheim Palace provides a magnificent setting for events, conferences and banqueting. From the elegant Orangery to the grand Long Library and Great Hall or the intimate Saloon, Blenheim Palace offers a variety of unique and beautiful venues to suit your needs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE BLENHEIM PALACE EVENTS TEAM email sales@blenheimpalace.com or call 01993 813874

A precious time, every time. Britain’s Greatest Palace. * Terms and conditions apply

news

Quality Serviced Apartments offering great value accommodation WRITTEN BY: KELVIN FOWLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SHORT LET SPACE

Oxford based Short Let Space is expanding its provision of short let property in Oxford by opening its own brand of Serviced Apartments in and around Oxford. The first units opened summer 2015 in the recently converted Premier Place building near the Oxford Business Park.

“With hotel rates and availability notoriously high in Oxford, our mission is to offer value for money serviced apartment accommodation suitable for stays of several nights to many months”, explains Short Let Space Managing Director, Kelvin Fowler.

“We now have over ten years experience operating furnished short lets in Oxford and Oxfordshire and have built up a very experienced team of staff.

Our focus is on the customer experience, providing a personal service and local knowledge” explains Kelvin.

www.b4-business.com

Premier apartments in East Oxford are an ideal solution to the traveller requiring more space than a hotel. With rates from £90 per night they also offer exceptional value for money.

If you are looking for professional management of a block or portfolio then contact Kelvin Fowler on 01993 811711

CONTACT DETAILS stay@shortletspace.co.uk 01993 811 711 www.shortletspace.co.uk/oxford-serviced-apartments

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Tylney Hall Hotel Perhaps in the madness of this world we all need an excuse to get away and Tylney Hall will answer this call

Tylney Hall Hotel and Gardens is possibly one of the best placed Hotels for location alone.

Nestling between the M3 and M4 this makes it a dragnet for those wanting a quick escape into the Hampshire countryside and only a fifty mile drive from London.

Perhaps in the madness of this world we all need an excuse to get away and Tylney Hall will answer this call. Here time stands still, and you cannot fail to be filled with a sense of peace.

It becomes very evident that this is a shooting and walking location. The golfcourse runs adjacent to the Hotel. Archery and clay pigeon shooting in the grounds, can be pre-booked.

Once the Rotherwick family seat, they owned most of the surrounding lands as 70

well. As far as you can see and beyond.

The gardens are a treat in themselves and worth giving yourself the extra time on your stay for exploring some if not all of the 66 acres of landscaped gardens, woodlands and lakes.

The indoor or outdoor pools are a temptation depending on the seasons and the well equipped gym beckons the more energetic visitor.

Tylney offer pamper treatments / wellness days. Why not try one of their pamper weekends.

Let’s return however to the beauty of the Hotel.

Your first impression will be of the magnificent carved sweeping staircase rising up from the reception area.

The courtyard with its fine fountain and circled by previous stables now masquerading as more bedrooms for guests to enjoy. Here alone you get a sense of the history of Tylney Hall.

The Hall which dates from 1898 was used as a Hospital in the First World War and later as a private school. What stories the Hall could tell.

The warm welcome you receive is second to none. Whether this be as you first arrive or walking into the lounges at night for a relaxed cocktail or entering the magnificent dining-room warmed by the glow of candlelight you can be assured of a smiling greeting from all the staff.

The dining-room offers fine dining in the evening but you can just snuggle down in one of the lounge chairs or settees for a less formal dining experience. Whichever www.b4-business.com

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collection

Highlights The Gardens including the formal Gardens, the water Gardens, orchard and vista surround Tylney Hall and were designed, initially, by Gertrude Jekyll

The outdoor swimming pool was voted

by The Times as one of the UK’s Sexiest pools you choose you will not be disappointed by the locally produced produce on offer.

The extensive wine list will please any connoisseur. Stephen Hine Head Chef at Tylney for over twenty years is responsible for the innovative cuisine and the Two AA rossettes.

Afternoon tea is also served with strawberries and cream with Champagne.

What a treat.

Tylney Hall is owned and run by Elite Hotels whose maxim is to maintain the history of their properties while still offering their guests the best of experiences.

It has 12 meeting and conference rooms and if you have a special occasion to celebrate with more than 20 guests they will accommodate you in one of their private dining-room where they can give you their upmost attention. www.b4-business.com

Weddings are very popular here as the impressive oak-panelled Tylney Suite which features a stage and a minstrel’s gallery is perfect for such a venue. If you wish you can marry here as well as Tylney has been granted a licence for civil ceremonies. .Not only regulars but new comers are beginning to discover the delights of Tylney and you should too.

If it is for a long weekend or a longer stay I know Tylney will make you as welcome as we were.

It is a happy place where nothing is too much trouble for the well versed team.

This is a credit to Mark Robinson General Manager of Tylney Hall.

Tylney Hall was the training camp for the England rugby squad in the early 90’s

Tylney Hall celebrates 30 years as a hotel in 2016

The spectacular ceiling in the Italian lounge was imported piece by piece from the Grimation Palace in Florence Tylney Hall Rotherwick, Hook, Hampshire, RG27 9AZ

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B4

How’s My Business Doing?

advice

Using our ‘Business “Barometer’, in a short

meeting with the client, we will identify the potential areas of development and future opportunities for the business

”

Jonathan Lane - SR Consulting

Jonathan Lane sets out some questions that all business owners should answer.

WRITTEN BY: JONATHAN LANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY: STUDIO8

This is a question most of us as business owners and leaders ask ourselves every now and again; but maybe we should ask ourselves this on a more regular basis, and may also we should break that quite high level question down into its key component parts, such as possibly the three here: • Is your business growing as fast as you would like or need?

• Is your business running as smoothly as you want?

• Do you have a chance to step back from your business to think about its longer term?

If your answer to any of these questions is NO then in our experience you’re not alone. Nor do you need to tackle these questions alone as that’s where we at SR Consulting can come in to help.

It is fair to say that we look at these sort of questions for our clients on a regular basis, and the answers can take us into a range of areas; just to illustrate that point here are a few examples where we have helped our clients. Working with us at SR Consulting our clients have benefited by: • An impartial, expert and insightful sounding board to helping them take their business aspirations forward.

• Support to remove the barriers that have been stifling the smooth running of their businesses.

• Having a realistic plan that is suitable for their business and style of working, tailored to meet their needs.

• Improved work/life balance freeing up capacity.

Solutions: If the Barometer highlights that the business is not where it should to be then we can help you take your business forward in a positive way.

Support: We provide on-going support to make sure the agreed solution is fully implemented; regular review meetings keep the plan and the business focused and ensure the plan continues to meet the client’s needs.

Here are the key members of the SR Consulting Team Jonathan Lane Jonathan has a strong organisational background helping businesses get their priorities right so that they meet their long term ambitions, and helping clients to create effective plans and supporting project management is his thing.

Patrick Doyle Patrick excels at changing the way people think, work and the processes that support them; morphing adequate teams into excellent performing well trained people who work towards getting it right first time, processes are streamlined and made fit for purpose.

Pippa Hutchinson Pippa has a strong commercial background with organisations such as Tesco and the BBC and she enjoys focusing on cost reduction and turnover growth.

If you would like to discuss any of this further then please be in touch with us via:

We do this by looking at the following key parameters: Insight: Using our ‘Business Barometer’, in a short meeting with the client, we will identify the potential areas of development and future opportunities for the business. All we need from the client is an open mind and we will do the rest. www.b4-business.com

CONTACT DETAILS admin@splash-rc.co.uk 01296 340 404 www.SR-Consult.co.uk

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French for business?

Bien sûr!

Florence Rossignol, director at Alliance française d’Oxford, tells us why French for business makes sense.

WRITTEN BY: FLORENCE ROSSIGNOL PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE D’OXFORD

I recently met an American businessman who scoffed at my suggestion that he might learn French: “I’m telling my children to learn Chinese, forget French!” By all means, I told him, let them learn Chinese, but you’re wrong to dismiss French for business, and here’s why.

You will master it faster than any other language Learning French for an English-speaker is easy. At least, easier than you think, and certainly easier than Chinese mandarin. Chances are, you already know a bit of French. French is taught in more than 90% of English primary schools. It’s another Latin-based language, and you will soon find that, thanks to more than 300 years of French (or to be precise Anglo-Norman French) being the language of the kings, nobility and the courts in England, about a third of the vocabulary is common to both languages. Activité, salaire, client, liquidation, are just a few of about 15,000 French words that as an English speaker you will understand immediately.

Now let’s try that same trick in Mandarin…

It’s useful Yes, French is useful for business and for your career.

Don’t take my word for it, take the British Council’s.

In a recent report, Languages for the Future, French was listed as the 3rd most important language for the UK’s prosperity, security and influence in the world in the years ahead (after Spanish and Arabic, and before German and Mandarin Chinese). The factors taken into consideration were the current UK export trade, the language needs of UK businesses, the UK government’s trade priorities, the emerging high growth markets, diplomatic and security priorities, and the outward visitor destinations.

In a recent survey by the British Chamber of Commerce, French was listed as the language most

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sought after by employers looking for language skills (49%).

It’s not surprising. Consider this: French is the, or an, official language in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Canada, but also in Lebanon, Gabon, Togo, Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Ivory Coast. In fact half of the 10 fastest growing countries in Africa have French as an official language. French is spoken on all five continents: 70 million people speak it as a first language, and another 100–200 million people around the world speak French as a second language.

The British Chamber of Commerce report also found that French was particularly useful as a lingua franca in counties such as Algeria and Morocco or Vietnam and Cambodia, because of the low proficiency of English there.

France itself is a major trade partner to the UK (the UK was France’s seventh largest trading partner) with UK exports of petroleum products, machinery, and engines electronic components, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, aircraft parts, plastics, alcoholic beverages and medical equipment.

Finally, French remains a key language for diplomacy, and therefore an important language for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Most international organisations have it as an official language.

It’s a skill you will have and keep, whether it’s for business or for pleasure Speaking French is a skill you acquire for life, for pleasure or for business. Just like 85 million others, you will probably, at some point, visit France as a tourist, with the advantage of being able to understand and speak the language. You might

want to see a film in French, go on gastronomy or wine-tasting tour and just generally enjoy speaking and understanding French, and all that just a trainride away.

Don’t leave it to the amateurs!

Just a word of caution: don’t trust a well-meaning French student to teach you French: teaching a language is a real skill. Alliance Françaises have more than 130 years of practice.

The new and only official Alliance francaise d’Oxford, like all Alliances around the world (there are more than 800 in the network), is a registered charity whose mission is to teach French and share the enjoyment of the French language and cultures through our classes and events. Our doors opened in September, in North Oxford, where we offer classes & events.

We know which methods work, and we hire only experienced and qualified teachers. In our French for business lessons, we can teach you to master specific vocabulary and acquire skills such as writing effective emails, conducting telephone conversations and writing letters. One of our students, for example, who works in development in Africa, came to us with a whole report’s worth of economic vocabulary that she needed to master before her upcoming trip to Mali. We were happy to help.

For more information, contact director@af-oxford. org or visit our website www.af-oxford.org

CONTACT DETAILS director@af-oxford.org 07 724 243 687 www.af-oxford.org

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B4

education

In a recent report, Languages “for the Future, French was

listed as the 3rd most important language for the UK’s prosperity, security and influence in the world in the years ahead

”

www.b4-business.com

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01635 40015

newburyracecourse.co.uk

B4 10th Birthday Year Yes we’re 10 next year and to celebrate we have some great events already lined up for 2016.

Combined with the new B4 website launching in August, there’s never been a better reason to join B4. Here’s what you can look forward to:

Thursday 30th June, 2016: The 10th B4 Golf Cup at Frilford Heath Golf Club Our 2015 event featured 40 teams of 2 fighting it out for the coveted B4 Golf Cup trophy. InTouch CRM were victorious on a gorgeous July day on Oxfordshire’s premier golf course, Frilford Heath. We return in June next year. Make sure your business is on the tee! Call the events team on 01865 742211 to find out more. Please note there is a charge for this event.

Frilford Heath Golf Club is located to the South of Oxford on 500 acres of glorious undulating Heathland and is one of the best venues in the south of England; rarely can a golf club offer three championship golf courses (Red, Green and Blue) that allow the opportunity to revel in their classical or modern challenge.

The original Red Course was laid out in 1908 by five times Open champion JH Taylor measured 721 yards less than today’s 6915 on its par 72. Frilford Heath Golf Club has a thriving membership and welcomes visitors who come to enjoy some of the best golf around, a warm hospitality and excellent catering facilities. www.frilfordheath.co.uk Frilford Heath Golf Club Ltd, Oxford Road, Abingdon, Oxon, OX13 5NW

September 2016: B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House This is the 5th annual B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House, a hidden delight, right in the heart of Oxford.

Fashioned after a Cotswold mansion with colonial influences, Rhodes House has been the gathering place for Rhodes Scholars and their distinguished guests for nearly 100 years. Prestigious alumni include students who achieved fame in leadership, science and sport such as Edwin Hubble, Howard Florey, Bill Clinton, Bob Hawke, Naomi Wolf and Bill Bradley, to name but a few. Now Rhodes House is available for others to walk the same boards and enjoy this historic venue. Rhodes House is the perfect location for both corporate and private events.

The event will be preceded by a cognac tasting for Platinum and Gold Members only. www.rhodeshouseoxford.com Rhodes House, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3RG

October 2016: B4 Classic Event at Stoke Park Founded in 1908, Stoke Park is the perfect place to enjoy life in a five star and friendly atmosphere, providing a unique combination of the traditions of an exclusive club and the best of today’s sporting, leisure, entertaining and hotel facilities in one of the most convenient locations in Britain: only 35 minutes from London and 7 miles from London Heathrow. Stoke Park is a 300 acre private estate and offers 49 exquisite bedrooms and suites (5 AA Red Star Hotel); 3 Restaurants and bars including Humphry’s, fine dining (3 AA Rosette); 27 hole Championship golf course; 13 Tennis courts; 11 treatment room spa and nail bar and Indoor swimming pool.

The B4 Classic Event in October next year promises to be one to remember. www.stokepark.com Stoke Park, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, SL2 4PG

See more events on page 11 & 53 www.b4-business.com

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Bespoke Hotels

Bespoke Hotels was founded in 2000 and has grown quickly to become the UK’s largest independent hotel group. Consisting of over 150 properties worldwide, its portfolio ranges from specialist golfing hotels, to award-winning spa resorts and striking city-centre destinations.

WRITTEN BY: SAM SHEPPARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MARK LEEMING

Given such a diverse portfolio, which includes owned assets, leases, management contracts and sales & marketing agreements, the group’s management proposals are bespoke in both name and nature, based on the unique attributes and character of the property in question. Standardised contracts or pre-determined templates are eschewed in favour of working closely with owners to meet their expectations, while providing clear, digestible advice based on the group’s considerable expertise.

At the centre of this success is the founding belief that every hotel benefits from a little individuality to bring out its heart and soul. Hotels that join Bespoke benefit from a professionalism, experience, flair and creativity that few management companies can match.

Now encompassing over 6,600 hotel rooms, 4,850 employees, and assets worth an estimated £690 million, Bespoke remains built around a unique, individualised style of property management, with the group priding itself on a tailored, personalised approach and proven track record of profitable operations, as well as experience in building, design, and project management.

Whether it’s sales, marketing, branding, operations, HR and training, purchasing and stock control, or financial management, the group has a proven track record of success based on an in-depth understanding of two to five star standards, as well as an infrastructure adept at identifying critical paths and delivering both on time and within budget.

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Founded by Haydn Fentum and Robin Sheppard, Bespoke came together thanks to a unique eye for innovation and highly profitable track records. Haydn comes from a family of hoteliers, and had controlled three Michelin-starred properties prior to founding Bespoke. While his partner, Robin, is a classically-trained hotelier who had won national accolades while working across both England and Wales at independent properties as well as within the Forte & Hilton Groups.

Now strengthened by Stephen Littlefair as Managing Director, Finance and Graham Marskell Managing Director Operations the experienced board has expanded internationally with the further appointments of Nick Turner to develop strategic partnerships and hotel owner solutions in Southern Europe, India, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, along with Jamie Conlon expanding Bespoke management capabilities and brands into Ireland.

With over a century of combined experience in the hospitality industry, they continue to be fully committed to delivering on stakeholder priorities and balancing the needs of owners, founders, and operators from the outset.

CONTACT DETAILS ssheppard@bespokehotels.com 07738 493 827 www.bespokehotels.com

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B4

r&r

“At the centre of this

success is the founding belief that every hotel benefits from a little individuality to bring out its heart and soul

�

www.b4-business.com

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T H U R S DAY 2 5 T H F E B R U A R Y, W E S TO N L I B R A R Y 6 . 3 0 P M TO 9 P M

Canapes by Pure Indulgence Catering Live Music Access to two exhibitions Please note places strictly limited to 150 TO ENTER THE 2016 AWARDS CALL 01865 742211

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, CALL 01865 742211

MAIN SPONSOR

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

awards.livinginoxford.com

B O U T I Q U E C AT E R I N G

B4

news

New business initiative Reciprocate will help companies support charities more effectively Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) has just launched a new responsible business group, Reciprocate, which will help the local business community become more strategic in their thinking about community engagement, and realise their good intentions through the power of many.

WRITTEN BY: KATE PARRINDER

Over the past few months, a group of local businesses has been in discussions with former High Sheriff Tony Stratton and OCF, reflecting on how they might create a network of businesses in Oxfordshire that espouse responsibility. The evidence from focus groups held by OCF and the recently published Oxford Times ‘Business Barometer’ suggests that many firms in Oxfordshire are keen to make a greater contribution to local communities, but encounter several problems.

Firstly, they are approached by an overwhelming number of charities looking for support, often with unsophisticated requests. Secondly, they want to give something back, but don’t have the time, and aren’t sure where to start or how to turn their ad-hoc CSR policies into something more meaningful. And thirdly, they would like to give in-kind support and help charities by supplying volunteers, but don’t know how to go about it.

The new business group, Reciprocate, aims to help companies realise their good intentions, but with minimum hassle and at manageable cost.

Reciprocate already has a strong base of Founder Members, including Allen Associates, Withy King, Unipart, Bicester Village and Finders Keepers, as well as a Steering Group of local business leaders and the encouragement and support of a number www.b4-business.com

of county organisations and institutions.

Reciprocate will give members the opportunity to learn from others through shared experience; an upto-date source of information and reference to assist CSR decision making; collaborative projects; pooled resources and ideas; and the ability to pass charitable requests to others – enabling them to say a ‘positive no’ to requests they just can’t deal with alone.

We really believe that “Reciprocate will make a material difference to our local community by helping members be more effective in their CSR and community engagement

”

Business leader Tony Stratton, who has been collaborating with OCF to make Reciprocate happen, comments: “In my experience, the majority of charities are not at all sure how to approach the corporate sector and as a result, many of their

appeals fall on deaf ears, simply because they are not aligned to the goals of the businesses they are targeting. We really believe that Reciprocate will make a material difference to our local community by helping members be more effective in their CSR and community engagement.”

OCF’s Chief Executive Jayne Woodley comments: “We see this new organisation as giving business leaders the head space and inspiration to develop an approach to charitable giving that is less ad hoc, and instead more proactive and meaningful for them and their staff. There is a huge sense of goodwill in the business community, and I am excited to see a mechanism being developed that will help translate that goodwill into even greater benefit for the communities that need it the most.”

Following a six-month trial period, membership will be £350 per annum, with a cap at 100 businesses for the first year. To become a member, please get in touch with OCF.

CONTACT DETAILS ocf@oxfordshire.org 01865 798 666 www.oxfordshire.org

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Brookes Sport

Strong body, strong mind Whilst Oxford Brookes University is rightly lauded for its academic credentials, Brookes Sport is the lesser-known part of the equation. Matt Wright sat down, stood up, then walked around with Keith Kelly, Director of Sport, to find out more.

WRITTEN BY: MATTHEW WRIGHT

BROOKES SPORT - THE BACKGROUND Facts & figures (www.brookes.ac.uk/brookes-sport/) • 8,000 members, split 5,000 students & 3,000 general public (more of that later); • Two multi-facility gym complexes; Brookes Sport Headington and Brookes Sport Botley; • Wheatley pavilions and grounds - outdoor tennis, football and cricket pitches; • Rowing boathouse located on the River Thames at Cholsey.

• Not just a facility for students - here for the whole community • The place to exercise for everyone: swim, keep fit, lift weights, or just unwind.

• The home ground for numerous sports clubs: Oxford Hockey Club, Wheatley Tennis Club, and Oxford Hoops Basketball Club to name but three.

• The go-to destination for hundreds of children: from Mums ‘n Tots mornings, to rock-climbing parties, and half-term clubs, kids are superbly catered for.

wall to our already impressive indoor facility, in order to maintain our status as the best-equipped centre in the Home Counties - climbing is a particular favourite for kids parties, so again, the community will gain from our investment.

So the non-student community is particularly important to Brookes Sport?

Absolutely - we’re always looking to give something back, and to encourage sports participation in general. For example, our students were helping out at the Oxford half-marathon which took place last weekend, and Brookes Sport Botley will be hosting the inaugural Harcourt parkrun next weekend [editor note: Sat 18th Oct]. Also, we have successfully gained access to Sport England’s University Activation Fund which is to be used to help encourage students and the public in general to take up some sporting activity....so watch this space.

Impressive - but do the students receive preferential treatment?

Keith, I had no idea that Brookes Sport was so extensive or wellequipped It’s true, we’ve worked hard to have such great facilities, and we’re always looking to develop them further to help benefit the community. We recently upgraded our hockey pitch to National One League standard, and these are extensively used by both Brookes’ hockey teams and Oxford Hockey Club, with whom we share the facilities. Next year, we’re also looking to add an external climbing

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Rarely - there are some facilities which are purely for students, such as the Rowing Club, but this is because, apart from a small student novice section, we compete at an elite level and there simply isn’t room to accommodate anybody else. The results have been impressive and speak for themselves though - our team won the Henley Regatta University Challenge this year (the only UK university to have done so in the last 20 years), and we have provided 12 Olympian medallists over the last 3 games. Steve Williams (double Olympic

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B4

health

“ It’s true, we’ve

worked hard to have such great facilities, and we’re always looking to develop them further to help benefit the community” Keith Kelly, Director of Sport - Brookes University

Gold) used to work here, in Brookes Headington, helping to mop up behind the scenes - he’s left now, but it is legacy of the Brookes Sport that it’s a very friendly place, and people do stay here a long time.

What about gym times - when does it get busy?

It’s true, it does get busier in the evening, but that is reflected in our peak v off-peak pricing policy for students and the public alike. We think we offer the most competitive prices in the area, starting from £13pm for Bronze membership (off-peak gym) through to £36pm for Gold (peak everything - gym, classes, climbing, swimming - the lot!). Also from a practical point of view, our students are only here in term-time for 28 weeks of the year, so we are dependent upon the community to help make full use of our facilities.

You mentioned parkrun earlier - as a keen participant myself, I know how important the post-race coffee is. What about the social side for Brookes Sport?

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Ah yes, don’t worry, everybody nowadays is much more particular when it comes to their tea, coffee, or post-workout food in general, so we’re well prepared in that respect - students are a hungry lot! Both centres have food outlets, with all the necessary facilities, and coffee machines - I must confess, I’m not a coffee drinker myself, so don’t know much in that respect, although if there were any issues, I’d certainly have heard by now! Note that the students often help out as part of their courses, and this applies equally to the social side, where we frequently make use of Oxford Brookes Restaurant’s services. Combined with our own facilities - bar, waiting staff, and an indoor marquee, this means we can seat up to 300 people for events, and have hosted numerous Sports Dinners, as well as the occasional wedding!

Thanks for your time Keith, and I look forward to seeing you at the inaugural Harcourt parkrun this weekend [note: the writer then hobbles away, having just completed the Oxford Half that weekend in 1h55m....

almost 8 mins faster than B4’s editor Richard Rosser who now owes him a bottle of expensive wine..... just saying] Facilities round-up Headington: sports hall, gym, free/heavy weights, steam room & sauna, 2 squash courts, indoor sprint track, climbing wall, bar & cafe, AstroTurf pitch, indoor rowing training centre, fitness studio.

Botley (the Harcourt Hill complex): swimming pool, gym, 2 squash courts, steam room & sauna, 9 hole par-3 golf course, rugby & rugby league, women’s football pitches Wheatley: pitches for football, American Football, cricket & lacrosse.

CONTACT DETAILS jointhegym@brookes.ac.uk 01865 48 4373 / 4374 www.brookes.ac.uk/brookes-sport/

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spotlight

Sophie Wadey, Oxford Events Manager, Indulgence Oxford

Jo and Anthony Robinson, Founder Directors Indulgence Boutique Catering

Indulgence also “ enjoys a long-service

and loyal central workforce, not common in the catering sector, which speaks volumes.

”

Sophie Wadey, Oxford Events Manager, Indulgence Oxford

Indulgence Catering Enters the Oxford Events Market Nine years after first entering the events catering business, Indulgence Boutique Catering is now seeking to extend its success into the Oxford market with the recruitment of an experienced ex-city restaurant manager, Sophie Wadey to head up the events and marketing team. Sophie was previously manager of the popular Quod Restaurant in the city centre.

WRITTEN BY: SOPHIE WADEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LUCY DAVENPORT

Indulgence was founded by Jo and Anthony Robinson in 2006 in the beautiful Oxfordshire village of Farnborough, with an international Michelin-trained team of chefs. The company was formed with the express aim of bringing Michelin-restaurant standards of food and service to a generally staid and un-adventurous market.

Their reward has been an exponential growth of business from both corporate and personal clients.

In the short period since its formation, Indulgence has grown to become Jaguar Land Rover’s preferred outside-events caterer, and primary caterer at two of Oxfordshire’s most popular top-of-the-market wedding venues; the award-winning Caswell House, near Witney and Aynhoe Park, near Banbury.

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Founding Director Anthony Robinson, Savoy-trained and winner of national catering awards, explained: ‘For every event large or small, , our objectives are challenging but simple: we strive to offer the client exquisite food and adroit and sensitive service – onbudget and on-corporate or personal message. And for our venues the reward has been consistently outstanding food, every time. ‘ The company’s core values of creating a strong and innovative business and their growing market helps drive chef and food development and ultimately loyal clients and customers. Indulgence also enjoys a long-service and loyal central workforce, not common in the catering sector, which speaks volumes.

Sophie is thoroughly enjoying her new role; ‘My clients vary from international event organisers to local businesses, helping all of our customers to improve their event experience. Newly established clients are now asking us where we work in Oxford, so impressed with the level of service and food that we offer. Our clients can relax, secure in the knowledge that the food will impress and the staff will be immaculate and sensitive to the occasion.

Sophie adds, ‘It was a massive learning curve for me to go from the settled environment of an established restaurant to working in a succession of different venues, but I am thoroughly enjoying myself and feel so privileged to have the opportunity of working behind the scenes at some of Oxford’s www.b4-business.com

The Brief: A Sample 3-Course Winter Menu for The Natural History Museum reflecting the collections in the museum and the layout of the building

The Menu: To Start Duck Plate: Duck Egg Smoked Duck Ham Pea Pannacotta To Follow Oxfordshire Lamb Honey and Herb Roast Cutlet Cumin and Ginger Spiced Hot Pot of Shoulder Organic Vegetables and Botanical Infusion To Indulge Chocolate Plate: Dark Chocolate and Black Cherry Pyramid Coco Rocks Madagascan Vanilla and White Chocolate Ice Cream

stellar buildings – and I now know the Bodleian Library inside out – not just the stunning frontage on the outside that most people see.’

The events industry is worth in the region of £50 million to Oxford University and its colleges alone, enabling them to continuously reinvest into the facilities that they offer visitors. Indulgence is currently listed at some of the most prestigious buildings in Oxford including; The Bodleian and Weston Libraries, Rhodes House, Exeter College and the Natural History museum as well as carrying out work for the University Events Office – for both the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor.

Expectation levels of food “ have increased dramatically in recent years and Indulgence is the antithesis of the caterer providing a dried up sandwich or a soggy ‘vol au vent’!

”

Sophie Wadey, Oxford Events Manager, Indulgence Oxford

Sophie adds; ‘I live in central Oxford and had a little insight in terms of corporate companies using the city to promote their businesses. I am staggered about how many events are carried out in Oxford over the course of the year. ‘

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Often catering spaces are restrictive or historical buildings bring limitations, but this does not prove a problem to the team who work closely with the venues and the event managers to utilise small spaces to the best of their advantage. Indulgence prides itself on working successfully in Grade I listed buildings and has catered for the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace in London and other VVIPs on a number of occasions.

Indulgence is very much about providing modern contemporary food and in some cases, updating the classics. Expectation levels of food have increased dramatically in recent years and Indulgence is the antithesis of the caterer providing a dried up sandwich or a soggy ‘vol au vent’!

Anthony , the Creative Director adds; ‘Whether you want to offer your guests a quintessential Afternoon Tea, an 8-course ‘molecular cooking’ banquet, a classic 3-course dinner, or an informal, interactive street- food style event– for us it is all about providing food of exceptional quality and flavour with flawless service. It is our job to translate the client’s ambitions for the event into food that reflects their brand or message.’

Watch this space – I doubt it will be long before you are ‘Indulged’ in Oxford and just to whet your appetite...

The Brief: A summery afternoon tea in Central Oxford

The Menu: A Selection of Afternoon Tea Finger Sandwiches Cotswold Chicken, Horseradish Cream Hendricks Cured Smoked Salmon, Lemon Butter Cucumber, Tarragon, Oxford Blue, Chives v Honey Roast Ham, Grain Mustard Mayonnaise Dainty Bite Size Scones Oxfordshire Strawberry and Clotted Cream Scones Fancies Raspberry Meringue Tartlets Dark Chocolate Marquise Textures of Lemon Salted Caramel Macarons Champagne, Teas, Coffee, Fruit Infusions

CONTACT DETAILS sophie@indulgenceoxford.co.uk 01865 362 200 www.indulgenceoxford.co.uk

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CONFERENCE CENTRE RACE DAY HOSPITALITY & PUBLIC TOURS The Williams Conference Centre is home to the largest private collection of Formula One cars in the world. Housing more than 40 of the team’s seminal race cars, the collection charts the team’s 30+ years of motor racing history.

INFORMATION AND ONLINE BOOKING: WILLIAMSF1.COM

WILLIAMS CONFERENCE CENTRE GROVE OXFORDSHIRE OX12 0DQ

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“Service throughout the

meal was attentive, with a genuine interest in our enjoyment from the staff

”

The Red Lion, Oxford The Red Lion is tucked away behind George Street, in between Oxford main theatres, The Oxford Play House and The New Theatre. The Red Lion Oxford benefits from a large secluded beer garden for those people who fancy alfresco dining.

WRITTEN BY: HELEN BRIND & PETER HUDSON

Booking a table cannot be simpler, you have the option to book online or by phone. I decided to book online which worked well including reminders of the booking both by email and text message.

On arrival we were warmly greeted by the manager on the day and were quickly seated. An initial drinks menu was taken and the specials of the day explained, including “scallop of the day” which as a seafood lover was just up my street. The interior of the Red Lion has an upmarket and contemporary feel with a relaxing atmosphere and lighting.

Both the food and drinks menu are extensive offering a varied and different choices of drinks and dishes. Meat, fish and vegetarian options are offered, ensuring everyone is sure to find something they will like.

The meal was lovely, all courses were served promptly, at the perfect temperature and were well presented. However, the stand out dish was the chocolate brownie, scoring top marks being served at the just the right temperature so that it was lovely

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and gooey and missing the nuts which is always a plus point. We asked for a wine recommendation and were pleasantly surprised by the Romania Umbrele Sauvignon Blanc.

Service throughout the meal was attentive, with a genuine interest in our enjoyment from the staff.

of the day” • The fact that you can have a glass of Moet Brut Rose for a very reasonable price • The most amazing brownie – the best we’ve eaten in a very long time • The quality of the food

What we ate

The team are not precious about their menu construction – there was no problem removing the poached egg from the Bury black pudding dish.

• Crayfish & crab pot £7.95 • Bury Black pudding and potato cake £5.95 • Sticky crispy duck salad with twice cooked chunky chips £12.50 plus £3.50 • Warm Belgian chocolate pudding £5.95 • Umbrele Sauvignon Blanc, Romania £6.95

6 Things we loved • The welcoming staff • The warm and inviting environment • The amazing menu which includes “while you wait options and to nibble and share and scallop

Offers • To join their wine club • 25% of champagne of sparkling wine – Monday to Thursdays • Fixed Price menu priced at £11.95 – Monday to Friday 12pm to 6pm CONTACT DETAILS enquiry@redlionoxford.co.uk 01865 726 255 www.redlionoxford.co.uk

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Dining at Lady Margaret Hall The magnificent wood-panelled dining hall of Lady Margaret Hall may appear redolent of Oxford tradition, but it has is one rather unusual feature. The walls are hung with portraits of women. The College was founded in 1878 to right a wrong: the fact that a great university saw fit to educate men, but not women. Today the portraits which adorn the dining hall and adjacent corridors provide a glimpse of the clever, fascinating and sometimes unconventional women who have taught and studied at the College.

WRITTEN BY: HELENA BEVERIDGE PHOTOGRAPHY BY: QUINTIN LAKE

This hidden gem of North Oxford is set within a leafy Victorian suburb of gothic houses and mature trees, amid grounds which stretch to the River Cherwell. The first Principal of the College was Elizabeth Wordsworth. She led a College of just 12 students, and her rather stern portrait hangs at the far end of the dining hall. Nowadays the College provides an outstanding, distinctive education for approximately 500 students, men and women.

Fellows of the College undertake research of international importance in Science, the Humanities, Social Science, and Medicine. LMH is a meeting place of great minds, research and learning.

The growth of the College means that rooms which were the original dining hall, library and junior common room have been replaced by larger, purpose

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built rooms for the increasing number of students. The older rooms are still regularly used for academic events and make wonderful settings for meetings, conferences and other events.

Lady Margaret Hall is a particularly atmospheric and attractive venue for dining and receptions. Characterful rooms in buildings of varied architectural style mean there is a lot of flexibility to choose exactly the right ambience for a memorable event.

The Old Library is the perfect example. Originally used as the College’s library, this lovely room is lined with classical pillars supporting a fine arched ceiling.

Huge sash windows provide a view of the College gardens, where flower beds

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are, bordered by a leafy vista of trees including a magnificent copper beech. The elegant styling and grand size of the Old Library make it a dramatic and memorable backdrop for special occasions.

One of the College’s oldest buildings is the impressive Talbot Building which dates back to 1910.

At the heart of this building is the former dining hall.

Talbot Hall is a large wood-panelled room and a truly grand space, with its own reception area known as the Bear Pit. Long windows line one wall, and the room is hung with portraits of College Fellows and alumni. Talbot Hall is an impressive setting for any function or meeting.

The current Dining Hall is one of the College’s most distinctive rooms. The high, beamed ceiling, wooden panelling and the portraits from past eras, all evoke the continuity and tradition of Oxford University.

Once the tables are set for a banquet and the candles lit, food from the College’s delicious fine dining menus is all that is needed to complete an unforgettable evening.

The Dining Hall can seat 250 guests, but the nearby Committee Room offers a more intimate dining experience. From the beautiful artwork to the stunning views of the gardens, the Committee Room is a superb room for dining. With a maximum of 18 guests, it is perfect for smaller dinners, whilst giving a truly ‘Oxford Experience’.

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Alternatively, for a more contemporary atmosphere guests can choose to dine in the Monson Room. This is one of the College’s function rooms in the Pipe Partridge building, a graceful neo-classical building completed in 2010. The Monson Room is equipped with its own kitchen, so the Chefs and catering team can provide a private, fine dining experience in this spacious and warmly atmospheric room.

“The current Dining Hall is

one of the College’s most distinctive rooms. The high, beamed ceiling, wooden panelling and the portraits from past eras, all evoke the continuity and tradition of Oxford University

”

The College’s skilled and highly experienced Chefs have created a range of menus which fuse the best of contemporary, international cuisine with timeless classics from the Oxford dining tradition. Whether it is silver service dining for 250 guests, champagne and canapés in one of our beautiful sunlit rooms overlooking the gardens, or a simple ’brasserie’ menu for 20 guests Lady Margaret Hall has something for all types of event.

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Many guests to the College choose to start their evening with a drinks reception. During the Summer months the extensive and beautiful gardens make a wonderful setting for al fresco drinks receptions and barbecues. Guests can sip their drinks on the Fellows’ Lawn or admire the gardens from the patio of the Cellar Bar. This is a comfortable student bar with colourful, slouchy chairs and painted oars hanging on the wall to mark the successes of the College rowing teams. It opens out onto a grassy terrace with seating, parasols and patio heaters. The Bar and Fellows’ Lawn are available to book outside University term-time.

The Lady Margaret Hall conference team are always happy to discuss the details of potential events and pride themselves on their friendly, helpful service. If you’re seeking an atmospheric event, with wonderful food and service then contact the team today to discuss your requirements, or visit the Lady Margaret Hall conference website.

CONTACT DETAILS conference@lmh.ox.ac.uk 01865 274 320 www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

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Discover...

CHRISTMAS AT THE CASTLE...

Enjoy a host of fabulously festive events at Oxford’s Castle Quarter this season.

Visit www.oxfordcastlequarter.com to discover what magic awaits this winter.

www.oxfordcastlequarter.com

Wine tasting for everyone “Clever way to learn about wine…and an excellent way to spend an evening!”

Recent TripAdvisor review

v Ideal for Christmas parties, staff socials, team building & client entertaining v Choice of venues: St Peter’s College OR your own venue OR choice of art galleries and restaurants v Gift Vouchers available for our public wine tasting events (evenings and Saturday daytime events with lunch) at St Peter’s College – great Christmas presents! v WSET courses available (daytime and evening courses)

Contact Nick on 01865 238042 info@oxfordcheltwineschool.com (please quote “B4 38” in your enquiry)

www.oxfordcheltwineschool.com

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Urban Element’s TTC16 taxi

STL’s Twin Town 16 Rover

charity

DCResponse with their Saab

Why should businesses get involved with charity work?

Charities benefit hugely when businesses get involved in events like the Twin Town Challenge, but what do businesses get out of raising money for a charity? Probably more than you might think.

WRITTEN BY: JO SENSECALL

Clumsy driving the Natural Motion Volvo

Urban Element’s taxi

The advantage to a charity of having businesses involved is not just about the financial income.

It goes beyond money. The wider benefits that businesses can generate for a charity include increasing awareness about the charity, the skills people can bring to help the charity, access to resources and sources of hands on help, wider connections, donations of prizes and so the list goes on.

From a staff perspective, taking part in a charity event with colleagues is a team building exercise, a lot of fun and gives a focus for some non-work related activities, resulting in stronger employee engagement. Getting employees and the whole firm fully involved in a charity event helps to build pride and loyalty within a business.

excited and engaged about our journey from now to the finish line.” Twin Town Challenge 2016 will provide plenty of collateral for social media with photos of the car before and after, the story of the car’s life, how the team is selected, the choice of fancy dress, Tweets throughout the weekend and then about how much money is raised.

Paul Topping of Natural Motion believes that “A big part of our company culture is based around our car game CSR Racing and as a creative industry everyone is bursting with ideas. This is a perfect opportunity to let us channel that energy and work together on something other than our day to day business.” For Natural Motion this has included developing their fancy dress as the firm’s Clumsy character.

Businesses can also use TTC16 to engage with their suppliers by asking for sponsorship or support, whether financial or in kind. Customers like to know a bit about the personality of a business that they deal with and keeping them informed with photos and stories, asking them to donate and involving them is a great way to communicate the ethos of a business. The STL Communications car has been resprayed and graphics added by generous suppliers happy to reduce prices for charity.

For the business, the benefits of a charity partnership are also far greater than just raising money. They have the ability to leverage benefits for their business through supporting a cause that involves everyone.

From employee engagement to raising awareness, attracting new staff or customers to team building, supporting a charity is not just fun but a valuable activity for businesses.

Take the Twin Town Challenge 2016 as an example.

The event is taking place next May and yet already 80 teams have registered to take part in this car rally from Witney to its twin town of Le Touquet. Most of these teams have already started to make the most of the PR and social media opportunities that being part of Twin Town 2016 brings.

Focus LLP is writing a blog about the restoration of their £500 Porsche, which has lived on a farm and been inhabited by a furry creature who likes seat covers for dinner. Nick Walker of Focus says, “We are using TwinTown16 as our charity event to mark our 25th Anniversary, which gives us an opportunity to give back to those who do not benefit from the privileges that we sometimes take for granted. Many of the staff and even a few clients are involved in the project and we are looking forward to having a roadworthy vehicle ready for next May!”

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Urban Element has purchased a traditional black cab for £500 that they are planning to turn into a mobile video and social media studio for TTC16.

“We have so many team members who want to go on TTC16 that we are running a series of fun challenges in the office over the next few months to see who will be in the second TTC16 car.” says Jon Ellard, MD. “The whole team is fully engaged with what the car will look like and finding ways to maximise our involvement.”

DCResponse is involved in TTC16 as part of its corporate responsibility strategy. Jack Ogden, Commercial Director commented, “TTC16 is a fantastic event. We are excited about meeting likeminded businesses, helping to raise money for such a worthwhile charity and ultimately be part of something really special. We will support the event through our marketing plan, with lots of content writing and use of images across our social media platforms, website and newsletters to get people

The interior of the Focus Porsche

The Twin Town Challenge will see 100 cars costing less than £500 travel from Blenheim Palace to Le Touquet and back via the iconic race circuits of Silverstone and Abbeville, a civic reception on the beach in Le Touquet, a street party with live bands and a homecoming tea party at Abbott Diabetes.

On the way teams will undertake a series of points based challenges with the focus on raising £250,000 for SpecialEffect.

There are still a few spaces left on the starting grid, so if your business wants to get involved visit www. twintown16.co.uk to enter.

CONTACT DETAILS support@twintown16.co.uk 01993 220 666 www.twintown16.co.uk

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“The Feathers is the perfect

location for events. The hotel can be exclusively hired for wedding receptions from £5,000 during the week or £7,500 at the weekend

”

The

Feathers Hotel The Feathers Hotel is an inviting country retreat that combines historic charm with a fun personality. Located in the historic market town of Woodstock, which was the birth place of Winston Churchill, the hotel is surrounded by cultural attractions. Just a two minute stroll through the beautiful village shops and guests will arrive at the magnificent Blenheim Palace.

WRITTEN BY: CLAIRE GRATZKE PHOTOGRAPHY BY: THE FEATHERS

There are 16 bedrooms and five suites available at The Feathers, which have undergone a recent major refurbishment. Each room has been given its own unique style by specialist interior designers, Trevillion, who have added boutique twists such as luxurious fabrics, ornate lighting, free-standing stone basins and even a decanter full of jelly beans! The quirky bedrooms perfectly match the

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rest of the hotel, with its higgledy-piggledy hallways and five different staircases that add a delightfully whimsical feel. Contemporary wallpapers adorn the walls, alongside tastefully chosen art works, such as an eye-catching dressmaker mannequin. The bespoke carpet in the dining room bearing a feather motif is also testament to the hotel’s cool outlook.

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“Alternatively, guests could opt for “The Gin Experience”, a carefully devised menu incorporating specifically chosen gins throughout the courses for example, in a “Gin & Tonic Jelly

”

Eating and drinking is at the heart of The Feathers experience. The hotel introduced the first dedicated ‘Gin Bar’ in the UK and has the largest collection of gins in the world. It currently has over 340 types of gin from around the world and holds the Guinness World Record.

in a “Gin & Tonic Jelly”. The restaurant also serves a selection of afternoon tea menus. The stylish restaurant seats up to 60 guests, with room for a further 30 in the bar. Alternatively diners may prefer to dine al fresco in the beautiful, secluded outdoor Courtyard, complete with a summer house.

Head Chef Ian Matfin features the best of modern English cuisine in the 2 AA rosette restaurant, using locally sourced ingredients in dishes such as: Salad of wood pigeon, mange tout, garlic chips, roasted duck liver, pigeon vinaigrette; Saddle of venison, celeriac puree, savoy cabbage, forced rhubarb, red wine sauce; and Passion fruit mousse, lime leaf panna cotta, coriander jelly, coconut sorbet. Alternatively, guests could opt for “The Gin Pairing Experience”, a carefully devised menu incorporating specifically chosen gins throughout the courses for example,

The Feathers is the perfect location for events. The hotel can be exclusively hired for wedding receptions from £5,000 during the week or £7,500 at the weekend. The ceremony can take place in the nearby church or town hall, which is a couple of minutes walk from the hotel.

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The daily delegate rate starts from £65 per person.

The Feathers Hotel has a lively history. At the turn of the century, the reception area became a Drapers shop, and was subsequently converted into a Butcher’s shop in the early 1950s. In the early 1960s the property was fully joined and turned into a hotel. Today, remnants of the building’s former life still remain visible, adding to the hotel’s character.

CONTACT DETAILS The Feathers is also equipped for business meetings.

The private master bedroom has a conference table suitable for up to eight, alternatively one end of the restaurant can host up to 20 people boardroom style.

reception@feathers.co.uk 01993 812 291 www.feathers.co.uk

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A viBrAnT FiTneSS huB in The heArT OF OxFOrdShire A vibrant fitness hub in the heart of Oxfordshire, TLA Fitness offers the latest in Personal training, Studio classes and Bootcamps.

• Personal Training • Private groups • Corporate training • Studio Classes • Yoga & Pilates • Trx & Kettlebells • Bootcamps • Cardio & Strength • Motivation & Commitment

Travel in Luxury, Comfort & Style For over 6 years, Hilltop Chauffeurs have been providing our clients with experienced chauffeurs and impeccably maintained executive car hire. We take pride in being a fully licensed operator, with a team of highly skilled and CRB checked drivers, so you can rely on us to provide the utmost in professional services. As a result, we have built an excellent reputation based on our commitment to quality, safety and service.

Please visit www.tlafitness.com to find out more

01865 595262 | 07825 500852

Follow the TLA Fitness Facebook page

www.hilltopchauffeurs.co.uk hilltopcars@live.co.uk

op Quarter Ad 37.indd 1

01/09/2015 16:21

Trek jungle, moorland, highland desert and ice to conquer the world’s highest free-standing mountain for your local hospice for children & young adults.

For more information email: events@helenanddouglas.org.uk

of people in the UK prefer to buy from a website ending in...

A great idea for Oxfordshire businesses.

Whether you are a start-up or an established business .uk is best for you.

It’s more you.

Source: 2014 Trust & Awareness Research – insight engineers ltd.

Research was conducted on a base of 1000 respondents.

Registered charity number 1085951

A great place to be

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charity

Thinking of Oscar Thinking of Oscar is a charity founded in the memory of Oscar Noah Cole, who died when he was just 16 months old. We are a small charity with a big ambition - to save lives by improving hospital care for young children.

Currently we are raising funds for a new Paediatric Procedures Unit for Oxford’s John Radcliffe Children’s hospital. We have already raised more than £60,000 of the £100,000 required.

On December 1st 2015 we are publishing our first book. The Thinking of Oscar Cookbook was inspired by the generosity Oscar’s family experienced in the weeks and months after he died. Home-cooked meals began to arrive on their doorstep, and this continued day after day.

The cookbook began as a collection of recipes from friends, family and neighbours. As the campaign grew, professional chefs including Raymond Blanc, Tom Kerridge and The Hairy Bikers began to donate recipes too.

If you would like to make a donation to this Oxfordshire Children’s Charity this Christmas you can purchase a copy of the book in hardcopy (donation from £10 plus £2.50 P&P) or ebook (donation from £7.50) via the link below or just search for Thinking of Oscar on Just Giving. https://campaign.justgiving.com/charity/thinkingofoscar/cookbook

CONTACT DETAILS thinkingofoscar@gmail.com @thinkingofoscar www.thinkingofoscar.com

Raymond Blanc, Photography by David Griffen

Tom Kerridge

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To be seen to be outstanding in your field, you first of all need to stand out from the crowd Strangebrew’s Phil Strachan talks about the importance of being seen to be different and of being seen to be relevant and up to date if you are to be regarded as the ‘go to’ provider in your industry.

WRITTEN BY: PHIL STRACHAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CARLI ADBY

Coco Chanel once famously stated that in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different - and who am I to challenge such wisdom. In business, if everyone is just perceived to be the same, how can anyone possibly decide who to choose to work with, who to give their business to and what value they really offer.

As regular readers of B4 will know well, I am a man on a mission to eradicate the bland. As I see it, there is just far too much bland out there and that is precisely why I consistently challenge everyone in business to ‘Think Brand – not bland’. The blandwagon is already well and truly overloaded and it can only take you on the road to nowhere.

Branding really is a very much misunderstood entity – at one end of the spectrum, it can be perceived as being only affordable to the mega brands of blue chip multinationals while at the other end, many think it is just a simple and inexpensive logo. The truth is that whether you intended to create one or not and whether you invested to create one or not, every business is a brand. Brands are all about perception, what comes to mind and what associations are made when anyone hears your name or your business name mentioned or sees your identity/logo. Your brand is not your logo or even your name – they are what stand for your brand, identifiers for your business, how people can recognise your brand. But clients, customers, consumers don’t buy your logo or your name – they buy your brand, what they perceive you to stand for – not what stands for your brand.

It really is all about the promise Probably my two favourite definitions of branding are ‘What people say about you or your business when you are not in the room’ and ‘A promise consistently delivered’. These definitions speak volumes. It really is all about the promise – but 96

I come across so many businesses who really do not know what their promise is. When this is the case, how can their target audience or target market possibly decide how to choose them over their competitors? In his bestselling book ‘Start with Why’, Simon Sinek majors on the importance of anyone in business knowing their ‘why’ because this is ultimately what their target audience or target market will buy into. Put very simply, they will buy into what they perceive you and your business to stand for and that is the crux of the matter.

In today’s increasingly competitive markets, standing still and just doing nothing is actually tantamount to going backwards because your competition is constantly changing, there are new routes to market developing and the needs of your clients, customers and consumers are constantly changing too. And yet despite this, so many established businesses are still saying what they have said for far too many years and still look the way they have done for far too many years.

Lost and drowning in a sea of sameness In short, such businesses are failing to present themselves properly and to communicate what they have to offer in an effective, relevant and compelling way because no- one knows what they stand for and why they should be chosen over their competitors. They really are headed on a journey to becoming the bland that time forgot, perceived to be just A.N.Other player in their industry/field offering no more than a commodity product or service. Hardly a recipe for success. It does not matter what product or service you offer, if you are perceived to have a commodity offering, you are simply bland with absolutely no hope of being seen to be outstanding or to be the ‘go to’ player in your field. In Strangebrew terms, you can be a brand leader – but you can’t ever hope to be a www.b4-business.com

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marketing

bland leader. That’s a huge contradiction in terms.

Interestingly though, everywhere we look there are countless examples of the bland leading the bland, blands blandly going where so many blands have gone before and ending up lost and drowning in a sea of sameness.

IN ORDER TO BE IRREPLACEABLE

ONE MUST ALWAYS BE

Different - COCO CHANEL -

Time to stand out from the crowd To have any chance of being seen to be outstanding and of being regarded as the ‘go to’ business in your field, it is absolutely vital to identify and then to communicate clearly and effectively what you stand for - what makes you different and better and represents a compelling reason why your target market and target audience should choose and value your business over your competitors.

For very many established businesses, it is time to stop, take a step back and take a long hard look at yourself from the outside in. Not an easy thing to do as everyone is generally far too close to their business and too busy working in their business rather than on it to be able to distinguish the wood from the trees.

But the good news is that perceptions can be managed, and need to be managed, if businesses are to be successful in standing out from the crowd. At some point, every established business needs to reappraise how it presents itself and how it communicates what it has to offer if it is to be seen to be outstanding, to be the ‘go to’ brand with a compelling offer.

Call Phil Strachan of Strangebrew to find out how his special cocktail of London quality Branding, Identity and Graphic Design at Glasgow prices could be of value to you and your business.

Think Brand – not bland!

Just do it – because you’re worth it!

CONTACT DETAILS 07770 753 975 www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

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grow your business Alberon can help you do what you do even better.

We work with you to design and deliver a website or bespoke software to make your organisation more eective. The bottom line is always that the technology works for you.

For more information call 01865 794009 or email grow@alberon.co.uk

the software and web solution specialists

KNOCK, KNOCK Introducing Oxford’s latest restaurants, delivered to your door

La Cucina, The Rickety Press, Mission Burrito, Mamma Mia Pizzeria, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, 4500 Miles From Deli and many more

www.alberon.co.uk

Tailored to your needs We ensure that we thoroughly understand your challenges and the needs of your business. We tailor intelligent, effective solutions to help you grow.

Contact Whitley Stimpson for a FREE consultation.

Banbury Office: +44 (0)1295 270200 High Wycombe Office: +44 (0)1494 448122 Bicester Office: + 44 (0)1869 252151

CHART ERED ACCOU NTANT S AND B US I N ES S AD VI S ORS

PARTNERS IN YOUR PROGRESS

whitleystimpson.co.uk

Photograph by www.thousandwordmedia.com

news

Photograph by www.thousandwordmedia.com

Big win for Aston & James As businesses get bigger to meet increasing global competition, you might think family businesses are in decline, but we can find no such evidence of this across the Cotswolds.

At Aston & James we are extremely honoured to even be nominated for the Corporate Social Responsibility Award for Oxfordshire, when there are so many great company’s in our region. The fact that we won this award is a massive achievement for the team. We want to thank them and our customers for helping us win this award by taking part in our recycling services; Toner and Cartridge Collection, and 5 Star Loop office paper waste collection scheme.

The photo above shows our Managing Director Darren, Craig our Sales Manager, and our Business Development Manager Cheryl attending the awards winners’ presentation lunch. They had a wonderful time and enjoyed meeting all the other deserving winners.

Every year Cotswold Life Business and Professional Magazine invites an expert jury of Cotswold professionals to identify the best representative family businesses within the local area. They investigate a number of categories in order to pay tribute to the backbone of the British economy; which supports 9.2 million jobs, and contributes almost a quarter of Britain’s total GDP. CONTACT DETAILS

www.b4-business.com

marketing@aston-james.co.uk

01993 706 900

Finally we have to say a massive thank you to the Cotswold Life panel for nominating and voting for us. We are extremely proud to be a family business, and hope to be for many years to come.

www.aston-james.co.uk

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UPGRADE TO FIRST CLASS We deliver a premium service at standard rates

Celebrate Yuletide at Fallowfields christmas day lunch

new year celebrations

If there is one day a year when you should be with your family and friends, indulging in as much fabulous food and wine as you can manage, it’s Christmas Day!

There is nothing better than welcoming the New Year in with great company of friends and family, come and enjoy a evening of lavish food, great cheer and excellent entertainment.

Arrive at midday for a pre-lunch aperitif with four course lunch, coffee, petit fours and mince pies.

Lunch served from 12.30pm.

Christmas gift for everyone from our Guest of Honour £85 per person, £45 Children under 14

Competitive rates Unmarked Mercedes S Class, E Class & Vianos, BMW 7 Series and 10-16 seat VW Sprinters

Welcome drinks 7pm Four course dinner 7.30pm-9pm Evening entertainment: Dancing to our resident DJ Carriages 1.30am £90 per guest per person

why not stay the night?

Professional, experienced, discreet drivers

Leave the car at home and extend your enjoyment at Fallowfields with a night in a country manor house. Stay in one of our luxury appointed bedrooms with an abundance of opulent fabrics, linens and toiletries.

Fast, efficient bookings

10% off introductory offer for B4 members and / or their customers

New Year’s Eve special rates: £120 bed and breakfast for two guests, £80 single occupancy

Call 08456 447099 or email info@findlaycs.com and quote B4 FCS for more details

These special rates apply if they are booked in conjunction with a New Year’s Eve Dinner and are subject to availability All dietary requirements catered for with advanced notice.

Advanced reservations required. 50% deposit required at time of booking.

www.findlaycs.com

Fallowfields Restaurant & Hotel, Faringdon Road, Southmoor with Kingston Bagpuize, Oxon OX13 5BH t 01865 820416 e stay@fallowfields.com w fallowfields.com

ndly quarter ad.indd 1

24/11/2015 fallowfields 14:49xmas ad.indd 1

FESTIVE DINING AT ONE OF OXFORD’S FINEST RESTAURANTS

CHRISTMAS PARTY MENU 3 C O U R S E M E N U £25.00 per person

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION MENU 3 C O U R S E M E N U £35.00 per person

CHRISTMAS GOURMET MENU 3 C O U R S E M E N U £45.00 per person

CHRISTMAS EVE 5 COURSE MENU £85.00 per person

CHRISTMAS DAY 5 COURSE MENU £85.00 per person

BOXING DAY £55.00 per person

NEW YEAR’S EVE 5 COURSE MENU £85.00 per person

NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH MENU

Please visit our website for full the menus and prices

To make a reservation: Tel: 01865 511 149 hello@theoxfordkitchen.co.uk

26/11/2015 15:59

B4 contacts directory

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ADVICE...........................................................................................................................................101 BUSINESS SERVICES....................................................................................................................102 CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES..........................................................................................102 EDUCATION..................................................................................................................................103 FINANCE........................................................................................................................................103 HEALTH & LEISURE......................................................................................................................103 HR...................................................................................................................................................104

ADVICE ACCOUNTING Wenn Townsend P Tony Haines Partner 01865 559 900 www.wenntownsend.co.uk Grant Thornton UK LLP P Wendy Hart Managing Partner 01865 799 899 www.grant-thornton.co.uk Grant Thornton UK LLP P Jim Rogers Assurance Partner 01189 559 114 www.grant-thornton.co.uk Fish Partnership P Paul Laird Partner 01628 527 956 www.fishpartnership.co.uk The MGroup P Richard Clayton Partner 01865 552 925 www.themgroup.co.uk Wellers P Stuart Crook Partner 01865 723 131 www.wellersaccountants.co.uk James Cowper Kreston G Andy Cowie Marketing & Business Development Director 01189 590 261 www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk Whitley Stimpson Ltd G Jonathan Walton Director 01494 448 122 www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Whitley Stimpson Ltd G Stuart Haigh Director 01869 252 151 www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Wilson Partners A Allan Ian Wilson Managing Director 01628 770 770 www.wilson-partners.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

Shaw Gibbs A Peter O’Connell Partner 01865 292 200 www.shawgibbs.com BDO LLP A Simon Brooker Lead Partner 0118 925 4488 www.bdo.uk.com Gracechurch Wealth Management LLP A Richard Lawrance Independent Financial Adviser 01908 209 220 www.gracechurchwm.com Auditel A Chris Bourke Cost Management Specialist 01865 774 387 www.auditel.co.uk Seymour Taylor A Simon Turner Managing Director 01494 552 125 www.stca.co.uk Richardsons Accountants 01844 261 155 www.richardsons-group.co.uk Rees Russell 01993 702 418 www.reesrussell.co.uk Russell Whitlock Accountancy 01865 481 625 www.rw-accountancy.co.uk Clark Howes 0808 271 3099 www.clarkhowes.com Harmonea 01844 274 808 www.harmonea.co.uk Tamesis Partnership www.tamesispartnership.co.uk MHA MacIntyre Hudson 01908 662 255 www.macintyrehudson.co.uk Xero www.xero.com/uk

contacts

PLATINUM

G

GOLD

G AMBASSADOR

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS....................................................................................................104 MANUFACTURING......................................................................................................................104 MARKETING & DESIGN................................................................................................................104 PROPERTY & BUILDING...............................................................................................................105 R&R.................................................................................................................................................106 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY.........................................................................................................107

BUSINESS ADVICE SR Consulting A Jonathan Lane Director 07503 891 331 www.splash-rc.co.uk Business Doctors A Martin Vessey Managing Director 0845 219 7077 www.businessdoctors.co.uk Wakefield Group 07817 821 190 www.wakefield-group.com Hilltop Consultancy 01844 238 692 www.hilltopconsultancy.co.uk Oxford Professional Consulting 01865 436 791 www.oxfordprofessionalconsulting.com Quantuma Restructuring 01628 478 100 www.quantuma.com RTS Breakthrough Solutions 07789 405 079 www.rts-breakthroughsolutions.co.uk Sandler Training 01608 611 211 www.oxford.sandler.com Active Education and Training Ltd 01865 594 325 www.oxfordactive.co.uk Endeavour Consulting 07711 825 005 www.endeavour-consulting.co.uk VCA Consulting 01993 883751 www.vcaconsultinguk.com The Entrepreneurs Mentor 01865 593933

LEGAL Darbys Solicitors P Simon McCrum Managing Partner 01865 811 700 www.darbys.co.uk

Hedges Law P Nicola Poole Managing Director 01491 839 839 www.hedgeslaw.co.uk Henmans Freeth G Malcolm Sadler Senior Partner 01865 781 000 www.henmansfreeth.co.uk Gardner Leader LLP G Derek Rogers Managing Partner 01635 508 080 www.gardner-leader.co.uk BrookStreet Des Roches LLP Paddy Gregan G Partner 01235 836 655 www.bsdr.com B P Collins A Chris Hardy Partner 01753 889 995 www.bpcollins.co.uk Blake Morgan LLP A Michael Stace Partner 01865 248 607 www.blakemorgan.co.uk White & Black Legal LLP A Phil Thompson Partner 0845 201 3147 www.wablegal.com Brethertons A Karina Ray Key Client Manager 01295 661 425 www.brethertons.co.uk Field Seymour Parkes Penelope Garden Associate 0118 951 6312 www.fsp-law.com

A

Turpin & Miller LLP A Emily Boardman Partner 01865 770 111 www.turpinmiller.co.uk Penningtons Manches LLP Richard Smith A Managing Partner 01865 722 106 www.manches.com

101

Lewis Silkin 0207 0748 494 www.lewissilkin.com David Parry Employment Law 01993 848 247 www.parryemploymentlaw.com

BUSINESS SERVICES ARCHIVE & STORAGE The Oxford Duplication Centre Cheryl-Lee Foulsham A Managing Director 01865 457 000 www.theduplicationcentre.co.uk The Archive Centre A David Coulton Owner 01296 425 744 www.thearchivecentre.com

Oxfordshire Community Foundation A Jayne Woodley Chief Executive 01865 798 666 www.oxfordshire.org

West Oxfordshire District Council A William Barton Business Development Officer 01993 861 000 www.westoxon.gov.uk/business

RAF Benevolent Fund A Emily Fry Regional Director, S. England 01296 656 586 www.rafbf.org.uk

Oxford City Council A Environmental Development Helen Burkhalter Business Development Manager 07770 347463 www.oxford.gov.uk

The Ley Community 01865 373 108 www.leycommunity.co.uk Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research 020 7504 2231 www.beatingbloodcancers.org.uk British Red Cross, Thames Valley 01235 552 680 www.redcross.org.uk

AUDIO VISUAL

CLEANING SERVICES

Bang & Olufsen P Mark James Director 01865 511 241 www.bang-olufsen.com

Excel Dry Cleaners G 01865 511 773 www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk

City Audio Visual P Peter Gunn Director 01865 722 800 www.cityaudiovisual.co.uk

BUSINESS CONSULTANTS Quest TGO Ltd 0203 394 0123 www.quest-thegreatoutdoors.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Aston & James Office Supplies Ltd P Darren Aston Director 01993 706 900 www.aston-james.co.uk

CHARITIES The Oxford Trust G Jude Eades Head of Communications 01865 810013 www.theoxfordtrust.co.uk Helen & Douglas House A Hugh Thompson Head of High Value Partnerships 01865 799 150 www.helenanddouglas.org.uk Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds A 01865 743 442 www.charitablefunds.org.uk

102

WH Mobile Valeting 07979 480886 www.whvaleting.com

DOMESTIC SERVICES Busy Offices 01494 672 233 www.busyoffices.net

GAS & ELECTRIC British Gas Business Services P Martin Orrill Head of Energy Technology and Innovation 0845 485 3528 www.britishgas.co.uk/business

HEALTH & SAFETY Shawcity Ltd 01367 899423 www.shawcity.co.uk

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Oxford City Council - Direct Services P Tracey Vigor Business Sales Executive 01865 252814 www.oxforddirectservices.co.uk OxfordshireLEP P 01865 261 433 www.oxfordshirelep.com

Oxford City Council, Superconnected Cities 01865 252 845 www.oxford.gov.uk/connectionvouchers

MOTOR Ridgeway Jaguar 01865 590777 www.ridgeway.co.uk

NETWORKING GROUPS B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Editor 01865 742 211 www.b4-business.com MD2MD 01865 600 800 www.md2md.co.uk

SECURITY Executive Alarms Ltd A John Keown Director 01865 435 435 www.executive-systems.co.uk Security Exchange 01491 683 710 www.securityexchange24.com

TRANSPORT Chiltern Railways P 020 7333 3113 www.chilternrailways.co.uk Hilltop Chauffeurs G Nathan Thomas Driver 07825 500852 www.hilltopchauffeurs.co.uk Findlay Chauffeurs A Claire Hickson Managing Director 0845 644 7099 www.findlaycs.com

TRAVEL City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager 01865 790 522 www.citysightseeingoxford.com

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES CATERING SERVICES Aldens Specialist Catering Butchers G Matthew Alden Managing Director 01865 728227 www.aldenoxford.co.uk Complete Catering G Jon Kay Managing Director 01235 820840 www.completecatering.co.uk Passion for Food A Philip Baker Managing Director 08452 969 226 www.passion-for-food.co.uk Lamb Catering A Emma Tasker Events and Marketing Director 01865 772 446 www.lambcatering.co.uk Oxford Fine Dining 01865 728 240 www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk Elegant Cuisine 01865 391 888 www.elegantcuisine.com Philip Dennis Foodservice 01993 700 030 www.philipdennis.co.uk

CONFERENCES Lady Margaret Hall P Anna Killough Head of Conference Services 01865 611 079 www.lmh.ox.ac.uk Oakley Court Hotel P Richard Smith Sales Manager 01753 609 988 www.principal-hayley.com /theoakleycourt Williams Conference Centre P 01235 777 735 www.williamsconferencecentre.com The Feathers P Dominic Bishop General Manager 01993 812 291 www.feathers.co.uk Oxford Brookes University Conference Services G Beatriz Perez-Lopez Conference Sales and Marketing Manager 01865 484612 www.brookes.ac.uk Pembroke College G Huw Edmunds Head of Conferences and Events 01865 276 484 www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences

www.b4-business.com

B4 Stoke Park A Nick Downie Head of Communications 01753 717171 www.stokepark.com

EVENTS

The Examination Schools Kay Hogg A Events Manager 01865 276 905 www.examschools.ox.ac.uk

Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards P 01865 742 211 www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk

Howbery Business Park A Angela Andrews Marketing & Lettings Manager 01491 822 305 www.howberypark.com Egrove Park A Martin Garside Conference Manager 01865 422 757 www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing The Forbury Hotel A Duarte Mendes General Manager 01189 527 770 www.theforburyhotel.co.uk Macdonald Windsor Hotel Beverley Molmans A General Manager 0844 879 9101 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk Exeter College 01865 279 600 www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences Malmaison 01865 268 400 www.malmaison-oxford.com Oxford Town Hall 01865 252 195 www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk The King’s Centre 01865 297 400 www.kingscentre.co.uk Malmaison Reading 0118 956 2300 www.malmaison.com

EQUIPMENT HIRE

Business in Oxford 2015 P 01865 742 211 www.businessinoxford.com

Newbury and District Agricultural Society G Daren Bowyer Chief Executive Officer 01635 247111 www.newburyshowground.co.uk Oxfordshire Registration Services A Jacquie Bugeja Head of Registration and Coroner’s Services 0845 129 5900 www.oxfordshire.gov.uk Venus Awards A Tara Howard Founder & Managing Director 01202 559039 www.venusawards.co.uk Venturefest 01865 810 025 www.venturefestoxford.com Oxfordshire Business Awards www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk

VENUES Oxford Castle Quarter P Sam Pace Operations Manager 01865 201 657 www.oxfordcastle.com Rhodes House P Isabelle Barber Business Development Manager 01865 270 918 www.rhodeshouseoxford.com Danesfield House Hotel A Anthony Cox General Manager 01628 891 010 www.danesfieldhouse.co.uk

Oxford Event Hire A Kieran Lynch Owner 01865 760 158 www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk

Hartwell House Hotel A Jonathan Thompson General Manager 01296 747 444 www.hartwell-house.com

BHK Rentals 01993 703327 www.bhkrentals.co.uk

Venue Services, Bodleian Library A Alice Ogilvie Head of Venue Services 01865 277 224 www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

EVENT MANAGEMENT Jazz Donkey A Muffy Dawson Managing Director 01993 898400 www.jazzdonkey.com

www.b4-business.com

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

contacts

Oxford International Study Centre A Benjamin Llewelyn Principal 01865 201 009 www.oxintstudycentre.com

EDUCATION

MORTGAGE ADVICE Focus G Nick Walker Managing Director 01865 295 295 www.focusllp.co.uk

HEALTH & LEISURE

Buckinghamshire New University 0800 565 660 www.bucks.ac.uk

FITNESS

Corpus Christi College 01865 276 708 www.ccc.ox.ac.uk

Prime Energy Fitness Ltd G Barry Grinham Owner 01869 352 000 www.primeenergy.org

Oxford Chelt Wine School 01865 238 042 www.oxfordcheltwineschool.com

FINANCE ADVICE Ergowealth A Brian Page Managing Director 01494 616 522 www.ergowealth.com Critchleys 01865 261 100 www.critchleys.co.uk NGI Finance 01993 706 403 www.ngifinance.co.uk Herbert & Webster 01865 407 755 www.herbertandwebster.co.uk

BANKING RBS Corporate Banking A Donald MacDonald UK Head of Deposits & Director, Professionals 07768 427379 www.rbs.co.uk/corporate.ashx Lloyds Bank 07970 566 065 www.lloydsbank.com HSBC 0845 850 174 www.hsbc.com Metro Bank 0345 08 08 500 www.metrobankonline.co.uk NatWest 01865 792 348 www.natwest.com Barclays 0800 015 4242 www.barclayscorporate.com Clydesdale Bank 0844 736 2616 www.cbonline.co.uk

TLA Fitness A Tom Alden Founder 07554 400 401 www.tlafitness.com Cherwell Boathouse Punting 01865 552 746 www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk

GOLF Frilford Heath Golf Club P Alistair Booth Director 01865 390 864 www.frilfordheath.co.uk Kirtlington Golf Club A Gary Quainton Golf and Pro Shop Manager 01869 351133 www.kirtlingtongolfclub.com Rye Hill 01295 721818 www.ryehill.co.uk The Oxfordshire Golf Club 01844 278300 www.theoxfordshire.com

HEALTH CARE Clinic95 P Maria Hardman Business Manager 01865 241 661 www.clinic95.com Richmond Village Witney G David Reaves Head of Marketing 01865 484612 www.richmond-villages.com Linda Flanigan Hypnotherapy 07866 360 359 www.lfhypnotherapy-oxfordshire.co.uk

SPORT Newbury Racecourse P Tracy Skinner Head of Sales 01635 40015 www.racecoursenewbury.co.uk

103

Reading Football Club Limited P Sir John Madejski Chairman 0118 968 1100 www.readingfc.co.uk Oxford University Rugby Football Club G Tim Stevens Club Administrator 01865 432 000 www.ourfc.org North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club 01865 513 560 (Clubhouse) www.northoxfordltc.org.uk Oxfordshire Cricket 07790 102130 www.oxoncb.com Oxford City Football Club 07817 885 396 www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk

WELLBEING Helen Money Nutrition A Helen Money Owner 01865 339 672 www.helenmoneynutrition.com

HR HR CONSULTANTS HR2You 07789 711 997 www.hr2you.co.uk Gazella HR 01865 339 411 www.gazellahr.co.uk MB HR Support Ltd 01993 882 744 www.mbhrsupport.co.uk Spires HR 01865 880 391 www.spireshr.co.uk Right Hand HR 0844 880 4582 www.rhhr.com

Crossland Employment Services 01235 841 506 www.crosslandsolicitors.com Gold Star Recruitment 01993 225 075 www.goldstarrecruit.co.uk

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS TELECOMMUNICATIONS STL Communications Ltd A Philip Donigan Sales Director 01993 777113 www.stlcomms.com

DATABASE MANAGEMENT

Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd P Richard Marsh Director 01367 700 555 www.cisltd.com Nominet G Sally Ockwell Brand & Marketing Manager 01865 332211 www.nominet.org.uk DCResponse G Paul Anderson Managing Director 01993 708 855 www.dcresponse.co.uk

Secondsite Recruitment A Laura Harris Branch Manager 01865 203 356 www.secondsite.co.uk

Bluespires IT A Richard Fuller Owner 0845 528 505 www.bluespires.co.uk

myFD Recruitment 01865 339 313 www.myfdrecruitment.co.uk

Flex Information Technology Paul Horseman A Director 0333 101 7300 www.flex.co.uk

MANUFACTURING

Security Exchange Ltd. 01491 683 710 www.securityexchange24.com

WILA G Claire Styles Director 01235 773500 www.wila.co.uk

AgilityWorks 08445 610 930 www.agilityworks.co.uk

Dionach 01865 877 830 www.dionach.com

IT SERVICES

Owen Mumford G Jarl Severn Director 01993 812 021 www.owenmumford.com

LIGHTING

EMAIL MARKETING ClientMailer 01865 339 406 www.clientmailer.com

MEDICAL GOODS

QPQ Software Ltd 01235 522 516 www.qpqsoftware.com

The Oxford Knowledge Company 01865 322 100 www.oxford-knowledge.com

RECRUITMENT

104

Storm Internet 0800 817 4727 www.storminternet.co.uk

InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director 0845 310 9973 www.intouchcrm.co.uk

Simeio A Ollie McGovern Founder 07795 235995 www.simeio.co.uk

Allen Associates 01865 335 600 www.allen-associates.co.uk

The Cabling Company A David Jackson Sales Director 07796 140 348 www.thecablingcompany.com

SECURITY

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Sophos 01235 559 933 www.sophos.com

WEB OPTIMISATION SERVICES Zest A Alex Minchin Director 0843 289 161 www.zestdigital.co

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Alberon P Tim Ault Managing Director 01865 263 220 www.alberon.co.uk Torpedo Group Limited A Iain Lewis Director 01865 733 710 www.torpedogroup.com Method and Class A Robyn North Digital Marketing Consultant 01280 821 840 www.methodandclass.com White October 01865 706 017 www.whiteoctober.co.uk White Chilli Creative Studio 07980 143 475 www.white-chilli.co.uk

The Zeta Group 01869 322500 www.thezetagroup.com

MARKETING & DESIGN ADVERTISING B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Managing Director 01865 742 211 www.b4-business.com Living In Oxford Magazine Colin Rosser P Chairman 01865 742 211 www.inoxford.com Focal Point Advertising Solutions 01256 767837 www.focal.co.uk

CORPORATE IDENTITY Recognition Express P Andy Olejnik Managing Director 01295 257 611 www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk Strangebrew P Phil Strachan Director 07770 753 975 www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk Bicester Vision 01869 324 244 www.bicestervision.co.uk Clear & Creative 01865 204 200 www.clearandcreative.co.uk BrandAsylum 01235 828 508 www.brandasylum.co.uk

DESIGN House on the Hill P Keith Simpson Senior Designer 01865 742 211 www.hothdesign.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 One Hat Design A Steve Legge Owner 01993 702 075 www.onehatdesign.com Kingdom Signs Ltd 01235 812 299 www.kingdomsigns.com

FRAMING Isis Creative Framing 01865 203 420 www.isiscreative.co.uk

FREELANCE COPY WRITING & EDITING Noble Word A Matt Wright Owner 07500 531 485

John Waine Photography 01869 324753 www.johnwainephoto.co.uk Vic Casambros 07727 127591 www.vcasambros.com

PRINTING Blueprint Imaging A Martin Matthews Managing Director 01993 892 360 www.blueprintimaging.com OxUniPrint A Ian Wilton Managing Director 01865 844 918 www.oxuniprint.co.uk

Nicholas Newman 01865 762 710 www.nicnewmanoxford.com

Hunts A Simon Froud Account Manager 01865 853 633 www.hunts.co.uk

MARKETING

MRD Digital Print 01865 715 181

Experience Oxfordshire A Hayley Beer-Gamage Chief Executive 01865 252409 www.experienceoxfordshire.org Marketing Sense A Jo Sensecall Director 01865 883 579 www.marketing-sense.co.uk Heart of Business A Jackie Jarvis Director 07801 293022 Oxford Digital Marketing 01865 575 955 www.oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk

MEDIA CustomEyes Media 01442 876038 www.customeyesmedia.com

PHOTOGRAPHY Studio8 P Clark Wiseman Managing Director 01865 842 525 www.studio-8.co.uk Hills & Saunders A Richard Shymansky Photographer 07878 162 452 www.hillsandsaunders.co.uk Nikreations Photography 07929 305 247 www.nikreations.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

contacts

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTS John Hallam Associates A John Hallam Director 01608 646 969 www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk

BUSINESS PARKS Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and Business Development Director 01865 261 400 www.oxin-centres.co.uk Begbroke Science Park A Caroline Livingstone Managing Director 01865 283 700 www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk Pure Offices 01865 811110 www.pureoffices.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS PUBLIC RELATIONS Papa Romeo PR A Claire Thompson Managing Director 07811 339 577 www.paparomeopr.com Spriggs David A Karen David Partner 01865 512662 www.spriggsdavid.co.uk Antonia Taylor PR A Antonia Taylor Director 07968 775 571 www.antoniataylorpr.com Esplin PR A Louise Esplin PR Consultant 07775 678 237 www.esplinpr.co.uk Spacecraft Consulting 01295 811 781 www.oconsultancy.com Harvest PR 0239 244 9655 www.harvestpr.co.uk HeadOn PR 07920 792 183 www.headonpr.co.uk Stature PR 0207 100 0855 www.staturepr.com Bridgett Solutions Ltd 01784 205 025 www.bridgettsolutions.co.uk

VSL and Partners P Richard Venables Director 01865 848 488 www.vslandp.com Carter Jonas P Scott Harkness Partner 01865 511 444 www.carterjonas.co.uk Lambert Smith Hampton (Oxford) A Kevin Wood Director 01865 200 244 www.lsh.co.uk Lambert Smith Hampton (Reading) 01189 606909 www.lsh.co.uk Meeson Williams Phillips 01865 349011 www.meesonwilliamsphillips.com Marriotts 01865 316311 www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SERVICES Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and Business Development Director 01865 261 400 www.oxin-centres.co.uk

Bracknell Enterprise & Innovation Hub A Shelley Furey Centre Manager 01344 388 000 www.bracknell-hub.co.uk

DEVELOPMENT The Trevor Osborne Property Group P Trevor Osborne Chairman 01225 832 302 www.topgroup.co.uk

ESTATE AGENTS Breckon & Breckon A Keith Stacey Managing Director 01865 244 735 www.breckon.co.uk scottfraser A David Blythman Managing Director Sales 01865 759 500 www.scottfraser.co.uk scottfraser A Marc Hatcher Senior Branch Manager 01993 705 507 www.scottfraser.co.uk Strutt & Parker A Miles Collison Partner, Development Land & New Homes 01865 366 660 www.struttandparker.com Pink & Black Property Consultants A Claire Moloney Director 01865 515 919 www.pinkandblackproperty.com GP Residential 01865 246 399 www.gpresidential.com Hamptons International 01865 578500 www.hamptons-international.com

LETTING AGENTS Breckon & Breckon P Greg Barnes Director 01865 201 111 www.breckon.co.uk North Oxford Property Services P Robin Swailes Director 01865 311 745 www.nops.co.uk

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B4 Cordant Security A Edward MacFarlane Managing Director 01895 201 800 www.cordantservices.com

Finders Keepers A Frank Webster Director 01865 302 308 www.finders.co.uk

Darke & Taylor Ltd 01865 290 000 www.darkeandtaylor.co.uk

scottfraser A Andrew Greenwood Group Managing Director 01865 760 055 www.scottfraser.co.uk Lucy Properties A Ian Ashcroft Managing Director 01865 559 973 www.lucyproperties.co.uk College and County A Mark Crampton-Smith Owner 01865 722 722 www.collegeandcounty.biz Premier Letting A Charles Bartlett Partner 01865 792 299 www.premier.uk.com Short Let Space Ltd. 01993 811 711 www.weeklyhome.com

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS Ridge and Partners LLP G David Walker Partner 01993 815101 www.ridge.co.uk Kemp & Kemp A Steven Sensecall Partner 01865 240 001 www.kempandkemp.co.uk Ian Bridge Consultancy Ltd 07917 881465 www.ianbridge.com SIAD Ltd 01865 712627 www.siadltd.com

PROPERTY SERVICES Savvy Maintenance & Renovations P Stephen Dunne Director 01865 920 020 www.savvy-group.co.uk EIFLA A Nigel J Blanchard Founder & CEO 0844 7767 187 www.eifla-3d.co.uk

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A1 Plumbing & Heating 01865 327 732 www.a1ltd.co.uk

R&R ACCOMMODATION Hawkwell House Hotel P Tim Spittles General Manager 01865 749 988 www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk The Oxford Hotel P Debbie Priestley General Manager 01865 489 988 www.pumahotels.co.uk/hotels /the-oxford-hotel The Manor at Weston on the Green G Adam Treloar Front of House Manager 01869 350621 www.themanorweston.com Fallowfields Hotel & Restaurant G Anthony Lloyd Managing Director 01865 820 416 www.fallowfields.com Macdonald Randolph Hotel Michael Grange A General Manager 0844 879 9132 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk The Bear & Ragged Staff A Mark Greenwood Landlord 01865 862 329 www.bearandraggedstaff.com The Royal Oxford Hotel A Tom Crampton-Smith Owner 01865 248 432 www.royaloxfordhotel.co.uk Bespoke Hotels Limited 07867 987 679 www.bespokehotels.co Eynsham Hall 01993 885 238 www.eynshamhall.com Conifers Guest House 01865 763 055 www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk Spirit Health Club 01865 888 444 www.spirithealthclubs.co.uk

ARTISTIC & CULTURAL

RESTAURANTS

Orchestra of St John’s A John Lubbock Artistic Director 07765 252489 www.osj.org.uk

The Red Lion P 01865 726 255 www.redlionoxford.co.uk

Ashmolean Museum 01865 288 364 www.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Oxford Philomusica 01865 987 222 www.oxfordphil.com Acuity Arts www.acuityarts.co.uk

COFFEE SHOPS Java & Co 07736 950 673 www.javaandco.co.uk

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Sam Strange Magic A Sam Strange Owner 01865 742 211 www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT Oxford Playhouse 01865 305 305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES Laurent Perrier UK P David Green Regional Account Manager 01628 475 404 www.laurent-perrier.co.uk The Oxford Wine Company Ted Sandbach A Managing Director 01865 301 144 www.oxfordwine.co.uk

GALLERIES Aidan Meller Galleries G Aiden Meller Proprietor 01865 727996 www.aidanmeller.com Wiseman Gallery A Sarah Wiseman Owner 01865 515 123 www.wisegal.com

RENTAL ACCOMMODATION Lower Mill Estate A Red Paxton Marketing and Sales Director 01285 869 489 www.lowermillestate.com

Deliveroo G Xavier Collins Community Manager South East 07494 178083 www.deliveroo.co.uk The Oxford Kitchen G John Footman Executive Chef 01865 511149 www.theoxfordkitchen.co.uk 4500 Miles From Delhi A Nav Kandola Owner 01865 244 922 www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford The Snooty Mehmaan A Asad Ahmed Director 01367 242 260 www.thesnootymehmaan.co.uk Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons 01844 278 881 www.manoir.com Pierre Victoire 01865 316 616 www.pierrevictoire.co.uk Café Aloha 01865 792 696 www.cafealoha.co.uk Marco’s at Mercure Eastgate Hotel 01865 248332 www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk/restaurants /marcos-oxford

SHOPPING Blackwell’s P David Prescott Managing Director 01865 382 500 www.blackwell.co.uk Stella and Dot 07763 743783 www.stelladot.co.uk

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE Oxford Technologies A Stephen Sanders Business Development Director 01235 544 871 www.oxfordtechnologies.co.uk

ON THE

Righton Group Limited Emma Righton P Managing Director 01865 311 696 www.rightonstay.co.uk

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