B4 Oxfordshire issue 29

OXFORDSHIRE EDITION

B4

Magazine

ISSUE 29 WINTER 2013/14

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Are Trusts Still In Fashion?

All you need to know about Trusts now and to come, from Grant Thornton UK LLP

Going Postal Property Intelligence 2013 Join Finders Keepers at their 4th annual property seminar

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B E T W E E N

No m Sa in n a Be M tan ted st e de fo Ti SM dia r Fi r th tle E Aw na e of / E ar nc 201 th nte ds ial 3 e rp Ye r ar ise

Barclays Bank tells us the story of how a successful online shop boosted sales via postal marketing

B U S I N E S S E S

BR ROW OW N S O X F O R D 5-11 Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6HA Telephone: Telephone: 01865 511995 Email: Email: oxford@browns-restaurants.co.uk www.browns-restaurants.co.uk ww w.browns-restaurants.co.uk

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

Join the B4 Community

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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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).

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The rate to become an Ambassador is £250+VAT per annum (additional Ambassadors charged £99+VAT).

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 just £250+VAT per annum B4 Membership is now one rate for all companies. The annual charge gives your business a listing in four quarterly editions of B4, presence in the B4 online directory with the ability to upload unlimited press releases and event details and access to all B4 Member events for all of your employees. We have at least four events in each area and you and your colleagues are welcome to all of them – there are no additional charges to attend events.

What about Editorial in the Magazine?

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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 B4 Digital Marketing Daria Montella Editorial contributors Jackie Jarvis Jo Sensecall Kelly Lea Lucy Holmes Lucy Howard Madeleine Barber Nicholas Newman Tony Haines 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 Each business with an Oxfordshire postcode is entitled to one free copy per issue. For additional copies and for businesses outside of Oxfordshire, there is an annual subscription charge of £25.

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

© Designs-on Ltd and B4 Magazine.

Whilst every attempt has been made to ensure that the content of this publication is accurate and correct in every way, the publishers cannot be held responsible or liable for any inaccuracies or errors within the publication. Information reproduced from this publication is permitted with the express permission of the publisher and the advertiser, where relevant. All information is correct at time of going to press.

welcome to B4

Be San N st tan om SM d in E / er F ate En ina d f te nc or rp ia th ris l M e e T ed 201 itl ia 3 e o Aw f t ar he ds Ye ar

Welcome to Issue 29 There’s a real sense of positivity and purpose as we enter 2014, certainly amongst the wide range of B4 customers. 2013 saw uncertainty and flickers of hope but, without getting too carried away, there’s an optimism in the air which should enable us all to be more confident in the year to come.

Meet The Writers

That positivity was certainly in evidence at the last 2013 B4 event at Hawkwell House Hotel where GM Tim Spittles welcomed almost one hundred B4 Ambassadors, Members and Guests to take a look at the new Iffley Blue Restaurant. Read more about Hawkwell and the stunning new restaurant in this issue.

Investment in property is one indication that the economy is picking up and the property theme features strongly in this issue. Carter Jonas launch their new property app, Robin Swailes of NOPS gives us his take on the Oxford Property market, Lloyds Commercial give us a few tips on growing your property portfolio and we also have a feature on Finders Keepers’ 4th annual property seminar.

We welcome new Platinum Ambassadors, CAV, to B4, Wenn Townsend tell us more about choosing cars for your employees and also hear from Hays, the UK’s largest recruitment business.

18. Hawkwell House Hotel Written by Matthew Wright

Read also about our trip to London to stay at two of the capital’s leading hotels, and our journey there in the new Alfa Romeo MiTo. Food also features heavily with reviews of The Spice Lounge, The Snooty Mehmaan, The Red Lion and The Chequers Burcot, and if you want to save time in 2014, pay a visit to Excel Dry Cleaners in Summertown who have started a new collection and delivery service – read more in this issue.

There are interesting features also from Linda Flanigan who tells us how to re-educate our minds, Howbery Park, Riach Architects, Elegant Cuisine, Heythrop and, if you’re looking to reboot your system, Helen Money Nutrition gives us some great smoothie recipes for the new year.

33. The Spice Lounge Written by Mark Greenwood

Enjoy B4 and have a great 2014!

Enjoy B4!

Richard Rosser Editor

86. The Red Lion Written by Kathryn Allison

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.

WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE ON

110. Excel Dry Cleaners Written by Richard Rosser

22 LEAD

22 Letting The Light In: B4 takes a look at the latest addition to Hawkwell House Hotel - the Iffley Blue restaurant

86 The Snow Factory: Experience Matt Wright's tour of the spectacularly Christmas themed Oxford Castle 96 Offers from the B4 Ambassadors 101 B4YOU: A selection of some of the finest establishments in the B4 region 112 Backstage Support: How lawyers at B P Collins helped an international events crewing company expand and diversify 119 Helen & Douglas House: Lesley Gorton, Head of Retail, talks about the future of Charity Shops and their perception on the high street 124 Tom Ingram: B4 meets the recentlycrowned Ginetta GT Supercup Champion

56 FINANCE

56 Going Postal: The story of how a successful online shop boosted sales via postal marketing 117 Looking For A Mortgage?: James T Keene talks to B4 about mortgage lending jumps and what Mortgage Choices can offer you

14 NEWS 14 15 17 35 62 77 88

County Events B4 Events B4 News Visit Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards Computing Information Systems VSL

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SPOTLIGHT 32 The New Alfa Mito 2014: Test drive the new model at Motor Village Oxford today!

46 The UK's Leading Specialist Recruiting Business: B4’s Richard Rosser finds out more about Hays in Oxfordshire

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26 ADVICE

26 Mobile Web-Credible: Carter Jonas talks to us about the importance of mobile friendly websites 38 Are Trusts Still in Fashion?: All you need to know about Trusts from Grant Thornton 52 Cars For Employees: Wenn Townsend helps you to make the right decision when considering company cars 78 Family Disputes: How to avoid complications regarding a loved one's Will or Estate, by Henmans Freeth

110 VENUES

110 Heythrop Park Resort: One of the most unique on the Oxfordshire Cotswolds conference, meetings and events landscape

www.b4-business.com

B4 contents 42

93 A Major Breakthrough in Wireless Sound: Bang & Olufsen introduce three new design icons for your home 94 Food To Sigh For: Matt Wright visited The Chequers at Burcot to chat about food, wine and the future

HEALTH

42 Re-Educating The Mind: Experienced clinical hypnotheraptist Linda Flanigan explains how our minds can learn behaviour which can be used positively or negatively

98 Destination Red Lion: Kathryn Alison reviews this contemporary, inviting gastropub tucked in a corner of Oxford 114 First Class Food and Exemplary Service: Look no further than The Forbury Hotel

55 Smooth(ie) Away The Stress: Great healthy smoothie recipes from Helen Money Nutrition for the busy!

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121 The Importance of Exceptional Service: The Tree at Cadmore End 127 Friendly and Attentive Service this Winter: at The Evenlode in Witney

R&R

37 A Nicely Spiced Lounge: Check out Mark Greenwood's review of The Spice Lounge in Summertown 51 Refined Yet Creative Indian Cuisine: The Snooty Mehmaan - reviewed

by B4's Maddy Barber 70 The Iconic Lancaster Hotel: B4 reviews this grand and stylish hotel at Hyde Park

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PROPERTY 31 Riach Architects Continue to Grow: After a successful year of awards and commendations, Riach Architects recruit new members to their talented team 49 New Chapter for Howbery Business Park: Angela Andrews talks to B4 about their thriving business community 60 The Oxford Property Market 2014: Robin Swailes of North Oxford Property Services on this year's property market 66 Property Intelligence 2013: Coverage of the 4th annual Finders Keepers property seminar 84 Growing Your Property Portfolio: Lloyds Commercial Banking talk about how 2014 will be a good year for the property ladder

www.b4-business.com

73 Free round of golf at Magnolia Park: Experience playing at one of the country’s most challenging and picturesque golf courses 82 K West Hotel: Classy, vibrant and oozing style - A favourite amongst those in the music industry

64 SERVICES

64 Versatile and Reinvigorated: Fresh faces at Complete Catering make this top-notch company even better 69 Oxford Innovation supports businesses as well as their budgets: How can a managed center benefit your company?

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Remarkable Eco Solutions: Creating new products from your office waste - An overview by Aston & James

81 Elegant Cuisine: Read about the most trusted caterers around, used by HRH Her Majesty the Queen, CEO's of global city companies, mums, dads, brides, grooms and friends alike 90 The Fourth Emergency Service: Matt Wright talks to Peter Gunn, Director at City Audio Visual, to unlock the secrets of success at Oxford’s premier audio-visual company 122 First Class Service from Excel Dry Cleaners: B4's Richard Rosser talks to new owner of Excel Dry Cleaners, Rachel Boyes, about the last 3 years

129 CONTACTS

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Open Day // February 8th 2014

B4

P L ATI N U M

MEMBERS

O X F O R D

Residential Letting 路 Property Management

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

AND

CPS

meet oxfordshire D E S I G N

&

P R I N T

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

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B4 CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE (IN PAGE ORDER) Riach Architects......................................................................................................................31

Henmans Freeth.....................................................................................................................78

Linda Flanigan....................................................................................................................42

Elegant Cuisine........................................................................................................................81

Hays.............................................................................................................................................46

The Chequers at Burcot..................................................................................................94

Howbery Park Estates........................................................................................................49

The Red Lion................................................................................................................................98

Helen Money..............................................................................................................................55

Heythrop Park Resort........................................................................................................110

North Oxford Property Services................................................................................60

Mortgage Choices.................................................................................................................117

Complete Catering....................................................................................................64

Helen & Douglas House...................................................................................................119

Finders Keepers......................................................................................................................66

Excel Dry Cleaners..........................................................................................................122

www.b4-business.com

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B4 diary

In Association with Carter Jonas

Event Organiser

Venues

Urban Element, 1E Witney Office Village

Urban Element, 1E Witney Office Village

Bucks New University, High Wycombe Campus

Bucks New University, High Wycombe Campus

Date

21st Jan 25th Feb

21st Jan 25th Feb

29th Jan

19th Feb

Time

Event Details

9.30am

We are offering complimentary social media seminars to local businesses on Twitter and LinkedIn, to help them improve their online marketing strategy and use of social media. This informal seminar looks at LinkedIn profiles and accounts and how you can make them more effective and use LinkedIn as a tool for your business.

We will look at your strategy for LinkedIn, raising your profile and the new company pages. For more information call us on 01993 776999.

12.30pm

We are offering complimentary social media seminars to local businesses on Twitter and LinkedIn, to help them improve their online marketing strategy and use of social media.

This informal seminar will look at: - Integrating twitter as part of your marketing plan Setting up your account & profile - What and when to tweet - Measuring Twitters effectiveness - Using Twitter as a promotional tool. For more information call us on 01993 776999.

5.00pm

Come along to Bucks New University’s Postgraduate and Professional Open Evening and find out about their great range of full-time and part- time postgraduate and professional courses. For full details, visit bucks.ac.uk/openevenings.

11.00am

Bucks New University’s undergraduate open days offer a great opportunity to find out about the University’s courses, meet their staff and look around their facilities. Book online at bucks.ac.uk/opendays.

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

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www.b4-business.com

J A N U A R Y

2014

M A R C H

events

NEWBURY RACECOURSE

Wednesday 15th January 2014 12.30pm to 4.30pm

BATTLE OF THE BUSINESS MINDS QUIZ HEYTHROP PARK RESORT (team of 4)

Thursday 20th March 2014 6pm to 8.30pm

A P R I L

BUSINESS IN OXFORD 2014 CITY & COUNTY SAÏD BUSINESS SCHOOL

Wednesday 23rd April 2014 BODLEIAN LIBRARY

Wednesday 2nd April 2014

J U N E

6pm to 8pm

AYLESBURY COLLEGE

Thursday 12th June 2014 6pm to 8.30pm

To find out more about B4 please visit WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM -BUSINESS.COM t: 01865 742211 e: events@b4-business.com a: The Firs, Headington Hill, ill, Ox Oxford, ford, OX3 0BT 0BT

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Home-Start Home-Start is a voluntary organisation offering support, friendship and practical help to families at home with at least one child under 5, so that every child can have a good start in life.

Being a parent, wherever you live or whatever the situation, is not easy. Many parents feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the stresses of family life. It is even more difficult if family or friends are unable to offer you support and breathing space when you most need it. A Home-Start volunteer will visit you

regularly (usually once a week for a couple of hours) in your home and offer support through difficult times for as long as it is helpful or needed.

HOME-START BANBURY & CHIPPING NORTON is based in Britannia Road Children’s Centre in Banbury &, as the name implies, supports families across North Oxfordshire.

To find out more & to offer your support log on to our website www.home-startbanbury.org.uk or ring the office 01295 266358

Refurbishment Appeal for a World First The charity, Helen & Douglas House, has received £436k from NHS England to do some of the work needed to future-proof the hospice, but needs a further £1 million to complete further essential work at the same time.

Helen House, the world’s first children’s hospice when it opened over 30 years ago in 1982, is appealing to people in the community to help raise money for a major refurbishment.

Tom Hill, Chief Executive, Helen & Douglas House said; ‘Building hospices is one thing, maintaining them and meeting the running costs year after year is another. Our charity only receives 15% of annual running costs from the NHS and other statutory

bodies. The rest is raised through voluntary donations.’

Anyone wishing to play a part in the future of Helen House can visit the charity’s website: www.helenanddouglas.org.uk, or contact the Fundraising Team by email, fundraising@helenanddouglas.org.uk, or phone: 01865 799150.

Urban Element take part in Twin Town Challenge 2014 Web design and Online Marketing company, Urban Element, are putting forward a team for their chosen charity, SpecialEffect’s fundraiser in May 2014. Local businesses will be rattling their way from Oxfordshire to France in a driving competition. It is a points based challenge to drive a car, costing teams no more than £500 taking in the circuits of Brands Hatch, Le Mans and Croix En Ternois.

As well as putting forward a team, prior to the event Urban Element will be supporting the businesses partaking by holding social media workshops, creating social media tool kits and will be producing live social media content throughout the event to keep everyone updated on the highs and lows of the action!

To come along to one of Urban Element’s complimentary social media workshops, on the

17th December or 21st January, call us on 01993 776 999 or email us info@urbanelement.com. For more information visit www.urbanelement.com follow us on Twitter @urbanelementweb, like us on Facebook and connect with us on LinkedIn.

Weekly Home expands into Bicester After a busy year of growth in Oxford, Woodstock based short let and holiday rentals agency Weekly Home now has several properties in the Bicester area. The first Weekly Home short let property is in the prestigious 'Garden Quarter' development on the former RAF base.

Semi serviced short let accommodation offers great value for money compared to long stays in a hotel, and is popular with business users, comments

www.b4-business.com

Kelvin Fowler, Weekly Home Managing Director.

“With Bicester and Banbury towns set to grow over coming years, there will be a growing need for high quality serviced accommodation for visitors to the region.” www.weeklyhome.com Telephone: 01993 811711.

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DON’T PAY INTEREST. GENERATE IT.

ALFA MITO & GIULIETTA AT 0% APR REPRESENTATIVE^ UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER. SAFETY Both Alfa MiTo and Giulietta models have the 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Plus 3 years warranty**

PRICE The Alfa MiTo range starts from £14,350 † for the 875cc TB TwinAir 105 bhp Sprint and the Alfa Giulietta range starts from £17,765 † for the 1.4 TB 120 bhp Turismo.

FUEL CONSUMPTION With the Alfa MiTo range you can enjoy a combined fuel consumption of up to 80.7 mpg ‡ and with the Alfa Giulietta range up to 64.2 mpg ‡.

WITHOUT HEART WE WOULD BE MERE MACHINES.

MOTOR VILLAGE OXFORD BANBURY ROAD, KIDLINGTON, OXFORDSHIRE OX5 1JH 01865 376000 www.motorvillageoxfordalfaromeo.co.uk ‡Models shown: Alfa MiTo 875cc TB TwinAir 105 bhp Sprint MY’14 at £14,350 OTR† excluding Alfa Red Special paint at £450 and Alfa Giulietta 1.6 JTDM-2 105 bhp Lusso at £19,950 OTR† excluding Ghiaccio White special paint at £490. Range of official fuel figures for the Alfa Romeo range: Urban 26.2 – 64.2 mpg (10.8 – 4.4 l/100 km), Extra Urban 48.7 – 97.4 mpg (5.8 – 2.9 l/100 km), Combined 37.2 – 80.7 mpg (7.6 – 3.5 l/100 km). CO2 Emissions 177 – 90 g/km.

‡Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. Factors such as driving style, weather and road conditions may also have a significant effect on fuel consumption. ^0% APR finance Hire Purchase available over a 2 year term with a minimum deposit of 45% on Alfa MiTo Models and over a 3 year term with a minimum deposit of 40% on Alfa Giulietta Models. Offer applies to models registered between 1 October and 31 December 2013. Retail sales only. Terms and conditions apply. Offer correct at time of printing. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Alfa Romeo Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough, SL1 0RW. †On the road price includes 12 months road fund licence, vehicle first registration fee, delivery, number plates and VAT. Figures and prices are correct at time of publishing. Vehicles must be registered before 31 December 2013. **The 3 year warranty consists of 36 months’ unlimited mileage warranty (incl. 24 months’ Pan European warranty) which guarantees your vehicle against defective manufacturing faults for a period of 36 months from the date of first registration and without mileage limits. This excludes wear and tear items. Retail sales only. Terms and conditions apply and the warranty is subject to exclusions. See www.alfaromeo.co.uk for full details.

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Hidden Spire at The Old Fire Station In August 2013, a small group at the Old Fire Station came together to start planning the venue’s December production of Hidden Spire.

Armed with only the theme of chance, the group grew to include 25 different professional artists and over 50 homeless people involved with Crisis Skylight Oxford.

Over the coming months, workshops were held in story writing, devising and singing, classes were scheduled for set design, dance and acting, and courses were filled up for photography, film and front of house. By October a story had been written

and by the end of November a set had been built.

Then, on 12th December, Hidden Spire began its four show run to rapturous applause. However, the enjoyment the show gave to audiences was not the only benefit; homeless people developed vital skills and confidence, and artists have gained excellent experience to help develop their practice.

This is what the Old Fire Station is all about.

Find out more about Hidden Spire by heading to the blog – www.hiddenspire.co.uk

Oxford Preservation Trust Awards in 2013 celebrate good building design and modern architecture

Good design and good modern architecture were much in evidence at the Oxford Preservation Trust Awards 2013, sponsored by Kemp & Kemp Property Consultants.

The OPT Environmental Awards are now in their 36th year and are judged by a panel of experts chaired by Professor Malcolm Airs, an OPT trustee and eminent architectural historian. This year, the panel awarded eight plaques and eleven certificates across the categories of Buildings Conservation, New Buildings and Small Projects.

Kemp & Kemp partner, Steven Sensecall, said. “This year has seen strong competition and the judges

have had tough decisions to make. Oxford is a special place and the City is very lucky to have landowners, developers and institutions that continue to bring forward buildings of such high quality.”

If you would like to see the full list of winners please go to www.oxfordpreservation.org.uk/ planning/awards.php.

Postgraduate and Professional Open Evening at Bucks New University Wednesday 29 January: Bucks New University’s Postgraduate and Professional Open Evenings offer a great opportunity to find out about their diverse range of career-focused postgraduate and professional courses.

The next Open Evening is on Wednesday 29 January, from 5-7pm at the University’s High Wycombe Campus.

University staff will be available during the evening to discuss the courses and answer any queries you may have. You can also see the facilities and discover what Bucks New University can offer you.

For more details about the open evening or the University’s programmes, visit bucks.ac.uk/postgraduate.

To ensure you get the best experience, it is advisable to book in advance by visiting bucks.ac.uk/openevenings or calling 0800 0565 660.

20th year for The Oxfordshire Business Awards The Oxfordshire Business Awards 2014 are now open for entries.

Now in its 20th year, the Oxfordshire Business Awards have been recognising, rewarding and promoting the excellence of Oxfordshire-based companies. Organised and supported by 15 of the county’s leading organisations, the Awards are firmly established as a benchmark for excellence in today’s competitive business environment.

www.b4-business.com

Entry for the 2014 Oxfordshire Business Awards is available online from Friday 29 November 2013.

All entries must be received by no later than Friday 28 February 2014. Please visit www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk and follow the Awards on Twitter @OxBizAwards AWARDS DINNER – FRIDAY 20 JUNE 2014 You can purchase your tickets/table to attend the Dinner now and, for a limited time only, tickets can be purchased at a discounted price of £75 per ticket / £750 per table plus VAT.

19

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B4 news

Active Education & Training completes 100 Apprenticeships across UK Active Education & Training have just completed its first cohort of Apprentices under the government initiative promoting the employment of apprentices across the UK launched by Nick Clegg last year. We have had 100 apprentices across the UK complete their apprenticeships in the Sports Development and Fitness, Business Admin, Childcare, Assisting Teaching and Learning and Customer Service fields this month.

Our programs have become popular for new and existing employees aged 16-24. We have bespoke online learning platforms for each area to support the delivery of education for staff and thus enable employers and employers / apprentices to have minimum disruption to their working week. Being able to financially support employers with new staff through government funding has helped many SME’s subsidise new staff, and continue to grow.

If you are interested in Training programmes for new or existing staff and associated government funding for such programmes call Sally on 01865 594325. www.activeed-training.co.uk

The 2013 Santander Financial Media Awards awards ceremony at the Skyloft, Millbank Towers in London on 20th November.

Presented by former BBC and BT Vision sports presenter Jake Humphrey, the B4 team were there having been nominated for the Best SME / Enterprise Title of the Year. We came a respectable 3rd from entries all over the UK. The winners of the 2013 Santander Media Awards were announced at a prestigious

B4’s Editor, Richard Rosser, commented. “We were delighted to be short-listed and it’s nice to get some recognition for the hard work that goes into publishing B4. Great credit must go to the team of Keith, Lorna and Rob and also to our loyal customers, without whom we wouldn’t have a magazine!” Congratulations to the winners and all who entered. Maybe next year for B4!

The Awards committee commented that the top three were “well clear of the field.”

Hat-trick of awards for local football volunteer 2013 turned out to be an increidble year for Kidlington Youth Football Club's Welfare Officer, Paula WYNN. Yarnton resident Paula has been performing this voluntary role for 4 years and is responsible for dealing with all welfare matters for the club which provided football for boys and girls from 4 year olds right through to adult.

Following a number of exceptional challenges Paula was nominated for the Oxfordshire FA Club Welfare officer of the year, which she won and collected her award at a presentation evening in Witney in September.

Unbeknown to her, this led to Paula being put forward for a National award from the NSPCC, Child

Protection In Sports Unit safeguarding award which she collected at a presentation day in Leicester.

In October it was announced that the FA would celebrate its 150 year anniversary with a football match and awards presentation at Buckingham Palace. As part of this medals were presented to 150 football grassroot heroes selected by local Football Associations. Paula was delighted to be selected to recieve one of these and attended to collect her medal from HRH Prince William.

"It was a real honour to received these awards and a special moment to attend Buckingham Palace and recieve a medal in person from Prince William". "These awards highlight the importance placed on child protection in Sport I am pleased to be able to give my spare time to having such a

valuable role. I have four sons who play for different teams at KYFC and my husband currently coaches 3 teams so it is a real family affair. KYFC is committed to providing a safe and fun environment for chidren to play and develop".

B4 Ambassadors Cards In Popular Demand Since the launch of The B4 Ambassadors Card in August, the scheme has not only attracted some great offers from within the B4 Membership, but there are now fast approaching 300 Ambassadors.

Ambassadors can now benefit from offers at

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establishments such as The Forbury Hotel in Reading, Monkey Island in Bray and Browns in Oxford and as we get more Ambassadors, the number of offers also increases.

In the past month we have had requests from Grant Thornton, Darbys LLP, Oxford Innovation and

Carter Jonas for over 70 Ambassadors Cards for senior members of staff.

To get your card call the B4 team on 01865 742211 and see the offers at: www.b4-business.com by clicking on the Ambassadors Card section of the menu.

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LETTING THE LIGHT IN

Iffley Blue, Hawkwell House Hotel’s new flagship restaurant, opened its doors in October 2013 following a £1m refurbishment. Hawkwell House has long been an Oxford favourite, set amidst 3 acres of landscaped grounds in the beautiful leafy village of Iffley, just 2 miles from Oxford City Centre, with an abundance of onsite parking. General Manager Tim Spittles, spoke with Matt Wright, about Iffley Blue’s stunning transformation, and his plans to make a mark on the Oxford dining scene.

"Comfort has been our main priority - we've installed sofas and leather banquettes near the bar area, and replaced the old conservatory skylights with new treated glass, which along with the new air-conditioning system, will keep diners cool in the summer and warm in the winter. We've listened to our customers, and tried to implement their suggestions wherever possible.”

We were a ‘me-too’ offering, waiting to see what prices others charged, and then gearing our prices off that. However, the recession had changed all that, and it was clear that Hawkwell had to invest to survive.”

“we sat down and gave a great deal of thought to how we sourced our ingredients

On a sodden Wednesday afternoon, when there appears to be only one shade of grey outside, rather than the ubiquitous fifty, it comes as a welcome relief to sit in a room suffused with natural light. Iffley Blue’s opening is the culmination of an ambitious refurbishment project, which Tim kick-started almost 5 years ago, just as one of the most severe recessions in the UK’s history was beginning to bite. Tim took me on a whistle-stop tour through Hawkwell’s recent history.

Having spent the previous 4 years managing top-end hotels in the Home Counties, Tim had definite ideas about where to re-position Hawkwell, and after convincing the owners, started on the first stage of an ambitious investment programme, starting with the refurbishment of all 50 existing bedrooms at Hawkwell….and by refurbishment, we’re talking gutting, not just redecorating.

The past “When I arrived, we were a middle-of-the-road, 3 star hotel, with a middle-of-the-road hotel restaurant, struggling to make a name for ourselves in the very competitive Oxford market.

Once this had been completed, with bookings up and the hotel’s online reputation on the rise, Tim began on the second stage of the investment programme. A function room was taken out to make way for 11 new bedrooms, and a complete

22

”

overhaul of the restaurant was initiated.

Having originally started out as a restauranteur, Tim was well aware of the challenges he faced in launching a new restaurant, but this also provided him with a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve.

“Up until 2003, I ran a restaurant called ‘Bistro 35’ in Witney - 70 covers, good bistro food, friendly atmosphere….very hands-on. I was the maitre d’, but also helped out in the kitchens, whilst my wife Fi worked front of house and made all the puddings. Food was a way of life….and we did take our work home with us!”

The present Tim’s restaurant needed to appeal to both hotel guests, and to entice outside diners.

“When designing our new menus, we sat down and gave a great deal of thought to how we sourced our ingredients. These days, customers are far more conscious about where their food comes from, and how it’s been produced. Hence, we decided to reflect this as much as possible in our menus, which will be changing every 8-12

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B4 LEAD

This attention to detail can be seen both front of house, behind the scenes, and somewhere inbetween - there is now a new wood-burning oven, which heats up to 650º,located in a corner of the dining room itself.

“The oven isn’t just a gimmick - we’ve designed the menus to make full use of it. We want the customers to see what we’re doing, so they can feel part of the dining experience at Iffley Blue. In the mornings, we use it to bake our own bread, throughout the day it’s perfect for pizzas from our Bar Menu, and in the evenings, our modern British classics will benefit from its unique cooking properties. Our new menus allow diners to eat throughout the day, from snacks to full meals, and this oven really needs to be flexible in order to accommodate all these demands.”

It’s not just about the kitchen equipment though the look and feel of the restaurant needed to complement Hawkwell’s leafy setting, and to provide a relaxed, informal atmosphere, and this has been carefully thought out, down to the smallest detail.

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“We commissioned new stained-glass windows and Lloyd Loom furniture, to ‘reflect the outside in’, and replaced the old fixtures, cutlery, and glassware. For example, all of our tables are now self-levelling so wobbles should be a thing of the past, whilst our dining furniture has been designed to reduce noise as much as possible."

“all of our tables are

now self-levelling so wobbles should be a thing of the past, whilst our dining furniture has been designed to reduce noise as much as possible.

”

Looking around the restaurant, the overall impact is impressive. A new 20ft chrome & mahogany bar, together with bar stools, comfy sofas and leather banquettes, has been installed to allow diners to relax with a drink before their meal. Or afterwards,

if they’d like to sample a whiskey from the wide range behind the counter, a speciality loose leaf tea (sourced locally from Jeeves & Jericho) or a freshly brewed coffee from the newly-installed Italian Rancilio machine.

The future So is everything now complete ? No, Tim is already eyeing up other projects for next year, including the installation of a gym for hotel guests, or the conversion of an existing building in the hotel grounds into a old-fashioned smoking house, to enable the kitchens to prepare more food onsite.

The immediate challenge though, is to establish Iffley Blue as a destination restaurant in its own right.

“Hotels restaurants often suffer by being seen as stuffy and aloof. We want to impress upon diners, that we are a friendly bunch - our style is more informal, with a real emphasis on quality, and we want to be judged on that basis.” www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

Read the Iffley Blue Review overleaf

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Photography: Rob Scotcher

weeks to reflect the best of seasonal produce.”

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B4 LEAD

IFFLEY BLUE IN REVIEW After Matt Wright met Tim Spittles General Manager of Hawkwell house, he was invited to sample the delights of the newly opened Iffley Blue Restaurant, and give B4 readers an insight into what they can expect on their next visit.

I half-expected to see Michel Roux standing sternly in his whites, as we rounded the corner.

However, the burnished steel sign proclaimed not Masterchef HQ, but the newly-opened Iffley Blue restaurant.

Although outside the day was as grey as Monsieur Roux's steely stare, inside there was a suffusion of light, pouring in through the 4 expansive skylights, creating an almost summery feel in the dining room.

The blue, hard-backed menus and the luxuriously wide, porcelain-white dishes echoed the feeling of quality that permeated throughout this extensive re-fit of Hawkwell's showcase restaurant.

We perused the Sunday Specials menu whilst nibbling on home-made focaccia, fresh from the new wood-burning oven, gleaming over in the corner. Being a Grimsby-boy, and therefore possessing half the DNA of a halibut, I opted for the potted crab starter, resolving to adopt my

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sternest Mr Roux demeanour, and treat this meal like the finals of Masterchef.

My dining companion (the Blonde), was inclined to be less judgmental, having pronounced herself 'starving', although she then went through her usual dithering act, deciding upon every one of the starters ("but they all sound so nice"), before ending up with her very first choice, the Parma Ham salad.

“The blue, hard-backed

menus and the luxuriously wide, porcelain-white dishes echoed the feeling of quality

”

Having duly noted the freshness of the crab meat in my notebook (I was taking this Masterchef lark seriously), I gave in to my carbicidal tendencies,

and opted for pork loin next. The Blonde, meanwhile, true to form, chose everything before eventually ending up with her first choice, the Roast Beef Special.

At this point, my inscrutable judging face gave way, as I tasted one of the nicest red wines I'd had in a very long time, a Monte Haro Rioja. The wine list had been thoughtfully created by The Oxford Wine Company, and checking on their website to avail myself of a bottle or two, I was informed that their sister wine, Crianza, was once Ernest Hemingway's favourite tipple!

Desserts and coffee passed by in an agreeable blur of brulées and brownies, as I pondered which persona I should adopt - the inscrutable Roux, or the roguish Hemingway? The wind whipping through the trees and the open fire next door made my mind up for me - another glass of Ernest's favourite along with Sunday Papers... well, for whom the bell tolls www.iffleyblue.co.uk

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MOBILE WEB-CREDIBLE

The number of visits to your corporate website is an important figure to any business operating online, but when you consider the percentage of traffic that comes to a website from mobile devices, anyone who ignores having a mobile website, does so at their peril, according to property consultancy Carter Jonas.

As one of the only national property businesses in the UK to have a mobile website offering users the chance to search for both residential and commercial property, Carter Jonas has seen traffic coming from a mobile device increase in the last three months, peaking to 39.7%.

Mark Charter, head of Carter Jonas’ Oxford office said: “Our clients expect a great browsing experience, whatever device they use.

“Faster sites make for a better user experience. Our clients have to interact with our brand across all devices and on all platforms which helps to generate more engagement.”

Carter Jonas has created a separate website that would work across multiple devices and screens. “It has required some customisation of code by our digital marketing team that needs to be maintained on a per device basis,” said Mark, “But the browser detects if a visitor is on a mobile phone and simply redirects them to the mobile website.”

The firm’s web design responds to screen size and orientation to adjust images, template layout and content visibility, and harnesses touch screen capabilities such as dragging and swiping, and has been made easier for people to share and link to its properties and content.

Today, 44% of Carter Jonas’ traffic comes from Search Engines, with phrases such as ‘Buy London property’ being one of many key search terms.

In fact, during September, 72,798 properties were viewed on its website, not only residential homes but also farms, commercial buildings and rental properties.

and indeed everyone across our firm nationally, have optimised profiles on our website. So whoever they are looking for, they can be quickly found and contact be made.”

In May this year, its digital marketing team was awarded silver in the Best Innovation category at The Lettings Agency of the Year Awards 2013, in association with The Sunday Times and The Times and sponsored by Zoopla.co.uk, something of which the firm is very proud.

Indeed, the firm has been innovating digitally for a while. In 2011, Carter Jonas launched its App for iPhone, which is seen as supporting the mobile website.

“As a business, we have to adapt and keep ourselves futureproof. The App for iPhone is just an extension of this,” said Mark.

“However, none of this replaces the three things on which our industry thrives: networking, market knowledge, and word of mouth referrals, but we have a team of in-house digital specialists who are at the forefront of e-commerce and digital marketing, and this investment is set to continue to meet the needs of our clients and increase brand engagement.”

To discuss your residential, rural or commercial property needs in strictest confidence, please contact: Mark Charter, head of Carter Jonas’ Oxford office on 01865 404 4406 or mark.charter@carterjonas.co.uk

“With the majority of buyers’ searches for their dream homes now starting on the web, and those looking for commercial buildings using the mobile searches more and more, it’s important that they can quickly and efficiently find what they’re looking for, wherever they start from. Our website and properties are optimised so that we can match the right property with the right user,” added Mark.

“Our clients are not just looking for residential and commercial property. With clients staying put and wanting to maximise the value of their property assets, they are searching online for specialist professional advice such as valuations, planning, architecture and building consultancy. Our 70+ experts in Oxford, 26

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B4 ADVICE

“As a business, we have to adapt and keep ourselves future-proof.

The App for iPhone is just an extension of this

”

Matk Charter, Head of Carter Jonas Oxford Office

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Accountants Acc counta count an nts tto nts o tth the he e Pr P Professions ro offesssions Shaw Gibbs, the Oxford based accountancy and business services firm providing leading edge niche services for professional practices nationally.

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B4 PROPERTY

RIACH ARCHITECTS EXPAND THEIR

TALENTED TEAM Following another successful year having won several awards and commendations, Riach Architects continue to grow and recruit new members to their talented team.

The practice has now been established in Oxford for nearly 30 years providing a full range of architectural services including: • briefing • feasibility • sketch design • building regulation compliance • detail design • specification • planning and listed building consent • cost planning • contract administration through to completion We are currently working on projects throughout Oxfordshire and further afield, ranging from small scale house extensions to large residential/commercial development.

Riach Architects work on a wide range of conservation projects and have created some of Oxfords most striking and high value homes. This has been achieved by integrating contemporary solutions into existing settings and enabling clients to meet their aspirations in terms of time, cost and design. Our impressive success rate with gaining planning permissions and creating high quality built solutions ensures a large number of returning clients.

5 Architects Tips for Project Managing a Transformation: Project Architect Stephen Broadly of Riach Architects reveals how you can achieve a fabulous result.

1. Decide what you want. The more detailed the information you give your architect, the more they can tailor the proposal to your taste. Search magazines or the internet for designs you like and give these to your architect.

2. Get the right team. Cost is clearly a factor, but the best is not always the cheapest. Ask yourself if you can work with this person. Recommendations are useful and it’s okay to ask for references. Do you feel they have the required expertise? Visit a recent project and examine the quality of the work.

Ask to see a project that’s underway too.

3. Warn your neighbours. When the designs have progressed to a point where you are happy, a friendly chat with your neighbours can be very helpful.

Most people hate surprises, and being open at this stage can often prevent problems later, It may even allow you to design out a particular issues ahead.

4. Design for the future. Consider how long you intend to stay in the house.

This will put the cost into perspective and focus your mind on what you want.

Consider how your family or business will change in five, 10 or 25 years, and make provisions for these changes.

We have put together some top tips which we believe you should consider for managing your project to ensure you get the great results you desire. For advice on any building project please contact us on 01865 553772 or mail@riacharchitects.com and one of our architects will be happy to help.

5. Put aside a contingency. It should be around 10 percent above the projected cost of the work. Be careful not to spend this on upgrading floor tiles for example. This money should be left for coping with unforeseen problems only.

www.riacharchiects.com

For regular updates about what we are up to follow us on twitter @RiachArchitects

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31

INTRODUCING THE NEW ALFA MITO MODEL YEAR 2014 The new Alfa MiTo model year has arrived, and it means business. It’s fresh, sporty and bursting with technology. We took the car on a test drive to London for the weekend and found that despite the fact that there were four of us in the car, plus overnight bags and far too much shopping, our MiTo performed stunningly well.

First stop was the eye-catching Motor Village Oxford showroom just outside of Kidlington, north of Oxford. There we were met by General Manager Cristiano Calabrese who took time to show me around the car and accompany me on a brief test drive. All part of the service at Motor Village and it’s this attention to deal which is helping Cristiano and his team to really make their mark. After the ten minute blow out, during which I was able to appreciate that the MiTo was responsive, held the

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road well and was extremely enjoyable to drive, we dropped Cristiano off and made our way to London.

Inspired by the lines of the Alfa 8C, the Alfa MiTo is still the same head-turning supermini it always was, however the standard specification has been finetuned to maintain that something extra that you can only get with an Alfa Romeo - value for money with a premium feel.

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B4 SPOTLIGHT There are four generous equipment levels: Sprint, Distinctive, Sportiva and the range-topping Quadrifoglio Verde. There are also three petrol engines and two diesel engines to choose from, including the new turbo TwinAir 105 bhp petrol engine which has an additional 20 bhp versus its predecessor the 85 bhp TwinAir, yet has virtually the same combined mpg of 67.2±.

So what else is new? Well, it’s difficult to improve perfection so Alfa have added some subtle enhancements: EXTERIOR • New chrome grille • Sport rear bumper as standard • Dark finish on the headlight mask, previously only on the Quadrifoglio Verde • Tinted rear Windows as standard • A slick new colour - Antracite Grey INTERIOR Because your car is as personal as your wardrobe, Alfa have made some changes allowing you to pick an interior that really suits you.

• A new range of seat fabrics and styles • New Evoluzione colour gradient dash

• New door panel finish • Black finishing on the centre console TECHNOLOGY You need technology that keeps up with you and your pace of life, so Alfa have introduced the Uconnect™ system, invaluable when on the move throughout London and a great way to drown out the kid’s i-phone music which seems just as loud when they’ve got their headphones in.

This built-in system combines a top-quality sound system with a host of multimedia services and functions. And you can operate it with the touch of a finger or simply your voice, thanks to a 5" colour touchscreen and voice recognition using Bluetooth®.

Uconnect™ 5" Radio: permits use of AM/FM radio, CD player, Media Player which can be connected

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via USB port or Aux-in socket. The optional Uconnect™ NAV offers built-in navigation developed in collaboration with TomTom® for simple, intuitive navigation. A great touch.

ALFA TECHNOLOGY The new Alfa MiTo is still available with all your favourite Alfa technology:

“We found this little beauty

the perfect mode of transport for our trip to London. Nippy, compact and easy to park in the tightest spots

”

ALFA D.N.A. 3-way selectable driving mode system, consisting of Dynamic, Natural and All-weather. Dynamic was great to give us extra oomph on the motorway and an extra zip when evading kamikaze taxi drivers and errant buses, not to mention suicidal cyclists.

MULTIAIR Revolutionary turbo petrol engine providing more

hill holder, VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), Electronic Q2 and SBR (Seat Belt Reminder) technology as standard.

We found this little beauty the perfect mode of transport for our trip to London. Nippy, compact and easy to park in the tightest spots, not only that but it looks great too. We had a car full, and I mean a car full, but the MiTo was still responsive and light on its feet. Complaints? Well, with a 6ft plus sixteen year old in the back, alongside his thirteen year old sister, we thought we would have to withstand a barrage. But not one – they even fell asleep on the way back to Oxford. I think that says it all. Great value – go and test drive one today.

To read the hotel reviews of our trip to London, please turn to pages 70 and 82. www.motorvillageuk.com ±Range of official fuel consumption figures for the Alfa MiTo range: Urban 34.9 – 64.2 mpg (8.1 – 4.4 I/100km); Extra Urban 58.9 – 97.4 mpg (4.8 – 2.9 I/100km); Combined 47.1 – 80.7 mpg (6.0 – 3.5 I/100km). CO2 emissions 139 – 90 g/km. ±Fuel consumption and CO2 figures are obtained for comparative purposes in accordance with EC directives/regulations and may not be representative of real-life driving conditions. Factors such as driving style, weather and road conditions may also have a significant effect on fuel consumption.

power, more mpg & lower emissions MULTIJET 2nd generation MultiJet diesel engine technology ALFA TCT SEMI-AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Dual Dry Clutch enabling faster, slicker, more fuelefficient gearshifts START&STOP Fuel-saving technology - why pay to sit still? I really didn’t know what was happening when I had the car to start with. Why did it keep cutting out? But this is excellent – just put your foot on the clutch and the engine starts up again – ingenious!

YOU’RE IN SAFE HANDS The Alfa MiTo complies with the highest Euro NCAP safety rating, achieving 5 stars. It comes with 7 airbags and anti–whiplash front seats. It also has

33

Allen Associates

Recruiting Excellence

Allen Associates is the ðUVW UHFUXLWPHQW DJHQF\ LQ 2[IRUGVKLUH WR DFKLHYH ,QYHVWRUV LQ 3HRSOH *ROG VWDWXV ì7KLV DZDUG XQGHUOLQHV RXU RYHUULGLQJ FRPPLWPHQW WR GHOLYHULQJ D WUXO\ RXWVWDQGLQJ VHUYLFH WR RXU FOLHQWV ,QYHVWLQJ LQ RXU WHDP LV LQWHJUDO WR WKDW ú Kate Allen, Managing Director, Allen Associates, Oxford

01865 335600 www.allen-associates.co.uk

news Oxford Wins Silver at BETA’s British Youth Travel Awards Oxford has been awarded Silver in the Best UK Youth Destination category at the 2013 British Youth Travel Awards, second only to the whole of Scotland and ahead of Bournemouth. The Best UK Youth Destination is one of twelve categories of award made by the British Educational Travel Association (BETA). This not for profit organisation represents the commercial and political interests of organisations engaged in youth travel to, from and within the UK. Given Oxford and Oxfordshire’s strengths in several educational fields, a wide range of all-year attractions and accommodation specializing in Youth Travel, plus a lively music and arts scene, the award seems most appropriate.

Visiting Group in Bonn Square, Oxford ©harmitage

Visit Oxfordshire Host Overseas Travel Trade Visit Oxfordshire take the lead in hosting visits from overseas travel trade executives and product devisers, in cooperation with Visit England and Visit Britain. On Friday 13 December (auspicious date!) a group of 11 Korean travel trade executives, sponsored by British Airways and Visit England, spent a full day in Oxford. Their busy programme included visits to the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre, Christ Church, the Ashmolean and Oxford Castle Unlocked. After a packed schedule they were most appreciative of Hawkwell House’s hospitality and fine dining.

Official Guided Walking Tour of Oxford ©VisitOxfordshire

In addition, Visit Oxfordshire will host a group of European buyers as part of the Hosted Buyers Marketplace in March 2014. This is Visit Britain’s key overseas promotion which entails bringing buyers from all over the world to experience our attractions and accommodation for themselves. It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase the best Oxfordshire has to offer: the programme will include various Oxfordshire attractions as well as Oxford city itself.

Group and Travel Trade Campaign 2014 Visit Oxfordshire will be representing our partners and county at the Excursions and South West Travel Show, the two major exhibitions for the domestic groups travel trade and a vital interface between buyers and destinations.

Oxfordshire has so much to offer within easy reach of so many centres of population that the Visit Oxfordshire stand, ’manned’ by Jo Butler, Head of Tourism and Marketing at Visit Oxfordshire, is always busy.

American University Group outside Balliol College ©harmitage

Group Travel Desk As part of Visit Oxfordshire’s promotion of Oxfordshire as a destination of choice for groups, a new Group Travel Desk has been launched.

This service is designed as a ‘one stop shop’ for new and existing group leaders – advising, giving information, removing obstacles to visits, providing a free accommodation booking service, links to restaurants, discounted tickets and welcome packs, as well as the ever – popular Official Guided Walking tours led by Oxford’s Blue/Green qualified guides. New Official Guided walking tours in 2014 will include Oxford and WWI and Medieval Oxford – as well as increased opportunities to take the famous Morse tour.

Ashmolean Tours ©Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

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To speak to the Group Travel Desk please call 01865 252500 or email: groups@visitoxfordshire.org

www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

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B4 R&R

A NICELY SPICED LOUNGE At the Spice Lounge, located in the trendy neighbourhood of Summertown, North Oxford, the emphasis is on organic and creative dishes. Ethnic recipes are used to provide a diverse, unusual menu, while focusing on healthy eating.

Mark Greenwood, owner of The Bear & Ragged Staff in Cumnor, reviews for B4 Magazine.

On a recent rainy October Sunday evening I stepped into the Spice Lounge with my youngest daughter Noelle. The decor is minimalist and uncomplicated with some modern art, thereby allowing us to focus on the food.

On to mains consisting of Lamb Korai (ginger and spices), Chicken Naga Torkari (spicy and hot!) and Maachli Tenga (Fish in Broth with Ginger and Lemon Peel). These were accompanied by Sag Aloo (Spinach and Potato Fry) and Bhadda Gobi (Fried Cabbage). No Indian meal is complete without Bread and Rice. We ordered Pilau Rice, Lemon Rice and three breads, Poori, Roti and Chapatti.

The very chatty and informative owner, Ali Aktar, suggested that we allow him to make the choices, having told him that we like a bit of heat! The Lime Pickle with the popadoms hit the spot, not just pungent and sour, but spicy too. Our starters consisted of Chingri Poori (Prawn wrap), Maachli Borah (Crispy Fishcakes), Paani Poori (Chick Pea in Crispy Poori) and Jhall Tikka (Spicy BBQ’d lamb).

The stand outs were the Lamb, nice and spicy, and the Fishcake, which was spiced just enough not to destroy the delicate fish.

works! The dish also challenges our stereotypes as to what this kind of food is all about

In the meantime, to drink, Noelle had ordered the Mango Lassi (a treat, she reported) and I tried the Indian Sauvignon Blanc. I have rarely tried Indian wine before, and though it did not blow me away, it stood up to the spices in the food well as did the tried and tested Cobra Beer.

The Korai was nicely spiced though we thought could have done with a bit more heat and ginger.

As to the Naga Torkari, this is a dish that I had never had before. Quite a dry curry, we were told this had a kick, and it did, those wicked Naga Chillies kicked in big time!!

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“All together it really ”

For those wanting to benchmark heat, Vindaloo+ is about right. This curry shows just a touch of citrussy sourness.

The big surprise was the Fish Broth. When you go to an Indian Restaurant and you are faced with fish in a light, clear broth with carrots peppers and herbs you tend to do a double take. However, subcontinental food is not just about curries and kebabs. Its about much more to those who know.

Carrots and Ginger are a great match, Ginger and Fish go superbly well together. Lemon with fish is heavenly too. All together it really works! The dish also challenges our stereotypes as to what this kind of food is all about. The lemon rice complemented it perfectly.

All in all, I think we will be going back to see Ali at his “Nicely Spiced Lounge” that asks us to think out of the box! www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk

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ARE TRUSTS STILL IN FASHION? Trusts have been around for many years, and are generally used to protect wealth and to pass it down through the generations, while retaining control of the assets.

One of the most common uses of a trust is where parents want to provide an income or use of an asset to their children, but they are concerned over the possibility that they might marry, and later lose assets through a divorce, or even become bankrupt. That is if they haven't already spent the cash on a nice new flash car and holidays! Trusts can provide this protection, while reducing inheritance tax exposure, provided that they are operated correctly.

The taxation of trusts is quite complex and this can put some people off using them - there is a common misconception that trusts pay higher tax rates, which is not necessarily the case.

So what are the pitfalls of using a trust?

Care must be taken to avoid the tax traps of using trusts, some of which are as follows: • If parents wish to set up a trust for children aged under 18, then normally they will be taxed on the income distributions made to the children, or where it is applied for their benefit, until they turn 18. However, this is not the case for grandparents, and we often see them set up trusts for grandchildren, to help pay for school fees for example, whilst skipping a generation for potential inheritance tax planning.

• There can be higher tax costs where the income in a discretionary trust is mainly from dividends and this is all distributed to beneficiaries, but planning can help mitigate this.

• Trusts might pay higher rates of capital gains tax on a sale of unquoted shares than an individual would. Individuals may pay capital gains tax at a reduced rate of 10%, rather than potentially 28%, if they qualify for Entrepreneurs' Relief.

Although trusts cannot qualify for Entrepreneurs' Relief in their own right it is possible for their beneficiaries to do so in some instances.

• Usually the maximum amount that can be invested in a trust is £325,000 (the current nil rate band). Investing more than this can lead

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to inheritance tax charges when the trust is created, on every 10th anniversary, and when funds are appointed out to beneficiaries.

Alternatively the trusts can be funded free of tax where a relief applies. This would be the case where 100% business property relief applies, or the gift comes within an exemption. However, further advice should be taken in all such cases.

“One of the main benefits of a trust is continued control over the assets, and this can be achieved in the FLP by control being given to the General Partner

”

Who are the beneficiaries and trustees of a trust?

The beneficiaries of a trust are chosen by the settlor of the trust. They can either be named individuals, or "classes" of beneficiary, for example, all current and future grandchildren, or children and their spouses, and can also include charities.

Trustees are a very important choice, as these individuals are jointly responsible for running the trust, including looking after the funds invested in the trust, and deciding as and when distributions are made to which beneficiaries.

Professional advice should be taken on the creation of a trust, to ensure the most suitable type of trust is used. Trusts should also be reviewed regularly, as tax rules change.

There are modern day alternatives to trusts to consider...

Family Limited Partnerships (FLP) Family limited partnerships allow family members to collectively invest in their choice of assets through a partnership structure. One of the main benefits of a trust is continued control over the

assets, and this can be achieved in the FLP by control being given to the General Partner.

In interests in a FLP can be transferred in a tax efficient way, in just the same way that outright lifetime gifts can be made to individuals. However, there is less flexibility over the taxation of profits, as partners are taxed directly on their share of profits and losses, even if they reinvest that share rather than withdrawing those funds.

In addition, there are strict Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulations that have to be complied with if the partnership is a collective investment vehicle, meaning that there is a need to involve a FCA regulated person in its operation.

Family Investment Companies (FIC) A further and perhaps more flexible alternative is to use a Family Investment Company. Family members can subscribe for shares in a company which can invest in almost anything the individuals can. Investment profits are subject to corporation tax , which is currently 23% and reducing to 20%

by April 2015. There are further tax charges for higher rate taxpayers extracting money from the company, but if money is reinvested, or distributed to basic rate or non-taxpayers, the tax rate is much less than for individuals. Steps can also be taken to make the structure inheritance tax efficient. Again, there is no cap on the amount that can be invested in this type of structure, but control can still be retained by only giving some shareholders voting rights. Tax efficient gifts can also be made of the shares involved.

So in summary, trusts are still a very useful tool in managing family wealth and retaining control, but there are also a number of alternatives including the above, which one should consider.

Rachael Verinder is an Associate Tax Director with Grant Thornton who specialises in this type of family planning. You can contact Rachael on 0117 305 7848, or rachael.verinder@uk.gt.com

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B4 ADVICE

“Professional advice should be taken on the creation of a trust, to ensure the most suitable type of trust is used.

Trusts should also be reviewed regularly, as tax rules change

�

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The clocks have changed, it’s cold and dark and focus has switched from slipping on your flip flops to digging out your Christmas party gear.

This seasonal change also applies to property letting, as the excitement of the fast-paced Summer market shifts down a gear as we head into Winter. But don’t despair – we still have a huge number of applicants looking for a property to move into before Christmas or for early in the New Year.

Breckon & Breckon have an extensive network of letting and sales offices throughout Oxfordshire and highly experienced staff on hand to give honest, professional advice. We pride ourselves on our refreshing approach to property – we always go the extra mile to help with your property needs.

We are members of the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) and accredited by the National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS), a government-backed scheme which ensures that member firms have clearly defined levels of customer service and are members of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and SAFE agent.

Perhaps you are struggling to sell and would consider letting your property or are a landlord with an available property. We’d love to hear from you for a no obligation conversation about what we can offer.

Call your local office today and discover our refreshing approach to letting your property.

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Stephanie Judd 21 Corn Street, Witney (01993) 899972 stephanie@breckon.co.uk Amy Powell 109 London Road, Headington (01865) 763999 amy@breckon.co.uk Suzanne Webb 34 High Street, Woodstock (01993) 810100 suzanne@breckon.co.uk Our Sales Offices Oxford City Centre 118 High St (01865) 244735 post@breckon.co.uk Witney 21 Corn Street (01993) 776775 witney@breckon.co.uk Headington 109 London Road (01865) 750200 headington@breckon.co.uk Woodstock 34 High Street (01993) 811881 woodstock@breckon.co.uk Summertown 274 Banbury Road (01865) 310300 summertown@breckon.co.uk Oxford Apartments Summertown (01865) 558999 Headington (01865) 765555

RE-EDUCATING THE MIND As her long list of qualifications, overleaf, will show experienced clinical hypnotherapist, Linda Flanigan, knows that our minds are complex, complicated and occasionally unpredictable. What Linda also knows, however, is that our minds can learn behaviour which can be used positively or negatively. Negative behaviour, habits, thoughts and feelings can quite easily become the norm and it is untangling this negativity, (which can easily affect you and those around you), where Linda steps in.

An hour with Linda Flanigan, with her calming, soothing Scottish accent is like a two week holiday. Personally, I could never see myself sat on anyone’s couch but the one in front of our TV at home, but in order to report fully and with some experience of the subject matter, I immersed myself in the role. At her home just outside of Woodstock, Linda welcomed me to her inner sanctuary for an hour’s hypnotherapy and I was taken aback. Yes, I felt drained after an hour, yes time vanished and no, I am not quite sure how Linda did it. But, my mind, which is as much of a puzzle as the next man or woman’s, was rebooted and refreshed and certain things made more sense after an hour with Linda.

Now don’t get me wrong this was after an hour and Linda didn’t crack any codes, create gold out of thin air or see me out of the door a much better person, but I could see, from personal experience, that our minds get used to the bad and treat it as good. I could see that, much like eating chocolate out of habit, you think it’s good, but if you give it up, you don’t miss it and feel better for not having it. I could see that Linda’s probing and questioning, whilst not on the face of it seeming always relevant, was unlocking my mind, putting the pieces that had fallen out of line back into line, almost a system reboot. And this was just after an hour. It’s the sort of process we should all go through once a month at least. I was left in awe of Linda’s amazing talent.

So where did it all begin? “I graduated having studied languages then did a postgraduate in business studies in Glasgow and I joined the BBC directly from that course.

I had a long and successful career in television with the BBC and then went freelance before becoming a Director of an independent TV company here in Oxfordshire” “I have been intrigued by hypnotherapy since I was treated myself in the 80s in London by my own GP who, I discovered, was a keen advocate of hypnotherapy. I had gone through a particularly stressful period at work and at the same time my Dad died at the young age of 58 and I developed a nagging back pain. Following tests, which all proved to be negative, my GP, surmising that my pain was stress-related, offered me hypnotherapy as a way of dealing with it. I had three or four sessions with him and my back pain disappeared and my stress levels dropped. I hadn’t realised how stressed I was until I wasn’t anymore! It was wonderful. In my case the pain was directly related to the stress and my state of mind but of course that’s not always so.

Hypnotherapy can also be wonderful for coping with pain in cases where the pain is more organic.”

“My attitude to work changed almost overnight. I was suddenly coping better with work, getting more done, working smarter and feeling more confident.

My focus changed and it was quite noticeable. I didn’t get wound up the way I used to and I was able to leave work behind when I got home and sleep well.

“I carried on with my TV work until my business partner decided to follow a new career and I was

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B4 HEALTH left with a dilemma: go back to working for someone else or do something different. It felt like a good, natural time to do something new and out of the blue hypnotherapy came back to mind. I thought I’d look into it, not knowing whether I could do it or what was involved and found it really appealed to me. I could see that it would be rewarding and satisfying as a career and so that was it. I retrained back in 2006 and started the practice in 2007 part time whilst I continued doing freelance work, until I decided the time was right to go for it full time a couple of years ago. Then it was a case of building up clients. Most of my clients come either via the internet or by word of mouth.

“I am fully qualified and a member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy and registered with the Hypnotherapy Standards Council, which means I am bound by their rules and ethical guidelines. I also have to keep up with CPD training. I do what it takes to be at the top of the profession. The Hypnotherapy profession is now much more regulated which is a good thing and requires me to be completely up to date with all its regulations which I am happy to.”

But it’s not just face to face time that Linda needs to set aside. “I have to prepare thoroughly for my clients. I have to think what I can do that will help, what tools can I give that person, what am I expecting them to have done, how will they have improved since the last session or what challenges might they still be facing. You have to be one step ahead too – sometimes you’re expecting to work on something and they come in and things have changed and they want to work on something completely different. I have to be mentally prepared for different scenarios and yes it can be draining but it’s also really rewarding.

of my clients come either via the internet or “byMost word of mouth. I am fully qualified and a member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy and the Hypnotherapy Standards Council, which means I am bound by their rules and ethical guidelines.

”

“Hypnosis is a process of getting someone into a relaxed state: there is no magic to it, no tricks or props and it’s not something that is ‘done’ to someone by the hypnotherapist. All hypnosis is basically self-hypnosis, it’s about helping someone get into that relaxed state. Once they are relaxed their conscious, critical, judgemental mind if you like, is occupied, and their subconscious, more childlike, ‘ready to learn’ part of them becomes more focused and alert. It’s our subconscious that pulls our strings or keeps us on our toes. For example if you are walking along a road deep in thought and don’t notice a puddle; as you approach it your subconscious will kick in, remembering from experience that you will get wet if you step in it and alert you to that fact so that you can avoid it.

“We can consciously tell ourselves that we are going to do things differently but our subconscious mind has learned different types of behaviour or thoughts and it tends to react to things more spontaneously despite what we tell ourselves consciously. That can have repercussions. Our subconscious can learn and hold on to negative experiences. Through hypnosis we can unlearn or relearn things so that we can operate in a different way, a way that suits us and helps us to achieve our goals, release habits and anxiety or work in a more effective way.

“Yes, you can try and unravel how you got to that point: it could be that your issue was triggered by something from the past or something more recent, it might be triggered by trauma or just something that went wrong. Say, for example, you made a mistake at work and you were shouted at and it upset you, made you feel uncomfortable. The next time you’re in a similar situation or even think you might face a similar situation (when you think you’ve made a mistake or you’re shouted at) it can trigger those feelings of discomfort or embarrassment. Hypnotherapy can help you dissociate that event from those feelings. It’s not about getting rid of the memories but it does mean they don’t have the same impact as before, they don’t have the same hold over you and you can cope better.

“Everyone’s experience of hypnosis is different. Some people feel as though they have just closed their eyes and nothing’s happened, some feel as though they have been deeply relaxed, some feel heavy, others feel very light. Everyone’s different. Most find it really relaxing and that time flies by. Continued overleaf www.b4-business.com

ABOUT LINDA “Let me tell you a bit about myself. It's important when choosing a hypnotherapist that you are comfortable with your therapist and his/her approach and training. I am a qualified clinical hypnotherapist, a licentiate member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy and registered with the General Hypnotherapy Register (since 2007), and am bound by their strict Codes of Ethics and Practice.

“I have recently updated my qualifications and now hold a Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma which is independently assessed and validated. I am also fully insured and CRB checked.

“I use a variety of hypnotherapy approaches rather than a ‘onemethod-fits-all’ approach, drawing on solution focused, cognitive behavioural and psychoanalytical theories. I also incorporate NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), EFT (emotional freedom techniques) and DE (discursive empowerment) in my work.

“Each person is different, with individual needs and wishes and I will therefore work with you to create a tailor-made individual plan, using the best therapeutic approach for your needs. I work in a professional, collaborative, caring, ethical and supportive way, and in the shortest time possible for your particular goals, whilst making sure that the changes are realistic and manageable.”

Hypnotherapy Qualifications HPD (Hypnotherapy Practitioner Diploma) “A qualification externally validated by the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) and the NCFE. This qualification is accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), the NCH and the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP) and, as an independently verified qualification, it demonstrates that I have achieved a measurable standard of training and competency as a professional and ethical practitioner.

“The Diploma was gained through the Academy of Advanced Changework, led by highly respected and experienced hypnotherapists/psychologists Karen Bartle and Dr Paul Peace and involved over 450 hours of training.

Dip. NLP (Diploma in NLP) “Diploma from the Academy of Advanced Changework covering the use of Neuro Linguistic Programming interventions which can be used with phobias, confidence building, public speaking, performance, and much more.

Certificate in Discursive Empowerment “Certificate awarded by the Academy of Advanced Changework in using this new, creative, exploratory therapeutic approach, comprising of a range of empowering techniques for change.

D.Hyp. (General Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice) “Professional Hypnotherapy Diploma awarded by Patrick Farnsworth Hypnotherapy Training, validated by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council.”

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Think Rhodes for Business...

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 HEALTH “Clients are often surprised that they can talk and move and that they are not in some kind of catatonic state. It’s not as if they’re knocked out or put under. They’re in control at all times and it’s a very collaborative process. It’s a bit like an athlete being ‘in the zone’, sometimes aware of the crowds, sometimes totally focused and unaware.

Sometimes the clients are more consciously aware of what I’m saying but other times drift off a bit more, focusing elsewhere. They’re in control but it’s their more receptive minds that are open to suggestions for change that help them achieve their goals.”

Linda has worked on a wide range of issues.

She has helped clients with stopping smoking, weight loss, low self-esteem, confidence issues and more, but she feels she has now found her niche.

“I have come to realise that my area of expertise lies with clients who have business related issues. I have had a lot of the experiences that my clients come to me with. Having worked for a large corporation and having run a business, I have experienced some of the pressures they’re under. I understand the barriers, the stresses and strains, the deadlines and pressure that we are put under or that we put ourselves under and how we are quite often working hard but not smart.

“I really enjoy helping people overcome those barriers, get over those hurdles and deal with the limiting beliefs that can affect our working lives.

Helping clients with business and work-related issues is my key area of focus. With a combination of hypnotherapy and other techniques such as NLP I can help motivate people, help them achieve their goals, stop them procrastinating and unleash their potential. From an employer’s perspective it’s about increasing productivity, reducing absenteeism, helping with the health and wellbeing of staff, tackling stress or transition or coping with change of some kind. That could be a promotion, maybe it’s their first time as a Manager or something else that they find hard to cope with.

“Often people are doing a fantastic job but they have low self-esteem or their confidence gets knocked and they begin to think they’re not good at it and it starts to impact on their work. A common theme is that they start to think negatively, start brushing off their achievements, thinking they’re not as good as others. Their work starts to suffer and they get more and more anxious.

I can help increase their selfesteem, release those negative thoughts, remind them why they got where they are in the first place and put them back on track.

“People have all sorts of different issues and self-limiting beliefs. Some people struggle www.b4-business.com

with making money – they might have been brought up to think that ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ or ‘people like us don’t have money’ and somehow subconsciously think it’s a bad thing to have money. This can have a great effect on their business. For others it’s the opposite: they feel they need to be earning more and panic about how they’re going to do it, will they hold onto their job etc and that breeds all sorts of stresses and strains, beliefs and fears.

“Then there’s coping with dominant bosses, bullying in the workplace, assertion, being able to get their point across, all of which can affect confidence and performance.

“I also help with insomnia often caused by people getting too stressed or overwhelmed and they are carrying it on into the night with them and can’t switch off; so I give them that switch. Fear of speaking in public or giving presentations are issues that keep many wide awake worrying. Phobias too are a big part of my work. For example people expected to travel with their work but are afraid of flying or, say, a photographer who is commissioned to photograph something they are afraid of, or someone who regularly attends meetings in a high rise office block and is afraid of lifts or heights. All sorts of things that we don’t consider. We all have our own idiosyncrasies, our own fears, and what might seem strange to one person is not to another. There are over 400 different phobias – some people are afraid of buttons – you name it, anything and everything and it’s not usually until they are confronted with it that they have to deal with it. People worry they are going to look silly if they lose control at work because of it. Habits are also areas of concern I deal with. I help people who bite their nails, blush easily or have a nervous habit which they feel uncomfortable with or think is affecting their professional image.

Within the world of business there are many issues that hypnotherapy, combined with the other techniques I use, can deal with.

Hypnotherapy can be life changing and help with all sorts of things, even coping with illness or preparing for surgery which can obviously have a massive impact on business. I have been able to help in a wide variety of circumstances, helping clients deal positively with sometimes very distressing issues. In simple terms I help clients to delete old software and update it. I can empower my clients to confront a problem and overcome it. It’s a massively positive experience and the benefits are quite often priceless.”

From personal experience, Linda Flanigan is quite simply very special and an hour in her company will be one of your most valuable ever. www.lfhypnotherapy-oxfordshire.co.uk 45

From the Oxford office, Hays recruits for jobs all over the county. Led by Dan, the team specialises in the areas of senior finance, non-qualified finance, human resources, office support, secretarial, and construction recruitment.

Dan has been with Hays for almost 17 years, having started his career recruiting junior accountancy staff before going on to acquiring qualified interims. “For the last 11 years I’ve been a director for Hays in Oxfordshire, covering a range of roles.” Rachel joined Hays in February 2004 as a consultant within the Accountancy & Finance division. Having also recruited into the senior HR market in Oxfordshire for two years, Rachel has now moved across to work for Hays Senior Finance, covering senior appointments in this field, looking after roles with salaries over £50k.

With such extensive experience, it is not hard to see why Hays is market leader in the UK and enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide. It is clear that Dan and Rachel are genuinely excited and proud of their business, and it is this level of commitment which must translate into a growing number of satisfied

46

customers and a team of 19 across offices in Oxford’s High Street and Abingdon.

“We have a strong and growing team which helps to demonstrate our commitment to the area and shows how positive we are about Oxfordshire’s growth prospects over the next 12 to 18 months.

We can see some extremely busy times ahead, and we are already significantly up in terms of the performance of our Oxfordshire businesses compared to last year.”

“For example, our Hays Office Support business, which recruits administrative and office support, PAs, secretaries, customer service staff and managers, is up by 50% in this management year.

This shows there is a very positive movement in the Oxfordshire market, and I can only see this trend continuing as we move into 2014.”

Being based in central Oxford is a massive plus for Dan, but will expansion be possible?

“We still have plenty of space in Oxford and we also have another site in Abingdon, which gives us an important footprint into South Oxfordshire. As more

companies start to look at how they can grow their teams and what people they need on board to help drive their businesses forward, we’ll be doing the same and have plenty of scope to grow. It should be a very exciting year. “ “It is unusual for a professional services firm to be so centrally based but we have been in Oxford city centre now for over 20 years. It is important for us to be in the heart of the city because it means we are close to the employers we support, we really understand the local market and can identify the professionals that will add value to their organisations. It also means we are easily accessible for candidates and can regularly meet with people who are looking for new roles.”

I ask Dan where he sees the real growth taking place in Oxfordshire over the next two years.

“Oxford is predominantly a strong market place for public services and small-to-medium size businesses (SME’s). We expect Oxfordshire’s SME’s to be a key growth area over the next year. Over the past few years many local SME businesses have only been recruiting to

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

HAYS UK’ L

THE S EADING SPECIALIST RECRUITING BUSINESS Dan Rogers, Director for Hays in Oxfordshire and Hays Senior Finance in the Home Counties, and Rachel James, Business Manager at Hays Senior Finance in Oxfordshire, have an unparalleled vitality and enthusiasm for their business. It is little wonder that Hays is the UK’s leading specialist recruiting business. B4’s Richard Rosser finds out more about Hays in Oxfordshire.

replace leavers, but the signs are there that there will be more investment in 2014 and more new roles being created.

“Just recently we hosted one of our regular senior leadership finance seminars, which was attended by almost 70 finance directors and financial controllers. We organise these events every six months at the Unipart lecture theatre and they are very popular because they offer insight into the issues affecting senior finance professionals. The overwhelming view of those in attendance was that the market is much healthier and the economy is beginning to move in a way that materially affects the companies that are based here in Oxfordshire.

Many businesses are now openly talking about their plans to hire.

Rachel echoes Dan’s positive stance and reinforces why Hays is so successful in securing the right people for their customers. “The key thing for us is that we truly are recruiting experts. The reason we have got such an effective team here is because each consultant specialises in a particular industry sector and level of candidate. It means we are integral to the industries we work in, know the

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organisations inside out and have regular contact with professionals in each marketplace. I personally focus on qualified finance professionals who are earning more than £50,000 a year. Typically, these are financial controllers, SME FD’s and finance managers. I get to know who is out there and might be suitable for a role so I can serve my clients more effectively.”

“This shows there is a

very positive movement in the Oxfordshire market, and I can only see this trend continuing as we move into 2014

”

“Each of our consultants is genuinely an expert in their particular section of the market, so when we are working with local employers, we can tell them what professionals are available, what salaries will

attract the right candidates and what sort of training that person might need. We offer an unparalleled level of expertise and detail, which means that we work with the best candidates and can put them forward to our clients more quickly.”

As proud sponsors of the Oxfordshire Business Awards, Dan and Rachel are flying the flag for Oxfordshire being a great place to live and work.

Dan concludes: “We help employers find the professionals who can really make a difference to their organisations. It is going to be critical as the economy picks up and professionals start to consider what roles will help their career progression and where they can add value to a company. We’ve all been faced with challenging times, but things are now significantly improved.

We at Hays are looking forward to an exciting 2014, which is sure to offer plenty more opportunities across the county.”

To get in touch with Dan or Rachel please contact the Oxford office on 01865 727071 or visit: hays.co.uk

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B4 PROPERTY

Howbery Business “Park has enviable environmental credentials and will forever boast of becoming the UK’s first business park to be powered by an array of solar panels and why not?

”

JOIN THE HOWBERY COMMUNITY With record occupancy, a thriving business community and a host of development opportunities, the face of Howbery Business Park in Wallingford, Angela Andrews, tells B4 Magazine about an exciting new chapter, writes Kelly Lea. Life is good for Marketing & Lettings Manager, Angela Andrews. She will soon be celebrating her 10th anniversary working at the park, during which time she has achieved record occupancy levels.

As someone who really goes that extra mile to ensure her tenants are happy, Angela, on occasion, has even found herself driving the park’s minibus to ensure the shuttle service to Wallingford still runs on time!

With a personal approach to her job combined with an overall zest for life, Angela has ensured that creating opportunities for a good work-life balance has remained a core focus of her strategy to attract companies to relocate to Howbery Business Park.

“The park has undoubtedly changed in the time I’ve been here,” comments Angela. “This was recently evident in a video we have created for Howbery, now on YouTube, which includes interviews with our tenants. It was very rewarding to hear the majority of them talk fondly about the community we have developed which wasn’t the case ten years ago. From the volleyball teams, yoga on the green and onsite restaurant facilities through to use of the Howbery boat, they all made a reference to the important role the park plays in attracting new employees and in making sure they stay.”

The business community Angela refers to has recently attracted the global leader in low-level laser healthcare applications, Erchonia Laser Ltd. The decision to establish a dedicated direct sales team at Howbery Business Park was an easy one to make according to Client Services Manager, Julie Davies: “Expanding into Europe is a big undertaking for Erchonia and it’s essential that we don’t waste

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a single ‘man hour’. The company needed a prestigious UK-base that provided all the necessary ‘backroom’ support to enable the team to drive our expansion into the very competitive European market. The Windrush Innovation Centre at Howbery provides a totally functional office, so we haven’t taken our eye off the ball once at this key time.”

In addition to running day-to-day operations from the Innovation Centre, Erchonia will be hosting clients and worldwide colleagues in the prestigious Manor House meeting rooms.

Construction underway Howbery Business Park is entering a new chapter with a host of development opportunities ready for the taking.

Park owner, HR Wallingford, is leading the way with a £3m development to extend its premises by 17,000 sq ft, becoming one of the UK’s few businesses to commission new buildings amid a challenging economic climate. Having occupied the park since 1962, the world-renowned civil engineering and environmental hydraulics company’s decision to extend its 275,000 sq. ft. plot reflects a strong period of growth.

Angela comments: “We are thrilled that HR Wallingford is spearheading development at the park and hope to see others follow in their footsteps soon. Completion is expected in early 2014 and we are in the midst of planning an exciting summer opening so watch this space!”

The HR Wallingford development will extend its Froude Modelling Hall to house the company’s new 70-metre long wave-current-sediment flume,

believed to be the largest of its kind in the world.

It will include environmentally friendly features such as permeable paving system, which helps alleviate flooding as allows groundwater to disperse naturally into the ground rather than through a piped drainage system into the river. Completion is expected by June 2014 with an exciting summer opening being planned.

Howbery Business Park has enviable environmental credentials and will forever boast of becoming the UK’s first business park to be powered by an array of solar panels and why not? It is a big achievement to shout about! Keen to not rest on their laurels, it is important to Howbery that new developments are built with sustainability in mind.

“Businesses are keen to move to Howbery Business Park and substantial development opportunities exist,” continues Angela.

“For companies looking for new offices, we have planning consent for a range of options providing you with the opportunity to design your own bespoke office against the backdrop of our stunning parkland setting, with full use of our extensive onsite facilities.

“There is room for this community to grow and we’re keen to help businesses take the next step by growing with us. I’m really looking forward to welcoming new faces to the park and to the next ten years of course!”

For further information on Howbery Business Park, please visit www.howberypark.com, or to enquire about building and development, tenancy or conference opportunities, please call 01491 822411.

49

Jersey Flights return to Oxford Airport for 2014 between May and September /@BJ@FD GNKHC@X OQHBDR VHSG Ʀ HFGSR and accommodation start from just £344 for 7 nights.

Best Weather in the United kingdom, Beautiful Beaches, Amazing Food, Luxury Spas and Hotels.

For further information see: www.jerseytravel.com Tel. 0843 6346304 or book locally with Great Experience Travel at: ^VVV FQD@SDWODQHDMBDSQ@UDK BN TJ info@greatexperiencetravel.co.uk Tel. 08454 150750

Oxford Airport Tel. 01865 290600 www.londonoxfordairport.co.uk

B4 R&R

THE SNOOTY

MEHMAAN

The Snooty Mehmaan is known for its quality, service, comfort and value, with an emphasis on refined yet creative Indian cuisine. B4's Maddy Barber writes of her experience there on a Summer's eve.

The Snooty Mehmaan near Faringdon, just half an hour from Oxford City Centre, offers refined Indian and Thai flavours in the scenic setting of the Oxfordshire countryside. This culinary gem also boasts a beautiful bar area and extensive take-away menu.

Previously The Snooty Fox, the restaurant itself holds many of the original building's strong architectural features including original oak beams and flooring, giving The Snooty Mehmaan its strong and natural environment that amplifies both the mood and the creative food on offer.

The rich combination of spices wafting from the kitchen, courtesy of awardwinning Chef Partha Mittra (Chef of the Year at the Taste of Britain Curry Fest 2013), was tantalising even from outside, tempting us inside the modern looking bar and through to the dining area with its striking original oak beams and flooring.

We sampled both the Thai and Indian cuisine on offer and were impressed by the high standards. To start, my guest had the Soft Shell Crab with Mango, Sweet Chill and peanuts dotted through for added crunch. The refreshing mango and pokey chilli made this light enough that he was left wanting more, especially as complex aromas from the kitchen still hung in the air. My starter was a classic Chicken Sheek Kebab with a citrus dip, a lightly seasoned and mouth-watering opener.

The authentic pot in which the curry was “ served, along with the Thai and Indian music, were small but noteworthy touches that made the evening particularly enjoyable

”

Our main courses were an extremely generous portion of Nua Lao Dang; a Thai stir-fry dish of strips of beef with mixed peppers in a tangy, sweet sauce served with noodles, and a side order of seasoned Pak Choi, and Kodhu Gosht; a delightful combination of lamb and butternut squash in a spicy tomato sauce, with aromatic Lemon Rice. The curry was served over a candle, keeping it sumptuously hot, allowing me to go back for more and more of the magnificent sauce. The meat in both dishes was of an impressively high standard, the lamb in particular was deliciously tender.

Despite perusing the wide-ranging selection of cooling ice-creams and sorbets on offer, we felt unable to do credit to any of the desserts, replete as we were with our perfectly spiced and hearty main dishes (my partner was unable to finish his portion – potentially a first!).

The authentic pot in which the curry was served, along with the Thai and Indian music, were small but noteworthy touches that made the evening particularly enjoyable. With such friendly staff, quick service and exotic flavours, we are eager to return for the fixed price buffet on offer every Sunday. www.thesnootymehmaan.co.uk

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51

WENN TOWNSEND ADVICE:

CARS FOR EMPLOYEES

Before deciding to provide company cars for yourself or your employees, it is important to consider the cost implications on your business and in particular how the provision of this benefit is taxed. Wenn Townsend’s Tony Haines aims to provide a summary so that you are well-informed before making your decision.

The current regime for taxing employer provided cars (commonly referred to as company cars) is intended: • to encourage manufacturers to produce cars which are more environmentally friendly and • to give employee drivers and their employers a tax incentive to choose more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

We set out below the main areas of importance. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require further information.

Vehicle CO2 g/km

2013-14

THE RULES Employer provided cars are taxed by reference to the list price of the car but graduated according to the level of its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Percentage charges The percentage charge for the majority of cars is between 10% and 35% and to complicate matters further, the rules and rates are changing over the coming years. The emissions table for 2013/14 is set out below.

2014-15

2015-16

Petrol

Diesel

Petrol

Diesel

0

0

0

0

1-50

5

5

5

51-75

5

5

76-94

10

95-99

11

100-104

2016-17

Petrol

Diesel

0

5

8

7

5

5

8

7

5

5

9

12

11

13

11

14

13

16

15

14

12

15

14

17

16

12

15

13

16

15

18

17

105-109

13

16

14

17

16

19

18

110-114

14

17

15

18

17

20

19

115-119

15

18

16

19

18

21

20

120-124

16

19

17

20

19

22

21

125-129

17

20

18

21

20

23

22

130-134

18

21

19

22

21

24

23

135-139

19

22

20

23

22

25

24

140-144

20

23

21

24

23

26

25

145-149

21

24

22

25

24

27

26

150-154

22

25

23

26

25

28

27

155-159

23

26

24

27

26

29

28

160-164

24

27

25

28

27

30

29

165-169

25

28

26

29

28

31

30

170-174

26

29

27

30

29

32

31

175-179

27

30

28

31

30

33

32

180-184

28

31

29

32

31

34

33

185-189

29

32

30

33

32

35

34

190-194

30

33

31

34

33

36

35

195-199

31

34

32

35

34

37

36

200-204

32

35

33

35

35

37

37

205-209

33

35

34

35

36

37

37

210-214

34

35

35

35

37

37

37

215-219

35

35

35

35

37

37

37

220 or above

35

35

35

35

37

37

37

52

All cars

www.b4-business.com

B4 ADVICE

Examples Jane was provided with a new company car, a Mercedes CLK 430, on 6 April 2013. The list price is £50,000. The CO2 emissions are 240 gm/km.

Jane’s benefit in 2013/14 and later years will be £50,000 x 35% = £17,500 Jane’s employer would pay class 1A national insurance of 13.8%, totalling £2,415.00

Employee capital contributions up to £5,000 reduce the list price.

Employer’s Class contributions

1A

national

insurance

The benefit chargeable to tax on the employee is also used to compute the employer’s liability to Class 1A (the rate is currently 13.8%).

THE EXCEPTIONS

Phil has a company car, a BMW 318i, which had a list price of £21,000 when it was provided new on 6 April 2013. The CO2 emissions are 124 grams per kilometre. Note: The CO2 emissions are rounded down to the nearest 5 grams per kilometre - in this case 120.

Phil’s benefit for 2013/14 is: £21,000 x 16% = £3,360 Phil’s employer would pay class 1A national insurance of 13.8%, totalling £463.68 Diesels Diesel cars emit less CO2 than petrol cars and so would be taxed on a lower percentage of the list price than an equivalent petrol car. However, diesel cars emit greater quantities of air pollutants than petrol cars and therefore a supplement of 3% of the list price generally applies to diesel cars. For example, a diesel car that would give rise to a 22% charge on the basis of its CO2 emissions will instead be charged at 25%. The maximum charge for diesel is capped at 35%.

Obtaining emissions data The Vehicle Certification Agency produces a free guide to the fuel consumption and emissions figures of all new cars. It is available on the internet at www.vcacarfueldata.org.ukThese figures are not however necessarily the definitive figures for a particular car. For all cars first registered from 1 March 2001 onwards, the definitive CO2 emissions figure is recorded on the Vehicle Registration Document (V5) The list price The list price of a car is the price when it was first registered including delivery, VAT and any accessories provided with the car. Accessories subsequently made available are also included (unless they have a list price of less than £100).

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Imports Some cars registered after 1 January 1998 may have no approved CO2 emissions figure, perhaps if they were imported from outside the EC. They too are taxed according to engine size.

Engine size (cc) % of list price charged to tax 0 - 1400 15% 1401 - 2000 25% over 2000 35% Private fuel There is a further tax charge where a company car user is supplied with or allowed to claim reimbursement for fuel for private journeys.

The fuel scale charge is based on the same percentage used to calculate the car benefit. This is applied to a set figure which is £21,100 for 2013/14. As with the car benefit, the fuel benefit chargeable to tax on the employee is used to compute the employer’s liability to Class 1A. The combined effect of the charges makes the provision of free fuel a tax inefficient means of remuneration unless there is high private mileage.

The benefit is proportionately reduced if private fuel is not provided for part of the year. So taking action now to stop providing free fuel will have an immediate impact on the fuel benefit chargeable to tax and NIC.

may be able to agree higher rates with HMRC via a dispensation, perhaps where employees need to use particular types of car such as 4x4s to cover rough terrain. Employers can adopt the rates in the following table but may pay lower rates if they choose.

Petrol From 1 March 2013 1400cc or less 15p 1401 to 2000cc 18p Over 2000cc 26p Diesel From 1 March 2013 1600cc or less 13p 1601cc - 2000cc 15p Over 2000cc 18p Separate rates are available for cars which run on LPG these can be found on HMRC’s website at www.hmrc.gov.uk/cars/advisory_fuel_current.htm Employees’ use of own car There is also a statutory system of tax and NIC free mileage rates for business journeys in employees’ own vehicles.

The statutory rates are: Rate per mile Up to 10,000 miles 45p Over 10,000 miles 25p Employers can pay up to the statutory amount without generating a tax or NIC charge. Payments made by employers are referred to as ‘mileage allowance payments’. Where employers pay less than the statutory rate (or make no payment at all) employees can claim tax relief on the difference between any payment received and the statutory rate.

How we can help We can provide advice on such matters as:

Please note that if free fuel is provided later in the same tax year there will be a full year’s charge.

• whether a car should be provided to an employee or a private car used for business mileage.

Business fuel No charge applies where the employee is solely reimbursed for fuel for business travel.

• whether employee contributions are tax efficient. whether private fuel should be supplied with the car.

HMRC have published guidelines on fuel only mileage rates for employer provided cars. The advisory rates are not binding and an employer

Please contact us for more detailed advice. www.wenntownsend.co.uk

53

B4 HEALTH

SMOOTH(IE) AWAY THE STRESS B4 went to meet nutritionist Helen Money, to find out how to fit in healthy eating, whilst still continuing on with our busy daily lives.

Most would agree that avoiding energy slumps, having the energy to be proactive, sharp thinking, a good stress response and strong immune system all improve productivity at work. Most people know that eating a healthy diet will help them to perform better. However what Helen Money often hears from busy business professionals suffering from stress and fatigue is that that they don’t have time to eat healthy.

Helen herself worked in the City as a Fund Manager for 16 years and can relate to this lifestyle but strongly believes that a healthy diet is achievable by everyone; it just requires a bit of planning to start. Always start with a good breakfast, keep healthy snacks in your desk drawer or car glove compartment such as nuts, 9 bars, dried apricots and fresh fruit and have a meal plan with the necessary ingredients automatically delivered each week.

For some smoothies are a really good way of packing essential vitamins and minerals into the diet. Smoothies are quick, easy and portable. The benefit of a smoothie over a juice is that the fibre is retained which is

important for gut health and satiety. Shop bought smoothies are often too high in sugar.

Making your own smoothies really is very simple and you have control over what goes in. Include up to 2 portions of fruit, blend with plain yogurt and milk or water. Helen also recommends adding ground seeds or ground nuts for extra energy boosting nutrients.

Vegetables are also good in smoothies. Most blenders will be ok with spinach but for tougher vegetables you’ll need a smoothie maker which blends finely.

Helen Money works with individuals, corporates and food PR companies providing nutritional advice and information through private consultations, workshops and written articles.

Helen works from Prama House, Summertown and Clinic on the Green, Bletchingdon. Plus new for 2014 Smoothie Saturday, 1st Saturday of each month at the TLA Studio, Sunningwell. www.helenmoneynutrition.com helen@helenmoneynutrition.com 01865 339672

HELEN’S SMOOTHIE RECIPES Breakfast smoothie 150g plain low fat yogurt 100ml skimmed milk 1 banana heaped tablespoon berries (fresh or frozen) 2 teaspoon ground seeds This smoothie makes a great, healthy and satisfying start to the working day. It is high in the nutrients needed for good stress response and sustained energy. It contains protein to keep you full through the morning, provides two of your five a day and 50% of daily calcium requirement.

Really quick and easy to make, drink it at home or you can put it in a lidded cup and drink when you get to work.

Cholesterol lowering smoothie 150g plain soya yogurt 20g oats 1 heaped tablespoon raspberries (fresh or frozen) 20g almonds (ground) 2 tsp honey or algarve nector 150ml water Oats, soya and nuts have all been scientifically proven to lower cholesterol. In this smoothie I have combined all three. It includes the full amount of soya, ⅔ the amount of nuts and ⅓ of the amount oats recommended by Heart UK’s Ultimate Cholesterol lowering diet UCLP©.

The calories in this smoothie make it more suitable as a breakfast rather than a snack.

Immune system boosting smoothie Large handful of spinach 3 medium tomato ½ red pepper ½ deseeded chilli 2 tsp pumpkin seeds ground 200ml water Cold, coughs and flu can really hamper productivity. Keep your immune system strong by getting enough vitamins A, C, D, E, iron and zinc in your diet. I have designed this smoothie to provide over 100% of vitamin A, C and E requirements plus to be high in iron and zinc. The calorie content makes this smoothie a good mid morning or afternoon snack This recipe needs a good smoothie maker with sharp blades to blend finely.

www.b4-business.com

55

Trevor French - Barclays Corporate Director Oxford

John Thorn - Relationship Director Barclays Oxford

56

www.b4-business.com

B4 FINANCE

GOING POSTAL

ONLINE SUCCESS STORY FINDS THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH CAN STILL BOOST SALES A business that was inspired by new technology is now making a similar success of a new venture that takes a more traditional approach to sales.

While it remains a leading player in the internet retail world, selling everything from DVDs and computer games to lingerie and children’s clothing, Online Commerce Ltd has launched a new arm that relies on ‘old-fashioned’ brochures sent through the post.

And while some of the internet-savvy directors were at first hesitant about the idea, they have seen Online Commerce’s mail order catalogue – Shopping Direct - take off in a big way.

“We chose the products and selected the target audience carefully, and as a result the venture has been a great success,” explained director Howard Harrison. “There are still plenty of people who enjoy browsing through a catalogue and we have made sure that the films and music on offer appeal to that demographic.

“The film studios and other suppliers have been very supportive because they like retailers who can help them take a broader approach to the market.”

With large amounts of stock held in two Oxfordshire warehouses in order to serve its growing customer base, Online Commerce has the usual concerns

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over cashflow, which is why it relies on Barclays for its banking facilities.

The company originally switched to Barclays to take advantage of a good deal from its card acceptance operation, but now relies on the bank for support for its overseas business, mitigating foreign

“Putting

McDonnell bought the internet domain dvd.co.uk back in 2001 not because he wanted to sell DVDs but because he recognised that the name had value in an increasingly online-focused world.

In the early days he used the site to point potential customers towards the main players such as Amazon, taking a small amount of commission for every hit he forwarded. It was only later that he decided to use the site as a retail platform.

customers first is a fundamental principle in business

As the business grew, Paul recruited former colleagues Howard Harrison, Martin Hogarty and Steve Graham. “We had all worked together for the same retail systems company in previous lives and we were all able to bring particular skills to the business,” explained Howard, who joined as finance director in 2003.

Trevor French - Barclays Corporate Director Oxford

At that time the company’s turnover was around £1m. Now it stands at £23m and employs more than 50 people at its main offices in Rissington, in the Cotswolds, and at two warehouses.

”

exchange risk and that all-important, stock-financing overdraft.

Taking a flexible approach to new opportunities has become the hallmark of Online Commerce, which sold about 340,000 units valued at around £5m in the run up to last Christmas alone.

Even its initial incarnation as an online retailer came about in a roundabout way. Founder Paul

From selling DVDs, the company began selling computer games, memory, music CDs, books, accessories and a wide range of other leisurerelated products, buying up entertainment-themed domain names to keep the business moving forward.

In another shift, the company has now replaced its

57

Your New Year’s Resolution:

Discover the services that The MGroup offer to make 2014 a prosperous New Year.

Accountancy ˙ Business Development ˙ Registered Auditors Computer Solutions ˙ Taxation ˙ Corporate Finance Software Development ˙ Financial Services

Oxford Office: Cranbrook House, 287/291 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7JQ Tel: 01865 552925

Vist the website: www.theMgroup.co.uk

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

B4 SPOTLIGHT

“we agreed to give it a try and

quickly notched up £1m worth of sales to a growing circulation of 120,000 customers

”

Howard Harrison - base.com

various sites with one central entertainment domain, base.com, which has become the company’s prime online platform.

In a controlled expansion into other areas it has also unveiled lingerie site legs11.com, men’s fashion domain dapperstreet.co.uk and another specialist site, babydepot.co.uk “We may move into other areas in time but we believe that offering dedicated sites means we can build good relationships with suppliers, who know that we are serious about their products, and with customers, who know we are committed to that particular area of the market rather than spreading ourselves too thinly,” explained Howard.

In the early days, Online Commerce found it difficult to deal direct with the big studios, which concentrated instead on the larger players such as Entertainment UK, part of the ill-fated Woolworths group.

When a number of major players, including Entertainment UK, went out of business, Online Commerce found access easier, but it also remembered how difficult it had been as a smaller player.

As a result the company set up a wholesale arm, WDL, which now supplies DVDS, CDs and games to other retailers via the WDL.com site. “All of a sudden the studios needed new distributors and started talking to us,” said Howard. “In turn we decided we could help the smaller retailers.”

Online Commerce also used to sell via Play.com, which operated as an Amazon marketplace-style site, and when Play was bought by Japanese online giant Rakuten, the Cotswold Company stayed on board. “Base.com is now one of Rakuten’s selected partners and won their Shop of the Year Award 2013,” explained Howard.

It was the arrival of Joe McNicholas as commercial director that prompted the latest shift in approach from Online Commerce. “Joe had a background in mail order and suggested we should try the catalogue approach,” said Howard.

“We weren’t convinced initially, but we agreed to give it a try and quickly notched up £1m worth of sales to a growing circulation of 120,000 customers. The secret was in selecting the right customers and offering them the right products.”

The growth in business has increased the need for support from an understanding bank, which is where relationship director John Thorne and his Oxford corporate banking team come into the picture.

“The nature of the business means that we are always owed money by other people and we keep a great deal of stock, so we need a responsive credit team and that’s what Barclays gives us,” said Howard.

Responding to challenges and coming up with new strategies is something that Barclays Corporate director Trevor French finds inspiring.

“The companies that succeed are those that listen to their customers, find new markets and work with their staff to make sure that they are on board with any changes, an approach that has worked well for Online Commerce” he said. “Putting customers first is a fundamental principle in business.”

Barclays has been focusing on its customers in a number of ways, making relatively minor but important changes behind the scenes, including extending the opening hours of the servicing team by an hour at each end of the day. It now operates between 8am and 6pm.

Response times on a number of services, including producing legal documents, have been shortened, while new facilities such as Pingit and improved banking services through Barclays.net are making life easier for businesses.

“Barclays’ system of relationship directors means that clients benefit from speaking to someone who understands their industry sector rather than someone who simply covers a particular geographical area,” said Trevor. “We have also changed the portfolios of relationship directors to that each member of the team can spend more time supporting individual businesses.”

For more information please contact: Trevor French - Corporate Director Oxford & Swindon. Tel: 07917 426547. Email: trevor.french@barclays.com

The views expressed in this article are the views of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Barclays Bank PLC Group nor should they be taken as statements of policy or intent of the Barclays Bank PLC Group. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no responsibility for the veracity of information contained in the third part guides or articles and no warranties or undertakings of any kind, whether express or implied, regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information given. The Barclays Bank PLC Group takes no liability for the impact of any decisions made based on information contained and views expressed.

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59

THE OXFORD PROPERTY MARKET 2014 It is going to be a very Happy Christmas for all readers who own an investment property in Oxford and probably for all readers who will buy property investments in 2014. Article

by Robin Swailes.

Compared to pre 2007 housing crisis we are building about 50% less new properties, the government have decided to close the cheap ‘funding for lending’ to the high street banks.

This is a real indication that the Bank of England is predicting growth in the property market which they do not wish to see overheating. The fact that the government have enough confidence to withdraw this line of cheap credit is in my view very positive and is backed up by further forecasts, one from Savills recent Prime markets five year forecast. Savill’s report discusses the ripple effect emanating from London which they say is long awaited I quote

in the building market.

“As things currently stand, there is little doubt that the ripple effect from London is overdue, having taken longer than usual to breach the boundaries of the M25. Prices in other parts of the UK will start to outperform London at some point over the next five years, though not uniformly.”

To everyones surprise Oxford is one of the UK's fastest growing cities, in terms of population, backed by the government census 2011.

In fact when analysing the report further we see that Savills place Oxford in their South East territory, the report predicts that over the next five years that the South East (which includes Oxford) will outperform London. The figures are London in five years will have grown 24.4% while the South East will reach an incredible 31.9% growth.

Couple this with the Universities focusing on their intellectual property for business benefit, although some way behind the Ivy league model it is never the less attracting innovative business to the area which include Oxford Instruments, Research Machines and Sophos. The BMW site in Cowley producing the Mini has extending capacity over the years. We also have international publishing, high tech businesses, biotechnology and motorsport.

Oxford has one of the most qualified workforces in the country and a very high employment rate relative to the UK.

There are more buyers than sellers “ in Oxford which is fundamental to a growing market ” John Lewis is on its way to Oxford, the contract was signed in March 2013 and the Westgate planning application was submitted last month.

Predictions are all very well but what of the facts: 1. Oxford has a shortage of property 2. Summertown residential prices have hit £500 per square foot on many sales 3. Central North Oxford properties of stature can reach £1000 per square foot 4. The sales agents are presently short of residential property stock 5. There are more buyers than sellers in Oxford which is fundamental to a growing market.

I was recently speaking to a Andrew Taylor a director if the Oxford architectural firm Grayling Thomas and he related a poignant tale.

The firm are working on some large infrastructure schools projects for government. During the tendering process the firm were told that the project would be delayed by 5 months because of the shortage of red bricks. Grayling decided to reapproached the planners who agreed a substitute of cedar cladding to alleviate the time costs in waiting. This surely tells a tale of increased activity

60

Put all these facts together and add to that a rising property market and you can see the appeal of Oxford residential property. North Oxford Property Services reports a 3% increase in rents this year with a positive outlook, they have been in business 25 years and so know a thing or to about the dynamics of the Oxford letting market.

Developers in Oxford are offering a 10% return on capital per annum for a 24 month period with security as a charge on the build included. A lot more than your local bank, Ring me if you would like more information on buy to let development investment 01865 318524. In my view over the next five years Oxford will benefit from shortage of property, a great location and the awaited ripple from the London property scene.

Robin Swailes has been investing in the Oxford buy to let Property market for over 25 years, this is his personal view and he is not a financial advisor, You can call Robin in the office on 01865 318524. www.nops.co.uk

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B4 PROPERTY

“To everyones

surprise Oxford is one of the UK's fastest growing cities, in terms of population, backed by the government census 2011

�

Robin Swailes, North Oxford Property Services

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61

THE 2013 OXFORDSHIRE RESTAURANT AWARDS The search for the best restaurants in Oxfordshire is over. The winners of the 2013 Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards, established by In Oxford & Oxfordshire Magazine and organised by TERA Events, were announced at a glittering Awards ceremony on the evening of 1 October.

A simply stunning marquee, the inspiration of TERA Events, provided the backdrop for a Laurent Perrier champagne reception, three course meal and the Awards, hosted by JACK fm’s Trevor Marshall.

The overall Restaurant of the Year title was awarded to The Star Inn, Sparsholt. The Star only opened in July last year when owner Caron Williams bought it to save the local pub.

Caron said, “As a new business it is fantastic to be

rewarded for all those difficult days when we were setting up.” Chef at The Star, Dave Watts, is already the winner of The Good Food Guide Chef to Watch, 2013.

The Awards celebrated the best dining in Oxfordshire from gourmet restaurant, won by The Lamb Inn Burford, to the traditional pub, won by The James Figg in Thame, best Asian, won by Yeti on Cowley Road, and best café, won by Burford Garden Centre.

The Head Chef Sean Ducie of The Lamb Inn, Burford said he was “over the moon” a winner of the Gastronomic Restaurant category. The beautiful 17-room Gastro pub and brasserie dates back to 1402 and has held two rosettes for over 9 years.

For the second year running, the award for Outstanding Service was made to Oxford Brookes Restaurant. Afterwards, the team said, “The team are absolutely thrilled to be recognised for the 2nd year, and among such great competition.”

2013 WINNERS & FINALISTS RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2013 Recognising the best in Oxfordshire, the overall winner, The Oxfordshire Restaurant of the Year has been selected from the winners in the other categories (see below), and is decided on by the committee.

Winner: The Lamb Inn, Burford Second: Oxford Brookes Restaurant Third: Cherwell Boathouse Shortlisted nominees: Fallowfields, The Feathers, Pierre Victoire, The Turl Street Kitchen, The Baron’s Hall, Le Kesh.

Winner: The Star Inn at Sparsholt GASTRONOMIC RESTAURANT CATEGORY Formal restaurants that seek to build reputation on dishes that exhibit finesse, complexity and considerable skill in execution; extensive product knowledge of staff; and attentive yet unobtrusive service.

GASTRO PUB / BRASSERIE CATEGORY Relaxed, often informal or semi-formal settings, in which there is much emphasis placed on the quality of food and service. Menus often contain culturally-specific and possibly ‘rustic’ dishes, which require considerable skill to execute.

Winner: The Star Inn at Sparsholt

62

Second: The Kingham Plough Third: The Living Room Shortlisted nominees: The Plowden Arms, The Chequers at Burcot, The White Hart, Fyfield, The Quince Tree, The Mole Inn, Cibo.

TRADITIONAL PUB RESTAURANT CATEGORY A uniquely British creation, informal establishments that promote a sense of conviviality and community, which serve good quality food (often, but not exclusively British) and a range of beers.

Winner: The James Figg, Thame Second: The Oxford Retreat Third: The Black Horse (Kidlington) www.b4-business.com

B4 EVENTS The winner of the coveted Public Vote was Reg’s Café in Banbury.

Individual contributions were recognised for outstanding achievement including Tony Verdin of The Cherwell Boathouse, Max Mason of The Big Bang for the creativity he showed, amongst other things, in building a beach in Oxford, and Patrick Greenberg of La Cucina who won HIT Training Apprentice of the Year.

Presenting Max with his award, David Gambier, MD of Great Experience Travel Group, said “The standard is rising all the time.”

A new Award was also made by In Oxford Magazine, with The Editor’s Choice Award going to The Quince Tree in Stonor. A special award was also made to Browns, an Oxford Institution for 40 years.

Why not enter for 2014? Download an entry form at www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk today.

The trophies for this year’s Awards were once again

Shortlisted nominee: The Big Bang.

ASIAN CATEGORY A defining characteristic of the Oxfordshire restaurant scene – establishments serving exclusively Asian cuisine.

Winner: Yeti, Cowley Road, Oxford Second: Spice Lounge Third: Gurkha Village

designed and produced by NSF (National School of Furniture) based at Oxford Cherwell Valley College (OCVC). The theme this year was ‘onwards and upwards’ reflecting the post-Olympic spirit and a positive outlook for the future.

One of the event sponsors, Stuart Crook from Wellers Accountants said, “All of our partners, guests and associated friends had a fantastic time.

I thought the event built on last year’s success and improved yet again thanks to the good quality nominees in the room.”

Sarah-Jayne Beasley, Sales Manager at Eynsham Hall commented, “The room looked amazing and everyone had a wonderful time.”

Isabelle Barber, Business Development Manager at Rhodes House said, the event was “A great tribute not only to you, The In Oxford Group’s energies in promoting Oxfordshire businesses, but also to the restaurant business community that you have so successfully nurtured over the last three years.

Everybody likes winners and there were certainly a goodly handful of them around last night –

A HUGE thank you to Tina Rosser or TERA Events for all of your incredible help and support.

WITH THANKS ALSO TO: Sponsors: B4 Magazine, Beanbags, Bicester Village, Blueprint Imaging, Boys and Girls, Buzzworks, City Audio Visual, Culham Publication Services, HIT, in Oxford Magazine, Isis Creative Framing, JACK fm, Laurent Perrier, NSF, OCVC, Oxford Event Hire, Oxford Wine Company, Riche de Fleurs, Roots, Ross and Ross Foods, Sam Strange, TERA, The Manor Hotel, TMB, Visit Oxfordshire, VOUCH, Wellers.

Committee and Reviewers: Alain Desenclos, Jacquie Bugeja, Julie Archer, Susi Golding, Daren Bowyer, Mark Taylor, David Gambier, Donald Sloan, Mark Ritchie, Emma Gascoigne, Sarah Wiseman, John Hobart and Hannah Talbott. www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk

Winner: Burford Garden Centre Second: Reg's Cafe, Banbury Joint Third: Oxfork and The Rose

Shortlisted nominees: Veritas, The Fleece, The Mole Inn, The Plowden Arms, La Cucina, The White Hart, Fyfield, The First Floor.

Shortlisted nominees: Gatineau, Oxford Jacobs and Field, The Old Studio, The Bakehouse.

AWARD FOR CREATIVITY Winner: Max Mason, The Big Bang

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD CATEGORY Based on interpretation of scores and reviews, the judging panel will identify the restaurant that offered the most outstanding quality of service.

RECOGNITION OF SERVICE AWARD Anthony Verdin, The Cherwell Boathouse

Shortlisted nominees: The Snooty Mehmaan, Jee Saheb, The First Floor.

Winner: Oxford Brookes Restaurant

EXPRESS, DELI, CAFÉ CATEGORY Food outlets that enable us to dine whilst ‘on the go’, or when we want a quick meal in an informal setting.

PUBLIC VOTE CATEGORY Winner: Reg’s Café, Banbury Second: Turl Street, Kitchen Third: The Jam Factory

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congratulations to you and all your team who did such a grand job. Take it from one who knows how much work is involved in pulling such things off!”

THE HIT TRAINING APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR Winner: Patrick Greenberg, La Cucina Shortlisted nominees: Craig Young, The Big Bang, Clive Harris, The Big Bang THE IN OXFORD & OXFORDSHIRE MAGAZINE EDITOR’S CHOICE AWARD Winner: The Quince Tree, Stonor

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WELCOME TO A NEW TEAM AT COMPLETE CATERING… In March 2011 when Jon Kay was appointed General Manager of Complete Catering the company was under different ownership and was essentially a wedding Caterer specialising in marquee weddings. Following the takeover of the business in September 2011, Jon and Executive Chef Simon Coomber set about reinvigorating the ethos of Complete Catering illustrating the fundamental belief in excellent food service within the events Industry. In February 2013 Deniz Isbilen joined the team from London Caterer the recipe as a dedicated Sales Manager and Party Planner.

“One of the first thing we needed to achieve” explains Jon “was a roadmap to bring the company up to date with food trends and service standards acceptable at all levels as for too long the company had a set format. We also felt we should develop menus to serve everyone on all budgets.”

Simon first and foremost “A classically trained British foodie” who has worked his way up through a string of fine dining hotels and restaurants in the uk and overseas, his last head chef role being at the Westwood Hotel in Boars hill.

From there he moved into Event catering firstly with Creative Event Catering and then Complete Catering in 2009. Simon has brought with him over 20 years expertise and is now incorporating it into our delicious menus and food design and events.

Jon entered the Event world in 2004 after training with First Leisure, first working for Marco Pierre White and then being involved in the start-up of numerous London’ Caterers before shifting gear into setting up and operating an event staffing agency in 2007 which he Successfully ran till it’s sale in 2011.

It was here where Jon first met Deniz.

Deniz had a classic background in culture and events and has brought a much needed feminine touch and new edge to the business, improving the whole customer experience of sales from start to finish, as well as helping clients with the key design elements of their event Deniz’s eye for detail ensures the whole experience runs perfectly. Deniz also has sources with a number of partner companies that provide just about everything that you would need for any event.

The introduction of this team has led to Complete Catering working in many regions of the UK including the North, South East and West, London as well as here in Oxfordshire. Jon added “We take pride in the fact that we are versatile.

In 2013 we provided 24 hour full crew catering at Festivals including Download, Leeds and Wireless. Additionally we have catered numerous weddings, balls,

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and company launches. Complete catering also had a late hand in working with B4 to provide assistance at the Oxford Restaurant Awards 2013” More recently we have also taken a hand in managing the catering output at a local football club.

As a local company we want to work locally, source our ingredients from local suppliers and be involved with local organisations. Jon is now a member of the Oxford Round Table and in our two years we have supported the Sobel house hospice, Against Breast Cancer and Hero’s charity and this year will be proud to help the Salvation Army serve Christmas Dinner.

Producing events has also been a key objective of the company. This makes us more than just a caterer, and addresses the need for bringing in multiple companies to produce an event Originally this idea grew from our wedding business as we identified we can offer our brides and grooms a more of an experience when we were more involved in planning there catering needs on the biggest day of their lives. So with this in mind we have set about developing our own team of Talent including; musicians, singers and actors.

The fact that we have brought all of this together has allowed us to produce a live rocky horror performance on the Jack fm stage at South Park Fireworks in Oxford. Additionally weddings have been themed and produced and balls have had music organised also.

In 2014 the company will look to build on what has been achieved in the two years since the change in management, bringing in a direct lunch ordering app for mobile phones and developing our website and working alongside new clients, all of whom will have their event or party built in the way that they require.

Contact us: info@completecatering.co.uk www.completecatering.co.uk

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B4 SERVICES

“We take pride in the fact that we are versatile. In 2013 we provided 24 hour full crew catering at Festivals including Download, Leeds and Wireless

�

Jon Kay, General Manager - Complete Catering

www.b4-business.com

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PROPERTY INTELLIGENCE 2013 On Wednesday 9th of October, 185 guests gathered at the Said Business School in Oxford for our fourth annual property seminar.

“Of the landlords

who are planning to buy more rental property in the next six months, 85% indicated that they would be investing in Oxfordshire Guests had the opportunity to network with guests speakers, the Finders Keepers team and like-minded landlords

There were four topics covered, and the presenters spoke authoritatively on their subject, ranging from investment opportunities in Oxfordshire to key considerations when deciphering market figures. The panel, hosted

by Dan Channer, created a great amount of buzz and debate in the lecture room which continued in the post-seminar drinks. Hot topics of discussion for the evening were regulation of letting agents, duration of tenancy agreements and property standards in the rental market.

What next for the PRS? Last year’s Property Intelligence saw our very first ‘panel discussion’ format, and it was so well received that we decided to incorporate again it this year. We were so thrilled that Christopher Hamer, the Property Ombudsman, agreed to be a panellist for this year’s seminar and the other panellists were also experts in their field: Giles Peaker is an impressive housing solicitor and Tunde Ekpe is a business psychologist and Finders Keepers client.

There are approximately 1 million more people renting in the UK than there were 5 years ago, and as a result of this growth a Select Committee of 10

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cross-bench MPs have written a report on how to “improve” the rental sector. The panel discussed some of the ideas put forward by the Select Committee.

”

The panel discussed the future of the Private Rental Sector

What do landlords want?

Our first ever landlord survey was a great success, with more than 400 people taking part. Paul Rushworth, Associate Director at Finders Keepers, presented the results of our research. 75% of landlords agreed that it should be mandatory for letting agents to have formal qualifications before handling tenant or client funds. This did not surprise us, and is something we strongly agree with. Unfortunately, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, has not included regulating agents as part of his reform package for the Private Rental Sector.

Nevertheless, we continue to maintain high standards at Finders Keepers with 91% of staff holding the NFoPP Technical Award in Residential Letting and Property Management.

What did surprise us was that 62% of respondents thought that landlords should be regulated. In theory, we agree: regulation could reduce the number of rogue landlords and improve the

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B4 PROPERTY

“we continue to maintain high

standards at Finders Keepers with 91% of staff holding the NFoPP Technical Award in Residential Letting and Property Management

”

Paul Rushworth, Associate Director at Finders Keepers

We had a fantastic turnout for our fourth annual Property Intelligence seminar

reputation of the letting market. However, with lack of enforcement this would just be an unnecessary regulation on those who already comply with the rules, and any fees would probably be passed on to tenants or result in properties being sold, which is counter-productive.

Of the landlords who are planning to buy more rental property in the next six months, 85% indicated that they would be investing in Oxfordshire and so the following presentation on investment trends in Oxfordshire was very well received.

To see all the results of the survey visit finders.co.uk/survey

with the new supermarket and cinema in the town centre and where further development is planned with an expansion of Bicester Village and the UK’s first Eco-Town.

In Oxford, Frank looked at the proposed ‘Northern Gateway’, the Wolvercote Paper Mill, the development of Barton West and the improvement of the Westgate Shopping Centre and Botley’s West Way before mentioning Grantham House, the exciting development in ‘Oxford’s Chelsea’. One client commented afterwards that he felt this had given a really decent picture of where the market is going and showed us how strong it is in Oxfordshire.

Deciphering property propaganda

Investment opportunities in Oxfordshire Finders Keepers Vice Chairman Frank Webster spoke about the various plans for developing areas around Oxfordshire. He focused first on Wantage and the Science Vale with new properties being built and more companies moving to the area. He then spoke briefly about the plans for Water Eaton Parkway before moving up the rail line to Bicester, where much development has already taken place

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After demonstrating how complicated sales market figures are, Graham Norwood – arguably the UK’s best property journalist – went on to show that letting market figures can be just as complex. He guided the audience through the questions they should be asking when they read market statistics, including: - What area of the UK do the statistics cover?

- Who is contributing to the statistics?

- How timely is the data?

- What is the purpose of the data? Is it to inform or to sell?

After the seminar, one landlord commented: “In terms of the indices, I always knew not to rely on any particular one hugely, but I didn’t really know why and I think Graham Norwood explained it very well.”

The evening was a huge success with a fantastic turnout, up from that of the previous year. Guests were heard exclaiming upon entering the atrium of the business school “Are these all Finders Keepers?”

Our clients had the opportunity to network with like-minded landlords, our guest speakers and members of the Finders Keepers team before and after the seminar, something which is highly valued, with one landlord saying that she finds this event ‘invaluable’ and a great resource in terms of swapping intelligence about the market.

If you would like to be put on our list for future events, please email: marketing@finderskeepers.co.uk

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B4 SERVICES

OXFORD INNOVATION

SUPPORTS BUSINESSES AS WELL AS THEIR BUDGETS Innovation Centres are known for their reputation of providing unique levels of flexibility and support to their customers, but with centres managed by Oxford Innovation, these benefits are available without having to pay the premium often associated with serviced offices.

Oxford Innovation manages 21 centres nationally, offering serviced offices, meeting rooms, shared offices and virtual offices, with 6 centres based locally in Oxfordshire. This includes Oxford Centre for Innovation in Oxford city centre and the newest addition, Witney Business & Innovation Centre.

These Oxfordshire centres have witnessed a recent surge in enquiries, following the publication of price comparison data, which shows that the flexible license solutions offered by Oxford Innovation can save businesses more than 50 per cent compared to the costs associated with a traditional office lease, as assessed against data compiled from competitors, office brokers and property agents.

When taking into account annual operation and staff costs such as utilities, repairs and maintenance, cleaning, reception and admin charges, a small business could receive an annual saving of approximately £13,000, based on a requirement for 400 sq. ft. of occupied office space (five-six person office).

New customers at Witney Business & Innovation Centre include DCR (Data Centre Response). “We run a team of qualified staff providing installation and maintenance for computer rooms and data centres including uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), generators, air conditioning, fire suppression and the electrical infrastructure, ensuring the IT system integrity is maintained during power outages and disruptions,” comments Paul Anderson, Managing Director of DCR. “In the current economic climate, Witney Business & Innovation Centre has provided us with the ability to downsize whilst retaining our team of experts to

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deliver our services.”

Upper Heyford.

He continues: “As the economy picks-up, we will have the flexibility required to grow our business within the centre and there is no question that the money saved from high energy bills, rates and insurance is a huge plus which can only assist our ambitions to grow.”

With this range of locations across Oxfordshire, the network of centres can offer benefits to a large number of business owners who are unable or do not wish to commit to a traditional lease. Each centre offers the guarantee of tailored, bespoke packages that suit the customer in order to enable cost savings, a service particularly important to new and growing businesses.

“We offer a straight

forward licence agreement with as little as a one month notice period and provide businesses with the ability to increase or decrease office space as required

”

Margaret Hewitt, Centre Director, Oxford Innovation Centre

Margaret Hewitt, Centre Director of Oxford Centre for Innovation comments, “The cost comparison data really does demonstrate that opportunities exist for new and small businesses to provide a professional service without expensive overheads.

We offer a straightforward licence agreement with as little as a one month notice period and provide businesses with the ability to increase or decrease office space as required.”

Oxford Innovation also manages the Oxfordshire centres Harwell Innovation Centre at Harwell Oxford, Culham Innovation Centre at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, Bicester Innovation Centre at Telford Road Business Estate in Bicester and Cherwell Innovation Centre at Heyford Park in

Newly available space is now being offered at Bicester Innovation Centre and Culham Innovation Centre, meaning that there is no better time to join either centre as part of an influx of fresh new businesses looking to innovate, collaborate and make significant gains within their market throughout 2014. Culham Innovation Centre houses some of the region’s most exciting and innovative science companies, benefitting from onsite facilities and providing a unique offer for start-ups in this industry. Bicester Innovation Centre is the only serviced office provider in Bicester, making it an essential contact for any businesses operating within this region of Oxfordshire, or needing to be based within easy access of the M40. Both, as with all centres in the network, create an environment only seen in Innovation Centres, one of collaboration, transparency and support.

Oxford Innovation is the UK’s leading operator of innovation centres, with the national network of Centres providing flexible office, laboratory and workshop space for over 700 growing companies.

To find out more information about the services offered or the locations available, visit: www.oxin-centres.co.uk

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LANCASTER LONDON Standing proudly over London’s Hyde Park, Lancaster London is one of the capital’s most iconic hotels with panoramic views to match.

B4’s Editor and family made the short journey from Shepherd’s Bush to enjoy this first class hotel for the second time in as many years.

Written by Richard Rosser.

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B4 R&R

After a day’s shopping at Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush, you just want to relax. I’d spent the day not girlie enough to follow the two girls around and not cool enough to tag along with Ed, the 16 year old. I was in middle-aged limbo. It had even crossed my mind that I might just be lunching on my own, like a coach driver waiting patiently for the other passengers to enjoy themselves. At least the coach driver is getting paid – I was paying for the privilege of my family exclusion.

Ultimately we found eachother, purely by chance, like the happy ending of a black and white Saturday afternoon film. The setting wasn’t quite as romantic – I don’t remember seeing Cary Grant against the backdrop of Superdrug, but we were together and made our way to the car park and over to our home for the night.

We couldn’t see the kids for bags in the back seat – overnight and that day’s purchases – and as we drew up on the forecourt of the hotel, the porter gulped as he saw not just a family of four but enough bags to rival the most seasoned shopper’s daily spoils. We were ushered to the front desk where we met Claire, who had kindly facilitated our weekend in London, for a tour of the hotel.

The hotel’s location makes for the perfect base.

Close to the shopping areas of Oxford and Bond Street, the internationally acclaimed West End theatres, not to mention countless museums and key tourist attractions, Lancaster London is almost pivotal. And as I found out the following morning, it’s a great location to go and stretch the legs and give my new trainers a test drive in Hyde Park, which is literally just over the road.

For a tailored experience with oodles of character and charm, Lancaster London will not leave you disappointed. There are 416 superb rooms across 18 floors. Guests have the choice of a city or park view, but for the ultimate stay, why not book in to the Hyde Park Suite, the Radnor Suite, the

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Connaught Suite, the Fountain Suite or the Presidential Suite which are all beautifully designed and provide the best views from the upper floors of the hotel. The Superior and Deluxe rooms offer king-size or twin beds, stylish seating areas, and plush bathrooms. All rooms are fully equipped with modern facilities such as air-conditioning, satellite television, mini bars, en-suite bathrooms and power showers.

Not widely known are Lancaster London’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) accolades. The hotel has been rewarded with awards such as ‘AA Eco Hotel of the Year 2012’, Considerate Hoteliers’ ‘Considerate Hotel of the Year 2012’ and the Green Tourism Business Scheme’s ‘Gold Star Award 2012’. The hotel is a champion for the humble honey bee, and was the first hotel in London to cultivate beehives on its roof in 2009.

“For a tailored experience with oodles of character and charm, Lancaster London will not leave you disappointed” Equally impressive are the hotel’s wide ranging dining options. In Issue 26 of B4, we reported on the excellent Island Grill which has been awarded the top Three Star rating by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The modern European menu, created by Head Chef Darren Marshall, features the finest ingredients that change with each season. The contemporary split-level space offers beautiful views across Hyde Park to enjoy whilst dining.

Government for its authentic cuisine. It is renowned as one of London’s best Thai restaurants, with dishes created by the all-lady kitchen brigade managed by Head Chef Nongyao Toopchoi. The service was impeccable and after our day’s exertions (theirs spent buying things, mine spent trying to find them buying things) we polished off at least five bottles……of water! The food was superb and our sharing platter to start a real hit with all of my new found family. Nipa Thai has a classy feel to it but you’re not made to feel as though you need to stand on ceremony….the emphasis is certainly on relaxing and enjoying the occasion, and we certainly enjoyed a special evening in each other’s company.

Lancaster Lounge, on the first floor, is the ideal place for coffee and cocktails. The hotel’s proximity to the Peter Pan Statue in Hyde Park has led to the creation of the Peter Pan Afternoon Tea, which includes a selection of fine teas, Lost Boys’ Sandwiches, Mrs Darling’s Scones, and an assortment of pastries and cakes.

Lancaster London is one of Europe’s leading and most flexible meeting and banqueting venues. Its conference rooms, which have recently undergone an £11.5m refurbishment, have the ability to cater for all sizes of events, from small business meetings, to large receptions for up to 3,000 people. As a result, this four-star hotel has been voted “Best UK Hotel” in the “Meetings” category by the readers of Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine six times in ten years. The cuisine for all banqueting is provided by Head Chef Richard Partridge.

Weekday rates start from £179 per room per night, whilst weekend rates start from £159. Why don’t you make a bee-line for Lancaster London? www.lancasterlondon.com

On this visit we were booked into the awardwinning Nipa Thai, which has received the prestigious ‘Thai Select’ award from the Thai

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B4 R&R

“Thank you for everything

you did to help us have such a great wedding day! We really could not fault anything, the venue looked terrific, the staff were very helpful and the food was excellent. Thank you again for such a brilliant job!

”

Mrs Grimshaw, August 2013

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH A FREE ROUND OF GOLF AT MAGNOLIA PARK! Experience playing at Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club - one of the country’s most challenging and picturesque golf courses – completely FREE! Our Course With our sweeping championship 18-hole course of around 7,000 yards set in over 200 acres of rolling Buckinghamshire countryside, Magnolia Park is known to many as the closest a parkland course can be to a Links, due to its beautiful water features and sometimes windy conditions. This year Magnolia Park was proud to host the Jamega Pro Golf Tour & Pro Am and it was so successful that we are hosting it again in August 2014!

Our Facilities Magnolia Park Golf Club is the only UK golf club with the amazing 3D Motion Golf swing analysis system, and is also home to the exclusive Cleveland Srixon Club & Ball Fitting Centre. We have an extensive list of facilities available to members and visitors including: • 18 hole championship course • 9 hole academy course • Stunning venue for parties & weddings • Meeting and conferencing facilities • Fully licenced bar & restaurant • Indoor teaching & custom fitting studio • Exclusive 3D Motion Golf system • Cleveland/Srixon Centre of Excellence for professional club and ball fitting • PGA Professional • Pro Shop stocked with top brands • Fully equipped Gym, changing rooms, steam room & sauna • Satellite TV showing all the best sport • Stocked fishing lakes www.b4-business.com

Our Clubhouse Our aim is to ensure your visit with us will be one to remember. When the time comes to relax, our friendly staff will provide the best of service in comfortable surroundings. Our licenced bar & terrace overlooks the golf course and offers a great menu in relaxed and informal surroundings Memberships Our Membership packages include single, joint, family, intermediate, junior and lifetime and are available at fantastic rates. Magnolia Park is a thriving, proactive club with a busy competition calendar and a lively, social clubhouse. Check our website for full details of membership packages and the latest Membership offer for 2014!

The Perfect Venue for your Christmas or New Year Party!

Magnolia Park is a stunning venue for your Christmas or New Years Eve Party so why not call us now to book your party night now! Our function suite is a beautifully appointed with great views across the surrounding countryside, plenty of natural daylight and a lovely terrace area. It seats up to 120 guests for a sit down meal and can accommodate up to 250 guests for a buffet menu.

We’re also a fully licensed Civil Ceremony Venue with 2 rooms licensed for civil ceremonies, accommodating up to 130 guests for your ceremony.

Magnolia Park offers you great value for money and our experienced Events Team have years of experience in event management ensuring you receive a warm, friendly and professional level of service.

REGISTER FOR YOUR FREE ROUND OF GOLF! As a B4 reader, we'd like to offer you a FREE round of golf at Magnolia Park! Challenge yourself on our 18-hole Championship course and experience the fantastic facilities and benefits our Members & Visitors enjoy!

Simply go to www.magnoliapark.co.uk/b4 and register your details using the code MAGB4 and you'll receive your FREE GOLF VOUCHER by email!

Contact Us Feel free to contact us for anything you need to know about Magnolia Park or to book tee times, book a party or even to book your wedding!

Tel: +44 (0)1844 239700.

Email: info@magnoliapark.co.uk Web: www.magnoliapark.co.uk.

Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club, Arncott Road, Boarstall,Buckinghamshire,HP18 9XX.

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B4 SERVICES

REMARKABLE ECO SOLUTIONS: CREATING NEW LIFE PRODUCTS FROM YOUR WASTE WITH ASTON & JAMES

YOUR WASTE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY According to the UK government, we generate approximately 228 million tonnes of waste every year.

packaging. Your waste could be used to manufacture high quality ‘new life’ everyday products.

Not only does this cause damage to the environment, but it’s a massive waste of resource, costing businesses an increasing amount of money. The government is moving towards a ‘zero waste and circular economy’ meaning that it will be compulsory to reduce, reuse and recycle.

How will this solution benefit your business?

With this in mind, Aston & James have partnered with Remarkable Eco Solutions to manage these waste resources, to maximise the benefit to you and minimise the impact of your waste on the UK environment.

Who are Remarkable?

Remarkable are a pioneering UK based fully integrated recycling and manufacturing company with over 15 years’ experience in waste material management. They are not a waste disposal company but market leaders in looking at ways to re-use materials through innovation and design.

Their solutions provide a unique and exciting initiative, developed around your waste streams; from paper to card, from rubber to plastic and even your 74

There is a growing need to be environmentally responsible. Implementing an innovative eco solution will not only enhance your current CSR and environmental policy, it will also provide huge marketing narrative, credibility and a way for you to differentiate your business.

“Your waste could be used to manufacture high quality ‘new life’ everyday products” According to The Environmental Agency, businesses that proactively address their impact on the environment are more competitive, profitable and sustainable. This creates a win-win solution for both the economy and the environment. www.b4-business.com

ASTON & JAMES WILL PROVIDE ‘THE VISION’, ‘THE PLAN’ & ‘THE ACTION’ The team at Aston & James will work with you to assess, identify, utilise and manage your businesses waste as a resource, both responsibly and robustly. After conducting an audit, Aston & James will provide recommendations and then offer a number of solutions.

Step 1 – Collect Once the correct solution is agreed, Aston & James will manage your business waste. You can either call them when you are ready for a collection, or we can implement a reoccurring collection schedule.

Step 2 – Prepare Your waste will then be prepared before being managed into ‘new life’ products. Materials are ground into flakes, compounded and blended, heated and cooled and formed into even sized pellets.

Step 3 – Remanufacture Once your waste has been re-engineered, it can then be used to make new life products; plastic cups and toner cartridges into pencils, CD cases into rulers, tyres into pencil cases and office chairs into pads, are just a few of the many possibilities.

Step 4 – Return Once your waste has been turned back into office products, they can be sold back to you, ready to be used by your business once again.

As well as offering you the full eco solution, Aston & James also have over 90 Remarkable products in their full office supplies catalogue.

To find out more about the Remarkable Eco Solution or other ways Aston & James can help you, please do get in touch today and speak to a member of the Aston & James team on 01993 706900 or e-mail makeadifference@aston-james.co.uk www.aston-james.co.uk

COLLECT

“plastic cups and

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EM

E

RETURN

PARE PRE

R

A N U FA C T U

R

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toner cartridges into pencils, CD cases into rulers, tyres into pencil cases and office chairs into pads, are just a few of the many possibilities”

news

CIS LTD ACQUIRES BRIDGE3 IT SYSTEMS, SUPPORT AND CLOUD SERVICES Computing Information Systems Ltd (CIS) is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement to acquire the IT Systems Support and Cloud Services from Bridge3 (www.bridge3.co.uk). CIS has worked closely with Bridge3 as our leading reseller of Private Cloud. The working relationship has been secured through this acquisition to the benefit of both Bridge3 customers and current CIS customers.

The change is effective from January 1st 2014, and all IT support system contracts and Cloud Services contracts will be internally transferred and honoured by CIS with pricing, terms and rates unaltered for ease of continuity.

We are also very pleased that the entire Bridge3 IT Systems & Support team will now become staff members at CIS, this ensures that specific knowledge of individual customers systems and requirements are maintained going forward.

Current CIS and Bridge3 support contract customers and Private Cloud customers will therefore have more resource and experience to draw upon to develop and maintain their business IT Systems.

We hope to share the gains in both product and service portfolio on offer to you as a customer of the combined organisations, Bridge3 and CIS have shared the same service and consultancy approach and aim to build on this strength

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with further staff and systems in place.

CIS will continue the Bridge3 operation in full from its original Hereford location, adding a further support location to increase our national service offering and another ‘local’ market to work with.

“We welcome our new staff and customers and feel this relationship will be to the benefit of everyone involved. New customers will see a larger, more diverse support and service offering and existing customers a more structured team with larger support staff and a faster delivery of the same quality solutions." ‘vBubble’ – CIS’ Private Cloud offering has gained many new clients over 2013 with growth over 400% in the last 12 Months. "The Bridge3 addition boosts our revenue even further and enables us a much faster and controlled growth of staff and systems, we expect 2014 to be an excellent year for CIS and our customers.” – Richard Marsh, Director CIS. Please feel free to direct any questions to either of the directors of CIS richard@cisltd.com or nls@cisltd.com or 01367 700555. www.cisltd.com

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HOW TO AVOID BEING INVOLVED IN FAMILY DISPUTES CONCERNING A LOVED ONE’S WILL OR ESTATE At the start of this year The Independent newspaper reported that there had been a 700% increase in the number of probate claims issued in the High Court. That encompasses a number of different types of dispute concerning the assets or estate of a deceased person.

This was at one time a relatively narrow area of experience for the public at large. Often such disputes were concentrated among a demographic of wealthier than average families. However, an ever increasing number of ordinary people are having to seek legal advice about, or becoming embroiled in, disputes regarding a deceased family member’s estate.

We know from our experience of helping people that a relatively low proportion of disputes which are referred to solicitors are actually litigated.

Therefore for every case where High Court claims are issued, there may be another twenty or thirty where a dispute is resolved without Court proceedings, possibly at mediation or through another form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”).

Undoubtedly the number of disputes of this type is at an all time high. Why is this, and what kind of claims are being made?

It is undoubtedly a factor in the increasing number of disputes, whether litigated or not, that family structures are becoming more diverse. Broader social changes over the last five decades have seen an increase in second and third marriages, and it is now more common for a person to have children from more than one relationship.

Disputes essentially arise as to where the deceased’s assets should go, and the assets may well be substantial in value. There has over the same period been an ongoing and incremental rise in the value of property, and an increasing proportion of the population who own property. There is, put simply, more wealth to argue about, and a greater likelihood that arguments will arise as people try to preserve their inheritance.

Many claims involve disputed validity of Wills, often on grounds of testamentary capacity. The increase in life expectancy combined with the increasing number of elderly people suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia related illnesses, has no doubt contributed to the number of disputes which arise about whether an elderly testator was mentally capable of making a will in accordance with the legal tests applied by the Courts.

Other disputes, in fragmented or complex families, often stem from suspicions and estrangements which arise between different branches of the family. Wills may also be challenged on grounds of undue influence, and lack of “knowledge and approval”. One child may assert 78

that a sibling, or a half sibling, or a new partner has persuaded or coerced a testator to include or exclude other family members when making a new Will. More rarely, but in a not insignificant number of cases, family members may even question whether a signature has been forged, particularly on a homemade Will.

Similarly, there has been an increase in claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Under this legislation a number of categories of applicant can make a claim against an estate for “reasonable financial provision”. The categories of people who can claim include, amongst others, the children of a deceased person, their co-habiting partner of more than 2 years standing, or a person “treated as a child of the family.....in relation to a marriage or civil partnership”.

“There is, put simply, more

wealth to argue about, and a greater likelihood that arguments will arise as people try to preserve their inheritance.

”

Claims under the Inheritance Act can also be made where a person has not made a Will. If a person dies intestate the intestacy rules are such that they may not have provided for a person very close to them. This often is the case, for example, in the case of the cohabiting partner of a deceased person.

Ironically, it is not only an increase in wealth but, conversely, straitened financial circumstances, which may give rise to more probate related disputes. It can make it more imperative for a person to receive an expected inheritance which they were relying upon receiving, and so lead them to challenge a Will.

In claims under the Inheritance Act, an adult child who is making an application for financial provision may have a better chance of succeeding in obtaining an award if they are in poor financial health. A Court will consider a number of factors including the applicant’s financial resources and financial needs when assessing whether to make an award from the estate. During the recession the number of individuals who have fallen www.b4-business.com

B4 ADVICE

“Some of the problems

which families encounter as a result of disputed estates can be resolved by careful Will making

�

on hard times due to business failure, high unemployment, or the unavailability of full time work, has added to a tide of claimants who are making claims under the Inheritance Act based upon financial need.

Some of the problems which families encounter as a result of disputed estates can be resolved by careful Will making. However, research indicates that in 2011 one third of over 55s had not made a Will, rising to 58% among the general adult population of all ages. At the same time rates of co-habitation have doubled since 1996.

There has also been a large increase in the number of people making homemade Wills, and in poorly drafted Will forms downloaded from the internet.

Where a Will has not been made professionally, and there has not been a proper assessment by a solicitor of, say, testamentary capacity, or evidence recorded of the reasons for the testator’s intentions, it is more likely that a Will may be disputed, and less likely that the dispute can be resolved at an early stage.

Therefore, for the present, it seems likely that the levels of probate related disputes will remain high.

This will increasingly involve more and more ordinary families and individuals in the legal process. It is to be hoped that the vast majority of those disputes can, with specialist legal assistance, be resolved long before they become part of the next set of High Court statistics for litigated claims.

For further information on how to deal with the issues raised in this article, please contact Katharine Riley, Senior Associate in the Contentious Trusts, Wills and Probate department at Henmans Freeth LLP on 01865 781062 or email: katharine.riley@henmansfreeth.co.uk. www.henmansfreeth.co.uk www.b4-business.com

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events

‘Spend an evening at one of Oxford’s most Iconic Venues’

THE BODLEIAN LIBRARY Wednesday 2nd April 2014 6:00pm - 8:00pm Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 3BG. Dress code: Smart casual Any enquiries should be directed to Tina Rosser 01865 742211 or events@b4-business.com

ABOUT OUR HOSTS Oxford libraries are among the most celebrated in the world. Not only for their incomparable collections of books and manuscripts, but also for their buildings, some of which have remained in continuous use since the Middle Ages. Among them the Bodleian, chief among the University’s libraries, has a special place. First opened to scholars in 1602, it incorporates an earlier library erected by the University in the fifteenth century to house books donated by Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester. Since then it has expanded, slowly at first but with increasing momentum over the last 400 years, to become the second-largest library in the UK after the British Library with over 11 million volumes on 120miles of shelving.

But the core of the old buildings has remained intact. These buildings are still used by students and scholars from all over the world, and they attract an ever-increasing number of visitors.

We would like to invite you to experience this splendid venue at a drinks reception on Wednesday 2 April 2014 from 6-8pm, when we will also be able to take small groups up to the atmospheric Duke Humfrey’s Library and inside the iconic circular domed ‘Radcliffe Camera’.

REGISTRATION Please register for the event here: http://www.regonline.com/ b4bodleian2014

To find out more about B4 please visit WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM t: 01865 742211 e: events@b4-business.com a: The Firs, Headington Hill, Oxford, OX3 0BT

B4 SERVICES

IN SAFE HANDS

HRH Her Majesty the Queen, CEO's of global city companies, mums, dads, brides, grooms and friends have each trusted their special event to Michael Ashton and his team at Elegant Cuisine.

In the envious position of receiving nearly 85% of all work from repeat business and word of mouth referrals, Michael has created a true recipe for success and it keeps on rolling.

From his early beginnings of waiting on tables, creating sumptuous dishes in the heat of the kitchen through to creating a business that fast approached 8m turnover, there's little surprise that Michael knows a thing or two about how to make the "people who make you happy" - "happy".

Michael is clear on his vision: creating wonderful teams with a likeminded desire. His deep-rooted passion for creating food and events which leave a lasting impression, are delivered on time, every time - without exception and for all the right reasons.

In the early days Michael learnt a lot working with Forte PLC in some of their most prestigious hotels, and was quickly identified as one to watch and nurture for the future. Quickly developed to spearhead Forte's foray in the events arena, Michael cut his teeth learning how to create small intimate dining experiences for the elite as well as global televised events feeding thousands where quality and style was just as important. It's this experience that put Michael in good stead for taking his first tentative steps and realising his dream of starting his own business, Elegant Cuisine, some 15 years ago.

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Michael knew early on that to succeed the people he surrounded himself with and trusted, would help him forge long lasting relationships with the many clients that have come to know and respect him for as long as 25 years. Michael is no stranger to a challenge, frequently trusted to cater for people and their events in some of the most challenging and unexpected environments, and always with great success and panache.

“continually seeking perfection and improvement on the last event - it's about taking positive baby steps to achieve the end goal perfection

”

Michael Ashton, Managing Director - Elegant Cuisine

With many testimonials from happy clients and guests who attend the many events and meetings Michael and his team cater for, run into the thousands. They are always thankful, frequently amazed and always end in a referral.

Michael isn't glib about his or his team's success, as the team benefit from the success of the company too. Every day is a new day, continually seeking perfection and improvement on the last event - it's about taking positive baby steps to achieve the end goal - perfection.

From hearty breakfasts, sumptuous buffets, elegant banquets, unique weddings, delightful christenings, formal business lunches and amazing product launches - for 4 to 30,000 people, Michael and his team go out of their way to impress, please and satisfy - and always with a smile.

Michael is still as involved as he has ever been, continuing to look after his private clients and customer at many of Oxfordshire’s finest venues such as Rhodes House, The Bodleian Library, Natural History Museum, Caswell House and many others, in fact anywhere where great food and service is required for discerning customers you will find Michael and his team.

Elegant Cuisine’s team is always ready and available to play their part in making your event or party the special occasion you always imagined it would be. www.elegantcuisine.com

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K WEST

HOTEL & SPA In the first of two London hotel reviews, B4’s Editor stayed at the impressive K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd’s Bush, conveniently located for the annual visit to Westfield shopping centre. Oozing style, a fun and vibrant ambience and buckets of class, K West Hotel & Spa provided the perfect destination at the end of a busy week.

Now here’s a first, we left Oxford on time, aiming to be in Shepherd’s Bush for 6pm. We had a good run in to London for a Friday night and rolled up to the hotel bang on time for our show around with Lucy from Luxe PR. The hotel’s contemporary vibe attracts those from the music and media industries who enjoy the proximity to the nearby O2 Shepherds Bush Empire and the Apollo. The hotel lobby merges with the stunning bar and a real Friday night feel filled the air and I made a mental note to get to the room and

Hill, Portobello Road and Kensington, all just a short walk away, but the big one, Westfield, is literally just over the road.

As we were shown to our rooms, I was stunned at just how large the room was. A defining characteristic of all 220 guestrooms is the generous space, with the smallest being just under 300 sq ft. The rooms have luxurious, oversized beds and a calming colour scheme of soft taupes, creams and browns. Modern touches including LCD flat screen TVs, sandblasted glass, and original artwork

areas, which are fitted with Bose surround sound entertainment systems, a 42” plasma screen television and ultra-comfy sofas. Two-metre square beds and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are also staples in the suites. Even the bathrooms have been fitted with designer Philippe Starck doubleended baths and fixtures.

K Lounge replicates the city’s buzzing nightlife.

Every Friday and Saturday, top DJs play from 10pm until 2am, while the hotel’s expert mixologists create exotic cocktails for a distinctly cool crowd.

“Every Friday and Saturday, top DJs play from 10pm until 2am, while the hotel’s expert mixologists create exotic cocktails for a distinctly cool crowd” come straight back down to order a quick beer before dinner… no I don’t need to make mental notes, these sorts of tasks don’t usually slip my mind!

As well as Westfield, K West is close to some of London’s most fashionable areas such as Notting

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give the rooms a distinctive K West stamp. Given our proximity to central London, the rooms provide incredible value for money.

At the upper end of the scale, the six spectacular K Suites offer the ultimate experience. Dramatic walls of glass divide the bedrooms from the lounge

The chic venue features a stunning black granite bar with intricate mother-of-pearl detailing, illuminated by two impressive drop-column chandeliers. In the daytime, K Lounge provides a stylish retreat to relax and chill out. But at night it provided the perfect target for that beer, oh, and that g and t, that coke and that lemonade – yeah

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B4 R&R

thanks kids for your help, I’ll manage all four drinks from the bar to the room…..I almost deserved a cheeky ‘starter for ten’ beer before making my way back to the room!

Perched on a mezzanine floor above the bar, K

pudding found its way on to the table at the end of an extremely enjoyable evening during which the ground rules were laid for the next day’s shop, rules which no less than 12 hours later, as we revisited the Kanteen for breakfast, had been, in the grand manner of two goldfish, completely forgotten.

unique ‘Sun Meadow’ offers specialist light therapy to treat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the ‘Vanity K’ nail bar is the place to be pampered. The spa also features a twinkling hydrotherapy pool, sanarium, sauna, dry flotation tank, aromatic herbal steam room and fully equipped K Fit gymnasium.

“K Spa introduced the first ‘Snow Paradise’ to London, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments” West’s modern restaurant, Kanteen, offers high quality food and a sociable atmosphere.

Experienced Head Chef, Eduart Berisha has created an inventive menu focusing on modern British cuisine to satisfy the cosmopolitan clientele. Ever changing artwork adorns the walls and is available to buy, not that we did, I was terrified about our trip to ‘shopping heaven’ as Abi put it. Your heaven maybe, my hell.

We enjoyed an excellent meal including an Angus beef burger, roast belly of pork and a couple of chargrilled sirloin steaks. Somehow a sticky toffee

Nonetheless, we were set up for the day with a hearty breakfast and enough fruit and naughty pastries to keep us going until late in to the afternoon.

Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to try out K West’s Spa, but judging by its awards, it sounded fantastic. Awarded the top rating of “5 Bubbles” in the 2013 Good Spa Guide, K West’s holistic spa offers a range of exclusive treatments. K Spa introduced the first ‘Snow Paradise’ to London, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments. The

With prices at K West starting from £125 per room per night, and the K Suites from £540 per night, I challenge you to find a more relaxing, more exciting venue for your London trip. Just don’t tell the others you’re so close to Westfield because that’s where it all goes horribly wrong. www.k-west.co.uk

“As we were shown to our rooms, I was stunned at just how large the room was. A defining characteristic of all 220 guestrooms is the generous space

”

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COMMERCIAL LENDING: GROWING YOUR PROPERTY PORTFOLIO Peter Rogers, Property Relationship Director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking in Oxfordshire, comments on how customers can continue to grow their property portfolio Over the past six months, there has been an increasing awareness that the UK economy is now in recovery mode and that many regional property markets, specifically in Oxfordshire and the South East, have above average levels of capital and investors compared to other regions.

This positive attitude and confidence in growth prospects was highlighted in the bi-annual Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking Property Matters survey.

The study asks the opinion of financial decision makers across the South East about industry confidence and the growth of the residential property market.

It found that 48 per cent of businesses in the region expected to see an uplift in business activity with a further 52 per cent expecting their property portfolio to exceed their prior business expectations.

With recent optimism, many property firms will be considering their property investment options and looking to expand their rental property portfolios.

This could include acquiring stock to renovate and then sell onwards as demand from owner occupiers increases.

With this in mind, now may be the time to consider alternative sources of financing. If a business is looking to purchase either an old or new property then the Government’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme, supported through the bank, may be a useful tool.

The initiative was conceived to help increase growth in the property sector and has been active for the past year. It was launched to provide £3.5 billion of additional investment to help people into home ownership, aiming to support up to 74,000 home buyers.

offers a one per cent discount on the life of a business loan, useful for first time buyers who can save money on their investment or reinvest the saving into another project. By September this year, we had lent £6.3 billion to small and medium-sized firms under the scheme.

There is also support for those who have created a buy-to-let residential portfolio but now want to do more deals or are looking at more complex investments. If a property firm has 10 or more properties, Commercial Finance may be a useful route into investing further.

“With recent optimism,

many property firms will be considering their property investment options and looking to expand their rental property portfolios.

This could include acquiring stock to renovate and then sell onwards as demand from owner occupiers increases

”

The scheme is providing a boost to the UK’s construction sector, but it is still vital for developers to have access to the funding that they need, encouraging first-time buyers to take the leap of purchasing their own home.

Asset based facilities, which include invoice discounting and factoring, have increased in popularity in recent years as an alternative to traditional loans and overdrafts. They allow businesses to draw money against their sales invoices before a customer has actually paid, so they are still able to access finance in the meantime in order to meet their own outgoings.

Lloyds is also a supporter of the Governmentbacked Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) which

It is always important to consider the risk factors that lenders need to think about prior to investing

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in a customer’s portfolio before using the Commercial Finance route, such as whether they have sufficient equity or cashflow to meet lending criteria and if they maintain sufficient financial records.

Once a company has a clearer idea of the most appropriate form of support, it is important to spend some time creating a strong business plan with financial forecasts for the next three to five years. Businesses will also need to anticipate any issues, opportunities or problems which may require additional finance going forward and factor these into its planning.

This is an important first step that will give both companies and their bank a clear view of which options will meet the business’ needs in the short, medium and long-term. A business plan is the place where a company can come to life, so be creative and demonstrate a drive and passion.

Beyond a good business plan, firms also need to be able to demonstrate what the funding will be used for, with a clear outline of how they will pay the money back, and over how long.

Transparency is a vital part of this process, and remember, a good banking partner will then be able to offer guidance on which funding solutions will work best in a business’ current situation.

Our customers seek a relationship with us based on our specialism in the property market and the support of our dedicated relationship managers.

Whatever a property firm’s circumstances, it is important to explore all the opportunities available and be confident in the fact that there are options out there to achieve business plans and goals.

Contact: Peter.Rogers1@lloydsbanking.com or visit Lloyds Bank plc, Black Horse House, Wallbrook Court, North Hinksey Lane, Botley, Oxford, OX2 0QS. www.lloydsbanking.com

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B4 PROPERTY

“Once a company has a clearer idea of the most

appropriate form of support, it is important to spend some time creating a strong business plan with financial forecasts for the next three to five years

�

Peter Rogers, Property Relationship Director at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, Oxfordshire

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85

B4 SPOTLIGHT

Michael Speight - Oxford Castle Quarter manager

THE SNOW FACTORY “What is it with the weather system here at Oxford Castle Quarter ?”, I wondered to myself. After an Indian Summer which had seen the beach come to the Market Square, we were now due an Arctic Winter, with 2ft of snow promised by the weekend. On second thoughts though, that wouldn't sound quite so farfetched….were it not for the fact that this particular snowfall was coming complete with its own contingent of elves.

That’s Oxford Castle Quarter all over though - surprising, innovative, and diverse. From Shakespeare in the Summer, to Ghost Tours at Halloween, to the ping-pong tables sprinkled around at random (sorry, whiff-whaff tables for the local intelligensia), this is a space that refuses to be pigeon-holed. Which is ironic, as for much of its life, Oxford Castle Quarter has been just that - a place of confinement and of uniformity.

For a person such as myself, who loves information and trivia, the prison tour was fascinating (fact : wardens were named 'screws' after a Victorian punishment wheel, whose resistance was altered by weights & screws), with a traditional museum exhibition floor, containing grisly stories (such as the Catholic bookseller in Henry VIII's reign, who had to cut off his own ears which had just been nailed to a board in the courtyard) and macabre momentos (the original gallows, last used in 1952).

“We get a lot of foreign visitors, and a lot of school children - they really respond to a more visual experience. The character actors help bring the whole experience to life - each has their own style, and recreates prison life as it was in their day.”

“We really want to re-engage with the

public - Oxford Castle Quarter should be seen as a space where it is possible to do anything, the only limit is your imagination

”

Michael Speight - Oxford Castle Quarter manager

For the more visual, there are character actors who accompany tour groups around the prison, ranging from Norman knights, to Georgian highwaymen, to Victorian prison wardens.

Michael Speight , the 6ft 4” Castle Manager (no, not a character actor - the real deal), explained to me how important it was to engage the visitors, both old and young alike.

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As I follow Michael up the narrow stone staircase to the top of St George’s Tower (fact : always spiralling anti-clockwise, so defenders would have their sword arm free), he tells me of his plans for the prison in 2014, without pausing for breath, and whilst ducking adroitly under the tiny doorways (fact : not because people were tiny back in those days, but to retain heat….erm, I think I’d better stop with the facts now, before I start to bore everyone).

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Sam Pace - Operations Manager

“anyone wishing to hold an event here,

has everything all together in the same place, with no time wasted travelling between venues... not to be under-estimated when trying to transport people across Oxford

”

Michael Speight - Oxford Castle Quarter manager

“We really want to re-engage with the public - Oxford Castle Quarter should be seen as a space where it is possible to do anything, the only limit is your imagination. For schoolchildren, we can devise tours specifically around their curriculum, for families we will have ‘Summer Sundays’ with a whole host of cultural events, and for corporates, we can host conferences in our boardrooms, product launches in the courtyard, or drinks receptions down in the crypt.”

Bang ! Evidently, I am not quite as agile as Michael in descending the 101 stairs leading down to the afore-mentioned crypt. This has the distinction of being first seat of learning in Oxford, presided over by the monks of Osney Abbey, a fair old commute away by foot from over in Witney. Hmmph, students today they don’t know how lucky they are ! In fact, students were some of the first prisoners here in Oxford Castle Quarter, back in C13-14, but since the colleges had to pay for their upkeep every day they were incarcerated, they soon built their own prison….so I guess you could say that student fees have always been an emotive issue?!

Sorry, I’d better stay away from both facts and opinions. Given Michael’s request for people to approach him with imaginative ideas, I asked him for some of the most outlandish requests he’d received.

“Well, we do have some groups who like to hire the venue at night, to conduct www.b4-business.com

seances, hunt for ghosts…etc. And, sticking with the supernatural theme, we’ve had requests for weddings to be held here, the latest being a Harry Potter-themed extravaganza….but we had to decline that one as we don’t have a license” Feeling rather parched, we headed over to Cafe 1071 (no, I’m not going to tell you the fact behind this name) for coffee & cake, and a chat about the rest of the attractions outside the Castle itself.

“It's important to remember that Oxford Castle Quarter is all one site, which incorporates everything found within the castle and prison walls - that is the attractions themselves, the arts & cultural events, plus the restaurants and bars and, of course, Malmaison hotel for those looking for accommodation.

This is exactly what makes the space so flexible, unique, and diverse - anyone wishing to hold an event here, has everything all together in the same place, with no time wasted travelling between venues....not to be under-estimated when trying to transport people across Oxford !”

I walked back through the Quarters, admiring the hustle and bustle of activity, before pausing for a quick browse around the O3 Art Gallery. I did sneak a final quick peek behind me, looking for signs of the impending Snow Factory, but it seemed that, for now, Elvish had left the building. www.oxfordcastlequarter.com 87

WINDRUSH COURT Transport Way, Watlington Road, Oxford FOR SALE/TO LET 71,955 sq ft

Headquarters office building with fully fitted laboratories on a secure site.

EPC Rating – D (100)

BANNISTER HOUSE Langford Locks, Kidlington TO LET/FOR SALE 2,379 – 14,685 sq ft Prominent Grade A office building well located opposite Oxford Airport.

EPC Rating – C (67)

NEW BARCLAY HOUSE Botley Road, Oxford TO LET 3,739 – 16,269 sq ft Modern offices with excellent access to the A34 and Oxford City Centre.

EPC Rating – D(88)

VOGUE BUSINESS PARK Berinsfield TO LET 15,042 – 38,900 sq ft

Fully racked warehouse with offices and showroom, all set within a secure and self- contained site.

EPC Rating – D(84) & C(59)

unrivalled local and regional expertise Richard Venables Tom Barton Duncan May

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

news Oxford’s Growing Pains.....

In the last quarter there have 3 announcements which will have a radical impact on the future of Oxford economic development.

Firstly, the news in September that the Westgate Alliance, the joint venture of Land Securities Group and Crown Estates, have submitted an outline planning application for the long awaited Westgate redevelopment proposing new shops including a 100,000 sq ft John Lewis and 122 new homes. The aim is still to have this new development open by end 2017.

Secondly, in early November the Office of Rail Regulation gave the go ahead for the replacement of the Botley Road bridge and Oxford station redevelopment estimated at £70M to accommodate the East –West Rail project that will see trains connecting Oxford to Reading and Bedford, as well as the new Marylebone service. These works are estimated to be finished by 2019.

Thirdly, at the end of November Oxford City Council published the Oxpens Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD, which sets out guidance on how the policy framework in the West End Area Action Plan can be interpreted for the Oxpens site. This follows a period of public consultation over the summer and adds a further degree of detail and sets out the Council’s

aspirations for the area. The site which includes land owned by Oxford City Council and British Rail Board amongst other has been master planned to accommodate over 750,000 sq ft of development in total including housing, student accommodation, office space and a hotel. The development timeframe depends on many other factors but could see development occurring from 2017 to 2019.

This proposed development is to be welcomed and will significantly enhance the Western quarter of Oxford which has stagnated for many years and is an embarrassment as a gateway to Oxford from the station. With the exception of the Said Business School this area has had little investment for decades. Oxford has a very bright future and all these developments will firmly return Oxford to the map as a place to shop, to travel to and to enjoy.

However, development does not come without pain and it is likely that there will be significant disruption to the west of Oxford during the next decade as we hope that the economy continues to grow. There is no gain without pain but it will require very careful management to ensure that the disruption to existing businesses in Oxford is minimised. The long term outcome though is very exciting.

Deals, Deals and more Deals...

Old Station Way, Eynsham Sale of 29,556 sq ft to Polar Ventures

23 Blacklands Way, Abingdon Letting of 2,649 sq ft to Green Thumb

Midland House, Botley Acquisition of 16,500 sq ft of offices for Darbys

4650 Kingsgate - Oxford Business Park Letting of 5,181 sq ft to Lifecell

C1 7600 The Quorum - Oxford Business Park Letting of 2,006 sq ft to Blackberry Clinic

Golden Cross Court - Cornmarket Street, Oxford Letting of 645 sq ft to Office Angels

18 Nuffield Way - Abingdon Letting of 31,000 sq ft to Atlas Copco

177 Milton Park - Abingdon Sale of 51,319 sq ft

6 Station Field Industrial Estate, Kidlington Letting of 1,350 sq ft to Solar Designs

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www.vslandp.com

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B4 SERVICES

CITY AUDIO VISUAL

THE FOURTH EMERGENCY SERVICE A slightly flustered Matt Wright sat down with Peter Gunn, Director of City Audio Visual, to unlock the secrets of success at Oxford’s premier audio-visual company, whilst witnessing a masterclass in multi-tasking.

Hands up - I was late and hassled. Meanwhile though, the 'Operations Room' at City Audio Visual, was a picture of calm efficiency, coordinating equipment and technicians between 7 different events taking place that evening - an extra sound system for the Christmas Light Festival at Waddesdon Manor, 2 plasma screens for a meeting at Oxford City Council, a complete audio visual package going out to Rhodes House [pause for breath], a PA package for Divinity School, audio equipment for a presentation at The Old Swan and Minster Mill.......all despatched before I'd had chance to sit down.

Once the rush had subsided, I caught a few moments with Peter, to find out more about his business.

I’d read somewhere that City Audio Visual, or CAV

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as it’s known to those in the industry, have been described as the 'Fourth Emergency Service', the company that people could always rely upon when

“People usually know what they want to achieve, but find out that they don't know how to do it themselves, or lack the right equipment….often on the day of the event itself!

”

stuck - is it always this busy here at CAV? Peter chuckled, “We do get a lot of last-minute calls.

People usually know what they want to achieve,

but find out that they don't know how to do it themselves, or lack the right equipment….often on the day of the event itself! That’s where we get called in - to come and sort everything out, though it does work far more smoothly if we’re involved at the outset.”

What about the man himself? Peter started out as a satellite technician (industrial and military - this was well before the days of Sky!), and from there branched out into the audio visual field, setting up CAV just over 20 years ago. The company has expanded from a 1-man band to one of the preeminent audio-visual companies in Oxfordshire, whose distinctive silver vans are always seen around town. Peter smiled, "People think we've got around 40 vans, because they are seen round and about so often....it's not quite that many, but I will say that we are looking to expand further in 2014."

What is driving this increase in demand? "It's hard

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to pin it down to just one factor, but with the reliance nowadays on digital technology, we find that for Live Events, people love the security of having a technician onsite, who can run the event, record it, be on hand to sort out any problems… .etc” What about smaller events though, say 25 people?

"We always have equipment going out on hire it's a big part of our business. Where we like to think we're different, is in the range of services we offer and the back-up we provide, whether it's a series of off-site presentations in a hired meeting room, or a full-blown award ceremony with live satellite links. For every client, we will advise on the suitability of the equipment for the chosen venue, and the level of support they are likely to require hence, we can offer a service to suit every budget, and usually end up saving them money by avoiding costly mistakes.”

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You say you offer a bespoke service, but doesn't everybody claim that? "Maybe, but it's one thing to make a claim, and another to deliver. For example,

“For every client, we will

advise on the suitability of the equipment for the chosen venue, and the level of support they are likely to require - hence, we can offer a service to suit every budget

”

suitable venue hire, book the room (usually at better rates than they will achieve), provide the right equipment, supply a technician to operate the equipment and run the event. All the client has to do, is to come to us with a proposal, and we take of everything else” So, if you've ever stood staring at a blank projector screen, wondering where your presentation has disappeared to, or waited nervously on stage whilst hotel staff scurried around to sort out the deafening feedback on your microphone, maybe you should think about calling the 'fourth emergency service' next time you put on an event ? With a free consultation for B4 members and 10% off, the question should be "Can you afford not to?" www.cityav.co.uk

if somebody comes to us with a requirement, we can take care of everything for them - advise on

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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 GBDJMJUJFT mOF EJOJOH BOE JNQFDDBCMF TFSWJDF BMM QMBZ UIFJS QBrt in creating a memorable conference.

At A Glance t Dedicated Meeting and Conference Coordinators t $POGFrence facilities for up to 170

t $PNQMJNFOUBry water t 'VMMZ TUPDLFE TUBUJPOFry kit t 6TF PG MFJTVre facilities for overnight

t Executive boardrooms for 4 – 30

delegates – indoor pool, gymnasium,

t Extensively equipped to meet your

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requirements

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A HOTEL WITH CHARACTER The Oakley Court Hotel, Windsor Road, Water Oakley, Windsor, SL4 5UR Tel: 01753 609988 www.theoakleycourthotel.co.uk

B4 R&R

BANG & OLUFSEN INTRODUCES A MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN WIRELESS SOUND IN THREE NEW DESIGN ICONS Bang & Olufsen announces the launch of a new range of high-end wireless speakers. All three are distinctive proponents of Bang & Olufsen’s unique design idiom – and unlike anything you have ever seen. The all-digital active speakers leverage the new WiSA standard for multi-channel wireless sound to provide acoustic performance beyond anything you have heard without cables.

The untethered flexibility means that adding stunning sound to any room has never been easier. Wireless audio just got serious – and now sounds seriously good.

With the launch of three new wireless speakers, Bang & Olufsen once again confirms the brand’s dedication to outstanding acoustics, uncompromising design and craftsmanship, and technological innovation that makes life simpler for discerning users.

The new wireless line-up includes BeoLab 17, a place-anywhere compact speaker with outsize sound; BeoLab 18, the latest incarnation of Bang & Olufsen’s sculpturally iconic audio columns for walls or floor; and BeoLab 19, a radically redesigned subwoofer that pumps refined bass with a visceral punch – and looks too good to hide.

“These new speakers are at the vanguard of a new era of high-end sound,” says Lars Fredsgaard, Speaker Category Director at Bang & Olufsen. “Until now, speakers with this level of performance had to be wired. Our latest launch uses a robust wireless standard with enough bandwidth and channels to deliver a listening experience the way the artist intended it. Upgrading to premium sound – without downgrading your décor – is now available in three ways.”

All-new, inside and out While they have integrated the WiSA standard into the new speakers, Bang & Olufsen has also rethought practically everything about exterior design, custom-made components and dedicated digital sound engines.

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With an acoustic lens tweeter and 21-lamella front, available in solid oak as well as black or white, BeoLab 18 marks a quantum leap in the evolution of Bang & Olufsen’s signature column speakers.

BeoLab 17’s wedge-like form makes it easy to place anywhere from bookshelves to walls. And BeoLab 19, the subwoofer, draws on the extraordinary rigidity of a 12-faced dodecahedron and two drivers operating in-phase to eliminate unwanted vibrations.

All three speakers come equipped with new sound engines that include thermal protection, Adaptive Bass Linearization and a room position switch, so they deliver crystal-clear definition whatever you play on them and wherever you place them.

Immaculate Wireless Sound Bang & Olufsen is launching the three new speakers under its Immaculate Wireless Sound concept.

Sound that is reproduced as the artist intended it to be has long been a Bang & Olufsen hallmark.

With Immaculate Wireless sound, Bang & Olufsen brings this tradition of acoustic authenticity into the wireless age for the first time ever.

WiSA – the new wireless standard Since they run on the new WiSA standard, all you need to do is plug the active speakers into the mains in a room with any WiSA-compliant

transmitter in order to link wirelessly to your TV, Bluray player or set-top box.

For example, all Bang & Olufsen Immaculate Wireless Sound speakers work seamlessly, simply and spectacularly with the WiSA-updated BeoVision 11 television. With WiSA-compliant transmitters and receivers integrated into the physical and digital design, Bang & Olufsen now delivers unparalleled acoustic performance in a wireless surround setup.

Of course, you can also connect the new speakers with wires, just as you can add wireless speakers to an existing wired setup if so desired.

The Wireless Speaker and Sound Association (WiSA) platform utilizes the relatively uncongested 5.2–5.8 GHz range to avoid interference from other signals, and to provide enough bandwidth to stream 24-bit, uncompressed music at native sampling rates. WiSA is the first wireless system in the U-NII band that provides multi-channel performance – up to a full 7.1 surround configuration.

BeoLab 17, 18 and 19 wireless speakers will be available during the month of November at Bang & Olufsen of Oxford. www.bang-olufsen.com

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B4 R&R

FOOD TO SIGH FOR Matt Wright visited The Chequers at Burcot and sat down with owner Steve Sanderson and his partner Jade, to chat about food, wine, German kitchen equipment and the only non-Italian wine to ever receive a papal blessing.

As the rain sheeted down outside, the lure of the roaring log fire was hypnotic. Like rather bedraggled moths to a flame, we dragged ourselves onto the comfy red leather settees, and warmed ourselves before the dancing flames.

The Silver Fox & I were early for lunch, so we investigated the extensive draught beer selection, working our way along the generous bar, from left to right. We were about to reset left, when our impersonation of a human typewriter was thwarted, and we were shown to our table, tastefully decorated in black & cream, reflecting the Chequers motif.

Purely in the course of due diligence, we chose our wines by the glass - 16 of them, kept under vacuum in a Verre de Vin, not to mention the champagne and sparkling wines, catering for both the familiar and the adventurous.

So armed with an adventurous Brazilian Pinot Grigio and a familiar Australian Reserve Chardonnay, we tucked into our sublime starters from the adventurous set menu - crab risotto for me and mushrooms in truffle oil for the Silver Fox. A hulking fish pie then materialised, peeking out from beneath a duvet of fluffy mash, whilst my pork belly came delicately presented on a wooden

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platter, with triple-cooked chips nestling alongside in their own basket. I had been hoping for some leftovers, but the Fox had made a clean kill, and was now busy polishing the edges of his bowl, pronouncing himself extremely satisfied.

Meanwhile, the Rioja had mysteriously evaporated, so we moved on down the wine list, to an organic Sangiovese, pleasurably dry, with soft tannins.

It was still distinctly bandit weather outside, so rather than take any chances, we decided to stay put, and collect our just desserts. My popcorn pannacotta was attractively presented on a black slate slab, the creamy hinterland juxtaposed against the salted caramel outskirts. For somebody who ‘never eats dessert’, the Fox had done a surprisingly efficient job, only a few crumbs providing a clue to the deep purple blackberry and almond slice that had sat there a few moments previously.

As we lingered over coffee, conversation turned to the blackboard story of the Secret Highwayman behind us, whose harness was evidently discovered last century, hidden in the pub’s chimney breast. We decided that as smash and grab raids went, he could have done worse than to have simply stayed inside at The Chequers cooking of this quality, really is a steal. www.thechequers-burcot.co.uk

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MEET THE CHEF Q. Biggest Inspiration?

A. “Growing up it was Marco Pierre White, but now it’s probably a variety of chefs - Heston for his innovation, Brett Graham for his stunning use of flavours, and Tom Kerridge for what he's done for pub cooking. I really admire any chefs who promote good food to a wider audience, which is something I’m looking to do with primary schools in Oxford in 2014 - I think it's vital that children grow up with an understanding, and hopefully a passion, for what they eat.”

Q. Proudest Achievement?

A. “Anytime I launch a new menu... but then I get bored quite easily! [Then, after some prompting from his partner Jade] Well, I took over a tired pub, where all the food was microwaved, did it up all by myself, and turned it into a food destination venue, where everything is made fresh, on-site, and in a top-end restaurant kitchen.”

Q. Favourite food?

A. “I grew up in a South London, surrounded by many different cooking cultures, so I've always been fascinated by food. I guess I'd have to say my favourite food was anything my Mum used to cook - those early childhood memories are so important to me, as they formed the basis of my understanding of flavours.

That feeling of 'home cooking nostalgia' is something I aspire to recreate in my restaurant.”

Q. Favourite kitchen gadget?

A. “Oh, there are lots, but at the moment it’s probably my Thermomix, a German machine which basically does everything; cooks, chops, steams, can be used to be make custards, sauces, stock... I could go on... but I'd better stop there!.”

Q. You have a very impressive wine list - Why so extensive?

A. “Well, I love wine... we both love wine! The list has been painstakingly put together - we use 3 different wine suppliers to ensure the best in class, and there are some really interesting wines on our list, including the only Spanish wine that has ever been bought by the Vatican.”

Q. What does 2014 hold for The Chequers?

A. “We want to keep building upon our reputation for great food, but we’re also looking to add accommodation - if all goes to plan, we’ll get have 8 rooms by Summer 2014.”

Q. Finally, a couple of phrases to describe The Chequers A. “Everyday special occasions” “Passionate people trying to go places”

“‘Locally-sourced’ is in danger of

becoming an over-used cliché. We make every effort, but it has to be good enough - it’s quite easy to cook well with great produce, but you can’t do much without it

”

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The Ambassadors Club BECOME AN AMBASSADOR AND BENEFIT FROM AMAZING DISCOUNTS AND GREAT DEALS FROM OTHER B4 MEMBERS MARKETINGCO

STUPPLES CHANDLER GARVEY

Free

10% Discount

Business development mentoring session

On all agency and professional fees Stupples Chandler Garvey is a prominent firm of Regional Commercial Property Consultants with offices in High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Amersham and Slough.

We help small business owners to achieve the clarity, focus and structure they need to attract customers and grow their business.

C: Michael Garvey | E: mg@stuppleschandlergarvey.com | T: 01494 460 250 | W: www.stuppleschandlergarvey.com

C: Jackie Jarvis | E: Jackie@marketingco.co.uk | T: 01491 833222 | W: www.a1limited.co.uk

BEAR AND RAGGED STAFF

OXFORD UNIVERSITY RFC

50% Off

15% Off

OURFC Supporters Club Membership

On your food bill The Bear is now in a position to offer a full suite of services to the discerning traveler whether on business or just looking for a home away from home for a few days.

Oxford University Rugby Football Club (OURFC) has a long and illustrious history of sporting distinction and remains one of the world's leading and most renowned amateur rugby clubs.

C: Mark Greenwood | E: enquiries@bearandraggedstaff.com | T: 01865 862 329 | W: www.bearandraggedstaff.com

C: Tim Stevens | E: tim.stevens@sport.ox.ac.uk | T: 01865 432000 | W: www.sport.ox.ac.uk

BROWNS

STUDIO 8

10% Off

Complimentary House Wine

On standard prices

With Lunch & Dinner Monday - Friday Enjoy the sophisticated sound of great live piano-playing at Browns Oxford – the perfect accompaniment for drinks and dinner.

Studio8 Provide professional photography and video services within Oxford and the UK. We are proud to be B4’s preferred photographers.

Subjects can include: People, Products, Interior, Location and more.

C: Simon Stonehouse | T: 01865 511 995 W: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/locations/oxford/

C: Clark Wiseman | E: info@studio-8.co.uk | T: 01865 842525 | W: www.studio-8.co.uk

|

CITY AUDIO VISUAL

10% Off

Equipment Hire

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LADY MARGARET HALL

10% Off

Any accommodation & Meeting Bookings

City Audio Visual Limited, Oxford’s leading specialists in audio visual hire, sales, installation and live event support.

Lady Margaret Hall is an academic community, utterly committed to research and scholarship and to effective, highly personalised teaching and learning for students from all backgrounds.

C: Katie Mildenhall | E: info@cityav.co.uk | T: 01865 722800 | W: www.cityav.co.uk

C: Bill Kemp | E: lodge@lmh.ox.ac.uk | T: 01865 611079 | W: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

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The Ambassadors Card This is a new benefit for B4 Ambassadors. Receive your personalised card in the post which will entitle you to benefit from amazing discounts and great deals from other B4 Members. Why not make us an offer? In addition to benefiting from other member offers, why not include your offer in the scheme?

Promote a benefit to over 200 B4 Ambassadors and, depending on the nature of the offer, this can be extended (at your request) to all employees in the Ambassador’s company if you would like to reach a wider audience.

OXFORD EVENT HIRE

10% Off

Equipment Hire

MONKEY ISLAND HOTEL

£30 Day Rate

Delegate day rate reduced from £50

Oxford Event Hire was established in 1990 with a clear vision to provide premium quality products and unbeatable service for both private and corporate clients in the events industry.

A centuries-old retreat hidden in the River Thames, Monkey Island Hotel offers the perfect setting for everything from weddings to weekend getaways to an evening of fine dining.

C: Kieran Lynch | E: info@oxfordeventhire.co.uk | T: 01865 760158 | W: www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk

E: info@monkeyisland.co.uk | T: 01628 623400 | W: http://monkeyisland.co.uk

L’ORTOLAN

THE FORBURY

Free

Lunch for two

25% Off

Your food bill

Free lunch for 2 when booking private dining for at least 8 people.

Housed in a former vicarage on a leafy lane in Shinfield, L’Ortolan offers an exceptional dining experience. Terms & Conditions apply.

It makes every moment of your stay a special memory. It’s in the smile that greets you and in the warmth and friendliness you’ll feel while you are here.

C: Sally Albin | E: sally@lortolan.com | T: 0118 988 9107 | W: www.lortolan.com

C: Peter Farquhar | E: reception@theforburyhotel.co.uk | T: 01189 527770 | W: www.theforburyhotel.co.uk

HEYTHROP PARK RESORT

DARBYS

Round discounts

£20 pp Mon to Fri - £25 pp Sat & Sun

From £180

Will, and free annual review

Heythrop Park Resort has undergone refurbishment of the Health Club & Spa, the 18 hole golf course to championship standards and opening a second hotel, a new 197 bedroom four star Crowne Plaza..

You – and your business - can also get free legal advice on any issue you have. Individuals or families should go to www.purplelegal.co.uk and businesses should go to www.bluelaw.co.uk.

C: Tracy Stanton | E: info@heythroppark.co.uk | T: 01608 673333 | W: www.heythropparkresort.co.uk

C: Simon McCrum | E: info@darbys.co.uk | T: 01865 811256 | W: www.darbys.co.uk

THE OXFORD WINE COMPANY

10% Off

At our 4 retail outlets Voted Best Independent Wine Retailer and Wholesaler in the UK 2011 by Harpers Wine & Spirit Magazine. Named Regional Wine Merchant of the Year 2007/2010 by the prestigious International Wine Challenge judges.

C: Theo Sloot | E: theo@oxfordwine.co.uk | T: 01865 301144 | W: www.oxfordwine.co.uk

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97

B4 R&R

“With a glittering night sky, a warm winter retreat marquee has been created out on the terrace to give a distinct dining experience�

Simon Reeves, General Manager - The Red Lion

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DESTINATION RED LION, OXFORD To most people, the name ‘Red Lion’ conjures up many words: ‘boozer’; ‘sawdust’; ‘cheese doorstop sandwich’ to name but a few. However, a welcome change is the Red Lion restaurant and bar. Tucked in a corner of Oxford, it offers a contemporary, inviting interior. Kathryn Alison reviews for B4.

This sizeable establishment, 80-90 covers, was re-invented just over two years ago. Simon Reeves, outgoing General Manager confirms that “historically, there has been a watering hole in some form or shape for centuries on this site and a Red Lion for many years. We decided to continue with the name, the Red Lion, Oxford.’

As part of the Mitchell Butler group the restaurant and bar retains a high standard of autonomy with a refreshing guest-obsessed focus from their energetic staff. Open, relaxed and professional the team are always available to discuss any individual requirements or bespoke party plans. Shortlisted in 2012 as the best gastro pub, Oxfordshire, this winter the menu includes offerings, including the traditional roast turkey but also dishes such as: • Button mushrooms in a creamy Pinot Grigio sauce with rustic bread • Braised beef in red wine with creamy parsley mashed potato, horseradish crème fraiche and crispy onions • Vanilla pannacotta with warm mulled pear According to Simon “the beef just melts in the mouth”.

Three courses from the Christmas menu is £24.95 and with its effective and simple ‘why not’ marketing strapline ‘Everyone deserves a treat this Christmas’.

Choose to sit in the heart of the restaurant or alternatively the Red Lion is offering a Winter Retreat until the second week in January, with capabilities for an additional 120 covers and will be set up with a dance floor and DJ on NYE. With a glittering night sky, a warm winter retreat marquee has been created out on the terrace to give a distinct dining experience.

Simon’s replacement, Mark Purton, formerly of Jamie’s Italian, Ask and The Trout, is working with Simon to head up a fun and tasty winter season. Not only are they offering the winter menu and retreat through to January but there is also a New Year Party planned, with a six course menu: including the Chef’s amuse bouche, choice of four starters, a lemon sorbetti, choice of five mains, desserts, coffee with petit fours, plus entertainment and all for an amazing £50.00 per head.

Simon continues, ‘Whilst I am moving on in the new year to set up a pub/restaurant in Surrey, for now, our two brains are working hard to create a successful end to 2013. Our 2014 ambitions include aiming for 50:50 pub and dining customers, with many ideas,

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improvements and creative plans for 2014. Year on year growth, whilst still early days, has seen positive and strengthening growth and we are pleased with the business model. We believe Oxford has not been overly affected by the downturn and so it is difficult for us to judge in comparison overall. However, we made the brave decision to open after the economy shrank and to date business is positive.’

In addition, the Red Lion supports a number of charities and events throughout the year. As well as the annual Poppy Appeal and Movember, the Red Lion supports two local charities: the Pegasus Theatre in East Oxford and The Old Fire Station situated just round the corner on George Street. The Pegasus Theatre offers an ambitious artistic programme and creative learning project with young people in the local community. The Old Fire Station Arts building also houses the Crisis charity. The Crisis team run a programme known as Crisis Skylight which offers an educational, training and employment centre for single homeless people with the ambition to end homelessness. These two worthwhile charities are sponsored through corporate donations from the Red Lion.

For the rest of the year, the Red Lion, Oxford does offer you something different. From the largest beer garden in the centre of Oxford, to glass-walled private dining areas allowing for intimacy and privacy, the whole place creates a buzz and offers a very comfortable setting.

Warm woods, soft fur blankets, comfy areas to bar stools and high tables, there is something to meet everyone’s needs. And that is what it does. The Red Lion attracts much passing trade including theatre goers as well as being a destination eatery. From January 2014 it will also reintroduce the competitive fixed Theatre Menu from 6 pm to 7 pm with the invitation to pop back once the show has finished for your dessert!

The establishment prides itself in welcoming latecomers and cast from the nearby theatres.

The Red Lion’s sister pub, The Trout, is well known as a destination, with its riverside dining offerings.

However, with the seasonal menus, delicious wines from Mitchell Clark and a number of dining areas the Red Lion should not just be recognised as a passing trade bar and restaurant but as a welcome sanctuary to visit. So if you’re in, or close to the area, it’s certainly worth visiting to enjoy, relax and dine fine. www.redlionoxford.co.uk

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Dinner Parties – Networking Events – Awards Dinners

Contact Tera

with your enquiry Tel: 01865 742211 Mob: 07887 638120 New website coming soon www.teraevents.co.uk TERA are proud organisers for J > ; EN < E H : I > ? H ;

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RESTAURANT

RESTAURANT

AWARDS

AWARDS

AWARDS

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B4 YOU A selection of some of the finest establishments in the B4 region

MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER

L’ORTOLAN

HEYTHROP PARK

www.penningtons.co.uk

refreshingly different.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to turn things on their head.

Our lawyers combine approachability with sharp commercial perspective.

To find out how our expanding Oxford team can help you achieve exceptional results for your business, call us on 01865 722106 or visit www.penningtons.co.uk

Penningtons Manches LLP. Offices in Oxford, Reading, London, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Godalming and Guildford

B4 YOU RESORTS

RESORTS

HOTELS

HEYTHROP PARK

HARTWELL HOUSE

EYNSHAM HALL

Heythrop Park Resort is a unique venue set in 440 acres of stunning Oxfordshire Countryside.

Dating back to 1710 this quintessential English country estate seamlessly combines elegance with style and boasts two individual hotels: the elegant DeVere Venues Heythrop Park Hotel and the stylish Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Resort also offers a championship 18 hole standard golf course, health club & spa together with state of the art conference facilities.

Hartwell House is one of the Stately Homes of England, just one hour from central London and Heathrow and Luton Airports, and two miles west of Aylesbury.

Its most famous resident was Louis XVIII, exiled King of France, who lived there with is Court for five years. Situated in 90 acres of landscaped parkland in the Vale of Aylesbury, Hartwell House provides a country house setting, adding lustre to every social occasion.

Lloyds Bank Commercial a big Banking provides financial support the and to manufacturers located across Berkshire.

Given their importance, we are actively encouraging manufacturers in Berkshire to take advantage of the reduced borrowing costs, particularly through the £80 billion Government.

Given their importance, we are actively encouraging. A bit more copy to fill it out just a little more.

A: Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5UF T: 01608 673 333 W: www.heythroppark.co.uk

A: Oxford Rd, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8NR T: 01296 747 444 W: www.hartwell-house.com

A: Eynsham Hall Hotel, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 6PN T: 01993 885 200 W: www.eynshamhall.com

HOTELS

HOTELS

HOTELS

HAWKWELL HOUSE

MACDONALD RANDOLPH HOTEL

THE FEATHERS

Hawkwell House Hotel Oxford has high quality accommodation, conference facilities and makes a great wedding venue. Hawkwell House hotel is close enough to Oxford for you to dream of the Spires, and just far enough off to ensure your reverie isn't interrupted by the revelry of the students. The main hotel has now has 62 bedrooms including two luxury suites.

Our Macdonald Randolph Hotel is the leading 5-star hotel in Oxford and part of The Macdonald Hotels' Signature Collection. We offer luxurious accommodation, award-winning food and a sensuous spa haven in the heart of this world-famous university city. Located in Oxford's city centre, our hotel is a landmark building with elegance and charm aplenty.

There are just 16 bedrooms and five suites at The Feathers. They come in all shapes and sizes – the very antithesis of corporate uniformity. Return to your own personal favourite, or enjoy a pleasant surprise each time you visit. Since our refurbishment in 2010, we’ve added in some boutique twists, with lush fabrics, funky lighting, free-standing stone basins and the guiltiest pleasure of all, a decanter full of jelly beans.

A: Church Way, Oxford, OX4 4DZ T: 01865 749 988 W: www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

A: Beaumont St, Oxford, OX1 2LN T: 01865 256 400 W: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

A: Market Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1SX T: 01993 812 291 W: www.feathers.co.uk

Vouch Offer: vouchoffers.co.uk

Ambassadors Card Offer: b4-business.com

103

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HOTELS

HOTELS

HOTELS

THE FORBURY

THE OAKLEY COURT HOTEL

THE OLD BANK

We stay with you…This promise drives everything we do. It makes every moment of your stay a special memory. It’s in the smile that greets you and in the warmth and friendliness you’ll feel while you are here. In every corner and at every moment, you’ll notice an attention to detail that shows our passion and belief. It’s the very essence of the Forbury, like spending time with an amazing family.

The Oakley Court is one of the finest and most renowned country house hotels in England, situated in picturesque Windsor and within easy reach of London, Heathrow airport and the M4. The hotel is a peaceful setting with attractive rooms decorated in a traditional country house style. For pure indulgence and the ultimate luxurious stay in Windsor, choose one of our junior suites with unrivalled views over the river.

The Old Bank hotel has 42 luxury bedrooms.

The proportions of the Georgian property have been retained leading to rooms feeling large and airy. Many of the rooms have unrivalled views of famous Oxford landmarks. The bedrooms with marble bathrooms are all adorned with the owners private art collection. All of the rooms are fully air conditioned and have complimentary wireless internet access, water and home-made biscuits.

A: 26 The Forbury, Reading, West Berkshire, RG1 3EJ T: 0118 952 7770 W: www.theforburyhotel.co.uk

A: Windsor Rd Water Oakley, Windsor, SL4 5UR T: 01753 609 988 W: www.theoakleycourthotel.co.uk

A: 92 - 94 High Street, Oxford, OX1 4BJ T: 01865 799 599 W: www.oldbank-hotel.co.uk

HOTELS

HOTELS

GETTING AWAY

MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER

THE VINEYARD

LOWER MILL ESTATE

Stylish, luxurious and romantic - the awardwinning Macdonald Compleat Angler Hotel is part of The Macdonald Hotels' Signature Collection and offers you the perfect accommodation for a magical stay by the riverside. Quietly situated on the banks of the River Thames and within easy reach of Heathrow airport, our hotel in Marlow is the ideal spot for taking to the water - we even have our own private launches and boats for hire.

We want you to enjoy our food and wine so much we added a 5-star hotel and Spa. Then we filled it with everything you'd expect for a comfortable night, and some things you might not. Like one of the finest private art collections this side of Hearst Castle. Only a short drive away from Highclere Castle, The Vineyard provides the perfect hotel destination for Downton Abbey fans and the historically curious alike. There's a lot to be said for California dreaming.

The Lower Mills Cotswold Estate is just over 550 acres of unspoiled countryside based in the beautiful village of Somerford Keyne just outside Cirencester in Gloucestershire. Our luxurious holiday homes estate is based around eight lakes and two rivers (Netherwood Lake, Somerford Lake Reserves, Neigh Bridge Lake, Cotswold Water Park) surrounded by acres of untouched woodland full of wildlife waiting for you and your family to explore.

A: Marlow Bridge, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 1RG T: 0844 879 9128 W: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

A: Stockcross, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG20 8JU T: 01635 897 513 W: www.the-vineyard.co.uk

A: Lower Mill Lane, Somerford Keynes, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 6BG T: 01285 869 489 W: www.lowermillestate.com

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B4 YOU RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

BROWNS OXFORD

BROWNS READING

GEE’S

Browns in Oxford was our second restaurant to open and is quite a landmark in the city. The building was a Morris garage for many years until we converted it into an English brasserie.

Even though we’re in the city centre, the view from our windows is pure England. We’re just across the road from St Giles Church and a beautiful terrace of 18th century houses. We offer delicious food, a unique atmosphere and a great choice of wines, beers and cocktails.

Reading is one of the UK’s top ten retail destinations. Browns is within easy reach of the Oracle, one of the main shopping centres with over 80 high street names that span from high fashion to spectacular gifts. Steeped in history, Reading also has a 1,400 year heritage, a medieval monastery and 850 listed buildings.

Come and soak up the atmosphere at Browns where you can relax and enjoy one of our classic dishes and a legendary Browns cocktail.

Food is best described as Mediterranean with some dishes designed for sharing, & dishes available in two sizes to suit different appetites & times of day. Food reflects the continued interest in the source of ingredients, seasonality & the variety & richness of our Oxfordshire produce.

Simply prepared & expertly cooked in our kitchen incorporating a wood fire oven & charcoal grill.

A: 5-11 Woodstock Rd, Oxford, OX2 6HA T: 01865 511 995 W: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk

A: The Oracle Centre, Reading, RG1 2AG T: 0118 950 3137 W: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk

A: 61 Banbury Rd, Oxford, OX2 6PE T: 01865 553 540 W: www.gees-restaurant.co.uk

RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

L’ORTOLAN

LE MANOIR

QUOD

Reading's only Michelin starred restaurant, with modern French cuisine by Executive Chef Alan Murchison. L’Ortolan offers an exceptional dining experience - perfect for social and business occasions. We are delighted to be amongst the winners of 4 AA Rosettes at the 2013 AA Hospitality Awards. Receiving a fourth rosette puts L’Ortolan among the top restaurants in the UK, where the cooking demands national recognition.

Dining at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Described as “a twist of imaginative genius”, Raymond Blanc’s dishes utilise the freshest, best quality ingredients. The two-acre kitchen garden produces 90 types of vegetable and 70 varieties of herb. Le Manoir’s wine cellar is home to around 1,000 different wines from around the world.

Around 60% are of French provenance.

Quod is a vibrant bustling space that is the meeting place for locals for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper as well as drinks. Various specials, many sourced from our own Rofford farm, adorn the blackboards. Diners can enjoy live jazz every Sunday. Quod restaurant offers the rare luxury of a restaurant with free parking in the middle of the city. There is a spectacular heated terrace where diners can enjoy a morning coffee, the superb value 2 course lunch or a cocktail.

A: Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading, RG2 9BY T: 01189 888 500 W: www.lortolan.com

A: Church Road, Great Milton, OX44 7PD T: 01844 278 881 W: www.manoir.com

A: 92 - 94 High Street Oxford, OX1 4BJ T: 01865 202 505 W: www.quod.co.uk

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Oxfordshire is guaranteed to get everyone thinking Meet Oxfordshire is the first point of contact for anyone considering the county for a meeting, conference or event. Our services include free venue finding and accommodation bookings.

www.meetoxfordshire.com contact us now call 01865 252799 Follow us on Twitter @meetoxfordshire

B4 YOU RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

RESTAURANTS

THE OLD PARSONAGE

THE RED LION

THE TROUT

Reopening in March 2014, our restaurant & bar will serve breakfast, elevenses, a great value set lunch, afternoon tea & an all day a la carte menu. The new interior will retain its intimate clubby, bohemian atmosphere with new furniture & an enhanced collection of eclectic oil portraits from the Bloomsbury period. We will continue to serve simple yet innovative, predominately classic British cooking, influenced by the seasons & abundant native produce.

Tucked behind George Street, in between Oxfords main theatres, The Oxford Play House and The New Theatre, The Red Lion Oxford holds the biggest and most beautiful beer garden in the City. Inside you will find cosy corners to escape the hustle of bustle of the shops and tourist attractions. Chef's freshly prepared menus and our carefully selected wines, ales and beers are served all day every day.

Nestled on the banks of the River Thames and steeped in history this 17th century pub is a unique setting to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our traditional pub building has been stylishly refurbished to make it the perfect place to find a cosy corner and take time out whilst enjoying some of our Chefs' seasonal dishes and our great selection of wines, ales and lagers.

A: 1 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6NN T: 01865 310 210 W: www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk

A: 14 Gloucester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BN T: 01865 726 255 W: www.redlionoxford.co.uk

A: Godstow Road, Wolvercote, Oxford, OX2 8PN T: 01865 510 930 W: www.thetroutoxford.co.uk

GOLF CLUBS

GOLF CLUBS

GOLF CLUBS

FRILFORD

HENNERTON

MAGNOLIA

Frilford Heath is located to the South of Oxford on 500 acres of glorious undulating Heathland and is one of the best venues in the south of England. Rarely can a club offer three championship golf courses that allow the opportunity to revel in their classical or modern challenge! The original Red Course was laid out in 1908 by five times Open champion JH Taylor measured 721 yards less than todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6915 on its par 72.

You will find a friendly and warm welcome at Hennerton. There is a good balance of monthly club competitions and social golf as well as plenty of time when the course is free for those who just want to play. Hennerton Golf Club was opened by Bernard Gallacher in 1992, when it was a 9-hole course. He was delighted with the beauty of the countryside and the advantages made of the natural variation of the hills and the valley in the design of the course.

Welcome to Magnolia Park, a Golf and Country Club that offers you the opportunity of playing what we believe is one of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most challenging and picturesque golf courses. A sweeping championship 18 hole course of around 7,000 yards, constructed to the very highest specifications, our course is suitable for every golfer whether you are a beginner or professional.

A: Oxford Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 5NW T: 01865 390 864 W: www.frilfordheath.co.uk

A: Crazies Hill Road, Wargrave, Berkshire, RG10 8LT T: 0118 940 1000 W: www.hennertongolfclub.co.uk

A: Arncott Road, Boarstall, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9XX T: 01844 239 700 W: www.magnoliapark.co.uk

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B4 VENUES

HEYTHROP PARK RESORT 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 De Vere Venues Heythrop Park Hotel which dates back to 1710 and the stylishly modern Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park hotel, which opened itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doors in October 2010.

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, adaptable 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

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offer. Each room has private access to a central Moroccan themed courtyard or has views directly overlooking the estate grounds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; features which perfectly illustrate the contrasts and surprises that characterise Heythrop Park Resort 197 stylish guest rooms feature many designer touches including sumptuous bedding that guarantee sweet dreams under the unique Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage programme.

Shrewsbury Meeting Wing now offer a mix of character meeting packages and functional training rooms. Meeting rooms offer complimentary wifi and natural daylight in a stunning location making Heythrop Park the perfect choice for productive thinking, whilst the energy stations offer free flowing tea, coffee and refreshments to delegates to keep the brain ticking over.

Contemporary restaurants and bars offer modern cuisine with private dining options available.

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.

The extensive grounds are perfect for team building.

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

Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park is attached to an 18th century mansion house which has recently been added to the De Vere Venues portfolio widening the choice of both meeting space, bedroom accommodation and ambience on offer.

Heythrop Park Resort 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 newly refurbished Archer Bedroom Wing and

The 7,088-yard par 72 course is the result of Tom Mackenzie, of the internationally-renowned golf

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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. course architects, Mackenzie & Ebert. Several holes stand out, like the 314-yard par-4 6th, where the green nestles beside a fishing pond, and the 528yard 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 the Mansion House as its impressive backdrop.

Golfers enjoy a wide range of facilities including putting greens, short game area, driving range, buggy rental, club rental, VPAR live scoring, golf clinic, swing analysis and the modern clubhouse is the perfect complement to the hotels and course, offering golf groups the perfect place to unwind after an exacting round.

Everyone is welcome to come and sample this magnificent course be it on a stay and play break or on a society golfing event.

Norcup, Director of Sales and Marketing on 01608 673497 or email tnorcup@heythroppark.co.uk KEY FIGURES AT HEYTHROP PARK:

Other facilities include a fantastic health club with an indoor 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 Spa provides three treatment rooms offering beauty treatments using the 5* award winning globally renowned luxury face and body brand, Espa.

B4 READER OFFER We're so confident that you will love our facility that we are offering ‘B4 Magazine’ readers some amazing conference rates. Please contact Tracey

Debbie Priestley General Manger, Crowne Plaza De Vere Heythrop Park.

Nader Ibrahim General Manager, De Vere Heythrop Park Hotel.

Tracey Norcup Director of Sales and Marketing, De Vere Heythrop Park Resort.

For information about Heythrop Park Resort: Heythrop Park Resort, Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5UF. Tel: 01608 673333. www.heythroppark.co.uk

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”

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“partnering with a strong corporate and commercial

practice can help management and owners minimise the disruption of change, protect business legacy and maximise shareholder value

”

B ACKSTAGE SUPPORT: BPC

OLLINS HELPS EVENTS CREWING COMPANY BUILD INTERNATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

In the summer edition of B4 Magazine, corporate partner Simon Deans explained the B P Collins approach to corporate relationships. In this edition, we hear first-hand how lawyers at B P Collins have helped international events crewing company, Gallowglass, expand and diversify.

The importance of trusted legal advice to support sustainable business expansion cannot be underestimated.

And, as private organisations grow, diversify and develop international operations, the need for independent advice to help secure and enhance the value of a business is a critical to long-term growth.

Evidence shows that, in a fast-evolving business environment, partnering with a strong corporate and commercial practice can help management and owners minimise the disruption of change, protect business legacy and maximise shareholder value. This has certainly proved to be the case throughout the ten-year partnership between events crewing company Gallowglass Ltd and the full-service legal firm, B P Collins LLP. The company Gallowglass is the largest events crewing company in the UK and Europe, providing complete crewing

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support service for corporate events, exhibitions, festivals and official ceremonies. Established in 1996 with a client-base of just five companies, Gallowglass now boasts more than 2000 customers, including high profile brands such as the BBC, ITV and the London 2012 Olympics.

The business has subsequently diversified into a Group of companies, with the introduction of organisations providing adjacent services such as health and safety consultancy, environmental/event sustainability and training & development. In the process it has expanded its international presence beyond the UK, with operations in Barcelona, Nice, Paris and Monaco, and offices in Qatar due to open later this year. The rapid rise of Gallowglass as an internationally-renowned brand has been underpinned by independent advice, support and legal expertise from B P Collins LLP. Gallowglass first began working with B P Collins LLP in 2003 and has maintained a valuable relationship

with the firm ever since. “B P Collins LLP has been fundamental to our growth and has been a trusted advisor throughout all our key developments in the past decade,” says Nick Grecian, Managing Director at Gallowglass. “Our initial engagement with them was to sort out the contractual shareholdings of the company and establish a legal platform and structure for the future growth of the business.

Their expertise in corporate law at this stage was hugely beneficial, and they guided us enormously in terms of business valuation, contracts and negotiation. And we’ve relied on their guidance ever since.”

B P Collins LLP has subsequently continued to play an important role in evaluating commercial contracts with Gallowglass’ clients. It has also provided property law services to support Gallowglass through a major office move and to handle leasing arrangements to increase the capacity of its premises during London 2012.

“Whenever we have any major developments

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

within the business, B P Collins LLP is one of our first ports of call,” says Nick.

“They are able to offer pragmatic and honest advice to help us ensure we are doing the right thing and are legally protected by binding contracts. We really value their opinions from a commercial perspective.”

B P Collins LLP has been instrumental in the diversification and international expansion of Gallowglass Ltd – supporting the company through a major restructuring exercise when it opted to split the crewing and consultancy arms of the business into two distinct groups. “B P Collins LLP also helped us set up our health and safety consultancy, which included the acquisition of another business. They created an LLP with the existing principle consultant and helped us to incorporate the new company within the group. Subsequently they have provided similar support in helping us establish our sustainability and training businesses,” says Nick.

Gallowglass’ international expansion – a crucial part of the company’s growth strategy – has also dictated the need for robust legal support. “Since we now dominate the domestic market, we realise that future growth is likely to come from overseas markets – so expansion into Europe and beyond has been a key priority for us. We have recently opened in Monaco and Paris and are shortly due to launch in Dubai. We are also looking at opportunities in Rio and Australia,” says Nick. “But all of these countries present different challenges.

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B P Collins helps us to assess the options and advises on how we might handle things – not simply in terms of the company set-up, but also around how we operate on the ground. Do we need partners? How do we find them? What are the best contractual arrangements to protect our interests? These are key questions – and B P Collins LLP gives us a really good steer on how we should respond.”

Gallowglass cites the trusted relationship it has built with B P Collins LLP as one of the main reasons why the partnership has been so durable. “We have an open and transparent relationship; they know everything about us,” says Nick.” Relationships are incredibly important to us as a business – and transparency and disclosure is critical to that. To make sure we get the best advice, we need to be able to share everything that’s going on in the business with them – and you can only do that if you’ve got total trust in the relationship.

We not only trust B P Collins LLP, but we see tremendous value in the relationship we have with them. And to have maintained that relationship for ten years is a testament to the work they have done with us. They’ve been fundamental to our growth.”

To contact Simon Deans, or a member of the corporate legal team at B P Collins LLP, please call us on: 01753 279075 or email commercial@bpcollins.co.uk

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B4 R&R

THE UNFORGETTABLE FORBURY HOTEL For readers with high standards, high expectations and in high need of a great night out in opulent surroundings, with first class food and exemplary service, you really need look no further than The Forbury Hotel in the centre of Reading.

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We were booked in to stay at this fabulous hotel on a Friday night after a long week at work. The drive to Reading from Oxford took less than 40 minutes and as we parked the car, our bags were whisked away whilst we checked in.

The helpful receptionist than showed us to our room, but in the process we passed not one, not two but a multitude of incredible characteristics which makes The Forbury stand out as a hotel with the maximum attention to detail in every nook and cranny.

The stairs leading to the front door are extravagant enough, providing a good photo opportunity the following morning before we set off on a special visit to London, but then the reception area takes some beating with sumptuous soft furnishings and lavish pieces of furniture which are each unique and work brilliantly together.

The marble flooring throughout was a signature of the hotel throughout, but the centrepiece is an 86,000 Italian glass bead chandelier running the height of the building in the old lift shaft. It’s truly mesmerising, as you gaze up, with lights catching every aspect, throwing off a tiny rainbow from each delicate bead. Quite incredible.

And then we make it to the room. Wow! We were staying in a suite, with a wonderful lounge complete with high ceiling (no cramming in rooms here) and made to measure furniture, including a beautiful piece which contained books, TV, and stereo, not to mention many fascinating pieces of art. We then went through to the bedroom. Again more wow and lots of ooh! The bed was vast, the furnishings once again perfectly combined and that was before we got to the bathroom which was superb. Walk in shower, huge bath and surround sound stereo, all shrouded in sand marble.

It’s a good job we had both arrived ready for dinner as our open mouthed walkabout would have given us little time to pretty ourselves – OK maybe not including me – although it was tempting to jump in the bath.

We chose to have a drink in the attractive courtyard just off the Cerise Restaurant where Friday night couples and a larger party celebrating had gathered. The evening was still warm and conducive to one of The Forbury’s wonderful cocktails – I had a Sloehito whilst Tina plumped for The Last Word. If you can’t make it for dinner, I would highly recommend a cocktail and if you’re planning to come to the B4 event at The Forbury later this year, make sure you pop in afterwards to sample the delights of Cerise’s award winning mixologists!

champagne for Tina with a bottle of Macon Village Cave de Lugny which kept me company most of the night.

Tina chose the sautéed tiger prawn and baby squid with a soy and ginger dressing whilst I had the confit chicken and apricot mosaic with toasted brioche and baby shoot salad. Both divine – we tried each other’s – and set us up perfectly for our main courses. I had the braised ox cheeks with savoy cabbage, red wine onions and celeriac mash, whilst Tina went with the fish and had roast monkfish fillet wrapped in Parma ham with Jerusalem artichoke puree and oxtail sauce. Not only were our starters and mains all first class, the presentation was exemplary and the service first class – friendly without being stuffy although professional throughout, mind you, I don’t think the wine would have gone without some friendly encouragement!

For dessert, we shared the apple tart tatin with caramel sauce and cinnamon ice cream. I’m not a big cinnamon fan but this worked superbly well together and I soon wish we’d ordered one each!

The Forbury has 23 luxury bedrooms over three floors, each with Bang and Olufsen audio-visual systems, Molton Brown toiletries and Nespresso coffee machines. All superior bedrooms have king size beds with Egyptian cotton sheets and duvets, walk in showers, under floor heating, broadband and direct dial telephones.

You can certainly mix business with pleasure at The Forbury. All meeting rooms are fully air conditioned with natural daylight and complimentary wi-fi. The Cellar provides a unique venue for business meetings up to twelve guests. Other public rooms can be used for meetings and The Lounge is also available for impromptu meetings and the Library is suitable for more formal events.

“There is even a private cinema for presentations, lectures of film screenings for up to 30 guests seated, in Italian leather seats”

The Eden room is recommended for larger events with hand painted flowers adorning the walls or what was the original council chambers.

There is even a private cinema for presentations, lectures of film screenings for up to 30 guests seated in Italian leather seats.

The Forbury is Disney for adults, if that doesn’t sound too twee. It’s mind-blowing to walk through and the experiences will stay with you forever, from the stylish rooms to the continental ambience of the cocktail ‘garden’, to the formidable performance of the kitchen in The Cerise Restaurant. An easy 10 out of 10 experience from the very top to the very bottom of that unforgettable 86,000 bead chandelier! www.theforburyhotel.co.uk

It was time to go through for dinner where we were greeted by our attentive waitress and, having given our order in the garden, our starters arrived shortly after, accompanied by a glass of www.b4-business.com

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

PROUD TO PRINT

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

B4 FINANCE

“As a ‘whole of market’

mortgage broker we can offer advice on the whole of the market and are not restricted to any one lender

”

UK MORTGAGE LENDING JUMPS

– ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A MORTGAGE? James T Keene (Cert CII (MP), Founder & Principal Consultant at Mortgage Choices, talks to B4 about mortgage lending jumps and what Mortgage Choices can offer you.

Where will I find a mortgage adviser who will give me whole of market advice?

Welcome to Mortgage Choices we’re not an anonymous call centre we will work with you throughout the process of getting your mortgage, from the initial fact find appointment to completion.

Mortgage Choices is based in Witney, Oxfordshire and serve clients across the County and also look after customers across the United Kingdom, face to face and by phone. Our VIP service offers a customised service level in which we will personally come out to see you at your home or place of work to conduct the appointment at a time that is convenient to you including out of hours service.

Where should I look for a mortgage?

Many people go straight to their bank or building society or they might go to a comparison website, whilst these lenders do have good competitive products the range of products they are able to offer is strictly limited. As a ‘whole of market’ mortgage broker we can offer advice on the whole of the market and are not restricted to any one lender.

• critical illness • income protection • buildings and contents insurance We also work and refer with trusted 3rd parties who will advise in these areas: • secured loans • commercial mortgages • bridging finance Please contact us to discuss any requirements you might have.

What do our clients think of Mortgage Choices?

With more than 24+ years in the business, Mortgage Choices are well established, with a broad range of satisfied clients.

Personal recommendation is one of the highest compliments a client can give us. The only reason we would receive a referral from an existing client is because they trust and respect the adviser that has helped them through the mortgage process.

What types of mortgages are available?

With the recent introduction of Help to Buy 2 alongside an increase in the availability of low deposit products the variety of mortgage products on offer can be confusing. We offer access to a full range of products. Our recommendations will be the best solution for your needs.

"Very happy with the excellent advice and service we have received from Mortgage Choices. James has made re-mortgaging very easy for us. Fast, efficient service and very good communication with regular progress updates.

We would use Mortgage Choices again and will happily recommend to friends and family." - Mr & Mrs Cox, Bodicote, Banbury

So, whether you are looking as a first time buyer, moving home, want a buy to let or are looking to remortgage, our friendly, expert adviser will take time to understand your circumstances, and find the mortgage deal that’s right for you.

We are not tied to one particular lender, so we can search the whole of the mortgage market to find a mortgage product that suits you best. We are dedicated to providing you with the mortgage and insurance solutions that are tailored to your needs.

Contact Mortgage Choices for friendly and www.mortgage-choices.com or 01993 862888.

What other services/products do Mortgage Choices offer?

Mortgage Choices also offer a full range of insurance products: • life assurance

There may be a fee charged for mortgage advice, the amount will depend on your circumstances we estimate this to be no more than £395.

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impartial

advice

at

Whole of Market advice that puts you in control.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your Mortgage.

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HELEN & DOUGLAS HOUSE B4 went along and met Lesley Gorton, Head of Retail, Helen & Douglas House, to talk about the future of Charity Shops and their perception on the high street.

Charity shops: scourge of the high street, or an essential fundraising tool for charities? The answer to this question rather depends on who you ask. If you ask charities themselves they will tell you that they are a vital source of income, in our case to help fund the care of hundreds of children and young adults with lifeshortening conditions and support their families. On the other hand for the general public the high street can seem full of charity shops and estate agents! This is more a reflection of how shopping behaviour, and therefore the high street profile, is changing, rather than charity shops ‘taking over’.

Helen & Douglas House runs 36 charity shops throughout, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire, including five larger shops selling second hand and up-cycled furniture. It is one of the larger hospice shop chains in the UK. The chain expects to return a net profit of over £1,000,000 this year, to support the valuable work carried out by the charity. Successful charity retail is very profitable; a hospice chain expects a net profitability rate (profit as a percentage of income) of over 30% and a national charity around 20%.

This compared to successful mainstream retailers who would be very happy with 10%. Why the difference between a local and national charity?

Hospice chains tend to be more profitable due to

two main factors; a feeling of local ownership, which in turn leads to a better standard of donations and customer loyalty.

You will note I have used the word profit. Often charities rather coyly refer to surplus. Charity retail is retail just like any other, but with a cause behind it. If we are to be successful in the current climate we need to be running these enterprises as a business. Gone are the days when the public accept dusty charity shops crammed to the rafters with assorted items. The modern charity shop should look like a mainstream retail establishment.

If you visit a Helen & Douglas House shop, you will see clean wooden floors, stock properly merchandised and colour co-ordinated. In our furniture shops you will see up-cycled furniture and great value furniture, from antiques to Ikea!

However, we should not be complacent and must always be looking for new and innovative ideas to keep the offer fresh. Two projects have significantly improved the fortunes of our shops recently. The first is our furniture project. There is a lot of good quality dark wood furniture out there, but hardly anyone wants dark furniture these days. We have a project to up-cycle these items and paint them in pastel colours following the recent trend for the ‘shabby chic’ look. We have two people employed full- time on this project, as well as a number of

volunteers. We have also teamed up with Mencap and offer work placements.

The second project involves corporate team days.

Most companies, large or small, have a corporate social responsibility agenda and some spend large amounts of money on corporate team building days run by commercial training companies. At Helen & Douglas House we are able to offer a variety of team building activities; from restoring and painting furniture, to the ‘Retail Apprentice’, which involves running one or more of our charity shops for the day competing to see who can raise the most money for the charity. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Helen & Douglas House Corporate Team Days can speak to someone in our Corporate Partnerships Team, telephone 01865 799150, or email corporateteam@helenanddouglas.org.uk Charity retail has a bright future as long as sound business principles are embraced and innovation is at the forefront of our minds when planning for the future.

By Lesley Gorton, Head of Retail, Helen & Douglas House. www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

“Gone are the days

when the public accept dusty charity shops crammed to the rafters with assorted items. The modern charity shop should look like a mainstream retail establishment Lesley Gorton, Head of Retail, Helen & Douglas House.

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”

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

ABOUT

HELEN & D OUGLAS HOUSE A WORLD FIRST Helen & Douglas House has the time and expertise to care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions and support their families. The two hospice houses offer specialist symptom and pain management, medically-supported short breaks and end-oflife care, as well as counselling and practical support for the whole family.

Helen House was the world’s first children’s hospice, opening in 1982. Douglas House opened in 2004 specifically for young adults aged 16 to 35.

We have to raise around 85% of the £5 million we need every year to run the two hospice houses, via voluntary donations. This means we are almost entirely reliant on the goodwill of individuals, groups, schools, colleges and businesses within our catchment area.

We care for young people and their families from Berks, Bucks, Glos, Northants, Oxon, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and parts of London. www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

The interior of Covered Market shop, Oxford

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Jack from Oxfordshire visits Helen House for respite stays

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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 Withers on 01865 242191 or email ewithers@mcsoxford.org to find out more or to arrange a no obligation visit. www.mcsoxford.org

B4 R&R

Be honest. Whether it “ is because the kitchen is backed up and food is taking longer or you have simply made a mistake with their order, customers will always appreciate your honesty

”

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE In light of the recession and with a sea of special dining discounts on offer, restaurants are competing more fiercely than ever but Kavita Pal, MD of The Tree Hotel in Cadmore End, believes the stand out factor of 2013 is all about service.

A recent survey conducted by the Tree Hotel Group showed that while respondents wanted a good deal when they eat out, they are not likely to put up with bad service. 54% of respondents said they would let the restaurant know if they were not happy with the food or service, while 64% of respondents said they would not leave even a small tip if they had experienced bad service.

Pal explains: “Of course there are many crucial aspects that influence our decision as to where to dine such as price, food and atmosphere but the quality of service that we provide to our customers can often be the deal breaker as to whether they return to a restaurant. Slow slovenly service makes us feel like the kitchen may be cutting corners too, whilst a waiter who recognises us from the last time we came and remembers what we like to drink makes us feel special.

“The service a diner receives can ‘make or break’ a meal. Prompt service, a good rapport with diners and leaving clientele feeling well looked after is vital.”

One diner who likes to eat out at least twice a week, Richard Towers, recalls two different occasions when a caterpillar was found in his food, once in New Zealand and once in Jersey. “The

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Jersey waiter took my plate and looked at the caterpillar from the left, right and from every angle possible as if it would disappear from a different angle. They took 15 minutes to come back to me after multiple discussions huddled in the corner and then offered me a free drink with no apology.

By comparison, the New Zealand restaurant took immediate ownership of the problem, said it was unacceptable, whisked my plate away and brought me out another dish within a couple of minutes and then didn’t charge me for my meal. I would return to the latter but not the former.”

a little longer to wait for their food but get them some drinks in the meantime.”

THE TREE HOTEL at CADMORE END The Tree Hotel at Cadmore End provides a traditional English country hotel experience with 16 ensuite rooms all complete with super king size 6ft 6in beds. The restaurant at The Tree Hotel at Cadmore End is run by a team of chefs specializing in European and Indian cuisines.

THE TREE HOTEL AT CADMORE END EVENTS

Pal says: “It is completely within our control. Well groomed, happy, helpful waiting staff is not too much to ask for. As restaurateurs we do need to invest in proper training to get the best out of our staff. Regular team meetings where staff have a chance to air concerns or give ideas are a great way to keeping a good atmosphere throughout the restaurant.”

Kavita Pal’s top tip for providing exceptional service:“Be honest. Whether it is because the kitchen is backed up and food is taking longer or you have simply made a mistake with their order, customers will always appreciate your honesty. Don’t be afraid to politely tell your customers that they may have

Last Friday of the month - Live Jazz with Tim Dawes and friends Every Monday - Friday Lunch - 2for1 Lunch Every Tuesday Night - Ladies Night Every Wednesday Night - Quiz Night Every Thursday Night - Thali Night Every Sunday Lunch - Grand International Buffet Located in the heart of the English countryside but providing easy access to both London and Oxford, the hotel is conveniently found just off junction five of the M40, and ample parking is provided for guests. http://cadmore.treehotel.co.uk

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EXCEL DRY CLEANERS A FIRST CLASS SERVICE We’ve been using Excel for years. Previous owner, John Warburton, was always engaging and courteous, providing a service second to none. And now Rachel Boyes, who took over the business three years ago has taken over from where John left off having joined the business in Summertown seventeen years ago.

But Rachel hasn’t stood still. She’s itching to expand and after a great 2013 which saw the new collections business really take off and some great new corporate accounts come on board, Rachel is setting her sites even higher this year.

“We bought a van last year and the collections business has gone really well. We have picked up some lovely contracts and I can only see the collections side of the business going from strength to strength. We all lead such busy lives that they don’t have time to do everything, so anything that saves time has to be a bonus and that’s where we step in. It’s a service which my clients have been requesting for some time, and it made sense to launch in 2013, with fantastic effect.”

Surprisingly, Rachel doesn’t charge for the collections service…she’s even the van driver! “I get involved in everything and I’m more than happy to do the collections / deliveries. We do have a minimum order level but if I can help a loyal customer who has difficulty making it in to the shop, I’ll make a special trip.”

Rachel is someone who, from personal experience, clearly cares about the service she provides her clients. She’s a hard worker, artisan like, demanding the best of herself and her dedicated team. “It’s a physically demanding job and it’s not for everyone.

My team are wonderful and I simply couldn’t do it without them. There’s five of us altogether, all full time. We also have a tailoress who’s full time for us but she works from home doing repairs and alterations.

All of the team have been trained on the job and I have even been asked before to go in and train other staff at client premises where they installed

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some new laundry equipment and they wanted me to go and do the training for them. I’m more than happy to go out and train housekeepers and clients with requirements that I can help with.”

With clients ranging from students to young professionals, local hotels to uniforms for some of the leading businesses in the county, it’s not difficult to see why so many people put their trust in Excel. “I sometimes wonder where they all come from. We have people bringing in 16 shirts at a time, curtains, suits, wedding dresses, you name it we clean it!

“We’ve built up an excellent reputation as we have been here so long. There are lots of familiar faces coming in to the shop every day and it’s really nice to see so many loyal customers coming back, time and again.”

Expansion? Rachel would love to. “I’d like to expand, I’ve got plans to expand, but this year has been so busy I haven’t managed to push the button. But I have some ideas which I’d really like to get started with as soon as possible, it’s just finding the time.”

Excel is also attracting some fabulous corporate clients, including the likes of Blenheim Palace and leading Oxfordshire hotels, adds Rachel. “It’s great to pick up some excellent accounts and certainly helps the business to grow.”

In the few hours Rachel has to spare outside of Excel, she has two loves (aside from her husband Paul of course). “Horses are my main interest but I do love minis. I go to a lot of mini clubs and own two at the moment. In total we’ve had nine, all from fellow B4 members, North Oxford Garage – always great service by the way!” Perfectly demonstrating Rachel’s ‘can do’ attitude, Rachel

wrote to Modern Mini Magazine asking why they never featured women in their articles. Within weeks she was centre stage of a feature at Cornbury Park having asked Lady Rotherwick for permission to stage the shoot there. The four page spread was the conclusion of an amazing day for Rachel and memories to treasure.

But what about the horses? “I bought Harry on a whim a few years ago, something I have always wanted. He’s in livery so I don’t have to get up at 3am! I ride, but not competitively, I’m not good enough for that, but I just like to go out for a nice hack with some friends which just helps to release some stress.”

With a successful business, horses and minis and plans to expand, we look forward to catching up with Rachel in 2015 to see how successful 2014 has been. “Watch this space!” Rachel says as we conclude our chat…. and if anyone can make a success of expansion, this hard-working young lady deserves it as much as anyone else.

Excel Dry Cleaners is a member of the Guild of Master Dry Cleaners. www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk “I have worked with Excel since I joined Breckon and Breckon five years ago. Rachel’s hard work and dedication and superb customer service are second to none. It never ceases to amaze me how often I see Rachel in her shop on a Sunday when no one else is at work in Summertown. Nothing is ever too much trouble and Rachel always treats me and her customers with good humour and a smile without question the best dry cleaners in Oxford!” Chris Dixey, Manager, Breckon & Breckon, Summertown

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Photography: ©Claire Williams Photography

B4 SERVICES

“It’s a physically demanding job and it’s not for everyone.

My team are wonderful and I simply couldn’t do it without them” Rachel Boyes, owner, Excel Dry Cleaners

www.b4-business.com

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

TOM INGRAM

ON THE FAST TRACK AND READY TO SHIFT UP A GEAR IN 2014 The recently-crowned Ginetta GT Supercup Champion met with B4’s Richard Rosser and talked about his plans to move up to the intensely competitive British Touring Car Championship next season.

Tom Ingram is certainly a young man in a major hurry, having won three national championships over the past four years. But he wants more.

Much more.

If he manages to pull it off – and history shows that he invariably does – Tom will be lining up on the starting grid for the opening round of the 2014 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Brands Hatch on March 30, in the full glare of live ITV4 television cameras, a viewing audience of a staggering 20 million and up to 40,000 trackside spectators. He is more than ready for the challenge.

Let’s rewind for a moment. Born in High Wycombe on 20 August, 1993, Tom grew up watching his father Bruce race go-karts – Pro-Kart Heavy, or ‘The Fat Boys’, as he jokes they used to be dubbed – and would sit in the kart whenever it was in the garage and pretend to be racing.

He did not have to pretend for long. At five, he drove a kart himself for the first time; three years later, he entered his first race and finished third, taking home the best novice accolade for good measure. He quips that he was ‘annoyed not to get two trophies, both for finishing on the podium and as top rookie’ – but then, Tom’s fire of ambition has always burned bright.

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Appointed a British Racing Drivers’ Club ‘Rising Star’ In 2005, he graduated to the Mini Max class – and was straightaway the fastest driver on the circuit.

The following season, competing as a privateer with his small, family-run outfit, a supremely consistent performance up against a whole host of rivals with infinitely greater budgets and major team support secured Tom the coveted BRDC Stars of Tomorrow British Championship crown. Who did he emulate in that achievement? Lewis Hamilton, that’s who.

In 2009, he made the move up into cars in the BTCC-supporting Ginetta Junior Championship – and his impact was immediate, ascending the rostrum in only his second meeting and claiming a double pole position in his fourth, before a lack of funding curtailed his campaign.

He was back the next year, however, and courtesy of five victories and eight further podium finishes, he successfully clinched the champion’s laurels. His reward was a test outing in a BTCC Vauxhall Vectra with Pirtek Racing. Needless to say, he impressed them as well, with team principal Mike Jordan remarking that Tom ‘really grabbed the opportunity and did an outstanding job’. Shortly after, he was appointed a ‘Rising Star’ by the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC).

Another step-up beckoned for 2011, into the G50 Cup class of the Michelin Ginetta GT Supercup. He dominated that, too, winning an astonishing 40 per cent of the races he started and taking the fight to the more powerful Ginetta G55 brigade along the way. Come season’s end, he was inducted into the MSA Academy, run by Britain’s motorsport governing body.

In 2012, Tom was in a G55 himself and made full use of it, earning one of just two places in the elite new ‘KX Akademy’ driver support programme and tussling for the title until a nasty start-line crash at Knockhill in Scotland – caused by driveshaft failure on the grid – dashed his hopes of collecting a hattrick of car racing crowns in as many years.

‘A talent that’s more than worth keeping an eye on’ Undeterred, he returned in 2013 to finish the job off, triumphing on 11 occasions and tallying an unprecedented 22 consecutive podium finishes to seal the deal four races from the end of the season – bringing him firmly onto the radar of the leading BTCC teams. Former BTCC Champion Tim Harvey lauded the 20-year-old’s accomplishment as ‘exceptional’ and three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx described him as ‘a talent that’s more than worth keeping an eye on’.

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WHAT THE

EXPE RTS SAY...

Jason Plato, Two-Time British Touring Car Champion and KX Akademy Mentor “Tom is clearly a very gifted young racing driver who appears to have a bright future within the sport. He is a very hard-working, intelligent and pleasant lad who listens and takes everything in, and his level of success speaks for itself.”

“We worked so hard for it because we wanted it so badly,” Tom confessed. “It really was the realisation of a dream. We’ve never been in the fortunate situation of being able to rely upon family money, and I can’t thank my sponsors – especially SKYCIG, KX and Hansford Sensors – enough, because without their unstinting support, we simply wouldn’t have been out there racing. I only hope what we have achieved goes some way towards repaying the faith they have shown in me.”

Having not been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and having had to scrimp-and-save every single step along the way, those sponsors have played a pivotal role in this young driver’s success, and they clearly see the benefits of an association with one of the country’s most promising motorsport talents – one who, despite his tender years, palpably appreciates the importance of always maintaining a thoroughly professional approach.

Never shy of hard work, Tom has fought and fought and fought and never given up, even when the odds have seemed to be almost inconceivably stacked against him – even when his family almost lost their house to keep his dream alive. From the age of just 16,

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he boldly stood up and gave talks at business networking events in an effort to garner local support – and two of his current sponsors are the direct result of that precocious initiative.

‘We just need to take that one final step’ “For me,” he confesses, “it’s never been about F1. I know that’s the pinnacle for many drivers, but looking at things realistically, unless you have significant backing behind you, you’re not going to make it. Touring cars, on the other hand, are still very high-profile but also extremely enjoyable and you can really forge a professional career there – which has always been my goal. I’m unbelievably excited about what the future may hold for myself and my sponsors because we’re so close now. We just need to take that one final step.”

His sheer grit and unswerving drive and determination are unparalleled in the paddock – and this will doubtless serve Tom and his sponsors well as he strives to raise the substantially higher budget level required in order to make the BTCC grade and line up on the grid in 2014.

If you are interested in getting in contact with Tom, he can be reached at: tom@tom-ingram.com

Jamie Nicholson, Marketing Co-ordinator, SKYCIG (UK) “Sponsorship in motorsport is evolving all the time, and Tom’s creative intelligence and contribution to our 2013 programme has been very welcome. His management team also plays a key role, matching his success on the track with professionalism and personal touch in equal measure. A delight to be associated with!”

Chris Hansford, Managing Director, Hansford Sensors “Tom is an extremely focussed and ambitious young man who has achieved a great deal of success over the past few years and will go far in his chosen career. Our relationship with Tom has given us far more media exposure than we would otherwise have had and has provided us with additional business contacts, which has obviously been highly beneficial. Through his pleasant and mature manner, Tom has proven to be an excellent ambassador for our company.”

Steve Rider, BAFTA-Winning Television Sports Presenter and Broadcaster “Tom is a very confident performer in front of the cameras. He understands exactly what is required when it comes to striking the right balance between verbalising the support of his sponsors and telling the story of the race. In terms of his communication skills, he is of the same mould as Jason Plato – and you really can’t speak much more highly than that.”

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B4 R&R

“The service was very

attentive and friendly. A leisurely amount of time was left between courses so the whole meal was a relaxed affair

”

THE EVENLODE

B4 Magazine’s Julie Drayford went along to The Evenlode, to find out what’s on the menu this winter.

We visited The Evenlode on a wintery Monday night, so the sight of a big burning open fire in the restaurant was a welcome one.

David, the owner, was very passionate and knowledgeable about food and wine and explained that his wish was to create a fine dining experience for his more discerning guests, sectioning off a certain area of the restaurant next to the fire where guests could enjoy their meal in privacy.

Our meal began with starters of crab & lobster lasagne (£8.95) which had a good flavour of both.

The mushroom and black truffle ravioli (£8.95) had generous shavings of black truffle and very enjoyable.

The palate cleanser of lemon and champagne

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sorbet was a nice touch.

Onto our mains. The pan fried skate wing with capers (£24.95) was a delicious and enjoyable dish. My guest had the Welsh rack of lamb with minted butter (£25.95) which had a more dramatic appearance served pink and juicy with paper frills on the bones no less. We enjoyed a generous selection of potatoes and vegetables.

There is a good choice of fine wines on the wine menu. David recommended a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape (£49.95), served in large glass goblets - this was certainly a welcome addition to the meal.

Leaving little space for desserts I had the chocolate fudge cake whereas my guest had the cheese

board with a dizzying array of great English cheeses to choose from.

The service was very attentive and friendly throughout. A leisurely amount of time was left between courses so the whole meal was a relaxed affair.

The restaurant welcomes children and has an area where you can take dogs inside. They also have a huge garden that comes to life with a bouncy castle in the summer.

The Evenlode’s specialty is a carvery which you can enjoy throughout the week, especially popular at the weekend. www.adcevenlode.co.uk

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SAVE THE DATE! WEDNESDAY 23RD APRIL, 2014 - THE SAÏD BUSINESS SCHOOL

8KI?D;II ‘A Catalyst for Collaboration’

An afternoon of informative presentations from some of Oxfordshire’s leading businesses and organisations For ticket, sponsorship and presentation information, call 01865 742211

B4 contacts P

CONTACTS DIRECTORY Advice................................................................................................................................................129 Business Services...................................................................................................................131 Charities................................................................................................................................133 Conference, Events & Venues......................................................................................133 Education.......................................................................................................................................135 Finance.............................................................................................................................................135 Health & Leisure......................................................................................................................137 HR.........................................................................................................................................................137

ADVICE

A M B A S S A D O R

A

IT & Telecommunications................................................................................................139 Manufacturing..........................................................................................................................139 Science & Technology.........................................................................................................139 Marketing & Design.............................................................................................................139 Property & Building..............................................................................................................141 R&R......................................................................................................................................................145 Retail..................................................................................................................................................147

ACCOUNTING

Action Coach t: 01183 400 351 w: www.actioncoach.com

BrookStreet Des Roches LLP A Paddy Gregan Partner

Wenn Townsend P Tony Haines Partner

Jamesons Insolvency & Business Recovery t: 01993 707860 w: www.jamesons.co.uk

t: 01235 836655 w: www.bsdr.com

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 t: 01865 292200 w: www.shawgibbs.com Wellers A Stuart Crook Partner t: 01865 723131 w: www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

Thomas International t: 01608 659910 w: www.thomasinternational.net Strategic Mentors t: 01993 771728 w: www.strategicmentors.co.uk Exilia t: 07817 767649 Anrah Development t: 01865 243655 w: www.anrah.co.uk Concept Leaders Ltd t: 01666 849071 w: www.conceptleaders.com Hilltop Consultancy t: 01844 238692 w: www.hilltopconsultancy.co.uk

Henmans Freeth LLP A Malcolm Sadler Senior Partner t: 01865 781000 w: www.henmansfreeth.co.uk Bower & Bailey A Stuart Palmer Partner t: 01993 705095 w: www.bowerandbailey.co.uk Penningtons Manches LLP A Richard Smith Managing Partner t: 01865 722106 w: www.manches.com Turpin & Miller LLP A Emily Boardman Partner

Adhere Training t: 0844 846 3866 w: www.adheretraining.co.uk

t: 01865 770111 w: www.turpinmiller.co.uk

t: 01865 799899 w: www.grant-thornton.co.uk

Active Education and Training Ltd t: 01865 594325 w: www.oxfordactive.co.uk

Brethertons A Karina Ray Key Client Manager

Russell Whitlock Accountancy t: 01865 481625 w: www.rw-accountancy.co.uk

Increase Your Sales in 30 Days t: 07850 547423 w: www.increaseyoursalesin30days.com

t: 01295 661425 w: www.brethertons.co.uk

Rees Russell t: 01993 702418 w: www.reesrussell.co.uk

Oxford Professional Consulting t: 01865 436791 w: www.oxfordprofessionalconsulting.com

Richardsons Accountants t: 01844 261155 w: www.richardsons-group.co.uk

RTS Breakthrough Solutions t: 07789 405079 w: www.rts-breakthroughsolutions.co.uk

BUSINESS ADVICE

LEGAL

Coaching Business A Andrew Pearson Director

Darbys Solicitors P Simon McCrum Managing Partner

t: 01280 844966 w: www.coaching-business.co.uk

t: 01865 811700 w: www.darbys.co.uk

Grant Thornton UK LLP P Wendy Hart Managing Partner

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Sipara t: 0844 2253 570 w: www.sipara.com Dehns t: 01865 305100 w: www.dehns.com Whitley Stimpson LLP t: 01295 270200 w: www.whitleystimpson.co.uk White & Black Legal LLP t: 0800 035 2656 w: www.wablegal.com

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A RANGE WITHOUT LIMITS.

NOW AVAILABLE WITH REPRESENTATIVE 0% APR. (DEPOSIT REQUIRED)* Now at: Banbury Road, Shipton on Cherwell, Kidlington, Oxon, OX5 1JH. Tel: 01865 376000 Jeep with ®

salesoxford@fiat.com www.motorvillageuk.com

FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE JEEP RANGE IN MPG (L /100KM): URBAN 13.5 (20.9) – 38.2 (7.4), EXTRA URBAN 28.0 (10.1) – 52.3 (5.4), COMBINED 20.0 (14.1) – 46. 3 (6.1). C02 EMISSIONS IN G/KM 328 – 161.

Models show: Jeep Compass 2.0 Sport 4x2 at £17,465 OTR, Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo at £36,995 OTR and Jeep Wrangler 2dr Overland 2.8 CRD Auto with metallic paint at £31,415 OTR. Promotion available on new Jeep Compass, Wrangler (excluding special orders) and Grand Cherokee models registered between 1st October and 31st December 2013. *Deposit required.

With Advanced Payment Plan the initial payment varies dependent on trim, model and mileage, and is usually between 60% and 70%. You have the option to return the vehicle and not pay the final payment, subject to the vehicle not having exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a charge of 12p per mile for exceeding 10,000 miles per annum in this example for the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Compass) and being in good condition. Finance subject to status. Guarantees may be required. Terms and conditions apply. We work with a number of creditors including Jeep Financial Services. Jeep Financial Services, PO BOX 4465, Slough SL1 ORW. Fiat - Chrysler and CNH Industrial are Official Global Partners of the Expo Milano 2015. To find out more please visit jeep.co.uk. Prices and specifications correct at the time of going to print (10/13). Jeep is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.

B4 contacts Morgan Cole LLP t: 01865 262600 w: www.morgan-cole.com Leigh Edwards Solicitors t: 01865 884436 w: www.leighedwards.com plainlaw LLP t: 01865 240202 w: www.plainlaw.co.uk Lewis Silkin t: 020 7074 8494 w: www.lewissilkin.com Hedges Law t: 01491 839839 w: www.hedgeslaw.co.uk

BUSINESS CONSULTANTS The Profitable Hotel Company A Stuart Harrison Owner t: 01993 706632 w: www.profitablehotelcompany.co.uk The Convergency Partnership A Anne Augustine Director t: 07506 139920 w: www.convergencypartnership.com Insight Oxford t: 01865 596 771 w: www.insightoxford.co.uk

BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS

BUSINESS SERVICES ARCHIVING AND STORAGE

Institute of Directors A Timon Colgrove Chairman

Ardington Archives A Janet Gibbons Director

t: 01235 773500 w: www.iod.com/oxfordshire

t: 01367 718710 w: www.ardingtonarchives.co.uk

Bizlinx t: 0333 700 1057 w: www.bizlinx.org.uk

The Archive Centre A David Coulton Owner

BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

t: 01296 425744 w: www.thearchivecentre.com My Business Backup t: 01865 920581 w: www.mybusinessbackup.co.uk

Aston & James Office P Supplies Limited Darren Aston Director t: 01993 706900 w: www.aston-james.co.uk

CLEANING SERVICES AUDIO VISUAL City Audio Visual A Peter Gunn Director t: 01865 722800 w: www.cityaudiovisual.co.uk Bang & Olufsen P Mark James Director t: 01865 511241 w: www.bang-olufsen.com Coozâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Recording Studio t: 01865 236117 w: www.coozes.com ShiningWithProductions A Sander Aben Film Producer / Director / Editor t: 07976 939420 w: www.shiningwithproductions.com

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

DISTRIBUTION First Move Direct Marketing t: 01494 539300 w: www.firstmove.co.uk

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Gavin Jones A Martin Ford Business Development Executive t: 01932 833833 w: www.gavinjones.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

PAVY Ltd t: 01865 349014 w: www.pavy.co.uk Grundon t: 01491 839212 w: www.grundon.com

INSURANCE Chase Templeton A Charles Frost Independent Insurance Consultant t: 0800 018 3633 w: www.chasetempleton.co.uk Osbornes Insurances t: 01844 214316 w: www.osbornesins.co.uk

LOCAL GOVERNMENT West Oxfordshire A District Council William Barton Business Development Officer w: www.westoxon.gov.uk/business West Oxfordshire A District Council Hayley Beer Tourism Services Manager t: 01993 861558 w: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

NETWORKING GROUPS B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Editor t: 01865 742211 w: www.b4-business.com Opendoorz t: 01865 339434 w: www.opendoorz.biz

SECURITY Executive Alarms Ltd A John Keown Director t: 01865 435435 w: www.executive-systems.co.uk Executive Fire A Protection Ltd Mickey Franklin Managing Director t: 01865 771133 w: www.executive-systems.co.uk

TRANSPORT Brazenose Limited t: 01753 801079 w: www.realplay.co.uk

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Why compromise? :VTL°JOVPJLZ°HrL°OHrK °*OVVZPUN°>OP[L° °)SHJR°PZU’[°VUL°VM°[OLT >e’rL°UV[°Q\Z[°HJRUV^SLKNLK°L_WLY[Z °>L°NV°V\[°VM°V\Y°^H`°[V°\UKLYZ[HUK° `V\Y°^VYSK °°TV°SPZ[LU °TV°KLSP]Lr °TV°NP]L°HK]PJL°PU°JSLHr °I\ZPULZZ°SHUN\HNL ° YH[OLY°[OHU°QHrNVU °0[°THRLZ°MVY°L_JLW[PVUHS°rLZ\S[Z For more information, please contact Phil Riman:

T M E W

| | | |

+44 (0) 845 201 3142 +44 (0) 7824 505 194 phil.riman@wablegal.com wablegal.com

Chalford Park | Oxford Road | Old Chalford | Oxfordshire OX7 5QR * Ranked a top 20 UK firm by Chambers & Partners for private equity: venture capital.

B4 contacts CHARITIES

Teletrax Limited t: 01235 856054 w: www.teletraxltd.co.uk

RAF Benevolent Fund A Paul Hewson Regional Director, South England

MOTOR

t. 01296 656586 w: www.rafbf.org.uk

Motor Village Oxford P Cristiano Calabrese Managing Director t: 01865 376000 w: www.motorvillageuk.com Ultimate Partnerships Mike Rebello Director

A

t: 0845 4591003 w: www.ultimatepartnerships.com Ultimate Car Control Robb Gravett Founder

P

t: 01344 751669 w: www.ultimatecarcontrol.com BMW North Oxford Garage Marcus Elliot Corporate Sales Manager

P

t: 01865 319000 w: www.oxfordbmw.co.uk

A

t: 0845 217 8284 w: www.greatexperiencetravel.co.uk City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager t: 01865 790 522 w: www.citysightseeingoxford.com London Oxford Airport P James Dillon-Godfray Business Development Manager

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds A Graham Brogden Head of Community Fundraising t: 01865 743442 w: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk Oxfordshire Community A Foundation Jayne Woodley Chief Executive t: 01865 798666 w: www.oxfordshire.org

Passion for Food Philip Baker Managing Director

A

t: 08452 969226 w: www.passion-for-food.co.uk

Lady Margaret Hall P Bill Kemp Head of Conference Services t: 01865 611079 w: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk Pembroke College A Huw Edmunds Head of Conferences and Events t: 01865 276484 w: www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences Egrove Park A Jill Grieveson Conference Manager t: 01865 422757 w: www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing Four Pillars Hotels A Chris Green Group Marketing Manager

Sue Ryder Care t: 01491 641404 w: www.sueryder.org

t: 01993 777532 w: www.four-pillars.co.uk Magdalen College School A Emma Withers Events Manager

Crisis t: 01865 263911 w: www.crisis.org.uk

t: 01865 242191 w: www.mcsoxford.org

Aspire t: 01865 204450 w: www.aspireoxford.co.uk

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES CATERING

Visit Oxfordshire A Joanne Butler Tourism Team Leader

Oxford Fine Dining Sue Randall Managing Director

t: 01865 252200 w: www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

t: 01865 728240 w: www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

Travel Counsellors t: 01295 720266 w: www.travelcounsellors.com

t: 01235 820840 w: www.completecatering.co.uk

CLIC Sargent t: 03003 300803 w: www.clicsargent.org.uk

t: 01865 290 600 w: www.londonoxfordairport.com

Weekly Home t: 01993 811711 w: www.weeklyhome.com

A

CONFERENCES

Oxford Inspires A t: 01865 815525 w: www.oxfordinspires.org

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research t: 0207 5042231 w: www.beatingbloodcancers.org.uk

TRAVEL Great Experience Travel David Gambier Managing Director

Helen & Douglas House A Vanessa Fay Corporate & Trusts Fundraising Manager t. 01865 794749 w: www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

Complete Catering Jon Kay General Manager

P

Elegant Cuisine A Michael Ashton Managing Director t: 01865 391888 w: www.elegantcuisine.com

Malmaison t: 01865 268400 w: www.malmaison-oxford.com Meet Oxfordshire A Julie Archer Managing Agent T: 01608 659900 W: www.meetoxfordshire.com Williams P Conference Centre Brendan Caffrey Conference Centre Manager t: 01235 777900 w: www.williamsconferencecentre.com The Examination Schools A Kay Hogg Events Manager t: 01865 276905 w: www.examschools.ox.ac.uk

www.b4-business.com

133

B4 contacts Exeter College t: 01865 279600 w: www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences/ Howbery Business Park A Angela Andrews Marketing and Lettings Manager t: 01491 822305 w: www.howberypark.com The Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centre t: 01865 297400 w: www.kingscentre.co.uk Heythrop Park Resort A Tracy Norcup 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 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 Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards t: 01865 742211 w: www.oxfordshirerestaurantawards.co.uk

VENUES Blenheim Palace P John Hoy Chief Executive t: 01993 810501 w: www.blenheimpalace.com Blenheim Palace Hospitality t: 01993 813 874 w: www.blenheimpalace.com/hospitality Oxford Castle Quarter t: 01865 201657 w: www.oxfordcastle.com Rhodes House P Martin Gubb Director

Venue Services, Bodleian Library A Felice Vermeulen Marketing & Administrative Assistant t: 01865 287400 w: www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Oxford University A Student Union Max Richardson Advertising Sales Manager t: 01865 288456 w: www.ousu.org

EVENT MANAGEMENT

SAE Institute P t: 01865 787150 w: oxford.sae.edu

tmb Events Ltd Nigel Green Director

Oxford International Study Centre t: 01865 201009 w: www.oxintstudycentre.com

t: 01865 822500 w: www.tmb-events.com The Active Network P t: 08700 841 480 w: www.regonline.co.uk Altis Consulting Charlie Allen Managing Director

A

SCHOOLS Bloxham School A Nick Irvine Marketing Director t: 01295 724332 w: www.bloxhamschool.com

t: 01451 812237 w: www.altisconsulting.co.uk

Tudor Hall Boarding School Wendy Griffiths Headmistress

Boys and Girls Promotions t: 01865 595717 w: www.boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk

t: 01295 263434 w: www.tudorhallschool.com

The Sound Foundation t: 07973 559203 w: www.soundfoundation.co.uk

FINANCE

EQUIPMENT HIRE Oxford Event Hire A Kieran Lynch Owner t: 01865 760158 w: www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk Millie Miles A Lorna Miles Director t: 01869 351603 w: www.milliemiles.co.uk

CATERING EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTION Basics t: 01993 706708 w: www.basictableware.com

EDUCATION FURTHER EDUCATION Oxford & Cherwell A Valley College Sally Dicketts CBE Principal t: 01865 550550 w: www.ocvc.ac.uk

A

ADVICE Your Money Friends A Ted Yeates Managing Director t: 01235 838542 w: www.yourmoneyfriend.co.uk Total Credit Management t: 01993 770770 w: www.totalcreditmanagement.co.uk Strategic Finance Director t: 07967 681 774 w: www.strategicfd.co.uk Herbert & Webster t: 01865 407755 w: www.herbertandwebster.co.uk

BANKING LloydsTSB Commercial A Karl Leitelmayer Senior Manager, Commercial t: 07764 625666 w: www.lloydstsb.com Barclays A Trevor French Corporate Director Oxford t: 07775 542467 w: www.barclayscorporate.com

t: 01865 270918 w: www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

www.b4-business.com

135

Music Director Marios Papadopoulos Artist in Residence Maxim Vengerov

Oxford Philomusica Extraordinary concerts in Oxford and beyond Guest artists for 2014 include: Maxim Vengerov Shlomo Mintz Dmitry Sitkovetsky Nigel Kennedy John Lill Menahem Pressler Marios Papadopoulos Choir of The Queen’s College Magdalen College Choir

Box Office: 01865 980 980

www.oxfordphil.com

1:08:10 PM

All our work is covered by the NICEIC 6 year insurance backed warranty Commercial & Industrial:

Domestic Services:

U Office lighting and power U Fire alarm systems U Data installation U Maintenance and fault finding U Security, CCTV, door entry U PAT testing UÊFixed wiring testing UÊAir conditioning installation

U U U U U U U

Re-wiring Consumer units & upgrades Fault finding & resolution Home automation systems CCTV & security lighting Garden & pond lighting Safety inspection & testing

Enery saving solutions: U Solar PV systems U Vphase voltage control

U LED lighting systems U Electrorad heating systems

01793 526003 07766 238814 info@cs-elec.co.uk www.cs-elec.co.uk

t m e w

• • • •

Parties Proms Weddings Anniversaries

• • • • •

Airport Transfers Theatre Trips Race Days Shopping Trips Sporting Events

www.1ststretch.com 01865 389 279

B4 contacts Brown Shipley A Trudy Papafio Private Client Manager t: 0207 282 3227 w: www.brownshipley.co.uk Santander Justin Hayward Business Development Director t: 07809 493563 w: www.santander.co.uk Coutts t: 01865 389039 w: www.coutts.com RBS Corporate Banking t: 0845 8351249 w: www.rbs.co.uk

IFAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mark Barclay A Partner at St. James's Place Wealth Management t: 01865 793121 w: www.mbarclay.co.uk CMS Financial Management Ltd t: 01869 345588 w: www.cmsfinancialltd.co.uk

GOLF Frilford Heath Golf Club A Alistair Booth Director t: 01865 390864 w: www.frilfordheath.co.uk Studley Wood Golf Club A Ken Heathcote Managing Director

The Jockey Club - South West Racecourses A Matthew Foxton-Duffy Regional Head of Marketing - SW t: 01242 537608 w: www.thejockeyclub.co.uk North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club t: 01865 513560 (Clubhouse) w: www.northoxfordltc.org.uk

WELLBEING t: 01865 351122 w: www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk Magnolia Park Golf Club A Mark McGeehan Head PGA Professional

Helen Money Nutrition A Helen Money Owner t: 01865 339672 w: www.helenmoneynutrition.com

t: 01844 239700 w: www.magnoliapark.co.uk

BEAUTY HEALTHCARE Robert Stanley Opticians A John Edwards Director t: 01865 766488 w: www.robertstanley.co.uk

Bare UK t: 07773 764817 w: www.bareuk.co.uk Popham Hairdressing t: 01865 517040 w: www.popham.com

Clinic95 A Maria Hardman Business Manager

HR

FOCUS t: 01865 295295 w: www.focus-oxford.co.ukk

t: 01865 241661 w: www.clinic95.com

Allen Associates Kate Allen Managing Director

MORTGAGE ADVICE

Monica Franke Osteopathy & Pilates t: 07970 119721 w: www.monicafranke.com

t: 01865 335600 w: www.allen-associates.co.uk

James Bateman t: 01865 483839 w: www.shs.brookes.ac.uk/clear

Berry Recruitment t: 01865 777733 w: www.berryrecruitment.co.uk

Linda Flanigan Hypnotherapy t: 07866 360359 w: www.lfhypnotherapy-oxfordshire.co.uk

myFD Recruitment t: 01869 354041 w: www.myfdrecruitment.co.uk

FITNESS

SPORT

TLA Fitness A Tom Alden Founder

Oxford United Football Club A Ian Lenagan Chairman

Avatar Recruitment Consultancy Ltd t: 01295 724570 w: www.avatarrecruit.co.uk

t: 07554 400 401 w: www.tlafitness.com

t: 01865 337505 w: www.oufc.co.uk

Prime Energy Fitness Ltd t: 01869 352000 w: www.primeenergy.org

Oxford University Rugby Football Club A Tim Stevens Club Administrator t: 01865 432000 w: www.ourfc.org

Mortgage Choices A James Keene Principal Consultant t: 01993 862888 w: www.mortgage-choices.com

HEALTH AND LEISURE

Cherwell Boathouse t: 01865 552746 w: www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk

London Welsh Rugby Club P Cerys Roberts Head of Corporates t: 07768 306007 w: www.london-welsh.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

RECRUITMENT

Hays t: 01865 727071 w: www.hays.com Better People Ltd t: 01491 836632 w: www.betterpeopleltd.co.uk Nicola Gardiner Executive Search t: 007900 912941 w: www.nicolagardiner.com

HR CONSULTANT HR2You P Sarah Morris Owner t: 07789 711997 w: www.hr2you.co.uk

137

Dir Direct ect Mail Magic

Oxfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specialist Dry Cleaners, experts in cleaning all delicate items including silks to wedding dresses.

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Our client client took took a Our 300% return return on on 300% investment from from investment direct direct mail. mail .

We We can can show show you you how. how. mailing we we designed, designed, p A mailing personalised ersonalised and printed printed delivered delivered tthis and his rresult esult within 10 10 days days o within off b being eing m mailed ailed o out. ut.

To g To grow row yyour our b business usiness u using sing d direct irect m mail ail ccall all u uss n now. ow.

C Call all 01494 539300 orr visitt www .firstmove.co.uk www.firstmove.co.uk

274 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 7DY 01865 511773 www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk

your one-stop print solution

high impact indigo digital print litho print

design & artwork

posters & large format display graphics promotional exhibition banners finishing, mailing & distribution 01235 55 45 55 sales@abbey-press.co.uk 40 Nuffield Centrum, Nuffield Way Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX14 1RL

Delivering D elivering Real Real B Business usiness Results Results

B4 contacts Gazella HR t: 01865 339411 w: www.gazellahr.co.uk

Pink Connect t: 01865 592222 w: www.pinkconnect.com

SEOptimise t: 0845 299 0818 w: www.seoptimise.com

Spires HR t: 01865 880391 w: www.spireshr.co.uk

GHM Communications t: 0845 058 4668 w: www.ghmcommunications.com

EMAIL MARKETING

MB HR Support Ltd t: 01993 882744 w: www.mbhrsupport.co.uk

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS DATABASE MANAGEMENT InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director t: 0845 310 9973 w: www.intouchcrm.co.uk

IT SERVICES Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd P Richard Marsh Director t: 01367 700555 w: www.cisltd.com Bluespires IT t: 0845 5280505 w: www.bluespires.co.uk Data Efficiency t: 01993 608612 w: www.dataefficiency.co.uk

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Blink Design & Print A Keith Simpson Senior Designer t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com Torpedo Group Limited A Iain Lewis Director t: 01865 733710 w: www.torpedogroup.com Made Mobile Edward Catling Director

A

MANUFACTURING LIGHTING WILA Group Ltd A Mike Collett Chief Executive Officer t: 01235 773500 w: www.wila.com

MEDICAL GOODS Owen Mumford A Jarl Severn Director

t: 0845 299 7529 w: www.unicityapp.com

t: 01993 812021 w: www.owenmumford.com

Alberon A Tim Ault Managing Director

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

t: 01865 263220 w: www.alberon.co.uk Olamalu A Christoph Corvin Director

QPQ Software Ltd t: 01235 522516 w: www.qpqsoftware.com

t: 01993 764566 w: www.olamalu.com

MOBILE PHONES

Urban Element t: 01993 776 999 w: www.urbanelement.com

Everything Everywhere t: 07968 107671 w: www.everythingeverywhere.com

ClientMailer t: 01865 339406 w: www.clientmailer.com

White October t: 01865 706017 w: www.whiteoctober.co.uk

SCIENCE Science Oxford A Dominic McDonald Head of Public Engagement and Business Networks t: 01865 728953 w: www.scienceoxford.com Oxford Technologies A Stephen Sanders Business Development Director t: 01235 544871 w: www.oxfordtechnologies.co.uk

MARKETING & DESIGN

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

WEB OPTIMISATION & SERVICES

ADVERTISING

QuarkXPress t: 0207 632 5612 w: www.quark.com

Oxford Digital Marketing A Simon Wallace-Jones Co-Founder

In Oxford Magazine P Colin Rosser Chairman

Sophos t: 01235 559933 w: www.sophos.com

t: 01865 600 508 w: www.oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk

t: 01865 742211 w: www.inoxford.com

Zest A Alex Minchin Director

CORPORATE IDENTITY

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Orange Stripe A Telecommunications Nigel Pursall Managing Director t: 0845 241 7772 w: www.orangestripe.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

t: 0843 289 0161 w: www.zestdigital.co

Recognition Express A Andy Olejnik Managing Director

Glooo A Chris Jones Director

t: 01295 257611 w: www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk/

t: 01865 595707 w: www.glooo.co.uk

DESIGN

139

EAT - DRINK - ENJOY

WWW.OXFORDCASTLEQUARTER.COM OXFORD CASTLE QUARTER, OXFORD, OX1 1AY

B4 PARTNERS

Official E-Mail Marketing Partner

Official Events Software Partner

Official Business and Formal wear partner

Official Photographer

Official Mobile Partner

Official Stationery Partner

Preferred supplier of Home Entertainment

Official Cloud Partner

140

www.b4-business.com

B4 contacts Blink Design A t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com

Marketingco Jackie Jarvis Director

Adapt Communications A Tracey Jefferies Partner

Strangebrew A Phil Strachan Director

t: 01491 822333 w: www.marketingco.co.uk

t: 0845 4591007 w: www.adapt.co

indiumonline t: 01865 980630 w: www.indiumonline.co.uk

Syncro PR A Claire Thompson PR Director

PHOTOGRAPHY

t: 01865 886344 w: www.syncropr.com

Studio 8 P Clark Wiseman Managing Director

Esplin PR A Louise Esplin Freelance PR Consultant

t: 01865 842525 w: www.studio-8.co.uk

t: 07775 678237 w: www.esplinpr.co.uk

Lyon Photography t: 01865 481550 w: www.lyonphotography.co.uk

GB PR A Gail Buckle Owner

PRINTING

t: 01865 742940 w: www.gbprconsultancy.blogspot.com

Advent Colour P Mike Ackerman Sales Director

Love Communication t: 07887 775271 w: www.lovecommunication.co.uk

t: 01264 359359 w: www.advent-colour.co.uk

Spriggs David A Karen David Partner t: 01865 512662 w: www.spriggsdavid.co.uk

t: 07770 753975 w: www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk Rare Form New Media A Jean H. Paldan Director t: 01865 790039 w: www.rareformnewmedia.com ADS t: 01993 885122 w: www.adsoxford.co.uk Isis Creative Framing t: 01865 203420 w: www.isiscreative.co.uk

FREELANCE COPY WRITING AND EDITING Noble Word Matt Wright Owner t: 07500 531485 Nicholas Newman Freelance Journalist t: 01865 762710 w: www.nicnewmanoxford.com

Blueprint Imaging A Martin Matthews Managing Director t: 01993 892360 w: www.blueprintimaging.com

MARKETING RESEARCH / TELEMARKETING Lingo Telemarketing A Su Copeland Managing Director t: 01865 886340 w: www.lingotelemarketing.com

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 AWM Marketing t: 01367 244996 w: www.awm-marketing.com Reputation Selling t: 07976 684009 w: www.reputation-selling.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

The Oxford Duplication Centre t: 01865 457000 w: www.oxfordduplicationcentre.co.uk Culham Publication Services P Stuart Morris Studio Manager t: 01235 464904 w: www.culhampublicationservices.com OxUniPrint A Ian Wilton Managing Director t: 01865 844918 w: www.oxuniprint.co.uk Abbey Press t: 01235 554555 w: www.abbey-press.co.uk Solutions in Ink t: 020 7917 2964 w: www.solutionsinink.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS

WEB PERFORMANCE Obergine A Jeremy Anderson Director t: 01865 245777 w: www.obergine.com

MEDIA JACKfm Ian Walker General Manager t: 01865 315980 w: www.jackfm.co.uk

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTS Riach Architects A Douglas Riach Principal t: 01865 553772 w: www.riacharchitects.com

The Buzzworks A Sarah Airey Proprietor

John Hallam Associates A John Hallam Director

t: 01993 813848 w: www.thebuzzworks.co.uk

t: 01608 646969 w: www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk

141

T H E S M A L L PA C K A G E WITH ADDED BOLDNESS.

Y P S I LO N S - S E R I E S : A F I V E - D O O R CITY CAR FROM CHRYSLER AVA I L A B L E F R O M £ 1 8 5 † P E R M O N T H

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE CHRYSLER YPSILON 1.2 S-SERIES WITH BI-COLOUR PAINT (AT £775)

47 MONTHLY PAYMENTS

ON THE ROAD PRICE

CUSTOMER DEPOSIT

CHRYSLER DEPOSIT CONTRIBUTION (INCL VAT)

AMOUNT OF CREDIT

OPTIONAL FINAL PAYMENT (INCL £295 FEE)

TOTAL PAYABLE BY CUSTOMER

DURATION OF CONTRACT (MONTHS)

RATE OF INTEREST (FIXED)

APR REPRESENTATIVE

£185

£13,570

£1,774

£1,200

£10,596

£3,975

£14,444

48

6.30%

7.2% APR

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

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 .

Chrysler with

S A L E S O X F O R D @ F I A T. C O M W W W. M O T O R V I L L A G E U K .C O M

OFFICIAL FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE CHRYSLER YPSILON RANGE IN MPG (L/100KM): EXTRA URBAN 65.7 (4.3) – 88.3 (3.2), URBAN 44.1 (6.4) – 60.1 (4.7), COMBINED 55.4 (5.1) – 74.3 (3.8). CO2 EMISSIONS IN G/KM 118 – 97.

FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CO2 FIGURES ARE OBTAINED FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES IN ACCORDANCE WITH EC DIRECTIVES/REGULATIONS AND MAY NOT BE REPRESENTATIVE OF REAL-LIFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. FACTORS SUCH AS DRIVING STYLE, WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS MAY ALSO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON FUEL CONSUMPTION. MODEL SHOWN: CHRYSLER YPSILON 1.2 S-SERIES WITH OPTIONAL BI-COLOUR PAINT. †PROMOTION AVAILABLE ON NEW YPSILON MODELS REGISTERED BEFORE 31ST DECEMBER 2013. WITH CHRYSLER HORIZON YOU HAVE THE OPTION TO RETURN THE VEHICLE AND NOT PAY THE FINAL PAYMENT, SUBJECT TO THE VEHICLE NOT HAVING EXCEEDED AN AGREED ANNUAL MILEAGE (A CHARGE OF 6P PER MILE FOR EXCEEDING 8,000 MILES PER ANNUM IN THIS EXAMPLE) AND BEING IN GOOD CONDITION. FINANCE SUBJECT TO STATUS. GUARANTEES MAY BE REQUIRED. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY. AT PARTICIPATING DEALERS ONLY. WE WORK WITH A NUMBER OF CREDITORS INCLUDING CHRYSLER FINANCIAL SERVICES. CHRYSLER FINANCIAL SERVICES, PO BOX 4465, SLOUGH, SL1 0RW. FIAT - CHRYSLER AND CNH INDUSTRIAL ARE OFFICIAL GLOBAL PARTNERS OF THE EXPO MILANO 2015. TO FIND OUT MORE PLEASE VISIT CHRYSLER.CO.UK. PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRINT (10/13). CHRYSLER IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CHRYSLER GROUP LLC.

B4 contacts 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

BUILDERS MERCHANTS Buildbase P David Robertson Central Regional Director t: 01865 787763 w: www.buildbase.co.uk

BUSINESS PARKS 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 Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and Business Development Director t: 01865 261480 w: www.oxin-centres.co.uk Bloxham Mill Business Centre A Ray Avery Managing Director t: 01295 722800 w: www.bloxhammill.com

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS VSL and Partners P Richard Venables Director t: 01865 848488 w: www.vslandp.com

www.b4-business.com

Carter Jonas P Scott Harkness Partner t: 01865 511444 w: www.carterjonas.co.uk Meeson Williams Ltd t: 01865 349011 w: www.meesonwilliams.com Marriotts t: 01865 316311 w: www.marriottsoxford.co.uk Lambert Smith Hampton t: 01865 200 244 w: www.lsh.co.uk

DEVELOPMENT The Trevor Osborne P Property Group Trevor Osborne Chairman t: 01225 832302 w: www.topgroup.co.uk

ESTATE AGENTS Breckon and Breckon P Keith Stacey Managing Director t: 01865 244735 w: www.breckon.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 Strutt & Parker A Miles Collison Partner, Development Land & New Homes t: 01865 366660 w: www.struttandparker.com

LETTING AGENTS Oxford Property Solutions A Emma Righton Managing Director t: 01865 311696 w: www.oxfordpropertysolutions.co.uk Breckon and Breckon P Greg Barnes Director t: 01865 201111 w: www.breckon.co.uk Finders Keepers A Frank Webster Director t: 01865 302308 w: www.finders.co.uk scottfraser A Andrew Greenwood Group Managing Director t: 01865 760055 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk Lucy Properties A Ian Ashcroft Managing Director t: 01865 559973 w: www.lucyproperties.co.uk North Oxford Property Services A Robin Swailes Director t: 01865 311745 w: www.nops.co.uk College and County A Mark Crampton-Smith Owner t: 01865 722722 w: www.collegeandcounty.biz Premier Letting Charles Bartlett Partner

A

t: 01865 792299 w: www.premier.uk.com Kemp and Kemp t: 01865 517584 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk Bluestone Letting and Management t: 01869 327577 w: www.bluestonelm.co.uk The Letting Centre t: 01865 759930 w: www.thelettingcentre.com

143

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Frames with Nikon lenses

www.robertstanley.co.uk

Pop in to one of our stores to see our collection Headington / Abingdon / Thame / Wallingford / Wantage health centre

Tel: 01235 520849

B4 contacts The Oxford Hotel P Paul Russell Executive General Manager t: 01865 489988 w: www.pumahotels.co.uk/ hotels/the-oxford-hotel

PROPERTY SERVICES Absolutely Offices Beryl Huntingdon Managing Director

A

t: 01256 316500 w: www.absolutely-offices.co.uk EIFLA-3D A Nigel J Blanchard Founder & CEO t: 0844 7767 1870

The Old Fire Station A Jeremy Spafford Director of Arts

Westwood Hotel A Tony Healey Owner

t: 01865 263980 w: www.oldfirestation.org.uk Modern Art Oxford A Hannah Evans Communications Manager

t: 01865 735408 w: www.westwoodhotel.co.uk

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

Fallowfields Hotel & Restaurant Anthony Lloyd A Managing Director

t: 01865 813826 w: www.modernartoxford.org.uk

t: 01865 820416 w: www.fallowfields.com

Rachel Ducker w: www.rachelducker.co.uk

Conifers Guest House t: 01865 763055 w: www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse t: 01865 305305 w: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Old Swan & Minster Mill A Amanda Baker

Creation Theatre t: 01865 761393 w: www.creationtheatre.co.uk

t: 01993 862510 w: www.oldswanandminstermill.com

Next Generation Solar t: 01993 813105 w: www.nextgenerationsolar.co.uk JCC Electrical t: 01869 570827 w: www.jccelectrical.co.uk

Hawkwell House Hotel P Tim Spittles General Manager t: 01865 749988 w: www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

The Bear & Ragged Staff Mark Greenwood Landlord

A

CS Electrical t: 01793 526003 w: www.cs-elec.co.uk Darke & Taylor Ltd t: 01865 290000 w: www.darkeandtaylor.co.uk

R&R ACCOMMODATION

A

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Sam Strange Magic A Sam Strange Owner t: 01865 742211 w: www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

Eynsham Hall t: 01993 885238 w: www.eynshamhall.com

ENTERTAINMENT Pegasus Theatre A Bel Crewe Development Director

Spirit Health Club t: 01865 888444 w: www.spirithealthclubs.co.uk

RENTAL ACCOMMODATION

The Oxford Wine Company A Ted Sandbach Managing Director

t: 0844 879 9132 w: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL Orchestra of St John's John Lubbock Artistic Director t: 07765 252489 w: www.osj.org.uk

t: 01865 812160 w: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES

Lower Mill Estate Red Paxton Marketing and Sales Director t: 01285 869489 w: www.lowermillestate.com

www.b4-business.com

Wiseman Gallery A Sarah Wiseman Owner

t: 01865 862329 w: www.bearandraggedstaff.com

Macdonald Randolph Hotel A Michael Grange General Manager

The Royal Oxford Hotel A Tom Crampton-Smith Owner t: 01865 248432 w: www.royaloxfordhotel.co.uk

GALLERIES

t: 01865 515123 w: www.wisegal.com

Hope House Woodstock t: 01993 815990 w: www.hopehousewoodstock.co.uk

rb Gas t: 01865 200902 w: www.rbgas.co.uk Jill Treloggen Interiors Jill Treloggen Owner t: 01993 700515 w: www.jtiuk.com

Oxford Philomusica t: 07775 904626 w: www.oxfordphil.com

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t: 01865 301144 w: www.oxfordwine.co.uk Roots of Oxford P Mike Hirons Managing Director t: 01865 792060 w: www.rootsofoxford.com

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B4 contacts First Class Products A Thomas Ellis Owner

Old Parsonage Hotel t: 01865 310 210 w: www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk

Bicester Village Helen Peters Sales & Marketing Manager - Tourism

t: 07919 133476 w: www.firstclassproducts.biz

Quod Brasserie & Bar t: 01865 202505 w: www.quod.co.uk

t: 01869 323200 w: www.bicestervillage.com

RESTAURANTS

Cockadoo t: 01865 341030 w: www.cockadoo.co.uk

Browns Restaurant P Simon Stonehouse General Manager t: 01865 511995 w: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk The Trout P Chris Lewis General Manager

The Big Bang t: 01865 249413 w: www.thebigbangrestaurants.co.uk Pierre Victoire t: 01865 316616 w: www.pierrevictoire.co.uk

t: 01865 510930 w: www.thetroutoxford.co.uk

The Oxford Blue t: 01865 460215 w: www.theoxfordblue.com

The Red Lion P Simon Reeves General Manager

The Quince Tree t: 01491 639039 w: www.thequincetree.com

t: 01865 726255 w: www.redlionoxford.co.uk

Bayleaf t: 01865 884401 w: www.bayleafrestaurant.net

4500 MIles From Delhi A Nav Kandola Owner t: 01865 244 922 w: www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford Spice Lounge A Ali Aktar Owner t: 01865 510071 w: www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk The Snooty Mehmaan Asad Ahmed Director

A

t: 01367 242260 w: www.thesnootymehmaan.co.uk

A

Brookes Restaurant Jonathan Warhurst DirecOperations Director

A

t: 07717 341628 w: www.turlstreetkitchen.co.uk The Evenlode David Blayney Owner

t: 01865 246615 w: www.beelinebicycles.co.uk 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 Riche de Fleurs t: 01993 869202 w: www.richeflowers.com

The Chequers at Burcot t: 01865 407771 w: www.thechequers-burcot.co.uk The First Floor A t: 01865 200203 w: www.thefirstfloor-restaurant.com Saffron t: 01865 512211 w: www.saffronrestaurantoxford.co.uk The Broad Face t: 01235 537775 w: www.thebroadface.co.uk Café Aloha t: 01865 792696 w: www.cafealoha.co.uk

COFFEE SHOPS Java & Co t: 07736 950673 w: www.javaandco.co.uk

t: 01865 483873 w: www.brookes.ac.uk Turl Street Kitchen Josh Rhodes General Manager

Beeline Bicycles A Luis Tulip Manager

A

t: 01865 882878 w: www.theevenlode.co.uk Gee’s Restaurant & Bar t: 01865 553 540 w: www.gees-restaurant.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

RETAIL SHOPPING Blackwell’s P David Prescott Managing Director t: 01865 382500 w: www.blackwell.co.uk

B4 is designed by Blink Design & Print e: studio@on-the-blink.com t: 01865 742211

University of Oxford Shop P t: 01865 247414 w: www.oushop.com

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