B4 Magazine Issue 26

OXFORDSHIRE EDITION

B4

Magazine

ISSUE 26 SPRING 2013

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The Business of Education Spotlights the increasingly vital relationships between the education sector and business

Hedges Law Opens in Oxford Managing Director, Nicola Poole, talks to B4 about the reasons behind the exciting new Oxford offices

The Challenges and the Successes Simon McCrum talks about challenges and successes to B4

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So What is B4?

B4 is the fastest growing business to business network, providing over 500 businesses in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire with four great platforms to promote and connect their businesses. It's a business network with a difference where we facilitate face to face contact with other Members at B4 events held in iconic locations.

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4 Effective Platforms to Help You Connect 1

B4 Magazine - Packed with great features, news and promotional articles mailed free to 3,000 business decision makers (separate circulation of 3,000 in each county)

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B4 Website - Upload press releases direct to the site and promote forthcoming events and seminars. All B4 articles printed are uploaded to the business directory on the site.

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B4 Events - Meet other B4 members at high quality B4 events in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire...Why not even bring a guest?

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B4 Workshops - Promote your business to other B4 members at our workshops, a great way to get your message across.

Why Become a Member?

Memberships are specific to one area, not all, and gives your business a listing in the back of your chosen area B4 Magazine. A listing on the business directory of the relevant B4 website but access to all B4 events in all areas (restrictions may apply due to capacity limitations and we do have some Platinum Ambassador only events). Members can also promote their status on company e-mails and websites with our new B4 Member icons

Why Not Upgrade to an Ambassador?

Becoming an Ambassador gets a face to represent your business in the B4 community. Your chosen Ambassador will feature alongside your listing in the magazine directory, on your on line business directory listing and also in the Ambassadors’ section on the B4 website. Being an Ambassador gives you something in common to approach other B4 Ambassadors throughout the network.

The rate to become an Ambassador is £250+VAT per annum.

Become a B4 Member in less than 24 hours Here's what we need to get you started: 1. Your Logo - high quality is a must and in one of the following formats: jpeg, eps, pdf, ai 2. Between 50 and 300 words about your business - See the website for some great examples 3. Basic contact details - Basic contact details e.g. Address, telephone number, email address Our system will automatically generate a user name and password (which you can change) and you are ready to put up your first Press Release. But Don't Worry! There's a helpful online guide to assist you and we're always at the end of the phone.

Join B4 for as little as £150+VAT per annum B4 Membership is based on your number of employees and not the number of staff who could attend events: Rates start at just £150+VAT for sole traders and other single person entities.

Rates increase to £250+VAT for 2 to 5, £375+VAT for 6 to 20 and so on. See www.b4-business.com for full details.

What about Editorial in the Magazine?

Looks complicated? Well it's not! We can set you up to have your picture taken at our associate's studio. We can get one of our freelance PR or Editor to interview you. You have Full Editorial Control so, nothing's printed without your agreement. Editorial pages start at £500+VAT and we can do almost all of it for you! Just ask!

Get Connected to our Growing Community Now:

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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 Lorna Dodson assistanteditor@b4-business.com Proofreader Sue Rosser B4 Events Tina Rosser events@b4-business.com Editorial contributors Katharine Earley Kelly Stroud Louise Esplin Lucie Perrion Lucy Holmes Lucy Howard Nicholas Newman Ryan Keane Sarah Airey Sarah Wiseman Tracey Jefferies B4 Photography Rob Scotcher Studio Photography Studio8 Telephone: 01865 842525

Subscriptions For free Subscription, please contact: Telephone: 01865 742211 info@b4-business.com

welcome to B4 Welcome to Issue 26.

This issue of B4 sees the first of a series of integrated supplements in the magazine which will appear in all three editions of B4 – Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. Over the past two years, having interviewed some of the Thames Valley’s leading educational establishments, I have seen the link between these establishments and the local business communities in which they are located, increasingly work together for the ultimate benefit of their pupils and students. Hence, we have published The Business of Education which shines a light on some of the initiatives already in place and exciting plans for the future.

Our Platinum Ambassador group continues to grow and I am pleased to announce that not only have Grant Thornton, Santander, Motor Village Oxford (formerly Chrysler Oxford), Lloyds Commercial Banking and Blenheim Palace all renewed their commitment to B4, for which we are extremely grateful, but we are delighted to welcome Carter Jonas, SAE, Culham Publication Services and BMW North Oxford Garage as new Platinum Ambassadors.

This issue also sees the results of a Lingo Telemarketing survey which many of you will have kindly participated in, the launch of B4TV and the Seven Minute Success Interviews and the B4 Events Diary in association with Carter Jonas.

2013 sees a fantastic series of events lined up at some fabulous locations. For members, please make sure you register for these events as soon as possible – see the B4 Events tab on the B4 website – and for those of you thinking about joining B4, why not come along to see what B4 is all about? We’re also currently looking at the B4 membership structure and so those of you who are on the verge of joining might be advised to do so sooner rather than later!

Enjoy B4

Written by Katharine Earley

66. Blenheim Palace

Richard Rosser Editor

89. Robert Stanley

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

Written by Louise Esplin

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 Magazine is printed by 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.

www.stonestheprinters.co.uk

24. Hedges

Written by Kelly Stroud

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.

© 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.

Meet The Writers

WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE ON

114. Carol Peace Written by Sarah Lacey

24 LEAD

24 Advice for Life: Nicola Poole of Hedges Law talks to B4 about the firms new offices in Oxford City Centre.

32 Darbys Solicitors Oxford Revolution: How Simon McCrum has transformed Darbys Solicitors LLP into a national legal practice.

37 The Business of Education: Our news supplement looks at the interaction between the education sector and the local business community.

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New Name, New Brands: The name may have changed but B4 Platinum Ambassador, Tim Keatinge, explains that the service is the same, if not better.

102 Is B4 Speaking Your Lingo?: The findings of Lingo Telemarketing's B4 member research.

114 B4: Art & Interiors: Sarah Lacey talks to Carol Peace about her wonderful sculptures

13 NEWS 13 23 30 31 35 62 97 123 137 141 144 145 149

B4 News B4 Diary Institute Of Directors Visit Oxfordshire Darbys VSL Hawkwell House Glooo Oxford Wine Company Charitable Funds Oxford Inspires Jennings CLIC Sargent

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SPOTLIGHT 28 Wenn Townsend Business Lunch: Tony Haines hosts another B4 lunch at the recently refurbished Gee's.

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90 ADVICE

90 Adding Value as Standard: How Grant Thornton add value to their customers?

60 FINANCE

60 Lloyds Banking Group: Banks not perceived positively? Probably. Lloyds Commercial in Oxfordshire are changing that view.

76 Santander at home in the Thames Valley: Cheryl Adams of Santander talks to B4 about helping and funding local business

73 HR

73 Purely Refreshing: We meet The Purely Recruitment Company to find out what makes them different.

128 A Guide to Finding the Right Recruitment Consultancy: The Career Boutique helps you to choose which recruitment consultancy to choose.

94 Avoiding Employment Tribunal Claims - Employment Law Reform: How reducing red tape will help to stimulate economic growth.

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IT & COMMS 82 A Question of Clouds: Thinking about moving to the Cloud? Richard Marsh of CIS answers some frequent questions.

130 Oxford Digital Marketing: Using Google analytics to drive 3 big success levers in your web marketing.

www.b4-business.com

B4 contents 64

PROPERTY

86 Heythrop Park Resort: B4 spotlights fantastic facilities at this 440 acre estate.

134 Proud to be an Oxford business: Sue Randall celebrates the hidden joys of being an Oxfordshire business.

89 SERVICES

64 The Innovators: We meet some of the tenants at the new Oxford Innovation Centre at Windrsuh Industrial Park.

89 A Clear Vision for Success: Clinical excellence and personal service from Robert Stanley Opticians.

69 Moving is Indeed an Art: Great advice from new B4 Platinum Ambassadors, Carter Jonas.

98 Exciting Times: Claire Stiles talks to B4 about the forthcoming changes at WILA and the company's 20th birthday.

70 New Year Inspiration at Johnsons Buildbase: Fancy a bit of DIY? Buildbase get you in the mood.

111 Promoting Confidentiality: Janet Gibbons, Chief Executive of Ardington Archives, talks to B4, confidentially of course!

101 Oxford Property Investment: ...and deductible allowances for you, the landlord, with North Oxford Property Services.

124 The Many Faces of Begbroke Science Park: You'd be surprised at just how much goes on at Begbroke - B4 finds out.

108 MARKETING

108 B4TV - 7 Minute Success Interviews: B4 are moving into video and we spotlight our interview with Simon McCrum of Darbys.

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79 R&R

HEALTH

79 The Feathers: A look inside this fabulous Woodstock hotel and restaurant.

107 Oxfordshire's Newest Fitness Training Studio: Make every day a TLA day!

85 The High Street is Dead?: A searching question for Blackwell's in today's climate.

120 The B4 Bike Ride from Edinburgh to Blenheim Palace: Join in, sponsor us, donate - find out how to here.

92 Your Manor: B4 enjoyed a simply divine stay at The Manor Hotel, Weston-on-theGreen, the new home of The Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards.

113 Leaders not Followers: We see how Zest, one of Oxfordshire's brightest digital agencies, is getting on.

119 Indian Food but not as we know it: Nice? Not nearly good enough to describe this gem as Tracey Jefferies finds out.

142 A Great Time to Talk Turkey!: B4 Platinum Ambassador, Phil Strachan, talks to B4, hot off the press!.

127 A Jewel in the Crown for Abingdon: The Crown & Thistle launches after refurbishment.

66 EVENTS

66 Destination Blenheim Palace...: A role to play on the global stage.

80 Phoenix from the Ashes: B4's Lucy Howard reports on another great film launch at Lady Margaret Hall.

www.b4-business.com

133 Mark McGeehan: B4 meets the PGA Qualified Professional at Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club.

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138 Lancaster London: The best views in town? Probably!

146 LA for the Weekend? Why Not: A flying visit to see Barbra Streisand and stay at the fabulous Andaz Hotel in Hollywood.

TRAVEL

105 If You Have to Think‌.It's Too Late: With British motorsport legend Robb Gravett

151 CONTACTS 7

B 4 P L AT I N U M A M B A S S A D O R S

D E S I G N P R I N T P U B L I C A T I O N S

O X F O R D

Residential Letting 路 Property Management

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meet oxfordshire

Why not join them?

Call us on 01865 742211 now for details about our Platinum Ambassador packages.

We have a capacity of 75 Platinum Ambassadors in each area.

AMBASSADORSHIPS ALREADY TAKEN OXFORDSHIRE 55 BERKSHIRE 15 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 8

B4 contributors PICK OF THE B4 PLATINUM AMBASSADOR CONTRIBUTORS

Events In Association with Carter Jonas

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B4 REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER) The Wenn Townsend Lunch..........................................................................................28 Institute of Directors...........................................................................................................30 Visit Oxfordshire.....................................................................................................................31 Lloyds TSB Commercial...................................................................................................60 VSL............................................................................................................................................62 Motor Village Oxford...........................................................................................................74 The Feathers...........................................................................................................................79 Lady Margaret Hall..............................................................................................................80 CIS Ltd...............................................................................................................................................82 Grant Thornton.........................................................................................................................90 Henmans Freeth.....................................................................................................................94

www.b4-business.com

WILA Group Limited.............................................................................................................98 North Oxford Property Services................................................................................101 Ultimate Car Control UK Ltd........................................................................................105 TLA Fitness....................................................................................................................................107 Glooo............................................................................................................................................123 The Career Boutique..........................................................................................................128 Oxford Wine Company.....................................................................................................137 Charitable Funds....................................................................................................................141 Strangebrew............................................................................................................................142 Oxford Inspires........................................................................................................................144 Jennings..........................................................................................................................................145

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Avatar Recruitment support Katharine House Hospice Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury, one of the elements of this recruitment support is that Avatar Recruitment Consultancy will donate 10% of their full fee placement fees to Katharine House Hospice.

We are proud to announce our support to raise funds for Katharine House Hospice. As part of a bigger Recruitment Support package for

to the recruitment process, ensuring that we are there to also provide market advice to clients and assisting our candidates through the recruitment journey.

Avatar Recruitment Consultancy, based at Bloxham Mill, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, provides a personalised and consultative recruitment support to clients across the Midlands, Home Counties & London.

With over 13 years’ experience in the Recruitment Industry, a member of REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation) and a proven reputation for providing the highest standard of service, Avatar guarantees to deliver a first class recruitment support service to your business.

We pride ourselves in our personalised approach

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Hidden Spire at the Old Fire Station Hidden Spire was the first joint production by Arts at the Old Fire Station and Crisis Skylight Oxford which delighted invited audiences on George Street before Christmas.

Professional artists worked alongside homeless people to create a groundbreaking newly devised piece. Taking inspiration from the theme ‘hidden’ and the hose tower in the centre of the Old Fire Station, the show combined acting, puppetry, dance, poetry and music. Hidden Spire will be

back later this year in a new version open to the public.

One homeless participant said, “working on the Hidden Spire project has meant I don’t see myself as a down and out anymore” and an audience member described the show as “terrific…it made me laugh and cry…really professional.”

To find out more, please www.oldfirestation.org.uk

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Oxford Town Hall springs into Spring Oxford Town Hall is set to host all manner of events in what is quickly becoming a busy Spring season. Oxford Town Hall’s beautiful Victorian building located in the heart of Oxford is a popular choice for event promoters, providing clients with the opportunity to hold an event in an iconic historic setting.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Oxford Philomusica and Seth Lakeman as well as Vintage Fairs, international gallery exhibitions, weddings and conferences, Oxford Town Hall is proving it really is the venue for all occasions.

For further information and a full What’s On guide visit www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk, call 01865 252195 or email townhall@oxford.gov.uk.

With live public performances from the likes of the

Quality in Tourism awards bring Woodstock together Woodstock business, Weekly Home, was recently awarded The Quality in Tourism award for two of its Woodstock properties. Jeanette Howse from Tourism South East came to Woodstock to present Weekly Home with their awards. Kelvin Fowler and Esmee Quinten from Weekly Home were joined by The Mayor of Oxford, Counsillor Brian Yoxall, Chris Baylis from Wake up to Woodstock and local photographer, Pawel Sytniewski, of OxfordPics Photography to celebrate the winning of the award.

www.b4-business.com

Kelvin Fowler, Managing Director of Weekly Home said: “We are thrilled that our Woodstock properties have won four-star Quality in Tourism awards. As a Woodstock resident myself I know that these awards will not only benefit Weekly Home but they will also help to draw more tourists to the area. It was great to be able to share this achievement with other Woodstock businesses and we had a great time celebrating the award.” www.weeklyhome.com

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Oxford is at the top of the shortlist!

PwC and Demos recently set about ranking 36 British cities according to a mix of criteria including levels of income and employment, health, transport links, affordability of housing and the amount of time that people spend with their family. When their results were published last November, Oxford was ranked top as having the best overall mix of the criteria.

This result will have come as no surprise to those of us fortunate to live in Oxford and the

surrounding areas, and it is why Oxfordshire’s businesses are able to attract some of the very best national and international talent. It also serves as a reminder to local businesses looking to recruit, especially at senior levels, not to limit their radar geographically.

To discuss your senior recruitment needs contact Nicola Gardiner on 07900 912941 or go to www.nicolagardiner.com

Chef cooks up charity recipe book Oxford Fine Dining’s head chef Martin Bridgeman cooked 30 dishes for a new charity recipe book that will be sold in aid of Helen and Douglas House.

The project is the brainchild of Oxera Consulting and the recipes have been contributed by Oxera staff, Helen and Douglas House staff and families as well as by sponsors of the book, including Martin’s Thai lemon Chicken Curry.

Other recipes include Marmalade Omelette, Pheasant Theodora, Sausage Jambalaya and Chocolate & Orange Torte. Oxford Fine Dining worked with Oxera to produce each dish for a photo shoot for the cookery book, which is being launched at an event to be held at North Oxford Golf Club on 12 April. Any B4 members who would like to support Helen and Douglas House by buying the book, which costs £5, or by donating auction prizes for the event, should contact: Sally-Ann.Lyon@oxera.com.

Director - Experience Oxfordshire Experience Oxfordshire wish to appoint a Director to further develop the organisation, promote tourism and culture within the County and build the membership base.

The role will require leadership ability, experience of the cultural and/or tourism sectors, interpersonal and communications skills and the ability to promote the organisation to a wide variety of stakeholders. The ability to negotiate with funders and other revenue sources will also be important.

For details, see www.visitoxfordshire.org.

Applications should be emailed to helen.morton@some.ox.ac.uk or sent to her at Experience Oxfordshire, 15-16 Broad St, Oxford OX1 3AS. The closing date is 1 March 2013.

Remuneration and benefits are commensurate with a position of this seniority.

Experience Oxfordshire is the county’s cultural and tourism development agency, working as Oxford Inspires and Visit Oxfordshire.

Fallowfields announce a new, award-winning head chef to take the helm Matt Weedon first gained a Michelin star at Glenapp Castle in Ayrshire and then at Lords of the Manor near Cheltenham. Altogether he has held the accolade for a total of six years, and is said to be one of the top 100 chefs in the country. While Matt heads up the kitchen, his wife Rachel will run the Fallowfields restaurant.

Rachel brings her experience as Restaurant Manager for some of Britain’s top Country House Hotels, having worked at Hambleton Hall, Blantyre, L’ortolan, The Waterside Inn,

www.b4-business.com

Glennapp Castle and Lords of the Manor.

Owned by Anthony and Peta Lloyd, Fallowfields opened its fine dining restaurant in October 2011.

Anthony says: “Peta and I are delighted that Matt and Rachel Weedon are joining us in March. With Matt at the helm in the kitchen and Rachel in the restaurant, Fallowfields will continue moving forward and become one of the best fine dining experiences in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. www.fallowfields.com

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

We guarantee the very best in service standards offering conference suites and executive boardrooms within a prestigious location. Our unique rooms range from original rooms in the Mansion House which are over 150 years old with high ceilings and original features, to a purpose built function room called The Boathouse on the banks of the River Thames.

It’s not only the picturesque riverside setting that creates the wow factor; extensive leisure facilities, fine dining and impeccable service all play their part in creating a memorable conference.

At A Glance UÊDedicated Meeting and Conference Coordinators UÊ virence facilities for up to 170

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Grundon sets new standards across Oxfordshire and Berkshire achieve a company-wide certification system, thought to be the first of its kind in the waste management industry.

The company’s BSI-approved Integrated Management System is the result of a two-year programme to raise standards across the three key areas of health and safety, environmental management and quality management.

Stephen Roscoe, Technical Director and Angela Williams, Office Manager (Benson) with their certificates.

Grundon’s operations across Oxfordshire and Berkshire have played a major role in helping

The project was spearheaded by Benson-based compliance manager Toni Robinson and IMS manager Nicola Currant.

“We’re thrilled to have completed the IMS programme and, thanks to some terrific teamwork, we passed the BSI audit with flying colours,” said Robinson. “Lots of people talk about an integrated approach to improving standards, but not many companies are able to actually achieve it.

“We have worked hard to achieve improvements and deliver real benefits for our customers.”

In Oxfordshire, the company has operations in Banbury, Benson and Ewelme; plus Beenham, Colnbrook and Knowl Hill in Berkshire. www.grundon.com

Need a copywriter? Look no further I am an experienced Oxford based journalist that provides copy editing and copy writing services for business customers both large and small.

My copy writing clients include the likes of Coco Noir, Berkshire Clinic and Siemens, whilst my energy journalism clients include the Economist Intelligence Unit, Petroleum Review, Gas to Power Journal and Power Engineering International. In addition, I am founding editor of Oxfordprospect magazine. As an energy journalist I specialise in the

following topics: oil and gas exploration and production, together with power generation, including renewables and nuclear. Much of my energy writing is concerned with trends in policies, risks, exploration and production technologies as well as trading in energy resources. This includes, for instance in the gas sector, all aspects of current market policy, political and technological trends and developments, that may affect the exploration, production and trading in natural gas, shale gas, CSG and LNG. Tel: 01865 762710 or see: www.nicnewmanoxford.com

Gardner Leader identify the legal business challenges of 2013 from the Thames Valley region, has revealed the biggest legal challenges facing business owners.

Companies across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire joined Newbury & Thatcham based law specialist, Gardner Leader, to discuss concerns and share solutions. Around the table were founders of Wilson Partners Limited, Laudis Business Advisers, 100 percent IT, Three Steps Consulting, Vici Language Academy and Eyes Wide Open.

A Roundtable hosted by leading local solicitors, Gardner Leader, and involving business leaders

A range of subjects were covered including the

complexities of employment law particularly; unfair dismissal claims, flexible working and the new maternity legislation. Issues were also raised around the Bribery Act and what constitutes as bribery versus hospitality, as well as questions around succession planning and the legalities behind online and social media communications.

Read about the issues raised in the March edition of B4 Magazine Berkshire. For any questions regarding the areas discussed, please contact Gardner Leader on 01635 508080 or visit www.gardner-leader.co.uk

The B4TV Seven Minute Success Videos See page 108 for our article on the launch of B4TV’s 7 Minute Success Interviews. Jackie Jarvis of Marketingco talks to Simon McCrum of Darbys about how he has made such a staggering impact on one of Oxfordshire’s

www.b4-business.com

leading law firms. See also Simon’s article on page 32.

To find out about being the star of the next B4TV interview, why not give us a call on 01865 742211.

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Helping Oxfordshire businesses to flourish

Our eams of experts gi give ve e more more than than accountancy accountanc cy and Our winning tteams improve o impr ove business advice. We We help hel businesses from from all industries tto their We offer extended their performance. performance. W e off o ffer er an ext ended rrange ange of specialist services, including: including: services, Audit Consultancy Business Consult anc cy Payroll Services ervices P ayroll S

Business Tax Tax Accounts Corporate VAT Corporate Finance VAT Consultancy Consultanc cy Recovery Insolvency R ecovery & Inso olv l enc lv cy

To arrange a free, no obligation meeting please call: 01865 292205, or email matt.wistow@shawgibbs.com

B 4

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S ponsored

B4 news

by

Bel Crewe joins Pegasus Theatre Bel Crewe has joined the popular performing arts venue, Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford, as the new Development Director.

Bel has over twenty years experience as a fundraiser and grant maker in London, Wales and more recently Oxford. She is joining Pegasus with a clear mission to develop their income streams from philanthropic sources and explore new partnerships supporting creative learning

programmes for young people and producing professional theatre to tour around the county and beyond. A priority over the next two years is Double Our Money, a campaign to raise new funds which will be matched pound for pound with a grant from Arts Council England. Please see article in ‘The Business of Education’ supplement for more information about Pegasus. www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

Culham Conference Centre Refurbished to the highest standard in January 2013, Culham Conference Centre is a purpose built, fully equipped, conference venue situated at Culham Science Centre, Abingdon.

Driven by our dedication to keeping our customers at the heart of what we do, our objective is to provide customers with a memorable experience, tailored to suit their individual requirements, in our superb, newly refurbished facilities. We offer all businesses, large or small, a warm welcome, a focussed professional service in a relaxed environment. Boasting seven flexible and

affordable conference rooms, each providing the latest equipment and comfort, serviced by our friendly dedicated staff. The impressive John Adams Lecture Theatre seats up to 234 delegates in a tiered auditorium, with fully integrated Audio Visual equipment, providing superb acoustics and cinema projection - ideal for prestigious large scale conferences, events and presentations. We have been helping businesses host successful meetings and events for almost decade. www.culhamconferencecentre.co.uk

Business growth creates need for further premises With an additional warehouse to shortly be opened in the area, The Archive Centre will be even better placed to serve the increasing demand for the Company’s services from the Oxford and North Bucks areas.

Despite the UK losing its Triple ‘A’ rating and our supposedly being in the electronic age for data storage, The Archive Centre is experiencing increasing demand for its efficient and highly cost effective document archiving and secure

destruction services.

Digitizing paper records or using a self-storage unit will probably not be as efficient or cost effective as using professional document archiving. No matter the size or type of business or organisation, whether it has five or five thousand boxes, it is well worth discussing requirements with The Archive Centre, an ISO9001 approved company. Contact David Coulton 01296 425744 or see www.thearchivecentre.com

2013 Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards Launch The Awards were launched at the new venue for this year’s event, The Manor Hotel at Weston-on-the-Green. Our hosts, sponsors, committee, reviewers and other suppliers met at the stunning venue, hosted by General Manager, Christian Kaberg who commented, “We are delighted to be hosting the Awards this year – it will be a great showcase for the hotel.”

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See www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk for more details about entering, sponsoring and voting for your favourite restaurant or call 01865 742211 for more information about sponsoring a category or tickets for the event. www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk

21

M TE A O U R JO IN

Exciting Business Development Manager position "ASIC SALARY a a DEPENDING ON SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE /4% a

"ASIC SALARY a a DEPENDING ON SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE /4% a

opportunityy available for a Business Development Manager to join Due to expansion, The In Oxford Group has an exciting opportunit their high achieving sales team.

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TTo o appl apply, apply yy,, please send your C CV to richard@inoxford.com 01865 742211 or call Richard on 0 1865 7 42211 for more information

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B4 diary

In Association with Carter Jonas

Event Organiser

OXFORDSHIRE

Venues

Date

Time

Event Details

Blackwell’s Examination Schools Rhodes House The Manor Hawkwell House

11th Apr 4th Jul 12th Sep 2nd Oct 21st Nov

6.00pm “ “ “ “

B4 Members & Guests’ Networking Events

Oakley Court The Vineyard

9th May 28th Aug

6.30pm 6.00pm

B4 Members & Guests’ Networking Events

12.00pm “ “

Business growth networking forum which gives its members a safe, confidential testing ground for ideas, solution-finding and business opportunities. Please contact lmacdonald@bizlinx.org.uk for further information. Tel: 01865 424869 / 07554 019240

12noon “ “

Starting on Thursday 30th May at Heythrop park Golf Club, the 7th Annual B4 / MGroup Cup will tee off with holders Culham Publication Services defending their crown.

There are two qualifiers this year, the 2nd at Frilford Heath on Thursday 11th July. The final will be contested at Studley Wood on Thursday 5th September.

B E R K S H I R E

Malmaison, Oxford “ “

Heythrop Park Golf Club Frilford Heath Golf Club Studley Wood Golf Club

11th Mar 8th Apr 10th Jun

30th May 11th July 5th Sep

Begbroke Science Park

17th Apr

8.15am

Breakfast Seminar Series 2013: Project Management for Scientists – Oxford Projects’ highly experienced team helps scientists manage change, people and projects more efficiently. Seminars run for 45 minutes, refreshments provided.

To book your space please contact events@begbroke.ox.ac.uk or phone us on 01865 309625.

Malmaison, Oxford

24th Apr

8.30am

Employment Law Seminar

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

www.b4-business.com

23

B4 LEAD

ADVICE FOR LIFE

Hedges Law prides itself on excellence in legal advice and strong customer service with a personal touch. The firm has just opened a new office in Oxford and is looking ahead to a bright future.

Katharine Earley of B4 Magazine speaks to Managing Director Nicola Poole about Hedges’ commitment to achieving growth while remaining true to its traditional values.

Hedges Law prides itself on good client relations. Established in Wallingford in 1789, the firm has been in business for nearly 225 years, and historically has always enjoyed close links with the town. A steady period of growth has just culminated in a new office in Oxford, opened in January 2013, as the firm continues to win more national, and international, clients. Hedges is also retaining its thriving, established office in Wallingford and owner Nicola Poole will divide her time between the two offices.

“We have always been clear that we’re a great firm of solicitors that is located in a market town, rather than market town solicitors,” explains Nicola Poole, Owner and Managing

property agents, bankers and accountants. The firm is very clear about what it does and doesn’t offer, and ‘walks the talk’ in terms of what it delivers.

New horizons Poole had worked in central Oxford at the beginning of her career and had always been keen to return to the city centre. She is delighted to have opened a new office in the prime location of Beaumont Street, with the historic Ashmolean Museum just across the road, and explains that the move has already raised the firm’s profile.

“We’ve welcomed a steady stream of visitors since the opening on 2nd January, and our position in Beaumont Street has definitely

Keen to maintain a sense of company unity, Poole is dividing her time between the Oxford and Wallingford offices. She describes her week as seven days’ client work and seven days’ business development, adding however that it doesn’t feel like work, since she is passionate about what she does. Poole puts her heart and soul into the business and is very excited about the move and the change it’s bringing.

“When I arrived at Hedges as a ‘locum’ all those years ago, I couldn’t have imagined that one day I’d be running the company,” she says. “I’m very realistic in my outlook, and am thrilled to have succeeded in a sector that has historically been dominated by much larger law firms, most of them male-dominated, despite some increase in the number of women at board

“I’d describe us as the old kids on a new block, as experienced lawyers breaking into new geographical territory” Director, at Hedges. “We regularly sit opposite magic circle lawyers and work with clients across the UK, many of whom don’t necessarily have a family link with Wallingford.”

Poole heads up the firm’s family, property and private client law practice and herself has more than 20 years’ experience of practising family law in Oxfordshire. Hedges has a strong understanding of the challenges facing families, high net worth individuals and small businesses, she explains. It also runs a successful property team and maintains positive relationships with local surveyors,

24

made us more accessible. I’ve also noticed a sharp spike in my LinkedIn profile views with people very keen to see what we’re up to,” says Poole. “I’d describe us as the old kids on a new block, as experienced lawyers breaking into new geographical territory.”

Interestingly, some Oxford firms are starting to move away from the city centre, while Hedges is somewhat bucking the trend by moving in.

The firm is also seeing an increase in the number of high net worth individuals, who opt for its warm, personal service in preference to dealing with a larger, corporate firm.

level over the years. I have a fabulous team of people behind me who are full of ambition and dedication, as well as very supportive co-directors.”

The new Hedges office has a fresh, modern interior, and is set within a beautiful Cotswold stone building. Its walls display commissioned pieces from local artists and Poole personally sourced some of the furniture, including a stunning period wooden table for the boardroom.

Continued over leaf >>

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www.b4-business.com

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Managing Director Nicola Poole

25

Hedges Law Advice For Life We provide responsive, practical advice for individuals at every important stage of their life.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re: moving home; starting a business; in a dispute; creating a contract; protecting your wealth; splitting up or managing a difficult family matterâ&#x20AC;Ś ...our expert professional guidance will help you solve your problems and get you to where you want to be.

At Hedges Law we take care of the law so that you can get on with your life.

Call today on 01865 594265 for a free and no obligation chat about your legal issues: personal, family or business.

hedgeslaw.co.uk

B4 LEAD

‘Advice for life’ Hedges is committed to providing ‘advice for life’ to its clients. Poole is very clear that its stance on supporting clients through their life journey will remain unaltered in the face of business growth and expansion. She and her team will continue to go the extra mile to support their clients, providing a responsive service, creative solutions and a real sense of empathy and understanding. Their relationships with clients often last far longer than the transaction itself, she explains, with many clients, both new and established, wishing her well with the expansion. Old-fashioned values will never go out of style.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Hedges’ core values are approachability, excellence and care. The team aims to be warm and welcoming in all its dealings with clients, from the smiling receptionist to the senior solicitor who oversees the case.

“Sir John Hedges, the last Hedges family member to work at the firm, was a great philanthropist,” Poole explains. “I like to think that his legacy lives on through the care we provide to customers. We regularly deal with third generations of clients who stay with the firm due to the quality of service they receive.”

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The firm is still winning and retaining clients through its quality of work and steadfast commitment to traditional values, despite tough competition and what Poole describes as the ‘commoditisation’ of legal services (with even supermarkets having introduced a legal offering).

“There’s no stuffiness here, no arrogance.

We want to provide the right impression right from the start” “Transparency is key, both in terms of the solution we propose and the pricing,” explains Poole.

“There’s no stuffiness here, no arrogance. We want to provide the right impression right from the start.

Good old-fashioned customer service will never go out of fashion.”

What’s next for Hedges?

Poole is keen to reward her employees’ loyalty and believes in a happy, positive working environment.

Employees are to be offered the opportunity to buy

a share in the firm, which is a 100% limited company, rather than a traditional, partnership based law firm.

Poole is also keen to give back to the community and forge strategic partnerships with local schools, and has developed a Corporate Social Responsibility policy aimed at creating opportunities for local students to develop their interest in a career in the law. The arrival of Hedges in Oxford city sees the launch of an internship programme for sixth form pupils from local schools.

“We’ve received a great response to the idea from teachers,” Poole explains. “I’m delighted to be offering young people a genuine insight into the world of law. I was lucky enough to do a work placement with a law firm before attending university, and it was this experience that set me on my current path. I couldn’t have made a better career choice and I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with motivated young people across the county.” www.hedgeslaw.co.uk

27

B4 SPOTLIGHT

WENN TOWNSEND BUSINESS LUNCH The third networking lunch sponsored by Wenn Townsend took place at the recently refurbished Gee’s on Banbury Road. Having lunch were a group of people from very different organisations, but all with one thing in common: they all need to win new business in 2013. Linking with our feature on page 102 by Lingo Telemarketing about how B4 members hope to win new business in2013, Chair Tony Haines, Partner at Wenn Townsend, set the ball rolling.

Tony Haines, Partner Wenn Townsend, Chartered Accountants “Founded in 1876, we are a firm of local accountants who have always believed, and will continue to do so, that winning new business only comes about by doing an excellent job for your current customers. It’s a simple philosophy, but if we look after our current customers, then they will refer us to their networks. That’s been happening for 150 years and we see no reason for that to stop now. Funnily enough today I had a meeting with a client who’s company audit we have undertaken for the last 15 years. Today she asked me to look after her personal affairs for the first time. She has grown tired of travelling to Sheffield (from Oxford) and wants me to look after her own accounts.

Given that she lives in Oxford and she trusts the firm, this demonstrates how difficult it is for people to change professional advisers providing they are doing a good job. It shows her previous personal accountant wasn’t necessarily doing a bad job, just that the travelling was becoming tiresome, but this also shows how doing a good job isn’t always enough to win new business, hence why we have to be part of organisations like B4 who help to introduce us to potential new clients.

“A mix of approaches is vital and we cannot rely on our reputation to win us new business. For the first time ever we are using a telemarketing company to help us win new business in 2013. It will be interesting to see how they get on.

“All of this won’t stop us delivering as responding to client’s demands is our top priority – without personnel to deal with enquiries, we wouldn’t be as successful as we are today. It’s about client care, maintenance and then the referrals will follow.”

NEW LOOK

GEE’S 28

Louise Lobo, PA to Operations Director Mogford Ltd, Gee’s Restaurant, The Old Bank, Quod, The Old Parsonage Hotel & Restaurant “In the last couple of years, there’s been a whole new generation of mad foodies now with everyone reverting back to good old fashioned cooking with traditional menus without the fussiness. There are loads of programmes on the TV about food and health matters, but now, instead of being interested in fine dining which we have all aspired to and probably overpaid for, we would now prefer to have a bit more fun with our food. We want simple dishes, cooked excellently but simply prepared, and we are more interested in the ingredients being right and the cooking being right rather than ‘fancy pants’ dishes.

“Coupled with the recession, customers want great value for money and in a competitive market, we have decided to change the focus at Gee’s. We can all now look at the web and check out all of the other restaurants in the area, going somewhere because of what somebody else has said, and that’s great. Something I really like is that people are choosing where to eat based on what other people have said who have eaten in those restaurants. This gives you an honest view and helps our hotels and restaurants in the group to constantly reach either first and second in Oxford.

“You can’t now buy reputation, you have to deliver, so in 2013 we will continue to deliver and let the public speak – referrals will be our main source of new business in 2013, without a doubt.

Because we have two hotels and three restaurants, our natural intelligence on the market is very good.

We didn’t canvass our customers about what we should do, we just looked at their spending patterns and saw that people were spending less

Oxford’s iconic glasshouse has been famed for quality produce since Mrs Gee began selling the prized vegetables from her hugely successful market garden here in 1898.

The 2013 transformation remains loyal to Gee’s traditions of providing quality food & service in the most beautiful restaurant in Oxford. Whether

and looking for less formality. People want sharing dishes, they want to be able to have one or two courses and just a glass of wine and people want to get in and out quite quickly these days. Weekday long lunches are a thing of the past – they are certainly very rare – so we have to cater to demand. It’s difficult for a party of 8 to all afford the old Gee’s – the new menu allows more flexibility and so our market has expanded dramatically.

John Hobart, Director, Commercial & Operations Modern Art Oxford, Gallery and Events Location “Having only just joined the Gallery, I am still finding my feet, but some of the challenges are obvious.

We are a contemporary art gallery, so we have between 6 and 10 shows a year, with internationally renowned contemporary artists. The challenges are to develop a repeat audience. If they come back once for a show, to get them to repeat that visit, you have to offer them something extra.

We have a good shop and a good food offering.

Everybody loves our shop, we are investing in it and we have to say you can’t buy this stuff anywhere else. We have two very large galleries which we can use for commercial hires or dinners, seating up to 200. The colleges and the university museums have had the lion’s share of business over the years, understandably so. We certainly need some rebranding as in two years time it is our fiftieth anniversary so we are looking at how we can build up a sense of momentum to that.

“For us it’s about getting in other people and the challenge is to find them through different methods – networking, word of mouth and converting the gallery traffic into corporate hires.”

flooded with mid-morning sunlight or under Oxford’s evening sky, Gee’s will always be a place to enjoy exceptional food in unique surroundings.

The tables on the outdoor terrace are now surrounded by the dense foliage of topiary & potted plants – & if you like the plants, some are available for sale. The new interior is filled with trees, new furniture, soft colours & lighting.

www.b4-business.com

“We win our new business in a variety of ways. A lot of it is by networking, some is through professional connections like Tony where we can help his clients with their financial services. We also depend on recommendations and like Tony we aim to do an excellent job for our clients so they will tell other people about us. We also undertake a certain amount of direct mailing and direct marketing to a variety of sectors. We do a lot of work in the bio life sciences field, so we have a lot of affiliations and work with companies in Oxfordshire and beyond.

“In actual fact we have engaged Lingo to do some telemarketing for us. So with that very example, knowing who you do through networking is all important and B4 is great for bringing that network a lot closer. A lot of our work is corporate but we do a fair amount of individual work with high net worth clients as well.”

Huw Edmunds, Head of Conferences and Events Pembroke College, Oxford University College “Pembroke is a 1760’s college, based in the middle of Oxford. Not many people can double the size of their college, but we have in the past 10 years, merging the old site with the new. I joined a year and 2 months ago and the first thing I did was to reach out to new partners including all of the venues and restaurants in the local area so that I can offer a full package of services to my clients and, in return, local venues and restaurants might recommend us to their customers when the need arises.

service we offer. We offer our guests more of a hotel service now. We have one hundred new bedrooms that are of a hotel standard. Our rates are a fraction of the price, of even local pubs, so if you are a conference organiser that wants something at a budget price but of a high quality, then come to Pembroke.”

Kyle Joseph, SEO and Digital Marketer Rare Form New Media, Web Designers “99% of our business comes from search engines like Google. We are number one for web design Oxford, and that alone is getting us more than enough work for the foreseeable future. But, we are expanding, and we are hoping to grow by investigating new avenues.

We have been involved with networking for awhile, we also need to look at more tangible profile raising through events like B4 holds.

What sets us apart from a lot of web design companies is that we have a lot of character (our CEO Jeannie is American; we have an American feel throughout our website and our office), we are incredibly loyal, and form long lasting relationships with our clients."

Iain Lewis, Director Torpedo, Creative Marketing Agency

“We have also focused on changing the level of

“Our role is to help other businesses with their business development, so we have to offer the right range of services. We are constantly reassessing what we are offering as a business, adding new capabilities and services into that. We are already double the size we were last year, in terms of turnover and people, but we are also gathering more capabilities because of that… more digital marketing, more content generation, search

Of course the important aspect of the new Gee’s is the cooking. A brand new kitchen incorporates a wood fired oven & a charcoal grill; the food acknowledges the continued interest in the origin of ingredients, seasonality & the variety & abundance of local Oxfordshire produce.

fabulous meal. There are dishes for sharing and dishes in two sizes to suit different appetites & times of the day. Enjoy great food to suit every occasion, served by knowledgeable & friendly waiters, in this beautiful, iconic glasshouse in North Oxford.

Gee’s remains the place in Oxford to enjoy a

www.gees-restaurant.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

engine optimisation, production.

graphics

and

video

“We provide clients with a complete integrated service that helps them to raise their brand profile, generate leads and we also help to turn those leads into sales. Ultimately, what allows us to get new business is great customer service, recommendation and growth. Most of that comes from word of mouth or businesses wanting more from us, telling their colleagues about us.

“I have no idea how much business is likely to grow this year. Our aim though is always to do better than the year before and continue to provide an enjoyable, stable working environment for our staff.

Simply speaking we strive to increase our turnover but also increase our profit. We have a vision for our business and we are actively investing in our own resources, marketing and business development, as well as ensuring we are best placed to help our clients do the same.”

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Richard Rosser, Managing Director / Editor and Lucie Perron, Intern B4 Magazine With thanks to our host, Louise Lobo, and to Jeremy Mogford for welcoming us all to his fabulous new restaurant. See more at www.gees-restaurant.co.uk Would your restaurant like to host a Wenn Townsend Lunch? Please call us on 01865 742211.

29

Photograph: Lucie Perrion

Rob Evans, Marketing Director Focus, Independent Financial Advisors

news Looking forward to a successful 2013 As we welcomed in 2013 we met with some disappointing news from the High Street – with Jessops, HMV and Blockbusters all going in to administration. But there were good news and success stories too – from companies that have been perhaps more flexible and nimble and have flexed to meet the changing ways in which we interact with businesses and buy goods and services. The businesses that survive in 2013 will hopefully be the ones that invest in their futures and plan for growth Looking back on 2012 we can say that it was a good year for the Oxfordshire IoD. The branch is the third most successful in the southern region even though we are the smallest. And we continued to have well supported and attended events – showing that business leaders in the county are focused on the future and on their own development - both great indicators of business confidence and vision. Our programme of events will continue into 2013 with the ever popular Blenheim Breakfasts, site visits and other interesting and stimulation talks and seminars. We also look forward to welcoming our new Chair, and sharing that news with you.

Our next IoD Oxfordshire Leadership Breakfast: Successful Business Leaders Take Risks is on the 27th March.

Val Jonas, Managing Director of Risk Decisions, will discuss the vital role that risk taking has in successful business leadership: how to assess risk, why risk is important and how to make risk management part of your strategic thinking.

Future Leadership breakfasts at Blenheim include: Leadership: When David Takes on Goliath, Wednesday 8 May & Leadership by Example, Wednesday 9 October.

To find out more or book on to these events please go to: www.iod.com/oxfordshireevents We also have a Policy Event: The Oxfordshire LEP is working on a number of key initiatives for the county and it, along with Central and Local Government

Innovation Centre, Milton Park

are looking to hear your views on what they can best do to help create jobs in the county. The IoD is hosting a discussion at Milton Park on 25 April 2013 with local, key influential people including; LEP, Enterprise Zone, Oxford City Council and Graeme Leach, IoD Director of Policy.

Full details are available at www.iod.com/oxfordshire or contact Rebecca at: admin.oxfordshire@iod.net And finally a number of Oxfordshire business leaders have been nominated for the IoD Director of the Year award. If you would like to join us at one of the most important events in the UK's business calendar - The IoD London and South East Gala Awards Dinner takes place at the Landmark Hotel on Friday 19th April.

DoYA Gala Dinner and Awards booking details can be found at http://www.iod.com/south Visit our new website: www.iod.com/oxfordshire or contact Rebecca Upright, Branch Administrator: admin.oxfordshire@iod.net or 01865 390025

Arial view of Blenheim Palace

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Join over 800 members on the ‘Oxfordshire Leaders and Directors’ group on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups/Oxfordshire-Leaders-Directors1183557/about or Follow us on Twitter: @IoD_Oxfordshire

www.b4-business.com

news Meet Oxfordshire Showcase - in London The first Meet Oxfordshire showcase event was held in November at the Waldorf Hilton Hotel, London. Targeting conference buyers and agents, the event shone the spotlight on Oxfordshire's wealth of meeting venues.

In the Palm Court's elegant setting, over 60 conference buyers and agents met and mingled with 18 Meet Oxfordshire exhibitors, both venues and support services. Few counties could offer such a cornucopia of unusual, competitively priced and easily accessible locations. They included a picturesque Cotswold former mill, a top quality golf course, a converted jail, Oxford colleges, Williams Conference Centre and Britain's favourite Palace. Both enquiries and firm bookings have followed the event.

In addition Meet Oxfordshire has hosted familiarisation visits to conference /exhibition venues across the county by MICE representatives from Visit England’s offices based overseas - the better to promote Oxfordshire's impressive business tourism offer.

For information on Meet Oxfordshire, the official conference bureau for Oxford and Oxfordshire please visit: www.meetoxfordshire.com

Tourism in Oxfordshire - how are we doing? A few facts and figures In these changing times it's vital for any business to keep a finger on the pulse and monitor performance - no less in the case of tourism.

The latest research is published on the Visit Oxfordshire corporate website. Analysing statistics collected throughout 2011 the figures reveal a significant upward trend in tourism visitor numbers, overnight stays, expenditure and associated employment in the county.

Oxfordshire - two and a half million of them staying for at least one night, with both day and overnight visitors showing significant increases. They spent £1.7 billion while here - 1% more than in 2010.

The effect was a 0.8% increase in tourism jobs to over 29,600, mostly in the private sector echoing the trend for the visitor economy across England, and an important contributor to Oxfordshire’s overall economy.

In 2011 more than 26 million visitors came to

Success for Oxfordshire businesses The Beautiful South Awards are now in their 22nd year and recognise businesses and destinations across the tourism industry for their exceptional levels of customer service and dedication to raising standards.

At the Awards for Excellence 2012-2013, held in November, a number of Oxfordshire businesses excelled including Wallingford Food Festival 2012, Newington Nurseries and the Weber Grill Academy, with prestigious Gold Awards for the Feathered Nest and Blenheim Palace.

How Do I Get Involved?

Whether your business is aimed at the leisure or business tourism market, full information on how to become a partner of Visit Oxfordshire can be found at www.visitoxfordshire.org. If you would benefit from national and international representation, a presence on a leading website, exposure

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via social media and access to accommodation/conference booking services, this could be the best club you ever joined! Partnership packages at a range of levels cater for every size of business.

www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

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Simon McCrum Darbys Managing Partner

DARBYS SOLICITORS:

OXFORD REVOLUTION Oxford is home to leading legal practice Darbys Solicitors LLP. In just 5 years Darbys’ Managing Partner, Simon McCrum, has transformed this local firm into a national legal practice providing a comprehensive service to a pool of a potential 5 million clients. Article by Nicholas Newman.

In 2007, Simon McCrum was invited to become Darbys Managing Partner to lead the firm’s expansion strategy. However, the Lehman bust and the subsequent financial crisis and recession were not auspicious. “The recession, hit law firms very hard, and many had to cut back on staff and resources. The days were very dark back in 2008 and 2009, and I was under all sorts of pressures to cut costs,” said Simon. ”At this time, it was common practice to avoid sacking lawyers. Instead, firms looked at cutting the budget for IT, Marketing and Finance”.

However, Darbys believed that support services were just as vital to Darbys’ future as its professional lawyers.

Darbys’ corporate strategy was counterintuitive, encompassing direct investment in support services such as IT, Marketing and Finance as well as staff and client retention. The Partners’ self-belief was that in order to make the practice ‘fighting fit’ 32

for a great future, they needed the right talent and investment. In addition, a drive to ensure that every team turned a profit, whether it was corporate or conveyancing was implemented. “You can’t have one team doing well and another doing badly,” Simon noted. Moreover, during this time, Darbys worked hard as a team to retain both clients and staff. “We never took our clients for granted”, says Simon.

The strategy “The secret behind Darbys recent success is due to its business ethos: ‘great service - every lawyer every time’”, says Simon. The results speak for themselves with high client retention, new business generated by word-of-mouth recommendation and clients who talk positively about the firm.

Darbys offers two distinct legal schemes known as Blue Law and Purple Legal. Blue Law is dedicated to business clients, while Purple Legal caters for

individuals and families. Both schemes work in a similar way. In either scheme clients have access to Darbys’ teams of specialist lawyers who will answer any legal enquiries free of charge. ”For example, when a new client comes to buy a house, with our Purple Legal scheme, he or she doesn’t just buy into the legal expertise needed for purchasing a house, they can speak to any of our lawyers, free of charge, whenever they have a legal enquiry”.

“Unusually, Darbys also actively encourages clients to monitor the performance of our staff. In most practices lawyers would not tolerate being assessed like this”, says Simon. “If we act for you in your house purchase, every two weeks we ask you for feedback by email or text. We ask our clients to rate our service either A, B or C. If the feedback is A, we do nothing. If it is a B, a team leader takes a look at the file. If it is C, then clients can expect a phone call from me so I can understand their www.b4-business.com

B4 SPOTLIGHT

“The results speak for themselves with high client retention, new business generated by word-of-mouth recommendation and clients who talk positively about the firm” Simon McCrum Darbys Managing Partner

Manchester Office

The New Colchester Office

concerns. “Last year, only nine people had to be telephoned by me and customers were very pleased to be treated this way. This makes us different from other law firms who might send out a questionnaire to customers, perhaps once a year”, observes Simon. “We compete on quality of service which, for a service firm, is crucial.”

Keeping staff “Integral to our growth strategy is the hire, retention, and development of the right staff. This means that we have great people to whom we provide a mixture of rewards, participation and career progression through a transparent career structure. In addition, we give equal opportunity to all our staff including our experts in IT, Marketing, and Finance, to become an Associate or even become a Partner. We also develop our people.

Recently, we gave our Associates the opportunity to compete against each other. We divided them up into two groups and tasked them with finding www.b4-business.com

the location for our next Darbys office. In fact, we were so impressed with the results that we are likely to open in at least one of the locations selected by the teams”. Simon enthuses, “It taught our lawyers to understand business and to appreciate the many useful skills that our IT, Marketing and Finance experts bring to the business.”

Achieving growth As well as looking after its traditional and local clients, Darbys has sought growth outside of Oxfordshire. ”Last year, we opened a Manchester office. Within the first month, it was profitable.

The handpicked Manchester team of now approximately thirty is supported by our main team in Oxford”. As Darbys continues to expand the firm it is developing its infrastructure from top to bottom.

The firm plans to move to larger offices in Oxford which has attracted the excitement of many local property companies eager to attract Darbys as their

new client.

As well as retaining existing clients Darbys has also been successful in new client acquisition. Through Purple Legal, Darbys has become the legal services provider for the one hundred thousand members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, as well as the 75,000 gold members of the British Horse Society.

In July 2012, Darbys acquired Legal Assistance Direct which provides legal services to 5 million people around the country, via its 40 or so contracts with affinity schemes.

The results Having gone backwards to re-build, Darbys has come out fighting. It is bigger than it has ever been - nearly 200 people over 4 offices and turnover in 2012 increased by 35%. This pattern looks set to continue. See also page 108. www.darbys.co.uk

Continued overleaf >>

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

THE TEAM ON SIMON MCCRUM “There is an open door policy here and Simon has literally brought the walls down by creating an open office. Simon is very open and has the time to speak to anyone about their ideas. Darbys is the envy of other local firms because of the progress we are making. Darbys has a great reputation and it’s fantastic that despite some massive changes, that reputation has been enhanced tremendously.”

“With all the new offices opening up the Business Support we provide is now vital. He provides us with the resources to help us make his ideas come to life. His thinking is also revolutionary, in particular I haven’t seen other firms where Business Support staff are made associates but it’s a great incentive for the team.”

Sian Champkin Partner in the Corporate Team “There was an un-commercial feel about Darbys pre Simon, certainly coming from a more commercially-focused organisation. It wasn’t modern enough and we have certainly become a much more commercial, and financially successful, business. The strides we have made in the past few years are undoubtedly down to Simon’s vision and we are all right behind him.

“Staff are rewarded for progress and Simon treats us all very fairly, rewarding us on our own merits and that makes us all feel very much a part of the business. We are very focused on keeping the clients happy and engaged. Simon believes that hard work must be rewarded and he looks to incentivise staff in many different ways, such as with the 100 Club. For those who achieve at least 100 hours billing with clients in a month are rewarded with a box of chocolates or a bottle of champagne which is a wonderful gesture and typifies Simon’s approach.”

first to take redundancies. But Simon made it very clear that he needed us for the future growth of the firm. We couldn’t see what he could see but his vision has certainly paid off. Having not worked in the legal sector before, it was only when I started talking to others in this sector and other local IT Managers that I knew Darbys were doing something unique here.

Hannah Faux Associate in the Personal Injury and Medical Negligence Team “I joined as a trainee solicitor – on the same day as Simon. After a couple of months I realised some major changes were taking place. In 2008 it became very clear that Simon was very clued up that the market was changing and he made sure we were well prepared for the changes in the legal market which took place in 2010.

“In the early days it was sometimes difficult to know in what direction we were going. Things changed quickly but I felt confident from Simon’s determination and vision that things would change for the better. As time has gone on things have become a lot clearer. Some people have chosen not to stay with Darbys because they didn’t agree with the changes, but everyone here now is united in the goals Simon has for us and it’s a great place to be. It’s a happy place to work, we are given credit when it’s due, we get full responsibility for case work and nobody else takes credit for my ideas and hard work.

Amy Holden Solicitor in the Criminal Department “You get a real sense that everyone at Darbys is in it together and wants to make it a better place. We are making progress and when everyone else is getting bogged down by the Legal Services Act, Darbys are just getting on with it and making a real name for themselves.

Philip Marsh Partner in Commercial Property Team “It was widely accepted by the equity partners that the firm needed to modernise and the best way to do so was to appoint from outside of the firm – appointing from within wouldn’t have had the same impact. Simon withstood two massive body blows early in his tenure - it was the depths of the recession and a huge chunk of the income of the firm (majority of the corporate team) had left before Simon arrived. Certainly appointing outside the firm was a risk but it has paid off. Simon has dug in and has overcome some massive hurdles “I was the first partner that Simon appointed and the decisions he has made have helped us come out of the recession in great shape. The local business community has certainly changed its tune from querying what Darbys were doing to being perceived as a force to be reckoned with, and our reputation has soared. Simon has given Darbys ambition, just what the equity partners were looking for.

“It’s very much a firm where if you put in the effort you are rewarded. It’s a very flexible place and our profile has improved massively under Simon.” www.darbys.co.uk

“The great thing about Simon is that he includes everyone in staff meetings and plans, He invites feedback and wants to involve us every step of the way. He encourages us to make internal applications to progress, and he is very positive.

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Mike Morrison Head of IT / Associate “During a recession, Business Support is often the

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news New Arrivals for Darbys

Lelani von Moltke (Oxford office)

Nick Gee, Natasha Jones (Head of Manchester office), Elizabeth Bull and Nomaan Ali

The last few months have been very busy with further recruitment within our Oxford and Manchester offices.

French and Alan Pearman to our Accounts Team.

Lelani van Moltke to our Residential Conveyancing Team.

Joanne Owen and Suzanne Brown to our Private Client Team.

Megan Harris to our Commercial Litigation Team.

We would like to welcome to our: Oxford Office Amanda Chrystal, Binay Pant, Kim

Manchester Office Nick Gee to our Commercial Litigation Team.

Nomaan Ali, Elizabeth Bull and Sandra Fox to our Commercial Property Team Welcome to you all!

Darbys’ Fundraising for 2013 Following the success of raising £50,000 for the Oxford Cancer Hospital, Darbys will be supporting three new charities all local to our three offices.

Our Manchester office will continue to support the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust. The Trust provide holidays and activities for terminally ill, chronically sick, disabled and disadvantaged children from all over the Northwest.

Our Colchester office will be raising funds for the Essex Air Ambulance Service whilst our Oxford office will be focusing its efforts in raising money for Age UK Oxfordshire. www.darbys.co.uk

Darbys Solicitors sees 30% increase in turnover in 2012 The close of our 2012 year-end showed a £2m year-on-year increase in turnover, to £9m.

With offices in Oxford, Manchester, Thame, and Colchester we saw rises in the business of both our Personal and our Business Divisions.

Managing Partner Simon McCrum said – “This was the year that all the building blocks we have been

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putting in place came together. We are now nearly 200 people. Our Oxford office performed brilliantly, and our Manchester office grew in the year from one person to approaching 30. At the same time we acquired the business of Legal Assistance Direct, a legal advice provider with contracts covering some 5 million potential users.

“Our priorities are as ever to deliver a great service

– every lawyer, every time, so that we keep our clients and so that they use us for all of their legal needs. Our PURPLE LEGAL scheme for families, our BLUE LAW scheme for businesses, and the Legal Assistance Direct advice centre are all very effective at getting new clients in – the real driver for our business though is retaining and nurturing them so that we realise their lifetime value.” www.darbys.co.uk

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The three floors of formal and informal spaces include three oak-panelled Harvard-style lecture theatres (seating 76, with purposebuilt translation booths for simultaneous lecture translation), three large flexible classrooms (seating 45-75), and 18 board-room style meeting spaces (seating 8). At the heart of the building is a large Club Room with a bar, lounge space, terrace and views down to the garden.

Our dedicated and experienced catering team serve fresh and delicious food throughout the day to be enjoyed in our private dining rooms with panoramic views over Oxford’s dreaming spires.

The building has excellent green credentials and is highly sustainable, using geothermal energy for heating and cooling, rainwater harvesting to flush toilets, and solar energy contributing to water heating. It includes a green roof which aids biodiversity and collects rainwater.

The stunning West Wing of Saïd Business School has opened its doors, boasting state-of-the-art facilities. The large variety of teaching and meeting rooms, finished and furnished to the highest of standards are now available to businesses and organisations for conferences, meetings and exhibitions. Designed by leading architecture practice, Dixon Jones, the building adjoins the Business School’s original site next to Oxford’s railway station.

The new facilities augment the original Park End Street building which includes a 300 seat auditorium and Egrove Park, a quiet business retreat set in 37 acres of Parkland, benefiting from 63 study bedrooms.

The combination of stunning spaces, impressive technology, delicious food and unbeatable locations makes Saïd Business School, the centre for Oxford’s conferencing .

For more information or to book an event, please contact 01865 288846/7 or email: conference@sbs.ox.ac.uk

THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION I N

A S S O C I A T I O N

W I T H

B 4

M A G A Z I N E

Thames Valley Training & Development Professional Training is key to future career success

SAE Institute Oxford The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest creative media college

Oxford & Cherwell Valley College Brave New World - OCVC leads a fresh approach to education

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THE BUSINESS OF EDUCATION I N

A S S O C I A T I O N

W I T H

B 4

M A G A Z I N E

04 Intro by Sally Dicketts

05 Intro by David Podger

06 Thames Valley Training & Development

08 Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking

10 SAE Institute

12 Pegasus Theatre

13 Cokethorpe School

14 Bloxham School

16 Buckinghamshire New University

See The Business of Education on line as a separate supplement. Want to feature in next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition?

Call us now on 01865 742211.

From the producers of B4 Magazine

20 Reading College

22 Oxford & Cherwell Valley College

OXFORD & CHERWELL VALLEY COLLEGE MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITY You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be an employment expert to know that todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young people face a very different jobs market than their parents did.

The economic downturn and a shift in employment culture means it is unlikely that people starting out today will enjoy long careers with a single organisation.

Just last month the media declared that Britain could be on course for its third recession in four years, following news that the economy shrank 0.3% in the last three months of 2012.

Youth unemployment is at an all-time high, having exceeded the one million mark, and the prospect of a further recession will do little for employer confidence.

However, whilst there are undoubted challenges, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young people also face immense opportunities.

We are living through a time of unprecedented technological change and this generation is at the cutting edge of a revolution in the way that we communicate and engage.

The Government is investing in funding and support for new business start-ups, for young people in particular, as a means of stimulating economic growth. For these new business builders, the routes to their customers and markets are more direct than ever before thanks to the technology at their fingertips.

What these changes require are new approaches to teaching, learning and assessment that help our young people to navigate the challenges and make the most of the opportunities that surround them.

To thrive in this new landscape our students will need skills of teamwork, resilience, creativity and problem solving. They will need to be adaptable to change and be prepared to collaborate beyond the boundaries of traditional employment sectors.

As a provider of post-16 education and training we are working locally and nationally to drive educational reform, using entrepreneurial principles to help our students succeed in the 21st century workplace.

We are helping students to develop the enterprise-related skills that will give them the best chance of success, whether they launch out on their own or go on to work for an SME or big business.

This approach recognises that the learning experience must be rooted in commercial environments that teach real-world skills. Students must have the opportunity to put what they learn into practice every step of the way, and to take risks in safe environments where they can learn, grow and develop.

Partnerships with local employers and business leaders are central to helping us develop meaningful programmes that go far beyond the simple work experience placements of the past.

Find out more about our approaches on page 22.

Sally Dicketts is Chief Executive and Principal of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College

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THAMES VALLEY TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT I am delighted to have taken up the challenge of starting an entirely new training and development business for the region, the result of a Bucks New University initiative to provide services to the wider business community.

Although closely associated with educational institutions and a subsidiary of Bucks New University, Thames Valley Training & Development has very much a commercial focus. We are tasked with engaging with businesses to address some of the skills gaps that exist in the region. One striking example of this is that, despite being the national hub for entrepreneurial development in digital technology, local employers find it difficult to recruit enough ICT technicians. We are helping to fill this gap by offering entrancelevel industry ICT certification from HP and Cisco from our state-of-the-art facilities in High Wycombe.

Similar gaps exist in the provision of training for support staff to the professions, most notably the accountancy and legal professions. In association with our partner, Aylesbury College, we are developing courses for professional qualifications from bodies such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx), and the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). These will be available from September of this year.

A major catalyst for growth in the regional economy is sales expertise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; often neglected in vocational training. We are launching an Institute of Sales and Marketing Management Level 3 Certificate in Sales and Marketing this April to develop the skills needed to drive increases in orders.

Thames Valley Training & Development may be new, but it draws upon a wealth of experience derived from the excellence of its long-established parent, Bucks New University. Because of our close links with the University, we can also provide alternative pathways towards academic awards for those who wish to complement their professional training with University qualifications.

Contacts C: David Podger, info@tvtd.co.uk A: Thames Valley Training & Development, Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, HP11 2JZ T: +44 (0)1494 603060 W: www.thamesvallleytraining.com

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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IS KEY TO FUTURE CAREER SUCCESS A wholly owned subsidiary of Bucks New University, Thames Valley Training & Development was officially launched in mid-2012 and offers a wide variety of IT, business and management courses taught by professionally qualified and accredited instructors.

Heading up the organisation is David Podger, a training and development professional with more than 20 years’ experience at a senior level.

“We can offer the best of both worlds because we have the benefits of the University, such as the excellent facilities and support services, but at the same time we are an autonomous organisation

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with complete independence in the way we operate and the courses we provide,” he said.

gain the relevant skills they need for their working careers.”

“We work very closely with different professional bodies to ensure our qualifications are accredited, and all our trainers or instructors come from the commercial world. They bring real-life workplace experience to enable our course participants to

“Research shows that across the wider Thames Valley area, there is a requirement for more people at support levels, particularly in the IT sector where good technicians are in short supply. The entry level IT qualifications that we offer such as HP ATA or

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“We work very closely with different professional bodies to ensure our qualifications are accredited, and all our trainers or instructors come from the commercial world.”

Cisco CCNA, make a very good starting point for someone to fill those gaps,” he said.

David says the qualifications can also stand participants in good stead if they want to continue their studies. For some, he says, gaining an introduction to higher education via professional qualifications can provide a vital stepping-stone to a future degree course, and the company’s unique links with the University mean the team is able to support them throughout the process.

For businesses and individuals with specific training requirements, he has this message: “We stand by our strapline, professional training, delivered professionally. Our offering is very much professional, practical training that is designed to improve performance.”

“The real benefit is that our links with the University mean we are here for the long term. Bucks New University has made a substantial commitment in setting up this business and our ongoing association means there are many ways we www.b4-business.com

can help to equip the region with the skills and qualifications it needs for sustained economic growth.”

deliver training in-house at your premises and would be happy to discuss your training requirements with you.

About Us Thames Valley Training & Development exists to provide an alternative vehicle for employers and individuals to engage in professional development.

Our promise is ‘professional training, professionally delivered’. All our instructors are subject experts with extensive professional and commercial experience and relevant training qualifications.

Facilities On-site training is delivered from the iconic Gateway building on the Bucks New University High Wycombe campus. Winner of a Royal Institute of British Architects award, the Gateway building contains a learning resources and technology centre and boasts state-of-the-art facilities. ICT training is delivered in specially designed labs, supported by designated technical staff.

It is a measure of the confidence placed in us by industry that we are proud to have been selected as one of the very few organisations globally to offer the new HP Accredited Technical Associate certification, and the only organisation in the UK to be able to deliver this training to those from outside academia.

Participants on Thames Valley Training & Development courses have access to the University’s learning resources centre and qualify for a discounted membership for the superbly fitted out gym on the ground floor of the Gateway building.

Courses are offered in a variety of formats, either extensively as part-time evening classes or more intensively as full-time courses. We also

Instruction is delivered in comfortable, purposedesigned teaching spaces equipped with the latest learning technology.

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SUPPORTING THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN OXFORDSHIRE From its world famous university down to its primary schools, Oxfordshire has always been proud of its education system. At Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking, we work hard to ensure we support this system as much as possible.

With several routes for schools to choose, from independent schools to academies, it is more important than ever that educational establishments have the support they need to manage their finances properly.

At Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking, alongside the National Association of School Business Management (NASBM), we have developed an accreditation programme to make sure our Education Relationship Managers have a thorough grounding in the sector.

Martin Warren, who is one of these Relationship Managers in Oxfordshire, said: “We know that as running a school day-to-day is such a demanding job, it can be a challenge to balance this with effective financial management. That’s why we aim to become an integral part of a school’s support network to help them manage their money properly.

“As part of this, we offer a dedicated education bank account, which is suitable for both state funded schools and academies, as well as other services such as ParentPay to allow easy, online payments for items such school dinners, field trips and extra-curricular clubs.”

This is alongside our other services for schools, such as a high interest deposit for any surplus funds and even the arrangement of cash collections for you by our authorised security company.

One of the biggest changes that the education system across the country has seen in recent years is the introduction of academies. Since the programme was introduced in 2000, there are now over 1.25 million pupils across the UK receiving an academy education.

highest regarded benefits to converting – the freedom from local authority control – can also become one of the biggest burdens if not properly researched and managed.

This highlights the importance of proper budgetary and financial control for academies. Many choose to employ a School Business Manager in recognition of the fact that education professionals may need support with the financial responsibilities of managing an academy.

“We know that as running a school day-to-day is such a demanding job, it can be a challenge to balance this with effective financial management. That’s why we aim to become an integral part of a school’s support network to help them manage their money properly.”

We can work with management teams to provide full banking facilities. Also, as independent schools may have ambitions of growth to help them thrive in such a competitive sector, we can also provide funding packages to help support expansion projects.

Loans can be secured up to a 25-year term, and through the Government-backed Funding for Lending scheme schools can benefit from up to a one per cent reduction in the interest rate.

Peter Rogers, who is an independent schools specialist at Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking, said: “Those management teams in charge of independent schools are custodians and plan for the long term success of their school, and we aim to support them in providing the best education for the next generations.

“We understand that independent schools face all the challenges of education as well as business, so our Relationship Managers work hard to become an integral part of their support network to help them overcome these hurdles.”

No matter what the status of your school, the Oxfordshire-based Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking team is here to help you achieve your ambitions. For more information, please contact Peter Rogers (07836 618 323) or Martin Warren (07921 548 532). Alternatively, you can visit businesshelp.lloydstsbbusiness.com/industryfocus/education Any property given as security which may include your home, may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other debts secured

Martin Warren added: “It can prove challenging to take budgetary control from the local authority and this really brings home the importance of a strong financial support network.”

In Oxfordshire, ten per cent of primary and secondary schools have converted to academy status with more potentially looking to make the change. This goes to show that while the academy programme continues to court controversy, it looks set to feature on the educational landscape for years to come.

At Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking, we also offer support to the independent schools sector, which presents a very different set of opportunities and challenges to those of state schools.

The aspects of school life affected by the change to academy status are wide reaching. One of the

With independence from Government in terms of finance and governance comes the need for

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management and control more akin to that of a business. As a result, we have a team of Relationship Managers who are fully immersed in the independent schools sector to enable them to help achieve their ambitions.

on it.

All lending is subject to a satisfactory credit assessment.

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street,

Independent schools

London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no.

2065. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

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SAE INSTITUTE OXFORD Your chance to study for a creative media degree â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in 2 years!

In schools and the world of Higher Education, SAE Institute Oxford is firmly established as a dominant player when it comes to teaching creative media technologies.

They have gained a global reputation for preparing students to become professionals, laying the foundation for their chosen career in the creative media industries.

SAEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Littlemore Park facility (33,000 square feet) is not only a state of the art creative media campus offering bespoke teaching facilities; it is also the world headquarters to 55 campuses in 27 countries. HRH the Duke of York accepted an invitation from SAE Institute to attend the official opening as guest of honour and unveil a plaque declaring their new global headquarters officially open.

The Institute was the first to pioneer a combination of practical hands-on training with a solid theoretical grounding creating world-class professionals

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specialising in audio production, 3D animation, digital filmmaking, games programming and web development.

Now, 37 years on, they are the world's largest creative media college and immensely proud of their fast track 2-year BA/BSc (Hons) degree programmes, validated by Middlesex University.

Such is their standing within the creative media industries; they are able to attract the top industry names to speak at their distinguished guest lectures, sharing their experiences and knowledge with students.

Visit the campus and you will see that support is always on hand; putting their students first and at the very heart of everything they do, providing excellent resources and exceptionally high standards of teaching that include one-to-one tutoring. oxford.sae.edu

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TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH PERFORMING ARTS Magdalen Road has been home to Pegasus, one of Oxford’s most exciting arts venues for the past 50 years. Following our major building redevelopment in 2010, the iconic copper cladding has housed a modern interior of world-class standards with its bar and cafe, theatre space, dance studio, dressing rooms, meeting rooms and workshops.

Fundamental to Pegasus is our belief that young people are our future and we strive to engage, inspire and equip them for their lives ahead. We are justifiably proud of our national reputation for youth activities and opportunities. Last year alone, we held over 2,000 workshops and worked with more than 9,000 young people, 137 artists and 87 volunteers.

And at Pegasus, it is about so much more than ‘just’ the performance. Throughout their time here, young people find that as their confidence and social skills develop, so they discover an aspiration to aim higher in life outside of Pegasus. We absolutely believe in empowering the young and never cease to be impressed at how well they rise to the challenges of the leadership roles and responsibilities we offer them.

Recently we sent a young representative to the United Nations in New York to take part in an international presentation of a performance called the Gaza Mono-Logues that we had staged here in Oxford.

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And during MESH, our international festival of youth arts, our Youth Theatre members not only perform alongside groups from all over the world but are involved on the Planning Committee where their responsibilities range from attending meetings, to organising advertising and PR to fundraising in order to host the visiting groups.

Pegasus are now in the second year of our exciting Create for Change project which aims to use the arts as a vehicle for young people to explore global issues. Working with OXFAM, the Youth Theatre are examining the topic: ‘Food, Poverty and Justice’ and will perform in two unique shows and tour local schools, leading workshops and discussion on the issues raised. They are also busy behind the scenes designing costumes and sets and will take on technical roles for the shows, gaining hands-on experience of stage-management, lighting and sound.

Through their involvement at Pegasus, the young acquire a myriad of skills. Not just technical or performance skills. Not just social and interpersonal skills as they work as part of, or lead, a team. But more than all of this, by their engagement in the whole process of showcasing the performing arts, they are exploring who they are and who they have the potential to be.

Rosanna, aged 18, has been a member of Pegasus for 8 years. She has leant technical, leadership and teaching skills and even travelled to France and

Russia with the Youth Theatre Group. She now works as a Youth Assistant for the Design and Making Group, leads sessions and is herself delighted now to be ‘playing a part in building the confidence of other young people.’

Will joined Pegasus’ Youth Theatre Group at 8 years of age. He describes how he found an immediate home and how members of staff quickly became ‘ mentors and role models.’ He chose to pursue a degree in theatre, which led to an MA in Theatre at the University of Exeter. He is now applying for a PHD. Will says ‘Institutions like Pegasus are part of the life blood of Great Britain, not just artistically, but socially as well.’

Pegasus would like to warmly thank all the companies who have supported us, including Dragon School, Finders Keepers, HMG Law, Henmans Freeth, John Wiley & Sons, Lucy’s Properties, MINI plant Oxford, Oxfam, Oxford Bus Company, Rotary Club Oxford, Roundtable, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford University Press, Torpedo’s and Unipart among many others.

If you would like to find out about the partnership opportunities that your business could enjoy with Pegasus, contact Bel Crewe 01865 812 173 or email bel.crewe@pegasustheatre.org.uk www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

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COKETHORPE SCHOOL About Cokethorpe School Cokethorpe is a thriving and energetic coeducational day school that offers the full 4 to 18 age range with distinct but inter-dependent Junior and Seniors Schools on the same site. It is a member of HMC, IAPS and The Society of Heads. Founded in 1957, it is situated in 150 acres of inspirational Oxfordshire parkland, two miles from Witney, ten from Oxford. We operate 22 bus routes, which encompass a large area, and over 70% use this service exclusive for Cokethorpe pupils. There are a variety of scholarships and awards on offer and means-tested bursaries (financial assistance) are also available.

What are Cokethorpe’s Strengths?

We strive for academic excellence without being a hothouse and we encourage our children to champion their strengths and challenge their weaknesses in a friendly, supportive and productive environment. There are a lot of families with more than one child in the school, catering for their sons and daughters of differing ages. This contributes to our family atmosphere and we are proud of our reputation for being a happy, stimulating and caring community where children will flourish and excel.

How would you define a Cokethorpe pupil?

We look for rounded individuals with enquiring minds who are open to learning with interest and enthusiasm and who achieve in as wide and varied a way as you can possibly imagine. Our pupils are encouraged to test and learn about themselves, to develop a concern for others and to grow intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally.

They are purposeful, happy and unpretentious and

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we encourage our pupils to understand that learning is a lifelong endeavour.

Tell us more about the Junior School The size of the Junior School is such that there is a perfect balance between being large enough to provide a lively, diverse and enriching atmosphere with opportunities for trying many different things, sport fixtures, music ensembles and healthy academic competition, and small enough for an intimate and caring environment where the dedicated and enthusiastic staff know the children as individuals and there is a distinct sense of belonging and wellbeing. The Junior School retains its distinct character whilst benefiting from being linked to the Senior School. Children get to know older pupils through shared activities and feel part of a wider community and they gain enormously from having access to the Senior School facilities and the academic and sporting specialist staff.

Whilst the independence of the Junior School ensures a real sense of progress as children move into Year 7, the continuity in education means they will benefit from knowing many of the Senior staff and the School site.

What about pastoral care?

We take seriously the business of looking after our children and value our reputation for outstanding pastoral care. The House system, personal tutoring, year-group specific social and health programmes, and a joint Anglican and Roman Catholic foundation create a positive support structure. All focus on development of the whole person, encourage loyalty and participation, and instil a sense of personal responsibility. Having pupils aged

four to 18 on the same site fosters an atmosphere of mutual support, where everyone knows everyone else and looks out for each other.

What about academic matters?

Through a process of target setting and progress review evenings we aim to challenge our pupils to consistently produce the very best they can. 2012 saw our most successful GCSE and A Level examination results to date, with 41% achieving A*As grades at GCSE and 73% achieving A*-B grades at A Level. Nearly all students go on to Higher Education, enrolling on a variety of degrees and foundation courses, many at Oxbridge and Russell Group universities.

What kinds of extra-curricular activities are on offer?

In addition to the wider curriculum (trips, workshops and visiting lecturers) there are many clubs and societies that extend the work of academic departments and encourage a diversity of interests. An hour at the end of each day and extended Friday lunchtimes are for an extensive range of over 50 ‘AOB’ activities, from yoga to American Football, and public speaking to Japanese culture. In addition, a flourishing programme of music, drama, art and sport provide numerous opportunities for pupils to get involved in concerts, performances and competitions of all kinds. Other activities include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Young Enterprise, language exchanges, ski trips, sports tours and cultural trips abroad and there is a World Challenge expedition to Thailand in the summer of 2013.

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BLOXHAM SCHOOL Bloxham School has lined up an impressive team to jointly present its Annual Careers Fair to its 5th and Lower 6th form pupils at the school in early March.

Representatives are drawn from the school’s alumni, parents past and present and, teachers and governors and will offer advice and specialist knowledge on a rich diversity of future careers including Brewing, Design, Engineering, Fashion, Charity Sector, Journalism, Management Consultancy, Market Research, Marketing, Media and Film, Medicine, Aviation. Police, Public Relations, Law, Surveying, Teaching (Secondary and Primary) and Financial Services Industries.

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This invaluable fair gives Bloxham pupils the chances to hear directly from local business and industries the skills that are being sought in the age of digital media and electronic communications.

That the information is often coming from people who one wore the Bloxham blazer makes the whole experience so much more real and has been appreciated by generations of Bloxhamists.

The Careers Fair complements other career work being carried out throughout the senior school.

Bloxham is fully committed, for example, to the ISCO ‘Inspiring Futures’ programme and ‘Futurewise’ which sees pupils receive personalised career guidance and planning following on from

the paper-based Morrisby psychometric profiling.

‘Future Focussed’ Training, which involves 1 week off timetable at end of L6th develops Leadership, Presentation, Management and Communication Skills in an intensive body of work. (www.isco.org.uk) Further practical business acumen can be picked up by those who decide to join Bloxham’s ‘Young Enterprise’ schemes each year. Although the school’s popular Business Studies department spearheads the Young Enterprise Scheme the places are by no means limited to those following the Business Studies A level course. This scheme has been very successfully run at Bloxham over a

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number of years and has seen the School successfully winning awards and even going abroad as one of the UK’s choisen representative teams.

The pupils gain hugely from the experiences, from the failures as well as the successes. Coming up with a product concept from scratch and involving themselves in the product design ,manufacturing and pricing, marketing and sales processes is a steep learning curve as is the face to face contact with the general public at one of the many trade fairs where they try to sell their ideas and products to the unsuspecting shoppers! It makes business come alive and provides them with many important lessons for life.

A high percentage of Bloxham pupils will be looking to extend their education at Universities and Colleges post A Level and the options open to youngsters has never been greater. Clearly the financial impositions on students in recent years has made choosing the right course and the right

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university even more important than ever and working hand in hand with the other careers advice is guidance on plotting their way through the very complex and ever changing maze of higher education and career options.

Further inspiration for Bloxham pupils (and their parents!) will come at the Founderstide celebrations in May when the guest key-note speaker will be Melody Hossaini, a contestant in the 2011 series of ‘The Apprentice’ on BBC TV. Although Melody was ultimately not the one hired

by Sir Alan Sugar she did leave with his accolade ‘a woman of exceptional ability, ringing in her ears.

She is now putting those considerable abilities to driving her own Social Enterprise company ‘InspirEngage International’. It is her inimitable inspiration and drive that Melody will be delivering to the Bloxham pupils this year as she offers her support in building confident, work-ready and enterprising youngsters.

The life skill set that pupils need to leave formal education with has never been more important than it is today in a modern and global job marketplace. The ability to show flair, flexibility, imagination and to be prepared to go not just the extra mile but the extra 5 miles is key Bloxham is confident that it will continue to turn out young men and women fit for purpose for the world that awaits them and that they will be a generation that will become used to hearing the expression ‘You’re Hired!’ as they enter the world of business and enterprise.

(The photo below shows the BloxhamYoung Enterpise Stand at the Cowley trade Fair 2013) www.bloxhamschool.com

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SHAPING EDUCATION FOR BUSINESS Buckinghamshire New University in High Wycombe has made a positive impact on the tricky educational roadmap that students are required to navigate in order to gain and remain in employment.

With Professor Ruth Farwell at the helm as Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive, the University benefits from strong leadership coupled with a distinct clarity of vision to shape education through addressing the needs of students as well as businesses in Buckinghamshire. By Kelly Stroud.

“When I first came on board, the University was split between three campuses.

The majority of facilities were not fit for purpose. For example, our marketleading courses in the area of music production didn’t provide students with access to the equipment they would be expected to use in industry.”

Buckinghamshire New University earned full university status in 2007, just one year after Ruth Farwell left London South Bank University to take up the role at Bucks, with an objective of converting it from a university college.

“We debated various estates strategies and eventually took the decision to sell off two sites and to consolidate. We also took on a new site at Uxbridge, where our nurse education is based, in a strategic decision to strengthen the relationship with NHS London in order to ensure our students are based closer to the hospitals where they undertake placements and will eventually work.”

The University currently has around 9,000 students enrolled on a combination of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, in addition to work-based foundation degrees. Keen to develop those already in employment, Bucks also offers a wide variety of professional and short courses.

Bucks New University has achieved success in its short history and has developed a good reputation for its industry-linked courses. Ruth explains what attracted her to leave the bright lights of London for a county with a unique entrepreneurial spirit that boasts the most start-ups in the UK. “I was appointed to the position of Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive in 2006 with the initial aim of achieving university status, but it was about more than just that,” explains Ruth. “The college already offered degrees, the challenge was to provide a vision centered around its strengths and identifying what those strengths were in the first place.

“It was important to determine what kind of university we wanted to be. There is now a clearly established vision of employer-focused education which has been developed around Bucks’s early culture with its essence still shining through. We operate a friendly and supportive environment for students and staff.”

Bucks was shortlisted for a 2012 Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Award for the Estates Team’s role in managing a £62 million campus redevelopment programme which has been at the core of Ruth’s strategy.

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The University has invested heavily in its centralisation with the consolidation of its previously divided Wellesbourne and Chalfont campuses into a renovated and expanded High Wycombe campus.

In addition, the Uxbridge campus provides students with healthcare simulation facilities that are state-of-the-art and enable a much more hands-on learning approach. These include a full sized ward and a fully-equipped operating theatre and recovery room/high dependency unit, which together feature all of the essential clinical learning environments to ensure simulated learning experiences with the latest interactive manikins are both realistic and accurate for students and for NHS employees.

Ruth explains: “We invested returns from selling two campuses, borrowed money and used reserves, not only in nurse education but across the board covering music production and drama performance too. When we have visitors, for example from hospitals to Uxbridge, and from a UKTI delegation from around the world to High Wycombe, they’re extremely impressed with our facilities.”

The investment has paid off in more ways than one. In September 2012, Bucks became one of the largest providers of adult nursing training across London following NHS London’s higher education allocations for the next three years.

In addition, the University has gained contracts with NHS South of England to provide nursing education programmes for the NHS in the Thames Valley.

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“There is now a clearly established vision of employer-focused education” Prof Ruth Farwell

These partnerships are going from strength to strength with Bucks training more than 350 nurses each year.

The state-of-the-art Gateway building in High Wycombe also boasts a learning resource and technology centre, events hall, gym, sports science laboratory, dance, drama, music and video production studios, library and meeting rooms. In 2010 the building was the proud winner of a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award for architectural excellence.

Forming alliances to increase visibility Ruth established a clear vision for Bucks New University from the outset with the full support of a strong team around her. The aim is to ensure Bucks is a leading professional and creative influence, shaping higher education for the benefit of people and employers.

In order to achieve this, Ruth has developed a clever and impactful personal strategy, effectively implemented to strengthen the University’s proposition. This is focused around three areas to ensure the University gains increased visibility by forming strategic alliances.

1. The national and higher education sector Ruth is in the middle of her second term as Chair of GuildHE, one of two recognised representative bodies for higher education in the UK. The organisation is involved with lobbying to persuade the Government, politicians and official groups on issues around higher education and also provides

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members with an abundance of support through information, networking and events.

successes, for example, our campaign for superfast broadband,” explains Ruth.

Ruth is also on the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), which is responsible for distributing public money for higher education to universities and colleges in England, and ensuring it is used to deliver the greatest benefit to students and the wider public.

“My aim is to work with the local business community to identify missing skill sets that we and our educational partners, as providers of education, can help to fulfill by providing businesses with direct access to students that have developed the skills required to help business prosper. By identifying the current employment gaps, we can help businesses to plan, grow and evolve.”

2. Educational partners Bucks has strong partnerships with local colleges in the region to help provide students with an option to study closer to home. This includes Aylesbury College, Amersham and Wycombe College, and the University is also a major partner in the new Buckinghamshire University Technical College (UTC) which is soon to be built in Aylesbury and will provide 14-19 year olds with the opportunity to take full-time, technically-oriented courses of study specialising in construction and IT. 3. Local businesses The University is locked into the local business community and was one of the first investing members of Buckinghamshire Business First (BBF).

Ruth also sits on the board of the Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (BTVLEP).

“The BTVLEP is a real success which I believe is due to the commitment from the outset to ensure we have an equal number of business people and local authority as part of the board. It is a real meeting of minds and we are genuinely seeing real

“The University is committed to Buckinghamshire’s contribution to economic growth by helping businesses to recruit the right people now. We also aim to ensure that in five years time, there are not the same skills gaps as there are at present. Our aim at Bucks is to prepare a pipeline of people with the right kind of skills and attitude.”

Lost in translation It isn’t uncommon to hear employers complain of recruitment issues. The terms: ‘good people are hard to find’ or ‘we just can’t find the right person’ would have been experienced by most of us in the business community.

Ruth says it is all down to lack of communication: “Through my work with local businesses, I know that employers often don’t know where to look for the right kind of employees. Equally, young people who are trying to get into work are saying they don’t know what employers want. They read a job description and still ask what the job is about. The two need joining together and that’s how BTVLEP and its educational partners can really help.”

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It is no secret that the county has a lower proportion of 20-29 year olds. Despite its proud claims to be the most entrepreneurial county in the UK, the profile of a typical start-up is often somebody older, perhaps in their 40s, potentially coming back to the county or starting a second career.

much emphasis on readying students for employment but we also need to look at how that is facilitated. It isn’t just about equipping people with the correct skills, students need to consider becoming a rounded professional which includes developing important capabilities such as networking.

providers, are fundamental to the delivery of the University’s strategy.

Ruth champions the need to lower the age demographic in Buckinghamshire and it can only be achieved by providing young people with greater opportunities that will in turn reflect the needs of employers:

“There is a real chance for prospective employers to take an interest in students at an early stage. By investing in an individual’s education, through part sponsorship or funding, it is possible to ensure that person fits with your organisation developing the right business acumen in addition to skills from the outset.

Ruth concludes: “In year six of my role, I’m hugely pleased with what we have been able to achieve.

Everyone at the University has really been supportive of me since day one.

“The demand from students for courses isn’t necessarily in the areas where job vacancies exist.

An emphasis needs to be placed on getting messages to people who are making choices about what to train for. For example, we know there is a recruitment need for engineers, which recently hasn’t been a popular subject for students to take.

We therefore need to work on actively selling those roles to present them as an attractive career with great prospects.”

“Awareness of business now starts in school with students opting for business studies. It is important that awareness is facilitated early on but with that comes additional responsibility of ensuring young people are well-rounded individuals. Students need to be encouraged to engage with higher education, further education or schools in order to contribute to society later on in life.”

The University’s partnership approach keeps Bucks relevant and up-to-date and ensures students are prepared for the real-life challenges of the 21st century workplace.

“Moving forward, we are very clear about what we want to be. The aim, as it has been since I arrived, is to look after students in addition to links with employers to provide employer-focused education.

We will continuously try to develop this area as it really does serve the higher educational purposes of today.”

Through Ruth’s forward-thinking attitude, Bucks hopes to retain some of the 20-29 year olds that graduate each year to seek employment within the county.

Through her work with BBF, Ruth is currently involved in establishing a virtual employers group.

The aim is to generate an exchange of information about businesses and industry providing people with a useful resource in one place for recruitment needs.

The future Bucks New is a leading modern university, driving professional and creative excellence. The courses offered are intended to prepare graduates for employment as well as enhancing professional competence for those already in employment.

Equally, with the thriving and prosperous business community that Buckinghamshire has to offer, those students who fled the nest to study elsewhere at 18, may even come to realise that life a little closer to home most definitely has its perks.

Ruth explains: “There are gaps to be filled on both sides, for job seekers and recruiters. There is so

Externally, partnerships with employers, public sector commissioners and other educational

Contact: 0800 056 5660 or advice@bucks.ac.uk or see bucks.ac.uk

PARTNER WITH BUCKS Bucks New University is keen to develop alliances with businesses across the Thames Valley and would like your input in shaping education to suit employer needs.

The University also offers business support services, conferencing facilities, consultancy services, knowledge transfer partnerships, production services and recruitment services.

To find out more about the services and training available at Bucks New University, please contact the For Business team on 01494 522 141 ext.

4022, or email: forbusiness@bucks.ac.uk

There is the chance to improve knowledge and expertise within your business or workplace by offering training to employees whilst in work, with a range of short courses and continuing professional development opportunities on offer.

With an ‘open door’ policy, the team is happy to discuss services for businesses, individual entrepreneurs, public and voluntary sector organisations.

If you would like to explore the opportunities for educational partnerships, please contact Sally Skea on 01494 605253, or email: sally.skea@bucks.ac.uk

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IN PRINCIPAL

Reading College students Gloria Arias and Jack Phillips met with their Principal, Lesley Donoghue, to find out more about the College’s ethos and future plans. This article was written and designed by Gloria and Jack.

Principal Lesley Donoghue is a big part of the on-going change at Reading College and, having worked in Further Education for twenty fi ve years, Lesley’s passion and commitment are still at their maximum today. She recognises what is happening all around her and knows what needs to be done to achieve the excellence that she knows Reading College and its students are capable of.

Lesley has been the Principal at Reading College since its change from Thames Valley University to the much improved educational facility that it is today; she has given the present and future students more choice for their chosen careers with courses that will give a wide range of paths to select from. Implementing courses that range from Level 1 to Level 4, the College has opened up new doors to allow in students from all backgrounds because, as Lesley puts it, “it is a challenge to break that cycle and to move into employment and to get ready for employment”. Reading College is doing its level best to help students from disadvantaged families where, historically, qualifi cations are rare and unemployment more frequent, to improve their quality of life.

The college wants people to ‘get their fi rst foot on the ladder’ and have helped them do this by developing short programmes that will enable them to work effectively within the college and be able to move on quickly into employment. As Lesley states ‘direction is all and achievement is all’ and these ‘short and sharp’ programmes enable them to progress quicker which is especially useful for people who can’t or don’t feel like they could stay in education for a full year.

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Education is a key institution necessary for our society to grow both in knowledge and awareness of the expanding opportunities of the world, not just in Reading. There is so much out there for students, whether they are from state school or public school education and Lesley is quite obviously aware of that. “Sometimes, further education colleges tend to do their own thing and don’t always take account of what’s happening around them, but certainly we, in this college, intend to do that and are doing that.”

Lesley continues to build strong links with local businesses for work experience and apprenticeships to help both staff and students obtain a vital understanding of the skills needed and what businesses want from their employees. Reading College provides students with the training needed to successfully excel, in part, due to these close links and the insider knowledge provided from the employers.

The joining of Reading College with B4 Magazine has enabled the college to obtain a strong tie with outside employers. Aiding students by giving them more opportunities to thrive within their courses, whether it be Media, Graphic Arts, English or Maths, there are options available for everyone that will give them something more; if they apply to university or go into full time work - whatever path they choose- having real working-life experience is invaluable. “The opportunity to work with B4 has been incredible. Giving students a taste of real life business is invaluable for them. We recently had a student photograph Sir John Madejski at Reading FC and others have presented their ideas to B4 about design improvements. We are now welcoming B4 clients to the College to have

professional photographs taken for the magazine and this is all gold dust for the students and reinforces our links with the business community.”

Commented Lesley.

It is hoped that in 2012, Reading College’s University Technical College will be opened as a fantastic addition to Reading itself. Reading’s UTC has been recently approved by the Government’s UTC nationwide programme and intends to produce highly qualifi ed staff for specialised roles within cutting edge technological companies.

As tuition fees rise for universities, colleges like Reading College are going to be in more demand due to the increased opportunities available, such as the Level 4 courses which provide pre-degree learning and compliment any further education.

At Reading College there is currently one Level 4 Art and Design Foundation course and two more to be added next year which will be 2 year programmes; one in Business and Enterprise, the other in Childcare which will ‘give students more opportunities to stretch’ and it can be seen that Reading College is a ‘great stepping stone’ for university. But Lesley has made it clear that Reading College ‘gives the best opportunity of increasing student’s life chances’ and that’s what any student would want from an educational institution; where they feel they have an opportunity to do more, to be more. www.reading-college.ac.uk

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MISSION To help local people maximise their talent, knowledge and skills through a stimulating learning experience which gives them the edge to compete in Reading’s enterprising global economy.

• 1955: Opened as Reading College of Technology • Later became Reading College and School of Arts and Design • 2004: became part of Thames Valley University • 2010: Re-launched as Reading College • 6000 local learners • 900 further education courses • Wide range of Entry Level to Level 5 courses • Curriculum includes: IT, engineering, hair and beauty, health and social care, construction, accountancy, business, creative arts and media, catering and A-levels • Wide range of apprenticeships with local businesses • Varied higher education programmes • University Technical College (UTC) specialises in computer science and engineering • Industry partners of the UTC include Microsoft, Cisco, Peter Brett Associates, Network Rail and University of Reading

“A teacher

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Photography Carolina Soler Gomes

affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops.”

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BRAVE NEW WORLD An enterprise academy, business incubation scheme and commercial operations led by teams of talented students.

It may not sound like your typical further education college, but Oxford & Cherwell Valley College is leading a fresh approach to education that equips young people for success.

Spend any time at Oxfordshire’s largest provider of vocational training and you are likely to be asked to part with some cash.

That’s not because Oxford & Cherwell Valley College is short of funding, but because its students are busy developing the business acumen needed to succeed in today’s workplace.

Whether it’s the craftsmen in residence producing bespoke commissions at the prestigious National School of Furniture, fashion students selling jewellery and tote bags, or hospitality and catering students promoting the restaurant’s special offers, a commercial approach comes through loud and clear.

Of course it’s not just about making money. Walk into any learning environment and you are likely to find students engaged in projects with a real-world flavour – whether it’s business students pitching their marketing assignment to a Dragons Den-style panel of experts or creative media students developing the brief for an external filming project.

It’s an approach which has already caught the attention of Ofsted, which visited last year as it sought to identify best practice in promoting enterprise-related skills and the entrepreneurial capabilities of 16 to 19-year-olds.

The focus is also forging closer links with local businesses, many of whom came along to the college’s first ‘conference season’ last October to find out how students were being made ready for employment.

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Sally Dicketts, Chief Executive and Principal of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College (OCVC), said: “In today’s marketplace it is not enough for students to achieve a qualification alone. We need to equip our students with the transferrable skills that employers demand and that could also help them to succeed as one of the increasing number of new business start-ups.

“Employment has changed radically in a generation, and the way that we educate and train our young people must also adapt so that they can thrive. We want to provide an environment where students can develop real-world skills in commercial environments, where they can take risks and develop their curiosity and resilience through independent learning.”

The college is working at a local and national level to promote grassroots enterprise as a member of the Gazelle Colleges Group, a cluster of further education colleges using entrepreneurial principles to drive educational reform. The network has attracted some big names, including original Dragon’s Den panelist Doug Richard who will speak at OCVC in March. As a founder member of Gazelle, OCVC students also get access to initiatives such as the Start-Up Britain bus tour, which brought a host of young entrepreneurs and business advisers to the Oxford campus last year.

OCVC recognises that to promote an enterprising culture, it needs to walk the talk. To this end it has set up its own Community Interest Company, SweetFE, which operates as a social enterprise and

is able to generate income for social good. SweetFE is connecting a group of around 50 ambassadors – drawn from the local business community and from the college’s own staff team. These ambassadors act as mentors for new student businesses (through an incubation scheme) and also meet to develop ideas that will generate income or improve ways of working. Among the success stories have been SweetFE Learning, an online resource where students can have their work published, and the Oxford campus car parking scheme which generated £70,000 in its first year.

Sally said: “We realise that we need to embody the behaviours and principles that we are helping our own students to develop. SweetFE has helped us to achieve a cultural shift which is now being felt across the sector and which is also improving links with the local business community.

“In the year ahead we will be further developing our approach by establishing learning companies, which will provide students with employment as well as a qualification and enable us to build on the work to date.”

If you are a local business and would like to find out more about SweetFE or other ways to get involved in the work of Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, contact info@sweetfe.co.uk. www.ocvc.ac.uk

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“we are actually bucking the banking trend, we have positive lending stats, 4.3 % as a group and 5.3% in our Oxford branch”

LLOYDS TSB

COMMERCIAL BANKING In the modern climate, banks are not perceived in a positive light, nor, with the recession and many other economic issues, are they doing as well as they once did.

Karl Leitelmayer and Nigel Brooks of Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking in Oxfordshire are striving to eliminate both this bad reputation and this financial misconception.

Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking believe that how people perceive ‘high level banking’, has become a myth of sorts that the public now apply even to local banks. They argue that, in actual fact, customers appreciate their local banks, and it is a rumour that can be easily abolished when we examine external surveys. These show that when asked what customers think about their local bank, or their bank manager, the response has been surprisingly positive.

Ultimately local relationships give an entirely different picture, and Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking believe that this not only needs to be better known, but the relationship itself needs to be improved.

Alongside this, Nigel and Karl also argue that in a broader survey of all the banks, ‘Lloyds came out top in 6 of the 8 categories’. Perhaps some of the reasoning behind this is the schemes that they offer, ‘‘Lloyds Funding for Lending’ is an interesting one, because I don’t think many businesses know about it. Our scheme is open to all sectors, which no one else offers, and we also allow customers a 1% discount for the term of their loan.’

This year, the focus on customer satisfaction has also increased, to the extent that what the customers say about the bank manager will directly correlate to how that manager’s performance is measured. Where previously this had been

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much more sales based, Karl argues that ‘We put customers at the centre of everything that we do, and I think that’s one of the ways we are improving what is arguably already a good relationship with our customers.’ Evidence that this does seem to be improving comes from the 24% of customers who switch to Lloyds who do so because of a recommendation or word of mouth. Clearly they are producing happy customers willing to pass on their experiences.

This customer service also seems to be paying off financially, since the Oxford branch is thriving in a time of economic downturn. Karl explains, ‘we are actually bucking the banking trend as we have positive lending stats, 4 % as a group and 5% in our Oxford branch. This is in contrast to a decline in net lending growth of 4% across the industry, and unlike some other banks, local lending discretion is aan important part of our service.’

Much of the success of Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking in Oxford can be attributed to Karl and Nigel. Karl, who has been in banking since he was 16, working his way up the different departments over the years. ‘Because I grew up in a small business environment, above my dad’s picture framing shop, it’s given me an understanding. I’ve been in their shoes, and when I started working in banking, business was the part I always wanted to get into.’

Nowadays Karl looks after the £5-25 million ‘bigger’ businesses, ‘it pleases me to be able to support customers when their existing banks can’t, and because

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B4 FINANCE

L to R: Karl Leitelmayer and Nigel Brooks

of this I am competitive and proud of the business I work for. The real buzz comes from seeing business grow, to know you played a part, no matter how small, in that success.’

Nigel was born and educated in Oxford, and although he has worked 34 years in banking across the UK he comments ‘I never left my roots, I always commuted from Oxford, and this meant I stayed in touch with a lot of local professionals, and I have a

relationship banking, which we think is quite refreshing. Our bank managers have a lot of experience, they have seen other recessions and they spend time with their customers, and this is probably why they were ranked number one above all of the other banks; that gives us some faith that we have got the basics right’.

Throughout the whole company runs an ethos of being involved with the local area, ‘who’s going to

TSB Commercial Banking are on the way to what we could consider a banking good story. Whilst Karl and Nigel feel they still have some way to go, ‘the last six months have been key, and more and more people believe that Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking is very active, and is really doing something. It feels like we are really providing a positive change. We want to help businesses in Oxford develop, we have good people and a strong offering, and some great schemes like the ‘Lloyds

“our strategy as a group is different, it’s about relationship banking, which we think is quite refreshing” good knowledge of the local community as a result.

So when I started working with Karl, tha background was invaluable.’ Having both worked for other banks, Karl and Nigel are able to put their situation in context, and they believe that ‘our strategy as a group is different, it’s about

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know about the local business and what it needs better than someone who works in that town and walks up and down past the businesses, certainly not someone set up in an office somewhere that simply says ‘yes’ or ‘no’ without any real knowledge of the area,’ and this seems to be working. Lloyds

Funding for Lending’, so I really think we are on the way to achieving that.’

Contact Karl Leitelmayer on: 07970 566065 or Karl.leitelmayer@lloydstsb.co.uk www.lloydstsbbusiness.com

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WINDRUSH COURT Transport Way, Watlington Road, Oxford FOR SALE/TO LET

71,955 sq ft (6,684 sq m) approximately Headquarters office building with fully fitted laboratories. On secure site.

CHILBROOK Oasis Park, Eynsham TO LET

Ground Floor: 14,706 sq ft First Floor: 6,351 sq ft Total: 21,731 sq ft Refurbished air conditioned offices

BROADFIELD HOUSE Between Towns Road, Oxford TO LET / FOR SALE

27,882 sq ft Headquarters office building in Ring Road location.

NORTHBROOK HOUSE Oxford Science Park TO LET

First floor office suite: 3,480 sq ft Only one suite remaining.

unrivalled local and regional expertise Richard Venables Tom Barton Duncan May

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

news No thaw in the Commercial Property Market Despite the disappearance of January’s snow there is little warming in the commercial property market. VSL’s research also points to a lack lustre market in 2012.

The general theme continues to be limited demand for both office and industrial space. At the same time, supply levels are still high whilst generally The Office Market

declining as a consequence of no new build and limited Receivership/Administration causalities. The best quality office and industrial buildings have now been taken up. We foresee that in 2013 some limited speculative development may occur and rental incentives may reduce towards the end of the year and into 2014.

The Industrial Market

1,000,000

3,000,000

900,000 2,500,000

800,000 700,000

2,000,000

600,000 500,000

1,500,000

400,000 1,000,000

300,000 200,000

500,000

100,000 0

0 2008 Take Up

2009

2010

2011

2012

Supply

2008 Take Up

2009

2010

2011

2012

Supply

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

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

Take up in 2012 was the lowest on record at only 135,000 sq ft, a reduction of 50% from the 2011 take up. Even stripping out the pre-let Centrica deal (82,000 sq ft) from last year’s figure this still provides a 30% decrease.

The Industrial sector has seen a slight increase of 3% in take up to 521,000 sq ft. Demand is still sourced predominantly from locally based companies with the majority of deals being leasehold due to difficulties with funding.

The 5 year average from 2008 to 2012 is 240,800 sq ft and so this further demonstrates how the market has slowed in 2012. The city centre office market remains strong with supply of only 60,000 sq ft in comparison with 330,000 sq ft on the ring road.

The key deals being 66,000 sq ft sold to a confidential purchaser in Bicester and 70,000 sq ft let to All Makes 4x4 at Milton Park. Supply levels have reduced by 16% from 2.27M to 1.90M sq ft. Units over 100,000 sq ft still account for over 35% of the total supply. The only new development is a scheme totalling 25,000 sq ft of industrial hi tech units at Milton Park on Olympic Avenue. We are still seeing a lack of good quality medium sized stock and development land continues be a scarce commodity throughout the rest of the county.

Milton Park however is operating at near full occupancy with rumours of two new speculative offices being built in the near future.

Deals Done...

Here are a selection of deals VSL and Partners have completed in 2012

116-120 London Road, Headington – Letting of 5,000 sq ft to Abacus College.

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Northbrook House, The Oxford Science Park - Letting of first floor office suite of 3,500 sq ft to Bottle PR.

Bessemer Close, Bicester Freehold sale of warehouse comprising 66,155 sq ft.

www.vslandp.com

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q Witney Business and Innovation Centre - Margaret Hewitt Centre Director “We had a successful Open Day attracting new clients for the new centre which opened in November 2012,” commented Margaret Hewitt, Centre Director Witney Business and Innovation Centre. The centre, run by Oxford Innovation, offers office accommodation of varying sizes to meet the needs of enterprises employing one to 30 people. The company operates twenty one centres throughout the UK providing serviced offices, flexible office space, meeting rooms and support for start-ups. The centre here in Witney has already attracted several new clients including Do Care, Flux2Fusion Software Ltd, Redwood Accountancy, Strategic Mentors, Swift Consulting Services, The Oxford Limousine Company and Business Doctors.

“We are delighted that the centre is meeting its first year targets; we are certainly attracting the smaller companies ranging from one to ten person enterprises.

At present we are trying to attract local firms to use our two conference and meeting room facilties. At present we are we are offering these rooms at the tenant rate as a special offer to attract locals to use the rooms. Once the current phase is let out we plan to develop a further 3000 square feet of space to let out as the Witney Business and Innovation Centre develops. During the year we plan to stage several events to promote the Centre including a Business Support Expo in May and invite business breakfasts to stage their events.

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Do Care, MD Steve Mills (also pictured Kerry Ann-Lees) Do Care, is an award winning home support and domiciliary care service agency, which aims to provide help to anyone who needs aid to get dressed, medicated, fed and washed etc. “Today Do Care employs 100 people and is partly funded by the NHS, local authorities and private clients in the Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Oxfordshire’s areas,” said Steve Mills MD Do care.

Do Care chose the Witney Business and Innovation Centre site for a number of reasons. “We appreciated the support and professionalism offered by the management team, together with the facilities, fit out and infrastructure,” commented Steve. In addition, Do Care appreciates the value for money offered and the flexibility of the site, which will mean it will be easy to expand when required.

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Frazz Jarvis, Managing Director at Flux2Fusion Software Ltd Flux2Fusion Software Ltd is a high tech engineering software house based in Oxfordshire specialising in outsourced bespoke NET, Java, and Mobile solutions development. Amongst its national clients include the NHS, Swiss Re and RPS Group plc. Flux2Fusion Software Ltd was set up eleven years ago in an office in Freeland by the company’s Managing Director, Frazz Jarvis. In January the firm moved to the Witney Business and Innovation Centre.

THE INNOVATORS

In Issue 24 of B4 we looked at the background to the Witney Business and Innovation Centre. Here we talk to the centre director, Margaret Hewitt, to see how the new centre has started life, and also to some of the early tenants to find out why they moved here and how it is benefitting their business.

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Photography: Rob Scotcher

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B4 PROPERTY

“What attracted me to the site were a number of things. I wanted to be able to network with other businesses and provide a good environment and ample office space for my business to grow,” says Frazz. The site certainly provides a good impression for my clients who come and visit Flux2Fusion Software Ltd. In addition, Oxford Innovation has 20 other sites throughout the country, which gives ample opportunity to network.”

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Edward Hope, Business Doctors Oxford “Business Doctors is a business consulting services set up four or five years ago,” notes Edward who heads the Oxford franchise. “Business Doctors was set up with the aim to help small and medium sized companies to achieve their vision and achieve growth through the use of various techniques. We work alongside our clients to deliver their objectives, rather than disappearing over the horizon after we give our advice.

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Chris Gardner, Strategic Mentors “Strategic Mentors is a business consultancy that provides mentoring and training support across the board for small to medium sized businesses to grow and increase in value,” says Chris. Before we moved into Witney Business and Innovation Centre, we had mainly worked from virtual offices or with clients.

Recently we had decided to recruit a number of new mentors to serve the South East.

“The centre here in Witney was chosen due its connection to Oxford Innovation and as a good site to locate our marketing team and hold seminars for our clients. In addition we hope that our fellow tenants will attend,” suggests Chris.

What also attracts us is the good office space, parking and domestic arrangements, which are likely to encourage the development of a good business community at the Centre.”

“I live in Cheltenham, and I wanted offices to serve my new franchise area of Oxford and the surrounding area. The centre is perfect because it’s on the A40 and outside the traffic problems of Oxford, plus it’s easy to reach any of my customers within my area. The other advantage is that Oxford Innovation has a wide network of offices around the county, so I can hot desk from a Centre near one of my clients.”

Witney is one of 9 local Innovation Centres – the others are at Banbury, Bicester, Bracknell, Culham, Harwell, Oxford City Centre and Upper Heyford. www.oxin-centres.co.uk www.witney-bic.co.uk

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B4 EVENTS

DESTINATION BLENHEIM PALACE...

A ROLE TO PLAY ON THE GLOBAL STAGE 2013 is the year that Blenheim Palace starts to realise its full potential, according to Paul Liczbinski, Head of Sales, as he explains ambitious plans for ‘Britain’s Greatest Palace’ to B4 Magazine, writes Kelly Stroud.

From high-end weddings with guest lists that could often rival most celebrity newspaper columns, through to James Bond themed team building events, exquisite fine dining experiences, and a strong British heritage, Blenheim Palace has it all.

But all isn’t enough for the team behind Blenheim Palace who have bigger plans in mind. As Head of Sales, Paul Liczbinski’s challenge is to transform his vision into reality, enabling surrounding businesses to benefit from the success of Blenheim Palace in addition to supporting Oxford internationally.

with a destination marketing strategy that spans Europe, Middle East and African markets (EMEA).

“Our marketing and sales plans include exhibiting at international shows to ensure that Blenheim Palace and Oxford are noticed, pushing us to the forefront of event organiser’s minds. This will include taking a stand at IMEX in Frankfurt.

“Last year, we were

in-hand with a fruitful partnership Paul Liczbinski is developing with a business a little closer to home.

“Oxford Airport share similar ambitions to us and our offerings most definitely complement each other. The airport has authorisation to fly people in from Lagos (Nigeria) and Moscow. People from high-end markets now have the opportunity to fly direct to Oxford presenting a perfect opportunity for a Blenheim Palace meet and greet.”

very much focused on our home market, but Blenheim Palace has a far greater reach and appeal than that”

According to Nigerian newspaper, Punch, the acquisition of private jets is a luxury trend which rose by 650 per cent between 2007 and 2012, an industry worth a sum of $6.5bn in the last five years. With this in mind, Paul Liczbinski continues:

“Last year, we were very much focused on our home market, but Blenheim Palace has a far greater reach and appeal than that. The Olympics provided a strong showcase for the UK as a destination to host events and it is now time for businesses to ensure they profit from that success.”

We will also target conference and event organiser’s defined by sector, for example, oil and gas, banks and insurance companies. We are working closely with Visit Oxfordshire to ensure the county is showcased on a global stage.”

Paul Liczbinski is looking further afield than the UK

International plans for Blenheim Palace go hand-

Blenheim Palace is already one of the UK’s most sought after wedding venues. This enables Paul Liczbinski to present a strong case to hold four weddings per week, including Thursday and Sunday, whilst ensuring that high standards are maintained with only one wedding held at one time.

“I joined Blenheim Palace in November 2011 so I’ve had a good 12 months here to put ground roots down, and in that time I’ve built a strong team who have proven their experience and capability of delivering a busy calendar of high-end and bespoke events,’ explains Paul Liczbinski.

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“We would like to provide African events from fine dining through to African weddings. I would like to do the same for Russian and Chinese events and weddings and have plans to strengthen ties in those markets.”

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Conferences that wow To support its expansion into other markets, Blenheim Palace is about to launch a new meetings and conference offering. The Palace presents a choice of seven impressive conference and meeting rooms that have recently undergone a facelift.

Blenheim Palace offers a number of conference packages and have the staff and capability to provide bespoke events delivered to an extremely high standard with options available for a wide range of budgets.

The Palace has also recently formed a partnership with nearby Heythrop Golf Course, which can now be extended to delegates.

Scope for new events Visitors to Blenheim Palace can already experience a vast array of events from The Blenheim Triathlon through to Sunday Jazz Brunch and there are plans to introduce a series of food entity based events later this year with themes such as canapé making, defined champagne tastings and cocktail making, to name a few.

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Paul Liczbinski still has ambitions to add more to an already busy calendar: “We are Britain’s Greatest Palace and in terms of event venues in the UK, I would place us in the top five for quality, size of event and flexibility. We have 2,100 acres and could easily host a client event for up to 12,000 people.”

“We are Britain’s Greatest Palace and in terms of event venues in the UK, I would place us in the top five for quality, size of event and flexibility” “The Palace is only just starting to realise its full potential and we are now bringing the right people together to ensure it happens. Whether it is a wedding, fine dining event or conference, our events will always be tailored to suit our clients’ individual needs and treated with utmost confidentiality.

“One thing is for sure, we can absolutely guarantee that Blenheim Palace has the ‘wow factor’ that guests will always take away with them,” concludes Paul Liczbinski.

Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, and is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The Palace was created a World Heritage Site in 1987, in recognition of its architectural importance.

Set in over 2,000 acres of ‘Capability’ Brown parkland in the heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace is a world-renowned visitor attraction and a superb venue for weddings, banqueting and conferences. Blenheim Palace is “Britain’s Greatest Palace”.

If you are interested in hosting an event at Blenheim Palace, contact 01993 813874 or email sales@blenheimhospitality.com. To keep up to date with Blenheim Palace news and events, visit www.blenheimpalace.com

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MOVING IS AN ART

WE’VE UNPACKED OUR BOXES AND WE’RE IN OUR NEW HOME We know that moving house is one of the most exciting but stressful things you will do in your life.

That’s why we work day in day out to make the whole process as easy and enjoyable as possible for you.

We have moved ourselves; just down the road in fact to 256 Banbury Road, Summertown to join our Commercial, New Homes, Rural and Professional Services teams.

We welcome you to come in and visit our new office and see how we can help you make your next move as smooth as possible.

01865 511444 oxford@carterjonas.co.uk 256 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7DE CARTERJONAS.CO.UK/MOVINGISANART

B4 PROPERTY

Carter Jonas' residential sales & lettings team, which moved to 256 Banbury Road, Summertown in January 2013. L-R: Ross Kent, Rural; Sophie Purcell-Smith, Sales Co-ordinator; Juliana Markeson, Sales; Isabella Andrews, Sales; Rupert Leigh-Wood, Sales; Mark Charter, Office Head; Chris Way, Head of Lettings; Jemima Wood, Lettings Co-ordinator; Tanya Hall, Lettings; and Jasper Feilding, Head of London Country Agency.

MOVING IS INDEED AN ART Anyone who has ever moved house or office knows that moving is an art. From finding the right property to arranging the removals, and not forgetting the unpacking of boxes. Every bit of a move requires planning and a good sense of humour.

Luckily Carter Jonas’ residential team had both in spades in January when it moved its 13strong sales and lettings teams across the road and 23 doors down the Banbury Road in Summertown towards Oxford City centre.

Some people might be surprised to know that

residential office. The residential team has moved to join them in the shop front space at street level and an internal staircase has been installed to link the two floors.

Mark Charter, head of Carter Jonas’ Oxford office said: “The driver for the move was because more

out of an asset, be it a commercial or residential building. We have to be joined up and being in one building means that we are.

“We only employ experts and thrive on market intelligence: whether that is school class sizes, land prices, development opportunities, planning advice

“The driver for the move was because more and more, Carter Jonas’ clients demand complete property advice” Carter Jonas employs 70 people in Oxford, making it the firm’s biggest regional office outside London.

In Oxford, its Commercial, New Homes, Rural, Architecture & Building Consultancy and Planning & Development teams can already be found in Mayfield House, on the first floor above the new

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and more, Carter Jonas’ clients demand complete property advice. Yes, pure residential agency is still a core part of our business but today, our clients come to us for full property advice, from whether their land has development potential, to how to get planning, to what to build or how to get the most

or building conservation. We live and breathe property and now that we are together, in a stunning new office, have unpacked our boxes and settled in, we are giving our clients even more.” www.carterjonas.co.uk/movingisanart

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NEW YEAR INSPIRATION AT

JOHNSONS BUILDBASE

At this time of year everyone’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of home improvement. After the harshness of winter, this is the season when people take a long, hard look at their homes and gardens – and find them wanting.

As birds begin to nest and snowdrops poke their heads through the soil, many of us decide our own habitats could do with brightening up too. With this in mind, builders’ merchant Johnsons Buildbase Oxford will launch its 2013 landscaping catalogues on 1 March 2013, aimed at attracting both the professional tradesperson and the DIY enthusiast.

Named National Builders Merchant of the Year 2012, Buildbase is one of the UK’s fastest growing builders’ merchants with 130 branches nationwide. Its flagship Oxford branch was the first to open and has its roots in the local firm founded by the Johnson family more than 120 years ago.

One of Oxfordshire’s oldest and most wellknown businesses, the company’s five-acre site in Cowley holds extensive stocks of all the principal timber and building materials needed to make the most of our living spaces. All products are backed up with first-class customer service provided by experienced and helpful staff.

Kitchens, bathrooms and tiles Since nothing improves the look – and value – of a property more than a revamped kitchen or bathroom, Johnson’s Buildbase is currently running a winter sale, which ends on 28 February.

There are tempting bathroom offers galore, from complete suites, shower sets and enclosures, to quality bathroom furniture. In addition, the sale includes accessories such as taps, mirrors and tiles – the important finishing touches that can turn a tired bathroom into a stylish one.

In the kitchen department, selected kitchen carcasses have been reduced, as well as 70

worktops, hob and oven packs, and waste disposal units, among other items.

Stumped for design ideas? A wander through the extensive kitchen, bathroom and tiles showrooms at Watlington Road or a talk with a knowledgeable member of staff should inspire you. The variety of high quality kitchen and bathroom collections on display ranges from modern to traditional, and can fit most budgets.

“Since the showroom refurbishment was completed in time for Christmas 2012,” says Buildbase Branch Manager, Craig Tarrant, “we are happy and encouraged by customers’ responses to our new look. Our comprehensive range and services cater for all budgets. We are pleased to be able to offer 0% finance and look forward to the coming year.”

Garden landscaping With the kitchen and bathroom spruced up and looking good, it’s time to head outside to give the garden a make-over. Here again, you are in safe hands. Buildbase prides itself on being able to supply everything for the garden but the plants – although it does stock topsoil, turf and pre-planted sedum matting.

Attractive landscaping can greatly increase the appeal of the garden and is another way of adding to the value of property. The Oxford branch stocks a wide range of timber and stone products, as well as fixing products, including sand and gravel, and preservative and cleaning products.

Hard landscaping materials available include stone, slate and tile paving, decorative aggregates, walling, edging, fencing and gates.

Timber garden products are another area of expertise. If you have a yen for creating a quiet corner in your garden, you’ll find a range of www.b4-business.com

B4 PROPERTY decking, arches, arbours, gazebos, pergolas, sheds and garden furniture to choose from.

Unsure about tackling a job? Buildbase can provide information on construction and information, or direct you to a website where you’ll find help. If you are not intending to do the work yourself, branch staff can use their local knowledge to put you in touch with contractors in the area.

“Johnsons Buildbase is one of the most respected companies in the Oxford area, trusted and relied on by both trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike

”

As for completing the job, Hirebase, the plant, tools and equipment hire division of Buildbase, offers a wide variety of products to hire on a short or long-term basis.

Hirebase can supply hand and power tools and equipment, as well as safety equipment and protective clothing. Whether it’s a shovel or a circular saw, a concrete mixer or a sledgehammer, having the right tool makes all the difference.

Going green Environmental awareness is high on Buildbase’s agenda and the company has taken a number of green initiatives. It is committed to responsible sourcing and wherever possible products are sustainably sourced and ethically traded. Most timber products, for example, are obtained from sustainable, well managed forests and woodlands, and carry FSC and PEFC certification.

Continuing the green theme, Johnsons Buildbase stocks the latest in rainwater harvesting systems to assist gardeners in coping with unpredictable weather conditions. 2012 might have been one of the wettest on record but who knows what summer 2013 might bring?

Wise gardeners are prepared for anything.

In addition, ‘green areas’ in the kitchen, bathroom and tile showrooms display sustainable products to help consumers cut their household heating and energy bills.

Long established With a trading history that can be traced back generations and a current reputation for providing outstanding customer service, Johnsons Buildbase is one of the most respected companies in the Oxford area, trusted and relied on by both trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.

Johnsons Buildbase Oxford is in Watlington Road, Cowley, where there is plenty of parking and easy access. www.buildbase.co.uk 71

CHRYSLER: P R E P A R E T O B E N O T I C E D.

Y P S I LO N F R O M

300C FROM

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N C A L L

£ 9 9 P M**

£359PM 01 8 6 5 3 76 0 0 0

M OTO R V I L L AG E OX F O R D. B A N B U RY R OA D, S H I P TO N O N C H E R W E L L , K I D L I N GTO N , OXO N , OX 5 1 J H .

S A L E S.OX F O R D @ C H RYS L E R .CO.U K W W W. M O T O R V I L L A G E U K .C O M

FOL L O W U S ON TWI TT E R @ O XFOR D C J L I K E U S ON F A CEBO O K WWW.F A CEBOOK . C OM/ CHR Y SL ER J EEP O XFO RD

RANGE OF OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE CHRYSLER RANGE SHOWN: URBAN 29.4 – 60.1 MPG (9.6 – 4.7 L/100KM); EXTRA URBAN 47.9 – 88.3 MPG (5.9 – 3.2 L/100KM); COMBINED 39.2 – 774.3 4.3 4 MPG (7.2 –3.8 L/100KM). CO2 EMISSIONS 191– 9 7 G/KM. * M O D E L S H O W N I S C H R Y S L E R 3 0 0 C L I M I T E D AT A N I N I T I A L R E N TA L O F £ 1 0 , 7 7 0 F O L LO W E D B Y 3 5 M O N T H LY R E N TA L S O F £ 3 5 9 O N P E R S O N A L C O N T R A C T H I R E . A L L R E N TA L S E X C L U D E M A I N T E N A N C E . B A S E D O N 1 0 , 0 0 0 M I L E S P E R A N N U M . E X C E S S M I L E A G E C H A R G E S A P P L Y. * * M O D E L S H O W N I S C H R Y S L E R Y P S I L O N 1 . 2 S I N C L A Y R E D P A I N T A T A N I N I T I A L R E N TA L O F £ 3 ,4 6 5 F O L LO W E D B Y 4 7 M O N T H LY R E N TA L S O F £ 9 9 O N P E R S O N A L C O N T R A C T H I R E . A L L R E N TA L S E X C L U D E M A I N T E N A N C E . B A S E D O N 8 , 0 0 0 M I L E S P E R A N N U M . E X C E S S M I L E A G E C H A R G E S A P P L Y. O F F E R S S U B J E C T T O S T A T U S , A G U A R A N T E E A N D / O R I N D E M N I T Y M A Y B E R E Q U I R E D . O F F E R S M A Y B E V A R I E D O R W I T H D R A W N AT A N Y T I M E W I T H O U T P R I O R N OT I F I C AT I O N . F G A CO N T R AC T S, 24 0 B AT H R OA D, S LO U G H , S L 1 4 DX . V E H I C L E S M U S T B E R E G I S T E R E D W I T H F G A CO N T R AC T S B E F O R E 3 1 S T M A R C H 2 01 3 . P R I C E S A N D S P EC I F I C AT I O N S CO R R EC T AT T H E T I M E O F G O I N G TO P R E S S ( 01 / 1 3 ) . C H RYS L E R I S A R EG I S T E R E D T R A D E M A R K O F C H RYS L E R G R O U P L LC .

B4 HR

PURELY REFRESHING

They’re all about recruitment. They love what they do, they’ve got bags of enthusiasm and they’re great at it!

We catch up with The Purely Recruitment Company to see what makes them a breath of fresh air.

The sheer excitement and pride that Clare Barton (MD & Founder of The Purely Recruitment Company) exudes, as she starts to talk about the business is infectious. It is obvious just how passionate she is to lead a recruitment business that is brave enough to be different and if the success of the last two years is anything to go by, the company looks destined for great things.

Clare started her career in recruitment over 10 years ago, working for a large high street agency. It was such a sales orientated environment, Clare explains. “You were targeted so heavily on the number of sales calls you made and the number of CV’s sent for each job. There seemed little emphasis on actually supporting and caring for candidates and really taking the time to understand exactly what clients were looking for. I knew then that I wanted to do things differently.”

So at the start of 2011, The Purely Recruitment Company was born and out went the rule book.

“For me it is about putting our candidates at the very heart of our business and giving them a great service. Looking for a new job can be stressful and emotive and knowing that an agency is genuinely focussed on looking after your best interests, helps to make the whole journey more enjoyable.”

Certainly the pages of glowing testimonials Clare is proud to show me are proof of this.

Equally Clare is keen to point out how much their clients benefit from this approach. “We always take

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the time to really understand our clients’ needs and communicate this to our candidates. We give thorough interview preparation support and are always on hand to answer questions and offer advice. Because we know our candidates so well, we are able to ensure we get just the right match for our clients. At the end of the day, team fit is just as important as skill set.

When a client offers a role to one of our candidates, it is almost as if we have completed a company induction for them. The candidates see us as an extension of the client’s business, not just a recruitment agency. This week I received a lovely testimonial from a candidate that we have just placed and it really emphasised that we are getting things right.”

“The Purely Recruitment Company has been excellent from the very beginning! The standard of service was exceptionally high, going beyond their means to ensure I was well prepared for my interviews, offering exceptional advice and they were always available regardless of the time of day. I would recommend them to anyone looking to recruit or looking for a new job and I cannot thank them enough for all they did to help me get my new job, which I love!” Hannah Fairhurst, 2013.

This year has already been particularly exciting as the team expands and welcomes three new consultants. Vicky Lane joins from Allen Associates, to head up the new HR division, Suzanne Norman from Morgan Cole to head up the

PA/Administration division and Cassie Anchors, also from Allen Associates to lead the new Finance division. They join Hannah Penwarden, who has been with the company from the start and looks after the Marketing division and Clare herself who covers Customer Service and Sales. With Emma and Steve providing first class support to all of the team, The Purely Recruitment Company is all set for another exciting year.

“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome the new consultants. We are now in such a strong position to offer our Oxfordshire clients recruitment support across the key head office functions. Our new consultants are all experienced recruiters and the team in total now have combined recruitment experience of over 50 years.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to really believe what we have achieved in the last two years. Some people thought I was slightly mad starting a recruitment business in the middle of a recession and yes it has been a lot of hard work; but we have stuck to our values and beliefs for the business and have always been totally passionate about everything we do. I am so excited to see what the coming year will bring.”

For more information about how The Purely Recruitment Company can help your business, please contact Clare on 01865 392400 or e-mail clare@thepurelyrecruitmentcompany.co.uk www.thepurelyrecruitmentcompany.co.uk

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Tim Keatinge is sat in his dealership just outside of Woodstock, his first floor office overseeing the showroom, but he’s not happy. “There are no flags! We need flags; it’s not a proper dealership without flags!” Ok flags are nice; they add a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ but are they the be all and end all? “Picture the dealership on a day like today’ demands Tim’ flooded in sunshine, with gleaming cars outside and impressive flags fluttering in the gentle wind – they’re vital!” OK, flags are nice, but surely the gleaming cars are more impressive Tim! But this is Tim Keatinge, by his own admission, he’s never quite satisfied, there’s always something to attend to, and that’s why this dealership, whatever it’s called, is different.

But first of all, let’s deal with the name change.

“We’re going through another stage of transition, and we have effectively changed our name from Chrysler Oxford, not a good idea when we have two brands, to Motor Village Oxford. This transition will encompass a third brand, Alfa Romeo which goes live in March.”

Those with a keen eye will have spotted the odd Alfa on the forecourt already, but we’re talking new cars coming in March, as well as used, and we have our demonstrators aleady. “It’s an operational live in March, as opposed to a launch date. It means we are aiming to be in position, where we can order parts, order cars into our account, which is a pressing challenge, but we’ll get there.

“Being part of Motor Village Oxford gives our business scale as we are now part of a group. We have a sister dealership in Croydon which sells Fiat and Abarth, the performance side of Fiat. The flagship site is in Marylebone. That scale means one of our intentions is to become a recognised and comfortable name for customers in North Oxfordshire, and everyone in Oxford. We will have a wide portfolio, including Chrysler, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and also Fiat and Abarth used cars.”

The Motor Village Oxford forecourt will soon boast three Jeep models, four Chrysler models, two Alfa Romeo and a wide number of Fiat and Abarth configurations with the Abarth range. It’s a range Tim is confident will capture the imagination of the Oxfordshire market. “From an expansion point of view, not only will we have the excellent range of new cars, but we are also going to expand our used car portfolio.

“It’s fine to look at the description of a car on the internet, but it’s essential to see it – how frustrated are we when we go online and see ‘Image not Available’. People want to see what they’re buying, especially when it comes to a relatively high ticket purchase like a car. Admittedly the retail high street is struggling; the internet is blamed for everything, but also the salvation for everything, especially with small commodity cars. With used cars, there’s only one of that car in that condition, ‘but similar ones are available’. People do their homework online but to be able to offer the choice of vehicles on site is key, and we aim to be offering approaching two

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hundred cars – that’s unprecedented in this part of Oxfordshire. All are under franchise-dealer standards, meaning there’s a promise and commitment, with full customer rights and manufactured decreed minimum standards.

Customers want to buy into something with a good warranty, at least 12 months. We even have pre owned vehicles which have never been driven.”

So what’s the Dad’s Army style illustration got to do with any of this? Where does that fit in? Well, not only does Tim oversee a burgeoning dealership, he is also pivotal to some quite extraordinary exports, as he explains. “We have been involved with various embassies in London, exporting cars to Europe, Papua New Guinea, Asia, Africa, India, and with the prospect of more. We are not a prolific, diplomatic brand, but have certain appeal to certain members. As a consequence, we have certain models with attractions. Our most popular vehicle is the Jeep Wrangler’ the customised versions of which were featured in B4 Issue 25, ‘and we have

“Look after the customer, and he or she will come back, and they’ll probably tell a few of their friends too. Cut corners, and not only won’t they come back, but they’ll probably tell a few of their friends for certain.

”

a lot of enquires for this, particularly in a left hand drive configuration, which is complicated and not easy to do. Exporting is fraught with problems, but these things are designed to be overcome, and we are used to regular challenges. Our reach is expanding year on year and we were even recently involved in supplying a new Jeep Wrangler to the Falkland Islands. It is interesting, diverse and time consuming, but we have new staff with good experience and are more than capable of meeting the unusual demands associated with car export.”

A new name, expanding brands, used car growth and export? Tim has certainly got his hands full but it’s how he likes it. And on top of all of this, underlying everything that Tim and his colleagues do, is a mark of excellence, of first class customer service, of customer integration and bonding… simply put, become a customer of Motor Village Oxford and you’ll have very little cause for complaint.

“It’s not rocket science. Look after the customer, and he or she will come back, and they’ll probably tell a few of their friends too. Cut corners, and not only won’t they come back, but they’ll probably tell a few of their friends for certain – it’s suicidal practise but some people don’t know any different.

That’s why we frequently have customers in who have had their car ‘looked at’ by inexperienced individuals. Maintenance of a vehicle is so important – full service history is a major criteria.

We offer a price match guarantee, that if you find the same service to the same standard elsewhere, we promise to match it. We use genuine parts and excellent labour. However, the perception of franchise dealers is that they are more expensive, but we value customer care - we want longevity of relationship – and we are not here to make a fast buck.

“There is a constant and sustainable standard; we like to take an interest in the customer to understand what makes our customers tick. We like to challenge the sales team, to find out more about the customer, some interesting things. We’ve created music sticks for customers, we’ve surprised our customers with things they are interested in – we go the extra mile and love it when we get the recognition for it, especially from the person that matters, the customer.

“Not only are franchises perceived as expensive, it is also assumed you are just a number as a customer. But that’s not the case here – our standards are crucial, we stand by our work and we wear our service on our sleeve. We treat every customer like we treat our best friend which you won’t see until you’ve got an interest in us. It would be very good for me to say we will always do this, we always do that, but, frankly, the brand logos do that themselves. We stand by the brand. Brand is about the vision: to achieve sustainable performance by exceeding the evolving customer requirements and expectations better than the competition, based on a culture of leadership, accountability, integrity, discipline and in an environment of mutual respect. We flex and adapt ourselves to accommodate to circumstances. A charter is a minimum standard. We go beyond that – we serve our customers as unique individuals, after all, we’re all different.

And for B4 members, Tim will go the extra mile beyond the extra mile! “We have and will continue to give B4 members great value for money. When you’re buying a car there are different ways we can add value, and more specifically some key benefits for business users. Some of these are best explained with the help of an accountant, and in the next issue of B4 we will be expanding on this advice with Wenn Townsend, fellow B4 Platinum Ambassadors.

“We have invested in the B4 community and referrals through the B4 network are recognised for their importance – we will always offer an exclusive and preferential deal for a B4 member, be that for sales of new or used cars, servicing, parts or any other service we can provide. Call me, come in and negotiate – we all love to haggle and we’re good at it, good for you that is, whatever our name is!” www.motorvillageuk.com

www.b4-business.com

B4 SPOTLIGHT

NEW NAME, NEW BRANDS We went to meet B4 Platinum Ambassador, Tim Keatinge, to find out why the dealership formerly known as Chrysler Oxford has changed its name and how it’s looking to expand. But Tim’s keen to stress one major point – that the new dealership, whatever it’s called, is there for you. Article by Ryan Keane. www.b4-business.com

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B4 FINANCE

SANTANDER AT HOME IN THAMES

VALLEY

While many businesses remain optimistic about their future growth prospects, access to funding still remains a major issue. Cheryl Adams of Santander talks to B4 about helping and supporting local business.

A recent survey of business owners involved in the government-backed GrowthAccelerator programme reports that 86% of respondents predict a growth in their business of up to 20% this year, this figure is given despite acknowledging the challenges that the recession will continue to present.

Santander accessed the first tranche of £1bn (out of the £9.4bn it is eligible for) from the Funding for Lending scheme in July 2012, enabling it to continue its drive to increase lending to smaller firms and, by helping to free up capital markets, reduce rates across its range of business banking products.

The latest data from the Bank of England suggests that obtaining the finance to support this expected growth is still one of the biggest of these challenges with lending to UK businesses having fallen by £2.8bn in November 2012 and by £17.1bn in the 11 months up to the end of November. Commenting on the figures, the

Santander’s lending products support a range of customer requirements. From Supply Chain Finance which enables Santander’s customers to settle invoices with their suppliers faster than standard payment terms, maximising cashflow and increasing stakeholder value. Invoice Finance which provides a cash injection, releasing money

recovery and growth. There are some fantastic businesses in our region and we are proud to be providing not only funding but, more importantly, a committed long-term banking partnership with more of our local strong and growing companies.”

WH Estates is just one example of a Thames Valley-based business that has benefited from such support. The privately owned property investment and development company has used a new finance package from Santander Corporate Banking to acquire a residential care home in Maidenhead to add to its portfolio of existing properties. WH Estates specialise in the sale and leaseback of modern care homes. The property,

“We are delighted to have been able to support even more businesses in the Thames Valley region this year, particularly smaller businesses which are so vital for economic recovery and growth

”

British Chamber of Commerce expressed concern that young, fast growing SMEs were particularly affected by inability to secure credit.

With small firms accounting for around half of the UK’s economic activity and 60% of our workforce, such concerns are understandable.

Yet during a period of economic uncertainty, Santander has increased its lending to businesses with more than 4,000 companies receiving in excess of £4bn of new lending commitments since the start of last year alone. This increase has been supported by the Government’s Funding for Lending initiative. The drive to increase lending is part of Santander’s continued support of the SME market and expansion of its Corporate, Commercial and Business banking divisions.

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tied up in outstanding invoices and Asset Finance which helps customers acquire new equipment critical to their business, whether that be to replacing old assets or increase capacity.

Boulters Lock residential home, has been leased to Hartford Care, an associate residential health care provider and part of a well established, quality, family owned business.

To support the increase in lending, Santander has taken on new relationship directors and product specialists across the Thames Valley to improve the service it provides to local businesses, particularly smaller businesses which are so vital for economic recovery and growth.

Sean Gavin, managing director of WH Estates described Boulters Lock as a perfect fit with the company’s existing portfolio. “We know Hartford Care well and are confident in their strong running of the business. It has been great to work with a bank which understands our business and our vision.”

Cheryl Adams, Regional Director for Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking in Thames Valley, said: “We are delighted to have been able to support even more businesses in the Thames Valley region this year, particularly smaller businesses which are so vital for economic

To start working with Santander today contact Cheryl Adams on 0118 921 1641 or email cheryl.adams@santander.co.uk www.santanderbreakthrough.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;we are proud to be

providing not only funding but, more importantly, a committed long-term banking partnership with more of our local strong and growing companies

â&#x20AC;?

Cheryl Adams, Regional Director for Santander Corporate & Commercial Banking in Thames Valley

www.b4-business.com

77

FLY in STYLE to Edinburgh, Dublin and Jersey from Oxford Airport

NEW SERVICES FROM SPRING 2013 www.londonoxfordairport.com Call directline: 01865 290 600

B4 R&R

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

There are 16 bedrooms and five suites available at The Feathers, which have just undergone a major refurbishment. Each room has been given its own unique style by specialist interior designers, Trevillion, who have added boutique twists such as luxurious fabrics, ornate lighting, free-standing stone basins and even a decanter full of jelly beans! The quirky bedrooms perfectly match the rest of the hotel, with its higgledy-piggledy hallways and five different staircases that add a delightfully whimsical feel.

Contemporary wallpapers adorn the walls, alongside tastefully chosen art works, such as an eye-catching dressmaker mannequin. The

world. It currently has 174 types of gin from around the world and holds the Guinness World Record. It boasts brands from Holland, Spain, the USA and Germany as well as Britain, home of the famous London Gin. The bar also stocks some of the most exclusive gins in the world. A bottle of Vincenzi 1950 comes in at £225; while a glass of Burnett’s White Satin 1960 is £19.50. Guests can enjoy a classic martini while connoisseurs can attend the “Gin Club” on the last Friday of every month.

Head Chef Kevin Barrett creates the best of modern English cuisine in the two AA rosette

prefer to dine al fresco in the beautiful, secluded outdoor Courtyard, complete with a summer house.

The Feathers is the perfect location for events. The hotel can be exclusively hired for wedding receptions for £4,000 during the week or £7,000 at the weekend. The ceremony can take place in the nearby church or town hall, which is a couple of minutes walk from the hotel.

The Feathers is also equipped for business meetings. The private master bedroom has a conference table suitable for up to eight,

“In 2012, the hotel’s restaurant was named Oxfordshire’s Restaurant of the Year, as well as winning Best Gastronomic restaurant” bespoke carpet in the dining room bearing a feather motif is also testament to the hotel’s cool outlook.

Eating and drinking is at the heart of The Feathers experience. In 2012, the hotel’s restaurant was named Oxfordshire’s Restaurant of the Year, as well as winning Best Gastronomic restaurant for its dishes that exhibit finesse and considerable skill in execution.

It’s not the only accolade the hotel has won. The hotel introduced the first dedicated ‘Gin Bar’ in the UK and has the largest collection of gins in the www.b4-business.com

restaurant, using locally sourced ingredients in dishes such as: Local wood pigeon, Jerusalem artichoke, cherry & chocolate pastilla; Kirtlington Estate venison, parsley root, sprouts, chestnut puree, cassis; and Pear and blackberry mousse with vanilla ice cream and caramelised hazelnuts.

Alternatively, guests could opt for “The Gin Experience”, a carefully devised menu incorporating specifically chosen gins throughout the courses for example, in a “Gin & Tonic Jelly”. The restaurant also serves a selection of afternoon tea menus, plus a variety of traditional picnic hampers. The stylish restaurant seats up to 60 guests, with room for a further 30 in the bar. Alternatively diners may

alternatively one end of the restaurant can host up to 20 people boardroom style. The daily delegate rate starts from £65 per person.

The Feathers Hotel has a lively history. At the turn of the century, the reception area became a Drapers shop, and was subsequently converted into a Butcher’s shop in the early 1950s. In the early 1960s the property was fully joined and turned into a hotel. Today, remnants of the building’s former life still remain visible, adding to the hotel’s character. www.feathers.co.uk 79

PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES Ashes is a heart-stopping thriller, starring Ray Winstone as Frank, a man with Alzheimer’s, whose son James (Jim Sturgess) kidnaps him from his care home, bundles him into his car and takes off. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster- a frank, brutal, violent, tender, and sometimes- against all odds- hilarious road trip as they bond, fall out, fight, make up, laugh and cry.

Winstone, cast against type here, is astonishing, movingly capturing the range of emotions and behaviours that Alzheimer’s can cause. One minute father and son are singing along together to the car radio, the next Frank is trying to strangle James with his belt. Director Mat Whitecross was keen to ensure that this wouldn’t be a saccharine look at mental health, as is so often seen in films (he is not a fan of current awards favourite Silver Linings Playbook).

Photography by www.RichardBudd.co.uk © 2013

This is a warts-and-all portrayal of how the disease takes hold, rendering the sufferer unable to recognise their family, or control mood swings that take them from tenderness to violence like a flick of a switch, or distinguish between time periods, constantly switching between the past and the present (or their own version of the present).

Frequent flashbacks feature acute moments of the past, including the absent yet strong presence of

basis for the movie. It’s a close-knit cast and crew.

Whitecross and writer Paul Viragh have worked together for a number of years, with films including Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, which also featured Winstone, and Whitecross wanted to cast him again and see what he could do with such a different role. Winstone researched diligently, including meeting with and going bowling with people in the early stages of the disease, and the team also consulted with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Due to the tricky subject matter, its refusal to be categorised, the recession and distributors taking fewer risks, the film has had problems with finance and distribution (some of the funding came from a certain band called Coldplay, who are friends of Whitecross from university - Whitecross has directed Coldplay’s videos since the band’s early days, before they were famous). ‘The industry needs to change,’ says Whitecross, pointing out how so many good films fall by the wayside while

certainly pay off. Ashes is original, thoughtprovoking, impressively acted (with Winstone and Sturgess making an immensely watchable pairing) and beautifully filmed, from the red-tinted flashbacks to the endless roads, flashing lights and distorted colours- an effective metaphor for Frank’s state of mind. Without giving too much away, it’s not just Frank who is not all he seems... there are some obvious and not so obvious villains here, and a surprise twist at the end that you certainly don’t see coming, which invites lots of questions after the credits have rolled. It deserves to be seen by a much wider audience. Distributors, take note.

Ashes is available on DVD from 28 January.

A special feature preview screening and Q and A with director Mat Whitecross, writer Paul Viragh and actress Jodie Whittaker, took place on 20 January at the Simpkins Lee Theatre, Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford, to launch Home from Home, a new local

“The film shows the effect of the condition (Alzheimer’s) not just on the sufferer but on all those around them” Frank’s estranged wife Cathy (Lesley Manville). The film shows the effect of the condition not just on the sufferer but on all those around them, including James’s wife (an always brilliant Jodie Whittaker) and their son.

Ashes is a bit of a personal project for Whitecross, as his father had Alzheimer’s and Whitecross kept a diary throughout his illness, which became the

80

cinemas remain full of lesser quality fare. Jodie Whittaker adds that she always loves working on independent films as you can see and appreciate the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ that have gone into it and how hard everyone works. Viragh adds wryly that ‘no-one’s in it for the money.’

charity helping refugees to access support and accommodation in Oxford. Proceeds and donations will also support Open Door, which works with asylum seekers and refugees, and Age UK Oxfordshire, for its projects on dementia, especially for ethnic minorities.

The personal knowledge and experience, the assiduous research and the blood, sweat and tears

www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 EVENTS Director Mat Whitecross

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...the film has had problems with finance and distribution, some of the funding came from a certain band called Coldplay

â&#x20AC;?

www.b4-business.com

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B4 IT & COMMS

A QUESTION OF CLOUDS In the last issue we looked at the experience of B4 when they made the move to the ‘Cloud’. In this issue we thought it would be interesting for readers to get answers to some of the questions we get asked about the cloud and moving to a hosted platform.

We want to understand exactly what you own and deliver, and what is supplied by other parties

by design we will be able to work out what should go where before we roll a system out for you.

q Do you own your own data centre?

r How does the cost model work if we wish to increase the server specification or speed to run new applications in future?

The server spec is billed per 1000 CPU Cycles, per 1Gb of RAM and per 100Gb of storage, so you can add and take away as much as you need and pay for what you need now, not what you will need in 5 years.

No we don’t, but we use one of the best in the country, graded to top security level and resilience, they have won awards for being one of the most secure datacentres in Europe.

w Will you supply our lease line or other connectivity needs as part of this agreement?

Yes we can supply all communications lines and firewalls and routers, generally we do this as part of the install for all customers on both the cloud side and the client side. e

If you don’t own the data centre, is the contract in your name or direct with the data centre?

Yes we are contracted directly with the bunker. This is a big one for customers, they are very keen to place their ‘Crown Jewels’ with somebody who is accountable and directly connected to the other suppliers, our relationship is obviously another link in this chain.

r In a couple of paragraphs can you explain your company role in the end to end process of using the cloud on a daily basis?

We provide cloud hosting and consultancy / design for our customers.

We specialise in talking with IT directors or managers, understanding your business needs and designing and implementing a solution custom to your company’s needs. We provide multi-level support, install firewalls, communications, build servers and then train and handover to the customer, or offer maintenance to continue running your platform alongside your existing IT manager or support team. We monitor and maintain your infrastructure and can be as involved as you wish.

We need to understand how the day to day operation of the system will work from an administrator’s point of view.

q What would we be able to not change as an Administrator?

You cannot change the underlying infrastructure of the hosting platform, but why would you want to, that is, you cannot make changes to our SANS, or FIBRE or our MAIN FIREWALLS or SWITCHES. Everything within your hosting environment is still under your control.

w Who would be in control of updates/amendments to bespoke software e.g. Sage & Planet?

You would, unless you took out a maintenance contract with us, then we would take care of this, we can either be a hosting provider, or your all round IT support as well, it’s as flexible as that. e If there are updates to the platform, will they be installed and configured automatically?

Yes, and we schedule them with the client so you can plan for anything that will have an affect and the majority of our updates are without issue or downtime. We run a hostedops@cisltd.com address for maintenance and update alerts. We recently added an SMS update system too.

r Can we create, remove or disable users?

We want to understand more about what is supplied & maintained

Yes of course, you will be able to administer your machines exactly as if they were hardware in your office. You can remote desktop into the server exactly the same and will always be the main domain admin.

q Will you also be supplying our windows operating licences?

We can offer licensing on a per user, per month basis, this is called SPLA licensing, we are a Microsoft registered partner and can do all the licenses you need, this can be discussed with your design requirements.

t Are we able to amend user accounts immediately or will we have to put in requests and wait?

You can manage things exactly as you need, instantly through remote desktop, same as if they were your actual servers.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

w Will you take into account our existing licences?

Yes of course, please have an audit report for us, anything we can transfer or use again, we will.

e How do upgrades work, we have other software applications like Planet & Sage, which may run on separate versions of windows. How is this accommodated?

We can run as many instances of the operating system as we need, but 82

y Do we have capability of quickly restoring of folders/files (With restore points or Windows Backup)?

We backup every server every night, and we can restore a server to a point in time, and or we can pick up files from a restore point. The time taken to do this depends on how much data you want back, this is a relative measurement, but we have 8 Gb/ Second fibre so we run quickly! www.cisltd.com www.b4-business.com

GROWING

CLOUDS CIS cloud is growing, and quickly, we are seeing a large uptake in cloud, through both resellers and direct contact. Verticals include financial companies moving their data offsite to cover the requirements of a DR procedure and business continuity, lots of charities moving to terminal services in the cloud to run their software and a lot of companies with multiple remote offices, all looking to work from one hymn sheet and save money at the same time.

We recently have updated our connections to offer gigabit bandwidth capability and we have just started exploring the ability to host Microsoft Lync telephony and Citrix for CAD and BIM on the cloud, this year proves to be a record cloud year. With the SPLA licensing on the cloud, all of our customers are automatically approved for a free license upgrade to office 2013!

We are also recruiting in both sales and technical but at a very cloud and customer focussed level.

2013 is shaping up to be a very strong year for us and for our clients by way of cloud adoption and technology offerings.“

“We specialise in talking with IT directors or managers, understanding your business and designing and implementing a solution custom to your company’s needs” Richard Marsh, Director CIS

www.b4-business.com

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C H R Y S L E R G R A N D V OYA G E R .

T H E W O R L D ’ S B E S T- S E L L I N G PEOPLE MOVER. F R O M £ 4 8 5 P E R M O N T H †.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N C A L L

01 8 6 5 3 76 0 0 0

M OTO R V I L L AG E OX F O R D. B A N B U RY R OA D, S H I P TO N O N C H E R W E L L , K I D L I N GTO N , OXO N , OX 5 1 J H .

S A L E S.OX F O R D @ C H RYS L E R .CO.U K W W W. M O T O R V I L L A G E U K .C O M

FOL L O W U S ON TWI TT E R @ O XFOR D C J L I K E U S ON F A CEBO O K WWW.F A CEBOOK . C OM/ CHR Y SL ER J EEP O XFO RD

OFFICIAL FUEL C ONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE CHR Y SLER GRAND V OYA GER RANGE IN MPG (L/100KM): EXTRA URBAN 40 .4 (7. 0); URBAN 25.7 (11. 0); C OMBINED 33.6 (8.4). C O 2 EMISSIONS IN G/KM 222.

M O D E L S H O W N : C H R Y S L E R G R A N D V O Y A G E R L I M I T E D W I T H M E T A L L I C P A I N T. † A T A N I N I T I A L R E N T A L O F £ 1 1 , 6 4 0 F O L L O W E D B Y 3 5 M O N T H L Y R E N T A L S O F £ 4 8 5 O N P E R S O N A L C O N T A C T H I R E . A L L R E N T A L S E X C L U D E M A I N T E N A N C E . B A S E D O N 1 0 , 0 0 0 M I L E S P E R A N N U M . E X C E S S M I L E A G E C H A R G E S A P P L Y. O F F E R S U B J E C T T O S T A T U S , A G U A R A N T E E A N D / O R I N D E M N I T Y M A Y B E R E Q U I R E D. O F F E R M AY B E VA R I E D O R W I T H D R A W N AT A N Y T I M E W I T H O U T P R I O R N O T I F I C AT I O N . F G A C O N T R A C T S , 2 4 0 B AT H R O A D, S LO U G H , S L 1 4 D X . V E H I C L E S M U S T B E R E G I S T E R E D W I T H F G A C O N T R A C T S B E F O R E 3 1 S T M A R C H 2 0 1 3 . P R I C E S A N D S P E C I F I C AT I O N S C O R R E C T AT T H E T I M E O F G O I N G TO P R E S S ( 0 1 / 1 3 ) . C H R Y S L E R I S A R E G I S T E R E D T R A D E M A R K O F C H R Y S L E R G R O U P L LC .

B4 R&R Euan Hirst Academic Manager Blackwell’s

“There is a growing movement of people that recognise the value and importance of independent shops

”

THE HIGH STREET IS DEAD? The media has made it's mind up – not only is the High Street dead but so is the physical book. You'd not want to be a bookshop then, would you? It's like emptying your clip into a dead man just to make sure.

So why is there a growing sense of confidence and optimism being shown by a variety of book people that the future may not be as desolate for them than current wisdom seems to dictate?

There is no doubt that shops have been squeezed in a variety of uncomfortable ways – the rise of Online, the double dip recession (soon to be triple dip?), the seemingly inexhaustible hunger for supermarkets to find new products to pile high and sell cheap and the iniquity of city centre business rates –to name just four of the most well documented.

For an academic bookseller such as Blackwell's you can add the challenges of one of our core customer groups, students, seeing an exponential increase in their tuition fees and our core product – the paper book – potentially being replaced by ebooks.

So why do I share that growing sense of confidence and optimism that our future is not desolate? There is a plethora of reasons but I will focus on five that I believe are not only crucial but also transferable to many other business: A sense of community People are social animals. We love to be part of something, especially the things that we are passionate about. This is why I like to think of Blackwell's having 'fans' rather than 'customers'. We love social media – it allows us to have a closer, more human relationship with 'fans', authors and www.b4-business.com

publishers and play our fundamental role as the natural link between these stakeholders to a greater degree than ever before.

Theatre We took the idea of Retail Theatre to a literal conclusion when we linked up with Creation Theatre, put up a stage in the Norrington Room and had a two month run of plays. Over twenty thousand have come to the shows over the past two years. We are currently in discussion with the Museum of Natural History to bring a dinosaur to the shop.

More than a (book)shop We have worked hard to find complementary products to sell alongside books. This is not about selling anything just because we can, we want our non-book product to enhance our bookselling brand, not to ultimately undermine it whether that be t-shirts featuring classic book jackets or jigsaws of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

Our shop events programme has never been more important to us and not just the big name author events - the shop runs three Reading Groups and one Writer's Group, we have a series of practical skills workshops, panel discussions and balloon debates, literary walking tours of the city and all sorts of things beside Personality The staff in our shop have a high degree of autonomy and are positively encouraged to share

their opinions and enthusiasms for the books they love. Whilst we have over 40 shops all over the country we are very much a 'chain of independents'. There is a growing movement of people that recognise the value and importance of independent shops. Of course they expect and deserve professional standards of service, fair pricing and an integrated 'clicks and bricks' option if that is what they want but they also want an interesting experience with an engaged member of staff who shares their passion and makes them feel valued as an individual. This is the ultimate advantage of an independent business.

The challenge to remain relevant has never been more onerous, the pace of change required of an established business never quicker, but these characteristics are embedded in the DNA of a business like Blackwell's that has survived and thrived over 134 years.

The High Street will change, of that there is no doubt. My fervent hope is that it will change for the better as more shops of character, interest and ambition arrive, survive and thrive.

The High Street is dead, long live the High Street!

Twitter: @blackwelloxford Facebook: /blackwelloxford Shop blog: www.broadconversation.com B4 Event at Blackwell’s 11th April - Sign up at the B4 website.

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HEYTHROP PARK RESORT

Heythrop Park Resort, lies on the edge of Oxfordshire village Enstone and nestles in 440 acres of parkland.

Approached along a tree lined, private 2 mile driveway, visitors turn the final sweeping bend to enjoy a choice of two hotels and outstanding leisure facilities.

Restfully secluded whilst being conveniently located for easy access to the M40 making London and the Midlands easily accessible, Heythrop Park Resort is home to both the quintessentially English Heythrop Park Hotel which dates back to 1710 and the stylishly modern Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park hotel, which opened it’s doors in October 2011.

For Work, Rest & Play For work: Meetings, events, conferences of all shapes and sizes find the facilities of the Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park meet the most demanding of requirements. Purpose built, the conference facilities include a state of the art circular conference theatre and offers built in audio-visual capability, flexible seating and on-site technical support for up to 400 delegates. This unique facility sets the resort apart from the bulk of regional venues and never fails to draw gasps of admiration from first time audiences.

Explore further and a beautiful ballroom which is capable of accommodating vehicle displays and an additional seven meeting and event rooms are on offer. Each room has private access to a central Moroccan themed courtyard or has views directly

modern cuisine with private dining options available. The extensive grounds are perfect for team building.

Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park is attached to an 18th century manor house, Heythrop Main house hotel thereby widening the choice of both meeting space, bedroom accommodation and ambience on offer.

Heythrop Park Resort succeeds in effortlessly fusing the old with the new, placing the Resort among the most unique on the Oxfordshire Cotswolds conference ,meetings and events landscape.

And the reasons to consider this unique venue do not stop there.

Heythrop Park is home to a quintessential English golf course which meanders over ridges and through valleys and is studded with ancient woodland, lakes and streams.

The 7,088 yard par 72 course is the handiwork of Tom Mackenzie, of the internationally-renowned golf course architects, Mackenzie & Ebert. Several holes stand out, like the 314-yard par-4 6th, where

management is to ensure it becomes a UK golfing choice destination. It has every opportunity to stage a European Tour Event and to be profiled in the top 50 courses in the country. These ambitions are not out of reach and when you play 18 holes for the first time, you may just wonder why either has not already happened.

Everyone is welcome to come and sample this magnificent course be it on a stay and play break or on a society golfing event. Indeed any current or would be golf event organisers reading this should seriously consider mustering a team and taking part in the forthcoming Organiser’s Competition Day on Friday 29 March. Full details and team entry forms can be obtained by contacting Sian Eden, Golf Sales Manager. Tel: 01608 673470. Email: seden@heythroppark.co.uk.

Other facilities include a fantastic health club with an in-door 20m heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room, state-of-the-art gym & fitness studio being the perfect place to get the adrenalin pumping and for those taking time out to relax and unwind, the luxury Spa provides a wealth of beauty treatments using the 5* award winning globally renowned luxury face and body brand, Espa.

“Heythrop Park Resort succeeds in effortlessly fusing the old with the new, placing the Resort among the most unique on the Oxfordshire Cotswolds conference ,meetings and events landscape

”

For rest: 197 stylish guest rooms feature many designer touches including sumptuous bedding that guarantee sweet dreams under the unique Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage programme.

the green nestles beside a fishing pond, and the 528-yard par-5 14th, which sweeps leftwards around an ancient woodland to a green that sits close to an 18th century stone bridge. Its fine set of challenging par-3s are also memorable and the same can be said for the unique 596-yard par-5 closing hole which is as straight as a die and has Heythrop Main House as its impressive backdrop.

For play: Contemporary restaurants and bars offer

The ambition of Heythrop Park Estate and its

overlooking the estate grounds – features which perfectly illustrate the contrasts and suprises that characterise Heythrop Park Resort

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We're so confident that you will love our facility that we are offering B4 Magazine readers the opportunity to be a member for a day. This offer includes the Health Club facilities for the day as well as 10% off any spa treatments booked on the day.

Call 01608 673 488 and quote B4 to book your day www.heythropparkresort.co.uk

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B4 EVENTS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This unique facility sets the resort apart from the bulk of regional venues and never fails to draw gasps of admiration from first time audiences

â&#x20AC;?

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B4 SERVICES

A CLEAR VISION FOR SUCCESS There are many qualities which make Robert Stanley Opticians stand out from the crowd, but two qualities in particular which define the company - clinical excellence and personal service. Louise Esplin finds out more.

Many will recognise the Robert Stanley name as the market town and high street independent opticians with branches in Abingdon, Wantage, Wallingford, Thame and Headington. What is perhaps not so well known is the company’s pedigree which dates way back 60 years to when the company was founded by Walter William Robert Holland and Donald Frank Stanley Salmon in 1952.

Choosing their middle names to form the company name, the two partners went on to grow a successful business across Oxfordshire.

In the 1990s, a new breed of high street optician chains with huge advertising budgets and lucrative franchise deals entered the market. The result was a dramatic reduction in unit cost for the customer, but also an equally dramatic shift in customer service. The Robert Stanley group knew it had to play smart if it was to keep up with this new, cost cutting competition and took steps to rejuvinate the company with a new generation of highly trained staff.

This was when John Edwards, a contact lens optician, joined the business as CEO. John Edwards explains: “I came on board 15 years ago to provide a new marketing strategy and my advice was not to join in the numbers game, but to concentrate on what we were best at, clinical excellence, quality and personal service.”

This advice has served the company well and it has continued to flourish and still holds the same philosophy today, offering each customer an uncompromising and personal service from a professional optician.

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Six years ago, Jerry Salmon and John Edwards bought the business from Jerry’s father and embarked on an ambitious investment programme to respond to the ever-changing market environment. A refurbishment plan was first launched at the Thame and Wallingford branches, then most recently at Abingdon and Headington at the end of 2012.

John Edwards continues: “We wanted to create a modern design which would provide a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere to make our customers feel at ease and enjoy the experience of choosing and trying on their glasses.”

“We wanted to create a modern design which would provide a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere to make our customers feel at ease and enjoy the experience of choosing and trying on their glasses

”

Modernity is key to the company’s overall philosophy, which is clear when you look at the number of designer brands in stock. Over 50% of frames are tailored and unique designs and often they only stock one piece from a top designer, so customers won’t see someone else locally with the same frame. The stock is constantly moving and

refreshed, always with the customer in mind.

Robert Stanley continually searches for other ways to improve and develop the business. Mindful of the different needs of all its customers, the company has recently launched a home visit service for homebound people, for whom it is often more important to have regular check-ups than most. Their clinicians offer expertise in a range of fields, including visual dyslexia in children, dry eye clinics and ortho-k custom made contact lenses, a non-invasive treatment for short sightedness.

The company believes in delivering the right product for the individual requirements of its customers and has developed close relationships with all major lens and frame manufacturers. Keen to provide the very latest designer eye wear, they visit trade shows around Europe, including the UK, Paris and Milan. They are always on the lookout to develop corporate partnerships to improve their revenue stream.

Expert eye care cannot be delivered without professionally trained staff and Robert Stanley has a rolling training programme in place for contact lens and dispensing opticians on the clinical side as well as training individual members of staff in management and retail skills.

The impressive consolidation of Robert Stanley over the past six years is only the beginning for the company. Looking to the future, the company intends to increase the range of specialist optical services for its customers and has long term plans to expand into other regions. www.robertstanley.co.uk

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ADDING VALUE AS STANDARD Asked the question, most businesses would like to think they add value to their customers and clients in some way. Grant Thornton enjoys an enviable reputation in the technology sector for doing just that. Article

by Tracey Jefferies

Grant Thornton’s Technology sector Corporate Finance Team continued to be the mid-market adviser of choice in 2012, across the Thames Valley and beyond, working with clients on 30 transactions during the year, reaffirming their position the go-to UK financial adviser.

Transactions included work on behalf of Tessella and 8el.

The sale of Tessella Ltd to its management team, backed by Mobeus Equity Partners The Thames Valley team advised the shareholders of Tessella on the sale of the business to management. The transaction enabled the founder, Kevin Gell, to move away from day-to-day

Technology and Corporate Finance Partner at Grant Thornton, said, "We are very pleased that our long association with Kevin and the Tessella team has culminated in a deal which is so tailored to their circumstances and aspirations. Tessella is a high quality business with significant potential, built on solid intellectual foundations. I have no doubt that with Mobeus's support and Kevin's sage advice, the management team will take the business onward and upward. We wish them well and very much hope we can continue to work alongside them on their journey."

Tessella Founder and Non-Executive Director Kevin Gell added: Grant Thornton have been my business advisors and auditors for over 12 years,

This acquisition strengthens Selection Services’ managed communication expertise and results in a combined entity generating revenues of over £35 million and with more than 400 staff helps the group pursue its strategy of building a substantial business that offers a full suite of IT services. Grant Thornton has a strong relationship with both Palatine and Selection, having advised on the original MBO in 2011. This relationship combined with technology sector expertise allowed Grant Thornton’s team to work closely with them, providing corporate finance and corporate tax advice. Commenting on the deal, Duncan Lamb, Partner in Grant Thornton’s Corporate Finance team said, “We are very pleased to have supported Palatine and Selection in successfully completing

“Grant Thornton have been my business advisors and auditors for over 12 years, so when I came to consider selling the business, our longstanding relationship and their credentials in the sector made them the logical choice

”

management while retaining a key position within the business and on the Board.

Tessella is an IT services business, based in Oxfordshire, which provides outsourced software development capability to large research and development projects within the public sector and commercial organisations. It boasts an impressive client list including the British Library, the JET project, GSK and Akzo Nobel. Tessella is a global business with offices in the UK, US and the Netherlands. It recruits its staff, the majority of whom have PhDs from the best universities around the world, equipping them to utilise their predominantly science and mathematics backgrounds into software development projects for commercial and research environments. The transaction values the business at £18 million.

Grant Thornton took the deal opportunity exclusively to Mobeus, recognising both a cultural fit and the advantages of a tried and tested Mobeus deal structure for the circumstances of Tessella and its stakeholders.

so when I came to consider selling the business, our longstanding relationship and their credentials in the sector made them the logical choice. They seamlessly worked across departments including corporate finance, audit, tax and financial planning, to provide me with the best advice to maximise my returns and get the deal done. Their hard work, dedication and flexibility ensured the transaction was completed in what continue, clearly to be difficult market conditions. I also look forward to continuing our relationship with Grant Thornton during the next stage of Tessella’s growth.”

Selection Services’ acquisition of 8el Grant Thornton advised Palatine Private Equity and Selection Services Limited on its acquisition of Aggregated Telecom Limited (trading as 8el).

Selection Services, based in Kent, is an IT managed services provider, working within the SME market, delivering a broad array of managed services and solutions, bespoke projects and expert strategic advice.

their second bolt-on acquisition. This leaves the business well positioned to strengthen its service offering and build on its successes to date. We look forward to working with them on future transactions.”

Palatine Private Equity Partner Tony Dickin added: “We are delighted to have concluded our second acquisition since the original MBO of Selection. The acquisition of 8el brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in managed communications, access to new customers and additional geographic reach.

Overall, it strengthens our position as we continue to become the leading IT services provider to the SME market. We will be looking to make further acquisitions to complement our business. Grant Thornton has been a trusted adviser since the Selection deal and we look forward to working with them to achieve our objectives.” www.grant-thornton.co.uk

Commenting on the deal, Wendy Hart, Head of

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B4 ADVICE

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be looking to make further acquisitions to complement our business. Grant Thornton has been a trusted adviser since the Selection deal and we look forward to working with them to achieve our objectives

â&#x20AC;?

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B4 R&R

YOUR MANOR Undergoing a major refurbishment, The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green is enjoying not only a facelift but a complete rejuvenation. Under the expert stewardship of General Manager Christian Kaberg and his more than able team, the new owners are creating a gem just five miles from Oxford.

It’s the little touches which make the difference.

The clever shaping of the entrance drive centrepiece hedges into sheep as you drive in to The Manor, the hotel’s new signature logo, is ingenious and has instantly provided The Manor, formerly Weston Manor Hotel, with an identity which relaxes its guests and adds a touch of humour.

Overseeing the transformation, Christian Kaberg has a background steeped in quality establishments including The Goring, Great Fosters, Le Meridian Piccadilly, London Hilton Park Lane and The Lanesborough, and he is certainly relishing in his role at The Manor. “We decided that, as we were starting with a blank sheet of paper, we would give the hotel a new name and anew identity.

Hence, the sheep. The real ones which reside in the grounds, were to be our signature and we have used them across everything – our smart new brochures, menus, dressing gowns, everything – and they have been very well received. With over twenty four years of experience within hotels, restaurants, contract catering and a private members club, I have managed to create a very broad knowledge of our industry. I am now implementing these skills by turning The Manor into a luxurious retreat, a haven for the more discerning guest where service, excellence and

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quality are taken for granted.”

It’s a project Christian and his team can rightly be proud of. Under the former owners, I was never shown past the front reception but ever since our first meeting back in September, Christian has outlined to me what was to be done to what has now been completed and it has been a pleasure to see the overhaul step by step, to see his and the new owner’s vision come to fruition. Although there are still changes in the pipeline, the results to date are stunning.

Prior to checking in, I was to meet Christian and his Executive Chef, Tyrone MacConnell, for a meeting about the 2013 Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards which are taking place at The Manor on 1st October. We were meeting in the new Snug, the old hotel’s offices, which provide a light and airy space in which to have private meetings or afternoon tea – we did both! The adjacent morning room has had a similar makeover, with sumptuous furnishings and tasteful décor. These are sophisticated spaces which have really elevated the property to five star status.

Tina was to meet me later at the hotel so I took the opportunity after the meeting to check in and relax in our beautifully appointed room. It was a real

home from home room, with everything you might need, most importantly an amazingly comfortable bed which became too hard to resist after a long week – an hour later I was awoken by a knock at the door after falling into a deep slumber.

Tina was ready so I quickly changed and we made our way to the bar for a pre dinner drink. A first! We were actually early for a review and it gave us time to enjoy the property and take our time with a much anticipated drink, my first of 2013! We took to our high chair seats at the bar of Bertie’s, a stunning hotel bar with a spectacular drinks display, rich green walls and dark wooden furniture, adorned by hunting art and fabulous equine sculptures. This was a bar, a real bar and Vito, the attentive Italian bar tender, was on hand with my medicine and an astonishing mind of information about our drinks, his homeland and life generally.

It was a wonderful way to start the evening.

Francisco, our attentive maître d’, showed us the menus so we could prolong our stay in our new favourite bar, so we deliberated over the mouthwatering choices for a good fifteen minutes before making our way to The Baron’s Hall, accompanied by the hotel’s resident dog, Holly, a beautiful golden retriever who never left our side in the communal spaces of the hotel but who knew the restaurant

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MORE ABOUT

THE MANOR The Manor at Weston-on-the-Green has 28 beautifully appointed rooms, all with en suite bathrooms. With only the finest bed linen, pillows and beds to ensure you have a night of sweet dreams. Enjoy the range of luxury bath & body goodies, and wrap up in a fluffy dressing gown.

Settle in and enjoy the view from your windows. Help yourself to a glass of complimentary sherry as you unwind. Room service is available for a more private evening, or for a relaxing breakfast in bed.

In the grounds of The Manor you will find much to please: discover the hidden knot garden – scene of many secret trysts over the years. Pick up a mallet and enjoy a game of croquet on the lawn. The team of gardeners plant and tend for all seasons. Languidly or energetically, revel in the heated pool. Enjoy a drink and a snack on one of the beautifully appointed terraces and watch the sun set over the fields beyond.

The gardens at The Manor at Weston-on-theGreen are designed to celebrate the changing seasons. Stroll along the scented lavender walk in summer, or wander through the woodlands during autumn and listen to the birdsong.

was a no go zone.

Dating back to the 11th century, the Baron’s Hall has been carefully restored to show its linen fold oak-panelling to ensure an unsurpassed dining experience. Above the Baron’s Hall is the original Minstrel’s Gallery where private dining parties up to sixteen take place. The five course tasting menu changes daily, and Tina went for this whilst I chose from the full à la carte menu, accompanied by a

our way there for an after dinner drink and more inspirational chit chat with Vito, by now our favourite bar tender in the world! But that bed was soon calling and we said our goodnight’s to Vito, Francisco and Holly and enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep and woke to snow on the lawn – a magical sight!

We showered and returned to The Baron’s Hall for breakfast, where naughty Danish, egg’s benedict

“We decided that, as we were starting with a blank sheet of paper, we would give the hotel a new name and anew identity. Hence, the sheep” glass or two of chilled Macon Villages, whilst Tina plumped for a glass of champagne. Our scallops, pigeon, honey roast duck and beef, plus a few more courses for Tina, not to mention the rhubarb and custard we shared for desert were all presented immaculately and the tastes were spectacular. We couldn’t find fault in any way and our waiter was attentive throughout, offering an excellent knowledge of the food we were enjoying.

The Manor provided us with a real ten out of ten experience. Great food, excellent service and a wonderful room. If this is part way through the refurbishment, well, we’ll just have to check out the finished article, won’t we!

We were so enchanted with the bar that we made

http://themanorweston.com

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and scrambled eggs and salmon were our choices.

Once again, attentive and polite service and a first class breakfast to set us up for a day out.

Discover the secret Wedding garden, perfect for a summer celebration. Slip through an opening in the yew hedge and you will find the heated outdoor swimming pool, where you can relax with a drink after your dip.

The south and west facing terraces invite you to linger as the sun sets, and lights the warm stone of the beautiful Manor.

Celebrate the seasons at The Manor at Weston-on-the Green with changing menus to reflect the best in local, seasonal produce. The kitchen brigade is led by Executive Chef Tyrone MacConnell. Take your time to enjoy the fabulous five-course tasting menu in the oak-panelled Baron’s Hall; relax in Bertie’s Bar with a sandwich made with the finest Montgomery cheddar. Soak up the sun on the Topiary Terrace and indulge yourself with freshly cooked fish and chips, or treat your loved one to a Champagne afternoon tea in the elegant Morning Room. The Manor can cater for all your requirements, from breakfast to a midnight snack. http://themanorweston.com Visit The Manor for the B4 Event on 2nd October - sign up at the B4 website.

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The bulk of the reform is being introduced by the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill 2012-13. The Bill is due to receive Royal Assent in spring 2013, with implementation of relevant sections being phased in across 2013. Some of the changes are linked into separate changes to employment tribunal procedure that are expected to take effect in April 2013.

A key overriding objective of the reforms is to encourage the settlement of employment disputes at any early stage and if the parties cannot reach a settlement, to allow the employment tribunal to “sift out” unmeritorious claims, before costs escalate.

Settlement Agreements and “pre-termination negotiations” To promote early settlement the reforms encourage the continued use of “Compromise agreements”. These will be renamed as “Settlement agreements” and the new legislation will attempt to remove perceived barriers to their use.

One such barrier is the legitimate fear that the mere mention of a negotiated settlement using a compromise agreement could cause a claim or be used against a party. In particular an employer is normally worried that it could trigger

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a constructive dismissal or be used as evidence of predetermination or unfairness – an employee is often equally worried that the conversation could be used to prove acceptance or guilt.

“A key overriding objective of the reforms is to encourage the settlement of employment disputes at any early stage” The present position is that such discussions cannot be used if the conversation is genuinely “without prejudice”. The requirements to establish this protection are not codified and rely mainly on case law. The key ingredient is that the parties must be attempting to resolve a “dispute”. Even then, the veil of protection can be lifted in certain circumstances, particularly if discrimination is involved or if the veil is being used to cover fraud, blackmail or other forms of “unambiguous impropriety”.

To make it easier, the initial consultations suggested the use of “protected

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B4 ADVICE

AVOIDING EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL CLAIMS -

EMPLOYMENT LAW REFORM The Coalition Government is pressing on with its proposals to reform employment law in the hope that reduced burdens and costs for employers will help stimulate much sought after economic growth.

conversations” but this was shelved in favour of a more limited provision to make pre-termination negotiations inadmissible as evidence in straight forward unfair dismissal cases. The protection will not apply to other types of claims such as discrimination, breach of contract and automatically unfair dismissal claims. The protection can also be lifted if there is “improper conduct”.

“The key ingredient is that the parties must be attempting to resolve a ‘dispute’” These limitations significantly reduce the impact of this new provision and a party is unlikely to rely on it if there is any risk that an exception will apply. As most claims typically involve other forms of claim, practically, most parties will instead rely on the old “without prejudice” position.

Pre- issue ACAS conciliation If the parties cannot agree a settlement of a claim, it is proposed that there will be mandatory ACAS conciliation before proceedings are issued. A four step procedure is envisaged:

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• Before proceedings are issued, the Claimant must send ACAS a notice of the claim in a “prescribed form”; • ACAS must send this to a conciliation officer; • The conciliation officer must promote a settlement within a “prescribed period” (likely to be a month); • If settlement is not achieved, the officer must issue a certificate – the Claimant cannot issue a claim without this certificate.

If followed, this would extend the time limit for lodging a claim. Again, there are exceptions that apply.

This “step” approach has echoes of the old “statutory dismissal and grievance” procedures which were repealed because of the complexity and satellite litigation they caused.

For further information on the Coalition Government’s proposal to reform employment law and how it will affect you, please contact James Simpson, partner and head of the employment law team at Henmans Freeth LLP, on 01865 781193 or email james.simpson@henmansfreeth.co.uk. www.henmansfreeth.co.uk

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ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOT WHERE YOU COME FROM. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WHERE YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;RE HEADING. With unrivalled knowledge and experience, no-one understands the needs of the local market like we do.

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WEALTH STRUCTURING

PRIVATE BANKING

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

news Expansion for Hawkwell House Hotel Hawkwell House Hotel in Iffley, has grown increasingly popular over the last few years, and has invested heavily over the last 3 years. The latest investment follows on from all the bedrooms in the main building, being refurbished during 2010.

The rooms all benefited from new bathrooms and soft furnishings throughout. The new expansion sees the bedrooms increase to 77 from the current 66, with 5 of the 11 being planned as feature rooms. Rooms will incorporate interior design by Diana Bird who owns Seams Fine. Diana commented “We will be looking to create bedrooms that have integrity and innovation, something to differentiate Hawkwell from the other hotels in the area”.

Other areas of the hotel are also undergoing improvement, and Tim Spittles, the General Manager believes that the hotel is going from strength to strength due to the investment that the owners are putting in – “all the staff here are fully committed to raising the bar in the same way that the owners have shown faith in them and the hotel”. The works also include a new Restaurant which will replace the current Arrezzo. Works are due to be completed by May. Watch this space!

Multiple Awards for Hawkwell House Hotel 2012 saw a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence being awarded to Hawkwell House in Iffley. The online review site has become “the bible” for people seeking to stay away from home, whether it is in the UK or abroad. Increased service standards, alongside continual improvement to the fabric of the building, have seen the independent hotel move steadily up the Oxford rankings, from 20th two years ago to the dizzy heights of 4th at the time of writing.

Yet another award came from BDRC, the hotel industry’s leading customer feedback company.

BDRC awarded Hawkwell House a Certificate of Commendation for its increase in ratings awarded by conference users during 2012. The on line system encourages each corporate user to rate their event, and the ratings are compared to other conference hotels both nationally and regionally that use the service.

Stuart Harrison, who was instrumental in introducing the feedback system to Hawkwell House, said “This is the gold standard in bench marking how well a hotel delivers in all aspects of its conference and meetings market. Hawkwell House has been marked by the bookers and users of its facilities as being the very best in the region.”

Hawkwell House Hotel announces key Investment in personnel Hawkwell has retained the services of Axio Development , to help develop their own managers and team. Axio will be taking monthly sessions with all members of staff at the hotel, covering areas from team building to everyday up selling. The departmental team leaders are also undergoing a management program with Axio. Hawkwell ‘s General Manager,Tim Spittles recently completed Axio’s Executive Leadership

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Course and he believes that investment in his team is paramount in continuing the recent success that the Hotel has seen.

Hawkwell is planning to team up with Axio in offering a free seminar to Managing Directors and Business Owners in how to “Get More From Less”, details to be announced in the near future.

A X I O D E V E L O P M E N T

www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

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B4 SERVICES

“Trust, honesty, integrity and respect are essential ingredients to ensuring our continued success as a profitable business unit”

EXCITING TIMES In February 1993 Mike Collett joined the then WILA Leuchten GmbH, Iserlohn, Germany and the UK operation of WILA Lighting Limited was formed in September of 1993. The WILA business was started in Mike’s home with some garden furniture that was used for a desk and chair, a mobile phone and a fax machine and one other member of staff.

2013 is a BIG year for WILA in the UK for more than one reason; It is not just the 20th year of trading, but WILA will also be celebrating the launch of the NEW WILA Vision and Strategy, the NEW architecturally led website and the introduction and launch of the NEW and exciting alphabet range in the coming months, whilst maintaining a lean operation here in the UK.

WILA moved into its Didcot offices in September 1993, before relocating to its current offices in Grove, Wantage 7 years later, and November 2010 saw the opening of WILA UK’s manufacturing facility in Abingdon. Claire explains, "As the business grew in size and success we always retained the family feeling mentality with the people we employ, and this now forms part of the company culture. She continues “We are a very close knit team and believe in and understand our values. Trust, honesty, integrity and respect are essential ingredients to ensuring our continued success as a profitable business unit. WILA boasts a large company ethos through our means of recognition and remuneration. We are proud to have been accredited with IIP since 1997. This in itself is a huge achievement following the dramatic changes within the standard, the demise of funding and support networks such as Business Link, and the fact that we remained accredited as an Investor in People during our own period of change and through the MBO process”.

Claire goes on to say “WILA currently employs 33 members of staff across the two sites in the UK and an additional 100+ in Germany”. Claire proudly tells us that out of the 33 employees, 6 have been with the company over 10 years, including herself and a further 10 over 5 years. As much as we would like this to be higher we recognise and understand the changing industry and markets we operate in.

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Claire explains that WILA has introduced an Apprenticeship Scheme this year, with apprenticeships available within administration and technical Sales support.

The successful individuals will be placed on a two year training plan and will work in each department for a 3 month period whilst continuing to improve their knowledge and skills further. They will do that initially via the NVQ route and if successful they will have the opportunity to go on to do professionally recognised qualifications. In previous years WILA has supported numerous employees on apprenticeships, NVQ trainee schemes and

professionally recognised qualifications such as CIM Marketing Diplomas, MSc in Light & Lighting, Management & Leadership qualifications and an MBA. Claire and the management team are passionate about how all departments at WILA pride themselves in delivering exceptional service and support whether that be from a sales inquiry, quotation, through to an order, product development, purchasing, assembly, post sales support if required or an accounts or systems query. All departments are cross trained where possible to ensure that systems and processes are in place to meet all eventualities.

Claire goes on to say, “Oxfordshire itself has seen many changes in recent years and although Oxford itself has a large number of people employed in universities and the public sector, it also has significant jobs in other sectors including publishing, tourism, hospitality and a growing hi-tech sector fuelled by a highly-qualified workforce. Whether those positions be full time permanent, temporary or part time it is difficult to get a real feel of the employment statistics”. Claire is confident that WILA will continue to be strong in a very competitive market as the team it has is highly skilled and talented and is the vital ingredient to its continued future success. www.wila.com

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Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

Claire Styles talks to B4 about the forthcoming changes at WILA and the excitement surrounding its 20th year of trading here in the UK.

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For full information on exclusive use, meetings, seminars, team building and conferences please call 01865 282599 or email events@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk

Rhodes House, Oxford, OX1 3RG

Telephone 01865 282 599 events@rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

B4 PROPERTY

“Repair and maintenance costs are fully deductible which is a great motivation to keep the house or apartment in good order

”

OXFORD PROPERTY INVESTMENT AND

DEDUCTIBLE ALLOWANCES FOR YOU THE LANDLORD

Robin Swailes of North Oxford Property Services reports on the state of the Oxfordshire property market, and how to manage your property income effectively.

Summary of the Oxford market January 2013; The Oxford letting market continues with a high demand for quality city centre property. Rentals are likely to increase by another 2.5 to 3 % in 2013 (beating predicted inflation) as demand remains high and supply is limited.

There are slow but encouraging signs that property prices will slowly move forward as January 2013 has seen a healthy number of property sales in the Oxford market. Stock shortage continues to frustrate sales agents who are keen to replenish their windows with fresh ‘for sale’ properties.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

In previous articles I have discussed the appeal of Oxford to the investment landlord, compared with other parts of the country. This time I would like to look at how best to manage income and profit from letting a property or portfolio of properties. The following ideas are based on my own experiences, though please seek professional advice from your accountant or lawyer before implementing financial changes.

Maximise your allowable expenditure: Many investors that I speak to do not know the extent of their allowable expenses and are therefore disadvantaged by not claiming relief on them. My advice is to keep your letting property in tip-top condition, this means you will achieve top rental income (ROI) and the tenants, in my experience, are more likely to treat your property with the respect it deserves.

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Most aspects of repair are allowable deductions, here are some examples: ALL repair and maintenance costs are fully deductible which is a great motivation to keep the house or apartment in good order.

agents are worthwhile because they take the dayto-day strain out of letting. Their fees are deductible and they also achieve the highest rents for their clients, which is not always the case when landlords let their own property.

Allowable deductions include painting and decorating, damp treatment, pointing the bricks externally, repairing washing machines etc. If you do not pay a lot of tax then you can carry the allowance forward, and since rents increase each year there will be a time when you will be glad of an allowance to offset against your profit.

Stationery used for the business is often overlooked as an allowance. If you buy envelopes, paper, postage, expensive ink cartridges, stamps, pens or have anything printed, then they are all allowable.

ALL interest charges on the mortgage to buy the property are deductible and the arrangement fees that are so commonly charged by lenders are also FULLY deductible.

Motor expenses in relation to property business are allowable. You should decide the percentage of time you use your car for business purposes, and then claim tax relief on a percentage of interest from the car loan, fuel, servicing, repairs and car insurance. This soon adds up with the price of petrol and insurance these days. Keep a tally on your business mileage if you are unsure of the proportion to claim from the HMRC. A few special allowances that a lot of investors are not aware of: The letting agents fee is totally deductible as is any advertising that you incur in letting your property. In my view,

If you let an apartment with ground rent and service charges, then they are fully deductible. And do not forget to offset your accountant's charges for doing the books.

I trust this helps remind you to document ALL your allowances to make the most efficient business you can. The next article will look at personally owning a property in contrast to owning properties in a limited company.

Robin Swailes is a property investment expert who advises new and existing landlords in Oxford. He has invested in the Oxford Property market for over 25 years and owns a successful family property lettings business North Oxford Property Services.

Telephone North Oxford Property Services 01865 311745.

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IS B4 SPEAKING YOUR LINGO? We asked B4 members, Lingo Telemarketing, to hit the phones and ask our B4 members where we were going right but, more importantly, where we could make improvements. After all, the only way to keep everyone happy is to keep moving forwards. Lingo also took the opportunity to ask our members how they would be winning new business in 2013. With thanks to Su, Penny and Antonia.

The Brief B4 and Lingo Telemarketing partnered to create a survey of 313 B4 members with certain aims in mind, to include; 1. To check that the B4 membership is happy, 2. To find out what other features / activities they would like from the B4 membership and 3. Within their own businesses, B4 members were asked what sales and marketing activities were most popular in 2012 and what they will be focusing on in 2013.

The market research campaign took place over several days in late December 2012 and early January 2013.

Campaign Outcomes – see Figure 1 Of the 313 customer records on the B4 database, 51 scripts were completed in total (16%).

Of the 51 completed surveys, 6 (12%) were completed as a result of the online B4 Newsletter link and 45 (88%) as a result of telemarketing interaction.

36 (70%) were completed over the telephone with a telemarketer and 9 (18%) were completed online as a result of the telemarketer conversation followed by an emailed link to the survey. These figures demonstrate the value of telemarketing and follow up.

Companies Contacted From the 51 companies that completed the survey, a high proportion (39%) of these companies are in the business and professional services industry sector. Business efforts were focused either nationally or internationally for 35% of the companies whilst the remaining companies’ focus was in southern counties only.

Areas where B4 is most valued B4 members were asked to rank the major reasons for continuing membership as either Strongly Agree, Agree, Somewhat Agree and Don’t Agree. The responses were as follows:

Aspect

Strongly Agree Somewhat or Agree Agree

Don’t Agree

B2B Networking Opportunities

76.5%

17.6%

5.9%

Raises Your Company Profile

82.4%

11.8%

5.9%

Local Business & Community News

70.6%

17.6%

11.8%

Mix of Business Sectors / Industries

76.4%

17.6%

5.9%

Quality Events

76.5%

19.6%

3.9%

Quality Magazine

86.3

13.7%

0%

Website Features

58.8%

27.5%

13.7%

E-Mail Newsletter

49%

27.5%

23.5%

q COMPLETE SURVEY BREAKDOWN 18%

In more detail, with the focus on networking in 2013, 10 people said they would like to see a change of format including an increase in networking events. Holding networking events in a wider range of local areas was also requested by 10 people. Some people asked for introductions at events and a list of attendees, although it is a B4 policy not to give out a list of attendees.

Every respondent agreed, to some degree, that the quality of the magazine was a reason for their membership – 39% strongly agreeing. 35% of people strongly agreed that the B2B networking opportunities were a reason for their membership. However, some members are beginning to complain of a lack of focus in the magazine – what they’d like is more concentration on new companies, and more focus on themes, although few suggestions were made.

We would like direct examples from our members.

The email newsletter was least valuable, with 23% of people disagreeing that this was a reason to continue the membership. It is interesting that one of the companies who said that they did not agree that the email newsletter was of significant value to them, did complete the survey via the online newsletter.

B4’s areas for focus are therefore the website, which is being revamped in 2013 with some great new features enabling members to communicate with each other and their staff more easily, and the e-mail Newsletter which is now being sent out each week rather than on an ad hoc basis.

Focus for 2012 – see Figure 3 When asked where they had focused their new business activity in 2012, 96% of companies said via their company website and through networking and memberships. 70% of companies said they used PR (such as editorial and newsletters) as well as social media.

When asked to rank these activities as 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice, the most popular first choice was networking, with 27% of companies putting this activity top and 19% of companies putting networking as their most popular second choice.

It is interesting that telemarketing (21%) came out below direct mail - email and post - (56%) as an activity focus for 2012 as this survey statistically proves that telemarketing is significantly more successful than direct mail in achieving results. In this survey, 88% of the completed surveys were a direct result of telemarketing activity opposed to 12% from email activity.

Focus for 2013 – see Figure 4 When asked which business development activities they plan to focus on in 2013, the majority of companies (72%) are focusing on networking and memberships, followed by company website (66%) and social media (62%).

If you'd like to comment on these findings or provide us with more feedback on your membership, please contact us on: 01865 742211.

w AREAS WHERE B4 IS MOST VALUED

12% 8% Emailed Newsletter Link (B4) 70%

Telephone Survey Telephone Call, Email link sent

Networking & Events

6% 4% 34%

16%

The Magazine Other

32%

Website, Email & Newsletters Referrals Workshops & Seminars

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

e LOOKING BACK ON 2012, WHICH ACTIVITIES DID YOU USE TO GENERATE NEW BUSINESS? Direct Mail (Email & Post)

56.9% (29) 37.3% (19)

Field Sales Activities Telemarketing

21.6% (11)

Events / Roadshows

58.8% (30)

Networking / Memberships

96.1% (49)

Advertising (e.g.

Magazine, Radio)

58.8% (30)

PR (e.g. Editorial, Newsletters)

70.6% (36)

Company Website

96.1% (49)

Social Media

70.6% (36)

Digital

37.3% (19)

Other (specified)

37.3% (19)

0

10

20

30

40

50

r WHICH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES DO YOU PLAN TO FOCUS ON IN 2013?

72.5% (37)

Networking / Memberships

66.7% (34)

Company Websites Social Media

62.7% (32)

PR (e.g. Editorial, Newsletters)

47.1% (24)

Direct mail (Email & Post)

43.1% (22)

Events / Roadshows

39.2% (20)

Other (specified)

35.3% (18)

Field Sales Activities

33.3% (17)

Advertising (e.g.

Magazine, Radio)

33.3% (17)

Digital

25.5% (13)

Telemarketing

17.6% (9)

0

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10

20

30

40

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B4 TRAVEL

“Ultimate Car Control is now the emerging leader in its field and is setting new standards in driver training and road safety”

After completing a hugely successful international motor-racing career Robb has used the experience he gained on track to develop the most effective driver training platform in existence. Having won over a hundred races and eleven championships in a professional career spanning sixteen years Robb founded Ultimate Car Control in 2001.

Driver Encoded Knowledge Having spent more than five years developing and trialling the programmes that now make up the company’s core offering, Robb is confident that Ultimate Car Control is now the emerging leader in its field and is setting new standards in driver training and road safety.

From the company’s operational base at the world famous Transport Research Laboratory in Crowthorne, Ultimate Car Control runs regular courses for people of all ages, both genders and all demographics aimed at improving the driver’s ability and saving the lives of people of Berkshire and the rest of the country.

With a fleet of new Volvo and Jaguar cars, Robb and his team of highly trained professional instructors deliver bespoke driver training courses to

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IF YOU HAVE TO THINK...

IT’S TOO LATE

Berkshire born resident, and British motorsport legend Robb Gravett has spent a decade creating what today is the only fully compliant, track based advanced driver training company in the country.

individuals and companies at any of twelve sites across the country.

Courses available include: DEK – Driver Encoded Knowledge: Superior car control for drivers of high performance motor cars EPD – Excellence in Professional Driving: The most innovative educational fleet driver training programme in existence DEK Inspiration: The ultimate dynamic driver training experience in the country DX – Drive Xtra: The shape of things to come for young and inexperienced drivers Ultimate Car Control also has a series of specialized courses focusing on the needs of high profile people and their families, for overseas visitors and diplomats, for chauffeurs and close protection officers and will tailor courses to suit the specific needs of the individual.

Audited accident reduction rates of nearly 50% are justification that what Robb has created really works! This coupled with reduced insurance premiums, a reduction in vehicle running and repair costs means that Ultimate Car Control is having a profound effect on business in these difficult economic times.

B4 Berkshire As an active B4 member Ultimate Car Control is delighted to offer its services to our fellow B4 colleagues for all their driver training and business compliance needs.

A complimentary risk assessment audit for B4 members will identify the issues that need to be addressed by each individual company.

Thereafter Ultimate Car Control will provide a full service offering at special discounted rates available exclusively to B4 members.

ACT on the ACT Are you concerned about your exposure to the Corporate Manslaughter Act? If so act on the act today and call Ultimate Car Control for advice.

Robb Gravett and his team are ready to speak to B4 Members about their driver training needs and invite you to call us for advice and assistance.

Contact us on: 0845 459 1002 or email: enquiries@ultimatecarcontrol.com or visit our website: www.ultimatecarcontrol.com

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B4 HEALTH

OXFORDSHIRE’S NEWEST FITNESS TRAINING STUDIO

MAKE EVERY DAY A TLA DAY!

Following months tackling arduous planning permission and structural developments of the barn, Tom Alden and his team at TLA Fitness are delighted to unveil the opening of their fresh training facility in January 2013. Tom’s hardwork and dedication has finally paid off as he eagerly anticipates this great addition to TLA Fitness.

“I am now delighted to offer the TLA Studio as a fully functional, multi-purpose training space. The TLA Studio will be a hub for TLA Fitness, equipped with the latest training gadgets in preparation for new classes, Private Training Groups and One-toOne Personal Training.”

Among the new classes are Spinning sessions (aided by the purchase of brand-new state-of-theart Keiser M3 bikes), Cross Fit, Kettlebell Classes and TRX Suspension Training. Attached to the roof of the barn are several large metal panels; Tom promises that these will offer a whole host of

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exercises, such as pad boxing and weight training to name but a few.

Although Tom aims to keep outdoor Fitness at the core of TLA, he believes that the converted barn will add an extra dimension to his classes: “TLA Fitness thrives on the great outdoors and I am happy to confirm that all TLA outdoors classes will remain the same, each in their own unique parks and open areas in Oxfordshire. The TLA Studio will simply offer a different range of classes giving you more options and less of an excuse!”

On top of offering an amazing selection of new classes to TLA, the barn will also serve as an office for Tom, from which he will host a monthly nutrition seminar, and a drop-in sports massage and sports therapy clinic.

Over the summer of 2012, TLA Fitness launched TLA Triathlon, a new branch of the business focussing specifically on all elements of triathlon

training. The barn will certainly help the promotion of TLA Tri, as spinning classes and transition training can now work alongside track and swim sessions.

Tom is constantly stressing the importance of goalsetting as being at the core of TLA Fitness and the introduction of the barn will allow clients to reach above and beyond their potential through new exercises, adding a fresh dimension to their training routine. This not only includes attaining goals for triathlons or running events, but also individual goals in one-to-one training and private classes.

The development of Church Barn in Sunningwell is an exciting opportunity for TLA Fitness to flourish and expand. It will be a centre of focussed and dedicated training, where TLA clients will benefit immensely from a fantastic new range of equipment, classes and coaching. Roll on the coming months!

Contact Tom at info@tlafitness.com, call 07554 400 401, or visit www.tlafitness.com

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Photography: Rob Scotcher

Huge excitement is sweeping throughout TLA Fitness following the recent Opening of their brand new Training Studio, which has just opened in Church Farm Barn, Sunningwell village, Oxford.

B4TV – 7 MINUTE SUCCESS INTERVIEWS

Something new from B4 – the first in a new series of 7 Minute Success Interviews starting with the man behind the success of one of Oxfordshire’s leading firms of solicitors, Simon McCrum of Darbys. So why video? We talk to B4’s very own presenter and B4 member, Jackie Jarvis, who helped B4 come up with the idea.

“I initially approached B4 about a series of coaching videos, but we soon realised this would be time consuming, costly and there would be no guarantee that we’d generate the web traffic. Attention spans are becoming shorter and shorter these days, so Richard and I decide to focus on what B4 is good at, delivering good news. We felt that by packaging an interview into a specific time period, on an interesting subject, would be the way to go.

“And so the B4 7 Minute Success Interviews were born and we had the opportunity to interview the charismatic Simon McCrum, Managing Partner of Darbys at the fantastic new Conference Annexe at the Said Business School. It 108

was the perfect setting, and with the expert skills of Sander Aben and XXXX at Shining With Productions we put the first interview together.

“Through the series of B4 7 Minute Success Interviews I aim to get to the heart of what ambitious business owners have actually done to really make something great happen in their business. I believe that we can learn a lot from those who have overcome challenges, have a real passion for what they do and have taken brave and positive action to make their businesses work well.

There are a lot of really interesting, inspiring people in businesses of all types and sizes who have a story to tell and have implemented strategies that achieve positive results www.b4-business.com

B4 MARKETING

“I believe that we can learn a lot from those who have overcome challenges, have a real passion for what they do and have taken brave and positive action to make their businesses work well” owners who want to share their insights to inspire others. I will help you to capture this through our relaxed video interviews and you just have to tell us www.b4-business.com

how you have made it happen!

So if you think you’ve got what it takes to be the star of the show, get in touch with B4 now. Packages for the B4 Success Interview start at £1,750+VAT and include a double page spread in B4 Magazine, use of the video for your own website and other media and our promotion through B4 on Twitter, eNewsletter and the magazine. If you want to make your interview part of a more in depth company video, we can arrange for this alongside the Seven Minute Interview so you have the complete package to promote your business.

Call us now on 01865 742211 and if you’d like to see the results of our interview with Simon, log on to www.b4-business.com and click on Video and Photo.

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Photography: Rob Scotcher

“I want the B4 Success Interview series to capture the best of what has made a ‘real difference’ when growing a business. We are looking for business

B4 SERVICES

PROMOTING

CONFIDENTIALITY When you lead a business that specialises in protecting the assets of other companies you expect it would be easy to promote what you do, but if you promise total confidentiality to your clients that makes it trickier. Janet Gibbons, Chief Executive at Oxfordshire document storage specialists Ardington Archives knows exactly how this feels.

Delivering what you say you will and providing the highest possible customer service is core to the Ardington approach. This is a family owned business that believes in fast and responsive support of clients from taking them through the often daunting process of cataloguing and initial storage; to ensuring that documents are returned quickly when needed (a fear for many businesses who worry that they will lose this ready access); and on to full advise on when to dispose of the documents by providing key destruction dates.

“We would like to shout the names of our high profile, major clients from the rooftops but when you promise a confidential service you have to deliver on that promise

”

With a wide spread of clients from individual solicitors and accountants to multinational pharmaceutical companies the needs of clients can be very different. The motivation for storing offsite for a small business can simply be to remove the burden of worrying about where to store records and to free up more space. While for a large company organising for the protection of key data www.b4-business.com

is a business necessity. In both ends of the spectrum, a business of any size needs to consider the legal obligation to store data for a given time period.

There can be serious consequences to not managing your data correctly within The Data Protection Act 1998. Under new rules which came into force in April 2010, the Information Commissioner’s Office is able to impose fines of up to £500,000 as a penalty for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act. Ardington Archives understands the implications of the Act and their ISO 27001 quality accreditation means that they have to be managing data securely for both electronic and paper-based information. After all, it’s not just their own data that they are managing, and that’s a responsibility that they take very seriously.

Do you know who is accessing, editing, printing and copying your valuable business information? And where your business critical documents are stored?

Recent research by analysts Quocirca found that just 39% of businesses can audit all their business critical documents. This means that more than half of all businesses do not know the answers to these questions regarding their valuable business information.

Data protection can be a complex and sometimes scary business for companies, but whether you are dealing with electronic or hardcopy data you need to have clear policies and responsibilities in place.

Ardington Archives has developed multiple layers of secure storage to meet differing client requirements. At the top end is a secure vault with full temperature & humidity control and fire suppression, built to BS5454 specifications. As Janet Gibbons highlights, “Clients like Biotech companies see their key trial research data including Lab Books as business-critical information.

That is why they demand the highest level of security storage to guarantee safe and secure protection.”

A business specialising in business document storage is never going to be high profile but is nonetheless essential to many other leading companies across Oxfordshire. Ardington Archives keeps a low profile refusing to name names, but receives many quality recommendations and referrals from clients who value their confidential service. Despite the digital age there is still a strong demand for hardcopy storage of many records and it is more cost effective to store offsite than keep historical documents onsite, especially if you factor in the security of key business data. www.ardingtonarchives.co.uk

More than half of all businesses do not know who is accessing, editing, printing and copying their valuable business information.

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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 MARKETING

LEADERS NOT FOLLOWERS We last sat down with Zest in issue 23 (May 2012), where they were just coming up to their two-year anniversary.

As 2013 is now and truly underway we catch up once again with Zest’s managing director, Alex Minchin, and see how one of Oxfordshire’s brightest digital agencies is getting on…

“It’s been a fantastic 10 months. When we last spoke my prime focus was putting a great team in place, with a mix of skills. I soon realised when starting Zest, that if I wanted to grow, then having the right people in place would be key.”

“We understand each other very well, benefitting the continued growth of the business and our service offering. When operating in the digital space, it’s easy to pick up bad habits. That’s why so many digital agencies struggle to retain clients. Our vision is clearly defined: to inspire, educate, and deliver transparent and exceptional digital marketing services to SMEs. The team is a huge part in achieving this.”

by launching a new internship scheme.

“The digital world changes from day to day. We’re keen for graduates to learn from us, but also we’re keen to learn from them. Listen to new ideas and so forth. Having that injection of young fresh creativity will be another key tool for us to continue our growth going forwards.”

“Our vision is clearly

“Good health and a strong team bond are two cornerstones to achieving our goals – and everybody loves getting involved. We have a real laugh!”

Alex then talked trends for the year. “We see businesses that have way too much focus on a few keywords for their products and services. Whilst this used to be the standard, it’s really important to balance out your campaign with brand terms and more generic keywords too. After all, search engines are looking for natural website profiles, and having too much weight focused on specific keywords is one way to raise an eyebrow!”

Key to Zest’s continued growth has also been the implementation of a number of streamlined systems, and a sophisticated CRM system for both their own purposes as well as for client campaigns.

defined: To inspire, educate, and deliver transparent and exceptional digital marketing services to SMEs

“Our time can be better spent on other aspects of the business. For clients, it means when they are buying our time, we are working totally on their digital marketing strategies, rather than being distracted by admin tasks, that in the past have taken up valuable time.”

“We’ve made connections with some really valuable people who are helping to deliver a steady stream of CVs to us. We’re in the process of recruiting right now. We offer excellent training, and for those who love it here, we encourage them to join the team at the end of their internship.”

“Our team is always looking at ways of improving our offering, and the types of businesses that we’re now speaking to is reflected in that. Those who don’t take the time to reflect and review what they’re doing can quickly get left behind. I think that’s true in all areas of life. We don’t want to be left anywhere, we want to be leading.”

Going back to the ‘right people being key’ angle that Alex mentioned earlier, now that he has got a good team in place, including their most recent recruit, Nick, he’s also developed this theory further

With perks such as weekly fitness sessions to employees, it’s easy to see why they are an exciting employment option.

Zest Digital are based in Launton, Bicester. For more information call 0843 289 0161 or visit www.zestdigital.co

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”

As Zest come up to their third anniversary (June) Alex outlined his plans for the next year… “Our plans for the next 12 months are to expand our team and develop a culture that attracts great talent and clients”.

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

B4: ART & INTERIORS

Artist Carol Peace discusses her artistic practice, her new solo exhibition at Sarah Wiseman Gallery, and the art of collecting sculpture.

As one of the U.K’s best known and exciting visual art talents, these last couple of years have been non-stop for Carol Peace; she has completed work for numerous exhibitions and commissions, nationally and internationally. An alumnus of The Prince’s Drawing School in London, Carol lives and works in Bristol, and in 2011 was made a patron of The Royal West of England Academy.

Her new exhibition, entitled ‘Present’ at Sarah Wiseman Gallery will feature some of her newest sculptural work, and for the first time, her drawings, allowing us an insight into this other, vital side of Carol’s artistic practice.

‘Drawing has always fed my work,’ she says.

‘It’s not direct; I don’t draw someone then sculpt them. Sculpture is more about ideas, whereas for me painting and drawing is the pure but never simple act of looking and recording.’

‘This show is about a recently recurring theme, ‘The Present’’ she says. ‘It is a gift to see what you already have and to appreciate the now.

I am ambitious…but there is a danger of not living in the present, of regretting the past and always looking to the future, but life is about today…about being here, now.’

Carol is inspired by the everyday; relationships, friendships and sometimes poetry, using the human figure as a conduit for these ideas and themes. A figure’s hands and feet may be proportionally enlarged, giving the impression of a mythical, partly imagined, but expressive human being. They are often quietly reading, standing, or gazing skywards or sitting atop rock-like plinths; couples, sitting closely together, or solitary figures looking benignly on.

Some figures are verging on abstraction – in ‘Take Me’ (pictured) the figure is stripped back of detail, and appears to be swept up by a gust of wind, her hands transformed into a giant sail. It’s impossible not to feel uplifted just by looking at it, imagining the sensation of being lifted.

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‘‘Take Me’ was originally about intrinsic ambition’, she explains, ‘but it is like many of my [other] pieces really, mostly about freedom. To me freedom is what I imagine a pianist feels after hours of practice, or a dancer, after years of training, flies across the stage. It’s not carefree, but it is a great free, it’s intense, it’s exciting and thrilling’ A typical day in the studio starts early. ‘I am a morning person. There is a certain smugness that morning people have, but it’s just the way my brain works best!’ she says. But as she explains, working as an artist isn’t all about sitting around, waiting for inspiration. ‘Being an artist gives you a certain freedom, maybe a certain pigheadedness, but you can’t forget your customers as otherwise you would be unable to make work any more; but at the same time you have to remember the core reasons you are working and keep that as your main focus’ ‘The best days, I go in early, I unwrap my clay and move it around into shapes that I like. I think, I write…it’s hours and hours of [working in] silence. From the outside it seems fun… it’s always intense’.

Throughout her career, Carol has created a number of permanent, public sculptures which are in locations around the country. But a sculpture could be overlooked as a viable way to live with art at home - In the every day, surely sculptures must be too expensive to buy or simply too impractical to install? But Carol is quick to dismiss this, clearly applying her aforementioned ‘live for now’ logic to collecting; ‘If I buy sculpture or painting I work out where it’s going to go afterwards!’ she laughs. ‘It’s about loving the piece [of art] not worrying about where it will go – things change, you move house…I tend to discuss various plinth ideas with clients, but the usual advice is to treat the sculpture as they would a vase of flowers. They can also go outside, small sculpture works well in a small or intimate area of the garden. I’ve put tiny things outside before.’ www.b4-business.com

So it would seem the days of needing a vast parkland or huge courtyard to show off a sculpture collection are long gone; it’s possible to find sculptures that aren’t monumental in their scale.

Carol’s advice is to think of any purchase as you do when buying music – an initial outlay could in the end give you years of pleasure. She tries all the time to make sure her art is attainable to as many as possible. ‘I make sure some pieces are in bigger editions so that the time spent making, and the mould costs are spread out over the edition.”

“It’s about loving the piece [of art] not worrying about where it will go” She adds that with her own art collection, she finds the smaller works by artists that she likes, working up to larger pieces when she can. She also maintains that while putting practical needs aside can seem crazy at the time, but in the long run, they pay off. ‘I have customers who bought a Dali when they were a young couple, living in New York, before they had any furniture…they still have it now – only they have the furniture to hang it above! It was an incredible investment, but the best kind; one that has given them enormous pleasure over the years.’

So what’s next for Carol? ‘I would like to make a large version of ‘Take Me’ one about three metres tall. I will also be working in Barcelona for six months this year, not for any particular reason other than to experience it and see where it leads. I tend to get inspired from working. When I make a piece I think of another while I’m making it - so I like to be working’ Carol Peace ‘Present’ An exhibition of sculpture, drawing and painting at Sarah Wiseman Gallery.

Date: 2nd – 30th March. www.wisegal.com

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B4 R&R

INDIAN

FOOD

BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT As something of a foodie, it’s rare that a restaurant stops me in my tracks. I arrived at the Spice Lounge ready for a nice meal and it soon became very obvious that nice was not nearly good enough. By Tracey Jefferies.

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

We all love surprises and to say that the food served that night stopped me in my tracks is a beyond an understatement. I was blown away! And I’m not easy to satisfy or impress.

The Spice Lounge is situated in Summertown, an area of North Oxford with a cosmopolitan air about the place. I’d arrived ahead of my dinner guest and whilst waiting for her indulged in one of my favourite pastimes, people watching, or to be more specific, listening to the conversations around me.

One particular comment struck me, “it’s as good as I remember it”, which seemed to bode well.

Unlike most other Indian restaurants, the Spice Lounge takes time to introduce the background to most of the dishes on the menu. The menu foreword starts by detailing the various regions across India and explaining how the use of spice and main ingredients differs. In the North and West, for example, Kashmiri and Mughlai show strong Asian influences. All coastal kitchens (not unexpectedly) make strong use of fish and coconuts. We learn that the cuisines of Rajasthan and Gujarat use an immense variety of dalls and achar (preserves) to substitute for the lack of fresh vegetables and how the use of tamarind distinguishes Tamil food. We also learn that modern India is going through “a period of rapid culinary evolution”; how Indian cooking has been pared down; the dishes are less complex and simpler in structure.

I literally do not ever recall being spoilt for choice in an Indian restaurant. The menu begged us to try just about every dish but sanity prevailed and we

Mr Ali Aktar, Partner.

decided on Murgi Chok and Sobzi Pakora followed by Maachli Bahar and Maachli Saag – Wala. I simply refuse to provide the English translation because B4 readers should be beating a path to experience the Spice Lounge at firsthand! The presentation of the starters was exquisite, the flavours of all dishes subtle, yet at the same time bursting with flavour. To convey the experience in the written word is almost impossible.

“The presentation of the starters were exquisite, the flavours of all dishes subtle, yet bursting with flavour” The excellence of the food served is backed up by attentive and friendly service and a pleasing ambience supported in no small way by the original oil paintings around the restaurant. Oxford-based artist Kamal D Lathar was born in India where (according to his biography) the land, its spices, its colours and vibrancy of life all weaved their hypnotic and magical spell into the way Kamal paints, without fear or boundaries. I couldn’t think of an artist better suited to this establishment. www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk www.b4-business.com

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The B4 Bike Ride - Edinburgh to Oxford May 24th to May 27th, 2013 The B4 Bike Ride launched in 2012 with our 270 mile trip from Paris to Blenheim Palace. The 2013 challenge sees the group cycle from Edinburgh to Blenheim Palace, a 411 trek over four days.

With five great charities to raise money for, why don’t you get involved…or even join us?!

How To Get Involved Shirt Sponsor Get your company logo on the team shirt from just £50 – contact the office to book.

Come on the Ride Want to really get involved? Why not join us. We have 5 spaces remaining and would love to have you on the ride with us. Contact the office to find out more.

Make a donation

We have five fabulous charities that we are riding for. Log in to the donation page below and make your donation today!

http://virginmoneygiving.com/team/teamb4

Communication Partner

Media Partner

Support Vehicle Partner

Fitness Partner

Hotels Restaurant Partner

Banking Partner

Accommodation Partner

Finish Line Partner

Cheque donations can be made payable to 'B4 Bike Ride' – please send your cheques to B4 Charity Bike Ride, The Firs, Headington Hill, Oxford OX3 0BT

JOIN THE 2013 B4 BIKE RIDE - WE HAVE GREG BARNES

Craig Aston

Darren Aston

Jackie Jarvis

Breckon & Breckon

Aston & James

Aston & James

Marketingco

“I want to be challenged and this is a big one – really looking forward to it. It’s a long way but I am sure as a team we will pull eachother through. Heard great things about the Paris ride so can’t wait for the trip from Edinburgh in May!”

“First, it will be great to raise money for the very worthy charities we are riding for and secondly it will be great to ride alongside my brother and build some good business relationships as well as friendships”

“I was impressed with the effort the team put in last year! It really did sound like something I wanted to be a part of this year. I like a challengeand I am very much looking forward to it”

“I do always what I can to support the cancer charities. My father died of cancer 5 years ago and I feel that it is important to do all we can to help other sufferers. He would be very proud of our efforts.”

Nigel Pursal

Stuart Palmer

Rupert Reid

James White

Orangestripe

Bower & Bailey

Security Exchange Ltd

Intouch CRM

“I really enjoyed the camaraderie last year. It was superb and looking forward to it again with some of the 'Paris 12' plus some new faces. I can’t wait to take part in this ride! there will be the feeling that another large challenge has been achieved!”

“I am taking part in the B4 Charity Bike Ride to challenge myself. It provides a great opportunity to really get to know my fellow participants.My wife’s mother died of cancer and my parents have luckily both survived cancer in recent years so this is a chance to do something positive”

“No-one who has witnessed Helen and Douglas House’s work in helping both children and their families deal with the last few precious days of their lives can fail to be moved. I am riding to raise funds so that they can continue their fantastic work”

“We have extended the distance this year as well and so riding 130 miles in 1 day is going to be a real challenge, but I am up for it.

It will be great to raise money for charity and also for a personal cause that I am supporting here in Somerset where I live”

Rob Scotcher

Richard Rosser

Tim Spittles

John F Kennedy

B4 Magazine

B4 Magazine

Hawkwell House Hotel

Wildbore & Gibbons LLP

“I really enjoyed the ride from Paris to Oxford last year. Not only was it a great experience, but the team were a fantastic support and we really gelled as a unit, both on and off the road. Can’t wait for this year.”

“Last year was quite a mountain to climb but we got there – the rest of the team were a massive support and helped me up more than one tough hill! This year we’ve raised the bar again – it will be a real test.”

“I have always thought about getting involved in more organised rides connected to charity, and this seemed an ideal way to combine getting involved with B4 and doing something that I enjoy. The sense of achievement will be a real buzz for me, the group and for Helen and Douglas House”

“The B4 Team is always a great group of people to cycle with and the camaraderie from doing such a challenge is a wonderful experience. I am glad to be part of a really diverse team who will all work together to achieve the joint goal – getting to Blenheim and raising as much money as possible!”

Ciaran Cullen

Graham Upton

Mark Attwood, Gavin Smith and the team

intouch crm

High Sherfiff of Oxford

“Last year I took part in the Great North Run and decided I wanted a different challenge this year. I have never really cycled any great distances I believe this will be the toughest challenge yet! I’m actually looking forward to getting stuck into the training and the ride itself.”

“I've done a lot of long rides including Land's End to John O'Groats, C2C and even Newcastle to Edinburgh but mainly on my own or in very small groups and I'm looking forward to riding with a big group with fullback up. The route looks great and should be a brilliant ride.”

Browns Oxford

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON THE RIDE, PLEASE CALL RICHARD NOW TO BOOK YOUR SPACE – JUST 5 SPACES REMAINING!!!!

Call 01865 742211 or see oxfordshire.b4-business.com

YOU?

concerts conferences weddings exhibitions

www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk t e l e phon e: 01 8 65 2 52 1 95 t o w n h a l l @ o x f o r d . g o v. u k

the social

In association with

Links are the lifeblood of social media Links to and from your website are important and, without going too technical, the better these are managed the better your website will be found.

Questions to ask yourself with reference to your website: • Are the links to quality sites, do all the links still work and are they still pointing to the most relevant page on that website?

• Are your links relevant to your business? Has your business model changed, do you have a different emphasis this year?

• Do you have links to clients? If you have more than 20, review.

• Do you simply have a ‘links’ page or have spread links between pages and content?

• Do you have links to and from your social media outlets on your site?

Inbound links (links on other sites directed to yours) are important because they are generally considered to be the biggest indication to site crawlers that your site is an authority on a certain subject / industry and therefore more likely to be found by people searching for your products or services.

In previous issues of The Social, we’ve written about quite a few different social media platforms now. But this time we have a slightly different message – Why do we do it?

Yes, some people find the whole online communication fun. But you could do it socially if that’s just the case. What is the real business case for spending time and effort trying to engage with a target audience? (There’s a separate message there for all you social media advocates … always have a target audience in mind …)

We speak with lots of different companies who don’t use social media and often they don’t see a tangible value for the effort. There are lots of additional benefits to your online presence (being seen as a trusted authority in your field, easier to pass on news for example), but ultimately the business reason for using social media is to find and engage with people who will buy your products or services.

Outbound links help search engines to decide relevancy to your site and they also build goodwill among other sites, which may help you get an inbound link of your own later.

However, your potential customers (and search engines) are not fooled by links with no relevance to your business, or dazzled by hundreds of meaningless links at every turn. Business in the online world is all about providing a quick, useful and helpful experience to your target audience and recognisable and relevant links are required.

So inbound links to your site from quality, high authority sites, are the holy grail of online marketing. And what better way to start getting good inbound links than having a well managed and active social media strategy. Your website – and the individual pages on your site to which these sites link – will rises in the search engine results pages (SERPs) More importantly, more people are likely to be engaging with you in a commercial sense, which will, in turn, generate more inbound links from relevant sources (and probably a few extra sales along the way …)

And generally, that means driving traffic to your website.

Think about your own experiences when you’re the consumer looking for a service. What makes you click on a link to a site over another? Or what is it that turned you off certain businesses? Did you trust someone’s opinion to check out a website?

To discuss your website links or your website plans contact Glooo.

Email chris@glooo.co.uk or call 01865 595707. www.glooo.co.uk

Our link tips for SME website’s In the absence of our traditional ‘Glooo’s Top 10’ this issue, here’s our thinking for the link make up for a typical SME business’ website: • 3 x Authority sites ie if your an architect a link to RIBA, RICS etc.

• 2 x Industry experts - who is making good comment in your industry?

• Up to 20 x client links.

• 5 x Complimentary service links. What websites compliment your product or services.

• 4 x Supplier links - by incorporating your supplies it builds relationship.

• 1 x Interesting quirky fun site.

• 15 x Internal links - to improve the site experience of your visitors.

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Photograph: John Cairns/University of Oxford images

COMPANY FOUNDER AND ACADEMIC DIRECTOR With a distinguished career in industry and academia already behind him, Professor Peter Dobson cofounded Oxonica in 1999 and Oxford Biosensors in 2000. Both companies flourished over the next 10 years. Oxonica’s fledgling product portfolio, exploring the commercial use of nanoparticles, ranged from sunscreens to fuel additive catalysts and bio labels. The sunscreen is now sold via the Boots “Soltan” range and the fuel additive is being developed by Energenics Europe here at Begbroke. The Energenics diesel fuel additive, Envirox TM, which saves fuel, reduces emissions and cleans engines, has been successfully trialled by Stagecoach, East Yorkshire Motor Services and Reading Transport as well as numerous independent travel operators. In parallel, Professor Dobson is Academic Director at Begbroke, and the National Strategic Advisor in Nanotechnology for the Research Councils UK.

LEADING FROM THE FRONT IN GRAPHENE RESEARCH

WHERE WILL ROBOTS TAKE US? The challenges and promise of robotic technology in the 21st Century are being explored by Professor Paul Newman and his world-leading Mobile Robotics team at Begbroke. In the prestigious OxfordLondonLecture, supported by The Guardian, in Westminster in March 2013, Professor Paul Newman will talk about how staggering changes in computing, connectivity and opportunity are coming together and what we should expect in the coming decade.

Miracle material graphene may have only just penetrated the mainstream media consciousness, but here at Begbroke, Professor Nicole Grobert’s research group is investigating different routes to manufacturing highest grade graphene and the feasibility of up-scaling production to make it industrially viable.

THE MANY FACES OF BEGBROKE SCIENCE PARK University research facility, commercial business park, conference venue, business training centre, technical services provider and educational establishment – on the face of it, these might sound a demanding set of clubs to be juggled in order to keep them all in the air at once!

So just how is it that Begbroke Science Park (BSP) manages to deliver all of these things to the people here on these pages, and the many more at its rural site just outside Oxford? The answer, it seems, comes down to a focussed approach.

“An astonishingly broad, almost bewildering, range of activities takes place across this site, “agrees BSP’s Academic Director Professor Peter Dobson. “ However, what makes us special is our mission, to create and sustain an environment in which the interaction between industry and learning constantly produces new synergies. The interdisciplinary applied research activity is focussed 124

on engineering, materials and life sciences. The university spin-outs and business start-ups also reflect this focus. The business training courses run

“An astonishingly broad, almost bewildering, range of activities takes place across this site

”

by BSP support both groups, channelling our expertise in helping academics translate research ideas into viable businesses, and themselves into entrepreneurs. Our educational courses for

post-grads support new developments in nanotechnology, and we close this virtuous circle by giving schools a taste of what life’s like on site, in the hope that we can inspire young teens to become the entrepreneurs who will support the Park well into the 21st century and beyond.”

A diverse community then, but with strong relationships binding the different groups together.

With gratifyingly high rates of commercial occupancy since opening, and educational and business events programmes consistently oversubscribed, it appears that BSP has hit on the right recipe to ensure continued success. So what’s it actually like to work at Begbroke Science Park? www.b4-business.com

B4 PROPERTY

POWERING AHEAD IN 2013 Ribena and toothpaste were apparently the catalysts for the invention of a new low-cost solar cell that will transform the building market! Well, apocryphal academic myth this may be, but the facts speak for themselves. The technology, developed by Dr Henry Snaith, has now been licensed to Oxford PV. Using glass, the solar cell is organic, non-toxic, can be transparent or selfcoloured, and can be integrated into the facade or cladding of buildings in applications known as Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). From its inception as a virtual tenant at Begbroke Science Park in 2011, the company, led by CEO Kevin Arthur, has now trebled in size, and hopes to be manufacturing prototype products by the end of 2013.

FACES OF THE FUTURE Begbroke runs a programme of schools events each year, inviting schools from Oxfordshire and its borders. The Innovation Showcase, part of Oxfordshire Science Festival, encourages innovative, entrepreneurial thinking and tours of the site, whilst the Nano Day event is based on practical experiments. A nanotechnology event for science teachers has been added to the series this year as the programme expands.

We inspire children to become scientists of the future – who knows, we may see them again at the Park one day, leading their own company or conducting pioneering research.

BRAIN THE SIZE OF A PLANET...

Need to run some calculations using several million pieces of data? Then you need the help of Dr Andrew Richards and his team at the Oxford Supercomputing Centre, based at Begbroke Science Park. The Centre provides a range of resources which can be used by any researcher within the university. It currently works with some of the smaller commercial companies at Begbroke, as well as industry users from across the globe.

Alison Crossley, who heads up one of the technical support services, Oxford Materials Characterisation Service, is very happy to be based outside the main University site in town, whilst still remaining strongly connected to it. She comments “I’ve a ready-made customer base from tenants here on site, the infrastructure provided by the Park to enable an open access facility for industry, and all the space I need for my analytical equipment – I honestly don’t think I could have done my job this well in town.”

John Catling, CEO of WheelRight, a start-up business based in the Park’s incubator, the Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, agrees. John’s

is incredibly helpful, giving us access to people we can’t normally reach.”

So BSP keeps its customers happy on many fronts - with its glorious rural setting, eclectic mixture of 17th and 20th century buildings and acres of landscaped gardens in which to relax, take a lunchtime walk or play a round of Frisbee, it’s easy to see why.

“Truly ground-breaking work goes on here at Begbroke” adds Dr Caroline Livingstone, Manager of BSP, “there are life-changing new drug delivery therapies, such as treatments for cancers and

blow the stereotype of the “professor”, for example listening to Professor Paul Newman hold forth on robotics, on how our cars will soon drive us home, communicating not with other drivers, but with other vehicles”.

With the completion of a new access road, opened

by Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton last spring, the final building blocks would seem to be in place for a new phase in Begbroke’s development. The UK economy may still be tough, and the battles for funding and expansion even tougher, but Begbroke Science Park, which currently employs around 400 people, makes a significant contribution to

“...treatments for cancers and Duchene Muscular Dystrophy; new methods of sequencing DNA; revolutionary leaps in knowledge of new technologies and the environment around us; incredible new products that will transform the way in which we live, drive, fly, and build in the future – all of this happens right here!

”

company has just completed commercial trials with a revolutionary tyre pressure measurement system set to transform the logistics industry, presenting huge savings in fuel from reduced emissions as well as increasing road safety. John describes the atmosphere at Begbroke as “tremendously supportive, and the association with the university

www.b4-business.com

Duchene Muscular Dystrophy; new methods of sequencing DNA; revolutionary leaps in knowledge of new technologies and the environment around us; incredible new products that will transform the way in which we live, drive, fly, and build in the future – all of this happens right here! It’s also great to introduce school children to the academics and

Oxfordshire’s economy, and to the UK knowledge economy, and looks set to do so for many years to come. www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk

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|

Web: aston-james.co.uk

B4 R&R

A JEWEL IN THE CROWN FOR ABINGDON Abingdon is set for a gem of a place, as The Crown & Thistle is due to be re-launched after an extensive refurbishment as a contemporary restaurant, bar and rooms.

Since Oakman Inns & Restaurants opened the Blue Boar Witney in December 2011 with resounding success, the company has ventured further into the Oxfordshire hospitality market with the acquisition of The Crown and Thistle in Abingdon for £1.6m.

Sitting in a commanding position in Abingdon-onThames, the Crown and Thistle has been a landmark in the town since the 17th Century, and will undergo a complete overhaul to create a stunning modern pub comprising a restaurant, two bars, and 19 boutique bedrooms.

The refurbishment will bring the property up to the stylish and contemporary standards seen at the Blue Boar, paralleling the design hooks which characterise Oakman Inns & Restaurants.

CEO Peter Borg-Neal said: “With respect to our buildings, The Crown and Thistle is a tremendous addition to our collection. It took us nearly a year to bring this deal to fruition and I can’t wait to see the Crown & Thistle re-open with a bang.” www.b4-business.com

“It took us nearly a year to bring this deal to fruition and I can’t wait to see the Crown & Thistle re-open with a bang”

The Crown and Thistle will be re-opening in autumn 2013, with the intention of establishing itself at the heart of the community in the same way that the Blue Boar has.

A strong part of the Oakman concept is its commitment to corporate social responsibility, and each of its sites plays a focal role in its community through sponsorships, charity fundraising, support of other businesses, organisations and clubs, and by providing a convivial and social atmosphere in which to enjoy food and drink all day every day.

The re-launch of one of the most historic hotels in Oxfordshire will add value and bring life to the town, creating a focal point for residents, providing jobs for locals, and attracting tourism to the area.

The Crown & Thistle will be holding an exhibition between 26th February and 8th March, showcasing its rich heritage and Oakman’s proposals for its future’. www.oakmaninns.co.uk 127

A GUIDE TO FINDING THE RIGHT RECRUITMENT CONSULTANCY Deciding which recruitment consultancy to work with is an important business decision and with thousands operating in the UK it can be hard to know where to start. The Career Boutique offers B4 readers tips on how to find the right consultancy for your company…

A good consultancy can bring many benefits to your recruitment process; they will find you top candidates that you otherwise may not have found, save you time by selecting only the best candidates for interview, and provide on-going advice and expertise on HR matters. However, choosing the wrong recruitment consultancy can be a waste of your time, expensive and ultimately damage your reputation. Recruitment consultancies represent your brand when looking for staff and so it’s important to select the best one that fits with your business.

Katherine Dales, Managing Director of The Career Boutique, offers her advice on what to consider when choosing a recruitment consultancy.

“Working with a recruitment consultancy to fill a vacancy shouldn’t be viewed as a ‘quick fix’ option.

At The Career Boutique we aim to provide

ensures that we find the right person for the right job. This is a key aim that recruitment consultancies of all sizes and functions should have on their mission statement.

Recruitment Methods A consultancy with a range of methods and wellconnected recruiters will be more successful at filling a position. It is therefore important to look for a recruitment consultancy that is proactive in their search so that they attract the most experienced, talented and skilful candidates to fill your vacancy.

I am a firm believer that in order to find the right candidate a diverse approach is required, for example our consultants spend hours each day advertising, networking, searching databases and connecting with candidates online.

Two of the main reasons for using a recruitment consultancy are to save you time and money and

service to our clients. If you can find a consultancy that shares your business approach, it will make working together significantly more successful.

The majority of recruitment consultancies do appreciate that from time to time placements do not always work out as hoped, and therefore it is important to understand a consultancy’s stance on candidate guarantees. At The Career Boutique we will always endeavor to replace the candidate first.

In the unlikely event we have been unsuccessful within two weeks from the date we were first notified of the leaver, we will revert to our rebate terms and offer a refund.

Recommendations Please don’t be afraid to ask a prospective consultancy for references from both their clients and candidates. We have several testimonials on our website because we are very proud of the work

“It is therefore important to look for a recruitment consultancy that is proactive in their search so that they attract the most experienced, talented and skilful candidates to fill your vacancy

”

candidates that will really add value to your business and in order to ensure this happens you need to choose a consultancy that not only understands how to recruit, but that also understands your company.

Size and Functions It can be dangerous to automatically presume that a larger consultancy will be able to provide a greater number of candidates for your role and you should ask any prospective consultancy about the industries they specialise in, the type of roles they recruit for and the locations they cover. Large high street consultancies have the benefits of bringing a branded presence and offer economies of scale, however specialist and boutique consultancies can provide a more personal service to their clients. The Career Boutique is an independent multi-sector consultancy and so we make sure that we make the time to get to know not only your individual business well, but also our candidates, which

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so I would advise you to select a consultancy that goes the extra mile - a consultancy that simply sends over a batch of CVs from candidates that have applied to an advert posted on a job site is going to mean you either sifting through irrelevant CVs or interviewing candidates that are not suitable.

As a matter of course we will only put forward candidates whom we have interviewed, registered and obtained references for. I would ask your prospective consultancy if they also provide this service in order to ensure you only get sent suitable candidates.

Terms I would advise looking for a consultancy that is open and honest with their terms and conditions.

Recruitment consultancies can vary widely in their fee structures and so it is imperative that you understand all the small print. They can also vary in their approach, for example we try to avoid the ‘one size fits all’ mentality and offer a flexible

that we do. Any consultancy that refuses to let you contact former clients or candidates I would suggest may have something to hide. I see our role as a consultancy as being ambassadors for our client’s businesses, promoting them to potential candidates and safeguarding their reputation and therefore it’s important for you to be confident that your company’s brand is in good hands.

As with any business partnership, it is important to work with people who share your vision and that you trust. By taking the time to ask the relevant questions and completing the necessary research, a successful partnership with a recruitment consultancy should be just around the corner…” www.thecareerboutique.com

www.b4-business.com

B4 HR

www.b4-business.com

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“To increase the

Photography: www.studio-8.co.uk

number of relevant visitors to a website you need to understand where your website visitors come from”

Before Google introduced Google Analytics, such analytical software would have cost a business somewhere in the region of £10,000.

These types of rich reporting tools have been used by savvy digital marketers for many years to improve the returns on their web marketing budgets. However 6 years later, this free, easy to implement software is still under-utilised by many businesses.

On our Google Analytics training we are frequently asked questions such as: • Why should I bother to understand my Google Analytics data?

• What can I do with the data once I have it?

• How can this data help me produce more leads and sales for my business?

Within this article we will go some way to answering these important questions.

3 Major Levers for Web Marketing Success There are 3 major levers that you can use to improve the results you are getting from your web marketing. They are: 1. Increasing the number of relevant visitors to your website.

2. Improving the content of your website pages so that more of those visitors take more action.

3. Increasing the number of people who continue to engage with you and ultimately become your customers.

Knowing how you are performing in each of these areas is one of the key values you can get from Google’s free Analytics software. This article deals with the first of these levers.

website visitors come from and then monitor improvements in the numbers as you implement different web marketing activities.

In Google Analytics your main traffic sources are split between the following five sources: 1. Search Traffic (Organic and Paid) 2. Referrals 3. Direct 4. Social Traffic 5. Campaigns

response from its own email campaigns. This data is currently ‘hidden’ in the Direct traffic.

Chart C: This site needs to work on its Search Traffic, which is very low in comparison to Referral traffic. Also it is either not running or not tracking campaigns so could benefit from starting to do so.

The following charts show 4 different websites and their respective traffic source analysis from Google Analytics.

Chart A: This site’s Social Media traffic and Referral traffic are both below the guidelines. Building more links from good quality relevant sites and a more active participation in Social Media would improve the results.

C. Chart D: This site has a good spread but could increase campaign tracking and the amount of Social Media marketing it carries out.

A. Chart B: This site has a good spread between most sources but should start tracking it’s campaign traffic so that it has a better understanding of

D. The 5 Primary Traffic Sources:

Search: searches via Google etc.

Referral: other sites linking to yours.

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter etc.

Direct: links from bookmarks etc.

Increasing your web visitors To increase the number of relevant visitors to a website you need to understand where your

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B.

Campaigns: special links from mail-shots, PDF’s etc.

www.b4-business.com

B4 IT & COMMS

USING GOOGLE ANALYTICS TO DRIVE 3 BIG SUCCESS LEVERS IN YOUR WEB MARKETING Simon Wallace-Jones talks to B4 about getting the most out of Google Analytics and why your company can substantially profit by using it as a marketing tool.

Some Guidelines for two of the Main Sources To demonstrate how to improve the amount of traffic coming from these different sources, we have taken two of the key areas below and outlined some guidelines for ways to improve them.

Quite often we find that the majority of organic search traffic is coming from people who already know the name of your company and very little of it is actually coming because the visitor used a keyword to find your website.

Search Traffic Traffic coming from searches is usually the largest source of traffic for any website which has been properly indexed by Google.

If the amount of people finding your website based on keywords is very low then this suggests one of the improvements you can do is to increase the quality of the content on some of your pages and make them more targeted towards keyword search terms. You might then be able to rank these pages for these keywords in the search engines.

Searches in Google where the person searching did not click an AdWords Advert (top or right of Google search results page) is usually called organic search, as against paid search where the person searching clicked an AdWords Advert. Google represents 90% of the search traffic in the UK so it is worth focussing on Google first for this reason.

Traffic from Campaigns If you currently have no campaign data being recorded in Google Analytics we suggest you:

In your Google Analytics we would expect search traffic to represent usually between 50 − 70% of your websites’ visitors, even if you are running paid adverts like Google Ads.

• Start tracking your email campaigns using the Google tracking URLs • Include Google tracking URL’s from other offline campaigns.

• Analyse the number of final conversions you make.

If your search traffic is zero and you are not running Google AdWords then this suggests your website has not been indexed in Google. If the website has been live for more than a month, it indicates you probably have a website indexing problem which needs investigating first.

By using specially crafted links you can tell Google Analytics that those links came from e.g. Email Shots, Banner Ads, Posters or PDF’s. You can even tell which link the user clicked.

It is useful to subdivide organic search into three parts:

One of these special links looks like this: http://oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk/analyticstraining/?utm_source=b4&utm_medium=article&u tm_campaign=b4-analytivcs-2013

• People who found you because they knew your company name or brand already • People who found you based on keywords they used to search • Others that you can’t convert

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Google Analytics training page on our website by clicking the link in a B4 article.

You create the links using a special URL Builder provided by Google. To access the URL build search in Google for Google URL builder.

The values you choose for your variables are under your control however try to make them: a. A little obscure so they do not pique the interest of nosey people who fiddle with URL strings b. Easy to remember in a years time without having to look them up 4 Areas You Can Monitor in your Google Analytics to improve your results Initially start by monitoring the following 4 areas and over time you will start to see patterns that will then guide you to make decisions about your web marketing to improve your results.

• Are the number of searches from good keywords increasing?

• Are the amount of good sites that are referring traffic to you increasing?

• Have you increased the number of traffic sources e.g. Social Media?

• Are you driving more traffic using campaign links and reducing the amount of direct traffic?

To find out more about Google Analytics please visit our website at: http://odmtips.com/b4-13

This type of URL contains information that gets passed to Analytics that helps you to understand more about where the visitor who clicked this link came from. If you clicked on the link above in an email, it would tell analytics that you arrived at our

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B4 R&R

MARK MCGEEHAN B4 went along to meet the PGA Qualified Professional, specialising in player development and coaching at the Premier Golf Academy at Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club.

The facility boasts the latest in the state of the art technology with an indoor swing studio, specific for custom fitting and a fabulous diagnostic tool being the 3D Motion Gears Golf.

The amateur golfer can now learn like the pros, with body angles, x factors, centre of gravity, alignment and clubface positioning. Viewing the swing from all angles allows the golfer to see themselves within an avatar.

The experience is very powerful and in the hands of Mark McGeehan who has extensive training with this revolutionary tool, the golfer will experience fast improved results. The technology also has a feature called “Ghosting” this allows the player to see the before and after effects of the lesson. The golfing equivalent of a makeover! Proud to be official stockists and a fitting centre for Cleveland and Srixon the golfer will be sure to be impressed with the overall service to take their games to another level.

Mark has recently returned from working in the Canary Islands and now with International Experience and having learnt so much about modern technology he is very enthusiastic at the opportunity at Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club in the heart of Oxfordshire.

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Mark has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has devoted his life to studying the science and art form of the game of golf. “I love coaching, Golf is in my blood and it is great to pass on my knowledge to those wishing to improve and seek support to achieve their golfing goals” To be at the forefront of designing bespoke corporate golf days and specialising in this area of the market is very exciting, offering the golfers a first class memorable golf day His teaching background is extensive having taught at two Open championships, involved with the development of Junior Golf and grass root school programmes. County Squads, teaching all levels of players from beginners to elite Professional touring players, you are sure that your golf game is in good hands. Also qualified in Sports Psychology Mark can help you with the course management and the ever important mind factor.

Mark also is a keen competitor, playing on the PGA circuit and National Professional Tours. Last year’s achievements included a win and several top ten finishes. Mark says “Playing on the Tour and alongside world class players has certainly been beneficial to not only my own game but also as coach. I now have the insight to player

development programmes and with my mentoring skills I am able to hone the games of up and coming players” In the ever competitive world of Sport, Golf and business Mark has been dynamic, flexible and motivated learning new skills. Mark now runs mind workshops and team building events. “There is definitely a synergy to thinking correct in sport and achieving success as there is in business. The workshops are fun and even for non-golfers they will be sure to leave the day feeling a real sense of pride and achievement.

Throughout the winter months Mark runs short Golf breaks to overseas destinations across Europe developing all aspects of the golfer’s game. The intense training in the sun ensures that the players are ready for the season ahead, whilst enjoying the relaxation of fabulous hotels and dining out in style.

There are sponsor opportunities for corporate businesses with Mark McGeehan and Magnolia Park and in return receive many benefits and good exposure throughout the course of the season. For more details please contact Mark on 07787937627.

Please view www.magnoliapark.co.uk and www.mcgeehangolf.com to find out more.

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B4 EVENTS

PROUD TO BE AN OXFORD BUSINESS Sue Randall of Oxford Fine Dining celebrates the hidden joys of being an Oxfordshire business. From working in some of the most beautiful venues to working with some of Oxfordshire’s best suppliers, Oxford Fine Dining is proud that Oxford is an integral part of their name.

Marquee in the grounds of Yarnton Manor

Whether living or working there, we all take being based in a city as beautiful as Oxford for granted. For a start there is the university with its fine architecture and celebrated libraries; the world famous museums and historic pubs, chic restaurants and shops, notwithstanding the huge wealth of commercial organisations, businesses and enterprises that make the city what it is.

As caterers at weddings and celebrations as well as at corporate dinners and events, Oxford Fine Dining gets to work in many of Oxford’s venues. As approved caterers at the stunning Rhodes House, the Oxford Fine Dining team regularly caters for university events from coming up dinners to balls, formal dinners to book launches as well as for any external events such as weddings. Says Sue, “Being able to work in historic venues like Rhodes House has its challenges as we have to respect the building’s integrity, but we always feel honoured to be asked to cater.”

Martin Gubb, Director of Rhodes House Limited, is happy to recommend Oxford Fine Dining, “We like

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to work with suppliers with whom we have a good relationship and I know that Oxford Fine Dining provides an outstanding service. Guests regularly comment on the exceptional quality of the food. ” Another historic venue frequently used by Oxford Fine Dining is the Bodleian Library, which includes the medieval Divinity School. Sue says, “Working amongst the pillars, beams and precious old floors in the oldest teaching room of Oxford University is a huge responsibility but one that we relish. Seeing the delighted faces of the guests at being in such a wonderful venue is one of the best things about being an approved caterer at the Bodleian Library.”

Oxford Fine Dining also works closely with many of the university departments and the JR hospital.

Further afield, Oxford Fine Dining are approved caterers for Oxfordshire countryside wedding venues such as Worton Park and the Cotswold Organic Estate as well as Dinckley Court and Cats Abbey all of which offer bespoke settings for individual weddings. Oxford Fine Dining’s success as wedding caterers is evident in that they do more weddings each year than the year before, which

comments Sue, “…is testament to our team of wedding coordinators, who work with our brides and grooms to make sure that their day is exactly as they want it. We even offer a free tasting for the bride and groom so that they know they are happy with their menu choice before the big day.”

Of course, if a customer can’t find a venue they like, then there is always the option of a marquee either in the grounds of a private house or school or on the banks of the River Thames. Working with many of Oxford’s leading marquee companies, such as Marquees and Pavilions, Simon Florey and Son and Oxford Marquees, Oxford Fine Dining knows that these elegant and sophisticated structures provide stylish space to host reception parties or balls.

“Cooking fillet steaks for 200 in a field is quite normal for our chefs as is setting up temporary kitchens that can cope with providing a fine dining experience. “ Sue also likes to use Oxfordshire suppliers whenever possible. She adds,”We have so many really good local resources that it makes sense to ‘buy local’ and support the local economy.” Oxford

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Photograp: www.studio-8.co.uk

Sue Randall

Fine Dining hires all their crockery from Millie Miles, their linen from County Textiles and wine from Stevens Garnier as well as specialty food from many smaller suppliers. On a business basis, Oxford Fine Dining uses Windrush Press for design and print, Oxford IT Solutions to keep its computer network going as well as local accountants and lawyers when necessary.

In return, Oxford Fine Dining is used by lots of Oxfordshire businesses, including B4, Oxera, Diamond Lightsource, Deloittes, UCARE, Desso, Oxford Analytica, Autologic Diagnostics and Ernst and Young to name but a few. “As a B4 Ambassador, we are keen to build relationships with the Oxford business community all of whom might need an event caterer at some time. The fact that many of our clients and our venues use us on a regular basis, must mean that we are providing not only the right quality of food but also the highest levels of event management.”, comments Sue. Oxford Fine Dining is based in Weston on the Green, but are also the franchise caterer at North

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Rhodes House. Photography: Tom Banks

Chef David at North Oxford Golf Club. Photography: David Fisher

Bodleian Library

Oxford Golf Club where they provide hot and cold food for the golfers as well as for the numerous social events at the club, including a Fine Dining Club where members and non-members are able

covers and their Sunday Carverys require two sittings. I have been at North Oxford Golf Club for 25 years and without doubt our catering service is the best we have ever had.”

“Working amongst the pillars, beams and precious old floors in the oldest teaching room of the Oxford University is a huge responsibility but one that we relish

”

to enjoy monthly themed dining nights. Bob Harris, General Manager of NOGC, “Their professionalism combined with fine dining has proven a winner for the club which has increased bar turnover by 53%.

Their fine dining themed evenings often attract 100

Oxford Fine Dining has just become the resident caterers at Oxford Rugby Club where they will be providing the catering for the formal pre-match lunches for officials, sponsors and VIP’s as well as being approved caterers for any outside dinners or events held at the club. Sue says, “Having invested in this additional kitchen, we are looking forward to taking the catering at Oxford Rugby Club to a fine dining level. This extra kitchen space supports our continued expansion plans and will make a real difference to our team of chefs when we are really busy with weddings, balls and corporate events.“ Oxford has proven to be a great source of business for Oxford Fine Dining but not many businesses really maximise the benefits of trading in such an amazing city and get to see behind the scenes in so many of its beautiful buildings as Oxford Fine Dining. www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

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news The Oxford Wine Café - Opening Easter 2013 The Oxford Wine Company has taken over the former Summertown Wine Café site in South Parade, North Oxford following its closure in September last year. The new venture, which we plan to open by Easter, will be known as The Oxford Wine Café and the concept will be broadly similar to the original but with our own distinctive stamp on it. The Café will be run by Louise Ferreira who has extensive experience in this sector as well as good wine knowledge. She will be assisted by sommelier Callum Peaston who was previously the sommelier at The Feathered Nest and who has been working with The Oxford Wine Company since Christmas in order to familiarize himself with our wines.

At The Oxford Wine Café we aim to bring you wines at all prices and concentrate on the smaller producers who are making wine with real passion as opposed to simple branded products. As well as our ‘House Selection’ we will be offering a new range of ‘Special Selection’ wines every two months to add to your favourites from previous selections, thereby keeping our list fresh and giving you maximum choice and the chance to get to know many different wines and wine styles. Marcia Waters MW will also select her ‘Wine of the Month’ which appears on the blackboard behind the bar.

Because we ship from all over the world we are able to bring wine from source and command the very best competitive prices which we are happy to pass on to our customers. As well as our ‘House Selection’ and large ‘Special Selection’ range of boutique style wines by the glass we will also be offering a full and varied range of wines by the bottle as well as a range of approximately 100 wines available to take home. All our wines will be served out of the very best Riedel glassware to give our customers the tasting experience that they deserve. Why drink a great wine out of an inferior glass? Top glassware is created to deliver different styles of wine to the right part of your palate to give maximum pleasure – and, let’s face it – that’s what wine is all about.

We will be running regular tastings that feature many well known winemakers and MWs but these will never be formal events – they will be designed to be accessible to everyone, whatever their interests in wine may be. We are keen to include everyone in these events and to make them easygoing – because that’s what wine should be all about! Theo’s Tasty Tuesdays free tastings will

take place every other week and are especially designed to be a humorous introduction to the world of wine – it’s a great way to have a laugh with wine and we hope to see you there. It will also be a chance for you to comment on new wines which may later form part of the Café’s changing ‘Special Selection’ range. We will be offering a very special 15% discount off all wines tasted at these events. In addition, we continue to run many other different tasting events in all our shops (including Botley Road) in and around Oxford.

Our café menu will have a selection of tasty, simple and delicious tapas style dishes made from the best ingredients to complement our wines and will be available between 8.30am and 10.00pm. We think our coffee and teas will be amongst the best in Oxford. Free wi fi will always be available if you want to stretch out and take your time. We hope that you will find The Oxford Wine Café to be a small haven of quality in an increasingly busy world where you can meet friends and enjoy the wines you want at a great price.

The Oxford Wine Café , 38 South Parade, , Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7JN. For further information please contact Theo Sloot on 01865 301144 or theo@oxfordwine.co.uk

Multi Award Winning Wine Merchant Winner of ‘Best Customer Service 2012’ and ‘Best Wholesaler of the Year 2012’ in the Harpers Wine & Spirit Top Merchant Awards, 'Independent Wine Retailer of the Year 2012' in the prestigious Drinks Retailing Awards and ‘Regional Wine Merchant of the Year 2012’ by The International Wine Challenge.

The Oxford Wine Company has shops in Oxford, Cirencester, Tetbury and Standlake and also supplies a large range of restaurants, pubs and hotels mainly in the Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire areas.

The company has a large number of highly trained staff including head wine buyer Marcia Waters, Master of Wine (the industry’s highest qualification) with 2 other staff currently sitting this extremely difficult exam. As well as this 5 of the companies staff hold the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Diploma, the industry’s top benchmark qualification which is one level below Master of Wine.

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LANCASTER LONDON

B4 spent a few days in London enjoying the delights of Lancaster London with arguably the best views in town.

Overlooking Hyde Park and with picture perfect views across the city in all directions, it was hard to stop staring in awe.

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B4 R&R

“There are many things that keep our guests returning to Lancaster London again and again, but there is one more tangible element that has left our guests impressed countless times - the views”

It has become something of a tradition to visit London before Christmas with the family, an opportunity to spend some time together and enjoy the capital ‘all dressed up’ for the festive season. With a 15 year old and 12 year old going on 18, it’s hard to tempt them away from i-this and i-that, but it didn’t take a vast amount of persuasion once the offer of a weekend staying at one of London’s most iconic hotels was on the table!

As we arrived in London, the rain was lashing down and it was wonderful to pass the car keys to the porter who whisked the Beetle to, no doubt, enjoy a comfy night alongside some grown up cars in the hotel garage. We were shown to our suite on the 7th floor and as the bell boy explained how all the gadgets and gizmos worked, we were all just staring, not at him but at the views over London. It www.b4-business.com

was an eerie experience to see an almost panoramic view of London as we darted from one room to another, spotting the landmarks as if it were a game. The London Eye was lit up, the BT tower was towering nearby and so it went on – we could even see Wembley Stadium. Morning would bring more detail to this wonderful canvas as Hyde Park, right below us, came to life.

And then we began to take on board the vastness of our room – a wonderful lounge with the most inviting sofas, huge plasma screens, our own dining table and more. We had been transferred to an oasis and were four kids in a sweet shop. We had interconnecting rooms, and for four people it was a perfect amount of space to relax and unwind for the weekend.

We had some time before dinner to toast our good fortune with a drink from the mini bar – we hadn’t

actually done anything but why not?! Mindful that we had to make our 8pm dinner reservation for Island Grill, we unglued our eyes from the fabulous views and made our way downstairs.

Island Grill didn’t let us down as we continued on our journey of euphoria. Sitting down to eat as a family was a rare joy in itself, but to cap it off with great food and drink made this a weekend to remember. We enjoyed a breakfast banquet in the room and really, when the time came, struggled to check out!

As the website says, ‘There are many things that keep our guests returning to Lancaster London again and again, but there is one more tangible element that has left our guests impressed countless times - the views.’ www.lancasterlondon.com 139

Weddings

at Studley Wood Golf Club

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Horton-cum-Studley, OX33 1BF. TTelephone: elephone: 01865 351144 Email: w eddings@studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk weddings@studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

STUDLEY WOOD

news Raise big smiles when you run five miles The biggest fundraising event of the year for the Oxford Children’s Hospital and children’s causes across our NHS Trust is back. The Oxford Mail OX5RUN will take place at Blenheim Palace on Sunday March 10th.

Julia Spargo, a local mum of two, is taking part in the five mile run again this year. She explains: “My daughter Beth was born a year ago, prematurely with a cleft palate, dislocated hips and respiratory problems. Until you’re part of the community that uses the Oxford Children’s Hospital you don’t appreciate how long some children spend there. Nor do you realise how many of the homely facilities and pioneering pieces of medical equipment have been paid for through fundraising and donations.

Julia Spargo with daughter Beth.

“Beth has taken every medical scan, examination and operation with a loud protest and a cheeky grin, she can now breathe independently and has just started to make speech sounds. So, running five miles around the beautiful grounds of Blenheim is the least I can do. I hope some of you reading this will join me.”

You can run (or fast walk) on your own or set up a team of five or more. Many local companies have already entered teams to this fantastic event, sponsored

by Allen Associates and organised by the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.

Why not get your company involved this year?

It costs £10 to enter the run and we ask people to aim to raise £100 or more in sponsorship. You need to be aged 16 or over to take part.

Visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/ox5run or call 01865 743445 to find out more about the event or sign up to take part.

Hospital’s Chief Nurse asks you to “aim high” Elaine has already shown that she’s prepared to take on the challenge, by taking part in last September’s abseil and completing the 100ft drop with a smile on her face.

She explained: “THE Abseil is an exhilarating way to support a diverse range of funds that help create opportunities to improve the experience of patients and those close to them.

“Each abseiler has a personal story about why they want to make a difference.

The sense of camaraderie at the event is intensely humbling and reinforces the value and privilege of serving our patients and their families and friends. “It was a day I really won’t forget and I would encourage staff and hospital friends to take part, as it is such an experience and helps to raise so much money for some really important causes.”

The next abseil taking place on Sunday 12 May and you can abseil for the following hospital areas.

Elaine Strachan-Hall, taking part in last year’s Abseil.

Elaine Strachan-Hall, the Chief Nurse of Oxford University Hospitals, is urging staff and hospital supporters to aim high in 2013, by taking part in the hospitals’ charity abseils.

• Heads Up (head and neck cancer) • Emergency Assessment Unit • Silver Star • I.M.P.S. (Injury Minimization programme for Schools) • Cancer Care Fund • Oxford Heart Centre If you would like to sign up or find out more call 01865 743444 or visit www.ouh.nhs.uk/charity.

To find out more about any of these events, or to discuss your fundraising ideas, just call the fundraising team on 01865 743444 or email charity@ouh.nhs.uk or visit the website www.orhcharitablefunds.nhs.uk

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Phil Strachan

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B4 MARKETING

A GREAT TIME TO TALK TURKEY! Hot off the press - some topical food for thought and something to chew over in the year ahead to ensure that you keep abreast of latest thinking in Branding, Identity and Graphic Design - Phil Strachan of Strangebrew shares his recipe for success with B4’s Richard Rosser.

It happened again! Sad news really – but the results of research just recently conducted and published have indicated that over 95% of Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Marketing Directors and Marketing Managers who commission Branding, Identity and Graphic Design projects, ended up with a turkey at the end of last year. Sad news all round except perhaps for Bernard Matthews!

brought home to roost if businesses and brands are to have any chance of carving out a real opportunity for themselves and getting a decent slice of the action.

But it didn’t have to be this way- if only they had gone to and worked with Strangebrew for all their Branding, Identity and Graphic Design needs. The fact is that despite good intentions and stout resolutions (plug for Guinness there!) made at the start of the year, they all just fell into the trap of failing to break with tradition, failing to be different and therefore ended up just like everyone else – headless chickens who had cooked their goose, almost certainly heading for a real roasting. Put very simply, they failed to think brand - not bland!

Taking a quick gander at the topline results, it is all too clear that what is sauce for the goose isn’t necessarily sauce for the gander and that every business and brand requires its own individual recipe that is both creative and original. It is also manifestly clear that all high-flying business and brand owners

Bad news all round for all – except perhaps for Paxo!

To crown it all, the research very clearly concludes that all businesses and brands behaving in that manner will never rule the roost. It goes on to note that by choosing to follow the flock and operate on a wing and a prayer, such businesses and brands will simply be left without a leg to stand on, left to fight for the leftovers and destined to end up totally plucked and well and truly stuffed. Bad news all round for all – except perhaps for Paxo!

Without wishing to make a meal of these findings and at the same time attempting to cut through the inevitable gobbledegook, the research makes it very clear that it is time to ruffle some feathers. Some basic fundamental truths, some of which may at first seem totally unpalatable, need to be

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The research concludes that business and brand owners should never duck their responsibilities and that they should take great care not to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

“The research goes on to say that if they don’t like the heat, they really should get well and truly out of the kitchen” need to understand their businesses and brands better. They should therefore give free range to the strategic and creative strengths of their chosen Branding, Identity and Graphic Design partners rather than simply relying on growing their businesses and brands organically. They quite simply need to think brand - not bland!

Bold, frank insights and a generous helping of mirth

brand owners who fail to keep abreast of the latest Branding, Identity and Graphic Design thinking, might turn tail and take flight at the very idea of sticking their necks out too far and running fowl of established conventions.

The research goes on to say that if they don’t like the heat, they really should get well and truly out of the kitchen. The research strongly recommends that they should appoint a really good Branding, Identity and Graphic Design partner such as Strangebrew who can make sure that they think brand - not bland and won’t end up with a turkey at the end of the year - and will help add to their festive cheer in 2013 with an injection of bold, frank insights and a generous helping of mirth.

If they don’t, it will probably just be tough turkey all round again at the end of 2013.

And the moral of this story is that if you don’t want to end up with a proverbial turkey at the end of 2013, leave the production of turkeys to Bernard Mathews and leave the stuffing to Paxo. Instead, place your trust in Phil Strachan and Strangebrew for all things Branding, Identity and Graphic Design related – and let him help you to dish up success on a plate by helping you to think brand - not bland.

To make sure that you don’t end up with a turkey at the end of 2013, please call Phil on 07770 753 975 for an initial no charge meeting to find out how an injection of Business and Brand Alchemy from Strangebrew could really benefit your business or brand this year. www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

Finally, the research notes that many thickskinned and chicken-livered business and

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news Business and Cultural Life – Oxford Inspires and the ‘Oxton Mix’ In November 2012, Oxford Inspires teamed up with Oxford City Council and Ian Nolan Events to bring the Christmas Light Night celebration to Oxford, which this year saw 38,000 on the streets of the City on Friday 23rd November.

This convivial community event once again included a stunning lantern procession, creatively supported by MINI Plant Oxford, designed by local artists and made by school children.

MINI Plant Oxford not only provided associates to help children construct the lanterns in the schools workshops but also offered a training session for teachers, which was filmed to use for future years, thereby contributing hugely to the sustainability of the event. Additional sponsorship for a school from Abingdon to join the lantern making and procession was provided by Infineum, the international company specialising in petroleum additives based at Milton Hill. Martin Dare-Edwards, Site and

Country Manager of Infineum UK Ltd was '… proud and delighted for Infineum to be associated with the Visual Arts excellence of Abingdon’s John Mason School'.

All of Oxford’s Museums, Galleries, Theatres and Arts Centres were open late on 23rd November offering a unique mix of contemporary music, site specific art, ice sculpture and street dance together with traditional exhibitions and performances of international quality. Cultural organisations clearly make a contribution to the wider life of the county, enriching the quality of life of residents and visitors, helping shape the society of the area and also contributing to the local economy. From a study commissioned by Oxford Inspires on Oxfordshire’s Cultural and Creative industries in 2010, we learned that Creative Industries represent just over 3,000 businesses in Oxfordshire, employing around 20,000 people with an annual turnover of around £1.4bn. But some of the cultural organisations which inspire the commercial creative sector are under extreme funding constraints during this recession, some not surviving at all.

We have recently seen the emergence of ‘Silicon Roundabout’ in the Old Street/Hoxton Square area of London where a number of successful new hi-tech businesses has doubled around Hoxton Square since 1997; giants Microsoft and Amazon have just opened centres there last month. From the early 1990’s Hoxton has been populated by artist and recording studios building in number until ‘White Cube’ opened in 2000 confirming its identity as a hub for the most exciting and well known contemporary artists. It is no accident that around this confluence of artists, the development of a number of small digital design companies emerged and the site has now become a thriving business community doing what Brits do best – innovating for the world.

Oxfordshire’s creative industries are strong and the ties that exist between the most alternative artistes and its scientific, digital and computer games companies are vitally important to keep alive. The ecology of our innovative society must be kept in a healthy state so that the U.K. can continue to produce its unique creative product, displayed so vividly in Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony for the

London 2012 Games, to the world. Although we are in recessionary times, cultural organisations should not be viewed as ‘nice to have’ but rather essential for the ecology of the community which will bring the much needed recovery and growth.

Relatively small financial contributions to slimmed down efficient creative companies, punching above their weight, can keep them ticking over in difficult times and could mean the difference between visitors choosing to come to Oxfordshire or not and to the quality and growth of commercial industries in the County.

There is a club at the Silicon Roundabout, the ‘Hoxton Mix’, set up for start-up companies and artists to meet regularly and share ideas. Oxford Inspires aims to create our own ‘Oxton Mix’ to do the same for Oxfordshire. BBC Arts Correspondent, Will Gompertz is supporting the initiative and will speak at a Cultural Platform in May 2013, followed by a ‘speed dating’ session designed to facilitate introductions between cultural organisations and small businesses in the County. We invite businesses to get in touch to find out how we can connect you to keep the unique and creative identity of our county very much alive.

Virginia Woolf wrote: "Masterpieces are not single and solitary births they are the outcome of many years of thinking in common, of thinking by the body of the people....... work with us to create a masterpiece in our community.”

Jacqui.Ibbotson@oxfordinspires.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, together with our new bedfellows at Visit Oxfordshire, to raise Oxfordshire’s profile as a cultural destination nationally and internationally.

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www.oxfordinspires.org

www.b4-business.com

Thinking Differently Extending Trust One of the things we have learnt at Jennings is the importance of extending trust to others. Too many people are cynical of others, and wary, especially in business. They think that others will try to compete with them, or beat them. In our experience most people in business are lovely, it is just that the business environment can bring out the animal in them.

Mike Jennings - Chairman of Jennings

So our approach is to extend trust to them right from the start of any relationship. Our trust is usually reciprocated. How that happens, or how quickly depends on the person.....we can only control how we behave. Only about one in twenty abuse our trust. We choose to limit our dealings with those people.

We also choose to accept that statistic, because to try to control 5% means imposing controls on the 95% who do not need controlling.

So we trust our tenants. We agree a simple lease with them, without using solicitors, and trust that they will not leave unexpectedly, damage the building, or cause a nuisance with neighbours. Everything can be dealt with by discussion rather than setting rules. Negotiations become easy, friendly and stress free.

Everyone is happier.

So we trust our suppliers. We let them know what we expect of them, and leave them to do the job to the best of their ability. No need to check up on them. No need to query the bill. A job well done, without supervision, is worth paying for. We honour their commitment to us by paying promptly.

So we trust our team, each other. We understand what we are collectively in business for, and all actions are for the Company Purpose, behaving according to the Company Values. We do not need to know what each person is doing each hour of each day. We know that we all work hard, committed to creating a great environment for ourselves, and others. Mistakes are embraced as part

of the learning process.

Be smart about extending trust so that you do not lay yourself open to harmful abuse. Once gained trust is your friend, things happen quickly and smoothly.

Delegation of roles becomes easier, innovation flows and people take responsibility for their actions, and are honest about their failures. www.jennings.co.uk

Self Doubt and Self Belief All business owners suffer in equal measure from copious amounts of self belief, and equally copious amounts of self doubt. One of the main reasons people seek a business mentor is to talk about their doubts and anxieties. They need an environment where they can be vulnerable about their uncertainties. Our 28 mentors all run their own business, and are comfortable with the discomfort of doubt and uncertainty. You cannot run a business without taking risks, and risks have to be measured. Doubt comes while assessing a risk, and after having made a decision. Have I done the right thing? What if it goes wrong?

Every new step in business is a risk.....do I take on my first employee, do I move into my first premises, borrowing money for the first time. Growth comes from these first small steps, and so does experience. Initial doubt, with experience, turns into belief, and self confidence.

A mentor will help you through the first steps, not by telling you what to do, but by relaying his/her experience. Mentors are no better than their clients.....just a bit further along the path. www.oxfordbusinessmentors.org

Leadership qualities I have just spent a day judging a local business competition for new businesses. It continues to amaze me the capacity for business to bring out the leadership qualities in people. Of nine businesses seven displayed great passion for their business, were well aware of the niche that they had found, and were motivated not by profit, but by a burning desire for independence and the need to prove to themselves that they can make this work.

They were mostly articulate, confident, and yet willing to learn from the judges.

All of them had left secure jobs in order to pursue their dream. This takes

www.b4-business.com

courage. These are the business leaders of tomorrow.

The other two? Oh they also run a business, but there was no passion, no dream, no purpose, except to earn a living.

An authentic leader is not someone who happens to be at the top of their organisation. An authentic leader is anyone who has a dream and has the courage to give up everything in order to pursue their dream. People naturally respect, are inspired by, and follow such people. www.conventionislimited.co.uk

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LA FOR THE WEEKEND?

WHY NOT

Only the jet set would consider a weekend in LA, but for a complete one off, that’s exactly what we did. The purpose of our ‘flying’ visit? A trip to the Hollywood Bowl to see Barbra Streisand.

This was Miss Streisand’s first appearance in LA for 45 years, surprising seeing as she lives there, but for someone with such a worldwide following, this was one of less than a century of concerts she has ever performed.

Having decided to book the trip of a lifetime and hasty work from our friends at Great Experience Travel in Witney, the flights were booked and the hotel chosen. Our flight left Heathrow early on Saturday 10th November and we arrived at LA International Airport at 1pm. The cab ride took just

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under an hour, and we checked in to The Andaz on Sunset Boulevard, desperate for some sleep.

Apart from cab drivers taking us on magical mystery tours, jet lag was certainly going to be our enemy.

Out of 58 hours in LA, we were to sleep for 28 of them!

The hotel was very cool, certainly too cool for me, especially having read about its colourful history.

The hotel was a 1970’s hot spot that gained a reputation for hosting hard-partying rockers and was nicknamed the ‘Riot House’.

Whilst on breaks from performing at the numerous nightclubs that still line the Sunset Strip, touring musicians once brazenly used the hotel’s balconies, hallways and rooftops to make tawdry headlines. Among the hotel’s noteworthy moments: Keith Richards hurling a large TV from his tenth-floor room; Jim Morrison dangling from a window by his fingertips and Axl Rose tossing seared steaks to his many fans below.

Completely gutted and re-imagined, the 14-story, 239-room landmark property is now all about

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B4 R&R

clean, uncluttered elegance and evokes the chic, cosmopolitan feel of its surrounding urban neighborhood. Architecture/interior design firm Janson Goldstein completely re-configured and revamped the property – using glass to bring the outdoors in, and subtly reinforce a ‘sense of place’.

With simplicity as its trademark, Andaz’s sophisticated, modern design motif pays homage to the location’s storied, star-studded legacy. The

LA by day or night.

Social spaces include the 3,600-square-foot rooftop Sundeck with an expansive heated pool, private cabanas, daybeds and cushy chaise lounges, and a stunning 3,000-square-foot rooftop ballroom with floor-to-ceiling windows – both the Sundeck and Panorama Ballroom offer jawdropping views of the Los Angeles basin and

to believe we would soon be at one of the world’s most iconic concert venues to witness one of the world’s greatest ever artists, but by 8pm we were in our seats for a fantastic performance and memories that would last a lifetime.

Our second (and last) day in LA was devoted to a bit of shopping at Westfield in Beverly Hills to pick up some Hollister gear for the kids and a sneak at

“the 14-story, 239-room landmark property is now all about clean, uncluttered elegance and evokes the chic, cosmopolitan feel of its surrounding urban neighborhood” newly designed property exudes a breezy transparency, with an open, ethereal ‘no walls’ ambiance, which seamlessly binds the indoors with the out.

Each guestroom further reflects the hotel’s fresh, simplistic design, most with curved canopied ceilings, blue glass headboards and bathrooms adorned with Calcutta marble mosaics. Once the site of rocker mayhem, the balconies have been transformed into light-infused glass sunrooms, my favourite place in the room, perfect for gazing over

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beyond. On the mezzanine level, in lieu of traditional meeting rooms are small studios offering a dynamic residential-style space with state-of-theart technology and a reception area suitable for coffee breaks and business meals.

The hotel was a perfect base for an early outdoor breakfast on Sunset Boulevard, our trip to the famous Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, a view of the not to be missed Hollywood sign and then to Santa Monica beach for lunch at The Ivy and a romantic walk along the pier and beach. It was hard

some of the whopping great houses of Beverly Hills and tourist’s drive through The Beverly Hills Hotel.

Back to Sunset for lunch and then we were in a cab bound for LAX. It was a whirlwind. Would we do it again? Most certainly, the problem is, Barbra probably wouldn’t, at least for another 45 years! www.westhollywood.andaz.com

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College and County start the year as they mean to go on.

You’re a local, independent lettings agency in Oxford. No chance, then, of national recognition, you’d think. Think again. College and County, a local, independent lettings agency here in Oxford has acquired a growing reputation for its ethical, transparent approach to the rental market.

An approach that has caught the attention of the national press.

College and County is a lettings agency based in the St Clements area of Oxford. Founded eleven years ago on the principle that what is fair and proper for landlords is fair and proper for tenants – and that both gain admirably from the arrangement – College and County has grown to be one of Oxfordshire’s leading lettings specialists. The agency now represents over 140 landlords, offering bespoke rental and property management services.

Perhaps one of the reasons for its success is that College and County has never wavered from its original guiding philosophy. The agency provides tenants excellent quality lets; in return landlords get excellent quality tenants.

The lets are managed with care and diligence; and in return tenants enjoy a good standard of accommodation and landlords enjoy peace of mind. “We are completely transparent in our dealings,” explains Mark Crampton-Smith, Managing Director at College and County. “No inflated invoices. No pretence that tenants are more suitable than they actually are. No false assurances.

No negligence in our duties. We manage every property as if it were our own.

We aim to make sure that the interests everyone are met in a lease.”

It is pretty clear that College and County have more than lived up to their own high aims. As a glance at the prizes showered on them over the last few years will testify. In 2010, they picked up gold for best southern region agency at the Estate and Letting Agency Awards. The next year they were honoured by The Sunday Times, in the paper’s Letting Agent of the Year Awards, with a gold for best small agency in the Central region and with a silver for best student national student agency. In 2012, the Sunday Times, in that year’s awards, felt moved to give College and County a gold in its best innovation (national) category, followed by two further golds for best student agency (national) and for best small agent (Central region).

The agency has begun 2013 in similar vein. College and County was named as one of the UK’s top 20 small lettings agents in an independently conducted survey by the Daily Telegraph. “It was a real pleasure to be acknowledged as one of the Daily Telegraph’s best small agencies,” continues Mark. “Our team give our clients an exceptional level of service, and being noticed like this is a real testament to them all.” Proof of that dedication to service? Aside from all the awards, that is? In January, College and County, on just one viewing, managed to secure a tenant for a £9500pcm house on the Banbury Road. A true reward for good faith and hard work.

If you would like to discuss how College and County might be able to help you in 2013, please don’t hesitate to contact David Gilson at david@collegeandcounty.co.uk or on 01865 722722.

The Banbury Road home

9-10 St Clements, Oxford OX4 1AE T. + 44 (0) 1865 722722 E. info@collegeandcounty.biz www.collegeandcounty.biz

news 20:20 Oxfordshire Business Challenge - supporting children and young people with cancer in Oxford 20 local businesses raising £20,000 to celebrate 20 years of local support for children and young people with cancer, and their families. Will your business be one of the elite 20?

CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, is celebrating the 20th birthday of CLIC Court, one of the charity’s eight Homes from Home in the UK, which is situated in Headington, Oxford.

To help raise awareness of CLIC Court, and the many services CLIC Sargent provides in Oxford, and to raise vital funds to support local families, CLIC Sargent would like to invite your company to join 19 other local businesses to raise £20,000 together through the 20:20 Oxfordshire Business Challenge!

Benefits for your company Get involved in your community • Link to a UK-wide charity with a local network of services • Build deeper networks with your audience by providing direct support to the communities in which your company operates Motivate your colleagues • Encourage team-building, boost employee morale and build loyalty • Give employees the opportunity to take part in volunteering, expeditions and exciting events • Engage your customers or clients in fundraising activities Enhance your brand • Build rapport with your target audience • Reach a potential new audience • Build your reputation as a socially responsible company • Generate positive PR opportunities • Be associated with a respected charity - the UK's leading charity for children and young people with cancer, and their families What we can offer you…

• Thanks to Visit Oxfordshire, you will receive the opportunity to place your company logo and reciprocal website link on a special web-page on the Visit Oxfordshire Corporate website www.visitoxfordshire.org.

• We can help your company achieve its corporate social responsibility and marketing objectives. Each business will work with a dedicated CLIC Sargent fundraising manager who will provide you with lots of fundraising ideas and help develop a bespoke fundraising plan for your business.

• Help with gaining positive PR for your business.

• The opportunity to make a real difference to local families The difference you will make Every day, 10 children and young people in the UK hear the shocking news they have cancer. Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening experience and the emotional, practical and financial implications of treatment are intensely challenging for the whole family.

CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, and their families. We provide clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help them cope with cancer.

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In Oxford, CLIC Sargent supports children and young people from across Oxfordshire and surrounding counties. The charity’s local services include: • CLIC Court, the Home from Home in Oxford, providing free accommodation close to the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital so that families can be near to their children during treatment • Specialist nurses who provide support on the ward and at home • CLIC Sargent Social Workers who offer emotional and practical support to families • A CLIC Sargent Play Specialist who helps children prepare for and cope with treatment, by using models, toys and photos to explain what will happen.

• Financial support, including grants and benefits information to help families deal with the financial impact of cancer - last year CLIC Sargent gave almost £50,000 worth of grants to families receiving treatment in Oxford.

• Free holidays so that families can spend time together, with the support of our care professionals, away from the everyday challenges of childhood cancer.

How your money helps • £1000 could fund a CLIC Sargent Nurse for a week, so that they can coordinate clinical and non-clinical care for children with cancer, to maximise the amount of time they can safely spend at home, and ensure that treatments can be given closer to home where possible.

All the money raised through the 20:20 Oxfordshire Business Challenge will go towards providing local services for children and young people with cancer, and their families.

A big thank you to Visit Oxfordshire and B4 magazine who have already pledged their support!

So what are you waiting for? Join your fellow B4 Members and pledge your support today!

For more information please contact Claire Shovelton, Area Fundraising Manager, on 01865 761761 or claire.shovelton@clicsargent.org.uk, or to find out more about CLIC Court’s Birthday celebrations visit www.clicsargent.org.uk/cliccourtbirthday

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‘‘to getgets done done here what you want

‘‘

THE KING’S CENTRE, OXFORD

THE KING’S CENTRE OSNEY MEAD,

OXFORD, OX2 0ES

01865 297400

conferences riverside location training friendly excellent catering 10-1000 people easy access çH[LEOH agm spacious meetings light EDQTXHW lunch meetings EUHDN RXW URRPV H[KLELWLRQ VSDFH welcoming DIIRUGDEOH high environmental standards staging and lighting

PROMOTIONAL OFFER: 10% OFF ROOM HIRE CHARGE FOR 1ST TIME USERS - QUOTE ‘b4’

www.kingscentre.co.uk

B4 contacts P

CONTACTS DIRECTORY Advice................................................................................................................................................151 Business Services...................................................................................................................151 Charities................................................................................................................................154 Conference, Events & Venues......................................................................................154 Education.......................................................................................................................................156 Finance.............................................................................................................................................156 Health & Leisure......................................................................................................................156 HR.........................................................................................................................................................158

ADVICE ACCOUNTING Wenn Townsend P Tony Haines Partner t: 01865 559900 w: www.wenntownsend.co.uk The MGroup P Richard Clayton Partner t: 01865 552925 w: www.themgroup.co.uk Shaw Gibbs A Peter Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell Partner

A M B A S S A D O R

A

IT & Telecommunications................................................................................................158 Manufacturing..........................................................................................................................160 Science & Technology.........................................................................................................160 Marketing & Design.............................................................................................................160 Property & Building..............................................................................................................161 R&R......................................................................................................................................................164 Retail..................................................................................................................................................166

BUSINESS ADVICE Sci Net A Duncan Ferguson Managing Director t: 01869 349949 w: www.sci-net.co.uk Jamesons Insolvency & Business Recovery t: 01993 707860 w: www.jamesons.co.uk Thomas International t: 01608 659910 w: www.thomasinternational.net Unique Business Strategies t: 01280 844966 w: www.uniquebusinessstrategies.co.uk

Hedges Law Nicola Poole A Managing Director t: 01491 839839 w: www.hedgeslaw.co.uk White & Black Legal LLP t: 0800 035 2656 w: www.wablegal.com Morgan Cole LLP t: 01865 262600 w: www.morgan-cole.com Turpin & Miller LLP t: 01865 770111 w: www.turpinmiller.co.uk

t: 01865 292200 w: www.shawgibbs.com

Sandler Training t: 01608 611211 w: www.uk.sandler.com

BUSINESS SERVICES

Wellers A Stuart Crook Partner

Strategic Mentors t: 01993 771728 w: www.strategicmentors.co.uk

Ardington Archives A Janet Gibbons Director

LEGAL

t: 01367 718710 w: www.ardingtonarchives.co.uk

Grant Thornton P Wendy Hart Managing Partner

Darbys Solicitors P Simon McCrum Managing Partner

The Archive Centre A David Coulton Owner

t: 01865 799899 w: www.grant-thornton.co.uk

t: 01865 811700 w: www.darbys.co.uk

t: 01296 425744 w: www.thearchivecentre.com

Baxter Payne & Haigh t: 01869 252151 w: www.bphonline.co.uk

BrookStreet Des Roches LLP A Paddy Gregan Partner

AUDIO VISUAL

Russell Whitlock Accountancy t: 01865 481625 w: www.rw-accountancy.co.uk

t: 01235 836655 w: www.bsdr.com

t: 01865 723131 w: www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

V J Hancock t: 01993 822817 w: www.vjhancockandco.com Richardsons Accountants t: 01844 261155 w: www.richardsons-group.co.uk

Henmans Freeth LLP A Malcolm Sadler Senior Partner

ARCHIVING AND STORAGE

City Audio Visual A Peter Gunn Director t: 01865 722800 w: www.cityaudiovisual.co.uk

t: 01865 781000 w: www.henmansllp.co.uk

Bang & Olufsen t: 01865 511241 w: www.bang-olufsen.com

Manches A Richard Smith Managing Partner

Red Kite Video t: 07850 416212 w: www.redkitevideo.co.uk

t: 01865 722106 w: www.manches.com

www.b4-business.com

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B4 contacts BOOKKEEPING

DISTRIBUTION

A1 Group A Mike Foster Director

Air Business Ltd P Adam Sherman Group Mamanging Director

t: 01865 378559 w: www.a1-group.co.uk

t: 01727 890 620 w: www.airbusonline.com

BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

The Profitable Hotel Company A Stuart Harrison Owner

PAVY Ltd t: 01865 349014 w: www.pavy.co.uk

t: 01993 706632 w: www.profitablehotelcompany.co.uk

INSURANCE

The Convergency Partnership A Anne Augustine Director

Chase Templeton A Charles Frost Independent Insurance Consultant

t: 07506 139920 w: www.convergencypartnership.com

t: 0800 018 3633 w: www.chasetempleton.co.uk

Insight Oxford t: 01865 596 771 w: www.insightoxford.co.uk

Osbornes Insurances t: 01844 214316 w: www.osbornesins.co.uk

BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS Institute of Directors A t: 01235 773500 w: www.iod.com/oxfordshire Bizlinx t: 0333 700 1057 w: www.bizlinx.org.uk

BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT Aston & James Office P Supplies Limited Darren Aston Director t: 01993 706900 w: www.aston-james.co.uk

CLEANING SERVICES Pinewood Cleaning Services t: 01993 862866 w: www.pinewoodcc.co.uk Excel Dry Cleaners t: 01865 511 773 w: www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk

HEALTH & SAFETY Shawcity Ltd t: 01367 899553 w: www.shawcity.co.uk

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Executive Fire A Protection Ltd Mickey Franklin Managing Director t: 01865 771133 w: www.executive-systems.co.uk

TRANSPORT Chiltern Railways A Rob Brighouse Managing Director t: 08456 005 165 w: www.chilternrailways.co.uk Hilltop Chauffeurs Nathan Thomas Owner

A

t: 07825 500852 / 01865 595262 w:www.hilltopchauffeurs.co.uk Isis Chauffeurs t: 01993 709023 / 07545 601515 w:www.isischauffeur.co.uk

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

MOTOR

West Oxfordshire A District Council William Barton Business Development Officer

Chrysler & Jeep Oxford P Tim Keatinge Managing Director

w: www.westoxon.gov.uk/business West Oxfordshire A District Council Hayley Beer Tourism Services Manager t: 01993 861558 w: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

t: 01865 376000 w: www.chrysleroxford.co.uk Ultimate Partnerships Mike Rebello Director

A

t: 0845 4591003 w: www.ultimatepartnerships.com

P

NETWORKING GROUPS

Ultimate Car Control Robb Gravett Founder

B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Editor

t: 01344 751669 w: www.ultimatecarcontrol.com

t: 01865 742211 w: www.b4-business.com

BMW P Catherine Rivetts

Opendoorz t: 01865 339434 w: www.opendoorz.biz

t: 01865 319000 w: www.oxfordbmw.co.uk

SECURITY

TRAVEL

Risk Management A Security Services Peter Smith Managing Director t: 01494 535830 w: www.riskmanagementsecurity.co.uk

City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager

Executive Alarms Ltd A John Keown Director

London Oxford Airport P James Dillon-Godfray Business Development Manager

t: 01865 435435 w: www.executive-systems.co.uk

t: 01865 290 600 w: www.londonoxfordairport.com

t: 01865 790 522 w: www.citysightseeingoxford.com

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B4 contacts Visit Oxfordshire A Joanne Butler Tourism Team Leader

Elegant Cuisine A Michael Ashton Managing Director

Eynsham Hall t: 01993 885200 w: www.eynshamhall.com

t: 01865 252200 w: www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

t: 01865 391888 w: www.elegantcuisine.com

The Examination Schools A Kay Hogg Events Manager

Weekly Home t: 001993 811711 w: www.weeklyhome.com

Passion for Food t: 0845 2969 226 w: www.passion-for-food.co.uk

t: 01865 276905 w: www.examschools.ox.ac.uk

CHARITIES

CONFERENCES

Exeter College t: 01865 279600 w: www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences/

Helen & Douglas House A Vanessa Fay Corporate & Trusts Fundraising Manager t. 01865 794749 w: www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

Lady Margaret Hall P Bill Kemp Head of Conference Services

Macmillan t: 01869 322279 w: www.macmillan.org.uk

Pembroke College A Huw Edmunds Head of Conferences and Events

Oxfam A Joss Saunders Legal Advisor

t: 01865 276484 w: www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences

t: 01865 611079 w: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

Ashmolean Museum A Bénédicte Montain Head of Commercial Events

t. 0300 200 1292 w: www.oxfam.org.uk Oxford Inspires A Tony Stratton Chairman

t: 01865 288364 w: www.ashmolean.org Egrove Park A Jill Grievson Conference Manager

t: 01865 815525 w: www.oxfordinspires.org Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds A Graham Brogden Head of Community Fundraising t: 01865 743442 w: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk

t: 01865 422757 w: www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing

Oxfordshire Community A Foundation Jayne Woodley Chief Executive t: 01865 798666 w: www.oxfordshire.org

t: 01993 777532 w: www.four-pillars.co.uk

CLIC Sargent t: 03003 300803 w: www.clicsargent.org.uk

t: 01865 242191 w: www.mcsoxford.org

t: 01865 268400 w: www.malmaison-oxford.com

Aspire t: 01865 204450 w: www.aspireoxford.co.uk

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES

Meet Oxfordshire A Julie Archer Managing Agent T: 01608 659900 W: www.meetoxfordshire.com

CATERING

P

t: 01865 728240 w: www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

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Magdalen College School A Emma Bellenie Events Manager

Malmaison P Chris Steadman General Manager

Crisis t: 01865 263911 w: www.crisis.org.uk

Oxford Fine Dining Sue Randall Managing Director

Four Pillars Hotels A Chris Green Group Marketing Manager

Williams F1 P Conference Centre Brendan Caffrey Conference Centre Manager t: 01235 777900 w: www.williamsf1conferences.com

Howbery Business Park Angela Andrews Marketing and Lettings Manager t: 01491 822305 w: www.howberypark.com The King’s Centre t: 01865 297400 w: www.kingscentre.co.uk Heythrop Park Resort A Tracy Stanton Sales Manager t: 01608 673372 w: www.heythroppark.co.uk The Burlington House t: 01865 513513 w: www.burlington-hotel-oxford.co.uk The Feathers P Pete Saunders Hotel Manager t: 01993 812291 w: www.feathers.co.uk The Manor P Christian Kaberg General Manager t: 01869 350621 w: www.themanorweston.co.uk Oxford Town Hall A Lucy Parr Sales Officer t: 01865 252195 w: www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk

EVENTS Oxfordshire Registration Services A Jacquie Bugeja Head of Registration and Coroner's Services t: 0845 129 5900 w: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk tmb Events Ltd t: 01865 822500 w: www.tmb-events.com Battle Proms t: 01432 355416 w: www.battleproms.com

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Join the Red Revolution!

Watch top flight Aviva Premiership and European rugby and sample the London Welsh match-day experience at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford.

Group ticket discounts plus corporate and individual match hospitality opportunities available. Contact cerys@london-welsh.co.uk 0208 940 2368 â&#x20AC;˘ www.london-welsh.co.uk

B4 contacts VENUES

FURTHER EDUCATION

BANKING

Blenheim Palace P John Hoy Chief Executive

LloydsTSB Commercial A Karl Leitelmayer Senior Manager, Commercial

t: 01993 810501 w: www.blenheimpalace.com

Oxford & Cherwell A Valley College Sally Dicketts Principal t: 01865 550550 w: www.ocvc.ac.uk

Blenheim Palace Hospitality t: 01993 813 874 w: www.blenheimpalace.com/hospitality

SAE Institute P t: 01865 787150 w: oxford.sae.edu

Barclays A Trevor French Corporate Director Oxford

Oxford Castle Quarter A Sophie Egleton Operations Manager

Oxford Graduate School t: 01865 987210 w: www.mcconline.org.uk

t: 07775 542467 w: www.barclayscorporate.com

t: 07764 625666 w: www.lloydstsb.com

Santander Justin Hayward Business Development Director

t: 01865 201657 w: www.oxfordcastle.com

6TH FORM DAY AND BOARDING COLLEGE

Rhodes House P Martin Gubb Director

St Clare’s, Oxford P Paula Holloway Principal

t: 07809 493563 w: www.santander.co.uk

t: 01865 270918 w: www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

t: 01865 552031 w: www.stclares.ac.uk

Coutts t: 01865 389039 w: www.coutts.com

EVENT MANAGEMENT

SCHOOLS

The Active Network P Banks Holcombe Head of Business Development

Bloxham School A Nick Irvine Marketing Director

RBS Corporate Banking t: 0845 8351249 w: www.rbs.co.uk

t: 08700 841 480 w: www.regonline.co.uk

t: 01295 724332 w: www.bloxhamschool.com

Altis Consulting Charlie Allen Managing Director

A

d'Overbroek's College A Sami Cohen Principal

t: 01451 812237 w: www.altisconsulting.co.uk

t: 01865 302637 w: www.doverbroecks.com

EQUIPMENT HIRE

Tudor Hall Boarding School t: 01295 756276 w: www.tudorhallschool.com

Oxford Event Hire A Kieran Lynch Owner t: 01865 760158 w: www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk

EDUCATION

Oxford International Study Centre t: 01865 201009 w: www.oxintstudycentre.com

FINANCE

t: 01865 593131 w: www.magnacartacollege.org

CMS Financial Management Ltd t: 01869 345588 w: www.cmsfinancialltd.co.uk FOCUS t: 01865 295295 w: www.focus-oxford.co.ukk

MORTGAGE ADVICE Mortgage Choices James Keene Principal Consultant t: 01993 862888 w: www.mortgage-choices.com

Your Money Friend Ltd A Ted Yeates Managing Director

HEALTH AND LEISURE

t: 01235 838542 w: www.yourmoneyfriend.co.uk

TLA Fitness A Tom Alden Founder

Total Credit Management t: 01993 770770 w: www.totalcreditmanagement.co.uk Strategic Finance Director t: 07967 681 774 w: www.strategicfd.co.uk

156

t: 01865 793121 w: www.mbarclay.co.uk

ADVICE

COLLEGES Magna Carta College P Vadzim Tsitou Chief Executive

Mark Barclay Partner at St. James's Place Wealth Management

TUITION

CATERING EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION Basics t: 01993 706708 w: www.basictableware.com

IFA’s

FITNESS

t: 07554 400 401 w: www.tlafitness.com Prime Energy Fitness Ltd t: 01869 352000 w: www.primeenergy.org

www.b4-business.com

Tel: 01865 595262 E-mail: hilltopcars@live.co.uk www.hilltopchauffeurs.co.uk

Nathan & Kay Thomas from Hilltop Chauffeurs, family and friends have teamed up to take part in the the Oxford Mail OX5RUN five mile fun run around Blenheim Palace on Sunday March 10th.

As most of you will know this is not the first time they will be battling this 5 mile course which raises funds for the Oxford Children's Hospital, every penny raised will make a difference to thousands of poorly children treated there every year.

Please go here http://goo.gl/nhe5o to help us raise as much money as possible fof Oxford Childrens Hospital

B4 contacts GOLF

London Welsh Rugby Club A Gareth Lloyd Head of Sponsorship and Sales t: 020 8940 2368 w: www.london-welsh.co.uk

The B4/MGroup Golf Cup t: 01865 742211 w: www.b4-business.com

North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club t: 01865 513560 (Clubhouse) w: www.northoxfordltc.org.uk

Frilford Heath Golf Club A Alistair Booth Director

WELLBEING

Inner Space t: 01865 244321 w: www.innerspace.org/oxford

t: 01865 390864 w: www.frilfordheath.co.uk

Helen Money Nutrition A Helen Money Owner t: 01865 339672 w: www.helenmoneynutrition.com

t: 01865 351122 w: www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

BEAUTY

HEALTHCARE

Electric Hair t: 01865 790440 w: www.electric-hair.com

Eyesite A Duarte Meneses Manager

Bare UK t: 07773 764817 w: www.bareuk.co.uk

t: 01865 242300 w: www.eyesite.co.uk

Philosophy Hairdressing t: 01865 553553 w: www.philosophyhair.co.uk

t: 01865 766488 w: www.robertstanley.co.uk Clinic95 A Maria Hardman Business Manager

Popham Hairdressing t: 01865 517040 w: www.popham.com

LEISURE Enstone Flying Club t: 01608 678204 w: www.enstoneflyingclub.co.uk

Better People Ltd t: 01491 836632 w: www.betterpeopleltd.co.uk Nicola Gardiner Executive Search t: 007900 912941 w: www.nicolagardiner.com

HR2You P Sarah Morris Owner t: 07789 711997 w: www.hr2you.co.uk Gazella HR t: 01865 339411 w: www.gazellahr.co.uk Spires HR t: 01865 880391 w: www.spireshr.co.uk

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS DATABASE MANAGEMENT InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director t: 0845 310 9973 w: www.intouchcrm.co.uk

IT SERVICES

t: 01865 241661 w: www.clinic95.com Monica Franke t: 07970 119721 w: www.monicafranke.com

HR

Oxford Radcliffe Private Healthcare t: 01865 221033 w: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk/privatehealthcare

The Career Boutique P Katherine Dales Managing Director

SPORT

t: 0845 5204010 w: www.thecareerboutique.com

Oxford United Football Club A Ian Lenagan Chairman

Allen Associates Kate Allen Managing Director

t: 01865 337505 w: www.oufc.co.uk

t: 01865 335600 w: www.allen-associates.co.uk

Oxford University Rugby Football Club A Tim Stevens Club Administrator t: 01865 432000 w: www.ourfc.org

myFD Recruitment t: 01869 354041 w: www.myfdrecruitment.co.uk

158

Mars Recruitment t: 0800 066 5606 w: www.marsrecruitment.co.uk

HR CONSULTANT

Studley Wood Golf Club A Ken Heathcote Managing Director

Robert Stanley Opticians A John Edwards Director

Hays t: 01865 727071 w: www.hays.com

RECRUITMENT

Avatar Recruitment Consultancy Ltd t: 01295 724570 w: www.avatarrecruit.co.uk

Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd P Richard Marsh Director t: 01367 700555 w: www.cisltd.com Nominet A Lesley Cowley OBE CEO t: 01865 332211 w: www.nominet.org.uk Oxford Knowledge Company P Mark Salisbury Director

t: 01865 322100 w: www.oxford-knowledge.com Bluespires IT t: 0845 5280505 w: www.bluespires.co.uk Data Efficiency t: 01993 608612 w: www.dataefficiency.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

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Ɛ LJ Ă ůĂLJƐ ů Ɖ

Ě Ɖ Ě Ŷ Ă ĂŶ

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ϳϰϮϮϭϭ Žƌƌ ĐĐĂĂůůů ů Ϭϭϴϲϱ ϳ

Ž ŵ Ž Đ ͘Đ ͘ Ɛ ƐƐ Ɛ Ğ Ŷ ŝ Ɛŝ Ɛ Ƶ ď Ͳď Ͳ ϰ ď ĞŶƚƚƐƐΛ ĞǀǀĞ ŵĂĂŝŝůů Ğ ĞͲͲŵ Ğƌƌ͕​͕ Ğ ĞŶƚƚĞ Ž Ğ ddŽ Ϭй

ůŝĮ ƋƵĂĂůŝĮ ĂŶLJLJ ƋƵ ƉĂŶ ĐŽŵƉ ŝĨ Ă ĐŽŵ ΎΎŝĨ Ă

ϮϬ Ăƚ ϮϬ Ĩ s dd Ăƚ Ğƚ ŽĨ s Ě ŶĞƚ Ž ŽƚĞĚ Ŷ ƋƵŽƚĞ ĂƚĞƐƐ ƋƵ ůů ƌƌĂƚĞ ůů E E

Advanced IT Solutions t: 01235 833869 w: www.advancedits.co.uk

Surefire Digital A Rob Jones Director

MOBILE PHONES

t: 020 3239 8055 w: www.surefiredigital.co.uk

Everything Everywhere Fauzzia Karim Senior Marketing Manager, Small Businesses t: 07968 107671 w: www.everythingeverywhere.com

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT QuarkXPress t: 0207 632 5612 w: www.quark.com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Orange Stripe A Telecommunications Nigel Pursall Managing Director t: 0845 241 7772 w: www.orangestripe.co.uk Pink Connect t: 01865 592222 w: www.pinkconnect.com

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Blink Design A Keith Simpson Senior Designer t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com Chris Fulton Design A Chris Fulton Owner t: 07745 033707 w: www.chrisfultondesign.co.uk Torpedo Group Limited A Iain Lewis Director

Evucan Web Solutions A Arjun Thandi Director t: 0845 8624400 w: www.evucan.com Grow Media Group t: 01865 339 379 w: www.growcreate.co.uk Urban Element t: 01993 776 999 w: www.urbanelement.com

WEB OPTIMISATION & SERVICES Oxford Digital Marketing A Simon Wallace-Jones Co-Founder t: 01865 600 508 w: www.oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk Zest A Alex Minchin Director t: 0843 289 0161 w: www.zestdigital.co Glooo A Chris Jones Director t: 01865 595707 w: www.glooo.co.uk SEOptimise t: 0845 299 0818 w: www.seoptimise.com

EMAIL MARKETING ClientMailer t: 01865 339406 w: www.clientmailer.com

Unicity Ltd A Edward Catling Director

MANUFACTURING

t: 0845 299 7529 w: www.unicityapp.com

WILA Group Ltd A Mike Collett Chief Executive Officer t: 01235 773500 w: www.wila.com

t: 01993 764566 w: www.olamalu.com

Owen Mumford A Jarl Severn Director t: 01993 812021 w: www.owenmumford.com RealTime Health Ltd t: 01865 811124 w: www.realtimehealth.net

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE Science Oxford A Dominic McDonald Head of Public Engagement and Business Networks t: 01865 728953 w: www.scienceoxford.com Mirada Medical A Simona Nita Digital Marketing Manager t: 01865 261410 w: www.mirada-medical.com

MARKETING & DESIGN ADVERTISING In Oxford Magazine P Colin Rosser Chairman t: 01865 742211 w: www.inoxford.com

CORPORATE IDENTITY Recognition Express A Andy Olejnik Managing Director t: 01295 257611 w: www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk/

DESIGN

t: 01865 733710 w: www.torpedogroup.com

Olamalu A Christoph Corvin Director

MEDICAL GOODS

LIGHTING

Blink Design A Keith Simpson Senior Designer t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com Strangebrew A Phil Strachan Director t: 07770 753975 w: www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk ADS t: 01993 885122 w: www.adsoxford.co.uk

160

www.b4-business.com

B4 contacts Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brand It t: 02081 443366 w: www.letsbrandit.co.uk

The Project Managers A Peronel Barnes Director

Esplin PR A Louise Esplin Freelance PR Consultant

mark-making t: 01608 649600 w: www.mark-making.com

t: 01865 751531 w: www.the-project-managers.com

t: 07775 678237 w: www.esplinpr.co.uk

indiumonline t: 01865 980630 w: www.indiumonline.co.uk

GB PR A Gail Buckle Owner

PHOTOGRAPHY

t: 01865 742940 w: www.gbprconsultancy.blogspot.com

Studio 8 P Clark Wiseman Managing Director

To The Point PR t: 0845 055 9696 w: www.tothepointpr.com

t: 01865 842525 w: www.studio-8.co.uk

PinkFish Media t: 01865 582685 w: www.pinkfish-media.co.uk

Isis Creative Framing t: 01865 203420 w: www.isiscreative.co.uk

FREELANCE COPY WRITING AND EDITING Wordsmith TM t: 01993 811579 w: www.wordsmithtm.co.uk Nicholas Newman Freelance Journalist t: 01865 762710 w: www.nicnewmanoxford.com

MARKETING RESEARCH / TELEMARKETING Lingo Telemarketing A Su Copeland Managing Director t: 01865 886340 w: www.lingotelemarketing.com Stephen Black t: 07866 204070 w: www.stephen-black.co.uk

MARKETING Marketing Sense A Jo Sensecall Director t: 01865 883579 w: www.marketing-sense.co.uk Cardwell Marketing A Ian Merriman Director t: 0845 1306634 w: www.cardwellmarketing.co.uk ClientMailer t: 07788 677512 w: www.clientmailer.com AWM Marketing t: 01367 244996 w: www.awm-marketing.com Reputation Selling t: 07976 684009 w: www.reputation-selling.co.uk Marketingco t: 01491 822333 w: www.marketingco.co.uk JJ Marketing t: 01865 343100 w: www.jjmarketing.co.uk

Lyon Photography t: 01865 481550 w: www.lyonphotography.co.uk

PRINTING Blueprint Imaging A Martin Matthews Managing Director t: 01993 892360 w: www.blueprintimaging.com The Oxford Duplication Centre t: 01865 457000 w: www.oxfordduplicationcentre.co.uk Culham Publication Services t: 01235 464904 w: www.culhampublicationservices.com

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) t: 020 7215 8000 w: www.ukti.gov.uk Love Communication t: 07887 775271 w: www.lovecommunication.co.uk Spriggs David A Karen David Partner t: 01865 512662 w: www.spriggsdavid.co.uk

WEB PERFORMANCE Obergine A Jeremy Anderson Director

Abbey Press Group t: 01235 543333 w: www.abbeypressgroup.com

t: 01865 245777 w: www.obergine.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS

MEDIA

The Buzzworks A Sarah Airey Proprietor

JACKfm Ian Walker General Manager

t: 01993 813848 w: www.thebuzzworks.co.uk

t: 01865 315980 w: www.jackfm.co.uk

Adapt Communications A Tracey Jefferies Partner

This is Global/Heart FM t: 020 7766 6000 w: www.thisisglobal.com

t: 0845 4591007 w: www.adapt.co

OX105FM t: 01865 777772 w: www.ox105fm.com

Syncro PR A Claire Thompson PR Director t: 01865 886344 w: www.syncropr.com

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTS Riach Architects A Douglas Riach Principal t: 01865 553772 w: www.riacharchitects.com

www.b4-business.com

161

B4 contacts John Hallam Associates A John Hallam Director t: 01608 646969 w: www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS VSL and Partners P Richard Venables Director t: 01865 848488 w: www.vslandp.com

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS Ridge and Partners A David Walker Partner t: 01993 815000 w: www.ridge.co.uk Kemp & Kemp A Steven Sensecall Partner t: 01865 240001 w: wwww.kempandkemp.co.uk Pink & Black Property Consultants A Claire Moloney Director t: 01865 515919 w: www.pinkandblackproperty.com

Carter Jonas P Scott Harkness Partner t: 01865 511444 w: www.carterjonas.co.uk Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Sales and Marketing Director t: 01865 811127 w: www.oxin.co.uk Kemp & Kemp A Emma Jewson Partner t: 01865 240001 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk

scottfraser A David Blythman Managing Director Sales t: 01865 759500 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk scottfraser A Chris Rowntree Sales Director t: 01993 705507 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk Kemp & Kemp A Graham MacDonald Director t: 01865 510000 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk frontdoorz A Sonia Kearns Creative Director t: 01865 339444 w: www.frontdoorz.com

LETTING AGENTS

BUILDERS MERCHANTS

Meeson Williams Ltd t: 01865 349011 w: www.meesonwilliams.com

Buildbase P David Robertson Central Regional Director

Marriotts t: 01865 316311 w: www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

t: 01865 201111 w: www.breckon.co.uk

t: 01865 787763 w: www.buildbase.co.uk

Lambert Smith Hampton t: 01865 200 244 w: www.lsh.co.uk

Finders Keepers A Frank Webster Director

BUSINESS PARKS

Jennings t: 01865 893300 w: www.jennings.co.uk

t: 01865 302308 w: www.finders.co.uk

Begbroke Science Park A Peter Dobson Managing Director t: 01865 283700 w: www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk Grove Technology Park Robert Lamplough Chairman t: 01235 772992 w: www.grovetechpark.com Jennings A Mike Jennings Managing Director t: 01865 893303 w: www.jennings.co.uk Bloxham Mill Business Centre A Ray Avery Managing Director t: 01295 722800 w: www.bloxhammill.com

162

DEVELOPMENT The Trevor Osborne P Property Group Trevor Osborne Chairman t: 01225 832302 w: www.topgroup.co.uk

Breckon and Breckon P Greg Barnes Director

scottfraser A Andrew Greenwood Group Managing Director t: 01865 760055 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk Lucy Properties A Ian Ashcroft Managing Director

ESTATE AGENTS

t: 01865 559973 w: www.lucyproperties.co.uk

Breckon and Breckon P Keith Stacey Managing Director

North Oxford Property Services A Robin Swailes Director

t: 01865 244735 w: www.breckon.co.uk

t: 01865 311745 w: www.nops.co.uk

Penny & Sinclair A James Penny Director

College and County A Mark Crampton-Smith Owner

t: 01865 318013 w: www.pennyandsinclair.co.uk

t: 01865 722722 w: www.collegeandcounty.biz

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B4 contacts Kemp and Kemp t: 01865 517584 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk

Fallowfields Hotel & Restaurant Anthony Lloyd A Managing Director

Bluestone Letting and Management t: 01869 327577 w: www.bluestonelm.co.uk

t: 01865 820416 w: www.fallowfields.com

The Letting Centre t: 01865 759930 w: www.thelettingcentre.com Rentaflat Ltd t: 01865 726966 w: www.rentaflat.co.uk Sterling Residential Lettings t: 01865 263183 w: www.sterlingresidential.co.uk

PROPERTY SERVICES Savvy Maintenance A & Renovations Stephen Dunne Director t: 01865 920020 w: www.savvy-group.co.uk A1 Plumbing & Heating t: 01865 327732 w: www.a1ltd.co.uk Windover Facilities A Management Edward MacFarlane CEO t: 01869 368095 w: www.windoverfm.com Next Generation Solar t: 01993 813105 w: www.nextgenerationsolar.co.uk JCC Electrical t: 01869 868007 w: www.jccelectrical.co.uk

R&R ACCOMMODATION Macdonald Randolph Hotel A Michael Grange General Manager t: 0844 879 9132 w: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk The Royal Oxford Hotel A Tom Crampton-Smith Owner t: 01865 248432 w: www.royaloxfordhotel.co.uk

Conifers Guest House t: 01865 763055 w: www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk Old Swan & Minster Mill t: 01993 862510 w: www.oldswanandminstermill.com Le Manoir aux Quatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Saisons t: 01844 278881 w: www.manoir.com Hawkwell House Hotel P Tim Spittles General Manager

GALLERIES Wiseman Gallery A Sarah Wiseman Owner t: 01865 515123 w: www.wisegal.com

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Sam Strange Magic A Sam Strange Owner t: 01865 742211 w: www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

t: 01865 749988 w: www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

Pegasus Theatre A Dominique Cadiou Development Director

RENTAL ACCOMMODATION

t: 01865 812160 w: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

Lower Mill Estate Red Paxton Marketing and Sales Director

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES

t: 01285 869489 w: www.lowermillestate.com Sheepskin t: 01865 764087 w: www.sheepskinlife.com

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL

The Oxford Wine Company A Ted Sandbach Managing Director t: 01865 301144 w: www.oxfordwine.co.uk First Class Products A Thomas Ellis Owner

Oxford Philomusica A Simon Payne Development Manager

t: 07919 133476 w: www.firstclassproducts.biz

t: 07775 904626 w: www.oxfordphil.com

RESTAURANTS

The Old Fire Station A Jeremy Spafford Director of Arts t: 01865 263980 w: www.oldfirestation.info Modern Art Oxford A Hannah Evans Communications Manager t: 01865 813826 w: www.modernartoxford.org.uk Creation Theatre A t: 01865 761393 w: www.creationtheatre.co.uk

Browns Restaurant P James Pounds General Manager t: 01865 511995 w: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk The Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards t: 01865 742211 w: www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk The Trout P Chris Lewis General Manager t: 01865 510930 w: www.thetroutoxford.co.uk

Westwood Hotel A Tony Healey Owner

The Red Lion P Tom Crouch General Manager

t: 01865 735408 w: www.westwoodhotel.co.uk

t: 01865 726255 w: www.redlionoxford.co.uk

164

www.b4-business.com

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The Bayleaf Restaurant Bangladeshi and Indian cuisine

“The moment your receive that first welcoming smile from the staff at the Bayleaf Bangladeshi & Indian restaurant, you know you are in the hands of professionals capable of providing you with a great meal experience.”

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B4 contacts RETAIL

4500 MIles From Delhi A Nav Kandola Owner

Cockadoo t: 01865 341030 w: www.cockadoo.co.uk

t: 01865 244 922 w: www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford

Temple Lounge t: 01865 246660 w: www.templeloungerestaurant.co.uk

Blackwell’s P David Prescott Managing Director

The Big Bang t: 01865 249413 w: www.thebigbangrestaurants.co.uk

t: 01865 382500 w: www.blackwell.co.uk

Spice Lounge A Ali Aktar Owner t: 01865 510071 w: www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk Saffron t: 01865 512211 w: www.saffronrestaurantoxford.co.uk The Feathered Nest Inn t: 01993 833030 w: www.thefeatherednestinn.co.uk Gee’s Restaurant & Bar t: 01865 553 540 w: www.gees-restaurant.co.uk Old Parsonage Hotel t: 01865 310 210 w: www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk

SHOPPING

Pierre Victoire t: 01865 316616 w: www.pierrevictoire.co.uk

Bicester Village Helen Peters Sales & Marketing Manager - Tourism

BARS

t: 01869 323200 w: www.bicestervillage.com

The House t: 01865 724 433 w: www.housebar.co.uk The Duke of Cambridge t: 01865 558 173 w: www.dukebar.com O’Neill’s Oxford t: 01865 250708 w: www.oneills.co.uk

Quod Brasserie & Bar t: 01865 202505 w: www.quod.co.uk

COFFEE SHOPS

Head of the River t: 01865 721600 w: www.headoftheriveroxford.co.uk

Java & Co t: 07736 950673 w: www.javaandco.co.uk

University of Oxford Shop P t: 01865 247414 w: www.oushop.com

Casa Rose Boudoir t: 01865 510191 w: www.casaroseoxford.com Argenteus t: 01865 840810 w: www.argenteus.co.uk Clements and Church t: 01865 511212 w: www.clementsandchurch.co.uk

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