B4 Magazine issue 22

B4

Magazine

ISSUE 22 SPRING 2012

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CO N F E R E NC E

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CO M M U N I C AT I O N

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M A R K ET I NG

P R O P E RT Y

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R & R

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Lloyds TSB Commercial Looking forward to 2012

RISK Need to protect your business or home? Look no further

Miele 112 Years of Perfection

B U I L D I N G

B R I D G E S

B E T W E E N

B U S I N E S S E S

meet oxfordshire

Residential Letting · Property Management

Don’t get left out Now over 400 members. See page 144.

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With annual memberships starting at £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.

Call us now on 01865 742211 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 Membership for up to 5 employees. Rate increases for 6 to 20 employees to £375+VAT per annum, £500+VAT for 21 to 50, £900+VAT for 51 to 100 and £1200+VAT for over 100 employees. Ambassador scheme is separate and subject to a separate charge.

B4

T H E

OX F O R D S H I R E

RESTAURANT

AWARDS Enter your restaurant now!

Download the entry form at www.inoxford.com For updates follow us at twitter.com/inoxfordawards A W A R D S

S P O N S O R

www.b4-business.com Contacts If you want to contact B4 Magazine Telephone: 01865 742211 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 Annette Kamphausen assistanteditor@b4-business.com B4 Events Tina Rosser events@b4-business.com Editorial contributors Alun Williams Annette Kamphausen Claire Thompson Erica Conlan John Kennedy Louise Esplin Lucy Holmes Ryan Keane Sarah Airey Sean Martin Tracey Jefferies B4 Photography Rob Scotcher Tamara Taboas Victoria Dix Studio Photography Studio8 Telephone: 01865 842525

welcome to B4 As we enter our 6th year at B4, we enter a year full of hope and trepidation in equal measures. Whether 2012 will be a year to remember, or another year to forget will depend on many variables beyond our control, but there’s no doubt that more and more businesses are getting on with the job in hand and not allowing the doom merchants to cast too many shadows.

As the Wenn Townsend article on page 64 mentions, a recent survey of 100 directors found that 80 had seen their businesses grow in the last year and that’s a statistic I would endorse given the businesses we have featured in B4 over the past year.

At B4, we’re certainly looking ahead positively. Having already launched in Berkshire in January, we look forward to the launch of B4 Buckinghamshire in April. Of course we want to grow beyond three titles, but it took us five years to launch one, so two in four months isn’t bad going!

Inside

38. The Career Boutique Have you thought about your next career move?

For those of you who came to the B4 Ambassadors event at The Ashmolean in January, I am sure you will agree this was a great way to start the Oxfordshire events in 2012 and I would like to thank Christopher Brown and Bene Montain for putting on such a fabulous show. What a spectacular venue!

Looking ahead, we have a huge series of events planned throughout Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire which you can see on pages 6 and 7. Facilitating contact with members in new areas will be a growing theme with B4 events and we will also be seeing Berks and Bucks members attending selected events in Oxfordshire, most notably our Oxfordshire Showcase in May and the Williams F1 Ambassadors event in December.

We also have the 2nd Annual Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards to look forward to, our 6th B4 / MGroup Golf tournament, the Oxfordshire and West Oxfordshire Business Awards and, for those of you interested, there are still spaces on our Paris to Oxford bike ride in June – see page 40.

72. John Hallam Associates A commercial approach to architecture

In this issue, we welcome new Platinum Ambassadors, The Ashmolean, Rhodes House, BLine, The MGroup, The Mogford Group and T-Mobile.

Subscriptions For free Subscription, please contact: Telephone: 01865 742211 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.

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.

B4 Magazine is printed by

www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

There are also some excellent articles to read, amongst others contributions from Grant Thornton, Henmans, Lady Margaret Hall. Magna Carta College, Malmaison, Miele, Nominet, Orange and RISK. We welcome John Hallam Associates to B4 and welcome back Oxford Radcliffe Private Healthcare.

Finally, a mention for Oxfordshire’s first Who’s Who. You can see details of this excellent publication on page 12 and if you would like to feature, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

86. Oxford Innovation Innovation and Ambition. Not just in Oxford!

Enjoy B4!

Richard Rosser Editor

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

113. Nominet Changing Address?

THURSDAY

TUESDAY

1st

TUESDAY

SATURDAY

22nd 2nd

MARCH B4 Buckinghamshire Pre-Launch Event 6pm - 8pm

MAY

JUNE

Paris to Oxford Bike Ride 280 Miles

Venue: Hartwell House & Spa, Aylesbury

B4 / MGroup Golf Cup Qualifier 12 noon

Also open to B4 Oxfordshire & B4 Berkshire Ambassadors

Venue: Oxford Golf Club

Please join us Call 01865 742211 For details

Open to All

Open to All

3rd JULY B4 Oxfordshire Ambassadors Event 6pm - 9pm Venue: Blenheim Palace Also open to B4 Berkshire & B4 Buckinghamshire Ambassadors

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

THURSDAY

DATE

THURSDAY

DATE

THURSDAY

29th TBC 17th TBC 12th MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

B4 Workshop 9am - 11am

B4 Buckinghamshire Ambassadors Launch Event 6pm - 8pm

Oxfordshire Showcase & Lloyds TSB Commercial Economic Briefing in association with VSL Time TBC

B4 Berkshire Ambassadors Event 6pm - 8pm

B4 / MGroup Golf Cup Qualifier 12 noon

Venue: The Vineyard

Venue: Frilford Heath Golf Club

Venue: Canvas, Abingdon

Also open to B4 Oxfordshire & B4 Buckinghamshire Ambassadors

Open to All

Presentations by Bloxham Mill, B4 & Brethertons Venue: Bloxham Mill Open to All

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Venue: TBC Also open to B4 Oxfordshire & B4 Berkshire Ambassadors

Also open to B4 Oxfordshire & B4 Berkshire Members & Ambassadors

www.b4-business.com

B4 EVENTS

B4 CALENDAR 2012 The B4 Events Calendar 2012 is here.Make sure you put these dates in your diary today. You don’t want to miss out on these excellent opportunities to network with other B4 Ambassadors and Members in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. For events with ‘tbc’ alongside, keep an eye on the B4 website for latest date confirmations.

DATE

TBC AUGUST B4 Buckinghamshire Ambassadors Event 6pm - 9pm Venue: TBC

THURSDAY

6th SEPTEMBER B4 / MGroup Golf Cup THE FINAL 12 noon

DATE

DATE

TBC

TBC

AUGUST

DECEMBER

B4 Berkshire Ambassadors Event 6pm - 8pm

B4 Oxfordshire Ambassadors Event 6.30pm - 9pm

Venue: TBC

Venue: Williams F1 Also open to B4 Berkshire & B4 Buckinghamshire Ambassadors

Also open to B4 Oxfordshire & B4 Berkshire Ambassadors

Venue: Studley Wood Golf Club Qualified Teams Only

Also open to B4 Oxfordshire & B4 Buckinghamshire Ambassadors

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

TUESDAY

DECEMBER

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

18th

13th 19th

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

2012 Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards 6pm

B4 Platinum Ambassadors Event

Carols Followed by The B4 Xmas Lunch

Venue: Rhodes House, Oxford

Venue: Pembroke Colleged

Open to All Oxfordshire, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire Platinum Ambassadors

Open to All

Venue: Malmaison, Oxford Castle Quarter Sponsored by Miele

www.b4-business.com

NOVEMBER

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32 Ongoing Support for Oxfordshire's Manufacturers: Finding the right finance for your business with Lloyds TSB Commercial.

38 Have You Thought About Your Next Career Move?: B4 Platinum Ambassador, Katherine Dales, talks to B4.

LEAD

35 Looking Forward to 2012: With Lloyds TSB Commercial's Area Director, Dave Atkinson.

SPOTLIGHT

48 Risk Management Security Services: Need to protect your business or home? Look no further.

82 Using Business Common Sense to Interpret Contracts: Himesh Chavda of Henmans talks to B4 about the importance of clear contracts.

110 A Different Kind of Goal: Steve Basham, ex-prolific goalscorer, turns to accountancy.

114 Getting to Grips with Growth: B4 talks to the authors of ‘Breaking the barriers to business growth’.

50 The Big Event: The first 2012 B4 Ambassador Event at The Ashmolean.

54 Miele: 112 Years of Perfection: We meet Miele GB CEO, Simon Grantham, to find out more about Miele.

94 The Electric Business: Electric Hair owner, Mark Woolley, talks about his vision for now and the future.

58 11 NEWS

11 B4 News 16 B4 Berkshire Launch 31 IoD 36 WOBA’s

ADVICE

58 Poised to Grow: B4 meet with Grant Thornton's Perry Burton at their fantastic new offices in Berkshire.

65 Oxfordshire's Economic Health: Wenn Townsend pose a few questions to you about the local economy.

75 The Number of Business Owners Considering MBO's Triples: Fascinating facts from Coutts as entrepreneurs consider all options.

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PROPERTY 72 John Hallam Associates: A commercial approach to architecture with John Hallam.

86 Innovation and Ambition, Not Just in Oxford!: B4 meets up with Oxford Innovation's Jo Willett to find out more about its past, present and future.

37 Oxford New Theatre 42 Oxfordshire Community Foundation 43 HR2YOU 46 Oxford United 47 Visit Oxfordshire 63 Oxford Inspires 69 VSL 88 CLIC 92 OTCN 100 The Social with Glooo 118 B4 Wine Club 124 The Business Welath Club

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IT & COMMS 44 2011 Was Better than we Thought and 2012 Will be Just as Good: Great news from Orange.

98 How Do You Keep In Touch With Your Customers?: James White, of intouchcrm, tells us how we should.

www.b4-business.com

B4 contents 113 Changing Address?: Nominet's Chief Executive, Lesley Cowley OBE, tells B4 that web addresses are changing.

119 Engineers With Vision Part 9: Unnecessary costs when buying a new telephone system.

90

79 HEALTH

79 Matters of the Heart: Dr Suzie Anthony talks to Sean Martin about the affects of Coronary Artery Disease.

125 RealTime Health: We spotlight this award winning healthcare business.

67 R&R

67 Jamie's Italian: Dan Channer of Finders Keepers treats the family to lunch.

131 The Feathered Nest: Award-winning restaurants are few and far between - The Feathered Nest has won three in its first year!

134 A Warm Welcome at North Oxford Golf Club: Overcoming a few misconceptions - Sarah Airey meets the engaging Bob Harris.

SERVICES

90 Brewing up a Rather Special Kind of Magic: B4 Platinum Ambassador, Phil Strachan, explains the importance of a well thought out brand.

137 Spice Lounge: Anne Kamphausen reviews this popular Summertown restaurant.

93 Ardington Archives: Chief Executive Janet Gibbons tells B4 why this document storage specialist is leading the way.

140 Grosvenor House: A Living Landmark.

97 Keeping Your Sales Leads Warm With Automation: Simon WallaceJones of Oxford Digital Marketing explains more.

132

116 Simply Beautiful: Keep up with The Beautiful Group's Chris Clinkard‌.if you can!

120 Blueprint: Need a banner or some creative thinking to get your business noticed? Look no further.

EDUCATION

132 Magna Carta Summer School: A new venue for summer schools in 2012.

89 89 Nothing Set in Stone: Staging an event or conference? Why not try Oxford Castle Quarter.

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101 New Hospitality Products at Chelsea Football Club: Get into the big league at Stamford Bridge.

102 Oxfam: Co-founder of innocent drinks, Richard Reed, talks about Oxfam.

108 The Ashmolean: Exciting exhibitions and corporate opportunities at The Ashmolean.

107 The Art Room: We find out why The Duchess of Cambridge has chosen this fantastic charity.

122 Rhodes House: One of Oxford's best kept secrets?

126 Salmon Fishing in The Yemen: Lady Margaret Hall hosts this UK Premiere in aid of Refugee Resource.

VENUES

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TRANSPORT 76 Sport in London: Let Chiltern get you there.

104 Chrysler: 200 Not Out: Meet the team at Chrysler Oxford.

www.b4-business.com

138 Tudor Hall: Strong values, inspirational teaching and a motto that has stood the test of time.

128 Forget The Drama, We're Talking Pure Theatre: If you're looking for a unique venue for an event or conference, then Malmaison is it.

CHARITY

145 The Experience Tree: A great new service provided by MacIntyre's Lifelong Learning Centre.

144 CONTACTS

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IMPORTANT B4 ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE READ

As from B4 Issue 24 (June 2012) B4 will only be mailed to you if you have confirmed in writing to us that you would like to receive B4 in the post.

If you have received your copy of B4 in the post, please complete the enclosed form and return to us in the post or by fax.

If you have picked up a copy of B4 and would like to receive it in the future, please send the following information by e-mail to editorial@b4-business.com 1. Name. 2. Title. 3. Company Name. 4. Company Address. 5. Post Code.

6. Telephone number. 7. E-Mail (if you wish to receive B4 e-Newsletters) 8. A brief description of what your company does. 9. Number of employees

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR TIME

B4 news Shaw Gibbs showed their spots and raised lots!

Shaw Gibbs are delighted to announce that they have been successful in raising over £30,000 for BBC Children in Need!

The fundraising was achieved across an 8-week period in November 2011 through a variety of activities, including a sponsored head shave that saw 2 of the Shaw Gibbs Partners and Graham MacDonald of local property agent, Kemp & Kemp Property Consultants, lose their locks in exchange for donations.

Photo: www.clackphotography.co.uk

PM Launches WitneyTV

Graham Henley, Managing Partner of Shaw Gibbs, had the following to say: “We are so proud to have raised this large sum of money and to have gained the support of so many businesses and individuals.

Everyone had a fun-filled day and it was great to see so many people visiting our offices and getting involved. I would like to thank all of those who donated or participated in helping us achieve our target.”

Pictures from the day are available to view at www.shawgibbs.com

WitneyTV is a local community website that films all the goings on in the Witney and West Oxfordshire area. The launch at the end of November marked the second stage in the launch of their new website and alongside the video section, a directory of local businesses went live. These listings are free so make sure that you register your business today!

To mark the event, WitneyTV website developers, Urban Element, held a drop in session for any local

business to come and ask questions on web design, web development and online marketing, as well as registering for the Business Directory if they hadn’t already done so. This was followed by a networking lunch where refreshments were provided by Samuelsons of Witney, Wychwood Brewery, Foxbury Farm and The Solan Goose.

The big turn on then happened around 3pm when Prime Minister David Cameron arrived to officially launch the website. www.witneytv.co.uk

Are you in the race for the Best Oxfordshire Business of 2012?

The search is on to find the county’s top performers. For 18 years, the Oxfordshire Business Awards has been recognising, rewarding and promoting the excellence of Oxfordshire-based companies. Organised and supported by 14 of the county’s leading organisations, the Awards are firmly established as a benchmark for excellence in today’s competitive business environment.

To see the 2012 Award categories or to enter the 2012 Oxfordshire Business Awards for free, go to: www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk. All entries must be received by no later than Friday 2nd March 2012.

For further details about the Awards, please contact Awards Secretary Jane Reeve by email jreeve@darbys.co.uk or by telephone on 01865 811218.

Banbury In Business Summit returns in March 2012 Banbury in Business is returning on Friday 23rd March 2012 from 9.30am at Spiceball Leisure Centre.

The event will be hosted by local MP Tony Baldry, and a great range of speakers are already signed up to impart their knowledge and experience including: • Stephen Hester, Chief Executive of Royal Bank of Scotland • Stuart Miller from Bybox, a global leader in box-based logistics • Steve Orchard, owner of commercial radio station Banbury Sound • Sarah Castle from Think Big

www.b4-business.com

Training. Also on hand will be exhibitors from local business and business advisory services.

Banbury in Business 2012 will focus on maximising opportunities for growth helping organisations to identify, seize and ultimately succeed through developing their businesses.

Places are limited so for more information and to book your place, visit our website www.banburyinbusiness.co.uk now.

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OXFORDSHIRE WHO’S WHO K E Y

B U S I N E S S

C O N T A C T S

Are you going to be in Oxfordshire’s First Ever Who’s Who? More to the point, can you afford not to be?

B4 WHO’S WHO 2012 B4 Who’s Who will be published in 2012 and mailed to 3,000 business decision makers in Oxfordshire. It is designed to provide those wishing to raise or maintain their profile in the Oxfordshire business community with a high quality publication which will sit on the desks of key Oxfordshire business decision makers.

To see an example of the guide please see: http://issuu.com/b4-business/docs/oxfordshire_who_s_who_2012

EXPOSURE FOR WHO’S WHO The publication is being compiled now for a launch in March and will be viewable on www.b4-business.com as an e-Magazine as it grows.

Thereafter, we will be adding pages as new buisnesses book, providing those who book sooner rather than later with maximum exposure in the lead up to the print date. The electronic version of the publication will remain on line for 12 months until it is re-printed in 2013.

In addition, we will be promoting the publication through: • B4 weekly e-Newsletters • Banners on www.b4-business.com • Banners on www.inoxford.com

DISTRIBUTION Mailed to 3,000 business decision makers in Oxfordshire and made available at B4 events and workshops.

PHOTOGRAPHY We have used Studio 8 to bring the many faces of Oxfordshire businesses to you through the pages of B4 Magazine. If you would like to appear in Who’s Who and do not have high quality images of yourself, please contact us and we will arrange for your photographs to be taken at Studio 8 at no extra charge. Charges will only be incurred if you wish to use these photographs for your own purposes other than in Who’s Who or B4 Magazine. www.studio-8.com

DIMENSIONS & SPECS

RATES

Finished Size: Colour: Materials: Finishing:

rates per page

First page Discounted Rate £

Additional page Rate £

Ambassador Member Non-Member

200 250 300

150 200 250

230 x 210mm 4 colour process + machine sealed throughout Cover 300gsm silk, text 170gsm silk Outer cover Soft Touch lamination + spot uv varnished (10% coverage), fold, stitch & trim

T O B O O K O R F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N , C A L L B 4 O N 0 1 8 6 5 7 4 2 2 1 1 T O D AY

OXFORDSHIRE WHO’S WHO K E Y

B U S I N E S S

C O N T A C T S

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A B 4 M a g a z i n e P u b l i c a t i o n i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h w w w. v i s i t o x f o r d a n d o x f o r d s h i r e . c o m

Front Cover

PROPERTY & BUILDING | LETTING AGENTS

LETTING AGENTS | PROPERTY & BUILDING

GREG BARNES BRECKON & BRECKON ABOUT ME Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including. type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently.

ABOUT THE COMPANY Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including. type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently.

CONTACTS C A T W

Greg Barnes, Partner - greg.barnes@breckon.co.uk 13 Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LP +44 (0)1865 201111. www.breckon.co.uk

ABI LUCY

SIMON CUDD

SUZANNE WEBB

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem..

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised..

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem.

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially.

E name.name@emailaddress.co.uk T +44 (0)1865 201111

13 | OXFORDSHIRE WHO’S WHO 2012

Single Page and Expansion Page Internal

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised...

E name.name@emailaddress.co.uk T +44 (0)1865 201111

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining.

E name.name@emailaddress.co.uk T +44 (0)1865 201111

OXFORDSHIRE WHO’S WHO 2012 | 13

We help our clients build their businesses every working day of the year - whilst still making time for a little fun!

Shaw Gibbs is a leading firm of independent accountants and business advisers based in Oxfordshire. From our modern North Oxford offices we adopt a fresh approach to the delivery of the full range of accountancy and related financial services to both corporate and personal clients.

To find out how Shaw Gibbs can help build your business, call 01865 292205 or for further information, visit www.shawgibbs.com *Shaw Gibbs Corporate Finance Limited and Shaw Gibbs Financial Services Limited are authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Here are some of the ways we can help build your business: • • • • • • •

Accounts Audit Business consultancy Corporate finance* Corporate and business tax Financial services* Insolvency and corporate recovery • Payroll • Sage support services • VAT consultancy Scan to visit our website:

Although great fun to make, a snowman has a short life span.

At Shaw Gibbs we believe in building things to last.

B4 news Vale House Charity Vale House is a charity dedicated to supporting people with severe dementia until the end of their life.

The charity has become internationally renowned in this field, with a 21-year track record of looking after a veryvulnerable group of people through its specialist care home at Botley, on the outskirts of Oxford.

People with severe dementia are often excluded from the world outside their home for many reasons. Their degenerative mental status makes them extremely vulnerable and dependent; they need specialist care 24 hours a day. Vale House excels in supporting such people, giving residents opportunities and activities they cannot have at home.

2012 marks a new era for Vale House as it moves into its new, larger premises at Sandford on Thames. The demand in the region for this specialist type of care has been growing over the past 10 years to the point where the charity has operated on a 98% occupancy rate for many years, and with a growing waiting list.

The answer has been to build a new state-of-theart specialist care home to accommodate 40 residents – doubling the number of people the care home could support. The additional capacity will help alleviate pressure within the community on Social Services waiting lists and ‘bed-blocking’ in our community hospitals. Thanks to the increase in the number of beds, people currently placed far outside the county will be able to move back to Oxford, near to their loved ones.

A major fundraising campaign to raise £2.5 million towards the total build cost of £5.6 million was launched in March 2011. To date, the appealcommittee lead by Richard Dick of W Lucy & Co has raised £1.4 million. This year, the committee will be holding a number of high profile fundraising events. For more information see:. www.valehouse.org.uk

Oxfordshire training company wins top award Oxfordshire based learning and development company Explosive Learning Solutions (ELS) has received high recognition for its expertise and named winner of the Best Training Partnership Award at this year’s Training Journal Awards.

ELS Operations Director Cath Convery received the award at a glittering Gala Dinner in London. She says: “These awards are considered the most prestigious in the L&D industry and we are thrilled to be recognised by our peers.”

ELS prides itself on the ability to form close partnerships when designing innovative programmes for clients across the project, change, training design and risk management fields. Working to aggressive timescales and concentrating on setting clear and precise learning objectives, it is meticulous in ensuring problems are solved and business objectives delivered on budget and within deadlines.

ELS was specifically nominated for its work with the

(From left to right) Andy Goucher and Matt England, from the MOD, Gary Craggs from ELS with Cath Convery

MOD to help their personnel have a greater understanding of the threat of roadside bombs. www.explosivelearningsolutions.com

OUP Oxford Online Learning Zone wins “Site of the Year Award” The Oxford University Press Oxford Online Learning Zone website has been voted as the Best Education Site in the Kentico Site of the Year Awards in 2011.

stories, songs and games that students can play alongside their studies.

Oxford web design, digital marketing and branding agency - Obergine - is responsible for the design and development of the e-learning portal.

Jeremy Anderson, Obergine Digital Director says: “We are simply delighted with the accolade! We are very proud of our work with Oxford University Press and it is rewarding to have the public agree that the site is special.”

OUP’s English Language Teaching division commissioned the site to help Spanish primary school children learn English and supplement book resources used in Spanish schools with interactive

Visit the award winning Oxford Online Learning Zone website at http://primary.oolz.oupe.es and learn more about Obergine at www.obergine.com

www.b4-business.com

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www.b4-business.com

B4 EVENTS

B4 LAUNCHES IN BERKSHIRE Photography: Hills & Saunders

We welcomed over 150 guests on consecutive evenings to Malmaison Reading to officially launch B4 Berkshire in January.

Guests included representatives from B4 Platinum Ambassadors Pitmans LLP, Lloyds TSB Commercial and Reading 107fm and we were also by joined by another B4 Platinum Ambassador, Sir John Madejski , Chairman of Reading FC, who attended on both evenings.

Thank you to Tracy Harrison and her staff at Malmaison for hosting the events superbly and to all of those who attended, plus some friendly faces from Oxfordshire. www.b4-business.com

www.b4-business.com

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M a g a z i n e s

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D i r e c t o r i e s

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C o m m e r c i a l

the cream of british printing since 1826

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F i n a n c i a l

Reputation through performance...

In today’s harsh economic climate, there can be few businesses that can trace their origin back to 1826, but that’s exactly what Stones the Printers can do, as part of the printing group, bgp.

The Banbury-based specialist sheet-fed printer is the sister company to Bicester-based bgp, both of whom are owned by renowned business entrepreneur and publishing magnate, and also Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire Sir John Madejski OBE, whose other significant interest in the region is his ownership of Reading Football Club.

Stones is seen as an industry leader in the print and publishing community, and is one of the most sophisticated sheet-fed printers in the UK, providing a 24/7 production facility and dealing with a wide variety of sectors, in both publishing and commercial, financial, directories and catalogues, fine art, greetings cards and calendars.

All of which are produced in

reasonable volumes from 1,000 brochures or catalogues, up to runs of 1m leaflets.

The business was founded and incorporated as Henry Stone in 1826, with Henry being the inventor of the Box File. In 1983 the company was purchased by The Goodhead Group and subsequently changed its name to Stones The Printers. It became part of the Madejski-owned bgp Group in 2001, and this has resulted in significant investment being made into the company, most notably in 2008, as part of a group-wide significant investment programme in new equipment and business improvements.

All of the investments have not only helped to grow Stones

business, but also have provided it with a print production set-up that boasts five Heidelberg B1 10 colour presses. Additional investment is also currently underway, with a new press and laminator currently being installed, along with a new website which is soon to go live.

As the company’s reputation has grown, so has its diverse client list, underlining Stones’ vision that is, “To be recognised as the market leader by providing world-class service and quality to its customers achieving sustained growth in financial performance”.

Stones provides a one-stop shop facility, providing a “cradle to grave” service, with work often being taken in as productionready PDF files, all of which is overseen by its extensive team of account managers, who ensure a seamless production process is provided to clients.

Explains Stones Managing Director Steve Palmer, “We operate with a can-do attitude and because of our experience and knowledge in the sheet-fed sector offer a different kind of rapport with our clients.”

He continues, “In the sheet-fed sector we can be far more creative, and the fact that we (Stones) provide all our services such as finishing, spot-UV varnishing and laminating inhouse, allows us to show customers something they might not previously have considered for the printed material.”

Sir John Madejski

This was further underlined most recently, when Stones was

24/7 production facility

MD, Steve Palmer

“We operate with a can-do attitude and because of our experience and knowledge in the sheet-fed sector offer a different kind of rapport with our clients.” awarded a Highly Commended in the PrintWeek Awards Business Magazine Printer of the Year category, receiving the recognition for the production of Image magazine for the Association of Photographers.

Stones’ impressive and extensive client portfolio is testament to the company’s professionalism, with some of its client relationships dating back to the 1970’s. Together with its track record of winning repeat business, and underlined by ISO accreditations, an environmental philosophy and professional development programmes for personnel, all of which ensure that Stones remains at the cutting-edge in all aspects of technology, business and service.

With all production being handled on-site, and with such high print quality requirements from customers, Stones is also favoured by clients for its ability to provide facilities for press passes to take place, enabling any last minute tweaks to be made and provide the reassurance that high quality finishes have been satisfactorily met.

Due to its diverse production capabilities in the sheet-fed sector, Stones can print on a variety of paper stocks, some 80% of which is either Carbon Balanced Paper of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited. The Carbon Balanced Paper is a new production initiative, for which the production and distribution process is offset by the World Land Trust. By using carbon balanced paper Stones saved 816 tonnes of carbon last year, preserving over 609,000 square meters of critically threatened tropical forests. Stones is also a licensed member of PEFC, the world’s largest forest certification system, and has Chain of Custody certification, ensuring that it can not only trace certified material back to the forest, but that the material used originates from sustainably managed forests.

Most of Stones staff also live within close proximity to the plant, and Stones plays a very active role in the local community, as an active support of both young people and sports teams, and is also the print provider of choice for many locallybased businesses.

www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

All stages of production handled on site

Experienced Account Managers to oversee trouble-free production

Customer lounge facilities provided for press passes

Unrivalled reputation, with many long-standing clients

M a g a z i n e s

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...the pick of british printers

Bgp group are proud supporters of B4 Business Magazine

www.bgprint.co.uk

www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

B4 news Julian O’Neill, joins the Mogford Group Quod, Gee’s and the Old Parsonage kitchens are now operating under the leadership of Julian O’Neill, Director of Food, Mogford Limited.

Julian comes from The Wolseley in London where he has been Head Chef since 2006, leading a brigade of 60 chefs providing 1,100 covers per day, prior to this he was Executive Chef at Quaglino’s part of the Conran Group, where he set style and standards for food, designing and launching menus.

“I am delighted that Julian O’Neill will be working with our team of chefs to ensure that Gee’s, the Old Parsonage and Quod Brasserie will provide food of the highest standards in 2012 and beyond.” Jeremy Mogford (owner of Gee’s Restaurant, Quod Brasserie, the Old Parsonage and Old Bank Hotels). www.oxford-hotels-restaurants.co.uk

Matt Wistow to Swim Channel for Diabetes Charity Matt Wistow, Director of Business Development at Shaw Gibbs, is to take part in the 2012 Diabetes UK Channel Swim Relay Race.

Matt’s oldest daughter, Harriet (17), has had Type 1 Diabetes since the age of 5. An ‘autoimmune’ related condition, ‘Type 1’ leaves kids dependent on multiple daily insulin injections and blood testing, with potentially significant long term complications. Type 1 is at epidemic proportions across the World, with 1 in about 300 kids affected in the UK. On average there is a child affected in

every Primary School!

The ‘trunks’ only August swim is a race between 6 teams, and is likely to take place overnight when the weather is usually calmer. Matt is expecting to swim between 5 & 6 miles, and hopes to raise significant funds towards the Charity finding a cure and supporting diabetic kids and their families.

If you would like to support Matt please call him on 01865 292221 or visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/mattwistow

Matt Wistow at the September 2011 training weekend in Dover Harbour

Industry acclaim for OCVC furniture centre A joint initiative between Oxford & Cherwell Valley College and Bucks New University, High Wycombe, the UK’s first National School of Furniture (NSF) has had a multi-award-winning and successful first year. Its centre at OCVC in Oxford has more than 80 students studying a range of qualification-based courses.

A specialist college centre in Oxford, training the furniture designers and makers of the future, is celebrating.

In its first year, NSF students won 10 local, regional and national awards including First, Second and Third Prizes at the FX/Mixology Student Furniture Designer of The Year awards, and a Master

Furniture Makers Award for staff lecturer Drew Smith.

NSF has strong links with the furniture industry and the qualifications enable students to progress into successful careers. Peter Head, Group MD of furniture manufacturer Hands of Wycombe, says: “The standard of work we’ve seen from NSF students is excellent and inspiring.” www.nationalschooloffurniture.com

Kemp & Kemp Running For Oxfam Nina Langford and Graham MacDonald from Kemp & Kemp are well in the zone training to run the London Marathon for Oxfam on 22 April. Out four or five times a week, they are both looking forward to lighter mornings - and, of course crossing the finishing line!

"Our visit to Oxfam's emergency warehouse really inspired us, seeing the supplies ready to be sent out at a moment's notice and learning something of the challenges many millions of people face

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each year through conflict and natural disasters somehow makes running easier. The £4,000 we hope to raise could help to provide clean water to more than 4,000 people in an emergency."

To sponsor Nina and Graham please go to http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GrahamMa cDonald. To enquire about a visit to Oxfam's emergency warehouse, please contact athorne@oxfam.org.uk

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B4 news How will the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) help my business?

The Oxfordshire LEP will develop and evolve over the coming months and years as a key part of our local business infrastructure and support.

It is to be manned by an accountable board who will in the main be a voluntary group of local businesses people connecting up the business organisations, academia, and key interested parties, including importantly your local councils to help to solve our business issues.

A key reasons for its existence is to help to build and develop a business environment that encourages innovation and growth creating new high value jobs for our community.

It is always, to a certain extent, going to be limited by its resources and will need to focus on key areas, but will do all it can to ensure the county gets

value for the money it invests.

Monies will come from central and local government and where appropriate spent after consultation or in line with pre agreed objectives.

What the LEP needs, is an engaged and responsive business community, which takes an interest in what it is doing and lets it know of major issues.

The LEP can’t solve every problem but it will do all it can, with your help, to make a difference.

It has already helped solve planning problems for key businesses coming in to the county, it is working on a number of infrastructure improvement ideas. It has begun to connect up interested business groups, been responsible for obtaining central government funding of £6million for improved infrastructure and launched

Oxfordshires own Enterprise Zone in the south of the county.

If you would like to learn more or just to keep in touch, contact your own business organization or the LEP at LEP@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Breaking the barriers to business growth Phil Strachan of Strangebrew, featured on page 90, has contributed a specialist chapter entitled ‘Think Brand not bland’ to Breaking the barriers to business growth (page 114), a compilation of expert insights into growing your business.

Other contributors to this book are: Paul Ovington of Oxford Management Solutions Albert Wright of Millionaire Coaching Academy Anthony Pilkington of BookCheck Ltd Rob Warlow of Business Loan Services Sarah Williams of Wordsmith

Mary Thomas of Concise Training Jonathan Fink of Momentum Web Solutions Mark Salisbury of The Oxford Knowledge Company Sarah McCloughry of Anrah Training & Development Andrew Ludlam of Maverick Marketing Consultancy Cathy Dunbabin of Opendoorz David Winch of Selling Without Selling Edited by Sarah Williams, Paul Ovington and Albert Wright of Right Angle Consultants, this book can be ordered from: www.right-angle-consultants.co.uk

B4 Events Go To Plan Thanks to Tina It’s often the ones behind the scenes who don’t get the credit they deserve and one person in particular deserves a lot of credit for the way B4 events have developed over the past two years.

Tina Rosser has worked tirelessly to ensure that the events are meticulously planned right down to the last detail and that guest lists are up to date and badges done on time.

Tina commented. “I work very closely with Anne and Rob in the office who are a massive help in the lead up to and during our events. There’s a lot to do for these events, especially the Ashmolean event in January which attracted over 230

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acceptances. From this month we are getting used to a new system supplied by The Active Network which will save lots of time.

“It’s a web based system which enables us to do everything from sending out invitations, giving access to the system to guests to track their status, printing badges and logging those that do and don’t turn up. With our expansion into Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, it’s going to be a great timesaver.” Thanks to Tina and the team for keeping us firmly on track.

See www.activeevents.com.

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B4 news Oxford City Stars Ice Hockey Club Oxford City Stars ice hockey club is a not for profit sports organization that has been running from Oxford ice rink since 1984. We have senior mens and ladies teams and a junior club for children aged 4-18.

would consist of primarily homegrown talent. We are seeking local companies to assist us on this exciting journey.

Although ice hockey is a minority sport it is the most popular indoor spectator sport in the UK. It is fast, furious and very exciting to watch and play.

We also run free stick and puck sessions for children of any ability looking to try the sport. 2012 is an exciting year for sport in the UK and this is a great time to promote your business whilst supporting the local community.

It is our aim to have an Oxford senior team in the English Premier League where crowds of 2-3 thousand people are not uncommon. This team

For more information, please visit www.oxfordstars.com or contact us on info@oxfordstars.com

An Olympic Address at Le Manoir

L-R Eleanor Curry - Allen Associates, Liz Yelling, Rob Allen & Kate Allen - Allen Associates, and Matt Rogan

Liz Yelling - two time Olympic Marathon runner and Commonwealth Games medallist addressed 50 of the region’s businesses at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. The event was hosted

by Oxfordshire recruitment agency Allen Associates.

Allen Associates Managing Director Kate Allen said: “Hearing Liz and Matt talk about the Olympics was inspirational on both a personal and a business level. Now is a good time for Oxfordshire businesses to be looking at the opportunities available.”

Liz, who is preparing to compete in London 2012, shared insights into her training and professional challenges. Matt Rogan, author of ‘Britain and the Olympic Games, Past Present Legacy’ spoke about the relevance of the Games to Oxfordshire businesses.

Matt says: “With just six months to go to London 2012 there are ways that local businesses can participate. One example is the Torch Relay coming to Oxford and how they could make the most of that.”

Torpedo announces job opportunities Award winning creative agency Torpedo has rapidly expanded this year following a surge of new business and is now looking to take on a further three full time new recruits including: Account manager – Permanent contract: Experienced Account Manager with a ‘can-do attitude’ and a marketing, design or digital agency background. Experience of working in either the pharmaceutical/healthcare or technology sectors would be beneficial.

Web developer – Permanent contract: Talented web developer with a real passion for coding and all things internet, plus advanced PHP, JavaScript, SQL/MySQL, XHTML and CSS skills.

Finance / office manager – Permanent contract: Finance / Office Manager with proven financial and accounting skills (ideally AAT Technician qualified or part qualified towards ACCA, ACA or CIMA).

Torpedo is based near Oxford with excellent clients and a great team. These new roles pose a fantastic opportunity to join our highly talented, creative and friendly team environment working with both existing and new clients. For further information on all roles please visit http://bit.ly/zsR8vy and to apply, please send your CV to jobs@torpedogroup.com

Call Aston & James for all your stationery requirements savings of up to 85%. See page 70.

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B4 news Darbys - My Personnel Trainer - Training sessions My Personnel Trainer is Darbys’ Employment Law training arm - a support and development scheme for HR professionals and for "Management" generally.

19 April - Getting to grips with employment law (9.30-4.30) - Oxford: For line managers, those new to HR and anyone wanting an update in the key employment law areas.

Here is our forthcoming training programme:

24 April - Difficult Conversations, How to Get it Right (9.00-5.00) – Oxford: Special session in partnership with 'Acting for Change' including best legal practice, soft skills training and real actors! An up to date briefing on best legal practice with

12 April - Employment law update (9.30-12.30) - Oxford: Explore how the latest legislation and case law could impact on your organisation.

interactive case studies that 'come to life' using professional actors.

How to book For further details please contact Natasha Knight on 01865 811700 or please send an email to nknight@darbys.co.uk

Oxford MP Nicola Blackwood Talks Recruitment at Solid State Logic Directors at Solid State Logic in Begbroke invited local MP Nicola Blackwood in to see the firm’s manufacturing facility and to discuss the firm’s current recruitment drive. Solid State Logic is the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and control surfaces and its five-acre, 61,000 m² facility is the main base for its manufacturing.

Nicola nominated Solid State Logic’s AWS 948 SuperAnalogue™ mixing console for the Made by Britain project, organized by the Associate

Parliamentary Manufacturing Group. All 650 MPs have been asked to find a product that is manufactured in their constituency, with the aim of building up a diverse and comprehensive picture of British industry today.

Nicola said: “It’s great to see a local company doing so well internationally in the music and broadcast industries – and recruiting at a time when unemployment is rising.” www.solidstatelogic.com

Cycling Sea 2 Sea Tom Von Kaenel, an ex-American Serviceman living in Oxfordshire, is in training for an epic journey: to cycle across America and raise a target of £5 million and US$10 million for charity.

Tom will start in May and finish on 10 July at the new New Repatriation Centre at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. He will be cycling over 4,000 miles, including 3924 miles from the west to the east coast of America.

His aim is to raise funds to benefit ex-service men and women through veteran charity organisations such as the Army Benevolent Fund, the British Legion, and Help for Heroes in the UK and Paralyzed Veterans of America, Wounded Warriors in America.

Tom is looking for help: sponsorship of equipment or the challenge including a bicycle; administrative and support services; and of course donations to help him reach his target. You contact Tom and

find out more about this epic journey at tomvk@sea2sea.co.uk tel 07598-493214, www.sea2sea.org.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards In Snowdonia Witney, January 2012. The Rotary Club of Witney is inviting schools and employers in Witney and surrounding areas to nominate candidates for its 2012 Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA gives 18 to 25 year olds the opportunity to gain new found confidence, improve leadership and communication skills, learn about businesses and institutions and share team building ideas and experiences.

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The course consists of seminars, workshops and outdoor activities such as climbing, absailing and canoeing over a period of seven days at a dedicated youth centre in Snowdonia. One selected candidate will be chosen and sponsored, free of charge by the Rotary Club of Witney.

The 2012 course will take place from 21 – 28 th July 2012. For further details contact: secretary@witneyrotary.co.uk

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news

2011 has been a significant year for the Institute of Directors in Oxfordshire with many great initiatives.

First of all, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the harsh economic conditions that businesses are facing. Although the Oxfordshire economy is as usual very resilient, even our County needs to be wary of the issues that face our public services sector. Oxford City has the highest proportion of jobs in the public, education and health sectors in the country (source, Oxford Profile 2012); if we see significant redundancy in these sectors it is likely to affect our local economy.

The IoD committee in Oxfordshire has been working hard to position our Institute at the heart of local decision making, endeavouring to help build for business in the County. We are endeavouring to ensure that our national and local politicians are mindful of business issues when they allocate the limited resources they have available.

Looking forward, the IoD has set out a new document of Purpose for its involvement in the County for 2012, to Inspire, to Develop and to Influence. In addition to our existing range of events and services available for members and nonmembers we will be: • showing directors examples of what business success and best practice looks like • encouraging and enabling directors to give back by inspiring others • helping directors enhance their leadership skills and boardroom performance

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• encouraging directors to learn from each other and share knowledge • maintaining lines of communication with key decision makers We also have a new series of Business Breakfasts on Leadership at Blenheim Palace this year.

These are aimed at Director Development, the intention is to help you to expand your knowledge and gain insight from other people’s experience.

The theme for the series is Leadership. Each meeting will include a speaker to kick start debate, followed by a round table discussion for sharing learning. They will start at 7.30, with breakfast followed by a talk and debate finishing at 9.30 am.

One way to help overcome issues that your business is affected by, is through sharing thoughts and ideas with other like minded business people.

It is often lonely at the top and Directors often have nowhere to turn when faced with a confidential or particularly complex problem. We are therefore starting a new series of mentoring sessions for business directors to support and advise each other.

It is also important to recognise the wealth of free support and advice that is out there from the plethora of help organisations in the county, such as the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and other business organisations. The support available can also be sector specific such as the new network for Cryogenics or skill specific organisations such as the

Institute of Marketing. Businesses looking for help can tap into these resources, often even if they are not a member.

The IoD for example has an informative and helpful website www.iod.com/oxfordshire and locally we often find ourselves helping non members or steering them in the right direction. We also open most of our events to non members so we have a member and non member rate to attend.

This leads me to my final point: one of life’s paradoxes is that, sometimes, the way to solve one’s own problems is to help someone else with theirs. There are many not-for-profit and charitable groups in the County who would really value some help from people with a business mind. There are great opportunities for those with the skills, time, desire and initiative to get involved and make a difference to life in Oxfordshire.

If you wish to discuss any of the points raised here then feel free to contact me on 07770 893834.

My best wishes for a successful and rewarding 2012.

Ian Wenman Chairman, IoD Oxfordshire To contact the IoD Oxfordshire branch please email Rebecca at: admin.oxfordshire@iod.net

www.iod.com/oxfordshire

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Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

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ONGOING SUPPORT FOR OXFORDSHIRE’S MANUFACTURERS Ian Walker, Commercial relationship manager for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Oxfordshire talks to B4 Magazine about the importance of finding the right financing for your business.

Manufacturing makes a big contribution to the UK economy, with figures showing that around a sixth of the country’s wealth comes from the industry, which also generates two thirds of the nation’s exports.

In the South East, manufacturing also plays a big part in the region’s economy, with around 290,000 people employed in the sector in some way.

Around 3,000 of these workers are employed at the BMW Group’s Oxford plant, which has formed a vital part of the MINI assembly since 2001 and continues the area’s tradition as an automotive manufacturing centre. This also supports a network of other, smaller manufacturers across the region.

And while the latest Lloyds TSB Purchasing Managers Index for November showed that there was a fall in new business for

out across key manufacturing areas across the country by the end of the first quarter of 2012.

These specially trained relationship managers will work closely with manufacturers, trade bodies and other industry agencies to ensure that they fully understand the sector and can offer full support to customers around investment, growth and innovation.

In Oxfordshire, Lloyds TSB Commercial relationship manager Ian Walker has recently undertaken this training to support manufacturing firms across the region.

One of the key aspects of many manufacturers’ business models is exporting their goods to foreign markets. However, this can often be daunting for those exporting for the first time. To overcome this, and also to support experienced exporters, we can also connect manufacturers to our network of international business managers.

Lloyds Banking Group) and has been in operation for over 30 years. In 2006, the business was bought by the current managing director, David Robinson.

The company has previously benefitted from term loans and overdrafts from Lloyds TSB Commercial over its five year relationship with the bank.

David Robinson said: “As we operate in the exhibition sector, we often feel the effects of a recession early on as company’s look to cut their marketing budgets. We also experience peaks and troughs of demands for our products, which means understanding from our banking partner is important to us.

“Lloyds TSB Commercial is able to offer us the flexibility we require. The bank understands the nature of our business and the unique challenges and opportunities we face. Beyond the funding it has provided, our relationship

“One of the keys to maintaining confidence in the manufacturing sector is ensuring that businesses feel that they have access to finance, and are supported fully by their banking partner” manufacturers in the South East, there is still reason for optimism for those operating in the sector in Oxfordshire.

At Lloyds TSB Commercial, we recognise that one of the keys to maintaining confidence in the manufacturing sector is ensuring that businesses feel that they have access to finance, and are supported fully by their banking partner.

In response to feedback from our manufacturing customers, we are training over 60 specialist relationship managers, in conjunction with the University of Warwick Manufacturing Group and supported by the EEF, the Manufacturing Technologies Association and Secantor. This will be rolled

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These managers can help you navigate international payments, from processing foreign currency transactions to more sophisticated trade instruments such as bonds and guarantees.

manager has also introduced us to other customers of the bank, for example, which we have subsequently provided display stands for.

This joined up approach provides real benefits to our business.”

They can also offer a wealth of expertise and products such as ‘forward exchange contracts’, which allow businesses to protect their expected gross profit margin when buying or selling foreign currency.

As proud sponsors of the MACH 2012 exhibition, Lloyds TSB Commercial will be at the event in April to discuss how we can help manufacturers develop their business further.

One manufacturing business that has benefitted from working with Lloyds Banking Group is Bicester-based Park Display Limited.

The company designs constructs and distributes exhibition display stands for a variety of corporate customers (including

In the meantime, if you would like further information on how we can work with your manufacturing business, please contact Ian Walker on 07909 906 995. www.lloydstsb.com

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JPE Holdings Limited

LAST YEAR WE APPROVED 80% OF ALL BUSINESS LOAN AND OVERDRAFT APPLICATIONS. There’s nothing small about our commitment to supporting small businesses. At Lloyds TSB our Relationship Managers understand the pressures you face. We’re able to offer the support, guidance and funding you need to keep your business running smoothly CPF [QWT ECUJ Ƈ QYKPI HTGGN[ 6Q Ɔ PF QWV JQY YG ECP JGNR [QWT DWUKPGUU ECNN +CP 9CNMGT Relationship Manager on 07909 906995.

Bank of the Year 2005-2011 FDs’ Excellence Awards in association with ICAEW and supported by the CBI & Real Business. Figure relates to July 2010 to June 2011. We accept calls made through RNID Typetalk.

Calls may be monitored or recorded. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Lending is subject to status.

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LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012

At the start of a new year it is customary to reflect on the last 12 months, looking at the challenges and successes and then start planning the year ahead.

With 2012 now well and truly upon us, at Lloyds TSB Commercial we are continually looking forward to the months ahead.

billion for SMEs. We have done this while maintaining a focus on responsible lending.

Figures published in 2011 by Eurostat showed that the area covering Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire was ranked 10th highest in the whole of the EU in terms of Regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per head of population, with the area being recognised as the most dynamic and competitive sub-regional economy in the UK outside of Central London.

In July last year, research carried out by Lloyds TSB Commercial showed that 70 per cent of firms in the South East believe it is important for banks to simplify banking charges. This prompted the launch of Lloyds TSB Commercial’s Monthly PricePlan tariffs, which offer simple charges for business banking customers, with increased choice and flexibility. These tariffs can present an ideal choice for SMEs in 2012.

This means that there are many opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in

We also appreciate the importance of start ups to the country’s economy, and so in 2009 we

There are two awards – Best Enterprise and Best Start Up – up for grabs, which will be contested at a series of regional heats, with winners of both awards in each heat to be announced this month.

The regional winners will then move forward into a national final, in March 2012, where they will compete for national titles.

The business judged Best Start Up in the country will scoop a cash prize of £10,000, with the owners of the Best Enterprise claiming an investment of £50,000 into their business.

Dave Atkinson, area director for Lloyds TSB Commercial in Oxfordshire, said: “As small

“As small businesses play such a vital role in the region’s economy, we know how important it is to support these enterprises and the people who run them” Oxfordshire to grow and expand in 2012, with the right help and guidance.

At Lloyds TSB Commercial, we are proud of the support we have given to businesses to help support the economy. At the end of last year, for example, we announced a pledge to lend £12 billion in 2012 to help support SMEs across the country, to help rekindle business confidence, stimulate demand for finance, and fuel economic growth.

We met our 2011 Project Merlin commitments, under which the participating banks agreed to jointly make available gross new lending of £190 billion to creditworthy UK businesses, including £76

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pledged to support the launch of 300,000 new businesses by the end of this year. As of November 2011, we had supported more than 200,000 of these firms.

A large source of the nation’s start ups is universities around the country, with many students and recent graduates launching successful businesses every year.

To recognise this success, 2012 sees the first ever Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards, launched to search for the small business stars that are emerging through universities in England and Wales. There are currently more than 55,000 businesses being run by current or recent graduates.

businesses play such a vital role in the region’s economy, we know how important it is to support these enterprises and the people who run them.

“Universities are a major source of the next generation of business talent, and through their innovation and creativity these budding entrepreneurs can help the UK continue to prosper in a highly competitive world.

“We launched these awards to celebrate their successes and hopefully inspire others.”

Follow the progress of the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards here: lloydstsb.com/enterpriseawards

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news West Oxfordshire Business Awards 2012 The Awards offer an exceptional platform for local businesses in the area to celebrate their success and raise their profile. Last year’s winners of the Charity and Community award was SpecialEffect, a Charlbury-based charity that helps disabled young people play computer games. They have said that winning has had a “huge impact” on their organisation over the last year.

Founder and Director Dr Mick Donegan commented, “We’ve had some very tangible benefits, including increased numbers of volunteers and ‘in-kind’ donations since winning the award.” Andrew Hammond from Oxford Products in Witney, who won the Large Business Award last year, believes that their achievement “has given the staff more pride in their work, knowing that their efforts are contributing to an award-winning company.”

2012 Categories The West Oxfordshire Business Awards span a diverse range of categories. The winner of each category will be considered for the overall West Oxfordshire Business of the Year Award and the 3 finalists in every category will automatically be entered into the Oxfordshire Business Awards (www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk).

Entries for the West Oxfordshire Business Awards have now closed, and thanks to an overwhelming response, the entries are 35% higher this year than at the awards in 2011. The judges now have a tough job to decide on the finalists from each of the ten categories , as well as the Coutts West Oxfordshire Business of the year Award. The winners of each category will be announced at a gala dinner on Friday 16th March at Heythrop Park Resort where they will be celebrated for involvement with West Oxfordshire.

Award categories are: Abacus Events Green Award, Blenheim Palace Rural Business Award, Bloxham Mill Small Business Award, Cloud 9 Charity and Community Award, Floremus New Business Award, Heythrop Park Resort Tourism and Leisure Award, Owen Mumford Innovation Award, Ridgeway Large Business Award, Strategic Mentors Business Person of the Year award, Urban Element Social Media Award and the Coutts West Oxfordshire Business of the year award. www.woba.co.uk

Trophy Design Students at Abingdon and Witney College competed to design the trophy for the Overall Winner of the awards. The competition was very well supported by the students; 4 teams put forward a dazzling array of proposals for the trophy design, each backed with a presentation on the trophy concept and on why their design should work.

The judging panel was Chairman of the WOBA committee Mike Leggett, Stephen Fletcher the trophy maker, Emma Barwell from Abingdon and Witney College, Hannah James Head of Art and Design and Leah Wells, a tutor at the college. The decision on the winning trophy was unanimous and this trophy design took the title: Also pictured is a student showing her concept for a trophy design for the awards.

Information & Sponsors The finalists will be announced after February 9th with the winners celebrated at the Gala Dinner at Heythrop Park Resort on 16th March. The event hopes to be a sparkling occasion bringing together west Oxfordshire's finest.

For more information, or to buy Gala tickets please visit: www.woba.co.uk The West Oxfordshire Business awards are kindly sponsored by: Abacus Events,

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Owen Mumford, Bloxham Mill, Ridgeway, Cloud 9, Heythrop Park Resort, Floremus, Blenheim Palace, Beautiful Chair Covers, Scotts Photography, Fineprint, B4 Magazine, Cotswold Life, Witney TV, The Southill Partnership, WODC, Marketing Sense, New Tricks Training, Coutts, Urban Element, Olamalu, Strategic Mentors, Red Core Marketing, Abingdon and Witney College, BB Administration and Devotion PR.

www.b4-business.com

news

The new Club Lounge VIP area at The New Theatre. The perfect upgrade to any performance.

What’s New at the New Theatre, Oxford?

The New Theatre has always prided itself on bringing top quality entertainment to Oxford, and since coming under the Ambassador Theatre Group portfolio the productions touring to the venue are bigger and better than ever. The recent Christmas production of South Pacific came to Oxford from London’s Barbican and coming up in April is the 20th anniversary tour of Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! which played to phenomenal success at Sadler’s Wells in December.

However, as well as the productions on stage there have been many additions and improvements made to the venue which you may not have seen: Club Lounge VIP In 2011 the brand new VIP area was introduced. Situated in the Stalls Bar area this air conditioned, glass enclosed space is the perfect way to upgrade your experience. You and your guest(s) will be welcomed with a glass of Prosecco, you will have access to the lounge pre-show, during the interval and post-show and there will be a dedicated member of staff to tend to your requirements.

The Club Lounge is also available for private hire, corporate entertainment, birthday celebrations, office parties and much more.

Backstage Tours If you have ever wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes at the theatre, our Backstage Tours give you a brilliant insight into the workings of a busy receiving venue. We hold public tours regularly, on Saturday mornings, where you will be shown around the building and often given access to the set for whichever production is appearing that week. We are also able to offer

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bespoke tours, for specific groups, which can be booked in at a time to suit you (subject to the venue performance schedule). An excellent opportunity for you, your staff or clients to get that extra special experience.

Stalls Bar In addition to the introduction of the Club Lounge, the Stalls bar itself has undergone a refurbishment and is the perfect space to enjoy a pre-show drink. With a new entrance created granting access direct from George Street, we are open from 6pm on most show days allowing you to enjoy leisurely refreshment before the show, as well as during the interval. This space, along with the auditorium itself, is also available to hire for events either during the day or evening (subject to availability) – an exciting alternative to traditional meeting or conference spaces. If you would like to discuss this further, please email theatre General Manager Jamie Baskeyfield: jamiebaskeyfield@theambassadors.com Additional work has also been carried out in the Box Office, stalls and circle foyers and the stalls auditorium, with further improvements planned in the coming year. If you haven’t visited the New Theatre for a while, why not call in and see for yourself? Whether it’s to see a show, or to discuss ways that we could work with you and your business, we would be delighted to welcome you back.

Further information about forthcoming productions, backstage tours, Club Lounge VIP and venue hire can be found at www.atgtickets.com/oxford

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HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT YOUR NEXT CAREER MOVE? B4 Platinum Ambassador Katherine Dales of The Career Boutique has been consistent in her approach to recruitment, consistently different, that is, from the normal approach to this crucial aspect of our working lives… hiring new talent. Richard Rosser reports for B4.

There’s nothing new about trying to secure good quality staff but Katherine Dales and her colleagues at The Career Boutique are certainly winning lots of friends with the way they go about doing so. It’s maybe not a crusade but it’s an approach which is definitely different and certainly working.

“We are in our fourth year now and although we had very different ideas about recruitment when we started, they are now accepted as standard practice by our clients who have seen our approach reap rewards for them. I know that we all face challenges, but 2012 is going to be an exciting year for all of us. We are always positive, always up and we transmit that positive energy to our clients and the candidates we put forward for interview. We will be using events this year such as the Olympics and Jubilee to be the catalysts for a fresh approach.”

Katherine concedes that recruiting new staff is still a challenge for many businesses but that there are plenty who are expanding and actively recruiting. “The market is still quite reserved, however, it is much more buoyant than it has been in recent years and we are seeing a lot of our clients shaking off the shackles and looking to make great strides in 2012. I can’t preach to my clients that just because we are in a new year means they should go and recruit for the sake of it. Nobody knows their business better than the client, but what we are saying is ‘explore the possibilities….there are some very talented people out there who may be able to push your company on to the next level.’”

Over four years Katherine has cultivated a loyal customer base that trusts her and everything she stands for. With a company in its relative infancy, Katherine has had to make an impression on her clients and responds surprisingly when I ask why her clients are so loyal. “They trust us, plain and simple, but they trust us even more when things go wrong. By that I mean how we handle ourselves when the candidates don’t turn up, or when they ‘false stage’ at an interview. How we deal with the negatives has helped us to make an impression. We pull out all of the stops to put things right and our clients see that we are trying

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to give them what they want – the right person for the job.”

Katherine’s track record is impressive and the trust in her ability to deliver is growing and attracting new clients on a daily basis. “Clients know we are not time wasters. Where does sending a ‘dead candidate’ get anyone? What’s the point of recommending someone for a job interview when you know they’re not right? Our aim is to get success quickly and I’d rather not send my client a candidate at all than waste their time sending people who aren’t cut out for the job. This means we have to get to know what the client is looking for, and as we develop and gain more experience, we are becoming more in tune with our clients’ needs, enabling us to source the right candidate quickly.”

Katherine admits some clients question her approach because they have been used to interviewing a stream of inappropriate candidates with other agencies. “Our approach isn’t typical, that’s for sure, and we do have clients expressing surprise when we tell them there haven’t been any suitable candidates for a job. It’s a very fine line we are treading here because some clients will actually expect to interview candidates who clearly aren’t up for the role as part of the process. That’s wrong. We are breaking the mould, but it has caused friction in the past, but we have won over so many clients with our fresh approach and, I’m pleased to say, they stay with us.”

It’s a two way street, however. Katherine has the interests of two parties to protect in any placement, those of the client and the candidate, and she’s not backwards in coming forwards. If the client has got it, in her opinion, wrong. “We are here to deliver the right person for the job.

We won’t deliver on appearance or age or any other tailor made requirements clients might like to throw into the mix. One client, in particular, would interview candidates and not come back to them, or provide constructive feedback, which wasn’t fair. It was damaging their reputation. The candidates are ringing up and saying they haven’t heard from them yet and thinking why are we working with The Career Boutique – it damages

our reputation and it comes to a point where you have to tell the client to be fair to the candidates – we eventually lose confidence that this is someone we want to employ our candidates. We have as much of a duty of care to our candidates as we do to our clients.”

Differentiating The Career Boutique from the High Street has always been Katherine’s modus operandi. “We don’t want to be a ‘CV churner’ and we’re not into heavy cold calling to win business. If we see a business advertising a vacancy, we will send them a brochure and ask if we can help, but we’re not into bombarding them with our services. We are certainly gaining plaudits for our approach and, as I said before, we are winning. If I’ve learned anything in four years it’s that you certainly can’t please everyone, but there are enough people and businesses out there who share our views, our ethos and our way of working to ensure we continue to grow and build what is already a successful business.”

With year on year growth, a healthy client base and heaps of very satisfied candidates, Katherine reflects on the first four years with a huge amount of satisfaction. “Not only are we growing but we are spreading our net wider and wider.

From my point of view, I’m working on a European and global level. We want to achieve global placements and we are now in that arena.

With clients now in their third or fourth year with us we know our approach is right and we are also getting candidates coming back to us after successful short term placements or where they need to make a change. Candidates are recommending their friends and we have excellent referrals between our clients.”

Getting to know their clients is something of an art form. Knowing what your clients are looking for, second guessing their requirements, knowing which candidates will fit into their team takes skill and you need an agency with experience and, above all, someone who cares about the placement….. and there is absolutely no question that Katherine Dales cares. www.thecareerboutique.com

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Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

B4 SPOTLIGHT

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Put Your Shirt On Us or Why Not Wear the Shirt and Join Us? BACK US: Help us in our quite ridiculous quest to cycle from Paris to Oxford on June 2nd.

It's only 280 miles - WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

How can you help?

METHOD 1: Sponsor and Donate all in one go: We have a target of £15,000 to raise for Oxfam so if you can pledge £100 we will take 50% of this donation towards our target and the other 50% will help to cover costs.

Here's what happens for the different levels of pledge:

Pledge

Number Available

Donation to Oxford

Exposure

£100

200

£10,000

Your name or company name on the team shirts. Your name or company name on promitional e-Newsletters, press releases, in B4 Issue 23 profile piece on the bike ride and B4 Issue 24 look back at the ride

£200

20

£2,000

Larger logo on shirt front

£500

20

£5,000

Larger logo on shirt arms

£1,000

10

£5,000

Logo on shirt front

£5,000

2

£5,000

Logo on shirt front

£10,000

1

£5,000

Known as overall team sponsor, logo on shirt chest and team caps

NB Targets based on a team of 15 but we have a maximum of 40 spaces for the ride and costs to cover will rise accordinly as more riders join us.

Please send your cheque made payable to 'Paris to Oxford Bike Ride' together with your full contact details and we will be in touch to discuss your exposure as per the above table, to: B4 Magazine, The Firs, Headington Hill, Oxford OX3 0BT or call us on 01865 742211 for more details.

METHOD 2: Online pledge Donate at our online web page http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/b4bikeride (All donations to Oxfam, nothing to our costs).

METHOD 2: Postal pledge Contact our riders and ask to pledge on their application forms if you don't have access to the internet. (All donations to Oxfam, nothing to our costs).

JOIN US: If you would like to join us, call Richard on 01865 742211.

You will need a good quality road bike and raise £2,000 towards our costs and fund for Oxfam (£1,000 for each)

news

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire receives Royal Support

HRH The Earl of Wessex and Ms Anna Moon, Chair of Trustees of the Oxfordshire Community Foundation at the launch of the Jubilee Fund.

The Earl of Wessex spent the 11th January in Oxfordshire, and performed the honours in launching the Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire. The inspiration behind the Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire is the Oxfordshire Community Foundation, who believes that this is a perfect and extremely appropriate way to establish a lasting legacy for local people.

Prince Edward addressed more than a hundred guests and members of community groups at the Hub in Turl Street and urged everyone in Oxfordshire to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee by donating generously to local voluntary organisations via the Fund.

Prince Edward said: “I have come across the work of Community Foundations in different parts of the country and I have always been fascinated to discover the groups the foundations support and the impact it has on the community. This particular campaign, which is trying to boost Oxfordshire is a fantastic initiative and I wish it the best of luck.”

Oxfordshire Community Foundation was established in 1995 and has already contributed more than £3.5m to community projects. It has supported more than 1,200 local organisations and is keen to use the Jubilee celebrations to bring in extra funding. The voluntary sector is not immune from Government austerity measures and recent

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funding cuts mean that many groups are struggling to survive. National charities will probably weather the storm better than local good causes, which makes it even more important for funds donated in Oxfordshire to be spent in Oxfordshire. The processes in place for distributing monies raised through the Jubilee Fund ensure that people’s generosity is not wasted. Every pound will be wisely spent.

Jayne Woodley, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire Community Foundation, explained, ‘The Jubilee Fund for Oxfordshire is a fitting and much needed initiative, which truly recognises the 60-years of support the Queen has given to charity and voluntary groups during her reign. It is these groups and the caring services they provide which literally transform local lives where and when they are most needed. The Jubilee Fund will enable us to give financial support to these groups, so they can continue to operate in challenging times for many years to come.

commerce and industry will strengthen their own efforts.

“We have 25,000 plus businesses in Oxfordshire, and we hope that each one will Donate to Celebrate by giving either time, money, skills or better still a mixture of all three to support the Jubilee Fund. We would love to reach a target with a Big 6 in it! If everyone gets involved irrespective of age and circumstances we will get there!’

To get involved or to donate please visit: www.oxfordshire.org or http://localgiving.com/charity/oxfordshireju bileefund

We estimate that there are 635,000 people in the county and if everyone donated 10p for every year of the Queens reign - £6 a person - we could raise £4 million.”

Undoubtedly businesses have a huge part to play in the success of the Jubilee Fund and Oxfordshire Community Foundation hope that support from

Jayne Woodley, Chief Executive of the Oxfordshire Community Foundation

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news Approach to Performance Management secured by involving managers in the (re)design process and ensuring that they are reviewed on their performance management responsibilities. It also helps to secure feedback on the systems effectiveness.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

3) Address interpersonal and interviewing skills Subjectively, interpersonal skills and human judgement are inherent in the process of good performance management. Appropriate training incorporating coaching and interviewing techniques will help. Appraisal reviews should start from jointly agreed objectives and focus on factual performance data rather than style or personality, encourage self-assessment and provide an appeal mechanism.

Q: Our Appraisal System is out of date – It’s a minefield out there – Please Help!

4) Define the objectives Setting future performance, management encounters difficulties when addressing a number of objectives. For example, when used for reward-related decisions any developmental impetus it is intended to have, is threatened.

Playing judge and counsellor at the same time is highly problematic. It is best to opt for a combination of agreed, consistent and compatible objectives.

Furthermore you should allow your employee to have an input into setting their individual objective. Why? Because they are more likely to take ownership of and achieve the target they have personally set.

A: Firstly, Don’t panic! Your appraisal system should focus on performance Improvement, but you also need to consider the behaviours that are going to deliver sustainable engagement – it’s less about quick fixes, particularly in a recession when most organisations are only concentrating on short term survival strategies and objectives.

5) Follow Up If you promise to provide additional resources or some form of personal development option, it is unlikely to enhance the systems reputation by persistently failing to deliver. In the long run the system is judged by the extent to which recommendations arising from review meetings actually materialise.

You should have a process that is relevant to your organisation; it should never be a one size fits all strategy. An appraisal system should be designed to reflect the short term tactics and the long term strategy of the organisation.

Q: What are the benefits of using HR2YOU?

B4 Ambassador, Sarah Morris, runs Oxfordshire based HR2YOU, a leading provider of Human Resources solutions for businesses of all sizes. Here Sarah answers questions put to her by B4 readers.

A: The answer is simple ... fewer headaches, reduced costs and exceptional results!

In the first instance I suggest: 1) Review the system It’s farcical to expect appraisal systems that were devised years ago to remain effective. Would you expect it of your IT and financial systems? Practices such as coaching, mentoring, 360 degree feedback and competency systems should not be allowed to remain static and become ritualistic as they quickly fall into disrepute and will be neglected. A full evaluation exercise is vital in order to (re)design an on-going, successful system.

2) Engage the managers The support of management is crucial to a successful system, this can be

Owners and managers of small companies also face another very real challenge - making sure that they don't get so bogged down in running the company that they are unable to focus on building the business.

Our comprehensive HR Services are available on either a retained or Ad-hoc Basis. We don't just focus on employment law; we cover the full range of HR topics including, recruitment (including head hunting), training and development, change management, communication and HR strategy. www.hr2you.co.uk

“Thank you for the professional manner in which you handled a long standing employee issue, as a result of your help the individual has now regained their interest in both the type of work they are required to perform and their input into the longevity of the practice. This has been purely down to the advice and input from HR2YOU. By implementing the methods and processes you recommended, the issues have been resolved and this I feel is purely down to the guidance and efforts you have provided in what can only be described as extremely difficult circumstances.

Any company that takes on HR2YOU to resolve their employment issues will extremely benefit in a way we ourselves have done” John Hallam – John Hallam Associates

www.b4-business.com

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2011 WAS BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT, AND 2012 WILL BE JUST AS GOOD New research from Orange shows that the UK’s Small and Medium Businesses did better in the UK than expected in 2011, and that investment into communications technology will help operations run even more successfully in 2012. Article by Martin Stiven, Vice President Business at Everything Everywhere, the company that runs Orange.

It’s not controversial to say that coverage of British business in the media recently has been a little worrying, and – if one believes all that is written – that this could be expected to continue over the next year. However, Orange has recently carried out our annual survey of small to medium business (SME) customers, and it seems that they are bucking the trend, and actually looking forward to business in 2012!

According to the research, an astounding 79% of our SME customers believe that their businesses did better in 2011 than expected. As it stands, 83% of them believe that next year will be just as prosperous – perhaps even more so – than 2011 was, up from 76% of those who in 2010 thought 2011 might be a better year. Here, we provide an

obvious target for investment. Employee expectations are increasingly shifting towards being able to work flexibly, and having access to the same types of innovative technologies and tools available at home, at work. As such, technology allowing people to connect remotely to businesses can actually help improve employee loyalty as well as productivity, as companies – regardless of size – can start to accommodate requests to work differently. However, while there are clear benefits in allowing employees to work wherever they are, it must be done safely and securely.

Staying secure as personal devices enter the working world According to our research, 37% of SMEs in the UK are planning on allowing their employees to work

Secure walls are no barrier for the cloud There are so many tools available for SMEs to protect their information that security should not be deemed a barrier to adoption of any technology.

In the enterprise world, for example, there has been some hesitation in adopting the cloud because of often-cited, but rarely realised, security concerns. With consumer services such as DropBox and the Apple iCloud, it will not be long before SMEs come under pressure from employees to take advantage of the cloud themselves, so that any approved connected device can access business information at any time.

SMEs shouldn’t fall behind because of concerns like those in the corporate space. Instead, they should speak to their network providers about how

“An astounding 79% of our SME customers believe that their businesses did better in 2011 than expected. As it stands, 83% of them believe that next year will be just as prosperous” overview of what’s on the horizon for SMEs in 2012 according to our research.

Technology investments to meet employee expectations While over two thirds (70%) of SMEs do not plan to hire more staff than they did in 2011, they are instead planning on reinvesting profits directly into the business to help make those employees they do have happier and more productive through communication technology. Whereas in our 2010 survey, just over half (52%) thought they would spend more in 2011 on communication technology than they did in 2010, almost nine out ten SMEs (89%) now see themselves investing in this area in 2012. As these results were gathered just before the Government’s December announcement that it will set up a £75m fund to encourage SME investment in technology and innovation, if we asked again now, the number might be even higher.

Technology that enables communication is an 44

flexibly to enjoy the London 2012 Olympic Games.

These Games will be the most mobile and accessible sporting event ever, as people tune in on mobile devices to catch-up via YouTube, or find apps with event scheduling or the best route to a venue. However, these devices are increasingly the same ones also being used for work purposes, and the more points of access to a business network employees have, the more potential security policy breaches small businesses will need to avoid.

Work and play – the same thing?

2012 will therefore be the year where education within SMEs is vital. We are seeing our business customers encourage ‘BYOD’ schemes (Bring Your Own Device) as they can help save capex and keep employees happy, but we also know that they have to be used securely. Where personal smartphones are used to access work emails, for example, it can be as simple as ensuring compliance to a policy that a password is needed to access that device, so if it goes missing, no business or customer data gets taken with it.

to take advantage of the latest, communications technologies safely. 2012 will be the year where education is vital at all levels of a company hierarchy. Anyone using a device that is not physically connected to your business’ network needs to understand at least the basics of staying secure.

The benefits of remotely accessing business data in terms of employee satisfaction, loyalty and productivity are high, but the correct processes must in place to keep business data – and so the business itself – secure.

It looks like 2012 is going to be a good year for SMEs in the UK, and by investing in communications technology, infrastructure and education for the workforce, 2013 could be even better. www.orange.co.uk/business

www.b4-business.com

B4 IT & TELECOMMS

“There are so many tools available for SMEs to protect their information that security should not be deemed a barrier to adoption of any technology�

www.b4-business.com

45

news Oxford United will be wearing a very special shirt for a very special cause this month For the U's home game against Rotherham United on 17th March the team will wear special one-off match shirts bearing the logo of SpecialEffect and an embroidered message saying 'United 4 Charlotte' as well as sponsors Bridle Insurance.

SpecialEffect is a charity dedicated to helping ALL young people with disabilities to enjoy computer games. For these children, the majority of computer games are simply too quick or too difficult to play, and SpecialEffect can help them and their parents to find out which games they CAN play, and how to adapt those games that they can't.

United have been working very hard with SpecialEffect to help young Charlotte Nott. The three-year-old lost all four limbs in December 2010 to meningococcal septicaemia and her story has touched the hearts of everyone at the club. The Priory pub has been collecting money to help Charlotte, with fans even bungee jumping before a game to help raise funds.

their very kind support with this project.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "We have all been so touched by Charlotte's story and this is the ideal way to bring her story to a wider audience and to highlight the fantastic work that SpecialEffect do. I visited SpecialEffect in Charlbury with Charlotte and her family and have seen first-hand the effect that their work is having on youngsters.

"We are allowed to change the shirts for one game per season under Football League rules and Bridle were right behind us when we suggested the idea.

We thank them for their help.

"The auction will allow supporters to own a genuine worn matched shirt, a real collector's item, but more importantly it will allow us to raise a substantial amount of money to help youngsters, and one very special little girl who is part of our Oxford United family in particular."

Keep an eye on www.oufc.co.uk for details

The team will wear the SpecialEffect shirts for just one match, with the shirts from each player in the squad auctioned off. All monies raised will be split 50/50 by SpecialEffect and the Charlotte Fund.

The club would like to thank Bridle Insurance for

United in the running Oxford United fans are getting behind the Oxford Mail OX5 Run once again this year with the Yellow Army joining the fun at Blenheim Palace on Sunday 25th March to help raise lots of money for the Oxford Children's Hospital Chairman Kelvin Thomas will be starting the race and manager Chris Wilder running with fans. The plan is to get 100 people on the Oxford United team on the day, all running in yellow home shirts.

The players will be there to meet with fans and the ever willing staff running team will be pulling on their trainers to complete the five miles.

Chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "As a club we fully appreciate the great work that the Oxford Children's Hospital does and we are fully behind the OX5 run.

It is a chance for everyone in Oxford to show their support and if we can get our fans to come and join us then it should be a memorable day out as well. We will be there in numbers and I am sure we can count on our fans to help us show that the club is very much at the heart of everything that happens in the city of Oxford."

B4 Readers are welcome to Join the Yellow Army: sign up today. www.oufc.co.uk

The first 100 fans who join the Oxford United team get a unique U's t-shirt on the day and will be setting off together as the Yellow Army.

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news How much is tourism worth to Oxfordshire? longer holiday.

Tourism is responsible too for over 29,000 jobs across the county, including part-time and selfemployment, which is an increase of 1.2% compared to the previous year, and represents approximately 8% of the total jobs in Oxfordshire.

At a time, when many sectors are reporting downturns it’s great to be able to report even a small increase, particularly when a large proportion of the businesses involved are SMEs.

Photograph: Ian-Hay

Each year Visit Oxfordshire commissions an Economic Impact Report to look at the volume and value of the visitor economy to the county as a whole. The latest report, with figures for 2010, came out in the autumn and shows that over 25.5 million visitors, both staying and day visitors from the UK and abroad, came to the county, helping to make the visitor economy worth over £1.7 billion to Oxfordshire. This is an increase of 2.2% compared to 2009, and reflects the growing interest in the ‘staycation’ or remaining in the UK for a short break or

Visit Oxfordshire launches its 2012 Guides In December, Visit Oxfordshire launched its first Gardens Guide, which features some of the many beautiful gardens across the county from the formal gardens at Broughton Castle to the Capability Brown landscaped grounds at Blenheim Palace. The brochure includes details on opening times, specialities and highlights of the various gardens, as well as a map so that you can plan your own itinerary to explore the glorious gardens of Oxfordshire.

January has seen the launch of the 2012 Visitor Guide for Visit Oxfordshire. The new brochure provides inspiration and ideas on what to see and do across the county all year round, as well as information on where to stay. The guide will be

distributed at selected tourist and visitor information centres in the UK, as well as at group and travel trade exhibitions. It encourages people to explore the many delights of our county and discover something new, whether that’s families looking for half-term ideas, increasing awareness of Oxfordshire’s towns with their independent shops or experience one (or several) of the many pubs and restaurants specialising in local produce.

Both the 2012 Visitor Guide and the Gardens Guide are available from the Visitor Information Centre in Oxford or can be downloaded from www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

Looking for a meeting venue?

Then look no further than Meet Oxfordshire’s new website – www.meetoxfordshire.com!

The new website for our conference bureau, helps anyone looking for a venue for a meeting, conference or incentive, find the ideal location to fit their requirements. There is a news feed section where details on the latest special offers and developments can be found and meeting

organisers can also easily submit requests to the Meet Oxfordshire team. The free venue finding service is available to anyone looking for that perfect location for any business event from a small top-level meeting to an overnight conference or incentive. www.meetoxfordshire.com

How to become a Visit Oxfordshire partner Whether your business is aimed at the leisure or business tourism market, information on how to become a partner can be found at www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/corporate.

Partnership packages range from £100 to £10,000

www.b4-business.com

per annum, and all levels include membership of Tourism South East.

Visit Oxfordshire partners benefit from a number of marketing opportunities and related services, with partnership levels providing the flexibility for

businesses to target their activity.

For more details on how your business can join Visit Oxfordshire please contact Susi Golding – sgolding@oxford.gov.uk or Jo Butler jbutler@oxford.gov.uk

www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

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RISK MANAGEMENT SECURITY SERVICES If you want to protect your business or your home you need to find people who are not only experts in security techniques but, who are, above all, entirely trustworthy.

Risk Management Security Services specialise in developing teams of highly trained personnel in whom you can place absolute faith.

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Established in 1976 we have become the leading independent provider of manned security services throughout the Thames Valley with Oxfordshire as our largest area of operation in terms of client base and resources.

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Our services include: • Uniformed Security Officers • Mobile Security Patrols • Keyholding & Alarm Response • Receptionists/Front of House Staff • Vacant Property Inspections • Locking and Unlocking • Lone Worker Support

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Manned Guarding Risk Management Security Services manage teams of highly trained Security Guards protecting properties throughout the private and public sector.

Our approach to service is consistent and one that provides our customers with exceptional levels of management support and can be identified as different to our competitors through the following methods: • 24 hour access to our offices and Control Centre with telephones answered by our own staff • External audits by an outside agency to test our 48

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security teams. (Often referred to as mystery shopping) Dedicated security services without diversifying into other soft services Selective recruitment process where staff are recruited with site specific duties in mind All Directors and Senior Management can be contacted 24 hours a day We operate a policy of internal promotion that can be demonstrated Delivering the service we sell

We have a wealth of experience in various market sectors: • Higher & Further Education • Business Parks • Logistics Facilities • Information Technology • Pharmaceutical • Research Centres • Factory & Warehouses • Offices • Distribution Centres Mobile Security Patrols Where there is not a need for a permanent security presence on site, Mobile Patrols offer an excellent alternative and can be tailored to suit individual applications.

Risk Management Security Services operate a team of highly trained Patrol and Response Officers to

provide random patrols of premises during the silent hours.

A patrol service by Risk Security Officers will complement existing security systems such as CCTV and intruder alarms and provide effective checks of the building and surrounding area.

Our Security officers check premises and act as a potential deterrent to would-be intruders. They can also prevent minor problems developing into more serious incidents such as extensive flood damage or devastation from a carelessly discarded cigarette.

Over the years, mobile patrols have prevented such damage and have been instrumental in the prevention of major business disruption.

An electronic patrol monitoring system is installed throughout each site to ensure specific areas are patrolled. The information collated through each patrol is available on a weekly basis identifying the time of each visit and the duration of each patrol.

If there is information that is required prior to the weekly report this would be provided by way of exception.

All vehicles are tracked from our ultra modern control centre using state of the art software that provides daily reports in respect of site visits, duration of each visit as well as “green reports” that identify our impact on the environment.

Benefits of our Mobile Patrol Service: www.b4-business.com

B4 SPOTLIGHT • Patrols can be provided to business premises and homes • Service provided in accordance with BS7499 • Vacant building inspections to check utilities • SIA Licensed and vetted Officers attending your premises • Visible deterrent • Electronic verification of time spent on site • Lone worker protection • Manned 24-hour Control Centre Keyholding and Alarm Response Protect you and your staff by employing a professional Keyholding Company.

Risk Management Security Services offer a complete Keyholding & Alarm Response service

• Keys will be security coded, stored securely and fully covered by our insurance • Lost Key Service • High Wycombe manned 24-hour Control Centre • Unique pricing structure to suit all requirements How it works: As soon as our Control Centre receive notification from the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) of an activation an Officer from our Patrol & Response Team will immediately be dispatched to the premises to conduct a thorough check of the building and ascertain the cause of the alarm. If it is a false alarm the Officer will liaise with the ARC and reset the system. Should a break-in have occurred we will make arrangements for “boarding up” of windows and doors where necessary after

very often provides our customers with an increased level of security whilst reducing the overall security expenditure.

We have many examples where we have implemented a combined security solution that has resulted in year on year savings.

Remote monitoring of CCTV Systems can be provided as either a standalone service or in support of others. Our control centre staff are able to react to incidents and initiate a response service in the event of an incident captured on your CCTV cameras.

Through carefully selected partners we are able to provide advice and costs for all elements of security

“Risk Management Security Services specialise in developing teams of highly trained personnel in whom you can place absolute faith” ensuring that your employees are not called to site unnecessarily.

You are putting yourself or a member of your staff at risk if you do not employ a Keyholding Company.

Expecting staff to be a Key Holder and respond outside of office hours generates obvious risks. By employing us to be your key holder, one of our trained Security Guards will deal with any situation from a simple reset of the alarm system, to a potentially dangerous occurrence.

Reasons to employ us as your Keyholding Company: • Eliminates Lone Worker Risk • Avoids your own staff driving to site who may be over the legal drink drive limit • Avoids staff being exposed to potential danger either on route or once at site • Avoids staff remaining on site out of hours resulting in reduced productivity the next day • You don't have to worry about providing cover for holidays • We operate 24 hours a day, do you?

Benefits of our Keyholding Service: • Response can be provided to business premises and homes • Service provided in accordance with BS7984 • SIA Licensed and vetted Officers attending your premises • Can be set up within 24-hours notice www.b4-business.com

liaising with the Police and alarm company.

Reception Services As an addition to security staff we are able to provide high quality reception services and the provision of facilities support for front of house positions.

It is vital to provide a first impression that counts.

The reception area must offer a friendly and professional environment supported by staff that can complement the ethos of the company we are working for. Through our tailored and site specific recruitment process we are able to select staff that meet both our requirements and those of our customer.

Many customers use our reception staff in conjunction with other services such as Manned Guarding, Mobile Patrols and Keyholding as part of a combined solution.

Combined Solutions In a world of change and an environment where many organisations are looking at more cost effective solutions, Risk Management Security Services are able to provide a complete security package combining Security Guarding, Keyholding, Patrols Services and Security Systems.

hardware including which CCTV system and intruder alarm to install.

24 Hour Control Centre All security services are controlled from our own state of the art Control Centre that has recently undergone major refurbishment to provide a first class and ultra modern work environment.

Our 24-Hour Control Centre co-ordinates the following: • Management of Rosters • Staff information • Site Assignment Instructions • Emergency contact details and call out procedure • Welfare check calls and booking on/off procedure • Lone worker support functions • Remote CCTV monitoring • Vehicle Tracking The 24-Hour Control Centre is maintained and managed in accordance with the code of practice for suppliers of Manned Security Services, BS7499 and Keyholding and Alarm Response Services, BS7984. www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk

Through correct integration of different security services and site procedures a combined solution 49

THE BIG EVENT Over 200 guests attended our first B4 Ambassadors event and celebration of In Oxford Magazine’s 10th Birthday at a stunning Ashmolean Museum on Thursday 26th January.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Speeches were made by B4’s Editor, Richard Rosser, The Ashmolean’s Director, Christopher Brown, Richard Venables of VSL and Innocent Drinks founder, Richard Reed, who spoke on behalf of our preferred charitiy, Oxfam.

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We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers and readers for their support over the last ten years and to Benedicte Montain at The Ashmolean for her assistance in making the event so memorable and also to our B4 Events Organiser, Tina Rosser, for her expert organisation. www.b4-business.com

www.b4-business.com

B4 EVENTS

www.b4-business.com

51

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MIELE:

112 YEARS OF PERFECTION B4 were invited to the impressive Miele Experience Centre in Abingdon, venue for the last B4 Ambassadors Event of 2011, by Miele GB CEO, Simon Grantham. As a world leader in the production of premium domestic appliances, Simon explains how this German family company have engrained a philosophy of perfection in everything they do.

Simon joined Miele six years ago and soon identified that the foundations of Miele were as robust and sound as their end product. “With one hundred and twelve years of history and experience behind Miele, it’s during tough economic times such as we are experiencing now that Miele can reinforce the quality of its product without compromising in any way. We are doing better than our competitors I’m pleased to say, but there’s no doubt we still have to work hard to give our customers value for money and we have never worked harder to do so. We are going into new areas, such as providing foraging experiences, embarking on wider advertising campaigns and providing even more support for our dealer network. In short, we’re not letting up.”

Miele moved to the UK forty nine years ago and last year celebrated thirty years in Abingdon, now the UK headquarters. “Over the last 30 years in Abingdon we have expanded in the site considerably.” Outlines Simon. “We started with a small office in a small warehouse and now have five warehouses with an impressive Experience Centre for our customer events, such as the B4 event in September.

“There are three hundred and sixty UK employees, two hundred of which are based in Abingdon. We regularly recruit twenty five people per annum from the local market, mainly for the Contact Centre. It is principally a sales and service operation in the UK and cover a broad base of skills, from

54

management positions to expert customer advisers, showroom advisers and a number of people who work in the warehouse and finished goods area.

“We are always trying to recruit good people and, for instance in our contact centre, which operates six days a week and contains seventy staff, we have been casting our net wider to recruit University students between courses or students in their gap years. We are constantly aiming to recruit in this area.”

The company, founded in 1899, has eight production plants in Gütersloh in Westphalia, Germany (where 97% of everything Miele sells in the UK is manufactured) and one plant each in Austria, the Czech Republic, China and Romania.

Turnover for the year 2009 / 10 was £2.83 billion, the highest in the company's history) with sales outside Germany accounting for 70%. Miele has its own wholly owned sales subsidiaries in forty seven countries and is represented in a further forty eight countries by importers and distributors. With eleven factories within 50km of Gütersloh, each tends to specialise in one product, such as dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and cooking products. In total, Miele employ 15,000 staff in Westphalia.

I had previously learned that the factories in Germany were a site to behold and asked Simon if thousands of washing machines really did hang from the production lines. “Miele at its heart is

principally an industrial company, a company made up of engineers. The factory, as a result, has been really cleverly designed whereby all of the space in the factory is efficiently utilised. So, literally hanging above you as you make your way through the factory are recently enamel-coated washing machine panels which will be going around in circles on a production line to be assembled in an automated way, much as you would see parts in a car factory. It’s a process very similar to car assembly, automated and very robotic. This means the process is not only efficient, but incredibly cost effective, meaning that the factory can stay in Germany, as opposed to all of our competitors who have moved to Eastern Europe or China, or Turkey, purely to keep costs down. Automation doesn’t mean that we don’t apply the human touch, on the product line someone runs a pair of silk stockings around every single Miele washing machine drum to ensure there are no snags. If there are it is not used and goes to be recycled.

Miele is wholly owned by two families, the Miele family and the Zinkann family. Now in their fourth generation as owners, both families sit on the Operating Board, so they are actively involved in the day to day direction of the company, something which is clearly evident when Simon visits. “Two or three times a year, when I go to the factory with customers, Dr Miele and Dr Zinkann will know everyone because in the same way that they are fourth generation, there are fourth generation families working in that factory, which is great for binding everyone and creating a family spirit. They

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B4 SPOTLIGHT are very informal which means they are well known and nobody has an issue with going up to them to ask questions or make suggestions. The family culture certainly makes Miele unique in our market which is dominated by very large corporate companies, but Miele maintain that family feel.”

Reinforcing this theme, all of the glass offices in Gütersloh are identical, even those belonging to Dr Miele and Dr Zinkann, who, like their staff, adopt an open door policy. This is a well oiled machine which has been assembled over a huge period of time as Simon underlines. “The two families have worked very hard to make sure that the manufacturing processes and the products which leave the factories are super efficient. The current

Dr Zinkann senior is 86 and still works three days a week, still designs products and still files patents and this, more than anything, illustrates that the family is entrenched in the business and isn’t just there because heritage says they should be.”

In terms of Miele’s UK market share, Simon explains the three dimensions of the business and where Miele ranks. “We have the white goods business made up of washing machines, dishwashers and products for the kitchen like ovens, steamers etc…., there is a separate business

business. In terms of Miele’s production split, it’s a simple 60% / 20% / 20% split in favour of the domestic appliances market.”

Simon reinforces that this is a premium product and that with particular regard to the commercial business where Miele performs so well, the fact that Miele provide a premium product fits in with the sector demand for heavy, industrial use of machines which are rarely idle. “The products are incredibly well made and run for years – they are a key purchase for large establishments such as hospitals and hotels and are built to last for twenty years.”

Miele are also keen to engage their customers as

early as possible in the buying process to enable them to make an informed decision as possible when it comes to making their final purchase, whether it’s a domestic or commercial kitchen installation or a one off appliance purchase. Zoe Carter, Miele’s PR Manager, explains how Miele have gone one step further than the traditional sales events held for customers in the past. “These are our ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ events and our ‘Appliance Academies’, which are both held pre and post purchase. So a consumer looking to refit their kitchen can come here for the day, learn about the

ultimate purchase will be made from the dealer which has sent the prospect to the Miele Experience Centre, more often than not, the prospect’s original shopping list will tend to grow once they have entered our stunning showcase facility.“ Moving on from the pre and post purchase familiarisation days, Miele started running cooking schools a couple of years ago, which have, unsurprisingly also been very successful. But, in March, Zoe reveals that a second branded event will be launched. “We are launching ‘Kitchen Secrets’ with the focus on food and drink. We will be engaging with local producers and even taking customers out on foraging events and looking at

running a street food market here. The aim is to bring the latest food trends, stories and producers to the consumers at our Experience Centres in Abingdon and London and, soon, in Sutton Coldfield. We will also be running Design events which will provide a 'Beginners guide to Kitchen Design'.

“We recognise that buying a kitchen is a potentially confusing experience given that there is so much choice in the market. These events are designed to give customers an even greater insight into what

“The products are incredibly well made and run for years – they are a key purchase for large establishments such as hospitals and hotels and are built to last for twenty years” selling vacuum cleaners and finally the commercial business, which supplies hotels, hospitals and care homes with high grade, high quality products for heavy use. For example, Miele supply huge sterilisers for use in hospitals. So there are three quite different parts making up the whole, and we have varying market shares. In the commercial sector we are very strong, particularly in the care home and hospitality sector and sell a high number of large washing machines, in particular into hospitals, care homes, fire brigades etc…. In the vacuum cleaner market, we rank third and much lower in the domestic appliances market which is dominated by global brands. However, despite having just a 4% domestic appliances market share, there is huge scope to grow this side of the www.b4-business.com

full range of our products and actually use our products. We have a Home Economist and also Product Advisers on hand to enable our prospective customers to identify the products that are right for them. We have been hosting these events for a number of years.” It goes without saying that an offering like this is not only time consuming but also provides Miele with nothing in the way of guarantees that the fortunate prospective customers will become actual customers. However, it would be hard to imagine an ultra efficient organisation like Miele continuing to provide this unique experience to would be customers without a successful track record, which, as Zoe confirms, is most certainly the case. “The days are incredibly successful. Although the

products are right for them and to ensure that their final choices are the right ones.”

In a tough economy, all of us are thinking more about large purchases, holding off completely or wanting to know more about the products which we may or may not end up buying. Miele are therefore very in tune with the potential dilemmas their prospective customers have and these events serve to make sure that the final decision is the right one but also give the customer an even greater sense that they are dealing with a rather extraordinary company. www.miele.co.uk Read more about Miele overleaf

4 55

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

MORE ABOUT MIELE Miele is a world leader in the production of premium domestic appliances including cooking, baking and steam-cooking appliances, refrigeration products, coffee makers, dishwashers and laundry and floorcare products. This line-up is augmented by dishwashers, washer-extractors and tumble dryers for commercial use as well as washerdisinfectors for use in medical and laboratory applications (Miele Professional). Miele’s PR Manager, Zoe Carter, gives us an insight into the world of Miele.

The Miele Philosophy “We are an independent, self-contained and familyrun company with traditional values committed to our workforce, customers and the general public alike.

“We manufacture high-quality appliances and equipment for domestic use as well as for different branches in the commercial sector. At all times we aim to be a reliable partner for our customers.

“We not only feel particularly committed to our workforce and customers, we also have a responsibility towards our suppliers and the general public. The relationship with our suppliers should be performance-oriented, reliable and longstanding. Furthermore, we are all committed to strengthening public awareness of our positive company image.”

Miele GB “Miele GB was established in 1963 when Karl Heinz Wedekind was entrusted by Rudolf Miele to set up a sales and marketing subsidiary in Great Britain. Originally operating with a small staff from offices in Great Portland Street, the company moved to larger premises in Acton in 1972 and, in 1981, to our current purpose-built offices in Abingdon.

“When the building was completed it provided an office area of 20,000 sq feet, which included a second floor built as a shell for future expansion, and 56,000 sq feet of warehouse space. In the intervening years, through the acquisition of two adjacent warehouses, the site has expanded to cover 13.5 acres, our storage capacity has been increased to 120,000 sq feet and the opening of our new customer centre, the Miele Experience Centre, in 2005 released much needed office space on the ground floor of the main building.”

Miele in the Community “As a large organisation, we receive lots of requests for sponsorship or charitable support, and took the decision to focus our support on the local community. Recent activities include donations of vacuum cleaners as raffle prizes for local schools and nurseries, sponsorship of The Choose Abingdon Partnership and, of course, the In Oxford Magazine Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards.

Abingdon’s existing strengths and history to support and improve the economic, social and cultural vitality of the town for all its businesses, residents and visitors, and specifically to: • Envision, plan and act as a catalyst for positive change.

• Bring together and coordinate those activities of various organisations and businesses concerned with the towns future.

• Influence and engage with the visions, strategic plan and actions of various local authorities and other external projects.

• Communicate the aspirations of the town.

• Initiate and implement its own projects.”

Miele Events “The aim of our kitchen events is to connect consumers and influencers, through a programme of exciting events, to the best-in-class resources they need to create a kitchen space that exceeds their perceived functional and emotional requirements. The events programme will showcase expert teams including product advisers, home economists, chefs, local producers, kitchen designers and architects.

“Experience counts for everything, which is why we host a series of regular demonstrations and interactive events in our showrooms. Let's do Lunch days are ideal if you are in the process of planning a new kitchen and are the perfect opportunity to see Miele's cooking appliances in action. Appliance MasterClasses are perfect for anyone who wants to understand the finer details of their Miele appliances or those who want to try out appliances before they make a purchase.

Simply Cooking classes are open to anyone who wishes to learn more about producing wonderful dishes.”

Miele Centres • Miele Centres provide the highest level of service when purchasing a Miele appliance. Consumers are able to view the widest range of Miele products, helping to ensure they experience Miele appliances that are best suited to their requirements, whilst receive engaging expert advice.

• Miele actively encourages and supports experimental activities within the Miele Centres, recognising that engaging and educating the customer empowers both our partners and the consumer.

• Miele recognises that physical spaces still provide the best means to communicate with customers and offer a brand experience.

• Fully live products across all core categories • Creating a flexible in-store environment through design, product offerings and promotions, ensures that each visit will feel like a brand new experience.

• Dedicated Miele specialist within each centre. www.miele.co.uk

“The Choose Abingdon Partnership builds on www.b4-business.com

57

POISED TO GROW Following Grant Thornton’s move to stunning new offices at Reading IQ (Winnersh Triangle), B4 were invited to meet with Grant Thornton’s Office Managing Partner, Perry Burton, to find out more about the reasons behind the move and what the future has in store.

It’s clear this firm likes to take a different approach to most things that it does and equally apparent from talking to the energetic Perry that the future of Grant Thornton in Berkshire is exciting. With Thames Valley offices now in Oxford, Reading (The Pinnacle in

Reading centre) and the new IQ at Winnersh, the platform for future development is now complete.

best team for the right clients. We now have a team of 20 partners and 270 employees across the two offices in Berkshire.

“We have combined our Thames Valley offices to give us more scale and enable us to deliver the

“We also have some fairly ambitious growth plans.

The National Leadership Board have identified the

to global clients including those listed in the US. In addition to working with these audit clients Perry has worked on the following transaction support assignments.

Perry Burton (Managing Partner) Perry is managing partner at Grant Thornton UK in the Audit and Business Assurance department, specialising in corporates, and international groups. Perry is also the Managing Partner for our Thames Valley Offices.

Experience: Perry joined us at Grant Thornton in 2007 following the merger with RSM Robson Rhodes, where he was a partner and sat on the Audit Board. His experience ranges from working with owner managed business's through

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• Financial restructuring of Jarvis Plc including the £350m debt for equity swap and subsequent £50m rights issue; • Further £25m rights issue for Jarvis Plc; • Assets review for £200m acquisition by a lessor; • Due diligence review for a German global motor manufacturer on the acquisition of a Formula 1 engine manufacturer; Perry's particular areas of expertise include: • Technology and Intellectual Property • Real Estate • Support Services • US GAAP and IFRS Reporting

Jim Rogers (Partner) Jim is an audit and advisory partner in our Thames Valley office, based at Winnersh Triangle.

Experience: Jim joined Grant Thornton in 1990 after spending his first seven years in the profession with Ernst & Young. He was appointed as a partner in 1993.

His experience is wide ranging. He acts for many significant businesses and specialises in advising ambitious

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B4 ADVICE

With a solid foothold in the Thames Valley, the firm is now in a unique position to deliver their more individual service to a wide market, as Perry explains. “We are more nimble and fleet of foot than the ‘Big Four’. We focus on the local nature of our clients’ businesses but can draw from a very impressive international network.”

So why Winnersh Triangle? “We looked at a number of different locations but this felt right. We made the decision to locate outside of Reading to avoid the town centre congestion and take advantage of the easy access, transport links and parking.

“Our audit and tax teams, are now located perfectly for visiting our corporate clients, but they are equally capable of making the short journey into the centre of Reading if clients need to meet there.

The Pinnacle, however, is positioned in the centre allowing the Corporate finance, Recovery and Transaction teams to be based near the banks and VCs. This combination of office location gives the company a good balance between the periphery and the centre.

“Oxford is also a very important area for us because we have a very strong market share there and a very strong presence, so Oxford will continue to be a significant market for Grant Thornton.”

Any move is going to place a strain on an organisation, and the amount of disruption to a firm the size of Grant Thornton shouldn’t be underestimated. However, it’s clear talking to Perry that the move was well researched and executed, now leaving the firm in excellent shape for 2012.

“We have a cracking team of partners and directors

across our offices. We are fortunate to have such a dynamic team. They are fully engaged with the full service operation. We all use our ‘instinct for growth attitude’ to reach out to clients looking for a more hands on approach than the ‘Big Four’, who focus more on US inbound work. We are looking to work with dynamic organisations who are growing or acquiring or maybe launching new products.

“Here in the Thames Valley we are certainly punching way above our weight with an excellent

“We are more nimble and fleet of foot than the ‘Big Four’. We focus on the local nature of our clients’ businesses but can draw from a very impressive international network” share of the market. In terms of UK based businesses in the Thames Valley for whom we act, we fair extraordinarily well compared to our competition.”

To find out more about Grant Thornton and how the firm could help your business, contact Perry or Jim Rogers at the IQ offices or Wendy Hart at the Oxford office.

entrepreneurial, growth driven businesses. He has particular experience in Private Equity backed and international businesses. Jim also acts for several AIM businesses.

Jim was Head of Growth and Strategic Services for Grant Thornton for three years to December 2006, leading and building teams throughout the UK. delivering strategic involvement to fast-growing, ambitious mid-corporate companies. Jim is also a regular commentator on issues facing mid-corporate businesses and was a member of the CBI SME Council for several years.

Jim's expertise covers: • Technology Retail & Distribution

In short, it's all about our approach. Our clients, whether local or global, consistently tell us that we work with them in a very different way. We make sure our clients receive what they need - awardwinning audit, tax and advisory expertise that's responsive and insightful, in-depth sector knowledge and a relationship that's built on their agenda not our own.

We are at our best working alongside like-minded organisations that demand more than an off-theshelf solution. We consistently challenge ourselves and our clients by bringing a broader, more forward-thinking perspective to the table - delivered flexibly and pragmatically.

“Grant Thornton gives you access to valued relationships that work harder for your business.

You'll see the benefits first hand.

Grant Thornton at a Glance • 27 UK Offices • No.1 Auditor of Aim • 4th Largest Auditor of UK’s top privately-held companies • 5th Largest Auditor – Small Cap/Fledgling market • 100+ Member Firms of Grant Thornton International Ltd • 200+ Partners • 5th Largest auditor – FTSE 250 • No.1 Independent Nominate Adviser of AIM • 30,000+ employees worldwide • 1 in 4 FTSE 100 are non audit clients • 4,000+ UK employees www.grant-thornton.co.uk

Advanced Diploma in Corporate Finance. 2000 appointed head of the firm's technology practice. 1998 appointed partner. 1996 seconded to NatWest Corporate Bank as a consultant manager (Thames Valley). 1992 qualified as a chartered accountant.

Wendy Hart (Partner) Wendy works within our lead advisory team, specialising in corporate finance and is the sales and marketing partner for the South region Lead Advisory Corporate Finance Team.

Experience: Wendy joined us at Grant Thornton in 1988.

Her career with the firm has seen the following achievements to date: 2009 appointed Office managing Partner for Oxford office. 2006 Member of BVCA Technology Committee. 2006

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The Grant Thornton Approach

Photography: Hills & Saunders

Thames Valley as the key area for growth and are challenging us to achieve at least 10% cumulative growth between now and 2015.”

Wendy has over 15 years experience in corporate finance transactions including business disposals, acquisitions, MBOs, MBIs and raising debt and equity finance. Wendy also specialises in providing on-going strategic business advice to retained clients, particularly those anticipating aggressive growth and an M&A strategy.

Wendy's expertise covers: • Technology (Head of Grant Thornton's Technology practice) • Property & Construction • Food • Publishing • Support Services

59

l a u n n A The 6th p u C p u o r B4/MG

e b o t s e k a t it t a h w t ? m Have you go a e t lf o g s s e in us b g in d a le ’s e ir h s d r Oxfo tee of with holders ill w p Cu up ro G M / h Annual B4 ub, the 6t May at Oxford Golf Cl nd 22 y da es Tu on g Star n July. ath on Thursday 12th g their crown. in He d nd or fe ilf de Fr t at in is Pr ch to s hi Pres r.

2nd of w alifiers this year, the ursday 6th Septembe Th on d oo W y le ud St There are just two qu s at ested by up to 60 team Thursday 12th July ub The final will be cont Cl f ol G th ea H d or ay Frilf ub Tuesday 22nd M Cl f ol G d or xf O ay 6th September sd ur Th ub Cl Dates as follows: f ol G d FINAL: Studley Woo ffet a er play en fees and rolling bu company gre ur o yo tw of k, lf ac ha sn be d on an ink me , including welcome dr • Enter in your own na o per qualifier is £125 tw of m tea ch ea for • Charge 00 and the final for just £3 ward • Enter both qualifiers fying score brought for ali qu d to your best de ad s int rs po fie le ali ub qu do • Final is ugh one of the al unless qualified thro e qualifier / (s) s with clients* • Cannot enter the fin o you played with in th wh to r ye pla nt all in the final, perhap ere rb diff fou a a th as wi y al pla fin n ca in y • Can pla e qualifiers they s with two teams in th m • If a company qualifie made for the extra tea 0 charge will be final an addi!onal £10 plays two teams in the

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of VAT at 20%

Why Become a Member ?

B 4 Magazine Feature in the contacts directory of four issues of B4 Oxfordshire Magazine.

B 4 Website Feature in the B4 Oxfordshire on-line web directory. Upload unlimited press releases and events to the B4 Oxfordshire website.

B 4 Events Attend B4 Oxfordshire, Berkshire & Buckinghamshire networking events during the year and bring a colleague or a customer as your guest.

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news Oxford’s bid to become UNESCO World Book Capital in 2014 This April, Oxford will submit its bid to become World Book Capital in 2014. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) launched the World Book Capital scheme in 2001, in order to acknowledge the best programme by a city to promote books and encourage reading. Madrid took the title in the first year and has been followed by Alexandria, New Delhi, Antwerp, Montreal, Turin, Bogotá, Amsterdam, Beirut, Ljubljana, Buenos Aires, Yerevan and Bangkok.

If successful, Oxford would host a year-long programme of events for visitors, as well as city and county residents to take part in. By bringing together readers, writers, publishers, illustrators, booksellers and libraries in a celebration of books and reading, the programme will assert the importance of the written word – both in printed form and virtually – in strands including education, information and entertainment.

Oxford has unparalleled resources to support a programme of this kind. The city has world renowned publishing and bookselling enterprises, and there are probably more major published authors – of both fiction and non fiction works – based in or around the city than in any comparable location in the world.

Oxford boasts a strong reading public as well as an established literary festival; it is a city of the word and of the English language, from Lewis Carroll’s wordplay to the wonders of the Oxford English Dictionary.

Oxford’s bid for the title is currently being developed by a steering committee made up of literary experts from thirteen local organisations (for a full list, visit the official website for Oxford's bid). Michael Heaney, Executive Secretary of the Bodleian Libraries and a member of the committee, said: “Oxford’s bid to become UNESCO World Book Capital has already generated a lot of beneficial activity in bringing together the different players.

“Even now there are some very exciting events planned, and in the year itself we shall have two amazing new buildings in the Story Museum and the Bodleian’s Weston Library. These resources offer us the chance to address some of the issues we face, such as children’s literacy and the responsibility to share with the public the cultural treasures of which the University is the custodian.

“The accolade of being nominated would magnify the effectiveness of our actions even more. I believe that the nomination of Oxford as World Book Capital would present us with the opportunity to truly transform the city’s engagement with books and reading, and usher in even greater co-operation between town and gown.”

In addition to an exciting and forward looking programme of events, the World Book Capital year – which will run from April 2014 to April 2015 – will also see a number of organisations work together to coordinate a schools programme for children’s literacy in Oxford. This programme will tie in closely with Oxfordshire County Council’s new education strategy, which includes a “campaign” element focussed on ensuring that every child in the county becomes a good reader.

Sarah Thomas, Philip Pullman, Colin Dexter and Tony Stratton at the launch of Oxford's World Book Capital bid

David Paice, Education Effectiveness Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The campaign is particularly important as it focuses upon what we know about the importance of reading to success in all aspects of education, the advent of the phonics test at age 6 in 2012 and the aspiration for the city to be the World Book Capital in 2014.

“We have had huge success with piloting Every Child a Reader programmes in schools and it is important to build on interventions that we know can make a difference. The County Council strongly supports Oxford’s bid for World Book Capital City status and sees it as a compelling direction of travel for our wider community to unite behind.”

To support this focus on education, a rich and varied programme of events aimed at encouraging reading in children and young people is also being planned. Highlights so far include the opening of the Story Museum, the Bookfeast Oxfordshire Primary Schools Festival, the world final of the Kids Lit Quiz, the Pegasus Young People's Theatre Showcase and Tale Trail, and the Christopher Tower Poetry Competition, for students aged between 16 and 18 years old.

For more information about Oxford’s bid to become World Book Capital in 2014, and to sign up in support, visit www.oxfordworldbookcapital.org.

Oxford Inspires is the cultural development agency for Oxfordshire. We work with partners in business, local government, with Arts Council England, The University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University to create new opportunities for arts and heritage organisations, nurture new festivals and spectacular events and to engage as many people as possible in exciting cultural experiences. We collaborate with cultural organisations across the county to support their ambitions, help them to reach a wider audience and to raise Oxfordshire’s profile as a cultural destination nationally and internationally.

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www.oxfordinspires.org

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Wenn Townsend??????

CLIENT SUPPORT We can offer independent advice in all areas of financial services.

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

B4 ADVICE

OXFORDSHIRE’S ECONOMIC HEALTH B4 Platinum Ambassador, Tony Haines, Partner at Wenn Townsend, one of Oxfordshire’s most established and respected firms of accountants, meets with B4’s Richard Rosser to pose a few questions ahead of a more in depth look at the state of the UK economy in Issue 23 in April.

There’s no question that the economy has been lingering, stagnating, call it what you will. At least in Oxfordshire, we haven’t been hit as hard as other places throughout the country BUT we’re not recession proof. Credit availability is limiting the most cast iron of businesses – we see it every day amongst our clients.

“Bank staff on the ground are trying to be as supportive as they can be, which probably isn’t as supportive as those seeking finance would like it to be! We hear a lot of clients and others we meet in business complaining about the situation they are in but the reality is, they have contributed to the situation that they are in! People expect banks to be relaxed but that’s only going to get us back to square one.

“I often ask clients how their finance arrangements are going. Quite often it’s a struggle to get finance deals arranged. But negative energy isn’t good. Getting depressed about where this is all going isn’t going to get the economy going.

This year, and almost certainly next year, are going to be tough. Despite bright spots such as the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee, which will temporarily lift everybody’s spirits, we are all going to have to work harder than we have ever worked to get anywhere close to where we were. I saw a survey which said we’re not likely to get back to the living standards of 2007 until 2020!

“I can see property prices sinking further, but we’re lucky that we won’t suffer the 30% dips in property values predicted elsewhere in the country.”

QUESTIONS TO BANKS 1 2 3 4

Are you operating national policies at local level?

Are you a factoring in a potential reduction in property values?

When do you see interest rates starting to rise?

What is your bank doing to help start ups?

QUESTIONS TO BUSINESS 1 2 3

Sobering stuff indeed. But do you agree?

4

We will be posing the following questions to banks and businesses over the next few weeks and will report out findings in Issue 23 of B4.

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Is Oxford a special case compared to other cities in the country and, if so, why?

Is the Oxford economy different to the national economy?

A recent survey on 100 directors found 80 of them that said their businesses had increased in the last year. How do you think the economy has moved in the last 12 months?

How is your business experiencing difficulties in 2012 compared to 2005?

Do you anticipate recruiting in 2012 or reducing your staff numbers?

WANT TO CONTRIBUTE? Send your responses (answer one or all questions, it’s up to you) with your full contact details to: editorial@b4-business.com

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MAGDALEN: Great School,Great Venue Located in the heart of Oxford, with stunning facilities and ample parking to host conferences, corporate events, wedding receptions or parties, Magdalen College School is the perfect choice for your next event.

Call Emma Bellenie on 01865 242191 or email ebellenie@mcsoxford.org to find out more or to arrange a no obligation visit. www.mcsoxford.org

B4 R&R

JAMIE’S ITALIAN

Taking a 1-year old child to a restaurant is, like the great quote about second marriages says, a triumph of hope over experience. Once the pain of the arguments, tears and public humiliation recedes, you plough ahead; convinced that you have learned from your errors and that this time it will be different. Dan Channer reviews for B4.

So three months after spraying an innocent Summertown pizzeria with bolognese and milk – there is nothing like leaving a restaurant apologising to the staff rather than thanking them – we found ourselves trotting along George Street in Oxford on a forgettable January Saturday lunchtime. Sadly lacking the city’s famous charm, George Street is a rag-bag of vertical drinking pubs and ‘casual dining’ restaurant chains. As shoppers strode past minus shopping bags, we entered Jamie’s Italian with empty stomachs and wide eyes.

First impressions are good. A smile and a sincere welcome make us smile too (Are those of us in service businesses confident that every single person gets a smile on entry?) At midday the restaurant’s 210 covers are 10% full, the pasta chef in the window is hard at work and the front of house team make light of the child buggy and find us the perfect table. A busy bar, huge windows and kind lighting offset the pseudo-rustic décor.

Thankfully large portraits of Jamie Oliver are not in evidence.

Second impressions are even better: Jamie’s Italian likes children. The (fantastic) waiter covers the table with crayons and paper within minutes and a 3-D 1970s viewer is a nice touch: kids look into it and see their food options. The children’s menu is very clever. For £5.20 you have a main course, salad and unlimited refills of squash – no tut-tutting as

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little Hector or Timmy demands more juice at £1.95 a throw.

The 1-year old stops digesting crayons to run for the border, an admirable show of energy only stopped by her being whisked off to Boots as we have forgotten her cup. I take advantage of the mother’s absence by eating all of the fantastic nibbles: deep-fried ravioli dipped into arrabiata sauce. Heaven.

“it is easy to see why the chain is growing like a weed and profits have risen from £1.65m to £4.65m in the last year” While the starter of squid with chilli has both adults fighting over it, the only bad experience of the day is a ricotta and spaghetti deep-fried creation which is hard work and lacking in subtlety. The children’s

food is a triumph. The 3-year old’s bolognaise achieves 80% stomach occupancy, which is pretty good in our books. The younger offspring orders better than any of us with a perfect chicken breast in tomato sauce which would sit well in any adult dish.

By 1.30pm the place is packed. Our mains arrive swiftly and both the prawn linguini (Jamie’s Italian’s most popular dish apparently and it tasted like it) and veal Milanese continue the good experience.

The chocolate brownie is a crowd-pleaser and it is easy to see why the chain is growing like a weed and profits have risen from £1.65m to £4.65m in the last year. The team is friendly. The prices are democratic (£10-13 for most main courses). The menu is broad, creative but not scary. The experience is smart enough to feel like a treat but not so smart that you feel uncomfortable. Plus the margins on that homemade pasta must be electrifying.

Whether because of the chicken protein binge or because Venus was in Pluto rising, the 1-year old was relatively manageable. We only had to spend 5 minutes clearing up the floor at the end of the meal with no apologies. Hope over experience, indeed. Article by Dan Channer. www.jamieoliver.com/italian

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NEW BARCLAY HOUSE Botley, Oxford TO LET

3,000 – 11,000 sq ft Modern refurbished offices with comfort cooling with excellent access to Oxford and A34.

21 NUFFIELD WAY Abingdon TO LET

36,951 sq ft Detached industrial/warehouse unit on self contained secure site

ISIS HOUSE Oxford

FOR SALE/TO LET

33,339 sq ft (3,103 sq m) approximately High office content laboratory/production unit on secure site.

WINDRUSH COURT Oxford FOR SALE/TO LET

Headquarters office building with fully fitted laboratories.

On secure site.

71,955 sq ft (6,684 sq m) approximately

unrivaled local and regional expertise Richard Venables Tom Barton

rvenables@vslandp.com tbarton@vslandp.com

news Bumping Along the Bottom..................?

2011 saw the industrial sector performing better than the office or service/professional sector in Oxfordshire. There is still no surge in supply and receivership/administration casualities continue to be a rarity as banks still seem reticent to foreclose on businesses. This may all change in 2012. The lack of quality product will start to drive more design and build projects but we do not foresee any speculative development for many years to come so supply levels should continue to reduce.

The Office Market

Industrial Market

1,000,000

3,000,000

900,000 2,500,000

800,000 700,000

2,000,000

600,000 500,000

Take Up

400,000

Supply

1,500,000

Take Up Supply

1,000,000

300,000 200,000

500,000

100,000 0

0 2008

2009

2010

2011

2008

2009

2010

2011

Take Up and Supply (offices > 3,000 sq ft)

Take Up and Supply (industrial units >5,000 sq ft)

Office take up in 2011 actually increased by 25% on 2010 to 277,000 sq ft. If you take out the preletting of 82,000 sq ft to Centrica on the Oxford Business Park it actually portrays a more accurate picture showing take up declining by 13% to 195,000 sq ft. Office supply levels remained approximately the same but Grade A or brand new space reduced by 50% to only 31,400 sq ft. Take up and new supply seemed to be balancing one another as overall supply has not significantly moved since 2008.

The industrial sector recorded 29% increase in take up to 507,000 sq ft.

New demand still comes from Oxfordshire based businesses with no specific market sector dominating, which underlines the diverse nature of our economy.

The city centre office market remains strong with supply of only 52,000 sq ft compared with 430,000 sq ft available on the ring road. Office enquiries in general remain low and we expect take up levels to remain at this rate for 2012.

50% of the total supply relates to large distribution units and in general smaller industrial units of less than 10,000 sq ft are now becoming harder to find. Land supply for new development is very scarce apart from on the main business and industrial estates.

VSL sold Ebor House on behalf of Oxford City Council in 2011 to IFES/UCCF

VSL Let Units 1-4 Oxford Industrial Park in 2012 to OMG Ltd for a New Factory

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Supply levels recued slightly by 5% to 2.27M Sq ft assisted in part by Booker reusing a large warehouse of 300,000 sq ft in Didcot.

www.vslandp.com

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

JOHN HALLAM

ASSOCIATES

Claire Thompson of Syncro PR went to meet with John Hallam of John Hallam Associates to discuss their commercial approach to Architecture and how they are committed to providing a first-rate professional service tailored to their clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs.

Established in 1994 John Hallam Associates has grown organically over the last 17 years to become the leading Architecture, Planning, Construction Consultants and Project Managers in the region. The ISO registered practice works extensively with developers, and private individuals who want practical, imaginative housing, be it new build, refurbishment or alterations and extensions to existing premises.

With their head quarter offices based at Cromwell Business Park in Chipping Norton, it would be easy to assume their focus is local, however they serve clients throughout the country, providing business focused advice on whatever and wherever the property requirements might be. They have a well-established reputation for delivering highly serviced bespoke solutions to some of the most influential and demanding clients and have an enviable portfolio of prestigious commissions as a result.

John Hallam has over 45 years experience in the industry specialising in everything commercial,

72

incorporating Hotels, Industrial and office unit design.

He has great experience in producing schemes, whereby clients can achieve high rental income by achieving the maximum let-able areas within buildings, thus obtaining the highest possible financial returns on investment.

The practice has a broad client base, working with developers and housing associations, and is also associated with a number of major privately owned Estates with requirements ranging from refurbishing dwellings, through to Farmshops, Cattle Units and Grain Stores.

Their strengths lie in their ability to provide creative solutions to complex design problems, which accurately reflect what their clients want to achieve.

They have a great deal of experience working on Listed buildings, such as Breakspear House in Harefield, a Grade I Listed property converted to high quality apartments. Interestingly, this house is known as once having been the residence of the

only English Pope, Adrian IV, who lived at Breakspear in 1154-1159. Other projects include Westoning Manor, a Grade II Listed manor house which was converted to luxury residential use along with the beautiful Grade II Listed Tortworth Court Four Pillars Hotel in Wotton-under-Edge, South Gloucestershire. Locally they are currently working on another hotel project, Eastwick Farm House, another Grade II Listed property, converting it into a 10 bedroomed boutique hotel for Oxford Spires Hotel, Abingdon Road.

When working with Listed properties, the practice works to ensure their designs are environmentally responsible, as elements of the work need to be in sympathy and harmony with the fabric of the building. Equally when working on a conversion project, it is paramount the building can be converted to its new use without a major change in external appearance, in order that the overall character of the building and its locality may be retained. Working with Listed properties and conversions alike brings with it the requirement for planning considerations. John Hallam Associates

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“We are an ambitious, driven and creative team who are able to bring non-conformist solutions to all the projects we work on”

has the experience, the expertise and the practical understanding to assist with the intricacies of contract administration or planning applications that this invites.

John Hallam Associates not only work with their clients on planning issues but also can create the specific design brief as well as project managing

progress the development to meet the clients aspirations.”

“We believe that one solution rarely fits all. We are an ambitious, driven and creative team who are able to bring non-conformist solutions to all the projects we work on. Our attention to detail is first-rate, which means not only do our

still by far the best long-term asset value out there and we work with our clients to realise that value in every project we work on. Our approach is simple – we will always aim to look to achieve the maximum value uplift on behalf of our clients.”

“Whether it is a project for sensitive alterations to a Grade 1 Listed building or a very large hotel

“over 45 years experience in the industry specialising in everything commercial, incorporating Hotels, Industrial and office unit design” the scheme through to completion. They assume the responsibility for accomplishing the project objectives assuring the project is completed on time, on budget and to the quality required.

long-standing clients of 17 years stick with us but we also pick up work from clients who are not satisfied with the quality of the work that others provide.”

John explains: “Applying pressure right the way down the line is key to assuring a satisfactory completion. Throughout this process it is important to instill energy and enthusiasm in order to

“The commercial approach we take in advising our clients is our key to success. This gives our professionals a competitive advantage and assures we achieve best value for our clients. Property is

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complex built from scratch, we bring the same personal approach and aim is for our clients to enjoy the complex process in safe hands.”

To find out more about John Hallam Associates please visit: www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk or contact info@johnhallamassociates.co.uk or telephone: 01608 646969.

73

A Different kind of Winter Package at Studley Wood Book a winter golf package at Studley Wood Golf Club and your group will qualify for a FREE round of golf to be used before the end of April.

STUDLEY WOOD •GOLF CLUB• OXFORDSHIRE’S HIDDEN GEM

The winter package of £45.00 per person includes: Breakfast Roll & Coffee, 18 Holes of Golf & The Chef’s Special of the Day Meal

The Straight Mile, Horton-cum-Studley, Oxon OX33 1BF. Telephone: 01865 351144 www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

To book your tee-time phone us on: 01865 351144 or email: matt@studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

B4 ADVICE

“58% of entrepreneurs who have exited through an MBO said the advice they got before the sale was critical to its success.”

THE NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS

CONSIDERING MBOS TRIPLES Research commissioned by Coutts reveals the number of business owners prepared to consider a Management buy-out (MBO) has tripled in the last three years, as entrepreneurs have had to consider all options in a difficult economic market.

The report, ‘A special kind of exit’, explores the attitudes and perceptions to MBOs amongst UK entrepreneurs, and found that most entrepreneurs will only instinctively sell their business to their own management team as a last resort, although those that have been through a management buyout say it is the best way to exit a business.

The Coutts report also found that: • Less than one in five (19%) entrepreneurs will consider an MBO and one in four (27%) will only consider it as a last resort.

• Around a third (30%) of entrepreneurs who have completed an MBO say it represents the best form of exit.

• More than four out of five (85%) entrepreneurs and vendors who completed an MBO were satisfied with the deal.

• Owner managers prepared to consider an MBO has risen from 6% in 2008 to 18% in 2011.

business through an MBO say it offered the best deal or was the only way they could exit their business.

• 58% of entrepreneurs who have exited through an MBO said the advice they got before the sale was critical to its success.

Reasons why business owners are reluctant to consider an MBO include concern around the ability to maximise the price for the business and also the perceived risks attached to entering into discussions with people they have worked with and know well.

• Four in five (80%) cited any attempt by managers to reduce the price as a key deal breaker.

The report covers topics including how entrepreneurs can start the conversation with their management team and broach the potential for a deal, as well as the importance of planning. It also advises on how to assess whether a deal is viable and how to seal the deal and prevent it from going wrong.

The Coutts report also reveals the expectations of entrepreneurs to ensure a successful outcome, which include: • Over half (55%) of those who had been through an MBO expected management to have finances in place before discussions began.

• Over half (54%) believe they should initiate discussions on a potential MBO with their management team.

• 70% see an early discussion with management as a critical success factor in an MBO.

• Meeting deadlines is also critical; with two in five (44%) saying slippage in the timetable would be detrimental to the deal.

According to Rob Woodthorpe Browne, Client Partner at Coutts in Reading: “Our report provides a critical resource for entrepreneurs who are planning to exit their business. It highlights how to ensure an MBO is a success by sharing advice from those that have been through the process. There is a very high percentage of ‘MBO-sceptics’, but by ruling out a sale to their management team they are closing down a potentially attractive route of exit, which accounts for 20% of business sales in the UK.” The full report can be viewed at: www.coutts.com/files/pdf/management_buy_o ut_report.pdf For further information about becoming a Coutts client in Reading, contact Rob Woodthorpe Browne on rob.browne@coutts.com or 0118 3733508 or visit www.coutts.com/reading

• Over half (55%) of entrepreneurs who sold a

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B4 TRANSPORT

SPORT IN LONDON:

LET CHILTERN GET YOU THERE Planning to visit the capital for some sport in 2012? With the Olympics coming as well as the annual sporting events at Wembley, Twickenham, Wimbledon and much more, B4’s Editor decided to put the service from Banbury to London Marylebone to the test on a visit to Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea take on Valencia in the Champions League.

We left Banbury at 5pm for a 7.45pm kick off, but the ride to London Marylebone took just over an hour. Ed had the headphones and was asleep in minutes after a long day at school whilst I caught up with some e-mails. The service was effortlessly smooth. Every time I take the train I wonder why on earth I ever drive – I’d even considered collecting Ed from school in Banbury and driving all the way to Chelsea! Madman. The service is so frequent, to and from London, that it makes going by train the only real option.

From Marylebone we headed to the tube and were at Fulham Broadway in no time (well, about 20 minutes to be precise). Plenty of time to go in to the Club Shop for Ed to get an early Christmas present (one of the few to opt for a Torres Chelsea shirt!) and take our seats for the game. Goals from Drogba (2) and Ramires were enough to safeguard Chelsea’s progress to the next round and a tie against Napoli.

The game over, we picked up a pin badge, as is the tradition for Ed at football matches, and queued for the tube. It’s inevitable that there’s going to be a wait after 41,000 fans have packed themselves into the ground, but our wait was no longer than 15 minutes. We made it back to the station for our scheduled train and arrived back in Banbury at just after 11pm. A long day, but it beats the car hands down.

Whatever your reason to visit London this year, don’t think of taking anything other than the train!

WEMBLEY BOUND

Chiltern will be putting on a special timetable with more stops and more services for Wembley Stadium Station.

Here’s a taste of what’s taking Stadium: Carling Cup Final England v Holland Saracens v Harlequins FA Cup Final 2012 Olympic Football

place in the first part of 2012 at Wembley 26 Feb, 1600 29 Feb, 1200 31 March, 1500 5 May, 1500 29 July, 1700

If you are a 2012 Games event ticket holder, you can buy reduced price train tickets in advance of everyone else to take you to your Games venue.

If you’ve got confirmation of all your 2012 Games event tickets visit www.nationalrailgamestravel.co.uk to book your rail travel now. Tickets are not available to buy at stations or from any other retailer.

You can buy 2012 Games Train Tickets for travel between 18 July 2012 and 14 September 2012 inclusive, so you can travel and stay in London or one of the co-Host Cities before or after your Games event.

Special terms and conditions offer flexibility designed to suit your travel to and from the Games. Railcard holders and children can get discounts too.

If you're going to an event in London you will get a one-day Games TravelCard with your Games ticket. The Games Travelcard can be used for travel in London Zones 1-9 on the day of the event.

If you’re off to Wembley in 2012, then remember there’s a very easy way you can get to and from the stadium.

So, don’t get left in the blocks or leave anything to chance. Buy your train tickets today and relax knowing that when your Games event tickets arrive your travel is sorted as well.

Chiltern run services to and from Wembley Stadium Station, which is located opposite the stadium. Nearer the time of the event, do check train times as

For help planning your journey visit: www.London2012.com/travel also see: www.chilternrailways.co.uk

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“Whatever your reason to visit London this year, don’t think of taking anything other than the train!”

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77

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B4 HEALTH

MATTERS OF THE HEART Sean Martin talks to Dr Suzie Anthony on the affects of Coronary Artery Disease and how a simple Cardiac CT can effectively diagnose a sufferer, without the need for invasive treatments.

Heart

Normal Artery

Blocked Artery

Plaque

A Cardiac CT scan is an alternative test to an invasive angiography. Invasive angiography is a procedure where the patient is put under sedation, and a needle is put into the common femoral artery. Images are then taken of the coronary arteries from within a catheter. Dr Anthony explains further.

“Cardiac CT on the other hand involves having a computed tomography scan, a well established way of looking at organs in the body, and we give an contrast injection just through a vein in the arm.

We can also give other cardiac drugs, such as beta blockers, just to slow down the rate of the heart, which gives us clearer pictures.

“Recently, technology has improved so much in the CT scanning that we can do the same tests without having to do the invasive treatment. The test takes about twenty minutes, and the patient can go home about an hour after the procedure, and we get the pictures straightaway.” www.b4-business.com

“It’s a relatively new procedure, which has been practised for five years, and it’s new to the Oxford Private Healthcare. It requires having a hi-tech CT scanner, so not everywhere can do it. We have one here, but we’ve only just started using it due to funding issues. The procedure is well established, although we have only been using the CT scanner for the past six months.”

“Recently, the technology has improved so much in the CT scanning that we can do the same tests without having to do the invasive treatment” As with most procedures, there are risks, explains Dr Anthony. “There are always risks with a CT scan.

Because you are involving radiation, X-rays have a very small risk of cancer. We give a combination of medicines that slow down the heart, to give a better picture, but we have a cardiologist present when we do it, and there isn’t really a significant

risk of complications in that area. There is also a risk of contrast allergies, so we wouldn’t necessarily carry out this test for people that are known to have allergic problems.”

Dr Anthony talks about what the consequences may be if this test isn’t performed. “If you have coronary artery disease, then history tells us that if it’s not discovered early enough, there is a risk that you can go on to have a heart attack.”

There are many alternatives to this test, such as the invasive angiography, as previously mentioned, as well as a host of other procedures. These include electrocardiography, which people often have in surgery, an echocardiogram, nuclear medicines and perfusion scans. Dr Anthony says “There is a whole range of ways of looking at the heart, and this is just one of them, but it is a very good way to look at the arteries specifically.”

Coronary artery disease kills one in five men, and one in seven women in the UK. There are currently an estimated 2.6 million people living with the condition in the UK alone. www.ouh.nhs.uk

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Diagram ©Helene Mellor

Coronary Artery Disease is one of the leading causes of premature deaths in the UK, with just over 12% of the population suffering from this worrying condition. Dr Suzie Anthony explains how a simple Cardiac CT can help diagnose a sufferer from Coronary Artery Disease.

K E Y M E M B E R O F S TA F F

Y O U R K E Y P E O P L E A R E S T U C K I N T H E S N O W. BUSINESS AS USUAL?

You may have already experienced the effect that extreme weather has on the smooth running of your business. When key people can’t make it to work, there is a serious impact on your productivity.

At The Oxford Knowledge Company, we help our clients protect their businesses against the impact of bad weather.

Our clients don’t have to worry about staff not getting into the office, whatever the reason.

We set up systems which allow them to work remotely, enabling them to be as productive as if they are sitting at their desk.

Business as usual.

Call us now on 01865 322100 to discuss how we can ensure your business continues to run smoothly, whatever the weather.

P OW E R YO U R B U S I N E S S W I T H T H E I . T. S O L U T I O N S E X P E RT S S T R AT E G Y • S Y S T E M D E S I G N A N D I N S TA L L AT I O N • D ATA S E C U R I T Y • M A N A G E M E N T A N D S U P P O RT D I S A S T E R R E C OV E RY • S M A RT E R WO R K I N G • B U S I N E S S R E L O C AT I O N • C O N N E C T I V I T Y • T RO U B L E S H O OT I N G W O O D S I D E , H I N K S E Y H I L L , OX F O R D OX 1 5 B E | 0 1 8 6 5 3 2 2 1 0 0 | W W W. OX F O R D - K N O W L E D G E . C O M

USING BUSINESS COMMON SENSE TO INTERPRET CONTRACTS Himesh Chavda, Solicitor in the Commercial team at Henmans LLP, discusses a recent case where the Court favoured the use of business common sense to determine the outcome in a commercial dispute, and the importance of clear drafting in commercial contracts.

Anyone who runs a business knows that a successful venture is dependent on having good relations with your suppliers and customers. However, this principle is underpinned not only by how well you market your brand or get on with your business associates, but also by having in place clear and fair contractual arrangements.

(“Builder”) to build a fleet of ships.

Every lawyer will tell you how important it is to tailor a contract to suit your particular circumstances. But why does it matter when you have a good relationship with your supplier or customer and trust each other to act fairly? Unfortunately, not all business relationships stay this way and the terms of a contract become most important when something goes wrong. The parties may then spend enormous amounts of time and money on resolving a dispute in Court and trying to persuade a judge that their interpretation of the contract is the correct one.

• The Builder later experienced financial difficulties and became subject to a debt workout procedure under Korean law.

There will often be more than one meaning to the terms of commercial contract. So when there is a dispute, how does a Court determine which meaning should be applied?

Recent Case Example There are a number of legal principles used to interpret ambiguities in contracts. A discussion of all of these is outside the scope of this article, but the recent case of Rainy Sky SA v Kookmin Bank, the Supreme Court [2011] UKSC 50, suggests that the application of “business common sense” by the Courts is gaining ground in the interpretation of commercial contracts.

• The Buyers agreed to pay the Builder in instalments at specific points of time on condition that they would receive a refund guarantee for their advance payments. These guarantees were issued by Kookmin Bank (“Bank”) in the form of advance payment bonds (“Bonds”).

• The Buyers initially demanded payment from the Builder, which it refused; and so they demanded repayment from the Bank under the Bonds.

• The Bank refused to pay and argued that on the true interpretation of the Bonds the Bank’s guarantee obligations were not triggered by the Builder's insolvency.

Different Interpretations So what issues of interpretation did the Supreme Court have to decide on? In the Bond, the Bank had drafted an undertaking to pay "such sums" to the Buyers upon certain events taking place, and the question that the Court had to determine was which sums these words referred to.

There were two different interpretations of the key provisions, as follows:

Background to this case:

The Bank's interpretation: In paragraph 2 of the Bond, the Bank provided that it would repay the instalments upon various trigger events, such as total loss or rejection of the vessel; but this list of events did not include the Builder’s insolvency.

• Rainy Sky SA and other buyers (“Buyers”) had entered into virtually identical contracts (“Contracts”) with Jinse Shipbuilding Co Ltd

The Buyers’ interpretation: In paragraph 3 of the Bond, the Bank provided for the payment of “such sums” due to the Buyers “under the

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Contract”, which would include sums payable on the Builder’s insolvency.

Court’s Analysis The ultimate aim of interpreting a contractual provision is to determine what, at the time they signed the contract, the parties intended to happen. By the time a dispute reaches a Court, the parties have different views, so a Court looks for some objectivity. It asks “what would a reasonable person have understood the parties to mean?

To answer this, we need to consider the relevant definition of “reasonable person”. In the famous case Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society [1997] UKHL, Lord Hoffmann summarised that: “…the relevant reasonable person is one who has all the background knowledge which would reasonably have been available to the parties in the situation in which they were at the time of the contract.”

In Rainy Sky, the Court used this definition of a reasonable person and gave regard to all the relevant surrounding circumstances to assist them in deciding what the parties would have intended.

The Court stated that if there are two possible interpretations, it is entitled to go with the interpretation that is most consistent with business common sense. It considered that if the Bank’s interpretation were to be applied, the Buyers would not be able to claim on the guarantee in the very event in which they would most likely require the payment, i.e. the Builder's insolvency. This would be a “surprising and uncommercial result” said the Court. The Court therefore decided in favour of the Buyer's interpretation because it was consistent with the commercial purpose of the guarantees. www.b4-business.com

B4 ADVICE

“Every lawyer will tell you how important it is to tailor a contract to suit your particular circumstances. But why does it matter when you have a good relationship with your supplier or customer and trust each other to act fairly?”

Conclusion In the event of a contractual dispute, the Rainy Sky case demonstrates that the Court may interpret the contract in line with business common sense. However, it is important to remember that the Court may still decide the outcome using a different set of legal principles – for example, using “the natural and ordinary meaning of the words”. Looking just at the words may have the effect of delivering an uncommercial result. It seems, therefore, that it would make most business common sense to try to avoid such uncertainty.

Written contracts are entered into to do just this, but ambiguities frequently occur when businesses use standard precedents or old contracts that have not been tailored to suit a particular transaction. Such agreements may save on time and lawyers’ fees, and may even go some way to demonstrate a trusting relationship between the parties, but they increase the risk of not knowing where you stand if things do go wrong. This can be detrimental to your business and reputation.

Businesses often decide how much time and effort to put into drafting a contract by the value of the goods or services exchanged under it.

However, the real value of the contract should be assessed in terms of what exposure you have if something goes wrong. With this in mind, you should aim to ensure that your contracts are drafted accurately, and address all anticipated risks and the parties’ intentions if a particular event occurs. Investing this time and effort at the beginning of a contractual arrangement will ensure that in the event of a dispute the matter is resolved fairly and swiftly. This will help save costs in the long run and may well preserve your relationship with your suppliers and customers.

If you would like further information on this article, please do not hesitate to contact Himesh Chavda on 01865 781000. www.henmansllp.co.uk www.b4-business.com

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INNOVATION & AMBITION

NOT JUST IN OXFORD!

B4 meet with Jo Willett, Marketing and IC Development Director of Oxford Innovation (B4 Platinum Ambassadors in Oxfordshire and Berkshire) to discover that, with twenty Innovation Centres located as far north as Barnsley and stretching south to Southampton, there’s more to Oxford Innovation than the name might suggest.

We focus on high growth businesses because these are the engine of the UK's economy, creating jobs and generating wealth. These businesses come from all sectors but commonly use innovation as the driver for growth. We work with them to develop their internal capabilities for maximum impact.

culminating in the merger in 2006 with SQW based in Cambridge, however, it is important to note The Oxford Trust, its original owners, are still the largest single shareholders. In fact, most of the other shareholders are employees or individuals from the original Oxford Innovation, so a considerable amount of heritage is still locked in OI.

“Oxford Innovation is not just about Oxford and Oxfordshire.” Emphasises Jo. “ We were founded in 1987, being, essentially, an offshoot of the Oxford Trust, which is now Science Oxford, which was itself founded by Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood. The purpose of the company was all about supporting entrepreneurs. When Sir Martin and Lady Audrey founded Oxford Instruments there were certain things that they needed at the time that weren’t readily available, such as to access to finance, access to flexible premises and access to good quality business support, and that’s essentially what Oxford Innovation was set up to do. So we were

“Although the company has had to evolve and we are now much more commercial in our focus” continues Jo, “we haven’t lost sight of the reason OI was established, and that’s to help entrepreneurs. Our innovation centres do that, our investment networks do that and our business support does that. We may charge for those services and we may charge a commercial rate for those services but, actually, they are services that we know that companies and entrepreneurs want and we know that they are getting excellent value.”

1,542 Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Companies based in an Innovation Centre managed

by Oxford Innovation (between 31st March 2002 and 31st March 2011)

set up by entrepreneurs to help entrepreneurs and I think that, for me, that’s a really important facet to Oxford Innovation (OI) and despite our growth as a company we still provide those same three things today” The ownership of OI has since changed,

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Jo joined OI in November 2000 and set up the first centre outside of Oxfordshire in Crowthorne, Berkshire. “This was in the main because I had been working in Reading anyway on an SRB (a Single Regeneration Budget) project in East Reading working with groups in need of assistance, basically helping them to set up businesses and training them how to run a business. These were mainly community and social enterprises, so cooperatives and not for profit companies. I worked on about three or four in Reading and we set up a resource centre and flexible office space at Suttons Business Park. Unfortunately, when the SRB money ran out, they closed and that was and ongoing problem with Government funded schemes. For me it was why I wanted to shift from working on government funded projects to working in a commercial organization.” “. The great thing about OI is that because we’re a commercial organization, there’s continuity and we’re still providing services. And actually, if you work with companies in the right way then they can

afford to pay for what you’re providing. It’s a virtuous circle.”

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Companies based in Centres

Jo actually set Crowthorne Innovation Centre up in May 2001 alongside the Culham Innovation Centre. Jo worked as Centre Manager at Crowthorne for two years before moving to her current marketing role for all twenty OI centres, and this has been vital experience for her. “The fact that I’ve been a centre manager means that I know what the job is like day to day, so helping and supporting centre managers is second nature to me.”

The original plan was to just grow in Oxfordshire, but through various opportunities, the other centres have been set up and flourished. Some, like that at Portsmouth Technopole, have been built from scratch, others set up in existing premises. “The approach, originally, was quite piecemeal, but we are much more strategic in our direction now.

There are also more centres in the pipeline.”

Not only are the centres incredibly supportive in terms of finance and business support, but the flexibility afforded by OI is a massive attraction to young businesses looking to establish themselves, as Jo illustrates. “The aspect that the companies

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B4 PROPERTY

benefit from the most is the flexibility that we provide so they only sign up to a license agreement and only have to give a month’s notice whenever they want. We don’t penalise them if they need to downsize or move out. We’re certainly not a ‘let and forget’ organization, so we don’t just let them the room and then walk away. If they’re struggling they can come and talk to us and we try to help where we can.. We’re certainly not a landlord in the traditional sense.”

“We are very focused on how we can help companies, in lots of different ways. “”we run events to help them or signpost them to various organizations, we also run business support programmes ourselves. If there are ways we can help companies we will do, and that’s because we want them to be successful, and the more successful they are, the better that is for us.”

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Graduated companies in Years

“We’ve recently just carried out some research looking at the last ten years of operating centres and the national success rate for companies after five years is 63%. With OI, our study shows that companies based in our centres, have an 80% success rate, so 80% of the companies are still in operation ten years later.” Many of these companies will have moved out of OI premises, but the point is that, during that vital incubation phase, OI have

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%

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Survival rate of graduated companies

supported these companies to such an extent that they have gone on to flourish. OI aren’t looking to hold on to the superstars and keep them as tenants, as Jo explains. “We have to let them go.

It’s a great reflection on us if a tenant outgrows us.

It allows us to get a new tenant in if a successful one leaves, and we start the process again. Our crucial period is three to five years and after that, the company will either have outgrown us or be happy at the size they are at and either find alternative premises or stay with us” “Some companies, like Bunnyfoot for example, moved in to Harwell Innovation Centre about ten or eleven years ago, and they have expanded. They just started with two of them and they have now got one floor in a wing at Harwell. They have also got offices in London, Reading and Sheffield, so they've actually needed to expand outside of Oxfordshire because of the nature of their business and it still suits them, because of what they do, to have flexibility with us. We're not in the business of asking tenants to leave if there's actually still a good business reason for them to benefit from staying with us.”

One other interesting finding in OI’s recent research was that a lot of companies that meet other entrepreneurs in the innovation centres are still in contact ten years later, so they are obviously

making some really good connections, continues Jo. “About forty per cent of them are still in contact with people they met in the innovation centres. We also found out that there were quite a lot of people who have founded one company in one of our centres, have grown out and graduated from the centre and then having exited that business, they set up a new company and, invariably, come back to one of our centres.”

Looking to the future, Jo work places being even more flexible and work being focused more around activity than a place. “Even as recently as five years ago, it mattered where businesses were based, but now, obviously depending what business it is, we have to be much more flexible and have developed a range of new services to support those businesses. However, I think there will always be a need for ‘hubs’ where people can meet, network and exchange ideas and our Innovation Centres are ideal for that.”.”

%

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of companies work within science-technology and knowledge-based sectors

With over seven hundred customers and in excess of two thousand employees working across the twenty innovation centres, OI are certainly doing something right. www.oxin.co.uk

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news Oxford Home from Home receives Christmas gift CLIC Sargent’s Home from Home in Oxford, CLIC Court, has been given a new conservatory by Premier Lifestyle Conservatories which the charity is hoping will be ready for families to use by early February. CLIC Court is one of CLIC Sargent’s nine Homes from Home across the UK and provides families with free self-catering accommodation close to the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital in Oxford, one of the specialist childhood cancer centres in the UK. CLIC Court is just one of the services provided by CLIC Sargent in Oxford to support local families. Other local services include specialist nurses, social workers and play specialists. The charity also provides financial grants and gave a total of almost £37,000 last year to help the 114 families being supported by the Oxford services team.

Counting the cost of cancer CLIC Sargent has recently published new research which found that many families have to bear significant additional financial costs as a result of supporting their child through their cancer diagnosis.

• The number of parents who said that money was ‘often’ or ‘frequently’ a worry increased eight-fold after diagnosis, from 8% to 65%

“Counting the costs of cancer” highlights the significant additional costs associated with childhood cancer which are often coupled with a loss of income from one or more parent, or a young person having to give up study or work.

• Two in three parents and half of young people built up debt to make ends meet as a result of cancer • More than half of parents surveyed said that they had to take time off as unpaid leave and one in three took unpaid leave for three months or longer when their child was diagnosed.

The research found that: • On average, parents and young people spent £367 and £277 respectively on extra expenses every month as a result of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. This amounts to an additional annual spend of £4,400 for parents and £3,325 for young people

The impact of a cancer diagnosis on the whole family cannot be underestimated. Families involved in the research told CLIC Sargent of the effect of the financial impact on their ability to cope, on their emotional resilience and ability to support their child.

The Big Buzz is coming...

When children and young people get cancer, many lose their hair. You can show your support for them by joining The Big Buzz and getting creative with your hair to raise money for CLIC Sargent.

You can be a life shaver by getting sponsored to shave your head, or have some hair-raising fun to raise money – why not wig it, weave it, braid it or spray it?

CLIC Sargent will support you to raise money, whether you’re going it alone or taking part with friends, family or colleagues. We’ll give you help and advice and all the materials you need to make the event a success, from posters and banners to collection tins and sponsor forms.

To find out more please visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/thebigbuzz or contact Claire Shovelton.

How could you help local families...

By taking part in The Big Buzz, nominating CLIC Sargent as your company’s charity, making a one-off or regular donation or by helping us raise awareness locally… you can help CLIC Sargent support families from Oxfordshire and across the UK. If you would like to find out more about

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www.oxfordinspires.org

CLIC Sargent’s work, have any fundraising ideas or would like to take part in The Big Buzz, please contact Claire Shovelton, Community Fundraising Manager on 01865 761761; Claire.shovelton@clicsargent.org.uk

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B4 VENUE

NOTHING SET IN STONE HOW A FORMER PRISON HAS UNLOCKED THE KEY TO BECOMING A WORLD CLASS EVENTS SPACE Whether you need to hire a space for a meeting for three, a conference for 300 or a festival for 30,000, one historic site in the centre of Oxford is winning a reputation for being able to host all sorts of meetings and events, from corporate ghost hunts and murder mystery nights to catwalk fashion shows and karaoke, and from archery and basketball to chocolate making workshops and cocktail classes. Richard Rosser went to Oxford Castle to investigate how this former prison reinvented itself as a venue for winning business.

paranormal investigators, it seems that one of the city's oldest sites is winning more corporate clients by offering them something new and something different.

With plenty of cells, wings, turrets and outdoor spaces, the Oxford Castle Quarter is now opening itself up for those looking to hold a corporate event with a twist such as functions inside a former prison crypt, the Castle Yard or Castle Gardens, the 18th Century Debtor's Tower or an atmospheric circular turret which is home to Oxford Castle Quarter’s very own O3 Gallery.

Having served for more than 200 years as a jail, the Oxford Castle Quarter used to be the last place on earth you would want to spend a day or a night.

“ ...the businesses on

Now five years after a £36m revamp, HM Prison Oxford has been transformed from a disused jail into a major tourist attraction complete with six restaurants and bars, two cafes, one of Britain's best-known boutique hotels and some of the most interesting and unusual corporate event spaces in the county.

site are building a reputation for delivering truly spectacular events”

It's the kind of character change any warden would be proud to see in a former lag.

With an imposing 11th Century tower and giant mound, the Oxford Castle Quarter is an instantly recognisable spot. However it is the very modern developments behind the historic facade that have breathed new life into the 1,000-year-old site.

Whether it is the former cells in the Malmaison hotel that have been converted into airconditioned, high spec, meeting rooms with high-speed wi-fi and LCD projectors or the spooky Oxford Castle - Unlocked visitor attraction where businesses can book ghost tours with famous

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For the first time in history Oxford Castle Quarter is even hiring out its 64ft mound for outdoor corporate events, wedding receptions and photographs, plays and other performances this year.

Oxford Castle - Unlocked Marketing Manager, Amanda Coombs, said corporate bookings for the eerie attraction had doubled during Halloween last year. She said: "Being in such an unusual environment people expect you to be flexible. We show our corporate clients every nook and cranny so they can envisage what we can do for them.

Whether they want us to transform a cell into a cocktail bar, a crypt into a nail painting bar, or our

tower into a mini beach, if our client tells us they’d like something we'll make it work."

The message is certainly spreading, with Siemens holding team-building cookery classes at Oxford Castle Quarter's Cafe 1071 and the Spanish bank Santander hiring out the entire Malmaison hotel for an F1 extravaganza last August.

Oxford Castle Quarter’s Events and Marketing Manager, Sarah Mayhew, said: "With such a large site at our disposal there are so many different types of corporate event that can be held here.

Whether it's cocktail-making classes at The Living Room, a business function with karaoke at The Real China, or a giant marquee in Castle Gardens for a black-tie dinner, there are lots of options to explore.

There is always a demand for regular meeting spaces in the various venues across the site, from drinks receptions in O3 Gallery to conferences in Malmaison and the Key Learning Centre. However, I am receiving an increasing amount of enquiries in the Management Office from businesses looking for a more unusual or quirky venue to hold events from team building activities to awards dinners, and because of Oxford Castle Quarter’s history, heritage and atmospheric city centre location the businesses on site are building a reputation for delivering truly spectacular events."

To enquire about booking corporate event space at the Oxford Castle Quarter please contact: Sarah Mayhew: Telephone: 01865 201 657 sm@topgroup.co.uk Amanda Coombs: Telephone: 01865 260 666 acoombs@oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk Sara Dinning: Telephone: 01865 268 400 events.oxford@malmaison.com

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BREWING UP A RATHER SPECIAL KIND OF MAGIC There’s just far too much bland out there – why be just the same as everyone else? Businesses need to think Brand not bland if they are to connect, communicate and engage effectively with their target markets. As B4’s Richard Rosser discovered, Phil Strachan, founder and owner of Strangebrew, most certainly practices what he preaches and delivers the promise suggested by the name of his business – Strangebrew.

“People say I’m not the same as every other Branding, Identity or Design Consultant that they meet and I’m always very pleased to hear that.” explained Phil.

Strangebrew’s Phil Strachan is one of a rare breed, almost uniquely combining 14 years on the Client with over 20 years experience on the Consultancy side, specialising in Branding, Identity and Design.

After managing and running the marketing programmes of very different leading brands, he took the bold step of moving into the world of Consultancy by joining one of the UK’s leading Corporate Identity Consultancies where he helped to set up a Branding and Packaging Design division.

For the last 17 years, Phil has run his own Consultancies, and during this time has been instrumental in the relaunching, refreshing and revitalisation of the presentation of many businesses and brands including Foster’s Lager, Alpen, Pontins, Butterkist, Dulux, Monster Munch and Warre’s Port.

Photography Carli Adby of ADBY Creative

“For me, my Client-side experience was, and continues to be, absolutely invaluable. It’s a point of difference that I use to my advantage. Being able to put myself in the position of my Clients and to help them to get the right brief together is extremely important. Why? Often a Client will tell me what they want but what I do is to ask the right questions to establish what it is that their Business and /or Brand really needs – which can often be a very different thing.

“My promise is to add value to businesses and brands, and I wouldn’t be doing that if I were to simply service their first stated wants. I view working with a Client as a partnership, one in which I have to add real value, exceed expectations and provide them with real competitive advantage in their market. I always challenge constructively in order to do this and to, in Strangebrew terms, ‘distil the essence’ of a Client’s Business or Brand and ’free its spirit’. It’s about being creative and not just reactive, about identifying what I call ‘The Vital Spark’, the insight that provides the all-important flash of inspiration that ignites the creative process in both strategic and design terms. Any attempt at delivering identity and design without an agreed strategy and a clear understanding of what you are trying to communicate and to who is a complete waste of time and money. You have to provide your target market with a reason why they should choose you.

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“Businesses need to think Brand not bland because there really is far too much of the latter out there already and the ‘blandwagon’ is already overloaded”, says Phil, warming up to his subject.

What is the point in being bland, in being just AN Other undifferentiated Accountant, Solicitor, Website Designer or IT Consultant? Bland is bland and has very little value to anyone.

“To be outstanding you have to stand out – but you have to stand out for all the right reasons. Yet, I keep coming across what I call blands , blands masquerading as brands, suffering delusions of ‘brandeur’ as they happily succeed in failing to connect, communicate and engage meaningfully and effectively with any defined target audience.

“To be outstanding you have to stand out – but you have to stand out for all the right reasons.”

They have a name, they have a logo and they already have a website or ‘are having one designed’.

But what they don’t have is the recipe for a strong and successful brand because a brand is very much more than a name or a logo or a piece of design.

“These elements are only brand identifiers, what stand for the brand, a kind of shorthand for the brand but they are not necessarily what the brand stands for – which after all, is what clients, consumers and customers buy into.

“The vast majority of my Clients have never seen work that I have done for anyone else either before or after I work with them. What correctly matters to them is what they see that I can do for them and their Businesses and Brands and they meet with me on the basis of my Testimonials and from referrals from other people. I just love different

challenges where I can bring freshness and objectivity to the table and help my Clients to see the light. I work with Clients of all shapes and sizes from new one person start-ups through to global blue chip companies and global household name brands.”

Having been based in London for almost 10 years, Phil, a Scotsman who has lived south of the border for 35 years, now runs Strangebrew from Berkshire.

As those who know Phil will testify, he proudly claims to offer what he calls “London quality at Glasgow prices”, a fact strongly supported by his many testimonials.

So, why the name Strangebrew? Anything to do with Eric Clapton and Cream or beer? And why Business and Brand Alchemy? “Well, Strangebrew just, sort of, sums me up and alchemy is the process of transformation or transmutation and adding value through turning base metals into gold.“ It seems apt since what matters to Phil who has been involved as a finalist in two Design effectiveness awards projects, is delivering added value effectiveness and transforming the fortunes of the businesses and brands of his Clients.

The ideal meeting place for Phil is somewhere over a coffee, a beer or “preferably a real ale” interjects Phil, perhaps not surprisingly given that he has very successfully relaunched, revitalised and refreshed a few breweries and their brands over recent years perhaps a bit of an understatement given that, in one case, they had to triple the output capability of the Brewery to keep up with demand after Phil had worked his magic!

Interview over, at that point Phil’s mobile goes off. The ringtone? You’ve guessed it! Strange Brew

by Cream. Strangebrew by name, Strangebrew by nature. A Strangebrew indeed and one that really should be bottled! www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

To find out more about Strangebrew and the magic of Business and Brand Alchemy, see ‘Think Brand not bland’, a specialist chapter contributed by Phil Strachan to Breaking the barriers to business growth, a compilation of expert insights into growing your business.

Full details on Page 114

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B4 SERVICES

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news Tackling barriers to business growth The county’s biggest business network, OTCN, is leading the way on a major new survey. It’s working with the county’s Business and Skills Bureau to examine barriers to growth for Oxfordshire businesses. The initiative, on behalf of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, is also trying to identify any skills and/or recruitment challenges they face.

The survey is online at www.otcn.co.uk/skillssurvey and members of the Business and Skills Bureau are out and about meeting businesspeople at networking events in Oxfordshire, including sessions of The Oxford Business Network, Athena, and MD2MD. Skills Centre: students at OCVC’s Performance Engineering Centre at Bicester. Image by Alison Nicholson/OTCN

Everybody counts or nobody counts OTCN has set itself a challenge for 2012 – and success would mean a major boost for local homeless charity OxHop. OTCN has set out 10 ways that businesses can support what is the only direct access homeless hostel for people aged 25 and over in all of Oxfordshire.

It’s urging businesses in its 32 member groups and 23 events networks to take on the Challenge at www.otcn.co.uk/oxhop. The aim is to have at least one business or its staff volunteer for every one of the 10 ways to help. There are different ways businesses can support OxHoP...by offering staff time/skills, or helping with funding, or donating items from a list of needs.

The OTCN OxHop Challenge is being run under the motto ‘Everybody counts or nobody counts’ – a phrase used in the Harry Bosch detective novel series by author Michael Connelly, who has kindly agreed to allow it to be used for the campaign.

OxHop’s Head of Fundraising, Christy Spenle, says: "We are delighted that OTCN have chosen to support us in this challenge. The more businesses that get involved the more time and money we can spend on frontline services. Due to financial cuts we are more dependent than we've ever been on the kindness and generosity of our local community."

OTCN’s Iain Nicholson with OxHop project worker, Suzanne, and Fundraiser Christy Spenle. Image by Alison Nicholson/OTCN

Can your business or your staff help? Take a look at www.otcn.co.uk/oxhop pick your Challenge Number(s) and email christyspenle@oxhop.org.uk or call 01865 262201 or 07769 217603 saying you’d like to help with the OTCN OxHoP Challenge NOW!

New for 2012 The skills survey and OxHop challenge are just part of a busy start to the year for OTCN. The network continues to grow with the Colin Sanders Innovation Centre becoming a member; Banbury Business Breakfast Club and Witney Ripples joining its Events network, and Abingdon & Witney College and STL joining the members of its NetworkB group.

launched Bulk Buying Group (www.otcn.co.uk/bulk_buying.htm), driving the Oxfordshire International Trade Forum into 2012 (see www.otcn.co.uk/internationaltrade) and promoting a new series of the high profile speaker networking event OxFocus (www.oxfocus.co.uk) in partnership with Charles Russell LLP and The Learning Ladder at a new venue - The Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel at Sandford on Thames.

It is also helping businesses cut costs and improve performance with its re-

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B4 SERVICES

“We are as far away from the pile it high end of the market as you can get. We work in partnership with leading business clients and are proud that our approach will not change just because the market conditions are tough”

ARDINGTON ARCHIVES Not that there have not been temptations along the way! Jan explains that over the years they have considered pitching for some very large tenders. “The reality is that you spend a great deal of effort preparing the tender when the decision is not on the whole package that you can deliver, it is skewed heavily toward the cheapest cost that you can achieve.” With over ten years’ experience running the business Jan knows that chasing sales in this way is a recipe for disaster.

passionately in the ability of Ardington Archives to meet the challenge. The investment in a top end BS5454 Secure Vault facility with full climate control plus argonite fire suppression system, is just one example of the added value that is core to the business ethos. As Jan explains, “ We are as far away from the pile it high end of the market as you can get. We work in partnership with leading business clients and are proud that our approach will not change just because the market conditions are tough.”

Ardington Archives is a niche, regional business that always plays to its strengths, working with a variety of quality businesses who appreciate that their documents are a business asset and that they need to be protected accordingly. Operating in a corridor up to 3 hours from their base in South Oxfordshire they never pretend to be a national player, preferring to focus on this region and the many manufacturing, design and service companies that are based here.

This positive approach also extends to investing in new bar coding technology.

It seems counter-intuitive but the best time to invest in your business is while the market conditions are still tough, so that you can fully enjoy the benefits of the investment as the market conditions improve. A new bar coding system was recently introduced to improve efficiency and customer service levels, at a time when it would be easier to simply make do with the existing software and systems.

Typical of the high end companies that Ardington Archives work with are the pharmaceutical and biotech companies on the science and technology parks at Milton Park and Oxford. “The pharma-biotech businesses share our belief in top quality procedures and understand that ISO 9001:2008 quality management, ISO 27001 information security and ISO 14001 environmental management certifications are not just badges to collect, they show our commitment to be inline with the standards and expectations of our clients.”

Jan sees the long term value of carefully considered investment. “We have always believed in matching our growth objectives with investment in the business. Last year we extended capacity by designing and building a new warehouse to the latest environmental and business storage standards. Now we are rolling out a new bar coding system to make our collections and deliveries to clients faster and more efficient. In ever changing market conditions you cannot afford to stand still!”

Working at the premium end of the market has its demands but Jan believes

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When trading conditions are difficult you can be forgiven for sharpening the pencil and coming up with some serious discounts. That is unless your whole business philosophy is based on premium end customer service and working with leading businesses that have a similar approach. “We have built a long term, successful business by being the best quality player in our market and we are not about to change now” states Janet Gibbons, Chief Executive, at document storage specialists Ardington Archives.

B4 SPOTLIGHT

“Electric – adj. definition [e·lek·trik] current, emotionally exciting, positive atmosphere, shining”

THE ELECTRIC

BUSINESS B4’s Ryan Keane meets Electric Hair owner, Mark Woolley, and discovers how his innovative approach is making waves in the hairdressing industry.

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“The bigger boys do not mean the better boys” is a firm view of a thriving and expanding entrepreneur, Mark Woolley, who’s business, Electric Hair, has certainly made a mark amongst fellow hairdressers, business experts and leading magazines. The Electric Hair business comprises, so far, a chain of four hair and style salons in London’s Marylebone, Brighton, Reading and Oxford. The head office is in Brighton, but it’s the London salon which has made the headlines, with celebrity appearances from the Made in Chelsea and Inbetweeners’ stars. In an in-depth interview with B4, Mark gives an insight into why his business is unique, why good service is vital and, just out of curiosity, why Electric?

Electric Hair first opened its doors five years ago when Mark believed there was a gap in the market for a stylish, atmospheric and unique hair dressing experience. Leaving school early to become a hairdresser, Mark travelled the world, inspiring him to set up a photographic studio. But his passion was hair and he always felt that the hairdressing industry was “too corporate”. He decided to back himself and has since seen Electric Hair not only prove his point, but catch the eye of industry experts who have recognised his fresh and innovative approach. Awards have flooded in, including winning HJI British Hairdressing Business Awards' Director of the year 2010, alongside wining

there. We train our staff from a young age to be good communicators and to work in a team. The end product is great service.”

The exclusive Electric brand encompasses Salons, a Luxury Hair Care Range, Electric Studios and The Electric Education Academy. When asked about branding, and where the name Electric came from, Mark is very clear. “It’s very simple. The word itself, simply speaking, describes an atmosphere which is positive. I wanted a word not associated with hairdressing. Some of the beauty editors weren’t sure if they liked the name, as it’s a bit young and ‘club’ like. Now it’s out there, I think people really like it. Hopefully it will never go out of fashion. I read a lot into the philosophy of branding, and it would appear that it doesn’t matter what name you choose….. what matters is how you represent the brand.

“When someone walks into a hairdresser’s salon, it can be quite daunting, with lots of young, attractive and fabulously dressed stylists with invariably, great hair. They are the epitome of what you strive for so to some, it can be difficult to walk through that door.

Our job is to soften that, to make it a joy to come through the door. Our customers also want someone to listen to them. There can be a bit of pretentiousness in salons, that’s why we teach our trainees to be nice to customers. With any service, if you’re happy with it, you’ll go back.”

“We strive to offer a tailor made experience, where the client will be served a drink from a fully functioning bar, champagne, juice or a cappuccino; a scalp massage while they’re getting their hair shampooed” HAIR Magazine's Salon Stylist of the Year 2009, National Business Awards and Creative Heads Most Wanted Awards.

So just what makes the ‘Electric Hair experience’ different to that in any other salon? “We want to build an environment where we can create a memorable experience for our clients” explains Mark. “We strive to offer a tailor made experience, where the client will be served a drink from a fully functioning bar, champagne, juice or a cappuccino; a scalp massage while they’re getting their hair shampooed, and even met by an accomplished expert in their field that works regularly on fashion photo shoots or magazines to advise and consult.”

In order to ensure that his philosophy is auctioned just as it should be, Mark has to have the right team behind him. “Everyone has to be on the same page, but the secret is making sure it’s not a regimented approach. It has to be natural, it has to be effortless. If my staff have to act then they’re in the wrong salon. Coming to work needs to be as much fun for my staff as it is for our customers – otherwise the experience and the magic won’t be www.b4-business.com

What of the future for Electric? “I think we’re already a nationally recognised brand. We probably will expand our business, to Leeds or Manchester. We’ll probably pop up in one of the Scottish cities, eventually. We don’t want to rush though….. I’d like to keep it all controlled. Our big focus at the moment is on Oxford.”

Mark is also the Global brand ambassador for Iconic brush manufacturer Denman International, a member of the L’Oreal Portfolio of Artistic Hairdressers, and is active within the Fellowship for British Hairdressing.

This budding entrepreneur certainly understands how to run a business, and although not lacking confidence, is aware that complacency must be guarded against. “The industry we are in is incredibly loyal but equally fickle. We have to continually improve our service and ensure that the ‘Electric Hair experience’ is worth coming back for, every time.” www.electric-hair.com 95

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B4 SERVICES

“90%

of companies stop following up before most people are ready to buy”

KEEPING YOUR SALES LEADS WARM WITH AUTOMATION Spending money on Lead Generation and then failing to follow-up those leads is one of the ways that companies waste their money and lose enormous opportunities for growth. Simon Wallace-Jones of Oxford Digital Marketing can show you a way to increase the number of sales leads you convert by simply increasing the number of times you follow-up your leads.

For large-scale purchases or incumbent services with built-in inertia to change, this process can take months or even years. People often aspire to a luxury item like a house or a car for years before they eventually buy. An old friend has been aspiring to a certain Maserati for 8 years and yet he still drives a BMW 7 Series!

Only 10% of prospective customers get followed-up more than 5 times The issue for the company selling is to keep the contact with these people going (sometimes for a long time). Again studies show that only 10% of companies stay the course and contact their potential customers more than 5 times.

90% of companies stop following-up before most people are ready to buy Let’s consider some numbers. If most potential customers are ready to buy between the 5th and 12th follow-up, and you usually only follow-up 3 times before giving up, then 10% of your prospects are ready to buy. By simply increasing the amount of times you follow-up to 6 or more, 80% of the prospects will eventually be ready to buy.

because they are too busy working on the ‘hot’ leads. The ‘hot’ leads are simply people who are ready to buy. Therefore, if you could introduce some automation to do some of the repetitive educational work, myth busting and positioning and simply present only the ‘hot’ leads to sales people, you would be helping them to keep their pipeline of ‘hot’ leads well stocked.

In the early phases of a relationship with a potential customer do you find you explain the same thing over and over again?

When businesses are in the early phase of nurturing a prospect relationship they regularly need to explain the same information over and over again. This can be very time consuming and expensive. It is however a great opportunity to use videos, webinars and other media to nurture that relationship forward.

By using automation, it makes it possible to move some of the responsibility for describing benefits, positioning products and services in the market place and explaining why they might be the best for the job onto the plate of an automated system.

This is where marketing automation can really help.

Obviously you would need a system that is sophisticated enough to do this intelligently so that you would know the best time to have a sales person re-engage with a customer, however a lot of automation and prompting at the right time can really help the sales and marketing process along.

There is a new type of sales and marketing automation software available now which allows companies to build sophisticated follow-up into their marketing cycle and take some of the burden off the sales people’s shoulders.

If you would like to explore this kind of system further why not join us on a webinar via http://odm-tips.com/b4-automation.

This is not an indictment of sales people. Mostly sales people can’t follow-up

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80% of sales happen after the 5th contact with a potential customer We know from studies carried out here and in the US that the majority of first time purchases happen between the 5th and 12th contact between the customer and the company they are buying from. This is often because the customer is at the stage of carrying out research, learning about the products on offer in the marketplace, working out which features are important to them, appreciating the benefits and even sampling the product long before they are ready to buy.

HOW DO YOU KEEP INTOUCH WITH YOUR CUSTOMERS? As we all look to build our businesses in the uncertain economic climate ahead in 2012 we talk to a man who understands the value of customers and how any business can positively harness IT to engage with them in the most cost effective way. B4 talks to James White of In Touch CRM and learns key lessons in building your business around your customers.

It is obvious early in a discussion with James White, the MD of In Touch CRM, that he is passionate about business as well as a man that fully understands all the core technical elements of creating and growing a successful business. His enthusiasm and passion for his own business as well the businesses of his customers immediately makes you feel that he should be a management consultant – called in to inspire your own team, sort out your business challenges and kick start your own company to the next level.

businesses through better communication with their own customers. James knows that relationships with customers are even more vital in the tougher economic times we now face. Customer relationships, retention and value are what we should all be focusing our businesses on. Not just the sales team, or the marketing team but the whole ethos of a business should be centred on delivering customer satisfaction and value.

James has a background in IT and Marketing which has given him insight into how to harness IT in order to build relationships with customers, provide great service and keep customers engaged through effective communication.

Customers and customer engagement really matter to James and his company.

about getting the organisational ‘culture’ right, and integrating internal systems so that they support each other to enhance efficiency and value”

How many times have we heard the biggest brands and names in business preach about how important their customers are to their company–while their own customers experience poor service, irrelevant marketing and poor value for money? Good service is a relatively straight forward concept but rarely implemented consistently.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

The refreshing aspect of discussing business with James is that he understands every business function, how they inter-relate and why they need to support each other to build a successful business.

James is passionate about getting the organisational ‘culture’ right, and integrating internal systems so that they support each other to enhance efficiency and value.

In Touch CRM is a product of this thinking and mindset. Their objective is to enable their customers to develop their own

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“James is passionate

James is a businessman who understands the crucial importance of customer relationships and when one sees this combined with his passionate drive to develop his own business - and indeed help you develop your business you can see success for you and for him.

James White runs a company that can really help you and your customer engagement. His unique selling point is that he is not only likeable and highly knowledgeable. He is also very likely to look at your business as a true management consultant and help you

focus on every aspect of your business from customers to finance, from staff motivation to company culture. When all of these aspects are working together your customers will not only notice – they will be happier and more valuable.

We all need to know more about our customers – why they buy – who else they buy from –which customers are the most valuable – how they like to be communicated with –can we do more for them. Harnessing CRM systems effectively is fundamental to this -James White and In Touch CRM can deliver on all of the above – because that is their core objective.

In Touch CRM Email marketing and Customer Relationship Management for small to medium sized businesses.

Every business needs marketing that is manageable, measurable and cost effective. In Touch CRM offers an integrated and flexible solution for targeted email marketing and database management which will help you get customers returning and drive new sales and repeat business.

You can target an email marketing campaign and then measure the responsiveness of clients and prospective clients. Add this to task, management surveys, a shared calendar and shared documents and In Touch CRM is a powerful tool that is simple to use and will enable you to plan and execute marketing campaigns in a cost effective and time efficient manner. www.intouchcrm.co.uk

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B4 IT & COMMS

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the social

In association with

Linkedin its not just for finding a new job?

When I first came across Linkedin a few years back I'd just changed jobs and one of my friends had asked the question " Did you get your new job via Linkedin ?"

I looked very blankly and said "no" why?

He then went on to tell me about the wonderful 'job' tools that could be used, and how a lot of companies use Linkedin to profile, and submit job applications.

And part of me did think next time that could be useful.

However when I looked into Linkedin more deeply it offered far more from a business development perspective: Contacts, Groups, Mail system, Polls, News, and coming from a sales background a whole new perspective on: a. profiling potential companies that I wanted to understand, b. listening to what was happening within my industry via Groups, and most importantly c. understanding contact roles within business, all of this information became available to me by simply opening a window on my desktop!

A few years on now Linkedin is a key business tool for Glooo and many other businesses for so many reasons: Company promotion, Thought leadership, Social Media measurement tool, Contact database, Integrator with Twitter and other Social media platforms, Technical Knowledge Base and News source. to name but a few, and with the continued development of the platform with applications such as 'Projects' and 'Team Spaces', 'Tripit' and 'Bloglink' the integration of Linkedin with our businesses will only increase.

association perspective, and as a strategic business tool to assist any business with providing corporate information as a refer to visiting websites.

My conclusion, Linkedin is so much more than a tool just for finding your next job! All these companies can't be wrong.

IBM 500K+ followers HP 387K+ followers Google 361K+ followers HSBC 121K + followers Verizon 41K + followers Question: Is Linkedin simply a point of presence for your business or do you use Linkedin as a business development and/or sales tool?

All the website(s) we monitor for our clients have a link to a Linkedin Company profile.

Linkedin facts for Oxfordshire: 2 new users join every day, 5 new Companies join per month, Oxford currently has 1673 companies with business accounts.

Linkedin helps with Search Engine Optimisation from a 'Link' and 'keyword'

www.glooo.co.uk

Top 10 Linkedin users in Oxfordshire Top 10 Corporate Oxfordshire accounts

Top 10 B4 members Linkedin accounts

#

Followers

Company

#

Followers

Company

1

6797

Oxford University Press

1

6633

Oxford University

2

6663

Oxford University

2

6165

Oxfam

3

6165

Oxfam

3

1160

Williams F1

4

3350

Sophos

4

1065

Oxford Instruments

5

2381

RS Components

5

616

Lloyds TSB commercial Oxford

6

1701

RPS group

6

570

ORHNT

7

1662

Unipart

7

394

Morgan Cole

8

1350

RM

8

386

Manches LLP

9

1170

Taylor & Francis

9

306

CLIC Sargent

10

1160

Williams F1

10

240

Owen Mumford

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B4 VENUES

NEW HOSPITALITY PRODUCTS AT CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB Following the highest levels of bookings for hospitality, Chelsea Football Club has added two new products to its matchday offer for the 2012-13 season.

For the first time, the west London club will offer private executive suites on a matchby-match basis and has also created Matchdays@Marco, combining dinner in the onsite Marco Pierre White restaurant with premium tickets in the West Stand upper tier.

Previously only available on a seasonal basis, the much sought after exclusive suites can now be purchased for individual fixtures. This follows an increased demand for private hospitality suites for individual games.

Seating eight to 24 guests, Chelsea FC’s luxurious suites include a Champagne reception, pre-match fine dining with a choice of menu from a buffet to four courses, and premier armchair-style seating - all with a dedicated hostess and waiting staff.

Guests in private suites will also be provided for with a complimentary bar, half and fulltime refreshments, an exclusive Chelsea gift, matchday programme and team sheet, as well as an appearance by a past player. Each suite will also receive a signed shirt from the first team along with complimentary pre-match entry to the brand new Chelsea Museum and on-site matchday car parking.

“these new products further underlines our dedication to first-class hospitality” The second of the new products, Matchdays@Marco, will combine a seasonal three course menu of signature Marco dishes with match tickets in the West Stand upper tier, along with half a bottle of wine per person with dinner and a complimentary matchday programme. This is the first time since the restaurant opened in 2007 that dinner and match day tickets can be purchased together as a hospitality package.

Simon Hunter, Head of Venue and Brand at Chelsea FC, comments: “With high demand for our private executive suites as well as pre match dining at Marco, we are delighted to offer new options for those looking to enjoy hospitality as part of business networking or pleasure. Coming on the back of a record year for hospitality enquiries and bookings at the club, these new products further underlines our dedication to first-class hospitality. We are confident both will be popular additions for corporate guests and individuals”.

Matchdays@Marco packages start from just £150+VAT per person, private executive suite prices on request. For further information on Marco please email marcomatchdays@chelseafc.com and for the information on our suites log on to www.chelseafc.com/hospitality.

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OXFAM Richard Reed is the co-founder of innocent drinks and a member of Oxfam's Development Board. He helped develop Work for Oxfam Day and recently travelled with Oxfam to see climate change and livelihood projects in Bangladesh. Richard launched Work for Oxfam Day in Oxfordshire at the recent B4 Ambassadors' Event at the Ashmolean. Here's what he had to say:

I'm on the Development Board for Oxfam and here to talk about this initiative called Work for Oxfam Day. I thought it might just help if I explain a bit about my involvement in charity and with Oxfam and then talk about this specific initiative.

As a business we give 10% of our profits to charity.

We've set up a Foundation, of which I'm chair, so, currently I work directly with eighteen different charities, Oxfam being one of them. And, you know what? They're all great charities, they all do

like this, you can tell that the person has had some sort of seminal moment, but I really did see the situation out there and the response that Oxfam has had. What I found interesting was that when I got out there, the first thing that was explained to me was that in the language of poverty a new phrase has had to be developed to make sense of just how poor some people are. So now there isn't just poor people, there's now a new class called the ultra poor, that's people on less than 60p a day.

I didn't think that was actually possible, and I think

What Oxfam does, is go out to these, probably what could arguably be the most disenfranchised communities in the world, and give them the intellectual capabilities to understand the situation that they are in, so that they can assess where the flood waters are coming, and when, and which huts are going to be affected first. And then as well as giving them the ability to think through their own problems and own them, Oxfam is there to give a finite amount of money, so that villagers can then decide what it is going to get spent on, which huts are going to get lifted above the floodwaters, who's

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I can say this, I know of no other charity that gets more human betterment for every pound spent than Oxfam does.â&#x20AC;? critical things that make a big difference. But I approach it with a businessman's brain, because I see every pound that is going out through the Foundation, for a charity you've got to try and get the best rate of return on that pound, like you would do in business. The only difference is the rate of return is measured in human betterment, not profit. So I always look and work out where we are getting the best results.

I can say this, I know of no other charity that gets more human betterment for every pound spent than Oxfam does.

I've just come back from a week in Bangladesh and I think when people talk about going on charity trips

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it's quite a weird indictment of our times that we have now to come up with new categorisations of people in such abject poverty.

So in Bangladesh you are dealing with people in the main on less than 60p a day. It's also the most populated country in the world, as well as being one of the poorest, which simply means there just isn't enough land for people to live on: the most basic, fundamental thing. As a response, people live on islands in the middle of rivers that get flooded each year with the monsoons. It's completely bonkers. I mean, why would you live on an island that's going to get washed away? The answer is because you just don't have an alternative.

going to get the goats and where's the toilet going to go?

I spent a week with these communities. The difference is immense, because it's the classic thing, they're not being given a handout, they're just being given a break. They're being given the ability to understand the wider world and how it is directly affecting them, and they're being given intellectual skills to solve those problems and a bit of cash to help them put it in. They were just transformed by the work that Oxfam had been doing, but they're doing it themselves, there's no handout culture, it's absolutely allowing these communities to solve their own problems. They're just guys who've been given the wrong end of the

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B4 CHARITY

lollipop stick in life and Oxfam's there just giving them a little taste of the other end.

So, I'm a massive, massive fan and an advocate of Oxfam, and I can promise you this as one business person to another, there's no better pound you can spend on a charity than giving it to Oxfam.

So that's the why, why would you? The how is this thing called Work for Oxfam Day. I don't know how you guys feel, but I think there's such an apathy about charity these days, there's charity fatigue ... we're inundated with requests for charity, and I'm nervous about where that's going to get us to, because it's a totally human response to get bored with something that's repeated. But

means is you choose, just by clicking on the email, to either donate that day's salary, or half a day's or just the lunch hour. I pinged it around the building, 36% of people said yes to one of those three options. It raised over £5,000. To put that in context, that was on a Tuesday. The Friday before we'd done a Dress in Pink to raise money for Breast Cancer, done the big number in the business, got everyone to wear pink to raise money for charity.

It raised £88. So that's the same group of people three days later, going from £88 to over £5,000.

So it's transformative in its ability to raise money, super easy for the business to implement and for the employees to say yes to. And do you know what? It works for me as a business, because what I got is a huge amount of pride and engagement from the guys in the team. They felt properly

appealed to the absolute altruist in me. So that's why it's just something I'd love you to consider. It's money going to a charity which is going to do transformational things for people, and it's something that has the potential to transform employee engagement in your own businesses.

So my pitch is: money for Oxfam and having your own Work for Oxfam Day. Oxfam is also, by the way, just to make it a little bit competitive (which I quite like), going to be doing awards for the most generous company in the country, based on the response rate they get.

So right now, innocent, I am proud to say, is officially the most generous company in the

“I found Work for Oxfam Day to be an absolutely transformational idea, because basically all you have to do as a business, is send out one email” the reality is that the situation is getting worse not better, so more than ever we need to find a way to get material amounts of money and invest them appropriately.

I found Work for Oxfam Day to be an absolutely transformational idea, because basically all you have to do as a business, is send out one email and Oxfam by the way can do all the back office stuff - I just sent out one email to my team saying, “Today, do you fancy working for Oxfam?” What that

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engaged in it; they'd done something material, significant and different. So it was working for me as a business person in that respect. On the second point, I didn't lose anything. It's not like that volunteering scheme where you give up a day and people can go and work for a charity for a day. The great thing here is that people were doing a massive amount for charity, whilst sat at their desks helping me sell more smoothies.

country and I would love for someone to beat me.

And for the company that does, I will give free smoothies to every single one of your employees.

There's your incentive! Thanks very much.

For more information contact Anna Thorne athorne@oxfam.org.uk 01865 473775 or go to www.oxfam.org.uk/workforoxfamday

It appealed to the absolute capitalist in me, and it

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CHRYSLER & JEEP: 200 NOT OUT

We meet the team at Chrysler Oxford and find out that, with over two hundred years experience between them, you couldn't be in safer hands for all your motoring requirements from new and used car sales to full service, repair and parts. Sean Martin writes for B4.

Name: Tim Keatinge Position: Managing Director Years in the Motor Trade: 35

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“Originally from London, I have enjoyed a variety of roles in the motor industry. My career began with Mercedes Benz After Sales and, at eighteen, I found myself driving around the UK, building and setting up parts departments for Mercedes dealerships.

My personal development was very much from the school of ‘Welcome to the deep end – now can you swim?’

Oxford dealership. I am also a member of the UK Dealer Council - so definitely a case of gamekeeper turned poacher!

Name: Katy Chatterley Position: Service Adviser Years in the Motor Trade: 4

“I live in Warwickshire, with personal interests ranging from dogs and horses to scuba diver training!”

“After several years experience in a fast paced medical sales environment working within the customer service team, I decided that it was time to return to my first passion, within the automobile industry. My father’s deep rooted history within the industry was most certainly the catalyst.

Name: Gareth Griffiths Position: Sales Manager Years in the Motor Trade: 18

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“I have been in the Motor Trade for 18 years with 15 years management experience.

“Since my time at Mercedes I have worked with all kinds of motor retailers from passenger cars and commercial vehicles to agricultural dealers, as well as roles as diverse as managing the UK breakdown and recovery service, to marketing and the management of the personal accessory boutique programme.

“Previously, I was in the Merchant Navy, sailing on the large oil carriers, and finished as a Second Officer. I have been a single parent for 16 years, and enjoyed every moment, although the kids have flown the nest now.

“Moving to Chrysler presented an exciting challenge to work with a developing brand and, having begun at manufacturer level, I now run the brand owned

“The usp of Chrysler Oxford is the professionalism of a blue chip company, with the friendliness and personal attention of a family business.”

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“Although I have been working for Chrysler for only 4 months, I hope that my drive for success and delivering excellent customer service will accelerate my career.

“By day my life is constantly in 6th gear but by night I enjoy nothing more than relaxing in front of a good DVD with my close knit family and my cat Spock.”

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B4 TRANSPORT

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“After Sales Manager responsible for the Service and Parts department at Chrysler Oxford.

“In 2008 I won an award from VW for getting Walkinghsaw VW in the top ten dealerships in the UK and in the top one hundred in Europe for high performance and customer satisfaction.

“At Chrysler Oxford, my team and I believe in giving the highest level of customer service we can achieve and work hard every day to do that.”

Name: Vivienne Gaughan Position: Service Adviser Years in the Motor Trade: 15

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“I have been in after sales for 15 years. I’m a new member of the team; this is only my third week here!

“I started my career in the motor industry in 1994 and have worked for Brands that include Rover, Land Rover, Ford, BMW, and Volkswagen.

I have recently joined Chrysler Oxford which is a really exciting dealership, with great ideas and I am thoroughly enjoying being a part of the brand with new launches and some interesting times ahead for all of us.”

Name: Mark Kneller Position: Workshop Controller Years in the Motor Trade: 8

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“I have worked in the industry for 8 years and I was a Master Technician at Saab for 2 years before I started working for Chrysler.

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“I enjoy my first management role as a Workshop Controller, especially the direct liaison with our customers, ensuring they can talk to someone with strong mechanical knowledge. I also perform the Quality Control for the Service Workshop.”

opportunity to take someone to a game at White Hart Lane, and he took me for lunch, watch the game and meet the players. The next morning he sent over all of the images of my day – what a memory and what a nice gesture.”

Name: Elaine Lapworth Position: Sales Consultant Years in the Motor Trade: 8

Name: Paul Dunn Position: Sales Consultant Years in the Motor Trade: 18

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“I’ve worked here for 16 months but I have eight years experience in the motor trade with various manufacturers.

“I once sold two vehicles to a couple who I have kept in contact with since, and they have just invited me to their wedding. They live in Derbyshire, but they saw us on the website and they initially came for a car for the lady, but they saw a car he liked and I ended up selling him a car also! They have even called their dog Dodge, after the car I sold them!”

Name: Mervyn Kelly Position: Sales Consultant Years in the Motor Trade: 19

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“I have been here for 12 years, but prior to that I have approximately seven years experience in the motor industry, six of those were spent as branch manager at Honda in Oxford.

“Before that, since leaving school, I was involved in the fashion industry, running shops in Oxford and Belfast.

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“I have worked at Chrysler Oxford since March 1994, so that’s coming up to 18 years.

“I’m 3rd generation motor trade. My grandfather owned a garage in Kidlington called Zoo garage and my father owned a garage called Lodge Hill in Abingdon, where I worked with him.

“I started working at Chrysler when I lost my father, and that’s where I’ve been since.

“I have got one customer in particular that I have been dealing with most of the time I’ve been with Chrysler. He was a very successful businessman, and had a large property in Oxfordshire, but they sold up and moved to Great Yarmouth.

“His wife owns a Chrysler Convertible and he owns a Chrysler 300 C. He wants to buy a new Grand Cherokee Overland, which I’ve ordered for him, and he has asked me to deliver it to him one afternoon and is going to take my wife and me out for dinner and put us up for the night in a lovely hotel. Another happy Chrysler customer!” www.chrysleroxford.co.uk

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Name: Roger Thorn Position: After Sales manager Years in the Motor Trade: 37

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“I have sold a lot of cars, and have had one customer in particular that I have sold many vehicles to. A few years ago, knowing my love of football, especially Tottenham Hotspur, and, although he was a Chelsea supporter, he had the

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B4 CHARITY

Using stamps to create a colourful collage

THE ART ROOM

Toast is always served at some point during every session Paitbrushes of all discriptions

Many charities spend years struggling to find enough funding simply to exist. The Art Room was, until January this year, one of those charities. Now, with the amazing news that the HRH Duchess of Cambridge has chosen to become a Royal patron of The Art Room, its founder/director Juli Beattie and her colleagues will have even more opportunities to change the lives of children in Oxford and London.

In what Grant calls a ‘wonderful story’ and a ‘lovely coincidence of timing’, The Art Room received this fantastic honour in its tenth year. The charity has four locations in Oxford; Oxford Spires Academy, Rose Hill Primary School, Orchard Meadow Primary School and Matthew Arnold School, as well as an Art Room in London, Islington. The charity’s aim is to offer children and young-people from ages 5-16 the opportunity to use art as a therapy, and in doing so to raise their self-esteem. Fully endorsed by teachers and other professionals of the schools involved, who have seen the results first-hand, one clear benefit to come out of The Art Room’s work with children is their more positive re-engagement with formal education.

Speaking to Grant it is clear that credit for such a long reign of positive influence on challenging and vulnerable children is due to the founder/director of The Art Room, Juli. From her experience as a teacher and her work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Juli was, and is, very aware of the needs of children suffering from severe emotional challenges. She came to Oxford with this www.b4-business.com

knowledge, and transposed that thinking into an idea, which became The Art Room.

It is wonderful to have a team of committed and visionary people to help improve the lives of those within all five Art Rooms. Some children within Oxford are suffering from difficulties at school, and some might be prime carers in their families.

“With the patronage of the Duchess of Cambridge, The Art Room has the potential to not only continue, but to double their work with troubled children” Grant says ‘The Art Room provides children a respite from the pressures of daily life through art where they ‘learn and achieve’. The Art Room offers an environment in which children and young people are able to express how they are feeling.

Each child is referred for 2 hours a week during school time.’

With the patronage of the HRH Duchess of Cambridge, The Art Room can potentially gain more support from more major trusts and foundations, not only continuing their work but also offering art as therapy to many more children and young people.

The future is more than promising for such a well-deserving charity and Grant is extremely positive. ‘This will be absolutely transformational for us as a local charity. Prior to the patronage, The Art Room was dependant upon corporate and individual sponsors and benefactors, and we would not be where we are today without the positive attitudes of our founder/director, Juli Beattie, our business director, Bel Crewe, and our committed trustees.

Grant was quick to heap glowing praise on Juli. ‘I think that the wonderful thing about Juli is the vision that she’s had, but also the indomitable spirit that has said, “I will go out and raise money to make this happen”.’

Grant, in praise of both Juli and of the Duchess of Cambridge, sums up recent events. ‘I think this is a fantastic story about the recognition of a true visionary. I think it’s a story about recognition by royalty of a very, very real social need, and its recognition for the City of Oxford, in terms of the work of Juli and the team.’ www.theartroom.org.uk

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Photography: Caroline Silver Lewis/The Art Room

Lucy Holmes met with The Art Room’s Chairman, Grant Phillips, who explained ‘The Art Room offers art as therapy to children and young people aged 5 -16 who are having serious difficulties and may be at risk of exclusion from school. The Art room uses art to raise their self esteem, confidence and independence and helps them cope with their challenges.’

All imgaes © Collection of Howard Hodgkin

“A Museum for today’s global world. To travel through its galleries is to be handed a roundthe-world ticket on a tour of history.” The Times, October 2009 Since its reopening in 2009, the Ashmolean’s exhibitions programme has received critical and public acclaim. Local and national companies are keen to be associated with the Museum through exhibition sponsorship and by joining the Ashmolean Corporate Membership scheme – opportunities which bring a host of benefits.

In consultation with clients, the Ashmolean can produce a range of sponsorship packages tailored to work for different organisations and a variety of budgets. We would be delighted to talk to you about how exhibition sponsorship could work for your company.

Recent exhibitions which have provided opportunities for corporate sponsorship and Membership have included Visions of Mughal India: The Collection of Howard Hodgkin. Running

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until 22 April, this exhibition shows the outstanding private collection of Indian paintings of the artist Howard Hodgkin

“The collection is on show at the Ashmolean for the first time in its entirety, and many works have never been exhibited to the public before” Long considered one of the finest collections of its kind in the world, it comprises most of the main types of Indian court painting that flourished during the Mughal period (c. 1550–1850), including the refined naturalistic works of the imperial Mughal court; the poetic and subtly coloured paintings of the Deccani Sultanates; and the boldly drawn and

vibrantly coloured styles of the Rajput kingdoms of Rajasthan and the Punjab Hills. Highlights include illustrations of epics and myths; royal portraits; and many scenes of court life or hunting. There is a large and outstanding group of elephant portraits and studies from the Mughal and Kota schools.

Some of the works in the collection vividly evoke the urban or daily life of India, a country which has inspired Hodgkin on his frequent visits made over some 50 years.

Above all, this is a personal collection, formed by an artist’s eye, where artistic quality has always mattered most. All Hodgkin’s Indian pictures are of an unusual or exceptional quality. The collection is on show at the Ashmolean for the first time in its entirety, and many works have never been exhibited to the public before.

Visions of Mughal India is supported by CHK Charities Ltd and the accompanying exhibition events programme has been supported by the Nehru Centre.

For more information visit www.ashmolean.org/exhibitions

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B4 VENUES

THE

ASHMOLEAN

B4 magazine recently met with Benedicte Montain and Theresa Nicolson at the Ashmolean to talk about the Ashmolean exhibitions’ programme and the exciting opportunities that sponsorship and corporate membership can offer.

Visions of Mughal India: The Collection of Howard Hodgkin 2nd February 2012 to 22nd April 2012 Galleries 59-60 | £6/£4 (including Gift Aid) The Ashmolean’s major summer exhibition is The EnglishPrize: The Capture of the Westmorland, An Episode of the Grand Tour. Opening on 17 May, The English Prize tells the extraordinary story of an armed merchant ship travelling from Livorno to London in January 1779, laden with art, books and antiquities collected by British Grand Tourists.

Captured by the French and declared a ‘prize of war’, the Westmorland and its precious cargo were acquired by King Carlos III of Spain.

Recent research has pieced together the story, offering a unique insight into the interests and everyday lives of British travellers. The English Prize assembles material from the captured ship, from portraits by Pompeo Batoni, to antique-style sculpture, guide-books, and maps, presenting an exhibition which is a mix of detective work and colourful characters from the 18th century.

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The English Prize: The Capture of the Westmorland, an Episode of the Grand Tour 17th May 2012 to 27th August 2012 Galleries 57–61 | £9/£7 (including Gift Aid)

“In consultation with clients, the Ashmolean can produce packages tailored to work for different organisations and a variety of budgets.”

The Ashmolean is now planning ahead for exhibitions in 2013 and 2014 so this is the perfect time to contact us. The forthcoming programme includes a solo exhibition of contemporary Chinese artist, Xu Bing; Francis Bacon and Henry Moore; and the Masters of Modern Art: Cezanne, Manet,

Modigliani and Van Gogh.

We look forward to speaking to you. Please contact Theresa Nicolson, Corporate Partnerships Manager and Benedicte Montain, Head of Commercial Events, to arrange a meeting and discuss how Ashmolean you can be.

Theresa Nicolson Corporate Partnerships Manager 01865 288 019 theresa.nicolson@ashmus.ox.ac.uk Benedicte Montain Head of Commercial Events 01865 288 364 benedicte.montain@ashmus.ox.ac.uk

B4 Readers Offer Visions of Mughal India £4 (including Gift Aid) Offer valid upon presentation of the coupon that you will find on page 146.

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“IIt wasn’t until that incident that it first struck me that football wouldn’t be forever.

”

For as long as he can remember Steve knew that his future lay in football. He was in the Southampton schoolboys team from the age of 9 to 16 followed by a two year apprenticeship.

Many of his peers focused on sports related studies whereas Steve had an interest in numerical subjects specifically related to business and gained GCSE A grade in Business Studies and then went on to study for a two year Business and Finance Diploma. At 18 he signed as a professional for 3 years at Southampton and made his first full debut at Old Trafford with a further 18 Premier League appearances.

In 1998, he was signed on loan by the then Preston manager, David Moyes. After a successful loan spell at Preston, Moyes took the decision to sign the striker on a permanent basis for a £200,000 transfer fee. After an unfortunate leg break at the age of 22, Steve started to think about his life after football. “It wasn’t until that incident that it first struck me that football wouldn’t be forever.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

“I always had in my mind that I would come back from the broken leg, but I did tentatively start to think, and talk to the PFA, about a few possibilities.”

After returning from the injury, Steve regained full focus on getting fit and playing again.

At the end of his 3 year contract, Steve turned down a new contract offer from Preston as he felt he wasn’t getting enough minutes on the pitch, and then signed for Oxford United, then of the old League Division 3, in 2002. “The good thing about

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B4 ADVICE

A DIFFERENT KIND OF GOAL Former Preston North End and Oxford United striker, Steve Basham, talks to Sean Martin about his move a year ago aged 33, possibly unique for a professional footballer... into accountancy with The MGroup.

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coming to Oxford was the fact that I was playing the majority of games for the best part of five years.” Steve made over 200 appearances scoring 49 goals.

who was working and studying in accountancy. He told me about the training it involves, and the qualifications.

Immediately I knew it was for me.”

“I also started to take my coaching badges before finally moving on to Exeter City, where I took my level three coaching badge to complete the UEFA ‘B’ qualification. I was at a stage of my career when a lot of my friends were looking to coach. Football was my life and although I knew I wouldn’t play forever, like many others I loved being in and around a club and coaching seemed to be the obvious next step.”

After a meeting with Geoff Lane of The MGroup, the 34year old forwarded his CV and was invited for a second interview. Shortly afterwards Steve was offered a full time position as a trainee accountant. He knew that he was in an environment in which he would feel comfortable, from the framed Oxford United shirt in the interview room. It is no coincidence that The MGroup and Oxford United colours are the same!

After working hard at his coaching, the striker started to take the training sessions of the under-16s at Exeter City.

“I wanted to use my experience I had gained from being a professional for 14 years, but unfortunately, when my contract finished at Exeter, it was not renewed.”

Now a year later, Steve says that he is thoroughly enjoying his new role. “I’m getting used to the studying at the weekend and having to tell the kids ‘Daddy’s got to study’ instead of having time to play. The discipline that I gained from football has helped me in this.”

By this time Steve was married with a young family and his priorities had changed so he then moved back to the family home in Woodstock with the idea of finding a local club to play for. Basham ended up signing for Luton Town, and commuted to and from the club for games and training. “I was hoping that something would fall into place, in terms of coaching, at Luton, but it didn’t. So I decided that I needed to start looking down other avenues. I didn’t want to start my own business, as many ex-professionals do, as I had no experience in business. I realised that I needed security for the future for myself and my family.

“I did the business and finance diploma years ago, but never thought it would be useful. I’ve always had an interest in finance; I’ve always read the Financial Times (not on the team bus I hasten to add!). I spoke to a friend,

“it is obviously a huge change from playing football everyday to working in an office environment, but it’s something that I’ve quickly adapted to. The transition was made considerably easier due to the fact that I was working for such a great firm. The goal is to qualify and become a successful and valuable member of the team.

This time an accounting team, not a football team.” www.theMgroup.co.uk

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We’re on the Ball

Team up with The MGroup to take your business into the Premier League this season Accountancy • Business Development • Registered Auditors Computer Solutions • Taxation • Corporate Finance Software Development • Financial Services

Cranbrook House 287 / 291 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7JQ Tel: 01865 552925 Fax: 01865 557732 Website: www.theMgroup.co.uk

B4 IT & COMMS At Nominet, where we manage the registry of Internet domain names ending in .uk, we are about to witness arguably the biggest shake-up our industry has seen when a raft of new web domains are launched from 2013.

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the organisation which co-ordinates the allocation of domain names globally, recently approved changes that will see the number of web address endings, or what comes after the dot, increase dramatically. In fact, predictions are that there could be anything between 500 & 2,000 new applications submitted.

Under the new rules, organisations will be able to apply for domains that end in virtually any set of characters beyond 2 letters. This opens up the possibility of community or industry domains such as .bank, .hotel or .london, or domains dedicated to specific brands, such as .google or .nike.

CHANGING

ADDRESS?

The future of the web address is changing. Chief Executive of Nominet, Lesley Cowley OBE explains what this means for the Oxford based not-for-profit company.

This heralds a new online era and with it new opportunities for companies and brands to market themselves online. With a branded domain, organisations can better control how they appear on the web, boosting consumer awareness and trust. At the same time, being part of a certain domain will make it easier for users too. For example, if a cause has a .charity web address, visitors will be clear about the type of organisation they are dealing with.

For Nominet, this changing landscape means we are committed to ensuring that the .uk domain name space that we look after is as appealing and attractive as ever. We know that trust in our product is already strong. For example, recent research showed that 81% of people already prefer .uk web addresses when presented with them in search results.

In the next few months we will reach a significant milestone of having 10 million .uk domain names on our register. More than 3 million of those sites are used for businesses and 25% of sites feature some form of e-commerce. This demonstrates the significance that the domain name industry plays in the digital economy.

“With a branded domain, organisations can better control how they appear on the web, boosting consumer awareness and trust” Applying for your very own .brand domain name will require significant investment both in terms of budget and technical preparation. However, every business needs to consider their strategy to make the most of the opportunities that these new web addresses will present.

One approach could be to aim to register a relevant domain you previously missed out on or alternatively you might want to protectively register any domains relevant to your business. Entrepreneurs would be well advised to monitor the so called ‘sunrise periods’ for new domains as they present an opportunity for rights holders to secure relevant domains. Whatever approach you decide on, the important thing is to draw up a strategy now to ensure your business is prepared to make the most of the opportunities. www.nominet.org.uk

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GETTING TO GRIPS WITH GROWTH B4 Talk to Right Angle Consultants partners Paul Ovington, Sarah Williams and Albert Wright about their new book Breaking the barriers to business growth, a guide to help companies break through the barriers to business growth.

True story: during Word War II, a British special forces officer was posted with the partisans behind the enemy lines in German-occupied Yugoslavia. Seeing that the men were so weak with hunger that they were barely effective, the liaison officer (we’ll call him George) called in an air-drop of concentrated food rations for them. The night arrived, the drop was made, the partisans ran to collect the rations, and immediately started tearing the packs open and eating their contents. In vain George rushed from man to man telling them to wait, to soak them in water, that the rations were concentrated. The partisans were too hungry to hear him. Soon, to a man, they were writhing on the ground in agony as the rations swelled inside them. It took 48 hours before they were fully recovered and ready to carry on the battle.

Too much, too soon, without the right preparation, can be crippling, for starved partisans and fast-growing businesses alike.

“Soft skills, hard facts, and invaluable guidance are all here, directly aimed at helping business owners and managers take their rapidly-expanding businesses safely through the growth barrier” Even in these austere times there are businesses which are thriving, and which are coming face to face with the very special demands placed on an organisation by rapid expansion, when cash-flow and delivery are both strained, perhaps to breaking point, by the extreme demands placed on them by the speed and magnitude of the change. And there will be many, many more businesses confronting the same problems when the banking glacier starts to thaw, and money begins to flow back into the market place.

That is why Right Angle Consultants partners Paul Ovington, Sarah Williams and Albert Wright felt that it was urgent to bring out a book to help companies break through the barriers to business growth – and the book, Breaking the barriers to business growth, does exactly what it says on the cover.

Paul, Sarah and Albert have brought together a formidable team of business specialists, each of whom has contributed a chapter on their area of expertise.

Whether you are looking for an understanding of how to apply strategic thinking to the current fast-changing ‘white-water’ world of commerce, or whether you need some way of estimating the value of search engine optimisation for your business, the information is here. Or perhaps you might be looking for a way

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to get to grips with management accounts on the one hand, or, on the other, to get tips on how to use networking to promote your business and build valuable business relationships.

Take a look at the authors, and the range of what they’re writing about: Paul Ovington Creating business success through strategy Albert Wright The price is right?

Anthony Pilkington Knowing the numbers Rob Warlow Growth is good but cash is better Phil Strachan Think Brand not bland Sarah Williams Finders and keepers: communicating with your customers in words that work for them Mary Thomas Use social media Jonathan Fink SEO lost and found Mark Salisbury Planning for growth: how to stop your IT hitting the fan Sarah McCloughry Leadership presence: how to get buy in Andrew Ludlam The principle of pre-eminence Cathy Dunbabin Networking David Winch Make sales without selling Soft skills, hard facts, and invaluable guidance are all here, directly aimed at helping business owners and managers take their rapidly-expanding businesses safely through the growth barrier. Breaking the barriers to business growth is available from all bookshops, through Amazon, and direct from the Right Angle Consultants website, www.right-angle-consultants.co.uk.

“Right Angle Consultants partners Paul Ovington, Sarah Williams and Albert Wright felt that it was urgent to bring out a book to help companies break through the barriers to business growth” Breaking the barriers to business growth is the first in a new series of easy-toread and authoritative business books called Busi Books – business books for busy people. Look out for further titles as they appear later this year. Busi Books is the imprint of Right Angle Consultants, a business consultancy aimed at providing ambitious, visionary and high-growth companies with the expertise and the tools to grow without bursting at the financial seams. To learn more about Right Angle Consultants, visit their website at www.right-angleconsultants.co.uk. www.right-angle-consultants.co.uk

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B4 ADVICE

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SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL Ryan Keane meets with the enigmatic Chris Clinkard, owner of the Beautiful Group and does his best to keep up with this fast thinking, rapidly growing and diverse group of companies who all have one thing in common – a deep passion to provide a flawless service to their customers.

I opened by asking Chris to give B4 readers an overview of the group. “We have three brands in The Beautiful Group, brands which we have built after a lot of blood, sweat and tears and a few ‘business scars’ – Beautiful Creases, Beautiful Linen and Beautiful Chairs. Having established each business we are now embarking on an expansion for all three.”

undertake an engagement process with hundreds of customers, to fill in a basic questionnaire about our business. We had some great comments, which told us we were doing lots of things right, but we came up short in a few areas and have now addressed these to make sure our customers are getting what they want – great service and fantastic products.”

Beautiful Creases provides a full laundry service, from collection, washing, drying, pressing and delivery back to your door.

As a business owner, to be told things about a business (or in Chris’s case, businesses) you have nurtured and evolved from scratch is, by Chris’s own admission, “uncomfortable”. Chris continues.

“It was difficult to take a lot of the comments as they were at odds with what I thought we should be doing, but that then proves the value of talking to your customer base – what my staff and I think is the best way isn’t, obviously, always the best way.”

Beautiful Linen provides a wide range of, predominantly, commercial clients with a huge stock of linen to choose from, often used on an emergency basis when stocks run out or other suppliers let hotels, restaurants and other commercial operations down.

Beautiful Chair Covers is, essentially, venue styling.

Anything from chair covers to table decorations, spectacular flower arrangements to napkins.

These are all businesses which rely on a variety of customers, from commercial customers hiring linen to you and me getting our suits dry cleaned, but Chris is very much in touch with his customer base, drawing feedback at all times to improve his businesses and it’s an approach which pays off. ”One of the things we did last year was to

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One key conclusion Chris drew from his ‘reconnaissance’ was that there wasn’t a system in place to adequately measure the performance of his team against the goals he had set. “We were falling short in some areas and had to make changes to address that.

“The way I’d view our business is that it’s a very personal service. For example, people don’t understand the emotional attachment they have with their clothes until they have something

delivered late. We’ve looked at that, and we’ve been able to take advantage of Government Grants to invest in staff training and improve our systems and procedures. We have identified that we need extra training for our staff and we have also standardised our uniforms, worked on how we greet customers and paid attention to the presentation of our work premises. These are all things, which have made us a better business and helped tick a few of the boxes, which our customer engagement process showed us falling short on.

“We are trying really hard to get across to customers that we are a family, local, award winning business but we have equally recognised that we have had to raise our game and continue to provide a superior service across all of the businesses which we operate.”

It’s not been a process, which has been easy, particularly on the staff. “Nobody likes change, but we have had to make some dramatic improvements in the way we do certain things in order to deliver a better service to our clients.

There’s nothing better than seeing the benefits of change and that provides its own momentum, enabling us all to get through the process.”

As previously mentioned, the customer base served by The Beautiful Group is diverse, particularly with Beautiful Creases as Chris explains.

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B4 SERVICES

“The demographic is very diverse, from large country houses to the single guy that’s working in Oxford and hasn’t got the time to do his own laundry. We do something very different to many other organisations – all of customer clothing is washed individually, which is our unique selling point. This ensures that your washing is not mixed and, more importantly, your washing isn’t lost! Our clients know that their clothes will come back safe.

We operate atrack and trace system like nothing else I’ve seen – it’s bespoke laundry, essentially.”

Fellow B4 Ambassadors, Miele (see p54), have provided Chris with the engine for Beautiful Creases. “We opened the laundry business on a very tight budget. In first six months, we spent money on nine washing machines. They just weren’t up to the job. When we were in a position to do so, we invested in Miele commercial washing machines and it’s the best investment we have made. They run almost 24 / 7 – even the Miele engineer was surprised to see the use we were getting out of the machines, but that’s what they are built for!”

With plans to be the first carbon neutral laundry service in the UK, Chris is delighted with how the business is developing. “Our average spend per customer is £32. Some just use us for suits, others will ask us to do everything, from shirts and underwear to suits and bedding. We will send back

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your laundry just how you want it – on hangers, folded, buttons done up, whatever you want.

“Most people use us fortnightly but our aim is to push average spending up and as we are all getting busier and busier, services such as ours will become increasingly in demand. The average laundry bill for a family of four, with everything included, collected and dropped off, is £350 per month. You compare that to the time invested, the physiological aspect of huge piles of laundry, time spent ironing, not to mention the washing powder.

Now that’s everything, hundreds of items gone from your chores list! That’s why we are getting lots of new faces coming through the door, knowing that whether it’s just shirts or bedding we are doing, it’s lightening the load and, let’s face it, we call all do with some of that!”

Beautiful Linen is a unique linen hire service for events up and down the UK. “We have a large stock of thirty two different colours of all linen in forty seven different sizes. We provide the best quality linen available in the industry and despatch to customers all over the UK. It’s very much the sleeping giant of the group and has massive potential.”

Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards (run as part of the same group, which publishes In Oxford Magazine and B4).

Beautiful Chairs doesn’t really do Chris justice on this one, which I’m sure he won’t mind me saying.

Imagine a marquee, put the carpet in, line it, get the tables and chairs in and then let Chris do the rest. We were truly spellbound at the job Chris and his fantastic team did for the Awards. Incredible table layout, wonderful linen and incredible flower displays, not forgetting the beautiful chair covers!

“It’s a labour of love. We all really enjoy the events and get a tremendous buzz out of transforming a blank canvas. The Awards was particularly pleasing as we were fortunate to stay and get direct customer feedback about the venue and everything was tremendously positive. We have worked really hard at this side of the business and continue to expand as our reputation grows.”

One thing’s for sure, this is a group, which deserves its success and won’t let you down. www.hire-chair-covers.co.uk

And last, but by no means least, Beautiful Chair Covers. This is one business we at B4 know very well, having employed Chris for the 2011

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B4 Wine Club

In association with

The B4 Spring Mixed Case Offer

Special Discounted Case Price £84.00 (normal price £98.70) - Includes FREE Delivery within 30 miles of Oxford. Includes two bottles of each of the following six wines: Pinot Blanc/Auxerrois 2009, Alsace A gently aromatic wine with soft rounded fruit, floral tones and subtle citrus flavours. This a superb aperitif wine and is great with oriental foods.

Hutton Ridge Chenin Blanc 2011, South Africa Fruity, very crisp and clean with hints of greengage and limes, this is a very refreshing wine. One of the most consistently good value for money wines that we sell which never fails to please.

The B4 Wine Club is a collaboration between B4 and The Oxford Wine Company. There is no joining fee and the exclusive cases can be ordered through The Oxford Wine Company’s website at www.oxfordwine.co.uk quoting the code B4SPG002 or by email or telephone to Theo Sloot – theo@oxfordwine.co.uk – 01865 301144. Be sure to include payment, your mobile number and any special delivery instructions with your order.

Cases can also be collected by prior arrangement from our Oxford branch at 167 Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0PB. Please ring Lee Isaacs on 01865 249500.

Hidden Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010, New Zealand Zingy and zesty gooseberry fruit with the ultra crisp clean fruit that only the New Zealanders can produce – really refreshing wine.

Cape Mountain Shiraz 2010, South Africa Aromas of ripe red berry layered with spicy clove, vanilla and black pepper.

Smooth and juicy on the palate with assertive black berry fruit flavours.

Navajas Crianza 2008, Rioja Deep rich fruity Rioja with a soft vanilla edge, intense raspberry and black cherry fruit with touches of vanilla and coconut. Perfect with roast lamb.

Chateau Haut Pasquet 2008, Bordeaux A fragrant nose of dark berries and cedar wood leads to smooth rounded tannins supporting the rich blackcurrant fruits and gently smoky oak.

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www.b4-business.com

B4 IT & COMMS

ENGINEERS WITH VISION PART 9 – UNNECESSARY COSTS WHEN BUYING A NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM Our Engineers with Vision series over the last couple of years have covered a range of topics and provided an excellent reference source for B4 readers.

In this issue of B4 we are changing the focus to more of a guide to saving money. Careful consideration with reference to one or two key elements of a new telephone system can save you thousands of pounds and ensure the new system is set up sensibly to suit your business.

The process a business will go through in selecting a new telephone system is never easy. Consider these choices…what type of exchange lines do I need, and what are the different types of lines available nowadays? What type of handsets do I need to provide for each user? Do I need to link the phone system to my database? Do I need to provide the facility for homeworkers? How can I be sure the company I select is capable?

A high percentage of the cost of a new telephone system is very often the handsets. You really don’t need to over spend on expensive handsets if the end user will simply use it as a basic telephone to make and receive calls. A digital handset is typically designed to work only with the vendors system you choose to install into your business, and will cost in excess of £100 per handset. When the system www.b4-business.com

is changed in 5 or 7 years’, the handsets probably won’t be compatible with the next system you select and the expense is repeated.

“We have supplied a diverse range of solutions from a standalone small office system to multiple offices networked together worldwide” The alternative to a digital handset can save thousands of pounds and OrangeStripe can supply these with a 10 year warranty. If you simply just need to provide a low cost handset for the sales team, you can still retain a good percentage of handset functionality such as Caller ID and Voice message indication and do this at 20% of the cost of a digital or IP handset. These handsets are interchangeable between all different

manufacturers systems. Therefore, as well as making a worthwhile saving on new handsets, if your business has more than one office you are able to move handsets between offices even if the systems are not supplied from the same manufacture.

A very common mistake when buying expensive handsets, they seldom get set up correctly with regards to programmable buttons. Therefore, it becomes a very expensive use of a dial pad and a handset for which you speak and hear.

OrangeStripe are Samsung accredited. We have supplied a diverse range of solutions from a standalone small office system to multiple offices networked together worldwide to form one large system.

OrangeStripe are also accredited partners with SuperOffice for supply of the SuperOffice CRM solution and its ability to integrate with the Samsung OfficeServ range of telephony systems.

Please look out for press releases regarding product offers and new system features on both the B4 Magazine and OrangeStripe websites. Alternatively we will be pleased to visit you to discuss any telephony or CRM requirements you may have.

Please call or email us on 0845 241 7772 or enquiries@orangestripe.co.uk.

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One aspect of the business which Martin relishes is the customer contact, and, fortunately for Martin, many of Blueprint’s customers keep coming back. “Being based in the centre of Witney is great for us and enables us to maintain that ‘open all hours’ feel which we would probably lose if we were isolated on an industrial estate somewhere. We find we have a great base to deal with our commercial clients and the general public, both of which are equally important to us.”

Both Martins leave the sales side of the business to Steve Boodell, and, in addition employ two part timers and several freelancers that can be called upon at a moment’s notice. “It’s a very hands on

launches, events and corporate advert panels.

Common products are Pull-Up banner stands, PopUp Displays backdrops, posters and panels.

Signage is anything from a small door notice, to a huge warehouse sign. We produce a lot of PVC banners, shop front signage, ‘A’-boards, hanging signs, flags, plus window and vehicle graphics.

always meet them, as long as they are realistically achievable! We really enjoy having the chance to help out with a prototype or a strange request – believe me, we’ve had a few! We have produced a lot of bespoke products for clients when an ‘off the shelf’ option just isn’t suitable.

“Our Photographic printing services are for canvas photo prints, photo enlargements and fine art reproduction. We also offer ‘real’ photographic prints, film scanning and photo retouch.”

“Because we do everything in-house, we can experiment and try new ideas, quickly and efficiently. You can often find us building some kind of frame or support system to accompany a set of exhibition graphics!”

B4 have found out from personal experience that using Blueprint guarantees you not only a professional, friendly service, but also a premium

A lot of Blueprint’s new business comes from personal recommendations and referrals.

Networking plays a key role too, especially on a

“B4 have found out from personal experience that using Blueprint guarantees you not only a professional, friendly service, but also a premium product” operation and each day brings a new challenge!”

Explains Martin.

So what does Blueprint do? “We produce graphics, signage, and photographic prints. The graphics are mainly for exhibitions and displays, product

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product, delivered without fuss, as Martin emphasizes. “We are a very friendly bunch, flexible, accommodating and always go the extra mile.

Blueprint is also generous with its time to help new or small business where possible. Clients feel reassured with deadlines as they know we will

very local level. Martin and Steve play an active role in several Witney based Networking groups which are really important to us. It’s also great to be a part of B4 and we’ve seen some great business come our way through being members.

www.b4-business.com

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

B4 SERVICES

BLUEPRINT

Blueprint Imaging was set up in 2002 by Martin Matthews and Martin Adams, having both been in the industry since school. It felt like the right time to go it alone for this likeable duo. B4 caught up with Martin Matthews to find out more about this impressive graphic printing company based in Witney.

“On the flipside, we like to use local businesses ourselves. Clearly we can’t buy all of our products locally, but, where possible, we trade with businesses in the town and help to promote them

“A lot of our main clients are designers, design agencies and event organizers. We also work with automotive, scientific R&D, medical, property, finance, law, music, theatre, food and catering,

artwork to print with just two days to go before an exhibition or event goes live. We are always shuffling jobs to fit in a project with an even tighter deadline than the existing jobs which themselves

“Just yesterday, we had to produce two huge graphic backdrops and get them shipped over to Holland to arrive the next day!” with others when the chance arises. This is now a lot easier with social media, and I’m pleased to say we often see ‘Tweets’ that say something like, ‘Just had a great service from Blueprint, would recommend’.”

Rightfully proud of Blueprint’s client list, Martin sheds some light on the sorts of customers they have. “Our client list is so varied. We deal with individuals, right up to international corporations.

Most of our clients are local to the county, but we have plenty further afield as well. Practically all businesses from all industries and sectors need some kind of display graphics or promotional signage at some point. Our clients reflect that in their diverse range of activities.

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artists and photographers. The list goes on! It’s great for us, as this spreads the workload out very evenly across the year, and we get to see all sorts of wonderful graphics!”

With such a diverse base of customers, Martin and his colleagues are frequently asked to achieve the impossible. “We have tight deadlines and interesting stories on a weekly basis! Just yesterday, we had to produce two huge graphic backdrops and get them shipped over to Holland to arrive the next day!

Because we are usually at the end of the production chain, our deadlines have no flexibility.

It’s not uncommon that after weeks of meetings, proofing and general debate, we finally get sent

have tight enough deadlines! That is just the nature of our business and it does make for some very late nights, even early mornings!”

Sounds busy, so what does 2012 hold for Blueprint? “We are looking forward to 2012. We plan to launch a new website dedicated to our graphics and signage services. In fact, by the time this issue of B4 goes to print, we will have employed the services of a fellow B4 member to undertake this project for us. Blueprint will also be investing in the latest vinyl signage plotter/cutter to add to our board range of equipment. But best of all, we will have been in business for 10 years!” www.blueprintimaging.com

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RHODES HOUSE ONE OF OXFORD’S BEST KEPT SECRETS?

Built as a memorial to Cecil Rhodes, it was completed in 1928 and is the headquarters of the Rhodes Trust, which every year awards up to 83 Rhodes Scholarships. These postgraduate awards support exceptional all-round students from diverse countries to study at the University of Oxford.

Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes, the Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship program in the world.

The House is described as resembling a Cotswold mansion but with elements of Cape Dutch style and the influences of the Arts and Crafts movement of the 1900s, Rhodes House has, until now, been a hidden gem, known to many, but used by a fortunate few.

Recently that has changed with a new company and brand formed to promote the House as a prestigious venue which can be hired exclusively for business meetings and events, product launches and photo shoots for the corporate market, as well as for private entertaining and wedding receptions and ceremonies.

This is a very special building, and it offers a very unusual opportunity for companies to hold their events in a unique place. By launching Rhodes

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House as a separate brand, the objective is to raise its awareness as a top class venue.

“This is a very special building, and it offers a very unusual opportunity for companies to hold their events in a unique place” Its style and history make it a very special destination for corporate entertaining, whether a formal lunch or dinner for senior executives, a summer reception or a larger presentation .

Attention to detail is paramount, so much so that even the new Rhodes House Oxford logo was specially designed to reflect the font used on the hand-carved lettering inside one of the historic wooden trunks in the oak panelled gallery.

Similarly, the gold "o" in the centre of the word Rhodes mimics the brass symbol inlaid in stone from the Matopos Hills in Zimbabwe where Rhodes is buried, situated at the heart of the impressive Rotunda, just off the entrance hall.

The website www.rhodeshouseoxford.com has been developed to promote the house as a destination venue.

The Trust’s objective is to build the Rhodes House Oxford brand into a sustainable business but, unlike most purely commercial ventures, monies raised through the hire of Rhodes House will be directed back into the Trust - enabling companies to introduce an element of corporate responsibility into their bookings.

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B4 VENUES

Three principal rooms - plus the stunning courtyard and gardens - provide the exclusivity and ambience that sets this venue apart from the more traditional hotel and conference room circuit. The bespoke service provided by the friendly and professional in-house team ensures every effort is made to meet clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; requests.

Each room is named after one of the original Trustees, Lord Milner, Alfred Beit and Sir Leander Starr Jameson. All interlinking, the rooms can be booked separately or together, and the book-lined walls of both the Jameson Room and the Beit Room are ideal for pre-dinner drinks or a reception for between 50-70 people.

The impressive Milner Hall, with its raised minstrels' gallery at one end and stage with its imposing semi-circular carved table at the other, seats up to 140 for a dinner and 200 for a reception or buffet.

Its high, vaulted ceiling and stone-mullioned windows overlooking the courtyard garden make it truly impressive.

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Large tapestries of Cecil Rhodes and Nelson Mandela - who visited Rhodes House in 2002 hang at one end of the room, while Bill Clinton is

â&#x20AC;&#x153;An unforgettable experience" wrote Nelson Mandela in the guest book.

Today, it is one that many more will now be able to enjoyâ&#x20AC;?

caterers, equipment suppliers and florists ensure every last detail is taken care of. There is a day delegate rate for conferences, while for other events there is a price per head or a hire charge for the House, enabling clients to liaise directly with caterers, depending on their requirements.

Links with local hotels, and the colleges mean that overnight guests can also be accommodated nearby.

With its prestigious role in the past, Rhodes House Oxford is clearly making its mark on the future too.

Perhaps therefore, it is only fitting that one man be given the final word - "An unforgettable experience" wrote Nelson Mandela in the guest book. Today, it is one that many more will now be able to enjoy. www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

among the modem Rhodes Scholars portrayed on the walls. There is a fully-equipped, modern hotel kitchen and relationships with suppliers such as

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news The Business Wealth Club Client Appreciation Awards Dinner

The Business Wealth Club Client Appreciation Awards Dinner is always the perfect way to get into the celebration season and festive mood! It happens a month before Christmas and it’s the most fun way to say thank you to all Clients and Members of all Club Members across all clubs.

entrepreneurs on track to break £1.5 Million turnover in only their 3rd year in business. As committed Members of the Northampton Club they apply all they learn and have seen huge growth in 2011 as a result. Izabela and Duncan Cooper of Selection Matters www.selectionmatters.co.uk

After a Fantastic Client appreciation and Awards Dinner on the 25th November, I wanted to share with you the lucky award winners and tell you a little bit about why they won so that you can be inspired to take even more ACTION towards your goals and dreams for 2012.

Turbo Turnaround Award it’s what you do about set backs that counts. To turn a business around requires determination, passion and HUGE effort. A 283% increase in new business in 12 months gives you some indication of how hard our winner Simon Gregory worked. When you consider that he’s now so busy he has taken on team members and implemented monthly marketing campaigns, it’s easy to see why he won. Simon Gregory from Clear and Creative Communications www.clearandcreative.co.uk

They are 2 ways Members and Clients can win awards, the first is they can nominate themselves and the second is someone else can nominate them. This year the cases for all the awards were extremely well argued and it was a hard task . . . taken over many hours of sitting around the meeting room table, strong coffee in hand, arguing for the Businesses that stood out above all the amazing nominations Business Of The Year Ian and Barbara live the phrase “MASSIVE ACTION = MASSIVE RESULTS”! As members they have sponsored the Oxford Open Day, worked with 5 other Oxford Club Members for Training, Video's Recruitment etc. Posted record Sales Months in the UK and the US Breaking all records. For a 10-yearold company that is a massive step up to the next level. Ian and Barbara Gifford of Christian Steven www.christiansteven.com Fast Start Award From the Northampton Club, very impressive

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Joint Venture Award We wanted to recognise Members who had really embraced the Marketing strategy of working with each other to grow their businesses. There were some great entries in this category but one flew to the top. The “Spitfire Project Man” himself: Paul Fowler. With a BIG vision and the right strategy of lots of JV’s in lots of different formats, from Spitfire share ownership to building and eventually flying, Paul has really harnessed the power of a leveraged team. Well done Squadron Leader!!

Paul Fowler from Enstone Flying Club. www.enstoneflyingclub.co.uk WOW Marketer of the Year Marketing is the key skill of a successful and growing business, always one of the most sought after awards. With so many new marketing

platforms to master including social media, video, blogging etc it’s often easy to over look the power of a blend of online and off line strategies.

Charlotte demonstrated a huge commitment to IMPLEMENTING the largest amount of strategies we have seen in an entry, mixed with her Salon personality and fun. It’s no wonder client numbers keep growing. They lead the way for the Newbury members by picking up this well deserved award.

Charlotte Falkenau from Segais Hair Design. www.segaishair.co.uk 40 Second Wizard Award...

This one was down to Members votes. Phil is not just a Member of Maidenhead Club but he has really taken advantage of visiting other clubs and meeting other Members. “Wow”ing them with his blend of unique positioning and Scottish wit! So if you want London quality design at Glasglow prices……he’s your man.

Phil Strachan from Strangebrew. www.strangebrew.co.uk Now I have a question for you….

Where do you want your business to be 12 months from now?

What Awards would you like to be Winning?

How would you feel knowing that all your hard work had paid off?

Well….it’s down to you, and you alone to DECIDE now to Step Up and claim the business you deserve in 2012. Get focused, find out where club meetings and trainings are near you. Take Action and visit www.TheBusinessWealthClub.com

www.b4-business.com

B4 HEALTH

REALTIME HEALTH

NHS budgets now represent a decrease in real spending ability due to higher than anticipated levels of inflation both inside and outside the healthcare sector. With over 50% of hospital inpatients in the UK typically over the age of 65 at any given time, the cost of care in our ageing society is spiralling out of control.

The NHS has nevertheless been tasked with finding over £20 billion savings by 2014. Reducing the average length of inpatient hospital stays through improvements to the delivery of care provides the NHS one of the few realistic opportunities to save money without sacrificing care quality levels. Based in Oxford, UK, RealTime Health Ltd has won two of the most prestigious awards in Healthcare IT – eHealth Insider Awards 2011 in association with BT – for doing just this at West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust in recent months. Length of stay reduced so rapidly at West Mid that the hospital was able to close 70 beds due to the transformation in the balance of supply and demand that the RealTime methods made possible, despite a 15% increase in the number of new admissions over the same period.

RealTime Health enables healthcare professionals to clinically drive discharge planning, and to collaborate across multiple services on the management of discharge plans. The RealTime ‘rocket science’ is the enabling of multiple service collaboration on the management of plans, multiplied by as many patients as are in the hospital. RealTime supports this through real time dashboard technology delivered over the intranet in which ‘at a glance’ dashboards allow multiple services to be aligned throughout the execution of discharge plans, in order to consistently achieve the earliest clinically safe discharge date for patients.

adds, “We have been able to cut costs while improving the quality of care.

RealTime allows us to marry resources with needs, has enabled a healthy discharge rhythm and has improved forward planning.”

RealTime is the only system in the world that has been designed from the outset to help acute hospitals reduce (and competently manage) length of stay through improvements to the clinical process in the delivery of packages of care. The clinical process change that brings about the reduction in length of stay is usually taught in a knowledge transfer project. As RealTime is a configurable, off-the-shelf software product, deployment is rapid. Within 12 weeks, it is possible to integrate, configure and deploy the RealTime software while in parallel carrying out the initial phase of clinical process change. This allows Trusts to see real benefits extremely quickly.

“This is a brilliant example of how technology can be used to both save time and money and make care better. It is exactly this kind of innovation that the EHI Awards were set up to celebrate

”

The judges' decision to award the overall prize to RealTime Health was unanimous. In the words of Linda Davidson, co-director of eHealth Insider: “We often hear concerns that the massive efficiency savings that the NHS will have to make over the next four years will inevitably put more stress on staff and lead to worse care for patients. This is a brilliant example of how technology can be used to both save time and money and make care better. It is exactly this kind of innovation that the EHI Awards were set up to celebrate; and inspire others to adopt as well.”

The customers of RealTime Health include Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Scarborough and North East York NHS Trust, West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, North Cumbria University Hospital NHS Trust, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust, to which RealTime is delivered on a risk share, performance target basis.

Simon Marshall, Chief Financial Officer at West Middlesex University Hospital,

www.realtimehealth.net

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SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN Lady Margaret Hall was host to the first UK premiere of Salmon Fishing in the Yemen this January, in aid of the Oxford-based Mentoring Service at Refugee Resource. With both a cast and a directing team straight from Hollywood, the adaptation of Paul Torday’s comic novel gave not only its audience an entertaining evening, but also the Refugee charity a great deal of well-deserved support. Lucy Holmes was at the premiere for B4 Magazine.

The film, which portrays the relationship between a sheikh and a fisheries minister, highlights the unlikely match of fish and faith in a journey to make real the impossible dream. Starring Ewan McGregor, we can imagine that writer Paul Torday would be suitably impressed to not only see his critically acclaimed novel recreated with some excellent names, but also for its premier to take place in the city that he was educated.

We only have to think of Harry Potter films and Phillip Pullman novels to see how Oxford has often been both the inspiration and setting for literature and films in the past. Lady Margaret Hall was also recently the setting for an episode of Oxford’s own TV detective series, Lewis.

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which also starred Emily Blunt and Kristin Scott Thomas, was directed by Lasse Hallström, best known for such classics as Chocolat, and more recently the tear jerker Dear John. The premiere’s Q&A session was graced with the presence of Simon Beaufoy, screenwriter of Slumdog Millionaire, and a former Oxford student himself. Bill Kemp, Head of Hospitality services at Lady Margaret Hall, said. ‘When the Refugee Resource Project was explained to us we relished the prospect of a Film Premier involving 126

such a well-respected screen writer as Simon. The combined synergies of all concerned made the Simpkins Lee Theatre at Lady Margaret Hall the ideal location for the first UK showing of ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’.” Alongside Bill’s appraisal of the event, Amanda Webb-Johnson, the director of the Refugee charity added. “We are absolutely delighted with the event. It is amazing to have the support of Simon and his generous offer to give us the first UK screening of the film.”

“We are absolutely delighted with the event. It is amazing to have the support of Simon and his generous offer to give us the first UK screening of the film” Refugee Resource’s mentoring service has been running for over five years, and aims to provide psychological, as well as social support, for adult refugees and asylum seekers in Oxford. By pairing refugees with mentors the scheme www.b4-business.com

B4 CHARITY

hopes to prevent the isolation of asylum-seekers, helping them to integrate with the community. However, the service that Refugee Resource offers is at risk of closure without further funding. As this is the only refugee charity within Oxford providing specialist services, its closure could leave many alone to deal with the traumas and persecutions of exile. In such an economic recession, it is often difficult to think past one’s own difficulties and consider charity. The premiere at Lady Margaret Hall was therefore a great support to their cause, as Amanda explained. “It feels like there is a lot of support for refugees and asylum-seekers in the city and, in difficult financial times, it is heartening that more people than we know support our work.”

Proof of the value of such one-on-one mentoring is seen in the case of Paul, a Refugee Resource mentor, and Nikolai, a 19-year-old refugee. Despite being dubious about what to expect, both feel they have learnt something from one another, as Nikolai commented. “It has turned out to be a good thing to do.

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We have done a lot of things together, from drinking hot chocolate and chatting in a café, to the cultural shock of going to see the film about Ian Drury and the Blockheads…I am particularly interested in politics, and Paul and I have had many political discussions – often whilst fishing! We are hoping to get tickets for Prime Minister’s Questions in July after I finish my A-levels.”

The event at Lady Margaret Hall was deemed a great success, and, in particular, Bill Kemp praised the evening, concluding. “We enjoyed hosting the event and it was a pleasure to work with the charity and the ‘Aziz’ restaurant who served up an excellent canapé and drinks reception.” We can only hope that rumours of Angelina Jolie and Naomi Watts, who are both said to be lined up to play LMH alumna Gertrude Bell (1886 History), ring true, and that the next premiere will play as great a part in benefiting Oxford, as well as its charities. www.lmh.ox.ac.uk 127

FORGET THE DRAMA, WE’RE TALKING PURE THEATRE

Successful events don’t happen by accident. Like any West End production, events that appear on the surface to be smoothly run are the result of meticulous planning and rehearsing. Factor in a unique venue and you have all the ingredients to create a memorable impression.

Malmaison Oxford has been a talking point in Oxford since the prison doors were closed in 1996 and the hotel launched as part of the Oxford Castle project in 2005.

Good events take careful planning and smooth execution, but really great events take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. At Mal, extraordinary comes as standard.

definitely worth booking early, the next wine dinner is on Wednesday 9th May and If you are interested to experience doing time at the Mal, come and join The famous Valdivieso Chilean wine makers for an evening that celebrates food and wine. If you are interested contact Sara Dinning for more information.

General Manager Mark McSorley met with me to discuss his vision: “As a group we’ve been promoting local in terms of the produce we use in our restaurants long before it was trendy to do so. We also sponsor various local initiatives but I’d really like to more actively engage with the local community. I’m particularly keen for local businesses to consider using our facilities for meetings and events. We offer an affordable and unique option and we always work closely with our customers to create something just a little bit more special than most other venues.”

To accommodate requests for meeting space, the basement prison cells have been converted to private rooms. For informal meetings with the buzz of the Brasserie choose cell 4 with vaulted ceilings, cell 2 is perfect for accommodating up to 16 guests for either a formal or informal meeting while cell 5, (pictured) accommodates up to 35 guests and makes up 5 converted cells that looks onto the wine cellar and has an outside terrace with a view of the prisoners exercise yard.

This is perfect for both parties and corporate meetings. The private dining room is a sumptuous and cosy cell, with space for up to 10 people for dining or meeting engagements.

Delegate rates start from £35 which includes three refreshment breaks, a buffet lunch, equipment and the room hire charge.

Malmaison Oxford has an eclectic mix of rooms available to hire. We started our journey at the Visitor’s Room, a place where previously only a visiting order allowed you access to meet on designated dates with close friends or family. Now revamped and accessible to all, the Visitor’s Room is a very funky space, which can be staged to accommodate a cocktail party for up to 100 people or a sit-down dinner for up to 50.

The doors from the lift open directly into the Visitor Room, which only adds to the sense of theatre and expectation. The subdued lighting complements the sumptuous velvet fabrics and simply oozes sophistication and I can easily imagine this as the perfect space for a book or product launch. Daring you to be different, Mal loves new ideas, boasting that they can make anything happen. With this challenge in mind and as the room comes with a drinks bar, my mind immediately wandered to scenes from the film Cocktail starring Tom Cruise. It appears my daydream is perhaps not so far fetched as I thought; Mal offers Mixology Classes for small groups.

This would be a great activity to offer as a staff incentive or social activity at the end of a long round of meetings.

Speaking of the bar, Juan Ortega has just taken over the bar after working as Mal’s Sommelier for the past few years and brings with him an exciting Spanish flair that is transforming the Visitors Lounge. And speaking of wine, it’s worth pointing out that Mal with their love for wine put on some fantastic wine dinners which are hosted by the wine makers or a representative themselves.

These events are hosted by Mal four times a year and

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If money is no object and you wanted to hire an utterly unique space, then ‘A’ Wing is available. Here you get a real sense of the history behind this innovative renovation. See beyond the interior design and the prison facility is still very much in evidence. Original cell doors might remain, but once opened, any suggestion of iron beds and wafer thing mattresses is banished, replaced by the luxurious boutique hotel style synonymous with the Mal chain of hotels. To hire ‘A’ Wing you really have to be in a position to hire all 38 bedrooms as well so ‘A’ Wing works especially well for Wedding receptions, exhibition or conferences.

Sara Dinning is Meetings & Events Manager: “I moved to Oxford in May 2011 as Assistant Front Office Manager and was then promoted to the role of Events Manager. Sharing this historic venue is such a thrill, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to (nor would I want to) seeing the look of peoples faces as you show them around the venue. Mal is all about creating a magical customer experience and that is hugely satisfying.”

Having experienced just a little of what Mal has to offer I say lock me up and throw away the key!

Article by Tracey Jefferies www.malmaison.com

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B4 VENUES

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to (nor would I want to) seeing the look of peoples faces as you show them around the venue. Mal is all about creating a magical customer experience and that is hugely satisfying”

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B4 R&R

THE

FEATHERED NEST The Feathered Nest, winner of The 2011 AA Pub of the Year and the inaugural Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards, has caused quite a stir given its relatively short life. Richard Rosser went to join in the fun.

Based in the beautiful village of Nether Westcote, the one downside of visiting this award winning restaurant on a cold December evening is that you miss the fabulous view over the Evenlode Valley. But that’s for another day, a Sunday Lunch, an afternoon tea perhaps, mind you, I like the sound of ‘a wholesome home cooked breakfast’ in the Garden Room having stayed the night in one of the four individually decorated bedrooms.

We arrived for dinner at 8pm and went straight to the table in the conservatory area of the restaurant.

I’d been looking forward to a pint in the inviting bar area which was alive with locals and families enjoying the fabulous food which has seen The Feathered Nest’s mantelpiece cluttered with accolades.

Salmon to start and rose to Tony’s challenge for our main courses by sampling the fine game on offer.

Tina plumped for the Local Wild Venison and I chose the Roasted Pheasant Breast and Sausage.

Both were delectable and both wonderfully filling.

So incredibly filling that we had to submit and deny ourselves dessert.

“I would like to thank all of our staff without whom this would not have been possible. These awards are a reflection of their hard work and dedication to ‘The Nest’”

Originally an old Malthouse, the attention to detail is incredible, the flow of The Feathered Nest is genius, and the ambience is genuine and invigorating. Owners Amanda and Tony Timmer are the perfect hosts, having engrained their hearts and souls into every Cotswold stone, every sturdy beam and a devotion to a restaurant which has infected every guest fortunate to cross the threshold of The Feathered Nest.

We had been well and truly spoilt and I wished, more than anything, that I had booked that room!

Tina and I enjoyed a stunning meal. We indulged in Hand Dived Scallop and Home Cured Smoked

It’s hard to see why Tony, Amanda and staff were so surprised to win the first of last year’s Awards

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(technically, the first of three as not only was The Feathered Nest named ‘Restaurant of the Year’, it was also named ‘Best British Restaurant’). Tony commented at the time of receiving the Awards, “It was especially rewarding considering that we only opened our doors in early June last year! I would like to thank all of our staff without whom this would not have been possible. These awards are a reflection of their hard work and dedication to ‘The Nest’.

I also wish to take this opportunity to thank you, all our customers-friends, for supporting us over the last year. We now look forward to the next challenges ahead!”

Shortly after this first success, The Nest was named AA Pub of the Year (England) for 2011. The AA hospitality Awards were hosted by Sophie Raworth at the London Hilton on Park Lane in October. In front of an audience of seven hundred, Tony commented, “We are ecstatic and over the moon.

There are many worthy establishments within the UK, and to be chosen to receive this prestigious award in recognition of all the hard work from our team – is truly an honour - a dream come true.”

So well done to The Nest, the best by far! www.thefeatherednestinn.co.uk

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B4 EDUCATION

MAGNA CARTA SUMMER SCHOOL When we think of Summer Schools, inevitably the image that comes to mind is one of two things, either badly behaved adolescents making up for insufficient academic grades, or excitable children enjoying sports in the sunshine.

Magna Carta College, however, is offering something different altogether. New for Summer 2012, the College is taking part in an International Summer School for those students wishing to obtain the best of the best in academia.

Magna Carta college during term time is a private business school in Oxford. With vast experience in how to impart business knowledge to eager postgraduate students, the teachers and lecturers at Magna Carta seem the obvious choice for a Summer School running a module entitled ‘Global Business World’.

Concentrating (amongst other things) on cultural differences in the sector, the teachers and students tackle an aspect of business that is particularly relevant to International Students today. Encouraging business-like behaviour throughout the course, Magna Carta Summer School give students an opportunity to explore their interests in an historic and academic city.

Students attending the three week courses may be looking for many different things, ranging from a

(Tirane, BA Top-Up) said. “I would recommend MCC to anyone who has missed out on a place at university. It is a well located college, with great staff, and very experienced lecturers. The tutors make you feel welcome and they ensure that you enjoy the experience, as well as the learning.” The experience found at an International Summer School is something that allows for a different style of learning. Surrounded by people of many different ethnicities and backgrounds, students glean a new knowledge, of places, people, and opinions, which often only the environment of an International school can provide.

Zarina Urazaliyeba (BA top-up) from Kazakhstan illustrates this. “My experience at Magna Carta will definitely be remembered as one of my best, because it’s not only education that we benefit

With new reports frequently telling us that Summer Schools are now the best way to get our adolescents into University, the logical next step is for University students to add to their credentials by taking their education one step further. With a more direct one-on-one education system typical of Oxford University itself, students flourish under more individual attention than they may obtain from other schooling. Mani Shariki, studying a BA top up at the Summer School added. “This College has friendly and helpful staff, and I enjoyed the method of teaching at Magna Carta College.”

‘Oxford Arts and Culture’ is another course offered at Magna Carta, with one week spent focusing on the literature surrounding Oxford. Since tourism and an interest in Oxford’s history ranks high as a reason for so many visitors coming to Oxford, what

“I would recommend MCC to anyone who has missed out on a place at university. It is a well located college, with great staff, and very experienced lecturers” desire to study Oxford as a city, to advancing themselves in one of the speciality areas that Magna Carta offers, including the Global Business module, but it is not just business academia that Magna Carta offers. One student, Julian Balla, 132

from, but also warm memories inspired by a great atmosphere and high level of friendly support from tutors and the rest of the staff. I have no doubt that it was the right decision to study there!”

better way to teach International students than the real stories behind the literature? Studying texts in the environment in which they were written or set gives a new dimension to the literature. By being able to visit the places that writers, architects and www.b4-business.com

SUMMER COURSES Winning in the Global Business World Start dates: Full 3-week course Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Mon 2 Jul 2012 Mon 2 Jul 2012 Mon 9 Jul 2012 Mon 16 Jul 2012

Topics in Art and Culture Start dates: Full 3-week course Week 1 Week 2 Week 3

Mon 6 Aug 2012 Mon 6 Aug 2012 Mon 13 Aug 2012 Mon 20 Aug 2012

Price: £1000 per week Applicants: www.intohigher.com/English All other enquiries: Magna Carta College, 1A Mayfield Road, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7EL T: (+44) (0)1865 593131 F: (+44) (0)1865 559171 E: into@magnacartacollege.org

historians lived when studying or creating, students have a much better engagement with what they are being taught.

Whilst in danger of sounding like a touristguide, it must be admitted, where better to study when coming from abroad than such a quintessentially English part of the country as Oxford? While London’s hubbub and modernity offer one side of academia, and certainly an insight into our historic industrialisation, Oxford and Cambridge are the birthplace of many Classic novels, as well as home to the finest education system for centuries, where indeed many of the ‘greats’ have learned their skills. Can there be a more enjoyable way to learn than by wandering through Oxford University Colleges on walking tours, enjoying Oxford at its finest, as it arguably is during the Summer months? With a host of activities for energetic tourists, as well as for those interested in a quieter day of advancing their museum knowledge, Oxford holds something for everyone to enjoy in their spare time, as well as the finest education available for students. www.mgnacartacollege.org

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A WARM WELCOME AT NORTH OXFORD GOLF CLUB Sarah Airey meets Bob Harris, Manager of North Oxford Golf Club, and overcomes a few misconceptions.

I met with Bob Harris, manager of the North Oxford Gold Club (NOGC), on a beautiful crisp winter’s morning and was immediately struck, not just by the beautifully kept course, but also by the friendly welcome I received from everyone I encountered. Instantly, I could tell that this interview would make me take a fresh look at golf!

First, the attractions of the sport itself became obvious: a wonderful way of keeping fit, getting out doors and enjoying a competitive sport in the company of friends or colleagues. Secondly, it had been well over 20 years since my last visit to NOGC

changed and there were plenty of women among the many players taking advantage of this sunny Monday morning. Clearly my preconceptions were well out of step with modern golf and the club too.

Bob told me, “We particularly want to attract more women players to the club.”

Bob is celebrating 25 years at NOGC this year – 21 years as the PGA Professional and the last four as the General Manager. He is currently on a mission to overturn outdated notions of golf in general and North Oxford Golf Club in particular. He says, “Golf is still in urgent need of rebranding. Golf is a wonderful, life-enhancing sport which is definitely

He is encouraging people to visit the club and see for themselves, he says, “Everyone finds the experience the complete opposite of any pre-conceived ideas they may have of elitism and restrictions. These couldn’t be further from the truth. I am proud to say that our club is a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) which ensures that everyone in the community is welcome, regardless of age, sex or creed. Our members range from the very young learning the sport, to business people who appreciate the opportunity to network with fellow corporate members.”

“...A good game doesn’t need to take all day, but can be fitted into a few hours before or after work” and my main memory was of the large sign outlining the (very limited) times that women were allowed to play. Thankfully, things have completely

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open to all. We are inclusive, rather than exclusive, but we still need to sweep away the old image.”

NOGC certainly benefits from an exceptional geographical location. On the Banbury Road, it is close to the city centre but outside the Oxford ring

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B4 R&R

road, making it easily accessible on the way to or from work or the school run. It is also on regular bus routes, so members can fully enjoy the

Oxford, and is run for the benefit of members – rather than for profit. As such it offers “the best value members’ golf club in Oxfordshire.”

Bob says, “When you become a member, you become part of our community. We are a happy and friendly bunch.” His final message is, “If you

“...When you become a member, you become part of our community. We are a happy and friendly bunch” The course itself is demanding and competitive but also compact. “A good game doesn’t need to take all day, but can be fitted into a few hours before or after work, extending the playing season for members who need to balance their golf with work and family commitments”.

Why become a member?

NOGC is one of only two members’ clubs in

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Bob outlines the key benefits, “There is no VAT on subscriptions and no need to pre-book tee times.

This means that our members don’t have to plan weeks in advance, but can just turn up when they want to play. We play ‘Roll-ups’ every day which are a brilliant way for new members to mix in and integrate into the club.”

There are 20 different categories of annual membership, with something to suit everyone. The new PM membership offers full playing rights after 12 noon for only £695. Other benefits include the County Card, which enables members to play at 1300 other clubs for a special price.

have never played NOGC before, please do come along. You have my personal promise of an enjoyable day out.”

The Club will hold an Open Day in March, and Bob is offering B4 members introductory sessions with Lee Jackson, the PGA Golf Professional, and a preferential green fee. For more information and to arrange for a visit www.nogc.co.uk

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Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

excellent facilities of the clubhouse bar and restaurant and hop on the bus home!

A perfect venue for a productive day Facilities include: • Fully modernised meeting & conference facilities • Excellent road & rail links • Seperate meeting & break out rooms • Also suitable for seminars & exhibitions

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• Ample free parking

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meetings

for a perfect day Your special day: Greet your guests in our elegant Skelton Suite with a glass of champagne and canapés.

Enjoy the exquisite facilities exclusively for the day and enjoy the wedding breakfast of your choice in our spacious clubhouse.

Come and meet our wedding co-ordinator to talk about your plans weddings@frilfordheath.co.uk

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Frilford Heath I Abingdon I Oxon OX13 5NW I 01865 390864 www.frilfordheath.co.uk

FRILFORD HEATH GOLF CLUB

B4 R&R

SPICE LOUNGE B4 Magazine Assistant Editor Anne Kamphausen went along to sample the spicy delights of Summertowns Spice Lounge.

We arrived at Spice Lounge, located in Summertown, Oxford, after a long day at work, but immediately unwound after our very warm welcome from the staff at Spice Lounge on a very cold day.

mixture of lamb tikka, chicken tikka and onion bhaji for our starters. For our main courses, we picked Chicken Dhansak and Chicken Rogan, accompanied by egg rice, naan breads and Bombay Aloo (spiced potatoes).

Our table was ready and we were escorted to the dining area, bathed soft, warm lighting directed towards the impressive oil paintings that adorn the walls, providing for talking points and a relaxed atmosphere all at the same time.

When the starters arrived, we were stunned – they were not only presented exceptionally well, but were also really delicious! The same has to be said about the main course- we really enjoyed all of the dishes and side orders. My guest, who had ordered

Lounge for yourself! They have a range of offers available for their customers: whether you fancy a curry for lunch (Express Lunch @£4.95), or you like a take away (Special Offer of Papadom, Onion Bhaji, Main Course, Bombay Aloo, rice, naan bread @£11.00 between 9.30pm and 11pm). There is also an offer for students (Free bottle of beer for orders over £15) and if you would like to try something new for Sunday Lunch, Spice Lounge offer a Sunday Buffett between 12 noon and 3pm every Sunday for just £7.95.

“When the starters arrived, we were stunned – they were not only presented exceptionally well, but were also really delicious!”

We started off with Papadoms whilst we perused the impressive menu.

the Chicken Dhansak, was particularly pleased that his dish was made ‘madras hot’ as requested.

Spice Lounge focuses on organic and creative dishes, offering lots of special dishes, but of course all of the favourite Indian dishes as well as a varied list of vegetarian options. We took a while before we decided on Gosht Tikka, lamb tikka marinated in yogurt, herbs and spices and Labra Kebab, a

Overall, eating at Spice Lounge is a truly enjoyable experience, with a great ambience, attentive and very friendly staff, and great food that is thoughtfully presented.

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We will definitely visit Spice Lounge again soon when the weather is warmer for an alfresco curry experience on the terrace! www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk

We highly recommend you experience Spice

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B4 EDUCATION

TUDOR HALL STRONG VALUES, INSPIRATIONAL TEACHING AND A MOTTO THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME Private education across Oxfordshire is very much the norm. So how does a school stand out from the crowd? Tracey Jefferies interviewed Tudor Hall Headmistress Wendy Griffiths to find out.

Tudor Hall is one of the oldest girls’ boarding schools in Britain, now offering day and boarding opportunities for 11-18 year olds.

From the first, it offered an intellectually stimulating and challenging education with distinguished professors visiting the School as lecturers. Though the location of Tudor Hall has changed over the years, everyone involved has remained true to the school motto, “I have that I may give”.

Tell me a little bit about your background I studied Biology at university but like many young

adults, wasn’t sure what career path I wanted to pursue. My parents encouraged me to consider teaching and to study for a PGCE. I wouldn’t say the first lesson I taught was my best, but I knew from that moment that I wanted to be a teacher. It made me realise what a powerful and positive impact you can have on young people.

skills. For me though, the most important and rewarding aspect of my job at Tudor Hall is the direct contact with pupils. We have 330 pupils and I don’t just know them all by name. I am involved in every interview and when they join the school I’m actively involved in their every day lives, teaching on a regular basis.

What attracted you about working at Tudor Hall?

Like most Head Teachers, my role demands that I be involved in various administrative tasks and demonstrate strong leadership and managerial

Can you point to any significant changes since your arrival in 2004?

Since my arrival in 2004 we have completely revamped the pastoral and academic systems; increasing staff to pupil ratio and expanded the

“For me though, the most important and rewarding aspect of my job at Tudor Hall is the direct contact with pupils” 138

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“At Tudor Hall we don’t suggest you can excel at absolutely everything, but we do inspire everyone to aim high, to be the very best they can be” curriculum and after-school activities.

What do you feel are the benefits of single sex schools?

I firmly believe there is a distinct benefit. Not having any male peer pressure encourages the girls to throw themselves whole-heartedly into any activity (academic or otherwise) without distraction.

The website promotes Tudor Hall as “unique in many ways” and “punching above its weight” – can you expand on that?

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We’re a small school and I think that allows us to spend more time with our pupils with some outstanding results. Many of them come from privileged backgrounds and we feel very strongly that they’re not here just to have a lovely time. Part of our curriculum involves encouraging all pupils to actively support charities that work with less fortunate children. At Tudor Hall we don’t suggest you can excel at absolutely everything, but we do inspire everyone to aim high, to be the very best they can be, regardless of ability or status. At interview stage, we’re not just looking for high

academic achievers; we’re always looking to create an environment based on a broad range of interests, skill and ability, including sport, drama and music.

As an individual I’m very driven and can’t resist a challenge! I try to impart this to the pupils and to instill a belief that with hard work come success. www.tudorhallschool.com

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MORE

A BOUT

GROSVENOR HOUSE HOTEL Conference and Banqueting Facilities: 57,763 square feet of space 31 private rooms The Great Room The Ball Room In-house production team In-house graphics bureau Dedicated banqueting and events team Additional Facilities & Services: Business Centre Car park (90 spaces) Gift shop In-house florist Guest relations and concierge City Attractions (all nearby): Shopping – Oxford Street, Bond Street, Regent Street and Knightsbridge West End Theatres Royal Opera House Royal Albert Hall Buckingham Palace House of Parliament Westminster Abbey Kensington Palace More About JW Marriott Hotels JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International’s luxury brand that consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world.

A LIVING LANDMARK Iconic, inviting, inspirational, intoxicating, invigorating. I could go on, as I am sure you know! Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane is all of these and more. B4 were invited to spend the night before Christmas Eve in one of the capital’s signature hotels. You expect excellence, but you don’t necessarily expect perfection. I know it was Christmas, but Grosvenor House Hotel, JW Marriott’s flagship Hotel in Europe, ensures you get buckets of both.

The JW Marriott portfolio currently includes 51 properties offering 22,667 rooms in 21 countries.

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B4 R&R Opened in 1929, Grosvenor House Hotel was designed to accommodate the first transAtlantic passengers, and the blend of 1920’s style and 21st Century comfort work exceptionally well. Ironic that a party of Americans were checking in as we left on Christmas Eve. Every year, for fourteen years, we have ventured up to London to see the lights with the kids. Now, those of you who have created anything with ‘teen’ on the end will know it’s a battle to get them out of the house, and to get them out of the house to spend time with you is almost impossible. So, we had to not only promise a night in one of London’s most luxurious hotels, we also had to guarantee steak and shopping on the Saturday.

“One thing that struck us during our stay was the Grosvenor staff.

They were warm, genuine and couldn’t have done more to make us comfortable”

As we arrived in London, Ed was summarily unimpressed with the lights. Abi (our eleven year old) was enchanted, as usual. After approximately twenty six ‘how far is the hotel?’ moans from Ed, we decided that we were flogging a dead horse. I think that was the last of the trips to London – at least with Ed in tow. We made our way back to Park Lane and turned left just after the entrance to The Great Room.

The hotel really couldn’t have a better location.

Bang smack in the middle of Mayfair, with the West End and Knightsbridge within easy walking distance and Hyde Park just over the road – apparently King Henry VIII’s former hunting ground, occupied, when we were in London, by the Winter Wonderland!

One thing that struck us during our stay was the Grosvenor staff. They were warm, genuine and couldn’t have done more to make us comfortable.

We received a ‘hello’ from every member of staff we met, and whether it was the chamber maid, the lady in the sweet shop or the porter, everyone had a smile and made us feel at home. Yes it was Christmas, but, being cynical, most of us prefer to be relaxing at Christmas not working, don’t we?

Having checked in, we were given no indication what was to come. Two key cards, so two rooms we thought. No mention of the stunning lounge overlooking Hyde Park then, no mention of the gargantuan bedrooms or the sumptuous bathrooms either. We had been given the most amazing suite. Imagine Home Alone and the hotel they stayed in when in New York – I even told Ed he might find the Pigeon Lady in Hyde Park, alas the snow was missing but, heh, the Concierge is good at Grosvenor House, but he can’t work miracles!

In all there are 420 rooms and 74 suites. All with climate control air conditioning, your own bathrobes (which our two little horrors packed before we saw them the following morning! – please don’t’ send us a bill, we put them back), flat screen TV with internet access and movies on demand, hairdryer, 24 room service, mini bar and the rest of the usual bits and pieces you would expect from such an establishment. There’s also a Executive Floor and Lounge with evening cocktails

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and canapés, complimentary refreshments throughout the day, a dedicated Executive Club team and other ludicrously fantastic bells and whistles but, honestly, any more excitement than we’d already had and we would have passed out before dinner. The Christmas spirit had been somewhat lacking before we set foot inside Grosvenor House but this was the perfect catalyst.

There are a number of restaurants and bars to choose from. There’s The Bourbon Bar, The Park Room, The Library Bar, The Red Bar and Corrigan’s Mayfair, but we had a reservation for 8pm at JW Steakhouse and after two glasses of champagne and enough of Raymond Blanc’s Christmas special to make me feel like I had already eaten – boy they get through a decent amount of food in the Blanc household at Christmas – we made our way to the lift.

Since opening in May 2012, JW Steakhouse has rapidly gained a reputation as one of London’s leading American steakhouses. As we entered the restaurant, the signature chalkboard on the far wall provides a fantastic backdrop, with a large bar opposite and huge windows overlooking Hyde Park to the left.

The kitchen is manned by Paul Hallett, an emerging chef, formerly of Dorchester Grill and Tom Aikens. Chef Hallett hand selects, ages and carves the restaurant’s signature steak cuts before sending them to the 650⁰C Montague Legend grill.

We all plumped for steak after a variety of starters including calamari, cream of crab soup, salmon and Ed was really in the spirit going for steak soup!

The ladies and I opted for the filet steak whilst our, apparently starving, fourteen year old went for a 14 oz New York Stripper. The steaks were accompanied by chips, creamed spinach and also potatoes au gratin.

Although beef is the star, the chef’s menu also offers a wide range of authentically prepared dishes, including true Maryland-style lump crab cakes, line-caught cod fish and chips and pan seared Scottish salmon. The previously mentioned Bourbon Bar also offers an extensive array of single barrel and small batch bourbons, offered in innovative tasting flights, to complement the menu.

Waking up at Grosvenor House Hotel was a wonderful way to start Christmas Eve. Breakfast was served in JW Steakhouse – no steak, sorry Ed – followed by a leisurely few hours on Oxford Street and Bond Street, ticking off the last few presents on the list or, in my case, starting and finishing all in two hours. Isn’t that what Dad’s are supposed to do, shop on Christmas Eve? We returned to the hotel for a cup of tea before heading back to Oxford. We were ready for Christmas, thinking how nice it would be to wake up at Grosvenor House on Easter Sunday, and then there’s the Olympics, general shopping trips, random days in London…….. You don’t need an excuse do you? www.londongrosvenorhouse.co.uk 141

THE

COVE

B4 were invited to spend a few half term days in the luxurious ‘apartment hotel’, The Cove, located in the stunning Lamorna Valley, less than twenty minutes from Land’s End. It was the perfect break to unwind, relax and enjoy the faultless hospitality of this idyllic hideaway.

The Cove Hotel, a beautiful period property that has been thoughtfully converted into 15 luxury self-catering apartments, is fresh, stylish and everything you could want in your very own coastal home. OK it’s a hotel, but as soon as you arrive, you feel at home. It’s clichéd, I know, but the hotel’s clever and welcoming policy to all, including children and pets, means you feel relaxed before you arrive, knowing that not only is everyone with you, but that everything is catered for. Attention to detail is top of the hotel’s agenda, and every season, every occasion and every whim is catered for at The Cove – no stone is left unturned…..Abi and I even found a selection of videos at reception to rival the most well stocked Blockbuster!

When you travel not far short of Land’s End, you can expect a trek, but we’d picked up our Grand Cherokee from Chrysler Oxford earlier in the day and it was just what we needed to get everyone in and to our destination in style, luxury and comfort.

It was raining cats and dogs when we arrived not long after 9pm, just in time for last orders in the The Cove Restaurant, better known as The Fireside.

Open to both guests and visitors, The Fireside seats approximately thirty and in season provides food throughout the day, including breakfast, lunch, teas, snacks and evening meals. In the summer there is the option to dine outside, alfresco on The Terrace, poolside, with stunning views across the valley and down to Lamorna Cove.

We enjoyed local seared scallops, Serrano, Manchego and Black Fig to start with, and mains ranging from organic Cornish Fillet Steak to Lamb Rump and Lemon Sole. All were splendidly fresh, beautifully presented and considerately served. This was a welcome to remember. How could we resist the Chocolate Fondant and Poached Pear with Vanilla Ice Cream?

We hadn’t even dropped our bags in the apartment – we were so famished after the drive from Oxford.

So, as soon as the last scoop of ice cream had

been devoured, we checked in with the ever attentive Hazel on reception and were shown to our apartment. It was perfect. A large open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen opened up in to the main room with large en suite (including a stunning walk in shower) and the second bedroom with twin beds. Ed had already identified the large pull out bed in the lounge as his, so his sister could have a room to herself.

The dog was happy, the kids were happy and we were knackered! It was time for bed.

A small white bag had appeared on our doorstep early the following morning – piping hot croissants had been delivered early in the morning and were amazingly fresh. ‘Are the croissants here yet?’ soon became the most frequently asked question on mornings two, three and four! Croissants and then a swim, in October?! The pool at The Cove was fresh and bracing but once you were in….wow!

What a start to the day!

“Attention to detail is top of the hotel’s agenda, and every season, every occasion and every whim is catered for at The Cove”

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We enjoyed a great walk on nearby Sennen beach on the Sunday morning followed by lunch in the beach restaurant, conveniently called The Beach Restaurant! For October it was remarkably

If your idea of relaxing doesn’t involve jumping in the car, then The Cove can melt away the stresses and strains of your hectic life with a sauna, yoga sessions and spa treatments to

“The Cove can melt away the stresses and strains of your hectic life with a sauna, yoga sessions and spa treatments to invigorate even the most weary of souls” mild and there must have been at least one hundred wet suits in various shapes and sizes attempting body-boarding and surfing, to varying degrees of success!

We also had to visit Lands’ End, which really did feel like the end of the world – make sure you hold on to someone solid! – and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in nearby Mousehole, a quaint fishing village close to Lamorna. We’d visited St Michael’s Mount on a previous visit to Cornwall, but it’s a must if you do get to The Cove.

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invigorate even the most weary of souls. For the walking and jogging enthusiasts there are some great coastal walks and runs right on the doorstep and even bunnies in the grounds of The Cove which can engage the younger members of your family for hours.

Whatever your idea of a break entails, The Cove can more than adequately play the perfect host. www.thecovecornwall.co.uk

THE GRAND

CHEROKEE Don’t tell the family but I was looking for any excuse to jump into this monster. As beautiful as The Cove was, I didn’t need much excuse to grab the keys and jump into my new toy.

Handling is incredible and you feel as safe as houses. You have a great seating position, not too high as in some bigger cars which can make you feel almost out of touch with the road.

Rain sensitive wipers came into their own on our trip back home when parts of Cornwall were hit with six months’ rain in one night! The lights are also very clever – you don’t have to do a thing as the headlights automatically go on to full beam as soon as the road ahead is clear!

To arrange a test drive of this magnificent car, contact Tim or Elaine at Chrysler Oxford on 01865 376000.

See www.chrysleroxford.co.uk

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B4 contacts ADVICE

BUSINESS SERVICES

ACCOUNTING

Concise Training t: 01865 522658 w: www.concisetraining.net

Wenn Townsend Tony Haines Partner

Unique Business Strategies t: 01280 844966 w: www.uniquebusinessstrategies.co.uk

Ardington Archives Janet Gibbons Director

t: 01865 559900 w: www.wenntownsend.co.uk

Risk Management Security Services Louise Wilson Business Development Manager

t: 01367 718710 w:www.ardingtonarchives.co.uk

The MGroup Richard Clayton Partner t: 01865 552925 w: www.themgroup.co.uk Shaw Gibbs Peter Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell Partner t: 01865 292200 w: www.shawgibbs.com Wellers Stuart Crook Partner t: 01865 723131 w: www.wellersaccountants.co.uk Grant Thornton Wendy Hart Managing Partner t: 01865 799899 w: www.grant-thornton.co.uk Rees Russell LLP t: 01993 702418 w: www.reesrussell.co.uk

t: 01494 535830 w: www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk Conduit Partners t: 01235 831777 w: www.conduitpartners.co.uk

LEGAL Darbys Solicitors Simon McCrum Managing Partner t: 01865 811700 w: www.darbys.co.uk BrookStreet Des Roches LLP Paddy Gregan Partner t: 01235 836655 w: www.bsdr.com Henmans LLP Julia Iball Managing Partner t: 01865 781000 w: www.henmansllp.co.uk

Baxter Payne & Haigh t: 01869 252151 w: www.bphonline.co.uk

Manches Richard Smith Managing Partner

BUSINESS ADVICE

t: 01865 722106 w: www.manches.com

Jamesons Insolvency & Business Recovery t: 01993 707860 w: www.jamesons.co.uk

Hedges Law t: 01491 839839 w: www.hedgeslaw.co.uk

The Business Wealth Club Paul Avins Founder & CEO

Withy King Mark Emery Partner

t: 01869 278900 w: www.thebusinesswealthclub.com

t: 01865 792300 w: www.withyking.co.uk

Sci Net Duncan Ferguson Managing Director

White & Black Legal LLP t: 0800 035 2656 w: www.wablegal.com

t: 01869 349949 w: www.sci-net.co.uk

Morgan Cole LLP t: 01865 262600 w: www.morgan-cole.com

The Clarkson Alliance t: 01865 355580 w: www.theclarksonalliance.com myFD Recruitment t: 01869 354041 w: www.myfdrecruitment.co.uk

144

Charles Russell LLP t: 020 7203 5000 w: www.charlesrussell.co.uk

ARCHIVING AND STORAGE

AUDIO VISUAL City Audio Visual Peter Gunn Director t: 01865 722800 w: www.cityaudiovisual.co.uk Bang & Olufsen t: 01865 511241 w: www.bang-olufsen.com

BUSINESS AWARDS West Oxfordshire Business Awards t: 07772 085578 w: www.woba.co.uk

BUSINESS CONSULTANTS The Profitable Hotel Company Stuart Harrison Owner t: 01993 706632 w: www.profitablehotelcompany.co.uk Insight Oxford t: 01865 596 771 w: www.insightoxford.co.uk

BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS Institute of Directors Ian Wenman Chairman t: 07770 893834 w: www.iod.com The Business Growth Show t: 0121 698 2370 w: www.thebusinessgrowthshow.co.uk Oxfordshire Business First Frank Nigriello Director of Corporate Affairs t: 01865 383339 w: www.obfirst.org.uk

BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT B-Line David Beesley Chairman t: 01865 594550 w: www.b-line.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 CHARITY

THE EXPERIENCE TREE MacIntyre, the national learning disabilities charity with a centre in Oxford, is reaching out to local businesses that can offer new and exciting opportunities for the people it supports to help grow its Experience Tree.

The Experience Tree is a programme that enhances the service provided by MacIntyre’s Lifelong Learning Centre in Oxfordshire through ‘experiences’ offered by local businesses that provide one or more people from the Centre with the opportunity to take part in new workbased activities.

The Experience Tree has attracted support from a number of local businesses, including, The Oxford Botanic Gardens, law firm Morgan Cole, Turpin's Lodge Riding School, the Oxford Playhouse, the New Theatre Oxford and creative media business Hunts – people in print.

Penny Canwell, Locality Manager at MacIntyre’s Oxford Lifelong Learning Centre hopes that other businesses will help to form new branches of the Experience Tree. She said “I am very proud of the

groups. He said “I was delighted to be in a position to help extend the ‘business’ branch of MacIntyre’s Experience Tree by inviting two people to visit our facilities and watch the printing and finishing of the new Experience Tree flyer”. Mr Colegrove went on to say “My staff gained a great deal from the visit and were keen to provide demonstrations and answer questions. We are considering other ways in which we can continue helping with the Experience Tree.”

Office Manager at Morgan Cole, Linda Baird, has said of the experience the law firm provides “I think the benefits are more on a personal level I’ve found, we’ve just enjoyed working with MacIntyre and it has been really eye-opening.”

Turpins Lodge Riding School organised a riding lesson with one of its staff for a young lady who said

help the Experience Tree flourish.

Penny Canwell, shortlisted by The Great British Care Awards finals (South East region) taking place later this month for the “Care Innovator” award for her work with the Experience Tree, is now calling for more Oxfordshire businesses to step forward and pledge experiences. She explains “The experiences we are hoping to organise are not golf days, driving sessions or spa treatments, they are more straightforward experiences that can provide those we support with an opportunity to meet new people in different community or workplace environments and participate in some of the activities of that setting. Businesses and organisations that can offer ‘behind the scenes’ tours, working with animals, sports, gardening or aspects of the Arts will be able to make a genuine difference to branches of the Experience Tree.” She

“this new programme of activities is an exciting development of that service which will benefit not only those we work with, but also those providers of the experiences” support my team offers the people who use our service and this new programme of activities is an exciting development of that service which will benefit not only those we work with, but also those providers of the experiences, who for some will be partnering with us for the first time.”

One of the Oxford businesses to provide an experience was Kidlington-based Hunts – people in print. Managing Director Timon Colegrove recognises the benefits of assisting local community

www.b4-business.com

afterwards “I liked the experience because it taught me how to ride and I really enjoyed it!”

Speaking about the experience provided by the riding school, manager Caroline Catling, said “...it provided me with the satisfaction of feeling we helped someone to achieve something they wanted to do.”

Discussions are taking place with businesses throughout Oxfordshire that may be in a position to

emphasises “Experiences can be as short as a halfhour riding lesson or a day working in an office and offered once or on a regular basis”.

Businesses or organisations wishing to participate in the Experience Tree, or individuals seeking an experience should contact the Community Skills Workforce Facilitator on 01865 798 642 or email oxfordlll@macintyrecharity.org www.macintyrecharity.org

145

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B4 contacts Aston & James Office Supplies Limited Director t: 01993 706900 w: www.aston-james.co.uk

DEBT COLLECTION

TRANSPORT

Total Credit Management Clive Taylor Director

Chiltern Railways Rob Brighouse MD

Bayswater Framing Simon Beesley Managing Director

t: 01993 832266 w: www.totalcreditmanagement.co.uk

t: 08456 005 165 w: www.chilternrailways.co.uk

DISTRIBUTION

Isis Chauffeurs t: 01993 709023 / 07545 601515 w:www.isischauffeur.co.uk

Air Business Ltd Adam Sherman Group Mamanging Director

Hilltop Chauffeurs Nathan Thomas Owner

t: 01727 890 620 w: www.airbusonline.com

t: 07825 500852 / 01865 595262 w:www.hilltopchauffeurs.co.uk

t: 01865 351000 w: www.bayswaterframing.co.uk

CLEANING SERVICES Pinewood Cleaning Services t: 01993 862866 w: www.pinewoodcc.co.uk

CHARITIES Oxfam Joss Saunders Legal Advisor t. 0300 200 1292 w: www.oxfam.org.uk Oxford Inspires Tony Stratton Chairman t: 01865 815525 w: www.oxfordinspires.org Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds Graham Brogden Head of Community Fundraising t: 01865 743442 w: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk Oxfordshire Community Foundation Jayne Woodley Chief Executive t: 01865 798666 w: www.oxfordshire.org The Ley Community Steve Walker Programme Director t: 01865 378600 w: www.ley.co.uk Footsteps Foundation t: 01865 858382 w: www.footstepsfoundation.com CLIC Sargent t: 03003 300803 w: www.clicsargent.org.uk Ucare t: 01865 767777 w: www.ucare-oxford.org.uk Oxford Lifelong Learning t: 01865 798642 w: www.macintyrecharity.org

www.b4-business.com

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PAVY Ltd t: 01865 349014 w: www.pavy.co.uk

MOTOR Chrysler & Jeep Oxford Tim Keatinge Managing Director t: 01865 376000 w: www.chrysleroxford.co.uk

INSURANCE CETA Insurance Ltd Sandie Schofield Managing Director t: 0845 4583071 w: www.lowerpremium.co.uk Osbornes Insurances t: 01844 214316 w: www.osbornesins.co.uk

LOCAL GOVERNMENT West Oxfordshire District Council William Barton Business Development Officer w: www.westoxon.gov.uk/business West Oxfordshire District Council Hayley Beer Tourism Services Manager t: 01993 861558 w: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

NETWORKING GROUPS B4 Magazine Richard Rosser Editor t: 01865 742211 w: www.b4-business.com Witney Bigger Breakfast t: 01608 811533 w: www.witneybigbreakfast.co.uk

TRAVEL City Sightseeing Jane Marshall Transport Manager t: 01865 790 522 w: www.citysightseeingoxford.com London Oxford Airport James Dillon-Godfray Head of Marketing and Development t: 01865 290 600 w: www.londonoxfordairport.com Visit Oxfordshire Joanne Butler Tourism Team Leader t: 01865 252200 w: www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES CONFERENCES Pembroke College Daren Bowyer Home Bursar t: 01865 276484 w: www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences Ashmolean Museum Bénédicte Montain Head of Commercial Events t: 01865 288364 w: www.ashmolean.org

147

Cotswold Wildlife Park Reggie Heyworth Managing Director

The Examination Schools Kay Hogg Events Manager

Rhodes House Martin Gubb Director of Finance

t: 01993 823006 w: www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk

t: 01865 276905 w: www.examschools.ox.ac.uk

t: 01865 270918 w: www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

Egrove Park Jill Grievson Conference Manager

De Vere Milton Hill House t: 01235 831474 w: www.devere.co.uk/our-locations/milton-hill-house

EVENT MANAGEMENT

t: 01865 422757 w: www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing

Exeter College t: 01865 279600 w: www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences/

Four Pillars Hotels Chris Green Group Marketing Manager t: 0800 374 692 w: www.four-pillars.co.uk Kassam Stadium Rachel Harwood General Manager t: 01865 337602 w: www.thekassamstadium.com Lady Margaret Hall Bill Kemp Head of Conference Services t: 01865 611079 w: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk Magdalen College School Emma Bellenie Events Manager t: 01865 242191 w: www.mcsoxford.org Malmaison Mark McSorley General Manager

Worton Park t: 01865 882644 w: www.wortonfarms.co.uk Howbery Estates t: 01491 822305 w: www.hrwallingford.co.uk The King’s Centre t: 01865 297400 w: www.kingscentre.co.uk

EVENTS Oxfordshire Registration Services Jacquie Bugeja Head of Registration and Coroner's Services t: 0845 129 5900 w: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Oxford Event Hire Kieran Lynch Owner t: 01865 760158 w: www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk

EDUCATION COLLEGES Magna Carta College David Faulkner Dean

Battle Proms t: 01432 355416 w: www.battleproms.com

OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Meet Oxfordshire Julie Archer Managing Agent

Venturefest t: 07523 901104 w: www.venturefest.com

T: 01608 659900 W: www.meetoxfordshire.com

Women’s International Festival w: www.oxfordwomen.co.uk

The Oxford Union t: 01865 241353 w: www.oxford-union.org

EQUIPMENT HIRE

t: 01865 593131 w: www.magnacartacollege.org

t: 01865 268400 w: www.malmaison-oxford.com

Eynsham Hall t: 01993 885200 w: www.eynshamhall.com

t: 08700 841 480 w: www.regonline.co.uk

Fly to the Past t: 01865 516124 w: www.flytothepast.com

Abacus Events t: 07976 073186 w: www.abacuseventsgroup.co.uk

Williams F1 Conference Centre Brendan Caffrey Conference Centre Manager t: 01235 777900 w: www.williamsf1conferences.com

The Active Network Banks Holcombe Head of Business Development

VENUES Blenheim Palace John Hoy Chief Executive

Begbroke Science Park Peter Dobson Managing Director t: 01865 283700 w: www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk

FURTHER EDUCATION Oxford & Cherwell Valley College Sally Dicketts Principal t: 01865 550550 w: www.ocvc.ac.uk

6TH FORM DAY AND BOARDING COLLEGE

t: 01993 810501 w: www.blenheimpalace.com

St Clare’s, Oxford Paula Holloway Principal

Oxford Castle Sarah Mayhew Events and Marketing Officer

t: 01865 552031 w: www.stclares.ac.uk

t: 01865 201657 w: www.oxfordcastle.com

148

www.b4-business.com

B4 contacts SCHOOLS Bloxham School Nick Irvine Marketing Director t: 01295 724332 w: www.bloxhamschool.com Tudor Hall Boarding School t: 01295 756276 w: www.tudorhallschool.com d'Overbroek's College Sami Cohen Principal t: 01865 302637 w: www.doverbroecks.com

TUITION Oxford International Study Centre t: 01865 201009 w: www.oxintstudycentre.com

HEALTH AND LEISURE FITNESS TLA Fitness t: 07554 400 401 w: www.tlafitness.com Bainton Bikes t: 01865 311610 w: www.baintonbikes.com

GOLF The B4/MGroup Golf Cup t: 01865 742211 w: www.b4-business.com Frilford Heath Golf Club Alistair Booth Director t: 01865 390864 w: www.frilfordheath.co.uk

FINANCE

North Oxford Golf Club Bob Harris Managing Director

BANKING

t: 01865 553977 w: www.nogc.co.uk

LloydsTSB Commercial Dave Atkinson Area Director w: www.lloydstsb.com Coutts and Co t: 01865 389039 w: www.coutts.com Barclays t: 07775 542467 w: www.barclayscorporate.com

IFA’s St. James’s Place t: 01865 793121 w: wwww.sjp.co.uk CMS Financial Management Ltd t: 01869 345588 w: www.cmsfinancialltd.co.uk

MORTGAGE ADVICE Mortgage Choices James Keene t: 01993 862888 w: www.mortgage-choices.com

Studley Wood Golf Club Ken Heathcote Managing Director t: 01865 351122 w: www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

HEALTHCARE Monica Franke t: 07970 119721 w: www.monicafranke.com Oxford Radcliffe Private Healthcare Alex Barnes Assistant Director, Private Patients t: 01865 221033 w: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/ privatehealthcare

WELLBEING Helen Money Nutrition Helen Money Owner t: 01865 339672 w: www.helenmoneynutrition.com

BEAUTY Electric Hair t: 01865 790440 w: www.electric-hair.com Bare UK t: 07773 764817 w: www.bareuk.co.uk

LEISURE Enstone Flying Club t: 01608 678204 w: www.enstoneflyingclub.co.uk

HR RECRUITMENT The Career Boutique Katherine Dales Managing Director t: 0845 5204010 w: www.thecareerboutique.com

HR CONSULTANT HR2You Sarah Morris Owner t: 07789 711997 w: www.hr2you.co.uk

SPORT

TRAINING

North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club t: 01865 513560 (Clubhouse) w: www.northoxfordltc.org.uk

Sandler Training t: 01608 611211 w: www.uk.sandler.com

Oxford United Football Club Kelvin Thomas Chairman

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

t: 01865 337505 w: www.oufc.co.uk

DATABASE MANAGEMENT

Oxford University Rugby Football Club Tim Stevens Club Administrator t: 01865 432000 w: www.ourfc.org

www.b4-business.com

Oxford City Stars Ltd w: www.oxfordstars.co.uk

InTouch CRM James White Managing Director t: 0845 310 9973 w: www.intouchcrm.co.uk

149

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B4 contacts IT SERVICES Nominet Lesley Cowley OBE CEO t: 01865 332211 w: www.nominet.org.uk Oxford Knowledge Company Mark Salisbury Director

t: 01865 322100 w: www.oxford-knowledge.com Oxford Home IT Support Richard Hilsdon Managing Director t: 01865 594020 w: www.homeitsupport.biz Bluespires IT t: 0845 5280505 w: www.bluespires.co.uk

MOBILE PHONES Everything Everywhere Judith Johnson Director of Small Business Marketing t: 07968 107671 w: www.everythingeverywhere.com

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Olamalu Christoph Corvin Director t: 01993 764566 w: www.olamalu.com Evucan Web Solutions t: 0845 8624400 w: www.evucan.com

WEB OPTIMISATION

Science Oxford Carl Anglim Head of Press & Marketing

Oxford Digital Marketing Simon Wallace-Jones Co-Founder t: 01865 600 508 w: www.oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk Studio8search Nicola Wiseman Director

Zest Alex Minchin Director t: 0843 289 0161 w: www.zestdigital.co

t: 07814 046747 w: www.glooo.co.uk

t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com Chris Fulton Design Chris Fulton Owner t: 07745 033707 w: www.chrisfultondesign.co.uk Torpedo Group Limited Iain Lewis Director t: 01865 733710 w: www.torpedogroup.com

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SCIENCE

t: 01865 728953 w: www.scienceoxford.com Mirada Medical Simona Nita Digital Marketing Manager t: 01865 261410 w: www.mirada-medical.com

t: 01865 842525 w: www.studio8search.com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Blink Design Keith Simpson Senior Designer

t: 01993 812021 w: www.owenmumford.com

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Glooo Chris Jones Director

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

Owen Mumford Jarl Severn Director

Momentum Solutions t: 01865 793520 w: www.momentumws.co.uk

QuarkXPress w: www.quark.com

Orange Stripe Telecommunications Nigel Pursall Managing Director t: 0845 241 7772 w: www.orangestripe.co.uk

MEDICAL GOODS

EMAIL MARKETING ClientMailer t: 01865 339406 w: www.clientmailer.com

MARKETING & DESIGN ADVERTISING In Oxford Magazine Colin Rosser Chairman t: 01865 742211 w: www.inoxford.com

CORPORATE IDENTITY Recognition Express Andy Olejnik Managing Director t: 01295 257611 w: www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk/

MANUFACTURING

DESIGN

LIGHTING

ADS t: 01993 885122 w: www.adsoxford.co.uk

WILA Group Ltd Mike Collett Chief Executive Officer t: 01235 773500 w: www.wila.com

Orchadis Media t: 01865 339 429 w: www.orchadis.com

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brand It t: 02081 443366 w: www.letsbrandit.co.uk

Miele Company Ltd Zoe Naylor Financial Controller

Strangebrew Brand Alchemy Phil Strachan Proprietor

t: 0845 365 6600 w: www.miele.co.uk

t: 07770 753975 w: www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

151

FREELANCE COPY WRITING AND EDITING

PRINTING

Stoneleigh Associates Erica Conlan Proprietor t: 07837 480 432 e: erica.conlan@ stoneleighassociates.com

Stones the Printers Steve Palmer Managing Director

Wordsmith TM t: 01993 811579 w: www.wordsmithtm.co.uk

The Goodhead Group David Holland Chief Executive

MARKETING The Project Managers Peronel Barnes Director

t: 01295 819 300 w: www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

t: 07773 316 204 w: www.bgprint.co.uk Press to Print Ltd t: 01865 240420 w: www.presstoprint.co.uk

t: 01865 751531 w: www.the-project-managers.com

The Oxford Duplication Centre t: 01865 457000 w: www.oxfordduplicationcentre.co.uk

ClientMailer t: 07788 677512 w: www.clientmailer.com

Blueprint Imaging Martin Matthews Managing Director

Kai Communications Hazel Scott Towers Director

t: 01993 892360 w: www.blueprintimaging.com

t: 07966 234757 w: www.kaicommunications.co.uk Marketing Sense t: 01865 883579 w: www.marketing-sense.co.uk AWM Marketing t: 01367 244996 w: www.awm-marketing.com

Banbury Litho t: 01295 220488 w: www.banburylitho.co.uk

PUBLIC RELATIONS GB PR Gail Buckle Owner t: 01865 742940 w: www.gbprconsultancy.blogspot.com

ONLINE/INTERNET MARKETING Surefire Digital Rob Jones Director t: 020 3239 8055 w: www.surefiredigital.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY Studio 8 Clark Wiseman Managing Director t: 01865 842525 w: www.studio-8.co.uk Lyon Photography t: 01865 481550 w: www.lyonphotography.co.uk Tamara Taboas t: 07909018654 w: www.tamarataboas.com

The Buzzworks Sarah Airey Proprietor t: 01993 813848 w: www.thebuzzworks.co.uk

To The Point PR t: 0845 055 9696 w: www.tothepointpr.com PinkFish Media t: 01865 582685 w: www.pinkfish-media.co.uk UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) t: 020 7215 8000 w: www.ukti.gov.uk

WEB PERFORMANCE Studio8search t: 01865 842525 w: www.studio8search.com Obergine t: 01865 245777 w: www.obergine.com

MEDIA JACKfm t: 01865 315980 w: www.jackfm.co.uk This is Global/Heart FM t: 020 7766 6000 w: www.thisisglobal.com

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTS Riach Architects Douglas Riach Principal t: 01865 553772 w: www.riacharchitects.com John Hallam Associates John Hallam Director

Tracey Jefferies Tracey Jefferies Founder

t: 01608 646969 w: www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk

t: 01865 820183 w: www.traceyjefferies.co.uk

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS

Syncro PR Claire Thompson PR Director t: 01865 886344 w: www.syncropr.com Esplin PR Louise Esplin Freelance PR Consultant t: 01235 850115 w: www.esplinpr.co.uk

Ridge and Partners David Walker Partner t: 01993 815000 w: www.ridge.co.uk

BUILDERS MERCHANTS Buildbase David Robertson Central Regional Director t: 01865 787763 w: www.buildbase.co.uk

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B4 contacts Kemp & Kemp Steven Sensecall Partner t: 01865 240001 w: wwww.kempandkemp.co.uk

DEVELOPMENT The Trevor Osborne Property Group Trevor Osborne Chairman t: 01225 832302 w: www.topgroup.co.uk

BUSINESS PARKS Grove Technology Park Robert Lamplough Chairman t: 01235 772992 w: www.grovetechpark.com Jennings Mike Jennings Managing Director t: 01865 893303 w: www.jennings.co.uk Bloxham Mill Business Centre Ray Avery Managing Director t: 01295 722800 w: www.bloxhammill.com Culham Science Centre t: 01235 528822 w: www.culham.org.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS VSL and Partners Richard Venables Director

ESTATE AGENTS Breckon and Breckon Keith Stacey Managing Director t: 01865 244735 w: www.breckon.co.uk Penny & Sinclair James Penny Director t: 01865 318013 w: www.pennyandsinclair.co.uk scottfraser (Witney) David Blythman t: 01865 759500 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk Kemp & Kemp Graham MacDonald Director t: 01865 510000 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk

t: 01865 848488 w: www.vslandp.com

INTERIOR FURNISHING AND DECORATION

Carter Jonas Scott Harkness Partner

Jill Treloggen Interiors Jill Treloggen Owner

t: 01865 511444 w: www.carterjonas.co.uk

t: 01993 700515 w: www.jilltreloggen.co.uk

Oxford Innovation Ltd Jo Willett Sales and Marketing Director t: 01865 811127 w: www.oxin.co.uk Kemp & Kemp Emma Jewson Partner t: 01865 240001 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk Meeson Williams Ltd t: 01865 349011 w: www.meesonwilliams.com Marriotts t: 01865 316311 w: www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

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scottfraser Andrew Greenwood t: 01865 761111 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk Lucy Properties Ian Ashcroft Managing Director t: 01865 559973 w: www.lucyproperties.co.uk Bluestone Letting and Management t: 01869 327577 w: www.bluestonelm.co.uk College and County t: 01865 722722 w: www.collegeandcounty.biz The Letting Centre t: 01865 759930 w: www.thelettingcentre.com

R&R ACCOMMODATION Macdonald Randolph Hotel Michael Grange General Manager t: 0844 879 9132 w: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk The Royal Oxford Hotel Tom Crampton-Smith Owner t: 01865 248432 w: www.royaloxfordhotel.co.uk Westwood Hotel t: 01865 735408 w: www.westwoodhotel.co.uk

LETTING AGENTS

The Burlington House t: 01865 513513 w: www.burlington-hotel-oxford.co.uk/

Breckon and Breckon Greg Barnes Director

Conifers Guest House t: 01865 763055 w: www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk

t: 01865 201111 w: www.breckon.co.uk

RENTAL ACCOMMODATION

Finders Keepers Frank Webster Director

Lower Mill Estate Red Paxton Marketing and Sales Director

t: 01865 302308 w: www.finders.co.uk

t: 01285 869489 w: www.lowermillestate.com

Kemp and Kemp t: 01865 517584 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL Henley Festival t: 01491 843400 w: www.henley-festival.co.uk

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Answer? o odmtips.com/b4-baby dmtips.com/b4-baby

Oxford Digital Marketing IInternet nternet Ma Marketing rketing T Training raining & Coaching Coaching

01865 57 59 55

Founder and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos

Oxford Philomusica Oxford’s Professional Symphony Orchestra In Residence at the University of Oxford

Guest artists 2012 Magdalen College Choir New College Choir Natalie Clein Amanda Echalaz Mahan Esfahani Benjamin Grosvenor Lang Lang John Lill Julian Lloyd Webber Craig Ogden Menahem Pressler

Box Office: 01865 980 980 www.oxfordphil.com

“Th The e ‘‘go-to’ go-to’ te team!” am!”

Chamberss & Partners Chamber Partners

Leaders L eaders in ffamily amily la law w sinc since e2 2001 001 vv GLYRUFH v VHSDUDWLRQ DJUHHPHQWV v FRKDELWDWLRQ GLYRUFH v VHSDUDWLRQ DJUHHPHQWV v FRKDELWDWLRQ FRQWUDFWV v GLVSXWHV LQYROYLQJ FKLOGUHQ v FLYLO FRQWUDFWV v GLVSXWHV LQYROYLQJ FKLOGUHQ v FLYLO SDUWQHUVKLSV v FROODERUDWLYH ODZ v GLVSXWHV EHWZHHQ SDUWQHUVKLSV v FROODERUDWLYH ODZ v GLVSXWHV EHWZHHQ XQPDUULHG SDUWQHUV v SUH QXSWLDO FRQWUDFWV X QPDUULHG SDUWQHUV v SUH QXSWLDO FRQWUDFWV Contact Jane Mit Contact Mitchell chell on 01865 0186 57 722106 22106

Oxford Oxford | R Reading eading | London London www.manches.com www.manches.com

B4 contacts Oxford Playhouse Russell Souch Marketing and Information Officer

Adlestrop Kitchen t: 01608 658 070 m: 07714 765 571

t: 01865 305313 w: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

The Oxford Wine Company Theo Sloot

Oxford Philomusica Simon Payne Development Manager

t: 01865 301144 w: www.oxfordwine.co.uk

t: 07775 904626 w: www.oxfordphil.com

RESTAURANTS 4500 MIles From Delhi Nav Kandola Owner

Modern Art Oxford t: 01865 813826 w: www.modernartoxford.org.uk/

t: 01865 244 922 w: www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford

New Theatre Jamie Baskeyfield General Manager t:01865 320760 w: www.newtheatreoxford.org.uk/

t: 01865 515123 w: www.wisegal.com

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Sam Strange Magic Sam Strange Owner

Spice Lounge Ali Aktar Owner

Bedlam Paintball t: 0845 370 7571 w: www.bedlampaintball.co.uk

t: 01865 510071 w: www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk

illuminate! t: 01235 280027 w: www.theoxfordentertainers.co.uk

t: 01865 812160 w: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES LM Champagne t: 07919 133476 w: www.LMchampagne.co.uk

Old Swan & Minster Mill Ian Solkin General Manager t: 01993 774441 w: www.oldswanandminstermill.com

t: 01865 742211 w: www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

Pegasus Theatre Dominique Cadiou Development Director

University of Oxford Shop t: 01865 247414 w: www.oushop.com Bicester Village t: 01869 323200 w: www.bicestervillage.com Witney Shopping t: 01865 742211 w: www.witneyshopping.co.uk Walton Street Cycles t: 01865 311610 w: www.spoke.co.uk

WHY NOT JOIN THEM? 400 members and rising.

The Mission Mexican Grill Jan Rasmussen Owner t: 01865 202016 w: www.missionburritos.co.uk

Wiseman Gallery Sarah Wiseman Owner

ENTERTAINMENT

SHOPPING

Le Manoir t: 01844 278881 w: www.manoir.com Saffron t: 01865 512211 w: www.saffronrestaurantoxford.co.uk

GALLERIES

RETAIL

Browns t: 01865 511995 w: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk In Oxford Magazine Restaurant Awards t: 01865 742211 w: www.inoxford.com

BARS O’Neill’s Oxford t: 01865 250708 w: www.oneills.co.uk/ The House t: 01865 724 433 w: www.housebar.co.uk The Duke of Cambridge t: 01865 558 173 w: www.dukebar.com

Become a B4 Member or Ambassador and in return, we’ll give you: • Presence in the B4 online and magazine directories • Access to the B4 site to upload unlimited press releases, event details, offers and jobs • Invites to the first B4 Ambassador Event of 2012 at The Ashmolean Memberships for just £250+VAT per annum for companies with up to five employees*

It’ll be the smartest move you’ve made this year! www.b4-business.com for full details NOW! *rates increase as employee numbers increase: 6 – 20 employees £375+VAT, 21 – 50 £500+VAT, 51 – 100 £900+VAT, 100+ £1200+VAT. Ambassador rate £500+VAT per annum.

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155

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