B4 Magazine 32 Berkshire Edition

B4 MAGAZINE ISSUE 32 OCTOBER 2014

STOKE PARK Stoke Park is famous for so many things. Discover more inside.

LADY MARGARET HALL

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

B P COLLINS LLP

B U I L D I N G

B R I D G E S

RIDGEWAY

B E T W E E N

B U S I N E S S E S

welcome to the new B4 magazine in print

on-line

3 become 1

New website

B4 Magazine amalgamates in to one comprehensive edition available to over 9,000 key business decision makers in the Thames Valley

We will be rolling out a brand new B4 website early next year with lots of new functionality and ways for you to network and promote your business with ease.

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Member's newsletter Coming soon - A bi-monthly printed newsletter to keep all of our B4 Members up to date on upcoming events, deadlines and news.

B4 Newsdesk Do you have some news you'd like to share, but don't have the audience?

Members can contact the B4 team any time and we will work to promote your news through our various channels.

Forward Features After numerous requests we will be introducing themes and features to B4 Magazine, starting in the new year with issue 34.

Fixed Pagination B4 Magazine will do its utmost to stick to a 164 page count when possible. No more thann 164!

and more...

‘We're a B4 Member' logos As the title suggests, we'll be giving all our members some logos and banners to use online as they see fit.

This issue marks the beginning of a new B4 Business. We are delighted to announce various changes to the way we do things that will hopefully make your experience with B4 Magazine and the B4 Network even more effective. Here is a quick run-down for you:

events

social

Masterclasses

Social Media

Do you have something you can teach us and other B4 Members? We will be starting Masterclass sessions in 2015 at various great venues.

Many members are not aware that we offer a Social Media service: We can retweet and create tweets on your behalf to promote your business and its news.

Our latest Social Media figures as of end-September stand at:

Promotional Events If you fancy something a bit different to the usual canapes and wine networking (although great) then get involved with our new event endeavour: B4 will be arranging various trips, all with a fun twist.

@B4Magazine 2,939 followers @B4Berkshire 2,437 followers @B4Bucks 1,381 followers

Classic Events Not a change per se, but we promise to continue to bring you excellent B4 events at stunning venues in 2015.

For further information on new developments and more please see page 75.

If you have any queries please feel free to contact the B4 team on 01865 742 211

B ROW RO W N S O X F O R D 5-11 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HA t: 01865 511995 e: e: oxford@browns-restaurants.co.uk

B ROW RO W N S R E A D I N G Unit 5A, The Oracle Centre, Reading, RG1 2AG t: 0118 9503137 e: e: windosr@browns-restaurants.co.uk

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VII BR ROW OW N S W I N D S O R The Promenade, Barry Ave, Windsor SL4 1QX t: 01753 831 976 e: e: windosr@browns-restaurants.co.uk

Open: 10.00am Close: 11.00pm (Fri & Sat close at 12am) Last F Fo ood Order : 10.00pm (Fri & Sat 10.30pm)

We’ll tweet you well!

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@designs-on.co.uk Editor Richard Rosser editorial@b4-business.com Art Editor Keith Simpson artwork@b4-business.com Assistant Editor Lorna Dodson assistanteditor@b4-business.com Proofreader Sue Rosser

welcome to B4 32 This is the first new B4 magazine with all three areas combined into one magazine and we hope you like it. There are lots more changes planned for B4, including moving to a bi-monthly magazine in earnest from February 2015, a Members Newsletter, Masterclasses, a new B4 website and new magazine features appearing in 2015.

We’ve tried to incorporate all of the changes in an overview on pages 74 to 79. If you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Meet The Writers

As ever we are open to your suggestions to help improve B4, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Enjoy B4 32.

B4 Events Tina Rosser events@b4-business.com B4 Digital Marketing Daria Montella Editorial contributors Kelly Lea Matthew Wright Rachel Warren Olivia Lane-Nott B4 Photography Rob Scotcher Studio Photography Studio8 Telephone: 01865 842525

135. Beacon Sales.

Richard Rosser Editor

Written by Barry Luff This edition's interviews range from the worthy (the 3rd Pride of Bucks Awards), to the wonderful (Alina, the pianist virtuoso), to the welcoming (reviewing events at Rhodes House and Lady Margaret Hall). We talk to established businesses (Blackwell’s, Savvy), those at the cutting edge of technology (Studio 8, Hills & Saunders, Oxford Media), those new employees who are set to make their mark (Hedges, Owen Mumford), and many more besides. All in all, there should be something to interest everyone… and if you think your company’s voice should be heard in our upcoming themed issues, please contact us about rates for our professionally-written editorials.

Matt Wright Features Editor

Subscriptions For free Subscription, please contact: Telephone: 01865 742 211 info@b4-business.com Each business with an Oxfordshire postcode is entitled to one free copy per issue. For additional copies and for businesses outside of Oxfordshire, there is an annual subscription charge of £25.

I was honoured to write the lead article for Lady Margaret Hall this issue - a stunning establishment that I can't believe I had never visited before. Aside from the interviews mentioned above we also have great reviews of fantastic places such as La Manga Club in Costa Calida and The Bear & Ragged Staff in Cumnor. What more can I say that Richard and Matt haven't? This issue has been a real pleasure to put together and it is great to see B4 expanding, and at the same time really coming in to its own. Keep an eye on us in the new year for even more exciting changes!

B4 Magazine is printed by

Written by Hugh Tebay

Lorna Dodson Sub Editor

63. FOCUS

Put Together in Oxfordshire B4 is all about Oxfordshire. Designed, produced and printed in Oxfordshire.

© 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.

120. Brook Street des Roches LLP

Written by Nick Jones

About

B4

Magazine

B4 Magazine was established to provide Oxfordshire businesses with a clear voice to raise their profile and to help businesses connect. Direct mailed to three thousand business decision makers in Oxfordshire every quarter, B4 is regarded as Oxfordshire’s leading free distribution business publication. 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, quarterly B4 Ambassador events and monthly workshops.

B4 is funded by paid for display advertising and editorial, although some editorial is granted without charge at the discretion of the Editor. Please call us to find out how you can get involved.

WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE ON

48. Grant Thornton Written by Mahmood Ramji

leads

114 EIFLA-3D: Specialists in CGI, 3D FlyThrough Animations and 3D Panoramic Interactive Tours.

22 Summer at Lady Margaret Hall: Catch up with LMH and all the fantastic events they've hosted over this Summer.

135 The Truth Behind New Product Failures: Barry Luff of Beacon Sales talks to us about why people sometimes make terrible decisions.

26 Club Life!: Stoke Park is famous for so many things, but are you aware of all that there is to offer?

91 Savvy Group: The construction and maintenance group's progress in 2014, its green credentials, and its plans for the immediate future.

94 Witney Business & Innovation Centre: Doubles occupancy in just 2 months thanks to the NHS and Witney's only Female Only gym.

101 A Bright Future for Oxfordshire: Oxfordshire Community Foundation talks to B4 about their long-lasting image of charitable investment.

31 Business Property: An Asset or a Liability?: B P Collins LLP explains to B4 readers why buying a business property need not be frightening or difficult.

105 Out Of Office: Chris Smith shares some of the things that Oxford Media Factory get up to day-to-day.

106 By Royal Appointment: Find out what distinguishes Hills & Saunders Photography from all the other photographers out there.

116 Busy Times for City Audio Visual: Catch up with CAV and everything they've been up to over the summer.

news 12 14 67 71

B4 Events Diary B4 News Ridgeway News OURFC News

services 39 Uninterruptible Power Supplies: DC Response tell us why it is so important to protect your business with a UPS. 63 Are You 'Focused' On Cost?: In this age of price comparison, make sure you are paying the correct price for your insurance, not just the cheapest.

72 Innovation at a Law Firm? Surely Not!: Join BLUE LAW at Darbys and get legal advice whenever you need it.

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spotlight

124 Rhodes House Gardens - An Inspiration: A history of the beautiful gardens of Rhodes House and how they helped shape those who visited there.

32 British Gas' Flagship Office: British Gas tells B4 about their office in Oxford which reflects their values and is cost effective.

130 Alina Kozlovskaja: B4 catches up with Alina Kozlovskaja and her captivating, hauntingly beautiful piano compositions

35 Bridge, Nano-machines, and Insurance: Richard Rosser talks to Jon Bourn of Osbornes Insurance about their 'for the little guy' approach.

36 Three New Appointments: Owen Mumford scoops another three business awards and strengthens its Global Marketing team.

56 Opening Doors for Businesses: B4 talks to Vicky Hernandez at Hedges Law about what lies ahead for the sector.

59 Carter Jonas Evolves its Brand: Learn about the national property firm’s strategy for continued growth and development.

82 Kemp & Kemp: The secrets and surprises of Oxford’s oldest multi-disciplinary and independent property consultancy.

84 Studio 8: Ten years on and still making waves. Read about this photography studio's story of success.

technology 47 Playing a Part in Our Future: Oxford Instruments plc tells us about their views on the changing scientific community and what we can do to help.

60 Confused About The 'Cloud'?: The real stats, facts and figures explained by CIS Ltd.

www.b4-business.com

B4 contents advice

events

property

48 #NfPSocialMedia: Grant Thornton talks about the importance of Social Media to your charity business.

98 The Pride of Bucks 2014: B4 talks to Trinity Mirror about this year's successful event.

68 Oxfordshire's Most Active Agent: VSL & Partners wins over the competition once again: Read about their latest endeavours here.

55 The Changing Pension Landscape: Advice on how to plan for your retirement with The M Group.

126 B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House: This year's annual Rhodes House networking event was a big hit!

80 Inheritance Tax (IHT): Everything you need to know from the experts at Wenn Townsend.

88 IT Contacts - How Watertight Are Yours?: Vital information from Henmans Freeth about your IT contracts.

r&r

112 Growing Your Business: A new workshop from Clark Howes on getting what you want from your business.

87 Oxford's Organic Deli Café: If you haven't already been, check out this fantastic family-run cafe and whole-foods store.

120 Direct Marketing Campaigns: Information from BrookStreet Des Roches on best practice and compliance.

97 16th Century Luxury: Living In Oxford's Gillie Coghlan reviews the wonderful Bear & Ragged Staff in Cumnor.

109 Not Just a Pretty Face: Blackwell's Victor Glynn tells us all about the hidden side of this enterprise.

education 43 Get The Talent Your Business Needs: All about Activate Enterprise, a new organisation bringing you top apprenticeships and training.

51 Oxford International Study Centre: Read about this long-standing institution for both international and domestic students.

92 East Oxford is the New Jericho: College & County tell us about the changes the recent buy-to-let boom has had on East Oxford

health 40 Getting in Shape for a Healthy Future: A new lifestyle concept opened by Activate Learning at City of Oxford College.

52 Are You Sitting Comfortably?: Aston & James and Fellowes bring us advice and a new ergonomic range of office supplies and furniture

110 The Chequers at Burcot: Read about this wonderful quaint thatched village pub in the hands of master chef Steven Sanderson.

118 Elysium Properties: Find paradise on Earth in the Costa Calida with a dream property from La Manga Club.

123 Let's Viagogo to the Bernabeu: B4's Richard Rosser talks about his recent trip to La Manga to see Real Madrid FC. 129 Hosting Events at The Tree Hotel: You may not be aware that aside from their culinary delights, this great establishment can also play host

motoring 44 New Range at North Oxford BMW: Check out the latest addition that's been topping double figures.

64 #Good to Great: Chief Executive John O’Hanlon is quite rightly proud of Ridgeway’s spectacular growth, but wants to take the group from good to great.

www.b4-business.com

137 CONTACTS

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Residential Letting 路 Property Management

D E S I G N

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P R I N T

B4 platinum ambassadors We would like to thank our B4 Platinum Ambassadors 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.

O X F O R D

meet oxfordshire 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 all employees to attend B4 events. The Ambassador scheme is separate and subject to a different charge of £250+VAT for the first Ambassador and £100+VAT for subsequent Ambassadors. Call us for more information or visit the B4 website at www.b4-business.com and click on B4 Membership.

B4

In Association with Carter Jonas

Event Organiser

Venues British Gas, Oxford Business Park, 2600 John Smith Way, Oxford, OX4 2JY

The Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3AZ

Oxford International Study Centre, 7 St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1BS

Underglobe, Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, SE1 9DT

The Sheldonian Theatre,Broad Street, Oxford,OX1 3AZ

The Villiers Hotel, 3 Castle Street, Buckingham, MK18 1BS

Date

Tue 28th Oct 2014

Thu 30th Oct 2014

Tue 4th Nov 2014

Fri 14th Nov 2014

Sun 16th Nov 2014

Thu 27th Nov 2014

B4 diary Time

Event Details

11am

A half day master class on how to reduce energy consumption within your building. We’ll be showcasing our Oxford office and the technologies we’ve installed, including biomass boilers and solar panels. Our Managing Director, Stephen Beynon will also be on hand during our networking lunch to answer any questions you may have about the energy industry. www.britishgas.co.uk/business

7pm

To celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the Sheldonian Theatre, we are hosting an evening discussion with Owen Jones and Harry Leslie Smith. The talk will be chaired by Melissa Benn. Author of Chavs and The Establishment, Owen Jones discusses the current problems that Britain faces with Harry Leslie Smith. Harry is the author of this year's bestselling Harry's Last Stand and a 91 year old survivor of the Great Depression, a second world war RAF veteran and an activist for the poor and for the preservation of social democracy. Owen Jones is a left-wing English columnist, author and commentator. He is a regular columnist for The Guardian. http://bookshop.blackwell.co.uk/stores/oxfordbookshop/events

9am 5pm

We will be welcoming parents, agents and students to visit us here at OISC to discuss the courses we offer - from revision programmes to Oxbridge preparation. Come and get an idea of what life at OISC is like! www.oxintstudycentre.com

7pm

Come and join us at The Winter’s Ball in aid of Helen & Douglas House. It will be a fantastic evening and a great opportunity to entertain friends, colleagues and clients.

Tickets include champagne reception, 3 course dinner, complementary drinks, live music, magicians and other surprises.

Transport can be arranged. www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

7.30pm

Join us for this unique concert commemorating the laying of the foundation stone of the Sheldonian Theatre in 1664.

To celebrate such an historic event, the specially formed Sheldonian Anniversary Orchestra and Chorus will be performing arguably one of the greatest symphonies every composed – Beethoven’s Symphony Number 9. This promises to be a wonderful evening of musical celebration. www.sheldon.ox.ac.uk

5pm 7pm

Condensing his whole-day intensive growth planning workshop into a one-off taster session, Tim Shaw will take you through how to plan and execute a successful business growth strategy. If you want to grow your business but unsure of where to start, you will come away from this workshop with actionable tips to kick-start your business growth. www.clarkhowes.com/events

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

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www.b4-business.com

B4 contributors PICK OF THE B4 PLATINUM AMBASSADOR CONTRIBUTORS

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68

72

80

94

116

124

REGULAR B4 CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE BP Collins.........................................................................................................................................31

Studio8...............................................................................................................................................84

Owen Mumford........................................................................................................................36

Henmans..........................................................................................................................................88

DC Response.................................................................................................................................39

Savvy....................................................................................................................................................91

City of Oxford College.........................................................................................................40

College & County......................................................................................................................92

Oxford Instruments...............................................................................................................47

The Bear & Raged Staff.....................................................................................................97

Aston & James............................................................................................................................52

Blackwell’s....................................................................................................................................109

MGroup............................................................................................................................................55

BSDR...................................................................................................................................................120

Focus....................................................................................................................................................63

Strangebrew...............................................................................................................................130

www.b4-business.com

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Is your business scalable?

At first it can be shocking when you begin to think about the current business structure and compare it with what may be needed to sustain a bigger company. All of those new systems, processes, locations and people to support can look overwhelming.

But once you start to break things down everything will soon look quite different.

Take our simple Sellability Score and find out how 'Scalable' your business is. Whether your objective is to liberate your time, reinvest in a new venture or release family wealth. This short survey is

absolutely free, confidential and will only take a few minutes of your time.

The survey is a quantitative tool designed to analyze how sellable your business is: • Absolutely Free • Confidential • 13-minute survey After completing the questionnaire, you will immediately receive a Sellability Score out of 100 along with instructions for interpreting your results and I will contact you to arrange a review of your full report.

T; 07834 518428 www.businessdoctors.co.uk/ take-our-scalability-score

Join the Crisis Christmas Party raising money to help homeless people in Oxford get back on their feet in the year ahead.

Fancy holding an office party with a difference?

Whether you have a raffle, do a sweepstake or host a mince pie bake-off, getting your office involved is not only good fun but also a great way to spread some Christmas cheer, giving homeless people the chance to make a fresh start.

Crisis Skylight Oxford is calling on local businesses to dedicate their Christmas Parties to Crisis this year,

Crisis Skylight Oxford opened in the building of the Old Fire Station in 2011 to offer people a

permanent route out of homelessness with Crisis’ unique combination of artistic, educational and practical support. Last year the centre saw 645 people participating in activities, and supported 73 into paid employment, thanks to the support of people like you.

Crisis Christmas Party week runs from 8 – 14 December. To find out more or to pre-order your party pack, contact sara.hunt@crisis.org.uk www.crisis.org.uk/christmasparty

World-leading science research facility Diamond Light Source appoints Sir Adrian Smith as new chairman.

Sir Adrian, who takes over from Lord Alec Broers, is a distinguished statistician with current and former positions in government and a number of national institutions. In 2002, he was invited by the Government to chair a review into secondary mathematics education in the UK, resulting in the well-received Smith Report.

From 2008 - 2012, Sir Adrian served as Director General for Science and Research at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

(BIS), which followed on from his appointment in 1998 as Principal of Queen Mary University, London. Currently, Professor Smith holds the positions of Vice-Chancellor of the University of London and Deputy Chair of the UK Statistics Authority. Sir Adrianís appointment coincides with a rapid phase of development for Diamond, with 13 new experimental stations scheduled for delivery between 2013 and 2018.

For more info go to diamond.ac.uk or contact diamondcomms@diamond.ac.uk

B4 Attracts New Members We are delighted to welcome new and renewing members to B4 on a daily basis.

Amongst our most recent new and renewing members are: Stoke Park, Danesfield House Hotel, British Gas Business Services, Owen Mumford, Clydesdale Bank, Fish Partnership, Clark Howes, Lamb Catering, Kingdom Signs, GP Residential, DC Response, Lucy Properties, David Parry Employment Law and The Macdonald Windsor Hotel.

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www.b4-business.com

B4 news Torpedo continues to prosper Torpedo has been shortlisted for the B2B Marketing Awards 2014 for three categories, Best Use of Live Event Marketing, Best SMEtargeted Campaign and B2B Marketing Communications Agency of the Year.

The B2B Marketing Awards is a national awards programme recognising the very best in the world of B2B marketing. The awards are judged by a panel of experts according to understanding of campaign objectives, strategic thinking and creativity.

Iain Lewis, Director at Torpedo comments, “We have grown significantly in the past 24 months and are fortunate to work with a number of fantastic clients. These nominations are a testament to all the hard work from our team and the great results we have achieved. Fingers crossed for the awards night in November.”

Torpedo is an Oxfordshire based digitally integrated b2b marketing agency, with clients including Adobe, Autodesk, Novartis and BAE Systems. They work with businesses on a local, national

and international level to deliver effective unified marketing communications including mobile apps, websites, videos, animations and multi-channel lead generation campaigns. www.torpedogroup.com

Turl Street Kitchen It’s that time of year again - the nights are closing in, the shops are filling with decorations, and Turl Street Kitchen is preparing for the Christmas season. You can get in touch now to book your Christmas party with us. Whether you’re booking a big work party or a more intimate affair, we’ve got a beautiful menu of locally, sustainably-sourced festive food for you.

You can expect warming winter soups, perfectly roasted meats (with TSK’s special stuffing!),

decadent desserts and top-notch options for vegetarians. Two delicious courses plus a cracker for £20, or go for 3 courses for £25; finish off with coffee, truffles and mince pies for a little more (a 10% service charge will be added to your final bill).

We require pre-orders for our Christmas menu, so reserve your place while you can. We look forward to celebrating the season with you! www.turlstreetkitchen.co.uk/book

Why does Mystery Shopping seem so scary?

It isn’t!, If you want to improve your sales, increase your customers and enhance your reputation, VCA Consulting, mystery shopping specialists can help!

We offer flexible and tailor made mystery shopping programmes that work for you. VCA Consulting work in the Hospitality industry with unusual venues, hotels and now retail.

We can test the ability of a sales call, enquiry, complaint handling or product knowledge.

We offer: Recorded telephone calls • Face to face visits • Mystery dining • Hospitality stay in hotel • Web checks.

Once the mystery call or visit has been made, we report back with recommendations to help you grow your business.

Regular mystery shopping (we suggest monthly), helps to determine areas requiring focus and may require training.

VCA Consulting aim to help you to: • monitor customer care • improve client retention • gain an enviable reputation! www.vcaconsultinguk.com

New head chef and menu at Tree Hotel at Iffley launched a new European and Indian-based menu which the Tree Hotels are well-known for.

Daljit has over 15 years’ experience in the restaurant business; a career that has taken him all over the world from Mumbai to London including working at One Aldwych.

The Tree Hotel at Iffley is excited to announce the return of their much loved and highly talented head chef Daljit Dusanj, who has just

www.b4-business.com

Daljit previously worked at the Tree Hotels for three years and his return comes at a time when

business has been particularly good for The Tree Hotel at Iffley, boosted by recent events such as their Beer Festival and Bollywood celebrations.

They have seen food and drink sales increase by 12% in the past year and a 9% increase in room bookings over the last six months.

Keep an eye out for his signature Murgh Kali Mirch dish (Indian black pepper chicken). www.treehotel.co.uk

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With unrivalled expertise in all aspects of commercial printing from business cards to brochures, Advent can accomplish the most sophisticated spectrum of high quality print work with ease.

PROUD TO PRINT

B4 Magazine ADVENT PRINT GROUP 19 EAST PORTWAY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ANDOVER, HAMPSHIRE, SP10 3LU TEL: 01264 359359 FAX: 01264 359358 EMAIL: info@advent-colour.co.uk www.advent-colour.co.uk

B4 news Gardner Leader expands into Maidenhead with Heath Buckeridge merger Two well established Berkshire law firms, Gardner Leader in Newbury & Thatcham, and Heath Buckeridge in Maidenhead, are pleased to join forces as part of a long term growth plan.

The merger, which took effect on 1 October, sees Gardner Leader expand into Maidenhead through the transfer of Heath Buckeridge's team of 10 staff.

The team will continue to work from the Maidenhead office, providing a range of services for businesses and individuals. The move will also help the Maidenhead team to build and develop their

commercial legal services through the strength and support of Gardner Leader's specialist business division.

Richard Buckeridge, Senior Partner of Heath Buckeridge, is now a partner in Gardner Leader.

Richard and Derek Rodgers, Managing Partner of Gardner Leader agree, " It's a move that will benefit both parties and their respective clients particularly as clients of both firms will now have access to a wider range of services and expertise. It is also a fantastic time to be investing in Maidenhead.”

Richard Buckeridge

www.gardner-leader.co.uk

The Bodleian Library: an impressive venue for events Located in the historic centre of Oxford, the grand Divinity School, Convocation House and Chancellor’s Court in the Bodleian Library still play an important part in the ceremonial life of the University.

These three magnificent rooms are now also available for corporate and private hire for events.

Businesses are warmly invited to book and plan their event at the Bodleian Library with the help of our approved caterers and suppliers.

Impress your guests at an atmospheric dinner, an elegant reception or a professional presentation.

New for bookings in 2015: the new Blackwell Hall in the Weston Library, accommodating 450 for drinks receptions and 250 for seated dinners.

Please contact our events team to make an appointment for a viewing and to discuss your requirements.

T: 01865 277 224 E: events@bodleian.ox.ac.uk W: bodleian.ox.ac.uk/whatson/venue-hire

Write – Say – Win What a wonderful summer we’ve had: fine weather, interesting bid-writing assignments and ambitious clients who wanted coaching to achieve great things. Working with engaging people who have something to tell the world, and recognise where they need support to do so, is such a fun line of work!

managers in all sizes of business to develop their roles and achieve more. This is a great moment to thank everyone with whom we’ve worked, and with whom we’ve shared ideas and stories at the networking events of B4 and BBF, for creating such an interesting and lively local business community in which to work.

We’re nearing completion on a major tunnelling bid for a contracting joint venture, delivering presentation skills training for students to support the University of Westminster, and coaching

See www.mercury-cs.co.uk for all sorts of handy hints and ideas about writing, presenting and coaching.

Great Events lined up for 2015 We are delighted to announce some stunning venues for 2015 B4 Classic Events, including: Stoke Park, Williams F1 Conference Centre, Rhodes House, Hartwell House Hotel & Spa, Henmans Freeth, Heythrop, The Weston Library and Oakley Court Hotel.

Other venues will be announced shortly. To keep on top of what is going on at B4, either sign up for the weekly e-Newsletter or become a member and you will get a bi-monthly printed Newsletter in the post.

www.b4-business.com

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University of Oxford

EXAMINATION ONE OF OXFORD’S LARGEST CITY CENTRE VENUES Exquisite Grade II listed Victorian building located on the High Street in Oxford 17 meeting rooms ranging from 20 to 440 people, total seating capacity of over 1,600 guests Competitive day delegate rates Excellent catering services Close proximity to public transport links Experienced and friendly support team

Telephone: 01865 276905 • Email: conferences@exams.ox.ac.uk • www.examschools.ox.ac.uk

B4 news Short Let Space Short Let Space is the new name for the short let and holiday lettings agency formerly known as Weekly Home, and has launched it’s live booking website www.shortletspace.co.uk.

Short Let Space have fully furnished apartments, cottages and houses in the Thames Valley area catering for the leisure and non leisure market.

Managing Director, Kelvin Fowler commented, “Although the short let rental market in Oxford is

reaching saturation point, we are achieving excellent occupancy and sourcing buildings of multiple one and two bedroom units, leasing directly from the developer or owner. Our other success this year has been with larger Oxford properties which become available to us for several weeks and months through the summer period.”

For more information call 01993 811 711 or visit www.shortletspace.co.uk. If you are a developer or owner with properties to let ask for Kelvin Fowler.

Cereta Drewett Photography surroundings of Rhodes House recently which are featured in B4 magazine.

Taking photographs is something I enjoy and I was very pleased to be asked by Sue from Oxford Fine Dining to take photographs of their delicious food served in the beautiful

My experience with photography began in college whilst studying for my Arts degree and I later transferred my camera and darkroom skills to digital photography, which I find is a very exciting and creative medium. Having taught creative photography I am now concentrating on producing my own work. My portfolio continues to grow and

has become more varied as I specialise in offering a custom made photographic service. My website is being designed and will be ready very soon to showcase my work. In my free time I am still inspired to take photographs in pursuit of capturing that perfect moment through the lens!

For more information, please contact me at: cereta.drewett80@virginmedia.com or on 01993 703 183 / 07971 687 289.

Burlington House – Renovations & Revivals The Burlington House on Banbury Road in Oxford is proud to announce we will soon be undergoing some major refurbishments, including 3 additional rooms and 2 new apartments which will be either serviced or long-stay.

Which? Guide to Good Hotels and its sister publication, the Which? Guide to Good Bed & Breakfast as well as national newspapers. The renovations will see all aspects of the hotel upgraded and will help us continue to maintain our high ratings.

Burlington Guest House has been consistently awarded the highest accommodation rating and now has a Five Star Gold Award under the new AA scheme. We have been recommended by both the

The project will commence in the next 3 to 4 weeks and will last for approximately 36 weeks. Be sure to visit us when we're done and experience true luxury and style!

For further information please visit: www.burlington-hotel-oxford.co.uk

Helen House – A Brand New Look!

Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice and is a charity that all of us locally can be really proud to support. £436,000 of money from NHS England has recently helped ensure that a £1.5 million investment in to a significant refurbishment of the Helen House building could happen, future proofing it for children and families for years to come.

The charity appealed to the public to help raise the remaining funds required and the good news is

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that on Monday, 15 September, a completely new look Helen House was officially re-opened. Our local hospice for children and young adults, Helen & Douglas House continues to need all of our help and support to raise over £5 million needed each year to run both hospice houses.

The team organises regular supporter tours so if you would like to see this amazing place and the work they do for yourself please contact fundraising@helenandouglas.org.uk or 01865 799 150. We recommend you take a look for yourself.

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Fine Dining at

Britain’s Greatest Palace As a World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace offers a unique and inspiring venue to host any prestigious fine dining event. Situated in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds amongst 2,000 acres of Capability Brown landscaped parkland and exquisite formal gardens, Blenheim Palace provides the picture-perfect setting.

All events at Blenheim Palace are tailored to suit our clients’ individual requirements and our experienced team of Event Planners will work closely with you from the initial enquiry through to the event and beyond.

Only 8 miles from Oxford and 11/2 hours from London

For more information contact Blenheim Palace Hospitality Email: sales@blenheimhospitality.com Tel: 01993 813874 Visit: www.blenheimpalace.com Find us on Facebook and Twitter

Britain’s Greatest Palace

B4 news Calling employers: Ed Vaizey MP launches Job Fair Ed Vaizey MP has been working with MEPC’s Milton Park and the Didcot Job Centre Plus team to set up a Job Fair at Milton Park to help his Constituents to find jobs in the buoyant employment market in the local area.

The Fair will take place on Friday 14 November from 10am to 2pm at the Innovation Centre at Milton Park and will give local employers and job seekers the opportunity to meet up.

Ed Vaizey said: “I know that employment levels in the local area are very good, so some employers struggle to find the right staff, while some local

people can’t quite find the right job for them. By bringing the two together I hope we can help everyone involved.”

Philip Campbell, Head of Leasing & Development at MEPC’s Milton Park said: “We are so supportive of Ed Vaizey’s Job Fair initiative. This year, at Milton Park we have seen employee numbers significantly increase in response to the improving economy.

By connecting local employers with those people looking for jobs, we can all play a small part in helping to improve people’s lives and our county’s economy.” www.miltonpark.co.uk

L to R: James Dipple CEO MEPC & Ed Vaizey MP at Milton Park landscape

Kingerlee working with local charity Style Acre Oxfordshire-based building contractor Kingerlee and the charity Style Acre are pleased to forge a partnership to refurbish an empty and disused former nightclub in Banbury Town Centre.

Style Acre purchased the property in Butcher’s Row to provide a much-needed Support Hub for people with learning disabilities.

Style Acre’s Chief Executive Kate Liddle says: “Kingerlee have invested a lot of time with us providing thoughtful consideration and huge cost

savings for this exciting project. We really like Kingerlee’s ethos and commitment.”

Kingerlee have been so inspired by the work of Style Acre, they have just selected them as their Charity of the Year. As well as donating a portakabin, Kingerlee are hoping to raise much needed funds for the charity over the course of the year! www.kingerlee.co.uk

Alberon - the software and web solution specialists Alberon is an Oxford based company that has been building software and web solutions for over 10 years.

changes, websites are evolving from being simple online brochures, to efficient, fully integrated, sales and marketing tools.

During the last few years, Alberon has seen a growth in companies looking for software that can improve efficiency and reduce costs, to help them stay strong in an increasingly competitive environment.

Alberon’s team of specialists develop bespoke software that helps organisations to work more effectively, and enables them to realise their full potential. They also design and build website solutions that sit at the very centre of a business, performing complex, business-critical tasks and delivering outstanding user experiences.

And this doesn’t end with software. As technology

Alberon can help grow your business. To find out how, visit: www.alberon.co.uk or email: info@alberon.co.uk or call 01865 794 009.

New Website for B4 We are currently working on a great new site for B4. There’s lots of whizzy new functionality planned for the new site, but it’s important to canvass our members and readers for their ideas.

If there’s anything in particular you think B4 could or should be offering you online, please drop the editor a line at editorial@b4-business.com.

www.b4-business.com

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A DAY OFF AT

LADY MARGARET HALL Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

WRITTEN BY: LORNA DODSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RICHARD BUDD

I recently took the time to stop, and look, at a wonderful outdoor screening of the classic feel-good movie 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' at Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford. This film never fails to bring a smile to my face and seeing it on a huge screen in the most beautiful gardens and warm summer evening weather increased the enjoyment tenfold.

The event was organised by The Phoenix Picturehouse (based in Jericho, Oxford), part of a small chain of European cinemas bringing you something different from the standard mainstream drivel you might find at other establishments. The Phoenix explain their 'PopUp Cinema' the best themselves: 'Two weekends of classic films / six balmy evenings of summer screenings'. Starting on Friday 18th July with 'Labyrinth', then 'Grease', 'Casablanca', 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' and finally 'Singin' In The Rain' on Sunday 10th August - You certainly can't fault their film choices.

The Phoenix also provided food stalls with dishes like Paella and Chili, plus their own Picturehouse snacks as well soft drinks and alcohol. Nice weather, beautiful surroundings, great film, good

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company, delicious food and tasty drinks. What more could I ask for?

I knew the film was going to be good, but I can not describe how impressed I was by the venue itself. Lady Margaret Hall truly is stunning. Its gardens are picturesque (as they should be, being the host of Oxfordshire's major annual flower show 'Flowers @ Oxford') and its architecture moody and intricate. As I arrived a bit early for the screening I caught a small glimpse of Creation Theatre's 'Macbeth' performance which was taking place and saw immediately how they used the surroundings to their benefit - the buildings becoming intense and foreboding under green spotlights and the shadows of great tall trees. The college and its grounds have even inspired novelists like Charles Finch, who based a fictional college on Lady Margaret Hall.

The gardens are large and tranquil, about 12 acres (49,000 m2), and open up into a variety of different potential event spaces. They extend to the River Cherwell and border the University Parks, making the entirety of the gardens quiet and peaceful save for the faint river and the

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B4 lead

Open air screening of Casablanca

leaves. The area our screening was in is one of the playing fields which could easily hold over 500 people, and nearby were some tennis courts, a punt house, and a hidden 'manicured Fellows Garden'. The maximum capacity for this outdoor cinema event was set at 300 people, but the grounds could easily support many times more than that.

The size of the gardens regardless of their beauty makes them ideal as an alternative event space - There are no worries about noise or the passing public, and no real limit to the number of guests.

The playing field leant itself perfectly to great acoustics and a grand atmosphere, with trees rustling gently and no other light sources to distract from the main event.

Before we sat down on the cute fold-out cardboard chairs provided by The Phoenix we had a quick chat with Alicia L贸pez R铆os and Martin Langley, Assistant Manager and General Manager respectively. Alicia told me that, despite some of the previous screenings not having the fortune of good weather like we did, the attendees refused to leave even in drizzle and chilly winds - The experience of outdoor cinema is one that you go to without worrying about the weather (especially in England) and the guests enjoyed themselves so much that they stayed regardless.

Martin Langley had this to say on the event: "Working in tandem with Bill Kemp and his wonderful staff at Lady Margaret Hall helped bring Picturehouse Pop-Up Cinema to life.

Outdoor cinema is a fantastic event and is deserving of a suitably fantastic venue - of which there are many in Oxford - so finding the right fit for us was really important. Casablanca was my favourite night this year with a sold out passionate audience enjoying classic film on a

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warm summer's evening. We hope to return in 2015 with more of the same."

As mentioned, it was obvious that an outdoor film screening was going to be a fun experience but the venue is what made this event truly memorable. Making an impact with an event can't always be guaranteed by blowing the budget on hiring a private mansion or hi-tech conference centre. Maybe you are organising a wedding reception that you want to stand out from the others you've been to, or perhaps you need a venue that is as diverse as the subject of your latest exhibition. Sometimes what your event needs is a location that is a bit different from your run-of-the-mill places, and that's where Lady Margaret Hall really shines.

Lady Margaret Hall is a college with a unique place in the history of the University of Oxford with its elegant classical and neoclassical buildings. It is a secure site with 24-hour access via an electronic key system and has on-site car parking. Both Alicia and Martin agreed that the staff at Lady Margaret Hall are great to work with when organising an event, extremely helpful and lots of fun. The college has a very flexible approach to conferences and events and are happy to work with you to create something just right for you.

So next year when the pop-up cinema rolls around again I hope you'll join me and many others for a wonderful evening. And next time you are thinking of organising a memorable event, look no further than Lady Margaret Hall.

CONTACT DETAILS headofcs@lmh.ox.ac.uk 01865 611 079 wwwww.lmh.ox.ac.uk

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B4 lead

ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE

Creation Theatre is Oxfordshire’s largest producing theatre company, we pop up all over the city using unusual spaces to tell classic stories and we’ve been doing just that for nearly 20 years.

WRITTEN BY: CHARLIE MORLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RICHARD BUDD

We’ve just seen the curtain fall on our sell-out summer production of Macbeth in the gardens at Lady Margaret Hall; by and large we were lucky with the weather and 5,500 people came to see our take on Shakespeare’s greatest villainous couple.

Everything wasn’t quite so rosy two years ago though. Coming out of the wettest summer in 100 years in 2012 it seemed likely that Creation’s board of trustees would have no option but to close the charity down. A soggy summer had dampened the appetite for Shakespeare in the great outdoors and coupled with reduced tourism to Oxford because of the Olympics we were facing a fight for survival.

Aladdin and the Magical Lamp was definitely going ahead that Christmas and we took up the challenge to raise the £50,000 needed to plug the hole before that show was over. We raffled a holiday, wrote letters, stood on the stage at the end of each performance and generally made as much noise as possible to give Oxford the chance to keep live theatre being produced here.

“Lady Margaret Hall gave

us incredible freedom to drop banners from the top of the buildings, summon apparitions on the rooftop and peer in on medical examinations through open windows

”

The existence of Macbeth serves as something of a spoiler, but we made it! The largest single donation we received was £1,000 and through raffle tickets and coins and notes in a bucket our audience secured the future of the charity.

So, as 2013 dawned, what should Creation become? We knew we didn’t want to be in the position of asking the public for donations again, 24

any shows had to be ‘low-risk’, but we also had a duty to keep doing what people had donated to us for: producing exciting, accessible theatre in Oxford.

What followed was a very strong year artistically and financially with a one-man Jekyll & Hyde at Blackwell’s Bookshop, Henry V in promenade at Oxford Castle and a newly commissioned adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for Christmas.

We made a few changes; having been donated office space by GBS Architects we gave away a lot of old costumes, props and technical bits we’d been holding on to, we invited two longstanding members of our creative teams to become Associate Artists and we upgraded our Box Office system to improve the online booking experience.

The leaner, meaner Creation then set forth into 2014 with a year-long sponsorship model, having been approached by Pennington’s Manches. The financial stability that has offered us has been instrumental in our planning for this year, and it’s great to feel there’s a much bigger team standing side by side with our little one.

We began planning an ambitious re-telling of Macbeth with a new Director for us, Jonathan Holloway. Jonathan came highly recommended and with the perfect pedigree – he’d established and run Red Shift Theatre, adapted classic texts for BBC Radio 4 and toured to unusual places all over the world. When we took Jonathan on his first tour of Lady Margaret Hall it suggested to everyone a post World War I setting. The red brick façade and manicured lawns conjured up a sanatorium for shell shocked officers where Macbeth’s political machinations would take on new meaning.

With tables set on the lawn, sinister candelabras and cracked crockery we waited to welcome our first audiences into the murky world of the Macbeths and the response has been fantastic.

Lady Margaret Hall gave us incredible freedom to drop banners from the top of the buildings, summon apparitions on the rooftop and peer in on medical examinations through open windows. www.b4-business.com

“With tables set on

the lawn, sinister candelabras and cracked crockery we waited to welcome our first audiences into the murky world of the Macbeths and the response has been fantastic.

”

Painting on such a large canvas has been a joy for our team and has produced a unique spectacle for our packed audiences – we are very sad to see it go. But go it must, as with all our shows, once they’re gone they’re gone and another is hot on the heels.

In this case it’s The Wind in the Willows, although before that we’ll be kicking off another term of our weekly Drama Clubs. Nearly 200 children every week get to grips with classic texts with our professional actors and workshop leaders, and some of the strongest support we received in the tough times has come from our Drama Clubbers and their parents. We do everything we can to connect our professional shows with the young people we work with – the Macbeth family performance was packed to the rafters – and we know we never have to dumb down Shakespeare for Oxford’s kids!

So, to Christmas. Plans are afoot for messing about on the river in a new adaptation of the classic children’s tale by Kenneth Grahame, who happens to be an old boy of St Edward’s School where we’ll be staging the show at The North Wall Arts Centre.

Audiences can expect songs, silly jokes and a fair few cute ducklings played by our kids’ chorus with lashings of Christmas cheer, and of course our famous crêpes served before the show.

As the seasons turn on the riverbank so the years turn for Creation in Oxford. We’ve been popping up all over the city for nearly 20 years now and we hope to still be taking our audiences exploring in 20 years’ time. Oh, and don’t think we’ll be letting that milestone pass without one heck of a party, watch this space…

CONTACT DETAILS boxoffice@creationtheatre.co.uk 01865 761 393 www.creationtheatre.co.uk

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CLUB LIFE! Founded in 1908, Stoke Park became the first Country Club in the UK, influenced by the great country clubs of America. Offering a variety of facilities and services for the whole family, with an emphasis on enhancing your lifestyle through meeting new people, attending wonderful events and improving yourself via sport, wellness and fitness, 106 years later, membership still remains one of the best in the country!

WRITTEN BY: NICK DOWNIE

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B4 lead Stoke Park is famous for so many things, but are you aware of all that there is to offer? And when was the last time you visited?

Stoke Park is known as: a Golf Club, a Tennis Club, a Health Club, a breath taking Wedding Venue, a 5 Star Luxury Hotel, an Award Winning Spa and Pool, an Award Winning Restaurant Humphry’s, an Iconic Movie Location, and the venue for world class events, such as The Boodles tennis and the recent Elton John and Katherine Jenkins concerts.

All these elements combine to provide the truly iconic, unique and much loved estate, but what remains at the heart of Stoke Park is the Country Club and its Members.

So, why join Stoke Park?

Stoke Park offers the best leisure facilities combined with outstanding friendly service. All Members feel immediately relaxed and for many it is seen as their second home.

Whether you are playing a round on the 27 hole Championship golf course designed by the

SOCIAL MEMBERSHIP Extensive Social Calendar • 3 Restaurants & Bars • Themed Lunches • Bonfire Night • Christmas Parties • Gourmet Nights • Summer Ball • Al Fresco Dining Italian Dining • Modern British Cuisine • Impeccable Service

“Stoke Park offers

the best leisure facilities combined with outstanding friendly service. All Members feel immediately relaxed and for many it is seen as their second home

”

legendary Harry Colt in 1908, exercising with a personal trainer in the gym, sampling Executive Chef Chris Wheeler’s latest cuisine or making the most of the acclaimed tennis facilities, the aim is to always provide Members with the finest in service, hospitality and facilities, not to mention a packed social calendar and to be something which they are proud to be members of.

HEALTH MEMBERSHIP State-of-the-Art 4,000 sq.ft Gym • 3 Studios including Spinning and Hot Yoga • Large Indoor Pool • Steam Rooms • Sunbathing Terrace & Gardens • Personal Training • Technogym Equipment • Full Induction including Health Check • 50+ Classes a week included in your Membership

So many events take place during the year, from fabulous gourmet evenings in the 3 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant, Humphry’s to Ladies Lunches, to the Summer Ball to Bonfire Night, with sensational fireworks to the children’s Christmas Parties. The Club is full of life and being a member is a great way to enhance your social life, as well as your health and wellbeing.

TENNIS & HEALTH MEMBERSHIP All the benefits of Health Membership plus: 3 Indoor, 4 Floodlit Artificial Clay & 6 Wimbledon Specification Grass Courts • LTA Coaches • Roll-Ups • Box Leagues • Team Matches • PlaySight Analysis System

What Memberships do they offer?

Stoke Park offers various memberships for adults and children:

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GOLF MEMBERSHIP 27 Hole 1908 Championship Golf Course • Grass & All-weather Practice Range , Chipping & Pitching Areas • Teaching Academy • Indoor Swing Studio • PGA Coaches • Video Analysis • Putting Green • Roll-Ups Team Matches • Overseas Trips • Academy Membership (for those starting golf)

JUNIOR MEMBERSHIPS Various options available inc Swimming • Tennis & Golf Lessons • Tennis & Golf Camps • Outdoor Playground Games Room • Creche • Kids Parties How good is Stoke Park?

In 2013 Stoke Park was awarded ‘Five AA Red Stars’, which is the highest accolade given by the renowned guide series. Five Red Stars are awarded for outstanding facilities, service and all-round customer experience.

With this award, Stoke Park gained the coveted rank of AA Inspector’s Choice, joining just 49 hotels in the UK. Other Five Red Star hotels include: Claridge’s, The Dorchester, The Ritz and Gleneagles. With this prestigious accolade, Stoke Park became the only club in England to have Five Red Stars.

Stoke Park also won the maximum ‘5 Bubbles’ status by the independent assessor, the Good Spa Guide, the ‘Best Family Hotel’ award at the Conde Nast Johansens Awards for Excellence, ‘Thalgo Spa of the Year’ award and ‘Best Local Menu’ award at

the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Life Food and Drink Awards.

Stoke Park was named within the ‘Top 50 Best British Hotels’ by the Independent, Tatler Restaurant Guide stated that our Executive Chef Chris Wheeler had cooked ‘two of the best dishes they had eaten all year’ and Men’s Fitness magazine named us within the ‘Top 5 Best Fitness Spa breaks’, amongst many other press accolades.

To arrange a show round or for more information please contact the Membership Team below:

CONTACT DETAILS info@stokepark.com 01753 717 179 www.stokepark.com

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‘Top 10 Luxury Hotels in the UK’

THE INDEPENDENT

THIS YEAR...

Put the magic back into Christmas by celebrating at the enchanting setting of Stoke Park For more information on our Christmas celebrations please call our events team on 01753 717171 or email info@stokepark.com Stoke Park, Park Road, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4PG

www.stokepark.com

B4 lead

STOKE PARK - A REVIEW

From the moment you turn right into the golf course flanked driveway at Stoke Park, you’re hooked. There is a vitality and a buzz to this impressive resort in just a few miles off the M40 which clenches you in its fist…..and you don’t want it to let you go!

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD ROSSER

We had made the 45 minute drive from Oxford on a Tuesday night in time for Tina to say a quick hello to our ever ebullient host and Head of Communications, Nick Downie, before making our way to the resort’s luxury spa, just a few hundred yards from the hotel’s main reception.

Tina’s treatment was the Terraké Hot Stone Body Massage, where warm volcanic basalt stones are applied to specific points on the body to relax muscles deep down while your body is treated to a hypnotic warm stone massage incorporating unique massage techniques. This ultra-sensorial experience ease tensions, relax muscles and leave you feeling renewed. OK you got me, I took that from the website, but I can confirm the treatment was a success as Tina returned to our room absolutely glowing.

Whilst Tina was being pampered, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and go for a jog in the Heritage Walk garden. I was going slow enough (!) to be able to appreciate the beautiful flowers and quaint gardens which break off from the Heritage Walk pathways. Impressive fountains, benches a plenty for romancing couples to sit and draw in the beauty of the gardens and singing birds….what more could you ask for.

I made my way back to the room to get ready for dinner. Our room overlooked the first tee and the largest flag pole in the world with the Union Jack flapping gently in the light breeze. www.b4-business.com

Once we had made ourselves beautiful, well one of us, it was down to dinner in the stunning Humphry's Fine Dining Restaurant. With doors opening on to the terrace on a balmy September evening, the scene was set for an unforgettable meal. Head Chef Chris Wheeler’s imaginative Modern British cuisine had us in the palm of his hand from the first mouthful. (See inset menu).

GASTRONOMY

It was a truly memorable evening as we were treated to the finest cuisine, first class service and a fairytale atmosphere in a beautiful room. We were seated between two couples and by the end of the evening we were all engaged in conversation with eachother, which speaks volumes for the extent to which Stoke Park can relax you.

Berkshire Ham Hock, Foie Gras and Parsley Roulade with Celery and Apple Salad, Home-made Piccalilli

Our morning breakfast was followed by a tour of the resort’s facilities, which include 10 magnificent rooms perfect for conferences, business meetings, private parties, team away days, weddings and a world famous 27 hole championship golf course ideal for your company golf day. It was also the 50th Anniversary of the filming of Goldfinger and the Aston Martin’s were there in all their glory, plus the iconic black and yellow Rolls Royce from the famous Oddjob ‘hat decapitating the statue’ scene.

Our perfect host, Nick, invited us to stay and enjoy the facilities, a highly tempting offer but there is a real world outside of this paradise….we can always go back, and so should you. www.stokepark.com

STARTERS Pan-fried Scallops with Black Pudding, Cauliflower Puree and Citrus Caviar

MAINS Pave of Turbot with White and Green Asparagus,Girolle Mushrooms and Beurre Blanc Roast Supreme of Duck with Parsnip Puree, Broccoli, Seared Foie Gras, Mini Fondant Potato and Cherry Jus DESSERTS Bitter Chocolate Box with Chocolate and Caramel Mousse, Frangelico Gel, Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Hazelnut Tuille and Hot Caramel Sauce WINE Pouilly-Fumé Serge Dagueneau 2012 Loire Valley (France)

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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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Park Park End S Street treet

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• City City centre centre loc location ation

• All ye year ar rround ound rresidential esidential av availability ailability

To find out more about our facilities across these two sites: www.sbs.oxford.edu/conference Email conference@sbs.ox.ac.uk

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Telephone 01865 422757

B4 lead

BUSINESS PROPERTY AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY?

Most people think of buying a business property in the same way as buying a private home – we are preconditioned through our own experiences to correlate the two. But Sarah McLoughlin, property litigation lawyer at Buckinghamshire based law firm B P Collins LLP, believes nothing could be further from the truth. Businesses change quickly – especially in economic recovery phases – and being saddled with the wrong property at the wrong time, can often constrain business agility.

WRITTEN BY: SARAH MCLOUGHLIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: DAVE MARRIOTT (portrait)

Business growth aside, there are often many parties involved in the business ownership that can further muddy the waters. Coupled with the fact that standard agreements affecting landlords and tenants are usually tailored from a template agreement to save time, but this could well be the wrong starting point as the agreement is manipulated to fit today's requirements, rather than starting from the position of documenting what has been agreed.

This is where going to the experts and taking the approach of managing the long-term risk by starting at the right point, will pay dividends in the future.

Commercial property lawyers will take time to understand not only today’s requirements and the complexities of your individual set up, but will be able to lay out a road map and point out the potential dead-ends and blocks along the way.

So what are the pitfalls? One of the most common mistakes is the tendency for organisations to wait until they’ve all but agreed a deal with a landlord before seeking professional advice. Starting the discussion at the wrong time can be damaging; negotiations may have focused solely on price and critical aspects may have been overlooked. At a basic level, organisations can end up paying too much rent. More damagingly, their inexperience can lead to them paying the far higher price of failure further down the line.

There are numerous additional considerations.

How much rent-free period can you negotiate to allow you to move in and fit the premises to your specific requirements? Is there a service charge, and if so, is there potential for capping or limiting it?

Dilapidations are another important consideration.

A property could, for example, be a listed building with a lead roof that becomes beyond reasonable repair and needs replacing. A landlord will undoubtedly want to pass those repair costs onto a tenant. Although there will be a number of getouts, the cost of finding them – reactively – will not

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be insignificant. Proactive advice, on the other hand, is priceless.

Sometimes disputes can appear to be outside of a tenant’s control – not least in multi-tenanted premises. For example, taking an assignment on premises that already have tenants in occupation of other parts of the building is not uncommon.

However, in some cases, organisations can find themselves indirectly exposed if their agreement stipulates vacant possession of the whole building at the end of the term. In such cases, even parking spaces can present a challenge; in instances where someone has innocently forgotten an imminent lease expiry and parked overnight, a tenant can face legitimate arguments about whether vacant possession has actually been delivered up.

“Although there will

be a number of get-outs, the cost of finding them – reactively – will not be insignificant.

Proactive advice, on the other hand, is priceless

”

The importance of building flexibility into lease assignments cannot be overstated. Organisations should avoid agreements that commit them for lengthy periods of time and, where appropriate, negotiate short-term leases or break clauses.

Likewise, businesses should beware of contracts that are too difficult to exit; disposing of a property is as important as acquiring one – and it’s vital to establish sensible exit terms up front.

The casual notion that commercial property is one of the most straightforward aspects of business ownership is a myth. The smartest organisations are not those that try to be clever by doing it alone, but those that acknowledge its many pitfalls and partner with a trusted adviser to ensure they avoid them.

To speak with Sarah, or a member of the commercial property team at B P Collins LLP, see below.

CONTACT DETAILS comproperty@bpcollins.co.uk 01753 279 087 www.bpcollins.co.uk Sarah McLoughlin, property litigation lawyer

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B4 spotlight

BRITISH GAS

FLAGSHIP OFFICE Seven years ago, we were given the opportunity to build a new office in Oxford. The objectives were clear from the outset, we wanted to inspire and enable energy efficient working by creating a building which reflected our cultural values and was cost effective to maintain.

WRITTEN BY: MARTIN ORRILL

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“In setting the Energy Efficiency targets for the building, we were not content to achieve the bare minimum. Instead we opted to challenge ourselves to achieve over and above what was required by building regulations or planning control

”

The site is now the headquarters of British Gas Business, supporting around 500,000 businesses across the UK. We’re a major employer in Oxford and contribute £56 million each year to the Oxford economy through our operations in the region. Oxford is an important location for us, bringing together all of our operations to serve business customers across the UK and helping them to reduce energy usage.

We formally took occupancy of our new building on 1 February 2013, following a gradual move from three smaller offices nearby. The Rt Hon Edward Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, officially opened the 81,470 sq ft office in May 2013. During a tour of the state-ofthe-art premises, Mr Davey was able to experience first-hand how British Gas is making it easy for customers to manage their energy and said: “I am really pleased to be here to open this incredibly impressive building. It’s a great showcase for the work British Gas Business has put in to help businesses become more energy efficient, and reduce their energy costs.”

With its innovative boilers, solar thermal collectors www.b4-business.com

and photovoltaic panels, our new building has been awarded an ‘A’ rated Energy Performance Certificate. This means our building is on average 40% more efficient than a typical office building.

As always in a commercial operation, one of the priorities was to ensure the technologies employed were tried and tested, and provided a known return on investment. There are many energy saving and renewable solutions being manufactured today and these solutions evolve all the time. When choosing our technologies, we opted for those which would perform well over time and were feasible for our building and met the needs of our people.

Many teams within British Gas were instrumental in implementing the technologies. In fact, we’ve had a hand in each piece of equipment installed and now managed in the building. For example, our biomass boilers have a very effective maintenance regime, exclusively managed by British Gas to ensure they continue to operate as efficiently as possible all year round.

building regulations or planning control. This is one of the reasons why the building ended 2013 with carbon emissions 31.5% below our initial target.

We know we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to build the technologies into the fabric of our building, but it is possible to improve the energy efficiency of a building regardless of age, size, use or location. We recognise different businesses have different energy needs. That’s why we provide a complete range of solutions that can match how your business uses energy. We help thousands of businesses across Britain manage their energy consumption, become more energy efficient, generate their own energy and save money.

For more information contact Martin Orrill from our Energy Services team below.

CONTACT DETAILS In setting the Energy Efficiency targets for the building, we weren’t content to achieve the bare minimum. Instead we opted to challenge ourselves to achieve over and above what was required by

martin.orrill@britishas.co.uk 07979 569 981 britishgas.co.uk/business-services

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B4 spotlight

OSBORNES INSURANCE Richard Rosser met with Jon Bourn, senior commercial executive at Osbornes Insurance Oxford Ltd to talk bridge, nano-machines, and free lunches.

WRITTEN BY: MATTHEW WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ROB SCOTCHER

Osbornes Insurance Oxford Ltd ‘Osbornes’ have been operating as Insurance Brokers from their HQ in Thame since 1971, specialising in Commercial Business and High Value Household lines. They have also recently been awarded the national Bluefin Star Broker Award out of 70 other brokers.

Osbornes over-arching ambition is to offer an excellent, all-round service, in keeping with their motto, “We work for our clients, not for the insurance company”.

Q. Insurance isn’t generally regarded as one of the most interesting industries, is it?

Insurance is a legal necessity, and as such, it is regarded by many as ‘boring’ at best, and ‘a downright nuisance’ at worst. That, combined with the usual complaints you hear about in the press or on t.v., means that insurance doesn’t usually have the best of images.

And we agree… about the image at least. It might sound strange, but as an insurance broker, we do find ourselves fighting the insurance companies on our clients’ behalf. That is one of the big benefits of having a broker rather than insuring direct

“

it is important to stress that we don’t just place businesses with insurance companies, we act as risk assessors to ensure that everything has been properly disclosed and assessed in the first place

”

Q. Could you elaborate on that - how you cross swords with insurance companies?

Certainly, although I’d like to make it clear that we generally have a good relationship with most of our long-standing insurance companies. However, if something does go wrong, and if a claim isn’t actioned properly, we step in on our customers’ behalf, argue with the insurance company, and if necessary, go via the Financial Ombudsman.

financial crisis and increased competition, we have seen a growing trend in claims being refused on the basis of the fine print.

That is why it is important to stress that we don’t just place businesses with insurance companies, we act as risk assessors to ensure that everything has been properly disclosed and assessed in the first place. By way of an example, without Business Interruption insurance, around 80% of companies who suffer a significant fire loss will go out of business. That isn’t because their insurance won’t cover the loss, but without the proper range of insurance in place, they simply won’t be able to start trading again quickly enough without suffering serious cash-flow problems.

Q. But there must be some brighter stories in insurance?

Oh yes, in understanding the risks we are placing, we see some fascinating things, especially since we cover such a wide range of industries, from aviation to nano-technology.

This means that one day we can be arranging marine insurance for a cargo of ‘minute medical submarines' (that’s the best way I can describe them!) to be assembled at a foreign university for use in cancer trials, whilst the next we can be putting together cover for a national association.

Q. I believe you have won a national award?

Yes, we have just won the coveted Bluefin Partner Broker, Star Broker Award at a prestigious ceremony. Bluefin is a network of Insurance Brokers which we are a member of. It is awarded each year to the most outstanding Insurance Broker in terms of customer service and technical knowledge and voted for by the insurance industries large insurer’s. Winning this award as one of the 70 Brokers within the Bluefin Partnership has come as a great honour and is something we are really proud of our achievement.

Ask us for a quote and if we can’t beat your current premium or level of cover we’ll give you £100. If we can and you place your cover with us we’ll buy you a free lunch, up to £100.

CONTACT DETAILS Q. Does that happen frequently - insurers changing conditions or failing to pay out?

Increasingly so, I’m afraid. About 10-15 years ago claims would be settled according to the spirit of the wording, but in the last 5 years, driven by the

www.b4-business.com

jon@osbornesins.co.uk 01844 214 016 www.osbornesins.co.uk

35

THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS TO OWEN MUMFORD’S GLOBAL MARKETING TEAM As Owen Mumford scoops another three business awards* in recognition of its growing international success, the company has just announced that it is further strengthening its Global Marketing team.

WRITTEN BY: KAREN TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LEE ATHERTON

Two of the positions are promotions from within: Tracey Walker becomes Marketing Communications Manager and Tania Mackenzie is now Senior Product Manager for Capillary Blood sampling devices. Tracey and Tania have moved in to a global marketing function to support the company's international sales offices and network of global distributors after having played key roles in the UK & Ireland marketing department for six years.

Tracey brings a wealth of marketing and strategic experience across retail, healthcare, B2C and B2B in both national and international roles and Tania joins the team with strong clinical, sales and marketing experience gained in both UK and her native South Africa.

The third appointee is Cecilia Mendy, who joins as a Junior Product Manager (Drug Delivery Devices). Cecilia is French and brings extensive product management experience from the medical device and biopharmaceutical industries having worked for Innothera, Sanofi Pasteur and Amgen and also has a specialised Master’s degree in Biopharmaceutical Management from ESCP Europe Business School in Paris.

Rich Simmonds, Head of Global Marketing said he was excited to welcome new members of the team: “As a business which exports worldwide, the global strategic marketing function must play a key role in Owen Mumford’s future success. We have a focus on communicating the benefits of our current

Owen Mumford’s new Global Marketing Team: L to R: Agnieszka Jaskulska (Assistant Product Manager), Lewis Owens (Strategic Market Development Manager), Richard Simmonds, (Head of Global Marketing), Cecilia Mendy (Junior Product Manager, Drug Delivery Devices), Flora Todd (Marketing Administrator), Eleanore Morgan (Marketing & Projects Administrator), Tracey Walker (Marketing Communications Manager), Richard Walker (Product Manager, Drug Delivery) and Tania Mackenzie (Senior Product Manager, Capillary Blood sampling devices).

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B4 spotlight

solutions to patients, healthcare professionals and partner organisations, as well as working closely with R&D to develop new ideas in to winning products. Strengthening the team with such high calibre people, brings global perspective and will greatly enhance the company’s sales and marketing capabilities, all helping to achieve our 2020 VISION. I have no doubt that with the new additions to the team we are even better placed to take on the many exciting challenges ahead.”

Rich Simmonds went on to tell B4 more about Owen Mumford’s ambitious international trading strategy and why innovation is key to their success.

Dubai and Penang while in other parts of the world, we operate via a network of specialist distributors to develop and build local business opportunities.

“As a company with a strong export record and an ambitious plan to double in size by 2020, we see our greatest opportunity for growth coming from outside the UK. Owen Mumford already exports 90% of its products to 63 countries worldwide with the majority of sales in the US and Western Europe.

We are delivering against our strategy to grow both sales and presence in new markets while continuing to expand market share in existing ones.

“Over the last 12 months, the company has made some big decisions about its global management structure; we began by segmenting the business in to five global regions: The Americas, Northern Europe, Central & Eastern Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific which has helped strengthen focus for each regional manager so they can meet local needs more effectively.

“Regions of interest for future expansion are ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations), Latin America and the Indian subcontinent. ASEAN is an important market with a GDP that is currently growing at 6.5%. At present, there are approximately 23 million people with diabetes across the region but this figure is predicted to almost double to around 39 million by 2030. Our office in China, which opened in 2012 is doing very well, with our portfolio of high quality British made medical devices proving to be an attractive proposition.

“Our international presence is already well established with direct sales offices in the UK, USA, France, Germany and China, regional managers in

“We have just begun the first stage of our Latin America strategy, focusing on Mexico (the “gateway” to Latin America) and an important

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market in this region. Research tells us that there are already a high percentage of people with diabetes, with figures expected to rise by 2030, making it the market equivalent in size to the USA - so we know there’s a big job to be done.

“One of Owen Mumford’s strengths is innovation and in a fiercely competitive market like ours, it’s what sets us apart from competitors. We aggressively protect and enforce patents as well as file several new ones every year because having the edge and being unique in this sector is a priority. We are constantly focused on finding the next “big idea”, one that will encourage compliancy, making it easier for patients to manage their medical condition and ultimately, make a significant difference to their lives. Innovation is the key to why we’ve been successful for over 60 years and why the Owen Mumford brand will be around for many more decades to come.” * Selected by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a Global Growth Company for 2014, Winner of HSBC’s International Business of the Year 2014 (Thames Valley Top 250 Awards) and Winner of Exporter of the Year 2014 (Cotswold Life’s Family Business Awards)

CONTACT DETAILS info@owenmumford.co.uk 01993 812 021 www.owenmumford.com

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DEVELOPMENT DREAMS? We can turn them into reality Our team specialises in adding value to all kinds of development projects ranging from major residential, commercial or mixed use schemes to one-off new build and conversions

Experts in Planning applications & appeals

Site Acquisition & Disposal

Strategic land promotion

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Site appraisals & development briefs

Option & promotion agreements

CIL & S106 Agreements

Development Viability Appraisals

Community consultation

Valuation

Our Planning and Development Team has the knowledge, experience and necessary skills to deliver solutions that maximise value. When you work with us you are also benefiting from the wider expertise of one of the UK’s leading property consultancies.

Strutt & Parker LLP, 269 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7LL T: 01865 366666

B4 services

DCRESPONSE 5 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH A UPS

Uninterruptible Power Supplies, or UPS, play a vital role in keeping your data protected and your business up and running.

WRITTEN BY: R. WARREN

“Latest research shows that 60% of companies that lose their data, shut down within the first 5 months of the disaster

”

Danny Shurey, DCResponse

The majority of UK businesses will suffer power outages at some point and the disruption this may cause can have a major impact on a their capacity to continue trading, particularly if the power outage persists for a long period.

DCResponse are a Witney based business with over 25 years experience in supply, installation and maintenance of UPS solutions. They provide a complimentary site survey for companies which is usually just the start of a long term relationship including everything from consultation; installation of the appropriate UPS, ongoing maintenance, as well as the option for a 24-7 call out contract should the customer need.

DCResponse have compiled their top 5 list of UPS benefits, to highlight the importance of protecting your business through an appropriate UPS. Much like other forms of insurance a UPS is a form of protection if an unforeseen event were to arise having the potential to cause a negative impact on your business.

If the power’s down, stay powered up.

1. Break free power UPS provides instantaneous, break-free supply of power in the event that your mains power supply fails. It also maintains power between mains failure and generator start up. So as the battery kicks in and all your business devices that are attached will

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remain up and running. You will avoid any kind of data loss while working midway.

2. Power shifts An effective UPS controls voltage instability through a stable power output, and therefore protects from power shifts that can damage electronic devices.

3. Surge protection A UPS constantly monitors the incoming voltage and identifies spikes and surges with outages. If harmful conditions arise, the UPS will switch to DC power, stopping the spike from reaching the devices connected to it. When the spike is gone, the UPS reconnects it’s output to the power coming from the mains.

4. Cost What is the cost of losing productivity? What is the cost of recreating or recovering lost data? A recent power outage on Facebook in June, cost the business an estimated $500,000 in just 30 minutes. Latest research shows that 60% of companies that lose their data shut down within 6 months of the disaster. Why take that risk?

5. Opportunity to backup essential data A UPS solution can allow employees a window to backup essential data and power down their

workstations and servers, avoiding data loss.

When deciding to invest in a UPS, getting advice on the correct solution for your requirements is vital, as a UPS is not a standard universal product.

DCResponse ensure that they completely understand their clients needs and requirements, both today and in the future, so that the correct UPS system is installed, alongside the appropriate service and maintenance contract, to provide the optimum protection in the event of a power failure.

With a stream of satisfied customers, a recent endorsement from Peter Cooke from BOCM PAULS, the UK’s leading animal feed supplier, confirms the validity of a UPS system “thank you for all the work you did in replacing our UPS batteries at such short notice. The following day we had a reasonable powercut and the UPS handled it. This restored our confidence and lowered our blood pressures!”

Danny at DCResponse is happy to discuss your UPS requirements or carry out a free site survey to any B4 readers. Simply call on 01993 708855.

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

39

B4 health

GETTING IN SHAPE FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE A new lifestyle concept opens this September in the heart of Oxford.

WRITTEN BY: JONATHAN GOODE PHOTOGRAPHY BY: OLLIE GODDARD

The Oxford Lifestyle Centre brings together the latest in health, fitness and wellbeing with a riverside gym, hair and beauty salons and a relaxing café space, just a short walk from the city centre.

But what really sets it apart is that while customers enjoy the benefits of looking good and feeling great, young people will benefit from a unique learning environment that will prepare them for successful futures.

The £6m centre has been developed by Activate Learning at its City of Oxford College campus in Oxpens Road. It’s all part of a new learning company model which immerses young people in commercial environments as an integral part of their studies.

Ian Francis, Principal of City of Oxford College, said: “From our work with employers we know that young people need the soft skills as well as the technical skills required for their particular industry.

These skills include an understanding of good customer service, teamwork, an ability to use initiative and to be resilient. We believe that these skills can best be developed in a live working environment.

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“At the same time we know that our students perform best when they can see the immediate impact of what they learn, and have the chance to put their new skills and knowledge into practice.

This gives them the motivation they need to keep on learning.

“From our work with employers we know that young people need the soft skills as well as the technical skills required for their particular industry

”

“Our new lifestyle centre is a great example of how we can address these issues. The centre is providing students studying pathways in sport and exercise science, hair and beauty, hospitality and catering with the chance to develop real work experience in a vibrant, contemporary environment.

Their work is overseen by trained professionals

from industry, ensuring that our customers also get the very best experience.”

In the first year alone, the Oxford Lifestyle Centre is set to deliver more than 45,000 hours of highquality work experience for young people on full-time courses.

The centre is open for individual as well as corporate membership and the college is keen to hear from local companies who would like to forge a partnership as part of a benefits package for staff.

Ian said: “By taking our corporate memberships, not only will your staff have access to a high-quality fitness centre with some of the most sophisticated equipment available in the city centre, but your company will be supporting us in developing exceptional young people who are ready for successful future careers.”

CONTACT DETAILS enquiries@oxfordlifestylecentre.co.uk 01865 551 895 www.oxfordlifestylecentre.co.uk

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AT

A

GLANCE

Health and fitness: • Technogym equipment - some of the most sophisticated gym equipment available in the centre of Oxford • Free exercise coaches who can tailor make a fitness programme for each individual member • Free fitness classes for all members including spinning, circuits, Zumba and Pilates • Technogym Wellness Application – a cloud-based system enabling you to access your program and progress via your smartphone, tablet or computer • UK Exclusive: BILT Change of Direction Machine system which adds a new dimension to gym-based training with amazing results • Packed with value – corporate memberships include full anytime use of the fitness centre, a free dedicated personal exercise coach for every member and free access to a variety of classes • Open from 6.30am to 10pm weekdays and also open weekends Meeting and business facilities: • Glass fronted meeting/conference room for hire overlooking the river • Full catering package available from tea/coffee and cakes to lunches and full buffet.

• Gallery space Hair and beauty: • High class professional hair salons and luxurious beauty treatments • Hair styling, colour and treatments • Manicures • Facials • Body and head massages • Make-up and styling • Products including Wella Professional, Dermalogica, Wella SP, CGH, Orly, Gellux, Airbrush make-up Cafe • Finest Italian coffee, nutritious snacks and indulgent treats • Eat in or grab and go

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B4 education

RECRUIT AND DEVELOP THE

TALENT YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS Growing People, Growing Business is the ethos of newly formed organisation Activate Enterprise. Part of the Activate Learning Group, Activate Enterprise is the Thames Valley’s leading apprenticeship and training provider. It also provides bespoke management training and consultancy through a recent merger with Rocket Consultancy.

WRITTEN BY: PABLO LLOYD PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ROCKET CONSULTANCY LIBRARIES

This unique mix of apprenticeship provision, bespoke training and consultancy means Activate Enterprise is ideally placed to identify skill gaps within organisations, and provide cost effective and hassle free solutions. The consultancy arm provides coaching, mentoring and leadership training to some of the largest companies in the UK. The organisation’s focus is to support learning at every level with integrity and agility. Activate Enterprise is committed to deliver their service at a high standard, build trust with clients and achieve results. This means truly understand your needs, adapting quickly and exceeding expectations.

Apprenticeships An apprenticeship is a skills development programme delivered in the workplace; it is a programme of several qualifications typically used to train new employees or up-skill existing ones.

Activate Enterprise delivers apprenticeships in a wide range of subject areas, including hospitality and catering, business administration, construction, hairdressing, retail, equine, motor vehicle, engineering, ICT and healthcare. The organisation also has significant expertise in delivering advanced management apprenticeship qualifications.

They are not just experts in the delivery of apprenticeships, by working with Activate Enterprise, your organisation will receive a range of benefits including a full consultation focused on your business needs, Insights Discovery personality profiling for your apprentice to find out how they www.b4-business.com

work best, access to an online support forum and Smart Assessor e-portfolio to track apprentice progress online and a dedicated support coordinator.

There are grants available for employers. The £1,500 Apprenticeship Grant for Employers (AGE) of 16 to 24 year olds is for those who have not had an apprentice in the last year and have less than 1,000 employees. Employers can be paid 10 grants in total during the lifetime of the initiative.

An apprentice will help your business in a number of ways. They are a cost effective way to support organisational growth. Their improved skills directly improve customer service levels, productivity and competitive advantage. By developing apprentices, it enables the business to nurture and retain productive and motivated employees of the future.

To find out more about recruiting an apprentice, contact Activate Enterprise on the business hotline number, 01865 551 015 or email enterprise@activatelearning.ac.uk. You can speak to someone on the phone or arrange for one of the business consultants to come out and speak to you in the workplace.

Bespoke organisational training Through their bespoke programmes, organisations can benefit from Activate Enterprise’s expertise in leadership and management training, organisation culture and engagement, sales performance and education focused training.

Activate Enterprise has the overall aim of empowering organisations to become more

effective and achieve growth targets within a creative and collaborative culture. Leadership and management training can be bespoke to an organisation’s needs or accredited through the Institute of Leadership and Management. Rocket Consultancy has had over 15 years of experience in supporting organisations to improve their sales and service performance. This includes supporting leaders as well as front line sales and service staff with a range of essential skills. Activate Enterprise provides contact centre accreditations, in partnership with City and Guilds.

FE colleges, schools, academies and local authorities can benefit from a range of workshops and continuing professional development (CPD) programmes to equip education leaders and staff with the skills they need to succeed.

InUnison is a programme a specifically designed to measure an organisations’ existing culture and provide training to build a truly collaborative culture that promotes teamwork, creativity and engagement.

To discuss your business needs and find the best training solution, please call 01865 302 320 to book a one hour free consultation.

CONTACT DETAILS info@rocketconsultancy.com 01865 301 320 www.rocketconsultancy.com

43

Every inch a sports car – the BMW i8

NEW CAR LAUNCHES TOP DOUBLE FIGURES AT

NORTH OXFORD BMW 2014 has already proved a busy year for the sales teams at North Oxford Garage with the BMW Group introducing no fewer than eight all-new cars and a stunning collection of new BMW motorcycles too. And there’s still more to come with new vehicle launches planning to hit double figures before the end of the year.

WRITTEN BY: ANDY HEARN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BMW UK

The BMW 2 Series Coupe, 4 Series Convertible were launched in the Spring (alongside the all new MINI hatch) and have since been followed by the new BMW M3 saloon, M4 Coupe, 4 Series Gran Coupe and, in July, the BMW X4 and revolutionary BMW i8.

The BMWi8 – the most innovative sports car of our time?

The arrival of the BMW i8 created a huge amount of interest and won immediate and widespread acclaim from the public and press alike.

At first glance it is every inch a sports car. Extremely low and wide when viewed from the front, a streamlined silhouette, powerfully shaped surfaces and precise contours. The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid performance vehicle that uses a three cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, with a 1.5-litre capacity, in conjunction with an electric motor to

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provide searing acceleration but in a package that takes BMW’s EfficientDynamics philosophy to a new high.

Utilising both power sources enables the sprint from zero to 62mph takes just 4.4 seconds, going on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph and posting CO2 emission figures of just 49g/km and fuel economy of 135 mpg in the process. The combination of an electric motor and a powerful petrol engine provides the foundation for one of the most innovative sports cars of our time.

Are we there yet? BMW’s new MPV hits the streets Model introduction number nine is one which will see BMW expanding their portfolio to include front wheel drive and 3 cylinder engines for the first time.

The new BMW 2 Series Active Tourer goes on sale on 27th September and combines dynamism, style, elegance and practicality in one cleverly packaged car. This five-seater MPV is set to leave a big impression on the family vehicle segment with a generous level of standard equipment and is a very new departure for BMW. It’s been built with its coupé stable mate in mind, as a similar sculpted appearance, kidney-shaped front grille and neat body work folds are evident.

Inside, the proportions are radically different from existing BMW models, and at 1,555mm high, there’s ample headroom for adult passengers. The boot’s 468-litre capacity rises to 1,510-litres with the seats folded flat, and a 40:20:40 arrangement provides offers much needed flexibility.

MINI Hatch gets 5 doors!

The all new, 3rd generation MINI Hatch certainly

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B4 motoring

The front wheel drive, new 5-seater BMW 2 Series Active Tourer

The first ever 5-door MINI is to be built at Plant Oxford

caused a stir when it burst onto the scene in March.

Following in the footsteps of its iconic predecessors the new model had a lot to live up to and it certainly hasn’t disappointed. It’s all round performance; handling and styling made it an instant hit with Auto Express awarding it their coveted title of Car of the Year for 2014.

litre improvement on the 3-door) and 61 mm of extra interior space. Rear compartment comfort has also been improved through an additional 15 mm of headroom.

Whilst the new 3-door MINI hatch is still picking up motoring awards by the handful there is even more excitement in the MINI camp with the news that the 25th October will be the launch date of its 5door stable mate.

The tenth model to be launched this year will be built at the Oxford plant and marks another phase in the roll-out of the multi-million investment programme across BMW Group UK’s production facilities.

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Frank Bachmann, Managing Director of the MINI Plants at Oxford and Swindon, said: “This is an exciting time for us with the first ever 5-door MINI for the plant, which opens up a whole new market segment for the brand” Business Secretary, Vince Cable also commented: “The launch of the all-new 5-door MINI is a further boost for the UK’s manufacturing sector, and will help to secure jobs in Oxford and Swindon as part of BMW’s £750 million investment programme in the UK. BMW’s continued commitment and investment in the UK underlines the continuing success story that is UK automotive manufacturing” Some of the key vital statistics for the new model serve to underline the appeal it will have for those wanting the excitement of driving a MINI but with a little more space and accessibility. It will be 161 mm longer, have 278 litres of boot space, (a 50

But more doors certainly don’t mean less spice.

Short overhangs, a low centre of gravity combined with a wide track and rigid chassis, will make this MINI one of the most exciting 5-door cars on the roads today.

For more information on any BMW or MINI product or service contact below.

CONTACT DETAILS info@oxfordbmw.co.uk 01865 319 000 www.williammorgangroup.co.uk

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THE O OAKLEY AKLEY COURT COUR UR RT WINDSOR WINDSO R

AN INSPIRED CHOICE OF VENUE The Oakley Court Hotel has vast experience of hosting major major conferences in stunning surroundings m making aking it an inspired choice of venue. Hold your conference at Oakley Court and you’ll you’ll impress, impress, captivate and inspire your delegates.

We guarantee the very best in service standards offering conference suites and executive boardrooms within a prestigious locati location. on. Our unique unique rooms range from original rooms in the Mansion House which are over 150 years old with high ceilings and original features, to a purpose built function room called The Boathouse on the banks of the River Thames. ,WĹŽV QRW RQO\ WKH SLFWXUHVTXH ULYHUVLGH VHWWLQJ WKDW FUHDWHV WKH ZRZ IDFWRU H[WHQVLYH OHLVXUH IDFLOLWLHV ĹšQH GLQLQJ DQG LPSHFFDEOH VHUYLFH DOO SOD\ WKHLU ,WĹŽV QRW RQO\ WKH SLFWXUHVTXH ULYHUVLGH VHWWLQJ WKDW FUHDWHV WKH ZRZ IDFWRU H[WHQVLYH OHLVXUH IDFLOLWLHV ĹšQH GLQLQJ DQG LPSHFFDEOH VHUYLFH DOO SOD\ WKHLU part in creating a m memorable emorable conference.

At A Glance ‡ Dedicated Meeting and Conference Coordinators ‡ Conference facilities for up to 170 ‡ Executive boardrooms for 4 – 30 ‡ Extensively equipped to meet your requirem requirements ents ‡ Extensively equipped to meet your requirem ents requirements ‡ Conference cafÊ ‡ Inspirational TTraining raining ra ‡ Tailor Tailor made all inclusive packages ‡ DDR or 24 hour packages available ‡ Business service support ‡ Complimentary water

‡ Fully stocked stationery kit ‡ Use of leisure facilities for or overnight delegates – indoor pool, gym nasium, tennis and 9 hole par 3 golf course gymnasium, ‡ Private dining options available ‡ Private m ooring and helipads mooring ‡ AA 2 Star Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence 2013-14 ‡ Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2013-2014 Gold LSDGYLVRU &HUWLŚFDWH RI ([FHOOHQFH :LQQHU ‡‡ 7UULSDGYLVRU &HUWLŚFDWH RI ([FHOOHQFH :LQQHU ‡ Laterooms Simply the Guest Awards 2013 TTop op Rated

The O Oakley Oakle akley C Court, our rt, Windso Windsor rR Road, oad, W Wa Water ater O Oakley, akley, Windso Windsor, r, Berk Berkshire shire SL4 5UR Tel: 44 (0)1753 609988 F Fax: ax: 44(0)1628 637011 www.oakleycourt.co.uk ww www ww w.o .oakleycour rt.co.uk

B4 technology

Andor Technology, recently acquired high-tech business based in Belfast, supplies high performance optical cameras for microscopes

OXFORD INSTRUMENTS PLC –

PLAYING A PART IN OUR FUTURE Across the globe, people are focused on addressing the significant challenges that impact all of our lives. Constant advances are needed to keep pace with our rapidly evolving world. We need to work faster, more intelligently, more collaboratively, and with a finite amount of resources, we need to do more with less.

WRITTEN BY: LYNN SHEPHERD, GROUP DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Oxford Instruments offers the means for customers to address these challenges on a different level: the atomic and molecular level.

We turn smart science into commercially viable tools and systems that can fabricate, analyse and manipulate matter at the nano scale. The continued expansion of our capabilities and expertise allows us to service customers across all sectors that have an interest in working at this level and enable even greater progress to be made.

Oxford Instruments is a leading provider of high technology tools and systems for research and industry. Our vision is to pursue responsible development and a deeper understanding of the world through science and technology. As one of the first commercial spin-out companies from Oxford University, in 1959, we now engage with the growing nanotechnology industry – an area key to continued economic progress and growth.

We now see our tools and expertise beginning to cross the boundaries of physics and biology. This ‘convergence’ of the sciences is an increasingly important aspect of scientific research. It is the merging of previously distinct areas of research and technology into a unified discipline that creates new scientific and commercial opportunities.

Nanotechnology, applied to both the physical sciences and life sciences, will continue to yield long term structural growth in demand for high technology tools.

This new model is being adopted by many research institutions around the world in different forms. The past decade has seen the emergence

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of interdisciplinary research areas such as nanobiology, bioinfomatics, engineered biomaterials and the human genome project. In these new fields the underlying research models have converged.

This creates significant commercial opportunities for Oxford Instruments as tools that were once restricted to one discipline can now be utilised across a number of research areas, increasing our addressable market.

It is the merging of “ previously distinct areas of research and technology into a unified discipline that creates new scientific and commercial opportunities

”

Advances in information technology, new materials, imaging, and quantum physics, have transformed physical science in recent years. Oxford Instruments is a leading tool provider for this change. These same advances are now beginning to transform the life sciences. Convergence gives us an opportunity to take the technical tools and the disciplined design approach traditional to engineering and physics, and apply them to life science research.

This provides Oxford Instruments with a unique opportunity to access a new set of customers who need to work at the molecular scale. The use of techniques previously associated with the physical sciences, where the company has great strength,

in the biological sciences produces an important area of growth. For example, the convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology (‘Nano-Bio’) will lead to innovative advances in medicine, energy production, and agriculture, aerospace and manufacturing.

A great place to work!

Our highly skilled employees are key to our continued growth and success. We aim to provide careers, opportunities and working environments in which our people can achieve their potential. We do this through safe, modern working environments, recognition of the value of culture and diversity, managing and developing talent, employee incentive and engagement activities; and regular, informative, two-way communication.

Developing talent is important to Oxford Instruments as the quality of our high technology products and services depends on the skills and expertise of our workforce. We continue to recruit and invest in apprentice, trainee and graduate programmes to help meet our future technical and management requirements. We believe diversity promotes innovation and effective decision making.

The Group’s aim is to ensure there are equal opportunities for all employees and that we create an inclusive culture where differences are valued and people are given the environment in which they can do their best work.

CONTACT DETAILS info.plc@oxinst.com 01865 393 200 www.oxford-instruments.com

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#NFPSOCIALMEDIA – ALIGNING AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY Today, we are seeing an increase in the use of social media and charities. It is important for charities to embrace and govern social media to enable their charity to thrive online.

WRITTEN BY: MAHMOOD RAMJI PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ALEX CAMINADA

Aligning an organisation's strategy with the use of social media It is important that any organisation aligns their social media strategy with their overall strategy. As a firm, Grant Thornton has found charities are using social media to open up new funding sources, deliver innovative services and create transparency.

Communication is important to charity strategy, however, social media can help more broadly.

There is a difference between social media being used by the majority as a low-cost marketing and communications tool and social media being used to achieve strategic goals.

It is cheap to activate, but needs investment over time to do well. Mahmood Ramji in our Thames Valley Practice comments, "today, social media has a positive impact on its participants and is about raising awareness through technology and can be successful when we are brought together as a community through this, however organisations need to ensure that they have an appropriate governance structure around this."

Successful campaigns We have recently seen engaging campaigns set up across the world, including the #nomakeupselfie viral campaign which raised over £8m for Cancer Research UK in 2014, translating well to text-based phone communications thanks to its donor text code. As with any campaign, there are risks associated with the use of technology. With this particular campaign, there were a few cases where predictive text, or a wrong number, resulted in UNICEF or the WWF receiving donations in error.

The two charities were quick to correct the problem, but the ease of virality slipping into risk

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exposure is clear. Risks will always be present on social media but they can be outweighed by the opportunities it offers. Engaging with social media at board and senior management level will help to avoid mistakes and minimise the risks that are ever present. Understanding the risks strategically rather than expecting operational involvement from the board is the best way forward.

How do we measure impact and success?

By tracking and analysing referrals, views and usage over time, data is one indication of the level of success of campaigns. The principle is to link back to strategy; have the right people been targeted, what proportion can be expected to respond and what is the long-term result? Investment in resources, training and creating social media guidelines will be easier if management have a firm and fixed notion of value. Analytics are the way to achieve that.

Carol Rudge, our Head of Not For Profit mentions that, “Social media is a game changer. Charities looking to engage with a more technology literate audience need to harness the power of this rapidly evolving environment. Without an informed social media strategy – and the internal governance and operations to support it – funding may erode.”

When adopting the usage of social media, it is important to keep in mind the five following points to reduce risk and increase the value of what social media can bring to the organisation.

Strategy: The charity’s strategy should drive social media use. The board must help formulate this strategy from a position of knowledge.

Governance: Charities should document their social media governance approach and share guidelines with everyone involved in their work.

Clear guidance and understanding improves selfmoderation.

Education and training: Formal education programmes should be used at every level of the organisation, including volunteers when it is relevant. Internal social networks, such as Yammer and Jive, can also provide opportunities for people to gain confidence and working knowledge of social media.

Risk: For many charities, non-engagement is a risk in itself, although each organisation has to weigh up the cost of social media against its benefits.

Impact: It is vital to measure impact, engagement and outcomes to justify investment in social media.

Metrics should always be linked to a strategic goal and monitored to find the real value over time to beneficiaries.

CONTACT DETAILS mahmood.ramji@uk.gt.com 01189 559 192 www.grant-thornton.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 advice

“Social media is a game

changer. Charities looking to engage with a more technology literate audience need to harness the power of this rapidly evolving environment

�

Carol Rudge, Grant Thornton

6

QUESTIONS EVERY BOARD SHOULD ASK 1. What part does social media play in our strategic plan, who reports to the board about social-media strategy and outcomes, and what is their level of experience.

2. Do we have guidelines to issue to staff and volunteers using social media and how do we encourage usage while mitigating risk?

3. How can social networks help to aid internal communications and break down silos across a charity.

4. What resources have we allocated to social media projects and how do we measure our return on investment?

5. How can we monitor online discussions that our charity should be involved in?

Mahmood Ramji

www.b4-business.com

6. Can any of our services be delivered through social media to reach new beneficiaries!

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“

It is now nearly eleven years since we first sought the help of Scott Fraser we look back with gratitude

for all that has been achieved for us scottfraser Investor Landlord

see what other people have to say at scottfraser.co.uk

B4 education

OXFORD INTERNATIONAL

STUDY CENTRE

OISC is a well-established college in the centre of Oxford. It has a Grade One inspection report (excellent in all categories) from the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate. OISC is also an associate member of the European Council of International Schools.

WRITTEN BY: BENJAMIN LLEWELYN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: LAUREN TURNBULL

Benjamin Llewelyn, the Principal, has worked for OISC since its opening in 2006, in many different roles. He graduated from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, in English Language and Literature, before undertaking a Masters in Classical Reception at the University of Bristol.

He became Principal of OISC in 2014.

The tutors at OISC are graduates of leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and have many years’ experience of teaching both domestic and international students, and international clients. The vast majority of our students who are applying to university gain a place at their first or second choice institution, and the pass rate for IELTS is 100%.

We offer full-time exam preparation courses for GCSE and IGCSE, A-Level and the International Baccalaureate (IB). The academic year is divided into three terms of 12 weeks, with exams taken in June or July. Unlike many similar institutions, we are able to also offer fast-track A-Level study, with exams taken after one year’s tuition rather than the standard two.

We welcome both international and domestic www.b4-business.com

students for full-time academic study. These are usually students preparing for British public examinations, but we are also very happy to help younger students wishing to prepare for Common Entrance or for entry into a British boarding school.

“We welcome both

international and domestic students for full-time academic study

”

During the summer vacation and in the Winter Term, we assist a number of students in applying to Oxford or Cambridge University. These institutions are unique in holding interviews and specialised entrance tests in November and December.

Tuition is at an advanced level, and is individual or in very small groups of two or three students. All tutors involved have a great deal of experience in assisting students in applying to these institutions.

For further details please our website at www.oxintstudycentre.com

Programmes for Companies and Organisations Programmes are personalised and organised in discussion with programme leaders, and prices are by agreement, but in general they include the following: • Residence in a superior-quality hotel with business facilities, gym and spa • Seminars with specialist leaders from business or academic life, held in buildings of Oxford University • Site visits to relevant companies and organisations • Social and cultural programme For further details on training courses, please see the website for Oxford International Corporate Training, found at www.oict.co.uk or request a separate OICT brochure.

CONTACT DETAILS principal@oxintstudycentre.com 01865 201 009 www.oict.co.uk

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GETTING THE NATION WORKING WELL! Protect your team – Improve your productivity. Ergonomic solutions for the way we work today.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: FELLOWES

Unproductive and unhealthy working environment

“80% of us will suffer from back pain at some stage in our lives”

It’s time to get the nation working well. Aston and James are working with the Fellowes Ergonomic solutions to ensure all their customers have a safer healthier working environment.

It’s easy to get into bad working habits. And it’s easy to change them.

When you consider how we work and live nowadays, it’s easy to see why so many of us feel the strain. We’re all working longer, with most people spending up to 7 hours a day staring at a computer screen – be that in the office, at home or on the move.

Think your staff are healthy and productive?

Think again!

Fellowes conducted extensive research that shows that over the last three years 80% of people have suffered from an ailment* (*Fellowes Dynamic Market Research 2013) associated with the way they are working, resulting in 20% of them taking time off work*. In fact, European businesses are 52

now losing around €42bn a year in staff absenteeism; most of it linked to bad working habits when using computers, laptops and tablets.

Only 35% of sufferers have told their boss about their discomfort and pain at work, a whole 62% have suffered in silence*.

Don’t break the law. Get your employees working well.

You have a legal obligation to ensure that your employees are working safely and comfortably, whatever their location. Fellowes research uncovered that over 40% of company directors are not aware of their legal requirements to carry out a workstation risk assessment*. It’s the employer’s legal obligation (EU Directive 90/270/EEC) to implement them when employing new people and for existing employees when their working environment changes (such as a change of position, job tasks, new desk or computer).

Bad habits are bad for business. And as 90% of all company costs are people costs, it is essential you

look after your greatest asset – your employees.

Whilst we can’t live without our computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, we can do something about the bad working habits that are causing so many health problems.

It’s time to get your business working well.

Ergonomics – Essentials for Business.

Using integrated ergonomic products is a proactive way of reducing the risk of a person developing workstation related pain and injuries.

Fellowes, Aston and James partner supplier, have created a unique 4 Zone Approach demonstrating how to adapt your workspace around your employee’s needs and the way they work. The result of which is improved health, comfort, productivity and reduced absenteeism.

ZONE 1 – Prevent back tension ZONE 2 – Avoid wrist pressure ZONE 3 – Relieve neck strain ZONE 4 – Healthy environment www.b4-business.com

B4 health

“96% of Europeans believe they work more productively when they’re working in comfort” Your business working well with Ergonomic essentials

“An average employee spends 7 hours a day in front of a computer” The perfect workplace environment should be designed to fit around you; ergonomic solutions for wherever you work.

Using appropriate ergonomic products is a proactive way of reducing the risk of an individual developing workstation related pain or injuries. The Fellowes 4 Zone Approach encourages you to adapt your workstation to the way you work. You’ll soon see how just a few small changes can have such a big impact!

There are some simple steps you can take to help your employees ditch the bad habits and poor practice that leads to discomfort and long term pain. Prevention is always better than cure, so let Aston and James and Fellowes show you how to get your business working well.

To ensure you are looking after your employees and abiding by the law, please arrange for them all to undertake a Working Well Assessment www.ergo.fellowes.com/en-gb/workingwellassessment www.b4-business.com

questions.aspx (a fully recognised workstation risk assessment created by Fellowes in accordance with the EU Directive). Alternatively you can contact Aston and James for a personal Working Well Assessment by contacting them on 01993 706900 or sales@aston-james.co.uk.

ZONE SOLUTIONS: Consider these ergonomic solutions wherever your employees work in the office, at home, hot desk or on the move.

ZONE 1: Back Tension Solution: If your chair does not adjust to provide proper lumber support, use a back rest with a foot support to maintain correct posture.

ZONE 2: Wrist Pressure Solution: Wrist rests help to align your wrists and redistribute pressure points to help relieve pain and prevent potential injury.

ZONE 3: Neck Strain Solution: Using a monitor or laptop riser will aid in the positioning of the users screen removing the need to bend in order to view the screen correctly.

ZONE 4: Environment Solution: Air purifiers safely remove 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including mould, spores, pollen, dust mites, allergens, cigarette smoke, pet dander and odours from your indoor air.

Aston and James working well with Fellowes 4 Zone Approach can help with all your ergonomic needs; with a wide range of products to fit all zoning solutions. Contact them today to find out how they can help you and your workforce working well.

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

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1097 *the recommended retail price. © Bicester Village 2014 Photographed in La Roca Village. A member of the Chic Outlet Shopping ® Collection of Villages.

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Unlock the secrets of more than 130 boutiques with the Bicester Village Gift Card. Available online at BicesterVillage.com and at the Bicester Visitor Centre.

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Terms and conditions are available from the Bicester Visitor Centre in Bicester Village and online at BicesterVillage.com/giftcard. Card expires and cannot be used 12 months after the date of purchase.

B4 advice

THE CHANGING PENSION LANDSCAPE At The MGroup*, we believe everyone should have a plan for their retirement whatever stage you are at in life; and with important changes being made to pensions rules, this could never be more true.

WRITTEN BY: DARREN GREEN

It is proposed that from April 2015, current restrictions to your pension pot will be removed. These changes will affect anyone aged 55 (for tax purposes) saving into a personal or workplace pension scheme and means that you can increase the amount of savings that can be freely accessed on retirement. Here, The MGroup* provide the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Will it really be possible to take unlimited income from any defined contribution scheme after 6 April 2015?

From 6 April 2015, retirement income limits will be removed for defined contribution (DC) pensions.

So members of pension age will be able to take what they want from their DC pension pot, when they want it. And, unlike the current rules for flexible drawdown, there won't be a ‘minimum income requirement'.

What is the ‘guidance guarantee’ that pension members will have from 6 April 2015?

their pension pot to help them make sense of the guidance.

Will those who access the new pension flexibility from 6 April 2015 be able to continue making pension contributions?

Yes, however, the Government had to react to the possibility of over 55s using the new flexibility for immediate risk-free gain. They've addressed this by introducing an anti-avoidance control, which it estimates will only affect 2% of pension savers over 55.

At what rate will drawdown lump sum death benefits be taxed from 6 April 2015?

The Government has recognised the need to have a tax system that supports pension savers and helps them make the right decisions to produce the best financial outcome for them and their loved ones.

Pension scheme members will have access to free, impartial guidance on their pension income choices from a range of independent providers with no vested interest in selling a financial product or service.

The current 55% rate of tax on lump sum death benefits paid from drawdown pots or after 75 can already act as a penalty for those who take a sustainable income from their pension pot. And as drawdown becomes the likely income option of choice from 2015, it looks increasingly high, particularly where basic rate taxpayers are concerned.

The guidance won't be FCA-regulated, but FCA will set standards for guidance providers and monitor compliance with those standards.

Will defined benefit to defined contribution pension transfers be allowed from 6 April 2015?

Schemes and providers will have a new duty to make ‘at retirement' clients aware of this guidance option and give them sufficient information about

Pre-retirement members of funded defined benefit (DB) pension schemes will be allowed to transfer to defined contribution (DC) to access the new

income flexibility if they want to - but only if they've taken advice from an independent FCA-regulated professional first.

Will there still be a place for lifetime annuities from April 2015 The security of lifetime annuities means that they'll still be the right income solution for many people.

In line with its commitment to deliver a more flexible pensions regime, the Government will remove some restrictions around annuities to enable providers to develop more flexible products.

The changes will: • Allow lifetime annuities to decrease. This could, for example, allow a reduction when the pensioner reaches State Pension age.

• Remove the 10 year maximum guarantee period.

Make sure you’re prepared for the biggest investment in your life – your future.

With the right advice and guidance, you can have the reassurance that your future financial arrangements have been designed to suit you, giving you the right balance of income and capital at your disposal to take you through the rest of your life and into retirement comfortably. For more information see below.

CONTACT DETAILS team@themgroup.co.uk 01865 552 925 www.themgroup.co.uk

*The MGroup Financial Services Limited, is an Appointed Representative of Financial Limited which is authorised and regulated by The Financial Conduct Authority. The MGroup us a trading style of The MGroup Financial Services Limited.

www.b4-business.com

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HEDGES LAW OPENING DOORS FOR BUSINESSES IN OXFORDSHIRE Matt Wright sat down with Vicky Hernandez, Hedges’ new Head of Property to chat about her first month in the job, and what lies ahead for her sector.

WRITTEN BY: MATT WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JACKIE CROSS Vicky Hernandez, Head of Property at Hedges Law

Hedges’ motto is ‘Advice for life’, with the stated goal of being able to advise clients on every area of their personal and professional life. With that in mind, Vicky Hernandez’s recent appointment is a notable one, given that property is often the single most valuable asset for individuals and businesses alike.

So, on the eve of her 1-month anniversary at Hedges (if such a thing exists!), Matt Wright sat down with Vicky to discuss her vision for the sector, the types of clients she is looking to attract, and what Hedges will now be able to offer to the Commercial Property market.

“it is not a big London firm which can be seen as soulless, but neither is it merely a local High Street operation which can be regarded as lacking credibility. Hedges sits somewhere inbetween, with the professionalism of the former but the empathy of the latter.

”

clients and working with smaller more local businesses is exciting because it’s more about the personal touch and I can really get involved in what they’re doing.

Hedges occupies the right niche for me – it is not a big London firm which can be seen as soulless, but neither is it merely a local High Street operation which can be regarded as lacking credibility. Hedges sits somewhere inbetween, with the professionalism of the former but the empathy of the latter.

Q. And you see your business style as a good fit?

Absolutely. I enjoy it when I can develop a personal relationship with my clients which goes beyond the box-ticking that is prevalent in larger law firms. Clients become almost like family, and can phone me up on a daily basis for advice, opinion, or just reassurance…. indeed, I often speak to some of my clients more than I speak to my husband!

Q. So in what direction do you see Commercial Property going at Hedges?

Q. Congratulations on the new role – what prompted you to join Hedges?

Our primary focus is on businesses in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, in particular the small medium enterprises ‘SMEs’ which are often overlooked by the bigger firms, and insufficiently served by the smaller ones. We think we can bring something new to this market.

At the expense of sounding a little trite, it fits my ethos….and they asked me!

I previously worked for a specialist commercial property firm which counts many national and multinational companies as clients. I greatly enjoyed my time there, and gained a huge amount of exposure to complex property issues, but I’ve always prided myself on my ability to develop relationships with my

For example, I’m lucky in that I already know a number of people here at Hedges, having previously worked with David Engwell who is Head of Business Services. He specialises in buying and selling businesses, and with property usually being one of the most valuable assets, the synergies from having inhouse expertise should be very exciting, allowing us to offer an all-in-one

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www.b4-business.com

B4 spotlight

Hedges Law offices in Oxford

solution to our clients…..which fits in perfectly with Hedges’ “Advice for Life” motto.

Q. Are there any particular areas you are looking to focus upon?

I would really like to develop our links with the hospitality sector – everything from hotels, to bars, to restaurants. It is a hugely diverse area, ranging from somebody with just one bar, through to operations with multiple outlets in the local area.

Charities, including colleges and historic buildings are another interesting but demanding niche that I would like to focus on – historic buildings are usually listed, and owing to their age often sit on unregistered land which can create its own unique challenges

application, building contracts, warranties, supplier contracts, capital allowances…..in short, all of his diverse legal needs.

So, we take time to understand the business, not just sell a legal service, which means that we are able to answer questions the client didn’t know he had…..before he had them!

“we take time to understand the business, not just sell the lease, which means that we are able to answer the questions the client didn’t know he had…..before he had them!

”

Q. Commercial Property is beginning to sound interesting! Can you give some examples?

Q. I presume those legal skills are scalable?

Yes, it’s true that people tend to regard Commercial Property as bland office blocks, whereas we deal with all shapes and sizes. For example, we’ve been acting for a client who wanted to buy a derelict pub, in order to re-launch it as a bar/restaurant. Pulling together all of our areas of expertise, we were able to advise him on the initial purchase, the planning

Exactly, though as I mentioned before, there is a point with multinational companies at which the focus becomes more about introducing streamlined processes and sometimes the personal touch , which is something we pride ourselves on at Hedges, becomes less relevant That is not to say that we don’t deal with large

www.b4-business.com

organisations, beyond SME’s in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley – for example, we undertake a lot of property work for national retailers such as AllSaints Q. What unique challenges do you face in dealing with such niches?

Charities have their own specific issues – by their very nature they need to be cost conscious, and to limit liability. They can sometimes have a high turnover of property interests by virtue of taking short-term High Street leases (because landlords are keen to let charities occupy their vacant units and take advantage of the associated business rates tax relief).

Any concluding thoughts?

I think Hedges is unique in Oxfordshire – it’s what attracted me – and we’re looking to significantly increase our profile, so you will be seeing a lot more of Hedges around and about…especially in the property sector.

CONTACT DETAILS vicky.hernandez@hedgeslaw.co.uk 01865 594 276 www.hedgeslaw.co.uk

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MORE THAN 75 PROPERTY EXPERTS WORK DAY IN DAY OUT IN OUR OXFORD OFFICE TO HELP AND ADVISE OUR CLIENTS TO MAXIMISE THE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTY ASSETS. From our commercial agency and investment team and its property managers, to our planners and development land experts, and skilled residential and rural teams, we have people who can help you.

Or if you’re looking for something more specialised, we have architects, building surveyors, a mapping team who have the country covered, minerals & waste management services, people who live and breathe infrastructure, and renewable energy experts, all on hand, in one place, in Oxford.

Or perhaps you simply need a valuation.

Whatever professional advice you need for your property, discover how we can help.

01865 511444 or carterjonas.co.uk/oxford

B4 spotlight

With improving “ economic conditions and market sentiment, we took this moment to review the existing brand to ensure it reflects both our collaborative and business minded culture, as well as our ambitious growth strategy

”

Mark Granger, CEO, Carter Jonas

CARTER JONAS EVOLVES ITS BRAND National property consultancy Carter Jonas has launched its refreshed brand as part of the firm’s strategy for continued growth and development.

WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA LANE-NOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CARTER JONAS

Mark Granger, chief executive at Carter Jonas, said: “We are in a period of sustained growth and development. From a company with a turnover of £15million in 2009, we are now a multidisciplinary property partnership with a turnover of £40million. Our business has evolved tremendously in the last five years and we needed the brand to reflect this.”

In December last year Carter Jonas relocated to new national headquarters at One Chapel Place, London W1, which represented a significant milestone in its evolution. And in line with its national expansion strategy, the firm has continued to invest significantly across the business in order to improve the range of services for its clients.

“With improving economic conditions and market sentiment, we took this moment to review the existing brand to ensure it reflects both our collaborative and business minded culture, as well as our ambitious growth strategy,” added Mark Granger. “We are delighted with the results.”

Carter Jonas’ Oxford office helps its clients sell, let, manage and add value to their properties, whether they be residential homes, farms and estates, development land, offices, industrial or retail buildings.

www.b4-business.com

Mark Charter, head of Carter Jonas’ Oxford office said: “Our office is the biggest in our network outside London. We have 75 people working in Summertown advising clients across all our disciplines across the region. Our brand needed to evolve locally and nationally, and it’s great to see how it’s being rolled out. Our staff are already impressed with the results and we hope that our clients will be too.”

Charged with rolling out this brand refresh will be Tom Foulkes, who has been appointed as head of marketing & communications. Tom joins the firm from leading development and infrastructure consultant Peter Brett Associates (PBA), where he was marketing director and global creative ambassador for the D&AD's White Pencils. Prior to PBA, he was marketing director at Arup; global head of marketing at Buro Happold; and spent eight years as head of retail marketing at Land Securities Group plc.

“I am delighted to be joining Carter Jonas at such a pivotal point in the firm’s expansion strategy”, said Foulkes. “The brand refresh is simply part of its evolution given the partnership’s excellent performance this year. Our focus however remains on communicating that we have trusted experts

Tom Foulkes Carter Jonas' new Head of Marketing & Communications

who deliver solid, long-term advice to enhance the future prosperity of our clients.”

The creative agency NextBigThing was awarded the design brief to create a more contemporary, more confident brand identity.

Glenn Harrison, creative director at NextBigThing, said: “Understanding their clients has been the cornerstone of Carter Jonas’ service for over 159 years, and their products and services have been developed to meet their diverse needs. Our brief was to honour this heritage, making it relevant for now and for the future.”

The brand refresh has been rolled out across the firm’s 29 offices from 8 September 2014.

To see the evolved brand in action, please visit: www.carterjonas.co.uk/brandrefresh

CONTACT DETAILS oxford@carterjonas.co.uk 01865 511 444 www.carterjonas.co.uk

59

CONFUSED ABOUT THE CLOUD? THE REAL STATS, FACTS AND FIGURES EXPLAINED… WRITTEN BY: LUKE BROADHURST

From the eyes and ears of CIS Did you know that over the next 5 years it’s predicted that nearly two-thirds of all IT processes will be hosted on the Cloud?

Hybrid Cloud – takes the best of both worlds allowing you to have security and flexibility. For example you can use vBubble Cloud and keep some of your servers in-house for extra control.

What is the Cloud and what does this mean for businesses of the future?

The Cloud has become an IT buzz-word that many companies are adopting into their everyday working life. It’s a technology that allows us to work in the same place, in any location and in a highly secure environment - a bit like a 2nd desktop on the same screen…

Unless your business has severely limited resources or doesn’t store any confidential data whatsoever, the Private option will usually be the correct choice for most.

How will this REALLY benefit my business?

Over the next 5 years, the need for a local IT department will be dramatically reduced. The days of high upfront costs are dead and gone. No more do we need to worry about high capex expenditure on servers or expensive and ever-increasing energy bills.

Cloud is a pay as you consume technology which means you can budget your IT costs into a monthly manageable sum. It allows you to: • Take your office anywhere in the world with an internet connection • Access all your data, email and work applications in one place • Secure and backup of not just your data but your entire server These are some of the fundamental reasons why the Cloud has attracted such a lot of attention in today’s world of information technology.

What about all the Cloud security scares in the news? It looks too risky for us!

There are three types of Cloud solutions present on the market: Public Cloud – This is hosted publicly with shared resources. Multiple users share the same area of cloud, making it a cheaper option but one which is not particularly secure like iTunes, Facebook or Dropbox.

Private Cloud – vBubble for example is hosted privately at CIS’s own data centre located at “The Bunker” in the UK. This ensures your data is secure and accessible only to you and nobody else.

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Client Case Study: Industry: Architecture Client: Purcell Problem: Purcell needed a way of being able to use AutoCAD across the company without being limited to its local PCs. Purcell also wanted to reduce its IT costs by converting its servers to the Cloud, the company needed this to be ultra-secure and extremely reliable.

Solution: CIS implemented its Cloud Solution “vBubble” across Purcell’s world country-wide sites and 24 Servers allowing the company to manage multiple AutoCAD tasks in the same place, thereby dramatically increasing efficiency and accessibility whilst maintaining high security.

“The long term relationship we have with CIS is on a tactical level, helping us to set the IT strategy for the business based on up-to-the-minute technology” Gary Dalton — IT Manager

What is vBubble? vBubble is arguably one of the most bespoke and secure Cloud solutions on the market. Protected

by The Bunker… Your data is completely secure inside a Military-Grade Ultra-Secure Data Centre in the UK. • Manage the apps you use in your day-to-day work on the Cloud • Work from home or on the move without the worry of copying important files • Protect your business in a crisis - never worry about losing any work or sensitive information • Pick and choose your own Cloud specifications - you’re not limited or forced into a package

13 Reasons to Look at Switching to vBubble…

1 Decrease in IT ownership costs - no capex on new servers 2 The very highest levels of data security are maintained through servers operated in a military-grade bunker. It’s only you in your Cloud (and only you!) who has access to your data 3 Monthly payment – easy to budget 4 Streamlined IT operation – bringing improved efficiency 5 Scalable architecture for your business – pay for what you need now not for the future 6 Office on the move – access all your files and systems, not just email 7 Helps prevent data theft by employees – instant user access removal of ex-staff 8 Encrypted remote access – safe 9 No power for servers on site – lower electricity bills 10 Disaster recovery – your business can carry on operating in the event of a flood or fire on site 11 Multi-site/international operations can all work from the same server to access the same files 12 Better resiliency than you could ever afford to have in-house – full redundancy, full failover 13 Daily backups as standard, so no need to worry about lost data Need a bit more? We’re a people business. Give us a call and talk to one of our friendly and knowledgeable team members today.

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

www.b4-business.com

B4 technology

“Over the next 5 years, the need for a local IT department will be dramatically reduced. The days of high upfront costs are dead and gone. No more do we need to worry about high capex expenditure on servers or expensive and ever-increasing energy bills.

�

www.b4-business.com

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B4 services

ARE YOU ‘FOCUSED’ ON COST? In today’s world of the internet and price comparison websites, we are conditioned to constantly find the cheapest price for everything. Whilst this has been a huge benefit when buying products, the same cannot be said for services and it will often be a case ‘you get what you pay for’.

Nick Jones

WRITTEN BY: NICK JONES PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JACQUELINE CROSS

Insurance cover is a prime example of this buying process. Why? Well, the product (policy cover) is the end result of what you are paying for. Your business is your livelihood and provides employment and income for all of your staff. Therefore you have a duty to protect it and plan for the worst case scenario.

clients’ circumstances to ensure that the cover they have remains appropriate, rather than just renew existing policies.

It is vitally important that you engage with an insurance broker who can get to know you and understand your business.

FOCUS, based in Seacourt Tower, Oxford, prides itself in doing just that. We take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses. We want to learn how the company operates and what the risks are; although companies may follow the same basic principles of business, each individual business is unique and exposed to different risks.

FOCUS will discuss these risks and design a bespoke solution to protect the company.

As an example, FOCUS was approached by an Oxfordshire based Clinical Research Organisation to review their insurance programme, for which they were paying in excess of £19,000.

After an introduction and subsequent fact find meeting, we were able to present the risk to our panel of specialist insurers and obtain terms saving the client over 50% without compromising on their insurance coverage.

At each renewal, we take the time to review our www.b4-business.com

As a truly independent broker, Focus has the ability to place business with the whole of the market and will only provide cover that our clients truly need.

Focus will only deal with insurers which carry a strong financial rating and who are trusted to deliver on claims quickly and efficiently.

FOCUS has become a “trusted and valued adviser to a great many clients and fellow professional advisers

”

Furthermore, for specialist business areas such as Life Science, Bio-Science, Pharma and Technology, expert advice can be even more important. FOCUS has both the expertise in these areas and the access to niche markets, providing covers such as Clinical Trials, Medical Malpractice and Cyber Liability.

first opening our doors in August 1990. Many of our clients have been with us since we started.

We believe our success has been built as we have often taken a different approach to providing the solutions for our clients’ needs. We quickly recognised that our clients were looking for a very much more personal approach, rather than having to search the internet or talking to a provider over the phone and never talking to the same person twice. This is why our clients can speak to us whenever they need us.

We pride ourselves on service, first and foremost; helping our clients get the best cover at the most competitive price available.........the cheapest is not always the best! You need a policy that will provide a financial solution in a time of need, putting you or your company back in the position it was in before the claim occurred, with the minimum fuss or inconvenience.

As well as providing expert insurance advice, FOCUS also provides bespoke financial planning solutions to both companies and Private Clients.

FOCUS will answer your questions and help you get the cover you need.

CONTACT DETAILS

FOCUS has become a trusted and valued adviser to a great many clients and fellow professional advisers. We have been operating as professional adviser and broker to our clients for nearly 25 years,

nick.jones@focusllp.co.uk 01865 813 307 www.focusllp.co.uk

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#GOOD TO GREAT The Ridgeway story is simply stunning. Established in 1997, Ridgeway are now one of the UK’s Top 20 largest Motor Retail Groups and will post turnover well in excess of £600 million this year. Chief Executive John O’Hanlon is quite rightly proud of the group’s spectacular growth, but wants what he describes as Ridgeway’s third iteration to take the group from good to great.

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD ROSSER

The home page of the Ridgeway website neatly positions the group. Profiling the logos of some of the world’s leading brands, including BMW, Audi, Maserati, VW and Land Rover, it’s clear that Ridgeway operate in the premium car bracket. Alongside these impressive brands, the commitment to you and I as potential customers, or perhaps existing customers, is clear with the statement from the Board of Directors declaring, “We understand the customer’s high expectations for their vehicle and our dealerships.”

As well as Ridgeway’s potential and existing customers, John O’Hanlon is keen to stress that his staff are also a top priority. “These are the two areas we have been working on in our Good to Great Strategy which is the cornerstone of our third iteration of the business.

Phase one was to set up, establish ourselves, survive and to grow to a turnover of £50 to £60 million. “We started off with VW Newbury and VW in Wantage. We knew the brands we wanted to represent and the areas we wanted to represent them in. We are strong believers of the premium sectors within the market, so we concentrated on building relationships with those brands.

These relationships don’t happen overnight – it took us seven years to get the Mini / BMW franchise and five years to get into Jaguar / Land Rover. Building relationships with leading names in the motor industry takes time and demands hard

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work and commitment.

“Our second iteration revolved around creating a regional group of £250 million and from there pushing to £500 million based on those new relationships.

“The focus this year for our next phase has been from turning every part of the business from a good business to a great business and that’s why we picked up on the hashtag #gtg.

“We started breaking down all of the individual parts of the business and aimed at a total refresh.

We looked at everything from our vision and values to how we do our reporting.

“But the two parts we have been most focused on and in which we have invested the most in terms of time and finances has been staff and customers.

“In terms of staff we feel we have always looked after our staff but we wanted to recognise that staff didn’t just come to work for the money, we wanted them to enjoy working. When we started in business we relied on our directors and senior managers to spread that magic dust, to keep the rest of the staff happy and motivated. But as we got bigger, we couldn’t rely on our directors to play that role – it would have been too time consuming, because they can’t be everywhere, on every day.

“So we had to inject that magic dust into our management and our staff as part of our refresh.

This starts at the Ridgeway induction – we looked at how we communicated with staff and we now have a significantly friendlier intranet site but we are also undertaking six monthly printed Ridgeway Reviews which give all employees an idea what we are all about and what we expect of them.

Everyone knows where they stand and the review process has been a great success.”

Every year Ridgeway carry out a staff survey and this has consistently demonstrated that improvements have been made. One key area of irritation was in IT where the group have now spent in the region of £750,000. John points out that “We no longer receive the complaints from staff that their systems are slow so they can get on with their jobs and our customers can enjoy the best Wi-Fi available!”

John is clear that all of these building blocks and refinements of existing systems mean that the 1,200 Ridgeway employees know what is going on across the group, not just in an individual’s dealership and adds, “We also have the Ridgeway roadshows where we go to the staff and say ‘this is what you told us and this is what we are doing about it’ and that can be in their dealership or the wider group. These have been an incredibly successful initiative.”

With a business fast approaching 20 years since launch and incorporating inherited dealerships and staff, John and his board have always recognised

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B4 motoring

loyalty with birthday cards and champagne at key milestones, but now staff are also rewarded with an extra day’s holiday when they reach five, ten and fifteen years service to Ridgeway. “We also take staff out for lunch or dinner when they hit these milestones, “adds John, “and although it happens quite frequently these days, that’s a joy in itself! Bob here at VW Newbury has been with the dealership for 40 years which is phenomenal.”

Amongst a number of recent developments, John is delighted with the new Ridgeway Academy which sits above the Land Rover dealership in Oxford. “The Academy provides training on a timely basis, for example we now have new FCA regulations which dictate how we have to sell financial products. We didn’t have to wait to train our staff because within three weeks we had put our entire sales force through the required training at the Academy aimed at amending the sales processes to meet the new regulations. We can also deliver everything from inductions, specialist management training, telephone answering and impact training. The Academy is there to imprint Ridgeway on the key processes within our business. Match that Ridgeway approach of friendliness and customer care with professionalism and we feel we have a fantastic formula for success.”

The success of all of these initiatives cannot just be measured in financial terms but also with the incredible staff retention rates and low staff turnover at Ridgeway. The motor industry averages

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25%, but Ridgeway have historically remained around 17% to 18% which, as John points out, is quite remarkable given the growth the group has experienced over a short period of time, but is confidently targeting 15%.

There is also a 40 strong call centre in Hampshire which takes all of the calls which would otherwise stop the sales teams in the dealerships dealing with

“

...the two parts we have been most focused on and in which we have invested the most in terms of time and finances has been staff and customers

”

the customers wanting to buy a car. “It’s not acceptable for a customer to wait for someone who is on the phone when they are there ready to buy a car.” Argues John. “With the call centre we can now also keep in touch with our customers by making two types of call. One to remind customers to book in their service or to invite customers to come along to our events – so yes a sales angle to the call. But, just as important are the ‘cuddle phone calls’ where we are calling up after a service to ask our customers to make sure that everything was done as expected within the right timeframes, and we spend a lot of time monitoring those calls so we make sure we aren’t having any specific

department issues. That has been a key part of our success – we record every call and we monitor everything. This data has been invaluable.

“We have also started mystery shopping – to ensure what we believe is happening is happening and in the third wave of mystery shopping we are seeing massive improvements.”

Ridgeway’s other key focus is on the customer.

Acknowledging that the group is well placed to benefit from the levels of demand for Ridgeway’s premium brands, John says that Ridgeway have to be geared to deal with its customers in all manner of ways to give potential customers the best possible chance of converting into actual customers.

With a £6 million investment opening at Milton Gate in Didcot before the end of the year and providing Ridgeway with a North and South Oxfordshire representation dealership, John outlines how this fits in with his vision of dealerships of the future. “I am convinced that dealerships will be based on main arterial links which are easy to get to and out of, but have enough sales people and service receptions and technicians to service our customers’ needs, wants and demands.

“This then becomes part of our wanting to provide the best with more retail facilities enabling us to be great. For example, we have moved from a 0.9 acre Audi site in Kidlington to a 2.6 acre site on Oxford

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B4 motoring

Business Park, which boasts the very latest terminal concept for Audi, a 30 to 90 used car display and 70% more after sales capacity. This is a beautiful showroom for our customers, with lots of staff available to deal with every customer, some fantastic meeting spaces and a workshop that is more of an operating theatre – it’s stunning!

“There is so much demand for Audi in Oxford and we were very much the poor relation in Kidlington alongside the Mercedes dealership around the corner. We struggled to find space for Audi in Oxford, but we are delighted with the new site.”

John wants to build trust with his customers and also deliver transparency. This is accomplished in no small part through IT, explains John. “We have been working on a lot of information videos for the Ridgeway site with ex pro tennis player and TV presenter Dan Lobb – he has developed some very easy to understand videos explaining about personal contract hire, how service plans work, roughly how much the plans cost etc….

Communicating this by video takes all of the waffle out and simplifies all of the methods of finance.

“We have also developed Ridgeway Workshop Window. If we have identified any work on your vehicle we will actually show you a video clip of the damage or work required on your car. The guesswork is taken out and you can see what needs doing and this instils 100% trust. There is no having to take someone on the phone’s word for it. Even if we don’t need to do any work, we still send you a Workshop Window video.

“We launched this in January and sent out around 200 videos in the first month. This month (September) we will complete 5,000 videos. We have about 80% open rates from customers which is obviously explained to a certain extent by novelty, but it’s still very high and won us The Digital Initiative of the Year from industry magazine Motortrader this year.”

In addition to IT initiatives, Ridgeway have taken down the barriers for customers coming into their showrooms, facilitating a more personal experience.

“We have to make life for our customers as simple as possible. We have taken the computers on the desks away so there are no barriers to our sales team. They have tablets now so they are not tied to their desks, they sit next to the customer, not opposite – it is all very open and helps to build

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relationships. The sales representative and the customer can go and have a look around the car and not be restricted. The discussions have much more of a positive flow to them.”

All of these ideas are excellent but they have to be implemented and, adds John, “the staff need to embrace them. We also need to be able to monitor and improve everything we do. If it doesn’t work, we think again. But this idea in particular was revolutionary and was taken on board by the staff wholeheartedly.

“We also have good old fashioned methods to stimulate competition like “Six nations sales leagues” across the board during the rugby internationals – things like this really work for us.

“Ultimately it is a pressurised and a low margin environment so we have to be on top of performance across the group. That’s why HR is a key point on our Board Meeting agendas, because we have to identify underperformance early on and address whatever the problems are. We have to get staff through any problems they have and now we’re bigger, we have more resource to help us address these problems. We have specialists within the group to help those who need some support.

We have also developed “Workshop Window. If we have identified any work on your vehicle we will actually show you a video clip of the damage or work required on your car

”

“When we run this alongside our appraisals, we have less excuses when things go wrong. That comes back to why we invested in IT – it’s one less excuse to blame underperformance on. It happens that some staff just don’t fit, but that’s life. On the whole we do very well and provide excellent support for our dealerships.”

John concludes by explaining how blended retailing is the future. “Customers spend something like 18 hours research and will only visit less than 2 showrooms on average, they use 30 sources of information and it takes only 30 days from thinking about buying a new car to purchasing a new car – 22 for used.

“We have to understand the web and every other conceivable touch point. We have to be prepared for all points of access as to how a customer wants to buy a new car or average a service. We can deal with you just on the phone, web or e-mail or in the showroom. We have to be reactive in our strategy and be prepared to deal with what the customer wants. Our unique visitors have increased from 120,000 to in excess of a million in a year over three years and we are seeing it growing exponentially.

“That is down to our brands, the website and also social media – we even have more followers than BMW UK on Twitter. We work hard on Twitter, Facebook, Vine, Instagram - when we do something, we commit to it and do it properly.”

The Ridgeway website has also been designed to be ‘sticky’, encapsulating all information a potential customer will need, explains John. “We are about delivering information and entertaining – the customer is more inclined to buy from us if they don’t get a hard sell. That’s why on our website we have as much info on there as possible so we don’t lose customers. Finance is on there, blogs, reviews, links to magazines, everything they could need to make an informed decision, increasing the chances that that decision will involve us!

“Live chat is another growing areas that I didn’t think would work. We put in the resource and it nearly broke us. We put two guys in and went from 50 to 600 live chats in a week, a good number of which deliver excellent leads.”

The well oiled machine thrives on information, good or bad. There’s an amazing appetite making this business great, arguably it already is, but to be really great the business has to iron out any creases. John doesn’t like to hear complaints but he opens himself up to them by allowing customers to contact him direct through the website. “Of course I don’t want there to be complaints but occasionally we drop the ball, and when that happens I need to know. I want customers to let me know what we have done wrong so that I can address it immediately and right what went wrong. It’s turning a negative into a positive….and helps us in our quest to move from good to great.”

CONTACT DETAILS info@ridgeway.co.uk @ridgewaygroup www.ridgeway.co.uk

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news Ridgeway Volkswagen drives growth with new showroom at Milton Gate, South Oxfordshire. this highly regarded automotive retail group are building a 14 car showroom with a 16 bay workshop offering state-of-the-art servicing facilities.

Top 20 Motor Retail Group, Ridgeway, has chosen Milton Gate as the location for its South Oxford flagship Volkswagen showroom and dealership. Acquiring 2.05 acres from MEPC,

Just off the A34 at the Milton Interchange, and at the gateway to Milton Park, the Milton Gate site is in a highly visible location. Philip Campbell, Head of Leasing and Development at Milton Park,

explains: "When we put in place the Milton Park Local Development Order last year the council agreed to extend the range of uses permitted on the site to include a hotel and car showrooms which are ideally suited to this high profile location.

We are delighted to welcome Ridgeway Volkswagen as the first Milton Gate occupier and look forward to announcing others in the very near future."

Local Motor Dealer Group, Ridgeway, win 'Digital Initiative of the Year' Award at the Motor Trader Awards that took place earlier this year at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The Digital Initiative Award recognises and rewards the best use of digital media by franchised and non-franchised dealers.

Ridgeway, one of the UK’s Top 20 Motor Retail Groups, have won 'Digital Initiative of the Year'

The judges looked for best practice examples of how digital platforms, including social media,

mobile apps, online video and live chat, have been used as part of a dealer’s digital marketing mix to help drive sales. Ridgeway's digital initiative focussed on "Workshop Window by Ridgeway" our new online video safety check programme.

See the link below for our sample Workshop Window video for Volkswagen and to find out more www.ridgeway.co.uk/workshopwindow

Ridgeway Volkswagen extend London Irish Rugby Club partnership Aviva Premiership rugby club London Irish have extended their partnership with Ridgeway Volkswagen, part of one of the UK's largest motor retail groups. Ridgeway Volkswagen has been involved with London Irish since 2011 and are delighted to announce a major shirt sponsorship deal and return once again as “Official Vehicle Partner”.

The continued partnership will also give London Irish supporters access to exclusive Volkswagen car and van offers throughout the season via “The

Blarney” eshots and on a members-only area of the Ridgeway website.

John O'Hanlon, Ridgeway’s Chief Executive said: “We are absolutely delighted to have the Ridgeway name alongside that of London Irish once again.

We believe there is a great fit with our Volkswagen dealerships and the Club and look forward to continuing our successful partnership.”

Jim O’Toole, Commercial Director London Irish said: “Ridgeway Volkswagen have been great

partners for us over the last few years and we are pleased to extend the relationship for another two seasons, we look forward to taking the marketing partnership to a new level.”

Ridgeway win the ‘Most Admired Thames Valley Business’ award At the end of June, Top 20 Motor Retail Group, Ridgeway, were presented with the ‘Most Admired Thames Valley Business’ award, by the Thames Valley Business Barometer at Danesfield House in Marlow.

The award recognises the Ridgeway’s growth, employer credentials and the delivery of fantastic and consistent customer service.

Business’ award, John O’Hanlon, Ridgeway’s Chief Executive commented “We were nominated separately by several members of the Business Barometer panel which is a great accolade and would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Ridgeway team, across Thames Valley, for all their hard work that drives this recognition. We are absolutely delighted that our vision and values have been recognised by more than 100 local businesses who took part in the survey.”

Upon receipt of the ‘Most Admired Thames Valley

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4610 KINGSGATE Oxford Business Park, Oxford TO LET 2,754 – 5,653 sq ft

Two storey self contained office on popular Business Park.

EPC Rating – E(101)

SEACOURT TOWER Botley Road, Oxford TO LET 3,700 and 4,700 sq ft Two Modern offices with excellent access to the A34 and Oxford City Centre.

EPC Rating – D(76)

Unit 1-5 Oasis Park, Eynsham TO LET 17,600 sq ft Self contained Head Quarters office building To be refurbished to occupiers specification.

EPC Rating – G(161)

183 MILTON PARK Didcot TO LET 80,723 sq ft

Rare opportunity for high office content modern warehouse/industrial facility EPC Rating tbc

unrivalled local and regional expertise Richard Venables Tom Barton Duncan May

rvenables@vslandp.com tbarton@vslandp.com dmay@vslandp.com

news VSL & Partners wins Oxfordshire’s Most Active Agent Yet Again VSL & Partners has been recognised once again by The Estates Gazette online service - EGi in its annual competition for the country’s Most Active Agent. The Estates Gazette 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 and awarded VSL & Partners Oxfordshire’s Most Active Agent accolade. The firm’s director, Richard Venables, also won EGi’s Deal Maker of the Year for 2014 for the most transactions undertaken.

VSL & Partners was formed eleven years ago by five leading chartered surveyors who act for many of Oxfordshire’s leading business parks including Oxford Business Park, Oxford Industrial Park and Abingdon Business Park alongside leading developers, investors and local businesses. The firm has won the Most Active Agent accolade since 2009.

Richard Venables, director, VSL & Partners explains: “We completed a total of 70 transactions between July 2013 and July 2014 equating to 583,000 sq ft of office and industrial premises. We were also awarded the Most Active Agent for Oxfordshire for the fifth time, so it’s great to see our results receive such prestigious external recognition.”

VSL & Partners celebrate ten years at the Ashmolean Museum

Notable deals over this period include

VSL acquired the freehold interest of P1 & P2, Abingdon Science Park totaling 31,158 sq ft of office and business space for a private client.

VSL let Units 6 and 9/10 Oasis Business Park comprising 5,311 sq ft and 6,393 sq ft.

VSL sold a 4.5 acre factory site on Old Station Way, Eynsham for £2.2M

Hike in commercial rents set for Oxfordshire VSL & Partners believes that restricted supply of stock and rising demand for commercial space will drive an increase in commercial rents for Oxfordshire businesses. Over the last decade businesses in the area will have seen rises in operational costs including business rates, employment and energy but not in occupational costs as commercial rents have flatlined over the last 10 years.

As the economic recovery continues to gather pace, the supply of property in Oxfordshire has reduced with increased take up for commercial property stock driven by improving business sentiment. The recent increase in take up coupled with the fact that there has been limited new commercial development over the last eight years has created an imbalance between supply and demand which will now force rents on an upward direction.

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Whilst unlikely to be welcomed by tenants this rental increase and confidence in the market will also increase the prospects of speculative development in Oxfordshire moving forward.

Richard Venables, Director at VSL & Partners explains: “With limited new commercial development in Oxfordshire over the last 8years this surge in take up has created an erosion of existing stock and we are reaching a point where the demand curve will cross the supply curve which will lead to competitive pressures on rentals. This will be good news for developers who will need to see a rental increase to make building new commercial stock a viable proposition due to rising cost of building materials. Tenants and occupiers need to be aware that there will be a net increase in occupational costs however as most properties are let on a five yearly rent review pattern, it will take some time for the rent increases to be realised.”

www.vslandp.com

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Oxford University Rugby Football Club Presents

The 93rd Annual major Stanley’s Match Corporate Luncheon The Major Stanley’s Match is the oldest and best supported University sports fixture held in Oxford. The match is more than just a unique sporting occasion; it is an event, a vital part of the social calendar well attended by Oxfordshire Businesses, University Alumni, Locals, Students and School children.

Included in the package is a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine per person, a reserved seat in the best location (West Stand), a Match Programme, Prize Draws, Auction and entertainment from Guest Speakers.

DATE: VENUE:

PRICES: (ex. vat)

Wednesday 19th November, 2014 Iffley Road Rugby Ground, Jackdaw Lane, Oxford 12pm Marquee and Bar open 1pm Lunch Served 3.30pm Match Kicks Off 5.15pm Drinks in the Marquee and Meet the Players £750 for a table of ten or £100 per person

Tickets are available from Oxford University RFC, Jackdaw Lane, OX4 1SR. For enquiries please contact Tim Stevens on (01865) 432000 or tim.stevens@sport.ox.ac.uk

www.ourfc.org

news

Oxford University RFC v The Major Stanley’s XV Corporate Luncheon In November each year since the early 1920’s, Oxford University rugby club have played an annual fixture against the Major Stanley’s XV, an invitational side, in the build up to the Varsity Match played at Twickenham each December.

What has now become a traditional part of the day is the corporate luncheon hosted in the Marquee prior to kick off.

This year’s match will take place on Wednesday 19th November and we would be delighted if your

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company would like to join us and other Oxfordshire businesses for the corporate luncheon.

In 2013 over 350 guests enjoyed a three course meal with drinks and were royally entertained by special guest speaker Jason Leonard OBE, the former England and British Lions world record cap holder. Alongside the lunch and guest speaker, there is a business card draw for a magnum of Champagne, sponsored by local letting agents College & County as well as a prize draw and auction.

We aim to attract over 400 guests to the 2014 luncheon and have already sold more than 20 tables of 10 to local Oxfordshire businesses.

Further information on the event can be found on the opposite page, but if you would like to join us in November then please contact OURFC General Manager, Tim Stevens on 01865 432 000 or tim.stevens@sport.ox.ac.uk

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GET THIS FROM YOUR LAWYERS? INNOVATION AT A LAW FIRM SURELY NOT! Hilary Napolitan, Associate, Commercial Litigation Team and Head of Debt Recovery

Why is that innovative? It’s innovative because it covers every area of law, it covers every area of the country, and it is free to talk to the Darbys lawyers. The firm is geared up to welcome calls and to deal with them – as opposed to lawyers not wanting to deal with calls that they aren’t going to get paid for. In fact, the whole firm is set up to make sure that a company gets a great service – every lawyer, every call.

The value of this resource is clear when you think that in terms of numbers of lawyers, Darbys is in the top 150 firms in the country. It has some 20 specialist teams, which together cover every area that a business or a family or an individual might need. That’s quite a team to have on the end of a line – and at no cost when you have a legal query.

If you ask Darbys why they offer the BLUE LAW® scheme (and the identical PURPLE LEGAL® scheme for individuals and families), the reply is that they are willing to invest time and money in this way because they want to start and to nurture long-standing relationships. They make no secret of the fact that such relationships are far better for their own business than here-today-gone-tomorrow

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Emma Bannister Dean, Associate, Commercial Litigation Team

relationships where they charge for every minute but then lose the client to another law firm.

SO – DOES BLUE LAW ACTUALLY WORK? It seems to work very well. Hundreds of companies have joined the scheme, and hundreds of companies have called with legal issues, most of which were resolved with the help of free legal advice. Where actual legal work is needed, Darbys set out their price for the work and the caller is then free to shop around.

Here are some examples of how it has benefitted companies: DEBT RECOVERY: Hilary Napolitan, Associate in Commercial Litigation Team and Head of Debt Recovery, reports “We took a call from a company that was owed £140,000. We gave chapter and verse on the position. We worked out for example that the caller was entitled to over £4000 in interest on the debt. We advised the caller on how to proceed.

They asked us to do the letter of claim to the other side. We advised doing that but also a second,

Prisca Bradley, Partner and Head of Employment Team

“without prejudice” letter offering time to pay and a reduction in the interest that would be sought. A few days later we got a call from the debtor, and the following day £128,000 arrived in our account for our client. The balance arrived a short while later”.

COMMERCIAL DISPUTES: Emma Bannister Dean, Associate in Commercial Litigation Team reports: “A company that was in BLUE LAW® had declined to recruit a candidate it had interviewed. The candidate was unhappy to say the least and asked them to reconsider failing which a defamatory campaign would be launched about the company in their marketplace. We gave full advice to the company on their options, and of these they asked us to send a formal letter to the candidate threatening an injunction and a claim for damages. We did that, and the problem has gone away” EMPLOYMENT LAW: Prisca Bradley, Partner and Head of Employment Team reports: “An organisation called us in relation to an under-performing employee that they had, who was in a fairly senior role. They

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B4 services

Innovation is the name of the game at national law firm Darbys Solicitors. Their unique scheme for businesses is called BLUE LAW®. Companies who join BLUE LAW® (and it is completely free to join, with no catches) can speak to a lawyer free of charge whenever they have a legal query. All Darbys’ clients are automatically entitled to this benefit.

WRITTEN BY: DARBYS’ BLUE LAW® TEAM PHOTOGRAPHY BY: STUDIO 8

Sian Champkin, Partner and Head of Corporate Team

wanted to address the problem but were wary of the dangers. We explored the whole scenario with them. There were performance but also data protection and ‘monitoring of email’ issues to be looked at. We advised too on an investigation that was needed which threw up new aspects to the employee’s conduct, and our subsequent advice was robust and to the effect that the company could proceed to dismissal with low risk of comeback” IMMIGRATION: Jenny Harvey, Partner and Head of Immigration Team reports “I was contacted by a letting agent who had heard about proposed legislation meaning that landlords would have to undertake checks on prospective tenants to ensure that they are legally in the UK. I explained that this will become law but that it will be rolled out area by area and that it is not thought likely to be implemented in this area for quite some time.

Once we know more we will send out an information bulletin and can of course offer training on how to undertake the relevant checks”.

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Jenny Harvey, Partner, Head of Immigration Team

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: Nick Wright, Partner and Head of Commercial Litigation Team reports “I took a call from a company who had agreed an option to sell a piece of development land in the south of England. The company had to have vacant possession by a certain date. That date was fast approaching. The company had discovered, however, that a number of travellers had taken up occupation of the site and were refusing to move unless they were paid a significant sum of money. The company had been told by the travellers that they knew the Court procedure well and that it would take the company at least six months to remove them. We gave chapter and verse, free of charge, and the company asked us to act – and to act fast. We immediately issued and served possession proceedings on the travellers. Within 7 days of the call we had an Eviction Order and within a further 7 days we had had the travellers removed by the Court bailiffs, allowing the sale to proceed.”

CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL LAW: Sian Champkin, Partner and Head of Corporate Team reports “I took a call from a company enquiring as to what rights and duties they had as directors and shareholders – I discussed that the

Nick Wright, Partner, Head of Commercial Litigation Team

director has to act in the best interests of the company and its shareholders and that they must not put themselves in a position where their personal interests conflict with the interests of the company. I also went through the obligations directors have to make sure that the company does not trade when it might be insolvent and to maintain accurate records and file documents such as the annual return and accounts with Companies House. I then advised when the shareholders would be involved in a decision of the company such as if they wanted to change the name of the company or amend the articles of association or make changes to the share capital. No fees for us but more importantly, a happy caller.”

ALL IN ALL… BLUE LAW® really does work.

Hundreds of companies have joined the scheme – why not join them?

CONTACT DETAILS @BLUE_LAW 08455 676 000 www.darbys.co.uk / www.bluelaw.co.uk

73

Are you ready for the longest holiday of your life?

Our Life and Pensions service is designed specifically to help you plan and prepare for your future and retirement.

We will: • Work with you to meet your personal needs and requirements • Provide professional, impartial and balanced advice • Make proposals to give you maximum financial protection and security • Assess and monitor your existing insurance covers • Advise you how best to invest, protect and insure your money

Book a free initial consultation and let us help you make the most of your financial resources and investments - contact us today for more information and to discuss your retirement needs.

Just call us on 01865 552 925, email team@themgroup.co.uk or visit www.themgroup.co.uk.

Accountancy ˙ Business Development ˙ Registered Auditors Computer Solutions ˙ Taxation ˙ Corporate Finance Software Development ˙ Financial Services Oxford Office: Cranbrook House, 287/291 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7JQ Tel: 01865 552925

Vist the website: www.theMgroup.co.uk

Witney Office: Harvestway House, 28 High Street, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX28 6RA Tel: 01993 776476

The New B4

B4

Some of the changes we are making for you The Four Platforms of B4:

Over the next few pages we have outlined the changes we are making for you at B4 and to help you to profile your business to 9,000 key Thames Valley Business Decision Makers. So, what’s happening? In line with our four key platforms of B4, namely ‘In Print, On Line, Events and Social Media’ we are making the following key changes:

in print

events

• We are amalgamating B4 Magazine into one high quality bi-monthly magazine sent to 9,000 Business Decision Makers in the Thames Valley

• We are launching Masterclasses enabling B4 Members to benefit from the expertise in the B4 network

• Coming in 2015 – a Bi-monthly printed Members’ only Newsletter to keep you up to date with the latest event dates, deadlines and news

• We are launching Promotional Experiences enabling B4 Members to enjoy some great experiences at B4 Member venues – anything from paintballing to punting, tennis tournaments to gin tasting, it’s up to you!

social

on-line

• Get your news re-tweeted to over 7,000 B4 followers.

Just mention one of our B4 accounts and we will do the rest for you

• New website coming soon with increased functionality and Member to Member connectivity

B4 Oxfordshire followers 2,939* Twitter followers

• B4 Newsdesk can post your (unlimited) news to your B4 pages for you

B4 Berkshire followers 2,437* Twitter followers B4 Buckinghamshire followers 1,381* Twitter followers *as at end of September, 2014

• Proudly display that you are a part of the fastest growing business network in the Thames Valley with our Member logos for your website, e-mail footers and promotional literature.

That's in addition to the following: • First class B4 Classic events held in prestigious locations every month • Connect with over 600 B4 Company Members across the Thames Valley • Benefit from our active social media platforms and access over 7,000 Twitter followers • Receive or promote your business in our weekly e-Newsletter sent to over 5,000 recipients

www.b4-business.com

newsdesk Don’t forget to send us your press releases and events and we can add to the B4 site for you

75

B4 in print Bi-Monthly Magazine for the Thames Valley Having re-launched B4 as a bi-monthly magazine and combined the three editions of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, we now not only have a more frequent magazine but your news can reach a much wider area with 9,000 copies circulated free to key business decision makers in the Thames Valley.

We’re also making some more changes as follows:

B4 Features & Deadlines From Issue 34 in 2015, we will be introducing themes to B4 Magazine as follows. We have also included the booking deadline dates for these issues:

Issue

Theme

Booking Deadline

Copy Deadline

34

The Property Issue

12th December

9th January

35

Budget & Finance The Budget & Finance Issue

19th February

12th March

36

The Hospitality & Tourism Issue

24th April

15th May

37

The Learning Issue (and BIO recap)

19th June

10th July

38

Brave New World: Innovation, Technology, Web and Social Media

21st August

11th September

39

The Sustainability Issue: Green, Eco and CSR

23rd October

13th November

The feature themes are there for our customers to follow or do their own thing. Features will not be limited in terms of size, with the rates for double and single page editorial and display advertising remaining the same as featuring in the magazine (see page 77). The one aspect of features which will be available separately will be the sponsorship of each feature. This will include: • Cover of feature reflecting the sponsor (the first page of the feature in the magazine) • Logo on cover • Main strapline of cover – three in total • One strapline on cover of main magazine • Four pages in feature (first in the feature) comprising three pages of editorial and a full page advertisement Rate £2,500+VAT

Fixed Paginations Please note that from Issue 32, we will be capping the magazine at 164 pages so if you do want to make sure you’re included in B4 moving forwards, please make sure your pages are booked well in advance.

Wider and Increased Circulation We are gradually widening and increasing the circulation of B4. Starting with Business Parks and Serviced Offices, we want to increase the number of copies of B4 sent out for general distribution so that your content is seen as far and wide as possible. We will also be including a ‘Where to pick up a copy of B4’ list in each forthcoming edition of B4 Magazine.

Printed Newsletter From 2015 we will be launching a bi-monthly printed Members Only Newsletter which will be delivered to you free of charge, keeping you abreast of the latest events, deadlines and news within the B4 community.

76

www.b4-business.com

Lead Articles The New B4 will see one magazine for all areas, however the outer four pages will be different for each geographical region to enable us to retain a local feel for each area.

You can book any of these four pages as follows:

One Area

Two Areas

Three Areas

Cover Image combined with the first four* page article in one area edition

£2,500

£4,500

£6,000

Cover Image combined with the first four* page article in one area edition with four page editorial in all three

£5,000

Cover Image combined with one of the next two four page articles in one edition

£2,000

£3,500

N/A

Cover image, four page lead and inside front, inside back and back page advertisement

£4,000

£7,000

£10,000

Inside front

£1,000

£1,750

£2,500

Inside back

£750

£1,250

£2,000

Back page

£2,000

£3,750

£5,250

*this can be a three page editorial with a one page advert if you like NB All rates quoted net of VAT Sa 3rd n Be M tand in th st ed e e Tit SM ia A r Fin 2013 le E / w an of En ard cia th te s l e Y rp ea rise r

B4

B4

MA GA ZIN E ISSUE

31

SUMMER

2014

Change Covers

MAG

ISS

Would you like your own magazine with your own outer four pages devoted to your business, including the cover? All we need are your images, adverts and text and we will do the rest, including proof for approval and deliver.

UE

A Z IN

32 O CT

OBE

E

R 2 01

4

VESTMENT

ARMCHAIR IN £13 million of

Oxford contemporary

apartments coming

your way

LADY

PLEASE NOTE THESE ARE COVERS WILL BE AROUND ADDITIONAL COPIES TO THE MAIN 9,000 RUN AND WILL NOT BE DELIVERED TO OUR MAILING LIST – THEY ARE SOLELY FOR THE CUSTOMER’S USE.

Catch

PARTNERS LLP

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

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MARG

up withAUX QUAT’SAISONS LMH and all the E S S S fantast B U S I N E ic

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B U I L D I N G

Cost of outer four pages to include what information you want:

B R I D G E S

RIDG

EWA

B E T W E E N

Quantity

100

200

300

400

500

Cost

585

685

785

885

985

Y

B U S I N E S S E S

If you want more copies or more issues, please ask us for a quote.

GETTING THE NATION WORKING WELL!

Protect your team – PHOTOGRAPHY BY:

Improve your productivity.

Ergonomic solutions

for the way we work

#N

Unproductive and unhealthy

B4 health

FPSO ALIGNIN CIALMEDIA STRATE G AN EFFECT – IVE GY

“96% of Europeans believe they work more productively when they’re working in comfort Toda ” y, we

today.

FELLOWES

are seein and gove g an increase in rn social the use media to of enable their social media and Your business working chari charity to well with Ergonomic WRITTEN essentials thrive onlin ties. It is impo BY: MAHMO rtant e.

OD

B4 adv

ice

“Social media is a

game changer.

Charitie looking to engage s with a more tech literate aud nology to harnes ience need s the pow this rap idly evo er of lving environ ment

embrace

working environment

“80% of us will suffer from back pain at some stage in our lives ”

RAMJI

PHOTOG

RAPHY BY:

ALEX CAMINA

for chari ties

to

DA

Alignin g an use of social organisation's strateg y with It is importa media the exposure nt that any organis social media is clear.

Risks will ation aligns social media strategy always be a firm, Grant with their but they present overall strategytheir opportu Thornton can be on nities it social media has found Governance . As offers. Engagin outweighed by charities at board the are using and senior deliver innovat to open up new g with social social media : Charities should manag funding avoid mistake media document governance sources, Communicatioive services and guidelin s and minimi ement level will their approach es with present. help to n is importa create transpa se the risks everyone Understanding however, and share rency.

Clear guidan nt to charity that are involve social media than expecti the risks ce and strateg y, There is strategically ever understandingd in their work. modera ng operati can help a differen tion. board is onal involve rather more broadly improves ce betwee the best used by ment from self. n social way forward the majorit media being the y as a low-cos . commu Education nication How do t market s tool and and trainin to achieve ing and we program social media g: Formal strategic mes By tracking measure impac being used goals. t and succes education and analysin organisation, should be used over time, at every g s? referrals, includin level of It is cheap data is relevant. g volunte the one indicati views and usage to activate success Internal social networ ers when it of campa time to , but needs on of the and Jive, do well. igns. The is to strateg level of can also ks, such investm Mahmo principle ent over as Valley Practice provide y; have Yamme to od Ramji gain confide is to link opportu the right r what proport in our comments, back nities for nce and people a positive media. ion can people working been targete "today, social Thames impact on what is be knowledge d, media has raising awaren its particip the long-te expected to respon of social ants and resources, rm result? d and ess through is about successful training Risk: For technology when we guidelines and creatin Investment in many charitie and commu will be easier in itself, g social s, non-en nity through are brought togethe can be although and fixed media if manag need to each organis gagement is a risk this, howev notion of r as a ement have up the cost ensure value. Analytic achieve er organis ation a firm of social that they that. governance ations media against has to weigh s are the have an structure way to appropriate its benefit around Impact: s. this."

Carol Rudge, It is vital to measu Successful The perfect workplace and outcom re impact, that, “Social our Head of Not campaigns environment should es to justify engagement We have be For Profit questions.aspx (a fully Metrics designed to fit around media is recently mentions should always investment in recognised you; ergonomic solutions looking a game workstation seenrisk social media. to engage for changer. engagin ZONE assessment created by across the and wherever you work. be 3: Neck monito linked Strain g campa with a more Charitie world, includin Fellowes in accordance audience to a strategi red igns set s with g the viral campa need to technology Solution: Using beneficiaries. to find the real the EU Directive). Alternatively c goal up harnes #nomakeupsea monitor evolvin or laptop literate value over youign which raised riser will aid ins the power g environ the positioning Aston and James for Research UK can contact time to Using appropriate ergonomic of this ment. Withou over oflfie the users media a personal Working £8m for in 2014, screen products is a proremoving the strateg t an informe rapidly Well Cancer translating need to bend Assessment by contactingphone commu active way of reducing y – and in order tooperati well to text-bas d social the interna view the them on 01993 the risk of an individual nication onsscreen correctly. s thanks to suppor l govern or sales@aston-jam code. As with 706900 developing workstation ed ance and t it – funding to its es.co.uk. related pain or injuries. any campa associated The ZONE 4:donor text Fellowes 4 Zone Approach may erode.” ign, with the When adoptin there Environment encourages you to are risks use of techno Solution: Air ZONE SOLUTIONS: particular campa adapt your workstation g the usage importaremove to the way you work. logy. Withpurifiers safely ign, there 99.97% of of social nt to keep predictive You’ll this soon see how just a were airborne particles media, in mind a few cases as small text, or to reduce few small changes can as 0.3 microns, including it is the five a wrong UNICEF risk and have where following mould, spores, Consider these ergonomic such a big impact! numbe or the WWF increase pollen, media points dust solutions r, resulte the value wherever canmites, receivin your g cigarette bring allergens, d in employees work in theThe two charitie of what donatio smoke, pet dander and odoursto the organis office, at home, hot social s were from your ation. problem in error. desk orquickindoor ns on the move.

There are some simple air. , but Strateg to correct the ease steps you can take to y: The charity’ help of virality the your employees ditch media use. slipping s strategy the bad habits and CONTACT should drive poor The board riskworking DETAILS Aston andinto ZONE 1: Back Tension practice that leads to James strategy social well from discomfort and long must help with Fellowes 4 Zone term a position Approach can help with mahmood.ramj formula Solution: If your chair pain. Prevention is always te this does not adjust to provide all your ergonomic needs; of knowle better than cure, so i@uk.gt.com let dge.

48 01189 559 with a wide range proper lumber support, Aston and James and of products to fit all 192 use a back rest with Fellowes show you how zoning a foot to www.grant-thorn solutions. Contact them support to maintain get your business working correct posture. today to find out how well. ton.co.uk they can help you and your workforce working well.

ZONE 2: Wrist Pressure To ensure you are looking after your employees Solution: Wrist rests and abiding by the law, CONTACT DETAILS help to align your wrists please arrange for them and all redistribute pressure to undertake a points to help relieve Working Well sales@aston-james.co.uk pain and prevent potential injury. www.ergo.fellowes.com/en-gb/working Assessment www.b4-busin 01993 706 900 wellassessment ess.com www.aston-james.co.uk www.b4-busin www.b4-business.com ess.com

Carol Rudge,

Grant Thornton

”

“An average

employee spends 7 hours

6

a day in front of a computer

It’s time to get the nation working well.

Aston and James are working with the Fellowes Ergonomic solutions to ensure all their customers have a safer healthier working environment.

Your Article Printed

It’s easy to get into bad working habits.

And it’s easy to change them.

When you consider how we work and live nowadays, it’s easy to see why so many of us feel the strain. We’re all working longer, with most people spending up to 7 hours a day staring at a computer screen – be that in the office, at home or on the move.

We can print additional copies of your article to distribute to your customers as you see fit. Costs as follows:

Think your staff are healthy and productive?

Think again!

Fellowes conducted extensive research that shows that over the last three years 80% of people have suffered from an ailment* (*Fellowes Dynamic Market Research 2013) associated with the way they are working, resulting in 20% of them taking time off work*. In fact, European businesses are 52

”

now losing around 42bn a year in staff absenteeism; most of it linked to bad working habits when using computers, laptops and tablets.

Only 35% of sufferers have told their boss about their discomfort and pain at work, a whole 62% have suffered in silence*.

Don’t break the law. Get your employees working well.

You have a legal obligation to ensure that your employees are working safely and comfortably, whatever their location.

Fellowes research uncovered that over 40% of company directors are not aware of their legal requirements to carry out a workstation risk assessment*.

It’s the employer’s legal obligation (EU Directive 90/270/EEC) to implement them when employing new people and for existing employees when their working environment changes (such as a change of position, job tasks, new desk or computer).

Bad habits are bad for business. And as 90% of all company costs are people costs, it is essential you

look after your greatest asset – your employees.

Whilst we can’t live without our computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, we can do something about the bad working habits that are causing so many health problems.

It’s time to get your business working well.

Ergonomics – Essentials for Business.

Using integrated ergonomic products is a proactive way of reducing the risk of a person developing workstation related pain and injuries.

Fellowes, Aston and James partner supplier, have created a unique 4 Zone Approach demonstrating how to adapt your workspace around your employee’s needs and the way they work. The result of which is improved health, comfort, productivity and reduced absenteeism.

ZONE 1 – Prevent back tension ZONE 2 – Avoid wrist pressure ZONE 3 – Relieve neck strain ZONE 4 – Healthy environment www.b4-business.com

53

QUESTIO NS EVERY BO SHOULD ARD ASK

1. What part does social strategic media plan, who play in reports social-m our to the edia strategy their level and outcom board about of experie es, and what nce. is 2. Do we have guidel volunteers ines to issue to using social staff and encourage media and usage while how do we mitigating risk?

3. How can social networks commu help to nication s and break aid interna charity. l down silos across a

4. What resources

Mahmoo

d Ramji

have

media project we s and how allocated to social return on do we measu investm ent? re our 5. How can we monit that our charity should or online discus sions be involve d in? of our service social media s be deliver to reach new benefic ed through iaries!

6. Can any

49

Article Type

100 copies

200 copies

300 copies

400 copies

500 copies

Single page – double sided A4

£225

£375

£500

£600

£675

Double page – double sided A3

£375

£500

£600

£675

£725

www.b4-business.com

77

B4 Rates We will be increasing rates on 1st December 2014 so here’s a look at the current and future rates.

Book in for all 2015 editions at the current 2014 rates before the deadline: Pre 1st December 2014 Rates

Post 1st December 2014 Rates

Member Rate

Non Member Rate

Member Rate

Non Member Rate

Editorial Single Page Double Page

695 975

850 1,250

850 1,250

975 1,450

Display Advertising Single Page Half Page Quarter Page Back Page

495 350 250 2,000

750 500 350 2,250

625 425 315 2,250

895 575 425 2,500

News Single Page Half Page Quarter Page

495 350 250

750 600 350

625 425 315

895 675 425

B4 on line New B4 Website Before March 2015, we will bring you an excellent new website with more functionality to help you get your message across to other B4 Members and enable you to connect more easily directly with each other.

• The new website will enable Members to connect with each other through Member to Member contact tools and a new Individual expertise search function • Recommend and refer through the B4 site and get your Business Directory entry to stand out from the crowd with more recommendations than your competition • Search geographically for what you want on the site • Subject to certain Membership privileges, invite key B4 groups to your events

‘We’re A B4 Member’ Logo’s Proudly promote the fact that you’re a B4 Member with our digital logos which you can use on e-Mail footers, websites or why not even ask for a high res logo which you can put on your letterheads or other promotional literature to show you’re part of the B4 Network?

B4 social media We’re doing our best to push out our Members’ news through Twitter and if you attach our Twitter addresses as below, we will re-tweet your news, providing you’re a Member: B4 Oxfordshire

@B4Magazine

2,939* Twitter followers

B4 Berkshire

@B4Berkshire

2,437* Twitter followers

B4 Buckinghamshire

@B4Bucks

1,381* Twitter followers

*as at 4th October, 2014

78

www.b4-business.com

B4 events New B4 Classic Events, Masterclasses and Promotional Experiences We will be continuing with our B4 Classic Events in some fantastic locations and already have some superb venues lined up for 2015, but we are equally excited about the new series of B4 Masterclasses.

masterclass These are what the host B4 Member wants them to be, when they want to hold it, where they want to hold it (own offices or hired venue) and on whatever subject they think will be of interest to the B4 Membership. It doesn’t have to just be the host B4 Member presenting – they are most welcome to get associate companies they work with along to broaden the content. Here at B4 we will promote the Masterclass and ensure we get the numbers you need and if it needs to be targeted, let us know and we can ensure the promotional material makes this clear (Facilities Managers, FD’s etc….)

With 12 Masterclasses lined up for 2015, if you would like to contact us about what you would like to do, please don’t delay and get in touch by calling us on 01865 742211 and we can talk through your proposals.

British Gas Business Masterclass, Tuesday 28th October: Our first B4 Masterclass will take place at the new business headquarters for British Gas in Oxford where up to 50 B4 Members will hear from Stephen Beynon (Managing Director of British Gas Business), Martin Orrill (Head of Energy Technology and Innovation at British Gas Business Services) and also enjoy a tour, lunch and a Q and A session to conclude the Masterclass.

Here’s some suggestions for other Masterclasses: • Buying / Selling a business • HR Masterclass • Why use webinars?

• Preparing for disasters • Getting good PR for your business

• Mastering LinkedIn • Mastering Twitter • Mastering You Tube • Financing your business • Networking

• Marketing your business • Exit strategies • Mastering stocks and shares • Going green • Public Speaking

Conditions of Hosting: • There is no charge to the B4 Members • There are no costs passed on to B4 • You must be a B4 Member to host a Masterclass • Capacity is set by the host

promotional experience events Would you like to stage something different for the B4 Members? Call us to discuss what you would like to do that is maybe a little more light-hearted and we can get our heads together.

Here are some ideas: • • • • • •

Curry night Cocktail night A pub or bar opening A night at the theatre Paintballing F1 Grand Prix Day

• • • • • •

Go-Karting Karaoke Pamper day Fashion Show B4 Tennis tournament A Car Launch

• • • • • •

Watching a sports event Sushi or Tapas night A charity event A night at the museum B4 Ladies only to a spa A River Cruise

• • • • • •

Pizza making night A day’s shooting A cookery demonstration Dinner in a College Five a side football Whisky tasting

B4 Classic Events so far booked in for 2015 • Williams F1 Conference Centre • The Weston Library • Business in Oxford 2015

www.b4-business.com

Thursday 5th March Wednesday 15th April Thursday 30th June

Also: • B4 Battle of the Business Minds at Heythrop • B4 Classic Event at Henmans Freeth • B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Hotel & Spa

• B4 Classic Event at Stoke Park • B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House And more to confirm soon!

79

INHERITANCE TAX (IHT) Well, if I haven’t lost you already, read on! Let’s face it, this is never the best received topic of discussion since it focuses our mind on the two certainties of life according to Benjamin Franklin, namely Death and Taxes.

WRITTEN BY: LEE PALMER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BEN EARWICKER

That said, particularly in this region, the ever upward march of the property market is trapping more and more families under the catchment of IHT. Relatively speaking, you really don’t have to be particularly wealthy these days to be concerned about IHT. Politicians often consider IHT as a voluntary tax. So much so that the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Roy Jenkins, once said “Inheritance tax is a voluntary levy paid by those who distrust their heirs more than they dislike the Inland Revenue”. Arguably, he isn’t wrong. But as with everything in life, and indeed death, it isn’t quite that simple.

I would have thought most people would be appalled if they realised how much money is paid out to the taxman because people don’t always plan properly. This can be upsetting for relatives and all too often the majority of the tax could have been reduced.

On death your estate will generally be charged as follows: The first £325,000 The remainder

0% 40%

That can be an awful lot of money leaving the family for redistribution to society. Don’t forget also, that your estate has been accumulated over your lifetime net of income tax, capital gains tax, social security payments and VAT on certain purchases. The list goes on.

However, going back to Mr Jenkins’ statement, you need to ask yourself if you want to do anything about mitigating IHT for the sake of your family or not. He was broadly correct in his assertion that it is a voluntary levy, though I don’t believe for a moment the rest of the quote.

There are plenty of steps that can be taken to ensure that you pay no more IHT than you absolutely have to. With the benefit of careful planning, IHT can often be reduced or mitigated completely.

80

You absolutely mustn’t wait for the Government, whichever Party is in power, to start making plans.

There are nine action points you should be considering now.

1. Make a Will and update it regularly If you pass away without making a Will, even though your intention might have been to leave everything free of IHT to your spouse, there are circumstances in which a charge would arise.

2. Transfers within seven years All gifts to individuals made at least seven years before you die will be free of IHT so long as you do not retain any benefit from the gift. However, be wary of Capital Gains Tax applying.

3. Trusts Discretionary trusts can be set up enabling assets up to the nil rate band per person, or double the nil rate band for married couples or civil partnerships, to be sheltered from IHT, so long as you survive seven years. Unlike outright gifts, these trusts can enable you to retain control of the assets, but you still need to avoid retaining any benefit.

4. Regular gifts from income Few people realise that habitual giving from income can be made without the need for the seven year rule to apply. These gifts must be made out of income, they must be regular and they mustn’t reduce your living standards.

5. Equity release Since the family home can no longer be sheltered from IHT it may, in certain circumstances, be worth unlocking the wealth tied up in the home before it can be taken into account for IHT. 6. Beware ISAs Whilst Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are popular and valid ways of avoiding tax on income and gains remember that they are still subject to IHT.

7. Generations IHT is levied on the value of a person’s estate when they die. Consequently, consider skipping a generation by passing some of your wealth directly to your grandchildren, rather than to your children. If a son or a daughter has a reduced life expectancy it would be sensible to redraft your Will to take this into account.

8. Consider all aspects When planning for IHT mitigation you really need to consider the ‘what ifs’ and also the ‘whys’ when settling on a plan. Life rarely goes to plan but you still need to take the right decision with the knowledge you have at the time.

9. Leave the country Even this might not shelter your Estate from IHT unless you are able to satisfy the good folk at HMRC that in leaving the country you are also changing your domicile.

All of the above points and many more should be discussed with a professional before you take any action. Unless that professional has a clear understanding of your aims and also those of your family, it’s difficult for him or her to best advise you.

You need to be able to discuss everything from your own personal feelings to the perceived strengths and weaknesses of your offspring or grandchildren in order to arrive at a solution you are happy with. Remember, the aim is to avoid being a willing participator in the payment of IHT. If you would like to find out more on this subject you can either call us or look out for our next seminar on IHT which will be in February 2015.

CONTACT DETAILS ljpalmer@wenntownsend.co.uk 01865 559 900 www.wenntownsend.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 advice

“

There are plenty of steps that can be taken to ensure that you pay no more IHT than you absolutely have to.

With the benefit of careful planning, IHT can often be reduced or mitigated completely.

�

Lee Palmer, Wenn Townsend

www.b4-business.com

81

B4 spotlight

KEMP & KEMP Kemp & Kemp’s Steven Sensecall joined the firm in 1982 having been given what he describes as an ‘amazing opportunity’ when he graduated from Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes) and now heads up the firm’s planning team. Steven explains to B4’s Richard Rosser how one of Oxford’s oldest multi-disciplinary and independent property consultancies – the firm is 60-years old this year - is something of a surprise package.

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD ROSSER

Kemp & Kemp was established in 1954 and headed up by Robin Kemp. Steven took over the firm with Chris Wilmshurst and Hugh Sherbrooke in the early 1990’s.

Hugh Sherbrooke retired in 2007 and Steven and Chris have since been joined in the partnership

by Huw Mellor.

Steven explains how, in terms of the core services it provides, Kemp & Kemp has gone full circle. “The firm started as very much a planning and development practice – looking at clients land holdings and seeking to maximise the development potential – and this is key to our success today.

“Schemes like the Timbmet site on Cumnor Hill encapsulate perfectly what we do. We secured planning permission for Timbmet to build 200 houses, marketed the site, sold the site and, from the proceeds, Timbmet moved their operation to a cheaper and more efficient site in Stanford in the Vale. This is what sets us apart from other property consultancies in that we have both the planning and development expertise.

“A lot of projects that we work on are sites where we are asked to give that joint advice – what’s the best use in value terms and how do we achieve that from a planning perspective? And, if we are acting for a landowner it’s about how best to realise that value.

“Some of the large projects that we get involved in are complex and can take a long time to come to fruition. One such site is the former Grove Airfield, which was the first site I went to see with Mr Kemp when I joined the firm in 1982. We were initially looking at an industrial estate. The scheme then morphed into 100 houses and a golf course; and then to 1,000 houses until finally we secured a Local Plan allocation for 2,500 homes, two primary schools and a secondary school. The former Grove Airfield again demonstrates the range of our expertise. There were more than 20 landowners who we managed to pull together into a

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consortium. Initially, the consortium was promoting the land with our help but, as is often the way, there came a point when the consortium needed a development partner. We were charged with finding that partner and after conducting a marketing exercise, we negotiated an option agreement on behalf the landowners with Beazer, who later became Persimmon Homes. We were retained to carry on with the site promotion work and at the end of last year, 31 years after I first went to see the site, we secured a resolution to grant planning permission. If nothing else, the former Grove Airfield site shows our perseverance and our commitment to our clients.

One of the things I am most “proud of professionally was when we were instructed by Oxford Preservation Trust to oppose plans by Oxford University for a new book depository on Osney Mead.

I was the Trust’s advocate at the Planning Inquiry that was held in respect of that scheme. Huw gave evidence on planning and Chris gave evidence on alternative sites, so it was very much a team effort

”

“We are dealing with another similar site at Crab Hill in Wantage. We got two families together, formed a consortium, found them a promotion partner and we now have resolution to grant consent for 1,500 houses, which will be completed, hopefully, in the next couple of months.”

Kemp & Kemp do not only operate in Oxfordshire.

Steven explains that at present the firm is promoting close to 8,000 houses around the country, including the following schemes: • 550 houses and a 23-hectare business park at Shrewsbury in Shropshire for Lands Improvement.

• 425 houses on a site at Cranleigh in Surrey for Berkeley Homes.

• 1,250 houses at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk for Berkeley Strategic.

• 300 houses and a Tesco in Royal Wotton Bassett.

The firm has an impressive client list, as Steven elaborates. “We act for Müller Dairies who are based in Market Drayton in Shropshire. We have been acting for them for about 15 years and over that period we have dealt with all their planning matters, including a 31 hectare manufacturing and warehouse facility on greenfield land next to the company’s existing dairy.

“More locally, we have been acting for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Culham Science Centre and the Harwell Oxford Campus for over 20 years. We secured planning permission for the iconic Diamond Synchrotron at Harwell. We also secured planning permission for 275 houses on the southern edge of the Campus, which we then took to the market. At Culham, we have recently put together a new Framework Master Plan for site and secured planning permission for over 9,000 square metres of new business and R&D development.”

Kemp & Kemp is not only expert in promoting development, explains Steven. “One of the things I am most proud of professionally was when we were instructed by Oxford Preservation Trust to oppose plans by Oxford University for a new book depository on Osney Mead. I was the Trust’s advocate at the Planning Inquiry that was held in respect of that scheme. Huw gave evidence on

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planning and Chris gave evidence on alternative sites, so it was very much a team effort. The appeal was dismissed, principally on the grounds of the impact the building would have had on views in to and out of the City, despite the fact that officers at Oxford City Council had recommended the application for approval.

I would like to think “though that we have maintained the core values of independence, integrity, trust and service that were drilled in to me all those years ago by Mr Kemp

”

In recent years, I have done a number of appeal cases for Harrow Council. They tend to bring us in when the Officers have recommended approval and the Members have gone against their advice and refused the application. Our track record is pretty good: done five; won five!”

Steven says, “I had no idea when I joined Kemp & Kemp back in 1982 as a raw graduate that I would still be here 32 years later. The firm has changed a bit over that time: when I joined, there were the two Kemps, a Graduate Surveyor and a secretary. We are now 15 strong and looking to expand still further. Back in the 80’s nearly all our work came from old established Oxford-based mainly family firms – Hartwells, City Motors, Shepherd & Woodward, Boswells – now we have a much more diverse client base; and we operate over a much wider geographical area.

“I would like to think though that we have maintained the core values of independence, integrity, trust and service that were drilled in to me all those years ago by Mr Kemp. What we also have is experience: between us, Chris and I

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have close to 70-years’ experience in planning and development, and have worked together for over 23 years.

“That’s not to say that we don’t have an eye for the future: Huw Mellor has recently become an Equity Partner and Nicky Brock has been made an Associate. Nicky is one of a number of our staff who came to us straight from University and who we have supported through to becoming Chartered Town Planners and Chartered Surveyors.”

I interviewed Steven at the firm’s impressive new Abingdon offices, 1-3 Ock Street, which were purchased by Chris and Steven two years ago. A wonderful Georgian listed building, formerly owned by the Home Office, it has clearly had a lot of time and effort invested in it by Steven and Chris. Their efforts were rewarded at a recent Abingdon Heritage Open Day when the doors were open to over 300 visitors who enjoyed talks about the building’s history from Chris in the boardroom and tours of the building by Steven.

The building has also been entered for the Oxford Preservation Trust Environmental Awards.

It’s not often in the modern world we live in that someone can claim to work for the same firm ‘man and boy’ as the saying goes, but Steven Sensecall can certainly join that club. As a significant beating heart in this friendly firm, it’s testament to him and his colleagues that Kemp & Kemp has flourished into the slick operation they are today. “We are strong on teamwork and client service, we have longevity and experience.

We are solid, reliable and genuinely enjoy what we do. I think a lot of people will be surprised at just how far and wide we do it.”

CONTACT DETAILS admin@kempandkemp.co.uk 01865 240 001 www.kempandkemp.co.uk

ABOUT

KEMP & KEMP Established in 1954, Kemp & Kemp combines experience and a proven track record with a dynamic approach to property matters. As Oxford’s oldest multi-disciplinary and independent property consultancy, Kemp & Kemp can provide a unique, comprehensive and professional range of consultancy services to both the public and private sector clients.

Each department strives continually to offer the very best advice to clients with the aim of maximising the potential of their property. Kemp & Kemp’s joined-up, cross-departmental approach means that the firm can provide clients with a more holistic view, from initial planning and development advice through to sales, lettings and associated valuation and professional services. The firm work closely with their clients and with each other, as a truly integrated consultancy to help their clients achieve their aims.

Innovative and effective, Kemp & Kemp's approach to property flows from creativity, energy and passion underpinned by nearly 60 years as high profile Property Consultants. Instructions are partner led with support from a growing and dynamic team of professionals and support staff, ensuring that clients benefit from a seamless and consistent service.

Kemp & Kemp has clients and projects all around the UK and also has unrivalled knowledge and experience of dealing with property matters in Oxford and the surrounding areas. Kemp & Kemp provides expert advice in planning and development and professional services.

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B4 spotlight

ST TUDIO 8

EN YEARS ON AND STILL MAKING WAVES “You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.” - Joan Miró WRITTEN BY: MATT WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: STUDIO8

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it” - Ansel Adams Pondering that thought, I sat down with Clark Wiseman, co-founder of Studio 8, the Video Production and Photography company based in Kidlington, just north of Oxford.

Clark originally set-up Studio 8 back in 2003 along with his wife, Brooke. The company has since expanded from the original 2-man (well, 1 man 1 woman!) pure-photographic operation to the present complement of photographers / videographers plus assorted backroom staff.

Having recently celebrated their 10th anniversary and having worked with B4 since the magazine’s inception, it seemed like an appropriate time to take stock of how far the company has come during this period, and what the future might hold.

Q. Clark, what are the biggest changes you have seen in your business over the past 10 years?

10 years….suddenly sounds like a very long time!

In one word, ‘internet’. It’s changed everything in our business, both from a technological point of view – all internet devices carry some sort of camera, so anybody can now take photos or videos - and from a business point of view, with quality of online content now of paramount importance.

I think it’s great that people are today far more able to take photographs and to make videos, with technology greatly having reduced the barriers to entry. However, there is a time and a place when only professional imagery will do – now more so than ever.

Q. Could you elaborate on what a professional can add?

For websites, professional imagery is probably the one aspect which stands out the most, be it in the quality and composition of the photographs, or the look and feel of the video.

As professionals, we know which formats to use, how to manipulate images, and how to edit

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“we know which

formats to use, how to manipulate images, and how to edit content.

When you think of the time and trouble it can take to do it yourself, a professional will end up saving you money in the long-run

”

Clarke Wiseman, Founder, Studio8

content. When you think of the time and trouble it can take to do it yourself, a professional will end up saving you money in the long-run.

Q. What about technology – how important is that now?

It’s essential to reinvest in the future of business, and although it’s expensive, we’re proud to be front-runners in our field having acquired some fantastic new kit.

Video work in particular demands very specialised equipment. For example, there’s the ‘Movi’, which offers Steadicam smoothness for less than Hollywood-sized budgets, and has become essential for smooth tracking shots. That’s not to say that you don’t need a reasonable budget to begin with, since the basic rig costs over £15,000.

However, given that we’re now shooting highquality music videos (check out our website www.s8.co.uk for our latest work with dance-indie label Ryal Music) it’s an essential addition to our business.

Similarly at the high-end of video production, there’s our new ‘RED Epic’ camera, which offers 5x more resolution than standard high-definition, and has become the industry standard for television and film production – recent releases such as The Hobbit, Homeland, and True Blood (to name but a few) were all shot on ‘RED’ camera equipment.

So yes, it’s fair to say that we’ve already invested heavily in tomorrow!

Q. Your team at Studio 8 – how has that developed?

There are now 4 key team members at Studio 8, who are all experts in both photography, videography and cinematography – Barbora, Josh, Ollie and Freddie.

Working with video in particular, it’s essential to have sufficient in-house resource. For small projects, we can shoot with just 2 people and produce a professional video at a very reasonable cost, but for large projects, this can require up to 10 crew members, involving casting, lighting, editing, make-up….etc. So for these shoots, we can

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s8 team meeting on location

still manage it ourselves but bring in external talent as needed, and our experience in pre-production on such projects, mean that we can assemble a team at short notice, and reasonable cost.

Q. Sounds intriguing – any specific examples?

At the smaller end, we use 2 people (video & sound) to produce high quality promotional videos for firms such as Autotrader, or John Jones (high-end art framers for artists including Damian Hirst), whilst at the larger end, we shoot projects which require considerably more co-ordination and high-end equipment.

These include the more sophisticated music videos, or educational content videos for multinationals such as Macmillan Publishers.

It all depends upon the brief and the budget - we pride ourselves on our flexibility in this respect. For example, we do a lot of work for Oxford Colleges and Schools, who are happy to supply us with a basic brief and then to trust our creative instincts for location, script, storyboarding…etc.

Q. Isn’t this all a bit expensive though?

Not at all…although I would say that wouldn’t I?! We can bring a ‘small’ video project in for under £1,000, and when you think about the importance of online content, its reusability, and the engagement a video creates between you and your audience, that represents real value for money.

For large projects, we can go up to £10,000 +, but that includes everything from top-of-the range equipment, to stylists, to production – we’re a one-stop video production shop.

We believe every business can embrace video no matter their budget, and we’d like to offer B4 members the chance to experience our service 1st-hand, so please take a look at our Special Offer below and contact us to see what we can do for you.

Special Offer to B4 members - £95 off your 1st video with Studio8

CONTACT DETAILS info@s8.co.uk 01865 842 525 www.s8.co.uk

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B4 r&r

THE ORGANIC DELI CAFÉ The Organic Deli Cafe is a family-run cafe and whole-foods store situated at the heart of Oxford city centre. Focussing on providing a rich range of products and services for all customers, especially those with specific dietary requirements, the Cafe has been going from strength to strength since its inception thanks to a committed and passionate team, led by owners Trevor and Cristina.

WRITTEN BY: SAM KEARNS PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ARCHIVES

Less than five minutes away from Oxford's leading tourist attractions, the Cafe is a bustling and welcoming environment comprising of three floors of seating and offering a variety of cakes, smoothies, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, all of which can be served gluten-free and are fully customisable.

A principal strength of the Organic Deli Cafe is it's "can do" approach, particularly in regard to bespoke services and events catering. Specific organic products can be ordered in for the customer on-demand, and the Cafe offers professional outside catering services including tea and coffee events, full buffet menus, canapĂŠs and dessert trays. Rooms in the cafe can be rented out for tailored events and meetings; perhaps you'd like a specific cake to be made up for a birthday party, or you'd like a regular meeting place for your group or organisation that will provide you with both privacy and excellent service. This attitude of finding the perfect customer outcome extends to the minutia of everyday customer service; if you're sitting down for a meal on a Friday, where the store

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opening times extend until 10pm, ask for the type of music you might want to listen to, and customise your meal according to your tastes.

The Deli has a gorgeous range of purely organic wines, beer, cider and champagne on site, however you are encouraged to bring your own bottles as well, as corkage is free. The store is replenished every week with the freshest produce available.

Fine loafs of bread are delivered almost every morning from Degustibus bakery in Abingdon, and Gatineau in Summertown provide the Deli's delicate pastries. All cakes are gluten-free and are prepared on site - try their exquisite blueberry almond tart or the delightful pistachio, vanilla and lemon loaf. Gluten-free bread is regularly made at the Deli and can be ordered in advance.

Look no further for your whole-food needs; the Deli stocks a wide variety of organic produce including flours, pastas, seeds and lentils, and much mode.

The Organic Deli Cafe has recently extended its retail line to include organic and environmentallyfriendly toiletries, with plans in the near future to

develop an online delivery service for all your organic needs.

The Deli is always changing and improving, with a mission to be the best outlet of its kind in Oxfordshire. This is reflected by the friendly and committed team, but also by the overwhelmingly positive Tripadvisor scores and reviews given generously by the Deli's local and international guests.

The Organic Deli Cafe is one of Oxford's most stand-out establishments and looks forward to seeing you soon.

For more information, see below.

CONTACT DETAILS info@oxfordorganic.co.uk 01865 364 853 www.oxfordorganic.co.uk

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IT CONTRACTS HOW WATERTIGHT ARE YOURS?

Recent cases have given an insight into how the courts will interpret IT contracts. The case of Fujitsu Services Ltd v IBM United Kingdom Ltd in particular provides a salutary reminder of the pitfalls involved in drafting such contracts, particularly where there is an element of work-sharing involved. Clare Bellis and Andrew Dashwood-Begg of Henmans Freeth Dispute Resolution team look at this case and give some practical tips on how to best to negotiate your IT contracts to avoid problems arising.

WRITTEN BY: CLARE BELLIS & ANDREW DASHWOOD-BEGG

Background IBM had a contract with the DVLA to provide IT services. Some of these services (broadly dayto-day IT management, support and maintenance) were sub-contracted to Fujitsu.

The sub-contract contained partnering and workshare provisions, but Fujitsu alleged that it was unable to establish what services the DVLA needed under the head contract and was reliant on IBM notifying it of the required work. Fujitsu argued that IBM had, in effect, carried out the work itself, deprived Fujitsu of work and failed to comply with contractual notice and change control procedures.

Fujitsu claimed IBM had caused loss of revenue in excess of £36 million. IBM claimed that any losses were excluded under the terms of the sub-contract.

Limits on liability The sub-contract provided that “Neither Party shall be liable to the other under this SubContract for loss of profits, revenue, business, goodwill, indirect or consequential loss or damage.” On its face, this excluded most, if not all, damages claims either side could have against the other, including Fujitsu’s claim for lost revenue. Fujitsu argued that this could not possibly have been intended as it would reduce the contract, in effect, to a “statement of intent” not providing any legally enforceable remedy.

The court decided that Fujitsu’s damages claim was excluded. The wording was clear, there was no inequality of bargaining position and the clause had been negotiated at arm’s length. The court would not, in effect, redraft the provision because of the (presumably unintended) significant limitation on liability.

However, the court decided that Fujitsu could

pursue an account of profits claim instead of damages – that is a claim that IBM should pay over any profits it wrongfully made from carrying out the services in place of Fujitsu. The Judge did not think that anyone had considered this type of claim when the contract was drafted and it was not explicitly excluded.

The court also decided that any Fujitsu claim would fall within the financial limit on liability in the sub-contract and be capped at £5 million in any given year and £10 million overall.

Good faith Fujitsu had also tried to argue (to avoid the exclusion clauses) that, given the partnering nature of the agreement, IMB owed an obligation to act in good faith and that it had equitable and fiduciary duties towards Fujitsu.

The court did not agree. It refused to imply such duties into the contract when they were not expressly provided for. IBM was entitled to make a profit on the head contract and had not agreed to subordinate its commercial interests to Fujitsu in any way.

The court also considered that a damages claim for breach of these duties would have been subject to the exclusion clauses anyway and would likewise have been excluded.

The result for Fujitsu is that its claim was severely limited. This case provides a good example why it is so important for any party negotiating a new IT contract to take care at the outset to try and ensure that the contract anticipates and provides a mechanism for dealing with possible future disputes/problems.

Points for contract negotiations • Ensure that each party’s rights and obligations are properly defined and that each party has sufficient contractual rights to be able to Andrew Dashwood-Begg, Solicitor

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B4 advice

“...it is so important for any party negotiating a

new IT contract to take care at the outset to try and ensure that the contract anticipates and provides a mechanism for dealing with possible future disputes/problems

”

discharge its liabilities. According to Fujitsu, its problems arose because, although it had agreed to provide IT services, there was no sufficient mechanism in place to know what services were required.

• Do not rely on implied terms. Some terms can be implied by legislation (for example under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982) or by the courts where they are obviously intended on the face of the contract or through custom or practice. Implied terms should not be a substitute for setting out the detailed terms of the contract in writing and will rarely provide the same level of certainty.

The Fujitsu case demonstrates that the courts will be very reluctant to use implied terms (in the absence of clear mistake) to amend or distort specifically agreed contractual provisions to try and achieve a ‘fair’ result.

take into account limitations on liability when making an order. If there is a limit on (or exclusion of) damages for breach then “that is a circumstance which in justice tends to favour the grant of an injunction to prohibit the breach in the first place.”

• Carry out a risk assessment early on and ensure that any caps on liability are appropriate when weighed against potential profit and disaster scenario liabilities. Bear in mind that the cap may apply to all claims between the parties and not just claims for breach of contract.

• When claims could ultimately be capped, seek advice on the drafting of your contract and take action at an early stage of the negotiations.

How we can help

• Obligations of good faith require specifically agreed terms. The courts will not readily imply obligations of good faith into commercial contracts – even those involve partnering or workshare arrangements.

• Check limitations on liability. Exclusion clauses will be construed narrowly and, if there is any uncertainty, the claim is unlikely to be excluded. In the Fujitsu case, “Neither Party shall be liable to the other under this Sub-Contract for loss of profits, revenue, business” was not sufficient to exclude liability for an account of profits. On the other hand, if liability is expressly excluded, the courts will not interfere just because a party is left without a remedy.

• When agreeing limitations on liability, remember damages are not the only remedy.

The court has the power to grant injunctions requiring a party to perform the contract or to prevent future breaches. Although this remedy is at the court’s discretion, the recent case of AB v CD suggests that the court can

For further information or assistance in drafting an IT contract please contact Leon Arnold, partner in the commercial team at Henmans Freeth on 01865 781202 or email leon.arnold@henmansfreeth.co.uk.

If you are in a dispute relating to the provision of IT services please contact either Clare Bellis, Senior Associate or Andrew Dashwood-Begg, solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team on: 01865 781058 clare.bellis@henmansfreeth.co.uk 01865 781021 andrew.dashwoodbegg@henmansfreeth.co.uk This article is not a substitute for full professional advice, which should be sought in relation to any particular circumstances.

CONTACT DETAILS welcome@henmansfreeth.co.uk 01865 781 000 www.henmansfreeth.co.uk

Clare Bellis, Senior Associate

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B4 spotlight

SAVVY GROUP

Jon Peart, Director of Savvy’s Construction division, took time out to update Matt Wright from B4 on Savvy’s progress in 2014, its green credentials, and its plans for the immediate future.

WRITTEN BY: MATT WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SAVVY

2014 has been a fantastic year to date We’ve already hit our optimistic turnover target for 2014 of £6m, and we’ve still got 3 months of the year to go, so we’re delighted with how 2014 has shaped up already. Both of our divisions Maintenance & Renovations and Construction have contributed to this impressive growth.

There have already been a number of notable projects this year We’ve taken on a wide variety of work this year, often as the main contractor on behalf of commercial developers or private clients. This has seen us undertake a £3m care home project, sizeable residential developments in Oxford and Reading, plus a commercial development in Watlington, comprising 3 new-build and 2 refurbished barns.

Gaining our CIOB accreditation was a major achievement The Chartered Institute of Building’s ‘Chartered Building Company' accreditation is an industryrecognised standard, and only available to those who meet the required levels of professionalism and infrastructure - the Award photograph and plaque are currently hanging in our reception, we’re very proud of it.

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Green issues are important to the CIOB and vital to us There are some matters we cannot determine – architects and designers often decide on the materials & specifications to be used - but we work hard to be environmentally-friendly by minimising site waste. We make this a responsibility of the site manager and, as part of our vetting process, all subcontractors sign up to an agreement which meets Savvy’s strict criteria.

our infrastructure firmly “in with place, and a lot of our work coming from repeat business, we’re confident we’ll be able to grow strongly beyond 2015

”

Looking forwards, Construction will drive our growth The Maintenance & Renovations division, which is headed up by David Dunne, deals with anything from small work (emergency repairs and planned maintenance) up to major refurbishments of around £150,000. After that point, Savvy Construction picks up projects from £150k up to £3m, and it is this division that we are expecting to drive our growth for 2015.

We’re confident for 2015 and are looking to expand further Our pipeline for the Construction division tends to be 9-12 months, so we can already see 2015 is shaping up well. Savvy are renowned for delivering a quality product and our whole ethos is around collaboration and teamwork, which is reflected in the amount of repeat business we manage to secure. This means we have plans in place for steady growth over the next 3 years.

We’re always on the lookout for qualified professionals During 2014, we’ve already increased our employee count by almost a third to 50, hence our Maintenance division is now 20 strong, whilst our Construction division is up to 30 employees. We’d like to increase this further and are currently recruiting surveyors and site managers for both divisions. So, with our infrastructure firmly in place, and a lot of our work coming from repeat business, we’re confident we’ll be able to grow strongly beyond 2015.

CONTACT DETAILS jon@group-savvy.co.uk 01865 920 040 www.group-savvy.co.uk

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BOOM MEANS EAST OXFORD IS THE NEW JERICHO Oxford was recently identified as one of the Top 10 buy-to-let hotspots in the UK by an HSBC Industry report. Throughout 2012 and the first quarter of 2013 the Oxford property market stood relatively still. In the past 18 months the market has picked up out performing most of the country outside of London. If the country as a whole was performing as well as Oxford interest rates would have already been increased but this is not the national picture.

In March 2014 Doncaster a town with a population of over 302,000 had 278 house/flat sales complete, Oxford a town with little over 150,000 had 778 sales complete, a clear sign that this is a very buoyant market.

WRITTEN BY: DAVID GILSON, DIRECTOR AT COLLEGE AND COUNTY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: CIS LTD

Over 50% of housing within the city is rented and demand for housing is at an all-time high with rent increases averaging 3%+ year on year for the past 5 years. Property prices within the city have risen on average 6.5% between April 2013 and April 2014, with detached houses performing best with average increase of 14% (home.co.uk). There is very limited scope for further development within the ring road due to lack of plots and uncompromising planners, this along with the £130m allocated for improvements to Oxfords rail links to London and Milton Keynes interest in the city is unlikely to waiver.

At College and County we have helped a number of clients find potential investments in the city. As a letting specialist agency without a ‘sales’ agenda we can give impartial advice on potential investment options and help purchasers fully understand the market for any particular property.

Investors looking only at the Yield figures might be put off, there is no doubt that better returns are available in other cities of the UK but few city’s offer such a stable platform for investment with potential for exceptional capital uplift.

Cowley road was recently named the 8th coolest road in the UK by the Sunday Telegraph and increasingly East Oxford is being seen as ‘The new Jericho’. Mark Crampton Smith, director at College and County says “The whole of East Oxford has gone berserk, and we are seeing it becoming ever more similar to Jericho. It’s a bohemian quarter which has attracted trendy students for quite a while but there has been a shift in the past 18 92

months. Now, we are seeing upwardly mobile professionals and older, more established residents, often empty nesters, choosing to move there from other areas, such as Summertown and Jericho.”

“

The whole of East Oxford has gone berserk, and we are seeing it becoming ever more similar to Jericho. It’s a bohemian quarter which has attracted trendy students for quite a while but there has been a shift in the past 18 months. Now, we are seeing upwardly mobile professionals and older, more established residents

”

Certain key roads in East Oxford have seen property values increase over 20% in the past 12 months and there is little sign of this slowing. In April 2014 the average asking price for a flat in OX4 was £183,000; 12 months on in April 2014 the average is £231,000 this is an increase of over 25%. One client of College and County brought a flat on Union Street in 2012 for £185,000 and has recently re-mortgaged the flat at £270,000 an impressive increase of over 45% in 24 months.

Semi-detached houses in OX4 have also preformed exceptionally with April 2013 average of £223,000 and April 2014 average of £311,000 a near 40% yearly increase.

You may have heard people refer to the ‘The golden triangle’, this is the area radiating out from The Plain, and running between St Clements and Iffley Road and up as far as Magdalen Road. Some of the most sought-after streets within this being Jeune Street, Alma Place, James Street, Bullingdon Road and Temple Street. Historically this area of Oxford has been considered the student district with Landlords over chopping houses to maximise on rooms to let. This strategy is no longer sustainable or efficient with the surge in purpose built developments and increased expectations of student tenants.

College and County have seen and helped many investors and landlords move property away from traditional ‘student’ letting and instead with refurbishment create a new market for high end professional shared accommodation. With average room rates for student shared houses at £400pcm and the average rent of a studio or one flat at £775pcm there is increasingly a market for this middle ground. Young graduates and professional sharers are happy to pay £500-£600pcm per room provided the accommodation is of a high quality and feels like step up from the accommodation offered to students. One client purchased a property on St Marys Road in East Oxford in early 2014. The property was previously offered as a traditional student let for 4 sharers at £1520pcm.

After refurbishment (no structural changes) the www.b4-business.com

B4 property

property has been let to a group of 4 professional sharers at £2300pcm.

So after reading this I expect you are set on investing in Buy- to-let Oxford so what next…

Unfortunately competition for good investments is fierce. We would always recommend ensuring you have found a mortgage and have a clear investment budget before you start looking as it’s a sellers’ market and you are unlikely to be a preferred bidder without all your ducks in a row. Oxfords Estate agents are advertising ‘Guide prices’ for properties rather than asking prices. This is to ensure best values are achieved in growth market. One local agent claimed that in the past 6 months nearly 90% of properties sold achieved at or over guide.

College and County offer free impartial advice on the market. We would be happy to discuss any potential investments or help find you a suitable investment based on your specific requirements and budget. We do not sell properties and do not charge for our time helping you find an investment property. We are confident that once you have met the team and experienced the quality of service we offer our clients you are unlikely to look any further when looking for an award winning ethical letting agent to look after your investment.

CONTACT DETAILS david@collegeandcounty.co.uk 01865 722 722 www.collegeandcounty.co.uk

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B4 spotlight

NHS AND WITNEY’S ONLY FEMALE GYM HELPS WITNEY BUSINESS & INNOVATION CENTRE DOUBLE OCCUPANCY IN TWO MONTHS Oxford Innovation’s centre management team at Witney Business & Innovation Centre (Witney BIC) has been inundated with new enquiries from local businesses resulting in nearly 8,000 sq. ft. of office space let to eight businesses in less than two months, doubling the centre’s occupancy to 83 per cent.

WRITTEN BY: KELLY LEA PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RIC MELLIS

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is a major new customer taking 2,500 sq. ft. of space to make Witney BIC its base for West Oxfordshire’s new integrated health team.

Other businesses to have moved to Witney BIC include Fox Clothing Ltd (270 sq. ft.) and Witney’s only women’s gym, Body Evo (800 sq. ft.), which officially opened on 4 August 2014 and has already secured 60 free trials.

Stephanie Henwood, centre manager, Witney Business & Innovation Centre said: “I’m ecstatic to have doubled occupancy in such a short space of time since the completion of Phase 3 which included 12 new offices. The centre team is looking forward to working with our new customers and in helping their business to grow.”

One of those new businesses is Body Evo, a dedicated ladies hydraulics fitness space including 14 resistance-training stations, located on the ground floor of the centre.

Determined to ensure life is never dull at 40, founder of Body Evo, Sharon Buckingham, originally from Minster Lovell, is running her new fitness business with assistance from her 21-year old daughter, Nicole Smith, and has also started studying for a degree in Sports Therapy.

Sharon Buckingham comments: “This is my second attempt at opening my own ladies gym in Witney but I’m adamant the timing is now right following the closure of a national franchise at Christmas. Judging from the volume of enquiries and trials we’ve received in such a short space of time, there is a clear market demand for Body Evo in Witney.”

Sharon continues: “I wouldn’t have been able to start-up my business if it wasn’t for Witney Business & Innovation Centre as the commercial property rates in Witney were far too high. Yet within a few months of meeting the centre team, I’ve been able to open Body Evo in a superb space and have also benefited from their marketing support and guidance. I cannot commend them highly enough.”

“Judging from the volume of enquiries and trials we’ve received in such a short space of time, there is a clear market demand for Body Evo in Witney ” Sharon Buckingham, Founder of Body Evo

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L to R: Nicole Smith, Sharon Buckingham and Stephanie Henwood

I wouldn’t have been able to start-up my business if it wasn’t for Witney Business & Innovation “ Centre as the commercial property rates in Witney were far too high. Yet within a few months of meeting the centre team, I’ve been able to open Body Evo in a superb space ” Sharon Buckingham, Founder of Body Evo

The team from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust moving to the centre includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, older people's mental health practitioners, palliative care nurses, support workers and re-enablement staff.

Suzanne Jones, Head of Countywide Services, Older Peoples Directorate at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our move to Witney BIC is extremely positive as it will allow the team to be based together, within four minutes' drive of Witney Hospital and the Emergency Multidisciplinary Unit, who they will be working closely with. The centre also provides easy access to an equipment store 24 hours a day, which is important to enable

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people to be looked after at home with care and dignity.”

Witney BIC, owned by Blenheim Palace and managed by Oxford Innovation is 10 months ahead of its development plan and is currently providing office space for 31 businesses.

The flexible licence agreement for serviced office space offered by Oxford Innovation is far more cost-effective than a traditional office lease, encouraging business growth in addition to providing access to a host of facilities and services that many businesses could not individually afford on a full time basis.

Witney BIC also has a choice of virtual and shared office packages with access to meeting and conference rooms and is part of a network of centres managed by Oxford Innovation, the UK’s leading operator of innovation centres.

To find out more information about the new office space and services provided at Witney Business & Innovation Centre visit: www.witney-bic.co.uk

CONTACT DETAILS witney@oxin.co.uk 01993 848 200 www.witney-bic.co.uk

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THE BEAR & RAGGED STAFF I was warmly welcomed in reception and taken to my gorgeous room, not being allowed to carry my own bag, by a very charming receptionist. He took me up the wonderful 16th century winding staircase to Room 9, and took time to explain all the facilities, the kettle, the drinks, the televisions, and the fire escapes; he covered all possibilities.

WRITTEN BY: GILLIE COGHLAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ROB SCOTCHER

The room is tucked under the beams in the eaves; there is a small, welllit lobby, with full length mirror - good! - and built in wardrobe which houses a fluffy bathrobe, fridge with fresh milk and a selection of teas and coffee. The charming bedroom has a large double bed set under the eaves with leaded window, double glazed for a quiet night. The lighting is subtle and relaxing. The bathroom is heavenly; huge, light, clean, bright - with a large modern oblong bath, big square shower head, fab chaise longue, TV, liquid gels, fluffy towels and clean linens... perfect.

There are many different areas to sit and have a drink, read the paper or meet friends; inside and out, with large seating features in the sunny garden or patio areas. There is plenty of space to get away from it all or be sociable as you choose.

The restaurant is modern, welcoming and cosy at the same time with a large varied menu of delicious local and seasonal choices... I had the crab with crab custard which was simply divine; followed by crispy sea bream and lemon posset... all heavenly. My friend had the mackerel then the duck, both of which were beautifully presented and delicious. The wine list is varied, well priced and unusual.

The hotel is located in a fairly small village only 4 miles from the centre of Oxford, so ideally placed for touring the area. There are 5 rooms in the original old building dating from 1535, and 4 rooms in the newer outbuildings.

I greatly enjoyed my retreat to the Bear & Ragged Staff and would highly recommend to others.

SIX THINGS I LOVED • The charming and quirky rooms under the beams • The glorious large, light modern bathroom • The way old beams and features have been retained • The warm welcome at the reception • Heavenly food • Charming staff

CONTACT DETAILS enquiries@bearandraggedstaff.com 01865 862 329 www.bearandraggedstaff.com

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B4 events

TRINITY MIRROR Pride of Bucks is now entering into its 3rd year, and has quickly gained a following as a unique award ceremony, celebrating the unsung heroes and community champions across Buckinghamshire whose work often goes unnoticed. Richard Rosser chatted with one of the organisers, Simon Edgley, regional managing director of Trinity Mirror who promote and cover the event.

WRITTEN BY: RICHARD ROSSER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: TRINITY MIRROR

Pride of Bucks was launched in 2013, having been inspired by Pride of Britain which has now been running for over 15 years itself, honouring ordinary British people who have acted extraordinarily. Pride of Bucks focuses on celebrating the unsung heroes and community champions across the county of Buckinghamshire, and each year, the Awards Ceremony has taken place at the start of July at Stoke Park Country Club, Spa and Hotel.

On the 1st July 2014, over 300 guests came together at Stoke Park to celebrate the achievements of 12 very special individuals and groups(no, make that 13, since there were joint-winners for the ‘Child of Courage’ award) in a glittering ceremony hosted by television presenter Matt Johnson. There were other celebrity guests in attendance as well, such as astrologist Russell Grant, fashion designer David Emanuel and Dancing on Ice star Matt Evers as well as live music and table magic, to make this a truly memorable day.

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The full list of winners in the 12 award categories, sponsored by businesses from across the region is printed at the end of this article.

nomination and selection process is robust, as well as taking care of all the practicalities of putting together an event of this size.

Q. Why do you think Pride of Bucks has been so successful in such a short period of time?

Well, it’s a fantastic cause - these are amazing people, who have done remarkable things in our midst. There are a number of large businesses in Bucks who represent a significant part of our community, and recognise the importance of supporting local causes. They recognise that sponsoring Pride of Bucks is an excellent way of promoting good corporate responsibility and giving back something to their community.

The timetable is roughly as follows: the awards are launched in October, nominations are announced up until May, the judging process then takes place, and the award winners are announced at the ceremony at Stoke Park.

Q. How is Pride of Bucks organised and run?

We are lucky to have enjoyed a huge amount of support from our local government - both the South Bucks & Chiltern District councils have been involved from the outset, and are members of the Organising Committee which numbers about 15 people in total. Some of our sponsors are also on the committee, and together we all ensure that the

Q. How does this all benefit the corporate sponsors?

Well, aside from the obvious feel-good factor, and having their name associated with such worthy winners, there are also tangible benefits for corporate sponsors.

Since coverage of Pride of Bucks runs from October to July, sponsors effectively receive 9 months’ worth of exposure. We run articles from the outset both in our newspaper (Bucks Advertiser & Examiner) and online on our website (Getbucks), so sponsors receive coverage when the awards are launched, and when each nomination is

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2014 PRIDE OF BUCKS AWARD WINNERS Roberts Newby Child of Courage: Joint winners Rayaan Mahmood, 5, and Henry Neenan, 7.

Alexander Jansons Young Person Award for 1825 year olds - Hari Birtles Stoke Park Cultural contribution - Tina Massie Cirkle PR Healthy Lifestyle Award Boxing coach Jackie Wylie Buckinghamshire Freemasons Young carer of the year - China Hyland.

Evolution Live Rafe Chiles Award for young people (Under 18) - Chalfont St Giles Youth Club Clare Foundation Entrepreneur of the Year Umar Aslam, from Chesham, who started Ahead Tuition Nunn Hayward Community Champion - Marian Bunker, who volunteers at The Monday Club in Burnham Universal Care Health Worker and Team of the Year - Chiltern Music Therapy Trinity Mirror Southern Environmental Project Award - Change4Chalfont GE Healthcare 999 service personnel - Colin Marks B P Collins Employee of the year - Nijal Drummond

announced, we print a short profile and backing story. Finally, the award ceremony itself attracts a great deal of coverage, and not just from local media.

So, all in all, corporate sponsors receive a fantastic amount of coverage for an event which can only enhance their brand - there are no concerns about mis-behaving celebrities as far as Pride of Bucks is concerned!

Q. What does it cost to sponsor an award at Pride of Bucks?

Our sponsorship packages start at £3,500. This includes all media coverage throughout the year, plus a table for 10 at the ceremony itself, which can be a great way to incentivise and reward staff.

Q. What do the celebrity guests and judges say about the event?

They all love it and are very keen to be involved most of them have a long-standing connection with Buckinghamshire, having lived or worked here over a number of years.

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David Emmanuel, celebrity designer,was a guest at the 2014 ceremony. “When you listen to some of the stories involving the winners and nominees of these awards you can’t help feeling uplifted. They display so much courage and commitment. There is such a feel good factor on the day and it’s important to turn a spotlight on the people who contribute so much to their communities and simply to say ‘thank you’”.

Suzanne Shaw, former pop star and Dancing on Ice contestant, was a member of the 2014 Judging Panel. “I felt very honoured to be part of the judging panel for the Pride of Bucks Awards; what an inspiring day. It’s been so difficult to pick a winner from each category because each and every nomination is outstanding and admirable.

To realise what people are doing for their community in such a selfless way makes me proud to live in and be part of such an amazing county.”

Q. Finally Simon, what is your abiding memory of the 2014 Pride of Bucks Awards?

It's almost impossible to choose, but this year was the first time we had to announce a joint winner for the 'Child of Courage' award, with two young boys having shown remarkable qualities in very difficult circumstances. Rayaan Mahmood (five years old) had shown incredible bravery and resilience in dealing with a life-limiting illness, whilst Henry Neenan (7 years old) demonstrated calmness beyond his years to help his father when he collapsed, calling the emergency services, and saving his life in the process. Those are the stories which inspire us, and hopefully will keep on inspiring others throughout Buckinghamshire.

Those are the stories which inspire us, and hopefully will keep on inspiring others throughout Buckinghamshire.

CONTACT DETAILS info@trinitymirror.com 02072 933 000 www.trinitymirror.com

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TheFeathers is an inviting country retreat that combines historic charm with a fun personality.

Named Oxfordshire’s Restaurant of the Year 2012, it currently holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of gin (167 varieties).

“The Gin Experience” menu is £75 per person for seven courses.

MARKET STREET, WOODSTOCK, OXFORDSHIRE, OX20 1SX. TELEPHONE: 01993 812 291. WWW.FEATHERS.CO.UK

B4 spotlight

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OXFORDSHIRE AN IMAGE OF CHARITABLE COMMUNITY

INVESTMENT THAT LASTS FOREVER We live and work in a thriving, privileged county – but if you look closely, there are pockets of severe deprivation and need. Jayne Woodley, CEO of Oxfordshire Community Foundation, shares her vision of a better future for everyone.

WRITTEN BY: JAYNE WOODLEY

Photo: Lord Lieutenant’s Office

Photo: Newsquest

Oxfordshire: a thriving economy, two well reputed universities, elegant towns and stunning countryside. But sitting side by side with this are areas of the county where poverty and social exclusion are some of the worst in the UK.

I really admire this future vision – and no less so because Goff’s strategy has now become a worldwide movement, with around 1,700 community foundations now operating all over the world. OCF is one of 48 in the UK, holding a charitable fund to support local people who are vulnerable.

Did you know that life expectancy varies wildly across Oxfordshire, depending simply on your postcode (up to 11 years between the best and worst locations)? Or that there are several areas where 40–50% of the adult population have absolutely no educational qualifications at all?

Here at Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF), we think we’ve hit upon a really great idea that directly tackles the type of inequality we see in Oxfordshire. It’s not new – in fact, 2014 marks 100 years since the community foundation big idea first became reality. It all started in the United States in 1914, with a guy who has recently become my personal hero – Fred Goff of Cleveland Ohio.

Mr Goff, who was a banker and lawyer, got really annoyed when he discovered that many of his nineteenth century predecessors had left supposedly benevolent wills, and vast sums of money, to benefit causes that had since become obsolete (anyone need relief for accidents involving a horse and cart?). In a world where technology and people’s attitudes were changing fast, Goff realised that a better way of ensuring a community’s future was to create a fund that was held by its citizens in perpetuity, to be used at their discretion to address the needs of the day.

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But the thing I find the most inspiring about Fred Goff is the fact that the community foundation he set up in Cleveland has managed to generate not only a staggering 976 million dollars’ worth of gifts from the public, but a jaw-dropping 4 BILLION dollars in community investment. They have multiplied the value of their investments four times – and all of this in a city that has a smaller population than we do in Oxfordshire.

It’s in this magic ‘gearing’ that the community foundation model really comes into its own. The reason for the magnificent growth figure is that Cleveland put a large part of the gifts they received into an endowment fund, which is managed just like any other large investment. Whilst the interest is used to make grants and help the community in the immediate, the capital grows and grows – and so does the resulting interest! Over time, the funds perpetuate themselves, and the potential to help the community snowballs.

Crucially, this model means that the community has a pot of money that can last forever, and be spent on whatever need is most pressing for each generation. Rather than fundraising and spending money straight away on ‘sticking plasters’, which will

Photo: Farmability

only solve short-term problems, the community can invest back into projects that address the causes of social problems, not just the symptoms.

The other great thing about the community foundation model is that it helps lots of us become great philanthropists by working together. We may not all have the disposable income of Bill Gates, but when we pool together the resources we do have spare, we can turn them into millions.

In Oxfordshire, we’re getting there. We have three million pounds in our endowment fund, and award around 100 grants a year to community groups.

We’ve already increased our income by 100% in the last three years. And we’re already working with several local businesses to curate charitable funds in their name that do more than just tick a box on a CSR policy – their corporate giving is in our pot and having magic done to it.

But we want to do more. We want to think big. We know more is possible by looking at Cleveland’s example.

Business collaborations are just one small part of our strategy, but if you would like our work to be part of yours, do get in touch with me.

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

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B4 spotlight

OXFORD MEDIA FACTORY

OUT OF OFFICE As a newcomer to B4 Magazine, Chris Smith thought this space to be a great opportunity to share some of the things that Oxford Media Factory get up to day-to-day.

WRITTEN BY: CHRIS SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY BY: OXFORD MEDIA FACTORY

No two days are the same in the media production industry.

Oxford Media Factory, as a relatively new business, has spent the last 3 years on a great whirlwind journey. Beginning its life in 2011, its primary function as a video production business began whilst covering medical conferences around the world. As a one-man production unit covering camera, lighting, client management and postproduction, Chris teamed alongside journalists to disseminate the latest news and clinical data from large US and European oncology meetings.

These fast-paced events provided great learning environments and an atmosphere to harvest key skills when dealing with other members of the press and tricky interviewees.

This platform provided not only key skills but also a vast new network of people to collaborate and move forward with.

Broadening the client base into other industry areas was key to Oxford Media Factory’s continuing success. Departments within the University of Oxford provided insight into filming very interesting speakers from the BBC through to some of iTunes U’s (University Podcast Resource) top performers.

Working closely with some of the colleges to provide short web series’ such as “A Day in the Life of…” helped prospective students get a real feel for the college environment, the student life and

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whether Oxford University was right for them.

business’s web presence.

Video production is far from the norm. One particular week in 2014 saw Oxford Media Factory covering a 5-camera symposium in Manchester, 2 days filming a Victorian property extension in a building site up 2 flights of scaffolding then finishing the weekend with a wedding at a mansion house near Henley.

Most recently covering the Royal International Air Tattoo, Oxford Media Factory was asked to provide promotional documentary style coverage showing the attendees in 2014 having fun and discovering the breadth of family activities available at the show.

This saw Chris atop a Belgian Hercules wing walking with 2 cameras in hand.

All of the video does need some post-production though. This is where the raw video from the camera becomes something ‘client-friendly’. With sometimes the loosest of briefs, Oxford Media Factory works closely with the marketing team/business owner/PR department to pick out the best parts of the video and sew it together. This has become a fine art.

Covering everything from live events, planned scripted shoots, property show-rounds, award ceremonies, it couldn’t be done without having a solid team of reliable people around. Oxford Media Factory relies upon people who are willing to put in last minute hours, vast amounts of energy in sometimes extremely short spaces of time so that the most difficult of briefs can be achieved.

By using a combination of great camera work, professional audio recording, well- chosen music, detailed animation, eye-catching titling, and a little bit of magic, the client’s brief turns from words/sketches on a piece of paper to a living, breathing, moving piece of video.

Building up a great team over this period of time has provided concrete foundations to go forward with any brief and see it through to success.

People are now beginning to realise the real benefits of video within their business. With faster broadband speeds we no longer have to wait for things to load. Even on mobile devices out in the sticks, we can surf the net, YouTube and Vimeo.

Let’s not forget that Google owns YouTube and the cross-pollination of well-placed key words, titles and links back and forth will work wonders for your

If you would like to get in touch with Oxford Media Factory and find out how you can use video and other media to improve your marketing success and deliver your key messages to a high standard, please use the contacts below.

CONTACT DETAILS chris@oxfordmediafactory.co.uk 01865 522 678 www.oxfordmediafactory.co.uk

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B4 spotlight

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT Matt Wright catches up with Richard Shymansky, owner of Hills & Saunders Photography, to find out what distinguishes him from all the other photographers out there, and to learn about a special offer open only to B4 readers.

WRITTEN BY: MATT WRIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: HILLS & SAUNDERS PHOTOGRAPHY

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it” - Ansel Adams Richard Shamansky has been making photographs since he was 7 years old. He began in the back garden with his father’s Leica, before going on to experiment with all different types of cameras and processes. After a brief foray into electronic engineering, Richard returned to his passion, acquiring the Harrow studio of a long-established photographic company, Hills & Saunders, in 1982, then taking on their Eton studio in 1989.

Hills & Saunders had been in business for over 100 years at the time, specialising in portrait and group

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pictures from some of England’s greatest public schools. With Harrow and Eton now as his clients, Richard found himself thrust into the limelight, photographing renowned alumni such as King Hussain of Jordan, and even more famous pupils Prince William and Prince Harry to name but two.

Richard was also required to cover a multitude of associated formal events for the schools, involving the Queen, Queen Mother, and basically anybody else famous worth photographing.

Richard now works from a brand-new, purposebuilt studio at the bottom of his garden just off Eton High Street, and I caught up with him there, to find out how his business was developing.

How has working Royalty shaped your approach to photography?

Well, it’s never as glamorous as it’s made out to be - there’s a lot of waiting around! It taught me a lot about patience, and planning ahead to get the right photograph. It also taught me how to work in pressurized situations, and to adapt to the incredibly tight time schedules that people of importance operate within; for example, the time I was invited to photograph Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street.

What is your style and who are your influences?

At the risk of sounding too elitist, I admired the work of both Patrick Lichfield, and Lord Snowdon.

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They both specialised in portraits, but they weren’t like the modern ‘warts and all’ photographers - their pictures were set up to make the subjects look and feel better, to bring out the best of them. I worked closely with Patrick, we photographed each other, and produced a book together on Harrow School, so I like to think that I learned from him oldfashioned attention to detail, and how to make people relax before the camera.

You mentioned ‘modern’ photography - does the fact that everybody now owns a digital camera of some sort make your job more difficult?

Not really - I love the fact that photography is now so accessible, but owning a camera and taking really good pictures are two very different things. I think when amateurs start assuming the roles of professionals, for example in wedding photography, things can go badly wrong.

OK - can you talk me through how you approach wedding photography?

First of all, there’s no room for mistakes, or second shots; everything has to be planned out - the lighting, the composition, the timings…and working under this pressure is something Im accustomed to from my portraiture work. There’s also the equipment; I always take at least two of everything - two cameras, two lighting rigs, multiple lenses,

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memory cards…etc. The photos are backed up at the wedding onto a separate hard drive, as well as being streamed onto a cloud storage device. I’ve never lost a wedding picture yet, and don’t intend to do so!

It’s a crowded market though - where do Hill & Saunders fit in?

I specialise in high-end weddings - in fact, I have one of the first formal shots of the Duchess of Cambridge, as a bridesmaid aged 11 ! I digress though, I endeavour to produce something artistic, which will always be treasured. For example, my wedding albums are from Italy - Graphi Studios which are widely considered to be the Rolls Royce of their kind.

What other photographic services do you offer?

I do a lot of group shots for businesses onsite. I must confess that I’m usually very disappointed with the images which businesses use in their promotional literature, be it in brochures or online, as I don’t feel these often reflect the high levels of quality to which the companies aspire.

if the client sends me a picture of their room, I can superimpose the portrait, showing them different styles and colours of picture frames, or how they would look printed on wood, metal, acrylic….just about any material, in order to show of the picture off to the best effect. These pictures often hang in pride of place and become family heirlooms, so it’s important that they look good from the start !

Finally, what about the lower end of the market?

Well, I’m not just for the high-brow, but I wouldn’t call it the ‘low end’ of the market! I offer a very popular ‘Social Media’ package. This normally costs £150, and includes a 40 minute studio session with 3-4 changes of clothing, after which the client gets to chose their 2 most preferred images, which are then fully digitally remastered and copyrightfree. I’d like to offer this package at a specially reduced price of £99 to readers of this edition of B4 magazine…after all, everybody deserves a good photo!

CONTACT DETAILS Back at my studio, I also take a lot of family portraits. I like to combine the best of the old and the new, so I’ve got one of the most advanced digital editing suites in the market. This means that

info@hillsandsaunders.co.uk 07878 162 452 www.hillsandsaunders.co.uk

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B4 r&r

NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE Victor Glynn on the hidden side of Blackwell’s Bookshop. Its Corporate, Professional and Institutional Sales business.

WRITTEN BY: VICTOR GLYNN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: BLACKWELL’S

Most people in Oxford will associate Blackwell’s with John Masefield’s “booky house” in the Broad. Established in 1879 it is one of the greatest bookshops of the world and one of Oxford’s best-known institutions and treasures.

A veritable Tardis filled with 3 miles of bookshelves and hundreds of thousands of volumes. Blackwell’s is on the “must see” list for tourists to Oxford.

What is perhaps less well known is that it is a part of an independent chain of bookshops that can be found in towns from the north of Scotland, to the west of England, Wales, Belfast, Cambridge and London. Each branch has its own local appeal and a large degree of autonomy.

There is an extraordinary knowledge base among Blackwell’s booksellers including Classics, Philosophy, Politics, Economics, Sciences, Medicine, Literature, Languages and so on. Modern and classical, popular and unpopular, natural and unnatural, academic and recreational*. There is of course a definitive range of general fiction and nonfiction ranging from the latest Ian McEwan to Mary Berry’s range of baking books.

What is even less well known is the role that Blackwell’s performs for non-academic organizations. For many years the firm has supplied all parts of the Oxford University, many of the county’s schools both state and private, the NHS, local authorities, government departments including the Ministry of Defence and the Atomic Energy Authority.

Why, you may reasonably ask, when there are possibly more competitively priced online alternatives? Firstly perhaps because contrary to popular assumption, Blackwell's pricing is very competitive indeed. Secondly, and for most customers, it is the knowledge base and quality of

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service that is the most important aspect of what Blackwell’s can provide.

developments in customer service and staff training will transform a great business into a stellar one.

Blackwell’s Corporate Professional and Institutional team in Oxford is headed by Sean Pratley, who is your first point of contact. With five dedicated staff he is also supported by all departments and their specialists.

David Prescott says “Our history and knowledge means we’ve been able with Blackwell Learning to build a research tool that is truly useful not just for academic use but also for government, companies and professional firms. Also, the great thing about having our own development team is that we can turn any request from a customer into new feature quickly and easily.”

Our history and “ knowledge means we’ve been able with Blackwell Learning to build a research tool that is truly useful not just for academic use but also for government, companies and professional firms

”

David Prescott, CEO, Blackwells

Sean has worked for Blackwell’s for nearly 25 years and has seen many changes, the biggest of which he says is undoubtedly the arrival of online and digital books. These he regards as opportunities challenges than the death knell of the traditional book. Blackwell’s was after all the very first retailer to offer books for sale online – even before the beast that is now Amazon.

Blackwell’s is able to supply thousands of books on one order or just one and delivers all over the world from Atlanta to Alexandria to Adelaide to Azerbaijan to Abingdon. Same day delivery of over 300,000 books that are in stock in Oxford within the City centre and free delivery within the ring road are two of the many benefits available. Other books can in many instances been sourced within 24 hours.

Customer’s needs and interests are carefully and discreetly managed and Blackwell’s is also able to recommend titles including that special idea for a corporate or other gift. Individual customers include heads of state, cabinet ministers, major movie stars and musicians.

Summarising the Blackwell’s offer Prescott said “Our innovative approach should ensure that our constant forward thinking will mean that the Blackwell name will still above the door in Broad Street and associated with bookselling in all its forms in another 135 years.” * Yes really. Recreational Maths!

And Blackwell’s today? He is very positive. “We are better lead than we have ever been before both with David Prescott as CEO and Rebecca as the Oxford Manager.” It is part of what gives him enormous confidence in his task moving forward.

Of course there are challenges, but the arrival of Blackwell Learning and the significant recent

CONTACT DETAILS blackwell.online@blackwell.co.uk 01865 333 536 bookshop.blackwell.co.uk

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THE CHEQUERS AT BURCOT Situated in the Oxfordshire countryside The Chequers at Burcot has long been building their excellent reputation in resident’s hearts. A short drive outside of Oxford in a quaint thatched village pub nestles a roaring fire, friendly and professional staff, gorgeous interior and most importantly Steve Sanderson’s kitchen.

WRITTEN BY: JADE KONZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY: OLIVER HUTTON

The Chequers at Burcot focuses on excellent customer service and an exceptional culinary experience to make your visit a memorable one aiming to exceed customers’ expectations every step of the way.

with local berries all feature on the menu. The Chequers has created a perfect lunch time escape from work and Oxford City and is an ideal meeting place to impress clients in a beautiful surrounding.

It is no wonder owner Steven Sanderson’s first class blend of cutting edge cooking in this four hundred year old inn is attracting rave reviews and a regular spot on BBC Radio Oxford with Cat Orman and Jack Fm radio features.

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to “ impress, a romantic evening or a great restaurant

Besides a fantastic àl la carte menu that satisfies all tastes with truly gastronomic dishes that show off Steve and his team’s cooking abilities, there are also menus tailored for the everyday occasions and weekly specials.

The newly introduced Express Lunch Set Menu offers two courses for £10.00.

The menu changes with the seasons and offers three starters, mains and desserts and encapsulates Steve’s cooking ethos in each dish. Pork rillettes served in Kilner jars with pickles, apple purée and sourdough toast; chicken breast with seasonal vegetables and sautéed potatoes and a lemon posset

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for a family or group celebration, The Chequers at Burcot provides the perfect combination of ambience, warmth, excellent service and wonderful food

”

Tuesday Steak Night is one of the busiest nights at The Chequers, the buzzy atmosphere met with the smell of chargrilled steaks and guests supping down glorious red wine makes it rather special. Steaks are, of course, extra special, 28 day on the bone matured, cooked sous-vide and finished on flames. Served

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B4 r&r

“It is no wonder owner

Steven Sanderson’s first class blend of cutting edge cooking in this four hundred year old inn is attracting rave reviews and a regular spot on BBC Radio Oxford

”

with Steve’s own invention of a mushroom ketchup that enhances the flavour of his steaks through the high umami content – it is not just cooking anymore, it’s a science.

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to impress, a romantic evening or a great restaurant for a family or group celebration, The Chequers at Burcot provides the perfect combination of ambience, warmth, excellent service and wonderful food.

The Chequers at Burcot is available for private hire for a wide variety of events including birthdays, anniversaries, engagements, weddings, family and personal celebrations or for company dinners, corporate parties and even shooting dinners (only if there is a pheasant for the chef of course). A

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glance at upcoming Christmas Menu has mouths watering and their December calendar filling up fast already.

Steve Sanderson prides himself on creating a truly bespoke experience and providing the highest quality food, wine and service. To celebrate in style why not start with champagne and canapés by the open fire and then move to the private dining area to enjoy your bespoke menu and dining experience. Menus are tailored to customer’s wishes and designed with Steve Sanderson and can range from a country dining menu to a tasting menu paired with fine wines, they even host private cheese and wine nights.

A private dining area or conference room that seats

up to 16 guests provides the ideal start to a meeting with a range of breakfast options with Italian coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.

The Chequers at Burcot understands the necessity of a private and relaxed environment, without interruption, tailored to your needs.

So whether you are looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion or somewhere new to meet get in touch with The Chequers at Burcot to see what they can do for you.

CONTACT DETAILS info@thechequers-burcot.co.uk 01865 407 771 www.thechequers-burcot.co.uk

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B4 advice

“It’s important to remember that as your

business grows, what worked in the past might not work now and your strategy has to evolve to match your changed circumstances. Your focus may have been on winning new business and building up your customer base up until now, but it might not be the best way to continue

”

Tim Shaw, Managing Director, Clarke Howes Group

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IS YOUR BUSINESS GIVING YOU WHAT YOU WANT? Tim is Managing Director of the Clark Howes Group, accountants specialising in business growth.

Having qualified as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with BDO Stoy Hayward, his career has included both professional practice and the commercial world. This includes having been CEO at Watford Football Club and Rays of Sunshine Children’s Charity, as well as having invested and sold stakes in various SME businesses, using his experience to help them grow WRITTEN BY: ANNA WESTON PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MARTIN EDWARDS

Condensing his intensive growth planning day into a one-off taster session, Tim will be running his ‘How to grow your business’ workshop on November 27th 5pm to 7pm at The Villiers Hotel in Buckingham. Places are limited so to register, please get in touch with Anna Weston at annaw@clarkhowes.com or visit www.clarkhowes.com/events to find out more When you first started your business, you probably spent most of your time planning, researching, speaking with advisers and putting a great deal of time, money (and sweat and tears!) into getting your business off the ground. For those that made it through the start-up phase to build successful, established businesses, you might now be asking yourself ‘So, what next?’ How do you take your perfectly happy, profitable business on to the next stage? At Clark Howes, we focus on working closely with business owners and entrepreneurs to help them answer that question, and the many others that arise on the road to achieving business growth.

So, where do you start? The answer to this will come as no surprise; planning. We start this process for our clients with a specially designed, intensive growth planning day that includes discovery and discussion around all areas of the business; from initial business plan, structure, financial position and cash flow forecasting; to staff organisation, skills, customer and supplier relationships and sales and marketing too.

Just like the business that you run, the challenges you face when going for growth are unique. Only through thorough analysis can you properly asses your growth opportunities and pre-empt the areas that are going to cause problems later on.

One of the most common issues that business owners face is lack of time. Many

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businesses go from one crisis to another meaning that owner/managers spend their time in perpetual troubleshooting mode, putting out fires and solving other people’s problems. This, naturally, results in a loss of focus and long-term strategic thinking takes a backseat to the short-term crisis-of-theday. For a growing business, this mind set just doesn’t work. Owner dependence means that something, somewhere; that is equally, if not more important, isn’t being done. Addressing this means sacrificing a certain amount of control but being tied to these habits can be extremely limiting. This also means taking the time to work ‘on the business’ rather than just ‘in the business’.

It’s important to remember that as your business grows, what worked in the past might not work now and your strategy has to evolve to match your changed circumstances. Your focus may have been on winning new business and building up your customer base up until now, but it might not be the best way to continue.

Building relationships with current customers where trust has already been established can often provide increased and more reliable sales so you have to be open to making these sorts of changes.

There are obvious risks to relying solely on existing customers and being aware and open to new opportunities is vital.

Diversifying your customer base spreads those risks and there are other strategic options such as licensing, franchising or acquisition that might provide better growth opportunities. You cannot assume that your current business model, but bigger, will work. All of that research and planning that went into launching your business needs to go into making the right decisions for growth.

This is where infrastructure, information systems and people management comes in. There are certain tasks and

responsibilities that can be delegated as your business grows, through relinquishing client management responsibilities to the right Sales Director, for example. But, the larger your business gets, the harder it is to ensure that information is shared and different functions work together effectively.

Putting the right infrastructure in place is an essential part of helping your business to grow.

Investment in a combination of the right systems and the right people can prove invaluable for both the long and short-term.

You will benefit day-to-day from a much more effective operational structure that can also help to prove the value of your business should you decide to sell as part of your exit strategy. Equally, if you plan on passing the reins to someone else, you already have in place the right systems and structure to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Growing a business can be a difficult, emotional time and involve making hard decisions, breaking relationships that are no longer profitable and losing staff that might no longer be necessary. To achieve growth, change is inevitable. But, these are all things that can galvanise not just yourself and your business, but your staff too. Though growth is a challenge, entrepreneurial spirit and strong competitive drive is often one of the reasons people start their own business, which really just means that every challenge you encounter when going for growth just represents another opportunity for success.

CONTACT DETAILS info@clarkhowes.com 01869 322 261 www.clarkhowes.com

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B4 services

EIFLA-3D

EIFLA-3D is a Virtual Reality Solution company, specialising in producing 3D Renderings (Computer Generated Images, CGI’s), 3D Fly-Through Animations and 3D Panoramic Interactive Tours.

WRITTEN BY: NIGEL BLANCHARD Owner, EIFLA-3D CGI BY: EIFLA-3D

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“We pride ourselves on first class service with first class photo realistic images and of course unbeatable prices. We strive to deliver a photorealistic image on every instruction

�

Our clients are spread across the globe including Asia-Pacific, Europe, United States, Middle East, Australia and now in the UK. With our state of the art studio, we are available to work round the clock to produce professional images within a faster time scale at a very competitive pricing structure.

We work with many Architectural companies, to create 3-dimensional models of their drawings.

These computer generated models can be more accurate than traditional drawings. Architectural animation (which provides animated movies of buildings, rather than interactive images) can also be used to see the possible relationship a building will have in relation to the environment and its surrounding buildings.

Working alongside Architects we can help an architect to visualize a space and perform "walkwww.b4-business.com

throughs" in an interactive manner, thus providing "interactive environments" both at the urban and building levels. Specific applications in architecture not only include the specification of building structures such as walls and windows, and walkthroughs, but the effects of light and how sunlight will affect a specific design at different times of the day.

Our 3D Renderings (CGI’s) services are now used

by Architects, Creative Design companies and House Builder, for their Marketing brochures, websites and large hoardings. More recently, we are being asked to produce Photomontage images to compliment planning application. We superimpose the CGI into the existing photograph, thereby showing planning committees how the proposed building will look in the existing environment.

of Excellence and have expanded our company with offices in London, Vietnam and now in Oxford.

We pride ourselves on first class service with first class photo realistic images and of course unbeatable prices. We strive to deliver a photorealistic image on every instruction.

We have recently being working with several Property Development companies in Oxford and we would like to increase our client base within the county, especially as the owner lives in Oxford.

CONTACT DETAILS hello@eifla.co.uk 0207 129 1359 www.eifla-3d.co.uk

Earlier in 2014, we received an International Award 115

CITY AUDIO VISUAL Of course, summer brings its own particular rounds of events, with festival season chief amongst them. This year, we were delighted to provide services at the boutique (and burgeoning) Wilderness Festival at Cornbury Park in August. Described by ‘The Guardian’ as “a place where art, intellectualism and fantastic gastronomy share equal billing with music”, I’ve not seen any festival quite like it There really has been a diverse roster of events in our diary over the past few months. It’s rather difficult to know where to begin! Perhaps I should begin with a thank-you to some of our most faithful customers, not least Waddesdon Manor, a former Rothschild mansion just over the border in Buckinghamshire. Being a fan of Tabasco, sriracha, and the like, I was particularly taken with Waddesdon’s eighth annual Chilli Festival: a collection of independent traders making some

pretty fantastic food and drink.

Once again, our partnership with the events team at Blenheim Palace has continued and, for another year, we have been heavily involved with this year’s Literary Festival - a major date in the literary world’s calendar. This year, Blenheim welcomed: the controversial and renowned scientist Richard Dawkins; Alice Roberts, the popular-science writer and BBC presenter; and (rather fittingly!) Julian Fellowes, creator of ‘Downton Abbey’. Certainly a turn-up for the books! As with previous months, we’ve also had several engaging events with BMW MINI, at the plants in both Oxford and Swindon.

We wish them every success in launching their new 5-door model.

I’d also like to take the time to mention one particular job from early September. We were asked to provide a high-quality quadrophonic PA

system for Television and radio broadcaster David Freeman and Bob Harris, presenter of the ‘70s music show ‘The Old Grey Whistle Test’. The event was a unique airing of the original 1973 recording of Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side of the Moon’; only a fully quadrophonic sound system could replicate the sound exactly as the band and producers intended.

With input from our longstanding freelancer (and big prog-rock fan himself!), Martin, we were very happy to work with Harris in support of Maggie’s a national cancer support charity.

Our bread-and-butter work across Oxfordshire (and beyond) has been ticking over nicely. We’re lucky enough to be based in one of the most popular UK cities for hosting conferences, and we have been happy to provide simultaneous translation in and around the city. There certainly has been an impressive number of conferences and events around the city, among them the relatively new

“I am very optimistic about our winter events.

Later in the year, we’ll be returning to Waddesdon Manor for their Christmas lights switch-on, which promises to be a fantastic experience

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B4 spotlight

This summer may have been a mixed bag in terms of weather; I must admit, as someone who bursts into flame at the sight of sunlight, I’ll be glad for things to cool down a touch! No such respite back at the yard in Oxford, however; as always, there’s more than enough to be getting on with, and plenty to discuss.

WRITTEN BY: RHYS DANINO

“Once again, our partnership with the events team at Blenheim Palace has continued and, for another year, we have been heavily involved with this year’s Literary Festival - a major date in the literary world’s calendar.

”

‘Flowers @ Oxford’ - a show-cum-trade fair for florists and floral designers at Lady Margaret Hall College. We were glad to provide the entire A/V setup: plasma displays, PA systems, filming, the lot.

As I’ve mentioned before, we also provide installation services for any organisation which requires it. Our longest-running install job this summer has undoubtedly been at Magdalen College School, an independent school and sixthform college here in the city. MCS have requested a complete revamping of their systems; we have been providing a new communications system, as well as working on upgrading all 61 of the school’s classrooms. Certainly not a small undertaking!

Back at base, all systems are go. We are very pleased to have welcome two new staff members over the past season. First we have Aleix Ventura Escrig, our new technician, fresh from work and study at the University of Barcelona. Second, we

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are operating an apprentice position in conjunction with the City of Oxford College. This is a new partnership for us, and we are happy to have out first apprentice technician, Charlie Painting, on board. Stock renewal at our Oxford unit continues apace, with - amongst other items - a brand new 95-inch TV monitor. (Even though I say it myself, it looks pretty damn gorgeous!) We’re also working on additional training for our technicians; they are undertaking qualifications for InfoComm, the global association representing the professional audiovisual industry.

So - what lies ahead? Without wanting to reveal too much, I am very optimistic about our winter events. Later in the year, we’ll be returning to Waddesdon Manor for their Christmas lights switchon, which promises to be a fantastic experience.

We’re also grateful for Oxford’s strong reputation as a conference destination. One major event will be

on behalf of the Europe Business Assembly, an independent think-tank and organisation focussing on economic, social and humanitarian management; we’ll be working with them come October. Another favourite of mine is an annual stalwart of ours, the Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards (thinking Raymond Blanc? Think again…), to be held in the Town Hall in early November. Plenty to be getting on with! We’ll be in touch soon - and we hope you will be too.

CONTACT DETAILS info@cityav.co.uk 01865 722 800 www.cityav.co.uk

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who are looking for a safe and secure investment, “Clients either to enhance their own family lifestyle or simply to earn rental income from the property you purchase - then now is the time to make that important decision.

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“Jackie offers her customers a truly personalized service when buying that dream home for either an investment, with rental income , a holiday home for the family or that place in the sun for that well deserved retirement.

”

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B4 r&r

ELYSIUM: PARADISE…

A HEAVENLY PLACE… A CONDITION OF IDEAL HAPPINESS Its more than 40 years since La Manga Club was established on the Costa Calida coastline in South East Spain , and this resort has carved a unique niche for itself as an easygoing haven of luxury and leisure.

WRITTEN BY: CARMEN SORIANO ROMERO PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MIGUEL MORENO SEGURA

Undoubtedly, one of the worlds top leisure & sporting resorts located on the lower slopes of the Murcian Hills amongst 1400 acres of beautiful countryside with abundant Palm Trees covering an area the size of the principality of Monaco !

This sporting paradise in an amazing tranquil environment looks out to the crystal clear waters of the Mar Menor, Europe’s largest salt water lagoon, with the Mediterranean sea fringing the resort on the horizon. La Manga Club also has its own beach and fabulous Cove Restaurant located within the resort.

La Manga Club offers three championship golf courses which have hosted a number of Spanish Open Championships as well as corporate and charity events. There is the new state of the art David Leadbetter golf academy with practice facilities that helps golfers to improve their game at whatever level - under bright blue skies.

In addition to the magnificent golfing facilities it is the official winter training base for the Lawn Tennis Association where 28 courts are available in Green Set, Clay and AstroTurf surfaces. Paddle Tennis Squash and Bowls complement this superb Tennis Academy facility within the very heart of La Manga Club.

You are also able to watch some of Europe’s top professional Football clubs training and the

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occasional match being played at the stadium located a few minutes walk from the Tennis Centre.

prospective purchasers have full knowledge of the choices available to them.

At the very heart of the resort sits the magnificent 5 Star Hotel Principe Felipe. This hotel offers offers 190 superbly designed hotel guest rooms many of which overlook the large heated swimming Pool and Sun Terrace.

It is important that the buying process is made an enjoyable one and is as stress free as possible, therefore all aspects of the financial and local legal implications are clearly explained to the buyer .

Elysium Properties will be alongside the customer at all times during both the purchasing process and the important after sales in conjunction with their sister company Mar Menor Management.

For those who need total relaxation there is an amazing all year round Spa facility. This features a twenty five metre indoor pool , a large gymnasium with state of the art equipment , an exercise studio, 13 treatment rooms, additional sauna and steam a huge Jacuzzi and personal fitness trainers.

ELYSIUM PROPERTIES is one of La Manga Club’s most respected property sales specialists and is owned by Jackie Mycroft, an experienced professional , who has seen La Manga Club grow into its unique position over the last 20 years.

Jackie offers her customers a truly personalized service when buying that dream home for either an investment, with rental income , a holiday home for the family or that place in the sun for that well deserved retirement.

After establishing the clients criteria, a full tour of La Manga Club is given to show the range of properties available within the different communities and to also give a full explanation on how the resort operates. This ensures all

With an established Leisure and Commercial infrastructure there is no doubt that La Manga Club has a distinct advantage over other developments combined with a healthy General Community balance sheet which shows a cash surplus currently approaching 1.5m Euros.

Clients who are looking for a safe and secure investment , either to enhance their own family lifestyle or simply to earn rental income from the property you purchase - then now is the time to make that important decision.

CONTACT DETAILS jackie@elysiumproperties.com 0034 968175 957 www.elysiumproperties.com

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DIRECT MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

- COMPLIANCE AND BEST PRACTICE In August 2014 the Direct Marketing Association (‘DMA’) issued a new Code of Practice for businesses engaging in direct one-to-one marketing; that is, marketing directed at particular individuals.

WRITTEN BY: HUGH TEBAY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: AMY BLAZA

The DMA Code, which came into force on 18th August, is a ‘best practice’ guide which, for DMA members, adds to the numerous laws, regulations and codes of practice that govern direct marketing. These include the Data Protection Act 1998, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the CAP Code (the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotions and Direct Marketing).

The new DMA Code is built around five ‘rules’ against which business can regulate themselves: (1) put your customer first (the central pillar, known as the ‘hero principle’); (2) respect privacy; (3) be honest and fair; (4) be diligent with data; and (5) take responsibility. These rules are helpful in that they provide a code, compliance with which will not only help to ensure direct marketing activities fall within the law, but will also help achieve best practice –something which many businesses will actively wish to advertise to distinguish them from the competition.

The marketing opportunities afforded by technologies such as SMS and email are significant, and there is pressure to use these channels in new and engaging ways to gain ground over competitors. However, the misuse of personal data and intrusive or aggressive marketing campaigns are attracting increasingly adverse attention from consumers and the media alike. A failure to act properly and to be seen to be acting properly with personal data in direct marketing can therefore be damaging, as well as costly.

Businesses which wish to engage in direct marketing campaigns therefore need to be aware of the rules and the risks. Failure to get it right could lead to fines, enforcement notices and even criminal proceedings in some cases.

The framework of rules can be confusing, so careful

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consideration needs to be given to each type of marketing initiative: is ‘sugging’ (selling under the guise of research) ever acceptable? When can we use opt-out, rather than opt-in for customer consent? How much attention do we need to pay to the Telephone Preference Service and similar lists? Are the rules the same for text marketing messages as for faxes or telephone calls?

Most will have some idea that there are rules (a little knowledge of them can be dangerous), but may struggle to know which will apply in different situations.

For a business to ensure its direct marketing does not expose it to risk, it will need to consider the applicability and scope of the regulatory framework in relation to each type of project. This will require an understanding of the regulatory framework and incorporating a risk assessment into the marketing process – a process that should incorporate: Education - relevant personnel throughout the business (and contractors) should be trained on the basic issues that need to be considered when engaging in direct marketing. This does not just mean management, but should include those involved in developing marketing projects. This should help to ensure that projects are developed in line with the law and best practice, rather than being developed and then changed later to be compliant, or scrapped completely.

Early Consideration - marketing personnel need to assess risks early on - e.g. is the consent we have from the customer recent enough and sufficiently linked to the goods/services we are trying to sell?

How can we be happy the customer lists we are buying-in will not expose us to risk? It is harder to change marketing campaigns at the last minute and the temptation may be to run with a noncompliant campaign anyway, rather than change it.

Responsibility - a suitably senior person within the business should be tasked with considering whether each campaign is compliant. If there is a clear ‘compliance gateway’ through which each proposed initiative must be run, the risks of noncompliance are greatly reduced.

Record Keeping - the consent of the target for direct marketing is crucial when assessing whether the particular campaign complies with the varying standards applicable under the law. So it is vital to keep accurate and up-to-date records of client data and consents received. If complaints are made in relation to a campaign, the ability easily to show the requisite consents have been obtained and standards upheld will be important to defend your position and to save time and effort in proving your case.

Review – laws change, data records get out of date, and the drive to be innovative in marketing means new ways are found to target customers. It is therefore important to review your data, consents and marketing operations to check you still fall within the rules and continue to follow best practice.

Access specialist help – there will be times when the answers will not be straightforward, so making sure you ask the ICO, trade association or advisers when you are not sure.

To receive advice on the issues raised in this article, please contact Hugh Tebay.

CONTACT DETAILS hugh.tebay@bsdr.com 01235 836 619 www.bsdr.com

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B4 advice

Businesses which “ wish to engage in direct marketing campaigns therefore need to be aware of the rules and the risks

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Hugh Tebay, BrookStreet des Roches

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B4 r&r

LET’S VIAGOGO TO THE

BERNABÉU

Have you got a relaxing holiday to look forward to? I thought I did when I took the family to La Manga for a week in the summer, but obviously wanted to give myself a task and a bit of drama to contend with. Real Madrid were playing at home, their opening La Liga game of the season, so why not go and watch them? Good call – but it was a four hour drive, there and back!

WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER: RICHARD ROSSER

We’d been to Spain a few years before and I’d always regretted not taking Ed to Barcelona to see El Clásico at Camp Nou. So when I knew we were going to Spain this year, I had a look on the web to see if Real or Barcelona were playing whilst we were there. Due to Real’s Super Cup match the week before in Cardiff, their opening La Liga game against the mighty Cordoba (no, nor had I – just promoted apparently, amidst much drama) had been pushed back to the Monday.

So with our trusty Touran hire car packed with duvets and pillows for the long journey home, plus Ed and his mate Fred with supplies to keep us all going, we left La Manga at 2pm, with a four hour journey towards the capital in central Spain ahead of us.

But we were missing something…..tickets! Ed had always said in my bold statements that we must follow his beloved Chelsea to European semi and final matches in previous years that he wasn’t going anywhere without a ticket. Fair enough Ed, but this time I sort of had them. I’d booked three tickets on the easy to use Viagogo site, but I had to find

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somewhere for them to be delivered to locally and I would pick them up before the game.

Wow what a view! Our tickets were actual season tickets, and as per the instructions, were collected from us just before kick off. All very simple.

The next part of the jigsaw was to find a suitable address. That’s where our Concierge friends at Oxford’s Randolph Hotel came to the fore. Within 20 minutes of asking for a reliable concierge in Madrid, William and Neil had come up trumps. Diaz at Hotel Intercontinental was my man, just down the road from The Bernabéu

The game? Perhaps not what we would have expected with Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, James, Kroos et al on the team sheet, but we saw Ronaldo score and Real secure their first points of the season with a hard fought, unconvincing 2-0 win.

We made it to Madrid in good time and our man at The Intercontinental had our tickets! What’s more, the door man kindly offered to watch our car whilst we enjoyed the match. We hopped onto the underground and went the two stops to the stadium where the atmosphere was building.

Now just a four hour journey home to negotiate.

The boys were as good as gold, keeping me company all the way home. They never did get their Burger King or McDonald’s, but we got home in good time. In fact it was in very good time, so much so that the kind people in Spain sent me a speeding ticket when I got home. Thanks for that… .the only blot on an otherwise perfect experience.

This was Cordoba’s first La Liga game and they were certainly enjoying it. The noise was incredible and we hadn’t even got inside. We made the obligatory visit to the club shop, and one Real Madrid shirt later, emblazoned with their latest signing, the Colombian James (Rodriguez) and we could climb the stairs to our seats.

Thank you Viagogo and everyone else who made it possible.

CONTACT DETAILS www.viagogo.co.uk www.madrid.intercontinental.com

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RHODES HOUSE GARDENS – AN INSPIRATION Rhodes House is the home of the Rhodes Trust which, for over a century, has awarded postgraduate Scholarships to support exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship programme in the world, which aims to nurture public-spirited leaders for the world's future.

WRITTEN BY: NEIL WIGFIELD Head Gardner & ISABELLE BARBER Business Development Manager

Rhodes House head gardener Neil Wigfield in garden

Nora Bourke Lindsay, Rhodes House garden designer

Covering approximately two acres, the gardens at Rhodes House include a formal lawn, mixed shrub borders, grass garden, and a long herbaceous border. In addition, the Warden’s private garden contains a sunken lawn, rose arch, cut flower garden and ornamental potager.

The gardens are both a peaceful haven for Scholars and a recreation space for parties, weddings and conferences. They are visible both from the interior of the building, and also to the passing general public through the gated entrance. With this in mind, the gardens are designed to provide vistas to compliment the architecture of the House, adopting plants of particular colour, texture and form to catch the eye throughout the year.

SEASONS IN THE GARDENS As the summer draws to a close, the long herbaceous border becomes a feature within the gardens. The Rudbeckias bloom in a kaleidoscope of oranges, browns, and yellows, and tinges of red emerge from ‘Burning Bush’, ‘Purple Shiso’ and ‘Californian poppies’. The claret glory vine ‘Vitis coignetiae’, and crimson Boston Ivy act as backdrop.

Other parts of the gardens provide a calming, contemplative environment, with borders planted with salvias in several hues of blue, silver lavender

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and herbs of a Mediterranean origin which release scented oils. These are run through with grasses to provide movement, texture and height.

In autumn the gardens are still awash in colour, but as winter arrives the gardens display more muted tones, with the occasional bright colour peeping from beneath a blanket of snow and the promise of more to come in spring.

A POTTED HISTORY OF THE GARDENS The site of Rhodes House and its gardens was carved out from what had been, until 1927, the Warden’s Garden of Wadham College. A civil war defence mound was adapted into a Promenade Walkway during the latter half of the 18th century.

The architect for Rhodes House, Sir Herbert Baker, also laid out the plans for the landscaping of the gardens. Having collaborated on several projects with Sir Edwin Lutyens, it is possible to see the influence of the Arts and Crafts style of country house gardens, as championed by Gertrude Jekyll, with whom Lutyens had worked extensively Planting was carried out by the designer Norah Bourke Lindsay, a ‘Socialite Gardener”, born into an upper class family (her uncle was the Viceroy of India) who lived among England’s country house elite. “A consummate hostess, she mingled with

political and social luminaries of the era. She lunched with Winston Churchill, gardened for the crowned heads of Europe, holidayed with Edith Wharton, and hobnobbed with Hollywood’s Merle Oberon and Charlie Chaplin”. However, when her own marriage failed in the mid 1920’s, a lack of financial capital found her selling plants from her own gardens at Sutton Courtney Manor, Oxfordshire, in order to pay the heating bills.

Rhodes House would have been one of Norah’s earliest commissions, at a time when she was still principally designing for family and friends. While dining at Cliveden Manor, the home of her friends Nancy and David Astor, she was introduced to Phillip Kerr, later to become Marquees of Lothian, general secretary to the Rhodes Trust. They became great friends, and it was on his recommendation that in 1928, Norah Lindsay was commissioned with planting the garden borders of the newly built Rhodes House. A receipt shows that the total cost of creating the garden was £1281: £1023 on plants, labour and levelling; £175 on rollers, tools, mowing machine etc.; £450 on turf. In addition, Norah was paid £5 a day for 15 days, to place and plant the borders with the help of the new head gardener, Mr Hatton.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, and the ‘Dig For Victory’ campaign, many Oxford college gardens were turned over to food production. In 1941 Lord Elton, who had succeeded Lord Lothian

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B4 spotlight

Rhodes House west lawn

“In 1948 it is minuted

that, “Cabbages continue to appear in the main lawns”.

Readers will be pleased to note that there are no longer cabbages to be seen in the West Lawn!

Rhodes House in 1927 Rhodes house herbacious border in summer

”

as Trust Secretary, suggested that, “as there is no petrol for the lawn mowers, the lawns and borders should be dug up to grow vegetables to feed the staff, scholar families and evacuees who are living in the house”. It was noted in 1946, “vegetable production has been poor and not worth the effort put in, with wireworms in the potatoes, and caterpillars eating the cabbages”. In 1948 it is minuted that, “Cabbages continue to appear in the main lawns”. Readers will be pleased to note that there are no longer cabbages to be seen in the West Lawn!

The gardens of Rhodes House, under the care of Head Gardener Neil Wigfield, continue to change with each new year of planting, and continue to be an inspiration for Rhodes Scholars, guests, visitors and staff alike. The gardens have recently won three golds and one silver award in the Oxford Colleges in Bloom competition. We hope that you will come and see them as a function guest, delegate or event organiser.

For enquiries for function bookings please contact the events team below.

CONTACT DETAILS events@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk 01865 282 599 www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

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B4 AT RHODES HOUSE For the third year running, the impressive doors of the fabulous Rhodes House in the centre of Oxford were opened to welcome 170 B4 Members and their guests at the B4 Classic Event in September.

Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer, Peter Anderson, welcomed the guests who were treated to first class canapĂŠs and excellent wine provided by fellow B4 Platinum Members, Oxford Fine Dining.

The beautiful background piano music was provided by the very talented, Alina Kozlovskaja. Read more about Alina on page 130.

Not a B4 Member? Why not join to enjoy forthcoming events at The Sheldonian Theatre, Stoke Park, Williams F1 Conference Centre, The Weston Library, Heythrop, Hartwell House and Spa, Henmans Freeth, Oakley Court and more to be confirmed soon.

Next B4 event - B4 Classic Event @ Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford on Thursday 30th October 2014 18:00 - 20:30 – See the B4 website for more details.

"Once again B4 deliver the goods, an inspired choice of venue, excellent food and hospitality. It was great to meet so many interesting people in one place and strengthen the links between business and learning" Ian Francis, Principal, City of Oxford College "A welcoming and generous set up in a beautiful location, met with some valuable connections who I have since been in contact with" Sophie Wynn, Lead Recruiter, Stephen Beagent Associates 126

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B4 events "The impressive Rhodes House provided the perfect backdrop to meet like-minded business individuals. The splendid buzz in the air, the combination of great wine, delicious canapés, and interesting and stimulating conversation made the whole evening a great success" Amanda Baker, Consultant, Endeavour Consulting

"It was fantastic to see the B4 network so vibrant and enthusiastic – the team at Rhodes House hugely enjoyed hosting the event - See you all again soon!"

Isabelle Barber, Business Development Manager, Rhodes House "Great venue, great event, just what I’d expect from B4" Chris Bourke, Cost Management Specialist, Auditel

"A great event put on by B4 at Rhodes House – what a fantastic venue. As usual I made some great connections and caught up with some familiar faces. I look forward to the next event" John Burchill, CEO, Business Lawyer UK Limited "Once again B4 deliver the goods, an inspired choice of venue, excellent food and hospitality. It was great to meet so many interesting people in one place and strengthen the links between business and learning" Ian Francis, Principal, City of Oxford College "It is clear to see that as B4 grows so do the member’s businesses" Roger Watts, B4 Founding Ambassador

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GUEST LIST A1 Plumbing & Heating, Abbey Press, ADS Advertising and Design (Oxford) Ltd, Alberon, Ash Personnel, Ashmolean Museum, Bar de Cru, Barclays, BDO LLP, Blackwell's, Bluespires IT Solutions, Bodleian Libraries, Brasenose College, Brethertons LLP, Business Doctors, City Audio Visual Ltd, City of Oxford College, Clark Howes, Client Mailer, Clydesdale bank, Conifers Guest House, Corpus Christi College, Critchleys, Darbys Solicitors LLP, Dehns, Dionach, Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa, D'Overbroeck's College Oxford, Endeavour Consulting, Ergowealth, Family First Solicitors, Field Seymour Parkes, Finders Keepers, Fish Partnership LLP, Gracechurch Wealth Management, Grant Thornton UK LLP, Hawkwell House Hotel, Heart of Business, Helen & Douglas House, Heythrop Park Resort, Highfield Business Advisors, Hutchhouse, Ian Bridge Consultancy Ltd, Lewis Silkin LLP, Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Obergine, Oxehealth, Oxford Capital, Oxford Castle Quarter, Oxford Culture, Oxford Dentist Ltd, Oxford Fine Dining Ltd, Oxford Innovation, Oxford Media Factory, Oxford Professional Consulting, OxLEP, Philip Dennis Foodservice, Powersave Solutions Ltd, Prime Energy Fitness Ltd, Quantuma Restructuring, Richardsons, Ridge & Partners LLP, Robin Swailes Design & Development, RTS Ltd, Satellite Applications Catapult, Savvy, Scottfraser, Taylor & Francis Group Informa PLC, The Kassam Stadium, VCA Consulting, Voyage Branding & Communications, Wellers, White & Black Legal LLP and Zest Digital.

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HOSTING EVENTS

AT THE TREE

Having just announced the return of their much loved and highly talented head chef Daljit Dusanj, who previously worked at One Aldwych, the Tree Hotel at Iffley has made a name for itself as a haven for foodies seeking an array of dishes from India as well as Europe all under one roof.

WRITTEN BY: HAZEL SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SUNIT BANSODE gremolata portabello mushroom

A unique concept for an Iffley village pub and hotel you might say. What additionally makes the Tree Hotel in Iffley a unique venue is the events that they host on a monthly basis.

MD of The Tree Hotels, Kavita Pal explains. “We have extraordinarily loyal customers in Iffley and both they and our Oxford customers love our events. We try to do something each month whether it be a Spanish fiesta complete with sangria, paella and flamenco dancing, or our highly successful beer festival which we held in July, so there is always something to plan for. Everyone wore coloured hip scarves and bindis at our Bollywood Dance Workshop and our colour powder throwing Holi Festival was fabulous for all the family. We are also passionate about raising money for our charity of the year, which this year is the John Watson School which looks after children with special needs, and so hosting a variety of events enables us to do wonderful fundraising.”

authentic German food including sausage and bretzels, as well of course sampling German beer, whilst having a dance to some traditional German Oompah music! Pal says: “Although audience participation is optional, guests were entertained with old-favourite Bavarian songs, learnt to ‘seat sway’, played games and danced the night away with many in lederhosen or a Dirndl dress.”

So what does New Head Chef Daljit make of the events being hosted in Iffley: “I am delighted to have returned to work at The Tree Hotels – it feels like I have come home. The warmth and motivation of the team here is unmatched and the events are great fun as is planning the special menus for each one.”

Questions and Answers with Daljit Dusanj, Head Chef of The Tree Hotel at Iffley

“We have a number of fabulous events coming up, in addition to our Christmas events, including Diwali (18th October).

What sort of chef are you?

I believe good cooking is all about the detail.

Paying attention to all the small things inevitably makes the end product a mouth-watering, delicious and fantastic dish for the consumer.

For anyone who enjoys a good foot stomping, thigh slapping night out, Bavaria returned to Oxford in the form Oktoberfest at the Tree Hotel at Iffley. After its inaugural triumph last year, guests this year enjoyed

What is the best thing about your job?

Two things. Firstly the creativity involved. In my opinion cooking is an art form and it is hugely enjoyable to try out new recipes and to challenge

myself to create inspiring food. Secondly the team here at The Tree Hotel are great fun to work with.

Everybody is passionate about doing the best they can and we work well together.

Example dishes from the new menu Rava Mahi Tikka Pan Fried Fish marinated with Indian spices with a beautiful semolina crust Welsh Lamb Welsh Lamb Rump with crushed rosemary and garlic roast potatoes cheesy cauliflower red wine jus Caramel Crunch Toffee flavoured Light fluffy and creamy mousse and caramel crunch Book now for your Christmas event, Christmas lunch or New Years Eve on 01865 775 974.

CONTACT DETAILS

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enquiries@treehotel.co.uk 01865 775 974 http://iffley.treehotel.co.uk/

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ALINA KOZLOVSKAJA SO TOTALLY IN TUNE WITH HER MUSIC AND A LONG WAY FROM BEING BLAND! Phil Strachan, B4 Ambassador and owner of Strangebrew, caught up with his talented friend, Alina Kozlovskaja, who totally captivated B4 members and guests with her own special brand of hauntingly beautiful piano compositions when she performed live at the recent B4 Ambassadors Event at Rhodes House in Oxford.

WRITTEN BY: PHIL STRACHAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RICHARD SHYMANSKY & VARIOUS

When I first met Alina, and she then shared her original music compositions with me, I was struck by how each one was so hauntingly atmospheric and so breathtakingly beautiful. I felt that Alina’s music was far too special for her exquisite talents, as both a composer and a pianist, not to be shared with a much wider audience. That’s exactly why I introduced her to Richard and Tina Rosser with the thought that the Rhodes House event would be fittingly enhanced by both her presence and by her musical capabilities – She certainly didn’t let me down - Phil Strachan Alina, how did it all start? You have now been in the UK for 10 years – but were you playing piano back home in Lithuania?

I have always been interested in music. As a small child, I used to sing a lot and I was continually bringing home songs from school that mum and dad didn't even know. However, from when I was very little, I remember being fascinated by pianos and when I was just five, my parents bought me my first piano. I had this most amazing feeling of joy and excitement and so I started taking piano lessons. Soon I got into a music school but because the piano class was so full, they offered me the opportunity to study violin as a major. A violin! Who were they kidding? It had to be a piano and nothing

130

else would do - full stop! Fortunately, with quite a lot of persistence and just a little bit of luck, I was eventually enrolled in the piano class.

How easy did you find it to stick with the programme of lessons?

Sometimes, I was pretty bored playing annoying scales and difficult recitals and just wanted to quit and join my friends who were having fun outside on lovely summer days. But despite the many temptations, I somehow stuck to it. You’ve got to go through the hard and boring bit in the beginning until you reach the level when you really enjoy it.

Not quitting has really paid off and I believe that being patient and persevering has shaped me into a strong character.

Tell me a little more about your passion for music – and the piano in particular.

I always wanted to learn to play the piano. The sound of it and the idea of being able to create something of real beauty always captivated and moved me. I loved being creative and realised that music offered so many possibilities in terms of different sounds and chords to play with. I found it hard to concentrate at school but music became a means to escape, something close to my heart, somewhere I could lose myself in by playing

something beautiful and emotional. It was such a great way for me to express my true emotions and listening to and playing music really has helped me through some very difficult times. Unfortunately, perhaps what made me stop playing music for quite a long time was the anxiety associated with the strict school I attended. Being classically trained, I could not even consider creating something of my own and some of my teachers were borderline psychotic – which, as a child, sometimes made me quite literally shake with fear. It got to the point where I could not even talk to my teacher during one to one lessons - and this lasted for a few years!

This was ridiculous and it stifled my creativity. This is why I now so enjoy the freedom of going against everything I ‘should’ be playing and play whatever I want, whatever I create......as long as it makes me and those listening to my music happy.

You have qualifications in Psychology from LCC International University and you have studied with the Open University, but what work have you been doing since you came to the UK? As you know, I am really interested in branding and premium brands in particular and for just over 9 years, I worked in fashion retail with leading brands.

The Fashion industry was a natural extension to my career, given my passion for fashion and creative

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B4 spotlight

“When I get really

inspired, my music just comes to me and the melody and structure happen pretty quickly.

Nothing else gives as satisfying a feeling as creating my own music and expressing my emotions through it

”

expression. I was very lucky to work with a leading British International luxury fashion brand and with the world's leading fashion eyewear brand. I have also done a little modelling, but my other real passion in life is promoting a healthy lifestyle. I believe that health and the way we feel impacts hugely in many areas of life and that without our health, nothing has much worth. We should all be working to maintain our health rather than only taking action when illness strikes, so I help people lose weight, get healthier, feel better, look better, believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. I like to encourage people to be brave, to pursue their passions and dreams as I have and to do what makes them happy. After all, with a job that brings only money and no satisfaction to your soul, you're just slowly dying inside. It pains me to see good talent going to waste and people not realising their full potential. I really believe that we all need to be encouraged to be more creative but that society seems to be teaching us out of our creativity.

So, what was it that got you back into music after such long time away from it?

Having almost completely given up playing for so many years, and after travelling very widely and eventually moving to the UK, one day I realised that I had to get a piano and to start playing again. Then, having heard me play, a very close friend, Niraj Naik

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of Alpha Mind System, made me see that I was really wasting my talents. I have also had great encouragement from other friends, in particular from my very good friend, Eliza Szyszlo, and many other people like yourself. So, I then started rediscovering my passion and, surprisingly and importantly, I discovered the ability to compose my own original music. For too long, I had been caught up in a job where I was sometimes working 7 days a week, lacking a social life and working constantly with changing shifts at Heathrow airport. I was just too tired to do anything else. When I started playing again and being creative, I began to balance the stress in my life by creating music.

Remind me again of how you came to play two of your own original compositions live at the opening ceremony of the prestigious Vancouver Fashion Week back in April.

I don’t often enough get the chance to play my own music in public and this amazing opportunity came from a chance meeting in London with the producer of Vancouver Fashion Week. Then, after he saw me playing on YouTube, he was straight on the phone offering me the opportunity to play my own compositions at the opening ceremony. I was very honoured to be invited to play at such a prestigious event. I had simply never dreamt that I would be involved in such an event combining my

two main passions - piano music and fashion. It was such a huge honour and so exciting to play my own original compositions on a Fazioli grand piano at the opening ceremony. Proof indeed that life can surprise in many ways.

If I recall correctly, you yourself ended up modelling on the runway the next night – and then you were invited back again in September.

Yes. The following night, I was walking down the runway modelling the most gorgeous gown by Argentinian designer Gabriel Lage – and such a coincidence that out of all the many collections of the day, the collection theme that I modelled for was “The Music Collection” which represented the intersection of music and fashion. One minute I am playing piano, the next I am modelling on the catwalk and before I knew it, there I was pictured in Vogue UK! That really was something that I could never have expected to happen. I must have done something right as I was invited to the next Vancouver Fashion Week in September to both play and model.

How long have you been composing your own original piano music and how exactly do you go about it? continued over

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B4 spotlight

“It pains me to see good

talent going to waste and people not realising their full potential. I really believe that we all need to be encouraged to be more creative but that society seems to be teaching us out of our creativity

”

Alina Kozlovskaja

I have been composing my own music for almost three years now and with the help of my sister, Ruah Edelstein, I have recorded my first album ‘River’ in Los Angeles. It is due out later this year and I can’t wait for it to be released and to share my music with everybody.

When I am inspired by something, music comes naturally to me and the melody and structure happen pretty quickly. I love the following quote by Confucius which I recently read - "Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” I can very much relate to it through my need to compose because nothing else gives me nearly as much satisfaction as listening to music or creating my own music and expressing my emotions through it.

My latest piano piece ‘Walking Your Path’ was a perfect example of this. The inspiration for it came from the idea of someone you care for, and who appears to care for you, going against everything you desire. It’s about staying true to yourself, recognising what is real in life and what only appears to be, about believing in yourself and being able to say ‘no’ to what is not truly aligned with you.

It’s about not following the wrong path, about not chasing the wrong things in life. As will be evident from my videos, nature features strongly in what I draw my inspiration from and I feel it sits well with my music. By connecting with nature, you can find peace and reassurance from being just the way you are. Such magical things happen when your life is aligned - you realise that things unfold the way they are supposed to and sometimes you just shouldn’t try to resist.

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I also draw inspiration from the music of other artists, the works of great artists in general and deep films that challenge your thinking - indeed, anything that moves your soul - then I really feel creative.

What was the reaction when people first heard your own compositions?

It was incredible. They were very emotional and the main reaction was that they could not believe I had written them. They believed that I was playing music that had been written by established composers. Inevitably, there were some initial elements of constructive criticism which I took on board. It is a constant learning process. Instantly, quite a few people started comparing my music with Ludovico Einaudi. I had never heard of him at that time but he quickly became my inspiration because I recognised that our music was on the same wavelength. It was very humbling to be compared with such a great composer and pianist.

Incredibly, in the summer of 2013, I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting him backstage when he performed at the Barbican.

I know that another of your passionate interests is cars – unusual for a girl unless you happen to be a bit of a tomboy!

I really like stylish fast cars and love to drive with speed and to music! I like the adrenaline rush and sometimes my best thoughts come in those moments. Maybe there is a bit of a tomboy in me - and perhaps a bit of a child too!

So, what does the future hold for you and your music - and what about the modelling?

Modelling is very much on the back-burner just now - that is unless someone makes me an offer that I just can't refuse. But going back to my music, my number one passion, I’m a huge film fan and many people have told me that because my musical compositions tend to be quite dramatic and emotional, they would make terrific film scores.

I would love to be composing scores for films one day and I am certainly open to offers on that front.

With music and fashion being my two main passions, it will be no surprise that I would love the opportunity to create original compositions for and play my music at more Fashion Events and Fashion Shows. But on a broader front, I get such great pleasure from playing live and from helping people to enjoy themselves, relax and feel better through sharing my music with them. I’d like to think that in some small way I am helping to make the world a brighter and better place.

Thank you Alina – that’s a really good note to finish off on. I don’t think there is any danger that anyone could ever dare to describe you or your music as bland.

To hear examples of Alina playing her own original piano compositions, please visit her YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/alinakmusic

CONTACT DETAILS alinakmusic@gmail.com 07830 263 917

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B4 services

WHERE EGOS DARE. THE TRUTH BEHIND

NEW PRODUCT FAILURES. We’re all blessed with the ability to come up with great ideas. But turning those ideas into commercially viable products or services … that’s something else.

WRITTEN BY: BARRY LUFF PHOTOGRAPHY BY: RICHARD SHYMANSKY

If you’re a fan of the popular BBC programme ‘Dragons’ Den’ - the show where budding entrepreneurs pitch their products hoping for equity investment - then you’ll be familiar with the look of disbelief on the faces of the dragons as a hapless inventor confesses he’s invested his lifesavings in a gadget for tying shoelaces in the dark or a hat that doubles as a saucepan. Why do they do it? Why do normally sane people do such daft things?

This is not a problem confined to nutty professors in their garden sheds. This is a something we can find in all business of all sizes. And the cause, more often than not, is that there’s an ego blocking the way to rational decision making. Despite all the resources (and money) available to modern business’s for product development, research and marketing the failure rate for new products remains almost constant at around 80 percent.

boss, and marketing people are predisposed to think of product success not product failure, so they give it their best shot … and it’s wide of the target. The ‘failure’ is noted as a lesson learnt … but then forgotten. And then it`s repeated!

Sometimes the pressure comes from the other direction: young marketing executives keen to show their mettle are given free reign to prove themselves.

Wow! what an ego boost that is. They tout a clear niche market product as a mass-market breakthrough and it all ends in tears as the over-hyped and over stocked product dies on the shelf.

“By all means be passionate about

making your new product a success. But temper that passion by using a robust decision making framework that cuts the risk. And let the ego, go!

”

Barry Luff, founder of Beacon Sales

So what’s the answer? In a nutshell, new products need a robust and critical framework that insulates the ego of vested interests from the hard realities of the marketplace.

One solution for keeping egos in check is to use an external product development and sales agency. Beacon Sales, for example, have devised a five-step process that drives the decision making process by using evidence based criteria. This narrows the choices and makes it simpler to get a clear and accurate picture of the product’s validity (who will buy it) the route to market, the marketing and distribution investment required, and the sales support required to get the product in front of the most influential buyers. It’s a process that works because as managing consultants with compelling success stories to our credit, we know that a great idea and great product aren’t the same.

By all means be passionate about making your new product a success. But temper that passion by using a robust decision making framework that cuts the risk. And let the ego, go!

The problem is a human one: the people driving the product forward are often too emotionally involved. For example, you have the Marketing Director or an executive high up in the food chain with a big product idea that he (or she) is passionate about. There’s a downward pressure on those lower in the food chain to ‘make it work’. Reputations are at stake. No one wants to upset the

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CONTACT DETAILS barry@beaconsales.co.uk 01628 298 241 / 07813 898 936 www.beaconsales.co.uk

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Delicious gourmet diner food and our deluxe hand car wash service at your disposal from dawn till dusk.

For a taste of things to come drop by and sample our menu at our mobile trailer on site from March.

contacts

B4 contacts directory ADVICE..............................................................................................................................................137 BUSINESS SERVICES............................................................................................................139 CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES..........................................................................141 EDUCATION..................................................................................................................................141 FINANCE..................................................................................................................143 HEALTH & LEISURE................................................................................................................143 HR..........................................................................................................................................................143

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 Whitley Stimpson Ltd P Jonathan Walton Director 01295 270 200 www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Wellers A Stuart Crook Partner 01865 723 131 www.wellersaccountants.co.uk Wilson Partners A Allan Ian Wilson Managing Director 01628 770 770 www.wilson-partners.co.uk Whitley Stimpson Ltd A Andy Jones Director 01295 270 200 www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Shaw Gibbs A Peter O’Connell Partner 01865 292 200 www.shawgibbs.com

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BDO LLP A Simon Brooker Lead Partner 01189 254 488 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 Cashflow Medics A Ian Roberts Managing Director 01865 920 581 www.cashflowmedics.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 Peter Upton Ltd 01628 781 636 www.peterupton.co.uk Clark Howes 0808 271 3099 www.clarkhowes.com Harmonea 01844 274 808 www.harmonea.co.uk Tamesis Partnership www.tamesispartnership.co.uk

P

A M B A S S A D O R

A

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS.......................................................................................143 MANUFACTURING..................................................................................................................145 MARKETING & DESIGN......................................................................................................145 PROPERTY & BUILDING.....................................................................................................145 R&R......................................................................................................................................................146 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY...............................................................................................147

BUSINESS ADVICE Jamesons Insolvency & Business Recovery A Carolyn Dunn Partner 01993 707 860 www.jamesons.co.uk Splash Resolution 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 Dancing Kites A Corinna Shepherd CEO 07721 368 978 www.dancingkites.co.uk Mercury Communication & Strategy A Holger Garden Founder 01494 722 378 www.mercury-cs.co.uk Avocet Investments Ltd 01494 726 173 www.avocet-investments.com Hilltop Consultancy 01844 238 692 www.hilltopconsultancy.co.uk OPP 01865 404 584 www.opp.com Oxford Professional Consulting 01865 436791 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.sandler.com

Active Education and Training Ltd 01865 594 325 www.oxfordactive.co.uk Endeavour Consulting 07711 825 005 www.endeavour-consulting.co.uk Exilia 07817 767 649 www.exilia.co.uk PARTNER? 07798 653 139 www.partner-in-business.co.uk The Mustard Concept 01865 589 507 www.themustardconcept.com VCA Consulting 01993 883751 www.vcaconsultinguk.com

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 A Malcolm Sadler Senior Partner 01865 781 000 www.henmansfreeth.co.uk Gardner Leader LLP A Derek Rogers Managing Partner 01635 508 080 www.gardner-leader.co.uk B P Collins A David Stanning Partner 01753 889 995 www.bpcollins.co.uk Blake Morgan LLP A Michael Stace Partner 01865 248 607 www.blakemorgan.co.uk

Action Coach 01183 400 351 www.actioncoach.com

137

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B4 BrookStreet Des Roches LLP Paddy Gregan A Partner 01235 836 655 www.bsdr.com Brethertons A Karina Ray Key Client Manager 01295 661 425 www.brethertons.co.uk Field Seymour Parkes A Penelope Garden Associate 0118 951 6312 www.fsp-law.com Turpin & Miller LLP A Emily Boardman Partner 01865 770 111 www.turpinmiller.co.uk Bower & Bailey A Stuart Palmer Partner 01993 705 095 www.bowerandbailey.co.uk Penningtons Manches LLP Richard Smith A Managing Partner 01865 722 106 www.manches.com White & Black Legal LLP 0800 35 2656 www.wablegal.com Lewis Silkin 020 7074 8494 www.lewissilkin.com Dehns 01865 305 100 www.dehns.com David Parry Employment Law 01993 848 247 www.parryemploymentlaw.com Sipara 0844 2253 570 www.sipara.com Parrott & Coales LLP 01296 318 500 www.parrottandcoalesllp.co.uk Fieldstead Insolvency LLP 01296 433303 www.fieldstead.co.uk

BUSINESS SERVICES ARCHIVE & STORAGE Ardington Archives A Janet Gibbons Director 01367 718 710 www.ardingtonarchives.co.uk

The Archive Centre A David Coulton Owner 01296 425 744 www.thearchivecentre.com

AUDIO VISUAL Bang & Olufsen P Mark James Director 01865 511 241 www.bang-olufsen.com City Audio Visual P Peter Gunn Director 01865 722 800 www.cityaudiovisual.co.uk Cooz’s Recording Studio 01865 236 117 www.coozes.com

BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

contacts

CHARITIES

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

Helen & Douglas House A Aimie Edwards Corporate Partnerships Account Manager 01865 799 150 www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

TOE2 01865 882 488 www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds A Graham Brogden Head of Community Fundraising 01865 743 442 www.charitablefunds.org.uk

British Gas Business Services A Martin Orrill Head of Energy Technology and Innovation 0845 485 3528 www.britishgas.co.uk/business

Oxfordshire Community Foundation A Jayne Woodley Chief Executive 01865 798 666 www.oxfordshire.org RAF Benevolent Fund A Paul Hewson Regional Director, S. England 01296 656 586 www.rafbf.org.uk

The Profitable Hotel Company A Stuart Harrison Owner 01993 706 632 www.profitablehotelcompany.co.uk

The Sandhurst Foundation Daren Bowyer A Director 01276 412 000 www.sandhurstfoundation.org

Beacon Sales A Barry Luff Managing Director 07813 898 936 www.beaconsales.co.uk

Root & Branch A Adam Twine Patron 01793 780 380 www.rootandbranch.info

Evolution CBS A Rob Goddard Managing Director 0118 402 6892 www.evolutioncbs.co.uk

CLIC Sargent 0300 330 0803 www.clicsargent.org.uk

MCP Consulting and Training A John Saysell Business Development Manager 0121 506 9032 www.mcpeurope.com 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 Hunts Office Furniture and Interiors A Egon Hunt Sales Director 0845 4000 333 www.huntsoffice.co.uk

Aspire 01865 204 450 www.aspireoxford.co.uk Sue Ryder Care 01491 641 404 www.sueryder.org Crisis 01865 263 911 www.crisis.org.uk Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research 020 7504 2231 www.beatingbloodcancers.org.uk

GAS & ELECTRIC

DCResponse A Paul Anderson Managing Director 01993 708 855 www.dcresponse.co.uk

HEALTH & SAFETY Shawcity Ltd 01367 899 553 www.shawcity.co.uk

INSURANCE Chase Templeton A Charles Frost Independent Insurance Consultant 0808 271 9202 www.chasetempleton.co.uk Osbornes Insurances 01844 214 316 www.osbornesins.co.uk Macbeth Insurance Brokers 0118 9165 480 www.macbeths.co.uk

LOCAL GOVERNMENT West Oxfordshire District Council A Hayley Beer Tourism Services Manager 01993 861 558 www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org West Oxfordshire District Council A William Barton Business Development Officer 01993 861 000 www.westoxon.gov.uk/business

CLEANING SERVICES Excel Dry Cleaners 01865 511 773 www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk Pinewood Cleaning Services 01993 862 866 www.pinewoodcc.co.uk

DOMESTIC SERVICES

Oxford City Council 01865 252 845 www.oxford.gov.uk

MOTOR BMW North Oxford Garage Marcus Elliot P Corporate Sales Manager 01865 319 000 www.oxfordbmw.co.uk

Busy Offices 01494 672 233 www.busyoffices.net

www.b4-business.com

139

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B4 Ridgeway Landrover A Guy Twiselton General Sales Manager 01865 590 777 www.ridgeway.co.uk

NETWORKING GROUPS B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Editor 01865 742 211 www.b4-business.com

SECURITY Executive Alarms Ltd A John Keown Director 01865 435 435 www.executive-systems.co.uk

Passion for Food A Philip Baker Managing Director 08452 969 226 www.passion-for-food.co.uk

Four Pillars Hotels A Chris Green Group Marketing Manager 0800 374 692 www.four-pillars.co.uk

Complete Catering A Jon Kay General Manager 01235 820 840 www.completecatering.co.uk

Egrove Park A Jill Grieveson Conference Manager 01865 422 757 www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing

Lamb Catering A Emma Tasker Events and Marketing Director 01865 772 446 www.lambcatering.co.uk

The Forbury Hotel A Peter Farquhar General Manager 01189 527 770 www.theforburyhotel.co.uk

Philip Dennis Foodservice 01993 700 030 www.philipdennis.co.uk

Macdonald Windsor Hotel Beverley Molmans A General Manager 0844 879 9101 www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

CONFERENCES TRANSPORT Chiltern Railways 020 7333 3113 www.chilternrailways.co.uk Findlay Chauffeurs 08456 447 099 www.findlaycs.com JK Oxford Chauffeurs Ltd 01865 423 916 www.jkoxfordchauffeurs.com Teletrax Limited 01235 856 054 www.teletraxltd.co.uk

TRAVEL City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager 01865 790 522 www.citysightseeingoxford.com London Oxford Airport P Tony Farmer Head of Sales and Route Development 01865 290 600 www.londonoxfordairport.com Great Experience Travel A David Gambier Managing Director 0845 217 8284 www.greatexperiencetravel.co.uk Short Let Space Ltd. 01993 811 711 www.weeklyhome.com

Lady Margaret Hall P Bill Kemp 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 Faye Bellamy P Business Development Executive 01235 777 735 www.williamsconferencecentre.com The Feathers P Dominic Bishop General Manager 01993 812 291 www.feathers.co.uk Magdalen College School Emma Withers A Events Manager 01865 242 191 www.mcsoxford.org Heythrop Park Resort A Tracy Norcup Sales Manager 01608 673 372 www.heythroppark.co.uk Pembroke College A Huw Edmunds Head of Conferences and Events 01865 276 484 www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences

CATERING SERVICES

The Examination Schools Kay Hogg A Events Manager 01865 276 905 www.examschools.ox.ac.uk

Oxford Fine Dining P Sue Randall Managing Director 01865 728 240 www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

Howbery Business Park A Angela Andrews Marketing and Lettings Manager 01491 822 305 www.howberypark.com

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES

www.b4-business.com

contacts

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 St Hugh's College 01865 274 424 www.st-hughs.ox.ac.uk The King’s Centre 01865 297 400 www.kingscentre.co.uk Malmaison Reading 0118 956 2300 www.malmaison.com

EQUIPMENT HIRE Oxford Event Hire A Kieran Lynch Owner 01865 760 158 www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk Millie Miles A Lorna Miles Director 01869 351 603 www.milliemiles.co.uk

EVENT MANAGEMENT The Active Network 08700 841 480 www.regonline.co.uk

EVENTS Oxfordshire Registration Services A Jacquie Bugeja Head of Registration and Coroner's Services 0845 129 5900 www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Business in Oxford 2015 01865 742 211 www.businessinoxford.com Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards 01865 742 211 www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk Oxfordshire Business Awards www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk

VENUES Oxford Castle Quarter P Sam Pace Operations Manager 01865 201 657 www.oxfordcastle.com Blenheim Palace P John Hoy Chief Executive 01993 810 501 www.blenheimpalace.com Rhodes House P Isabelle Barber Business Development Manager 01865 270 918 www.rhodeshouseoxford.com The Vineyard P Marwan Hemchaoui General Manager 01635 528 770 www.the-vineyard.co.uk Venue Services, Bodleian Library A Alice Ogilvie Head of Venue Services 01865 277 224 www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Hartwell House A Jonathan Thompson Director & General Manager 01296 747 444 www.hartwell-house.com Blenheim Palace Hospitality 01993 813 874 www.blenheimpalace.com/hospitality Donnington Valley Hotel 01635 551 199 www.donningtonvalley.co.uk

EDUCATION City of Oxford College P Ian Francis Principal 01865 550 550 www.cityofoxford.ac.uk Reading College P Lesley Donoghue Principal 0118 955 4300 www.reading-college.ac.uk SAE Institute P Steve Hartley Media & PR Manager 01865 787 150 oxford.sae.edu

141

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Ardington Archives Ardington Archives LLP White Horse Business Park Stanford in the Vale Oxfordshire SN7 8NY Tel. 01367 718710

enquiries@ardingtonarchives.co.uk

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Telephone: 0776 666 5665 or 0845 0179830

B4 Oxford International Study Centre A Benjamin Llewelyn Principal 01865 201 009 www.oxintstudycentre.com Oxford University Student Union A Max Richardson Advertising Sales Manager 01865 288 456 www.ousu.org Thames Valley Training & Development David Podger A Managing Director 01494 605 035 www.thamesvalleytraining.com Buckinghamshire New University 0800 565 660 www.bucks.ac.uk

FINANCE

Handelsbanken 0118 959 5444 www.handelsbanken.co.uk/reading

IFA Mark Barclay Partner at St. James's Place Wealth Management 01865 793 121 www.mbarclay.co.uk FOCUS 01865 295 295 www.focus-oxford.co.uk

MORTGAGE ADVICE Mortgage Choices A James Keene Principal Consultant 01993 862 888 www.mortgage-choices.com

HEALTH & LEISURE

contacts

SPORT Newbury Racecourse P Amanda Ellis Conference & Events Business Development Manager 01635 40015 www.racecoursenewbury.co.uk Reading Football Club Limited P Sir John Madejski Chairman 0118 968 1100 www.readingfc.co.uk Oxford University Rugby Football Club A Tim Stevens Club Administrator 01865 432 000 www.ourfc.org The Jockey Club South West Racecourses A Matthew Foxton-Duffy Regional Head of Marketing - SW 01242 537 608 www.thejockeyclub.co.uk

ADVICE

FITNESS

Ergowealth A Brian Page Managing Director 01494 616 522 www.ergowealth.com

TLA Fitness A Tom Alden Founder 07554 400 401 www.tlafitness.com

North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club 01865 513 560 (Clubhouse) www.northoxfordltc.org.uk

Critchleys 01865 261 100 www.critchleys.co.uk

Prime Energy Fitness Ltd 01869 352 000 www.primeenergy.org

Flackwell Financial Services 01628 525 450 www.flackwell.org

Cherwell Boathouse Punting 01865 552 746 www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk

Helen Money Nutrition A Helen Money Owner 01865 339 672 www.helenmoneynutrition.com

BANKING

GOLF

RBS Corporate Banking A Donald MacDonald UK Head of Deposits & Director, Professionals 07768 427 379 www.rbs.co.uk/corporate.ashx

Magnolia Park Golf Club P Mark McGeehan Head PGA Professional 01844 239 700 www.magnoliapark.co.uk

Brown Shipley A Trudy Papafio Private Client Manager 0207 282 3227 www.brownshipley.co.uk Santander Corporate Banking 0845 607 0666 www.santander.co.uk Coutts 01865 389 039 www.coutts.com Barclays 07775 542 467 www.barclayscorporate.com Lloyds TSB Commercial 01442 233 261 www.lloydstsbbusiness.com Clydesdale Bank 0844 736 2616 www.cbonline.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

Frilford Heath Golf Club P Alistair Booth Director 01865 390 864 www.frilfordheath.co.uk

HEALTH CARE Robert Stanley Opticians P John Edwards Director 01865 766 488 www.robertstanley.co.uk Clinic95 P Maria Hardman Business Manager 01865 241 661 www.clinic95.com Linda Flanigan Hypnotherapy 07866 360 359 www.lfhypnotherapy-oxfordshire.co.uk

WELLBEING

Monica Franke Osteopathy & Pilates 07970 119 721 www.cliniconthegreen.com

HR HR CONSULTANTS HR2You P Sarah Morris Owner 07789 711 997 www.hr2you.co.uk Crispin Rhodes A Sharon Pugh Partner 01189 414 941 www.crispinrhodes.co.uk Gazella HR 01865 339 411 www.gazellahr.co.uk

Right Hand HR 0844 880 4582 www.rhhr.com

RECRUITMENT myFD Recruitment 01865 339 313 www.myfdrecruitment.co.uk Hays 01865 727 071 www.hays.com

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS DATABASE MANAGEMENT InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director 0845 310 9973 www.intouchcrm.co.uk ClientMailer 01865 339 406 www.clientmailer.com

IT SERVICES Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd P Richard Marsh Director 01367 700 555 www.cisltd.com Bluespires IT A Richard Fuller Owner 0845 528 505 www.bluespires.co.uk Flex Information Technology Paul Horseman A Director 0333 101 7300 www.flex.co.uk QPQ Software Ltd 01235 522 516 www.qpqsoftware.com Oxford Knowledge Ltd 01865 322 100 www.oxford-knowledge.com First Line Support Ltd 01865 260 220 www.firstline-it.com Security Exchange Ltd. 01491 683 710 www.securityexchange24.com

MB HR Support Ltd 01993 882 744 www.mbhrsupport.co.uk

SECURITY

Spires HR 01865 880 391 www.spireshr.co.uk

Dionach 01865 877 830 www.dionach.com

Sylo Associates 01844 216 290 www.sylo-associates.co.uk

143

Music Director Marios Papadopoulos MBE

Banbury Van Car Hire Ltd

Artist in Residence Maxim Vengerov

Oxford Philomusica In Residence at the University of Oxford

2014/15 guest artists include:

Vladimir Ashkenazy Angela Hewitt Anne-Sophie Mutter Maria João Pires András Schiff Maxim Vengerov www.oxfordphil.com

Vehicles subject to availability - visit our website for full hire trerms and conditions

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or visit us at 5.)4 ! s 4(/20% 7!9 BANBURY (next to Reg’s Cafe) or chat to PATRICK 07875 131 784 or Reg 07888 747 323

E AT - D R I N K - E N J O Y W W W. OX F O R D C A S T L E Q UA R T E R . CO M - OX F O R D C A S T L E Q UA R T E R , OX F O R D, OX 1 1 AY

B4 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT Sophos 01235 559933 www.sophos.com

WEB OPTIMISATION SERVICES Zest A Alex Minchin Director 0843 289 161 www.zestdigital.co Alberon A Tim Ault Managing Director 01865 263 220 www.alberon.co.uk

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Torpedo Group Limited A Iain Lewis Director 01865 733 710 www.torpedogroup.com Olamalu A Christoph Corvin Director 01993 764 566 www.olamalu.com Method and Class A Robyn North Digital Marketing Consultant 01280 821 840 www.methodandclass.com Urban Element 01993 776 999 www.urbanelement.com White October 01865 706 017 www.whiteoctober.co.uk

MANUFACTURING MEDICAL GOODS Owen Mumford A Jarl Severn Director 01993 812 021 www.owenmumford.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

www.b4-business.com

contacts

Focal Point Advertising Solutions 01256 767837 www.focal.co.uk

Heart of Business A Jackie Jarvis Director 07801 293022

CORPORATE IDENTITY

Oxford Media Factory A Chris Smith Director 01865 552 678 www.oxfordmediafactory.co.uk

Recognition Express P Andy Olejnik Managing Director 01295 257 611 www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk Strangebrew A Phil Strachan Director 07770 753 975 www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

DESIGN Blink Design A Keith Simpson Senior Designer 01865 742 211 www.on-the-blink.com ADS 01993 885 122 www.adsoxford.co.uk Kingdom Signs Ltd 01235 812 299 www.kingdomsigns.com Kettle Studio 01491 837 336 www.kettlestudio.co.uk

FRAMING Isis Creative Framing 01865 203 420 www.isiscreative.co.uk

FREELANCE COPY WRITING & EDITING Noble Word A Matt Wright Owner 07500 531 485

MARKETING Marketing Sense A Jo Sensecall Director 01865 883 579 www.marketing-sense.co.uk Obergine A Jeremy Anderson Director 01865 245 777 www.obergine.com Hutchhouse Ltd A Ben Hutchins Creative Director 0845 467 8089 www.hutchhouse.co.uk

Oxford Film Productions 01865 761 962 / 01865 762 710

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

PRINTING Advent Colour P Mike Ackerman Sales Director 01264 359 359 www.advent-colour.co.uk 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 Hunts A Simon Froud Account Manager 01865 853 633 www.hunts.co.uk

Spriggs David A Karen David Partner 01865 512662 www.spriggsdavid.co.uk Cerub PR A Ceri-Jane Hackling Managing Director 01494 461 784 www.cerubpr.co.uk Adapt Communications A Tracey Jefferies Founder 01865 820 183 www.traceyjefferies.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 The Buzzworks A Sarah Airey Proprietor 01993 813 848 www.thebuzzworks.co.uk Evokedset A Nicola Denovan Director 0844 870 8025 www.evokedset.com

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTS John Hallam Associates A John Hallam Director 01608 646 969 www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk Gray Baynes + Shew 01865 305 130 www.gbsarchitects.co.uk

The Oxford Duplication Centre Cheryl-Lee Foulsham Managing Director 01865 457 000 www.theduplicationcentre.co.uk

BUSINESS PARKS

Amberley Court Associates Ltd 07767 424 000 www.amberleycourtassociates.co.uk

01494 411 300 www.gpbusinesscentre.co.uk

Abbey Press 01235 554 555 www.abbey-press.co.uk

Glory Park Business Centre P

Begbroke Science Park A Peter Dobson Managing Director 01865 283 700 www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk

PUBLIC RELATIONS Papa Romeo PR A Claire Thompson Managing Director 07811 339 577 www.paparomeopr.com

Grove Technology Park A Robert Lamplough Chairman 01235 772 992 www.grovetechpark.com

145

Bloxham Mill Business Centre A Ray Avery Managing Director 01295 722 800 www.bloxhammill.com

scottfraser A David Blythman Managing Director Sales 01865 759 500 www.scottfraser.co.uk

Pure Offices 01865 811110 www.pureoffices.co.uk

scottfraser A Chris Rowntree Sales Director 01993 705 507 www.scottfraser.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS 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

Strutt & Parker A Miles Collison Partner, Development Land & New Homes 01865 366 660 www.struttandparker.com Penny & Sinclair A James Penny Director 01865 318 013 www.pennyandsinclair.co.uk

Lambert Smith Hampton A Kevin Wood Director 01865 200 244 www.lsh.co.uk

Pink & Black Property Consultants A Claire Moloney Director 01865 515 919 www.pinkandblackproperty.com

Meeson Williams Ltd 01865 349011 www.meesonwilliams.com

GP Residential 01865 246 399 www.gpresidential.com

Marriotts 01865 316311 www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

LETTING AGENTS

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SERVICES

Breckon & Breckon P Greg Barnes Director 01865 201 111 www.breckon.co.uk

Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and IC Development Director 01865 261 400 www.oxin-centres.co.uk HighGround A Graham Turrell Founder 0800 612 6601 www.highgroundproperty.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

146

North Oxford Property Services P Robin Swailes Director 01865 311 745 www.nops.co.uk Finders Keepers A Frank Webster Director 01865 302 308 www.finders.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

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS Kemp & Kemp A Steven Sensecall Partner 01865 240 001 www.kempandkemp.co.uk Forge Engineering Design Solutions Ltd 01865 362 780 www.f-eds.co.uk Thameside Surveying Ltd 01628 421 504 www.thamesidesurveying.com

PROPERTY SERVICES Savvy Maintenance & Renovations A Stephen Dunne Director 01865 920 020 www.savvy-group.co.uk Absolutely Offices A Beryl Huntingdon Managing Director 01256 316 500 www.absolutely-offices.co.uk EIFLA-3D A Nigel J Blanchard Founder & CEO 0844 7767 187 www.eifla-3d.co.uk Windover Facilities Management A Edward MacFarlane CEO 01869 368 095 www.windoverfm.com Darke & Taylor Ltd 01865 290 000 www.darkeandtaylor.co.uk 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

Westwood Hotel P Anthony Healey Owner 01865 735 408 www.westwoodhotel.co.uk 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 Fallowfields Hotel & Restaurant A Anthony Lloyd Managing Director 01865 820 416 www.fallowfields.com 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 The Burlington House 01865 513 513 www.burlington-hotel-oxford.co.uk

ARTISTIC & CULTURAL Modern Art Oxford A Hannah Evans Communications Manager 01865 813 826 www.modernartoxford.org.uk Orchestra of St John's A John Lubbock Artistic Director 07765 252 489 www.osj.org.uk Ashmolean Museum 01865 288 364 www.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Oxford Philomusica 07775 904 626 www.oxfordphil.com Rachel Ducker www.rachelducker.co.uk

COFFEE SHOPS Java & Co 07736 950 673 www.javaandco.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT

RESTAURANTS

Sam Strange Magic A Sam Strange Owner 01865 742 211 www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

Browns, Oxford P Simon Stonehouse General Manager 01865 511 995 www.browns-restaurants.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

Browns, Reading P 0118 950 3137 www.browns-restaurants.co.uk

Pegasus Theatre A Bel Crewe Development Director 01865 812 160 www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

Browns, Windsor P 01753 831 976 www.browns-restaurants.co.uk

Creation Theatre 01865 761 393 www.creationtheatre.co.uk

The Red Lion P Mark Purton General Manager 01865 726 255 www.redlionoxford.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse 01865 305 305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES

Chariots and Cherry Pie P Claire Hilsden Managing Director 0333 121 0066 www.chariotsandcherrypie.co.uk

Roots of Oxford P Mike Hirons Managing Director 01865 792 060 www.rootsofoxford.com

4500 Miles From Delhi A Nav Kandola Owner 01865 244 922 www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford

The Oxford Wine Company Ted Sandbach A Managing Director 01865 301 144 www.oxfordwine.co.uk

Brookes Restaurant A Jonathan Warhurst Operations Director 01865 483 873 www.brookes.ac.uk

GALLERIES 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

Organic Deli Café A Trevor Bennett & Cristina Campos Owners 01865 364 853 www.oxfordorganic.co.uk Aziz A Aziz Rahman Proprietor 01865 794 945 www.aziz.uk.com

contacts

Aziz Express A Abdul Rahman Proprietor 01865 395 870 www.azizexpress.co.uk

SHOPPING

The Snooty Mehmaan A Asad Ahmed Director 01367 242 260 www.thesnootymehmaan.co.uk

Blackwell’s P David Prescott Managing Director 01865 382 500 www.blackwell.co.uk

The Tree Hotel at Iffley Village A Kavita Pal Director 01865 775 974 iffley.treehotel.co.uk

Bicester Village A Helen Peters Sales & Marketing Manager – Tourism 01869 323 200 www.bicestervillage.com

Turl Street Kitchen A Javier Padron Iribarne Manager 07717 341 628 www.turlstreetkitchen.co.uk

Clements and Church 01865 511 212 www.clementsandchurch.co.uk

L’Ortolan A Sally Albin Marketing Manager 0118 988 9107 www.lortolan.com Pierre Victoire 01865 316 616 www.pierrevictoire.co.uk Saffron 01865 512 211 www.saffronrestaurantoxford.co.uk The Chequers at Burcot 01865 407 771 www.thechequers-burcot.co.uk Café Aloha 01865 792 696 www.cafealoha.co.uk The Oxford Blue 01865 460 215 www.theoxfordblue.com

The University of Oxford Shop P 01865 247 414 www.oushop.com

Riche de Fleurs 01993 869 202 www.richeflowers.com

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE Oxford Instruments Plc A Lynn Shepherd Group Director of Communications 01865 393 378 www.oxinst.com Oxford Technologies A Stephen Sanders Business Development Director 01235 544 871 www.oxfordtechnologies.co.uk Science Oxford A Dominic McDonald Head of Public Engagement and Business Networks 01865 728 953 www.scienceoxford.com

The Tree Hotel 01494 881 183 www.cadmore.treehotel.co.uk

B4 partners

Official E-Mail Marketing Partner

Official Events Software Partner

Official Cloud Partner

Official Photographer

Official Event Partner

Official Stationery Partner

Preferred supplier of Home Entertainment

B4 is designed by Blink Design & Print t: 01865 742211

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147

BIO 20 15 Fo llo wu s@

BUSINESS

Following on from the success of Business in Oxford 2014 which saw 36 Oxfordshire based businesses present to 300 delegates at SaĂŻd Business School.

Business in Oxford 2015 will be a full day event with talks delivered by a wide range of Oxfordshire businesses.

Book your tickets for either morning or afternoon sessions at the website below.

For sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, please call the team on 01865 742211.

see www.businessinoxford.com

TUESDAY 30TH JUNE - SAĂ?D BUSINESS SCHOOL

In association with

B4