B4 issue 30

l he ia c rt n fo ina e ed r F ds ris at e ar p in nd w er ar m ta a A Ent Ye No San edi E / the 13 M SM of 20 st tle Be Ti

B4 MAGAZINE OXFORDSHIRE EDITION ISSUE 30 SPRING 2014

CHILTERN RAILWAYS Investing In The Future: Managing Director Rob Brighouse talks to B4

CREATION BRING MACBETH TO LADY MARGARET HALL

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

DARBYS: GROWING STRONGER

B U I L D I N G

B R I D G E S

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE UNBEATABLES

B E T W E E N

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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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 Kathryn Allison 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.

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 30 Our new look B4 highlights how many of Oxfordshire’s businesses are lengthening their stride and embracing a positive start to the year. Looking through this issue of B4 there are some great examples of investment, longevity and success.

Rob Brighouse, Managing Director of Chiltern Railways is our cover focus for this issue and talks us through their £130 million investment which will enable commuters to travel from Bicester through to Oxford, High Wycombe and London.

Congratulations to Richard Venables and his colleagues at VSL and Partners and Jill Treloggen and her team at JT Interiors for both hitting the ten year mark, both of which are covered in this issue.

We welcome The Oxfordshire Business of the Year, 2013, Owen Mumford to B4 and look behind the scenes at the fascinating £6 million Lifestyle Centre at City of Oxford College which will provide excellent facilities not just for students but also for the local community.

Tony Haines of B4 Platinum Ambassadors, Wenn Townsend, takes a break from all things accountancy this issue and showcases some of the incredible work the firm does in the community.

B4 have already staged two great events this year, at Heythrop Park Resort and The Old Bodleian Library and you can see pictures from both events in B4. Both events not only showcased first class venues, but also demonstrated the appetite amongst B4 members for events which have something extra. The quiz night at Heythrop was a massive success and the private tours and jazz at The Old Bodleian showed what a remarkable venue this is. Huge thanks to both of our hosts for two unforgettable events.

Finally, hopefully you are reading B4 at The Business in Oxford event at The Said Business School. Read more about this event in the next edition of B4 where thirty six Oxfordshire businesses present to 300 guests. It’s been a monster to organise but hopefully we will be reporting on another successful event.

B4 Magazine is printed by

20. Chiltern Railways Written by Richard Rosser

54. Strutt & Parker Written by Kathryn Allison

Enjoy B4!

Richard Rosser Editor

48. NOPS

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.

Meet The Writers

Written by Robin Swailes

About

B4

Magazine

B4 Magazine was established to provide Oxfordshire businesses with a clear voice to raise their profile and to help businesses connect. Direct mailed to three thousand business decision makers in Oxfordshire every quarter, B4 is regarded as Oxfordshire’s leading free distribution business publication. B4 stands for Building Bridges Between Business and that is what B4 helps businesses to do, aided by our first class website at www.b4-business.com, quarterly B4 Ambassador events and monthly workshops.

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

WHY NOT FOLLOW B4 MAGAZINE ON

105. Malikas Written by Lucy Howard

20 LEAD

20 Investing in the Future: B4's Richard Rosser talks to Chiltern Railways about some staggering developments coming to Oxfordshire this year

44 Advice Around the Kitchen Table: B4's Kathryn Allison meets David Engwell, new Director at Hedges Law, to talk history and future 52 Oxfordshire's Leading Interior Design Company: Jill Treloggen of JT Interiors speaks to Richard Rosser about how she earned this title 57 City Audio Visual: A look at Oxfordshire's leading Audio Visual company's plans for 2014 70 Nurturing Businesses with Oxford Innovation: B4's Matthew Wright talks to Margaret Hewitt, Director of Oxford Centre for Innovation, about all they have to offer 74

Unearthing the Experts' Stories: Meet four more of Carter Jonas’ Oxford office’s experts as we unearth their stories

84 Owen Mumford Invests in High-Tech Manufacturing: As global demand for specialist medical devices increases, the company progresses with a substantial expansion programme

14 NEWS 14 15 16 28 38 47 67 93 101

County Events B4 Events B4 News VSL News B4 at Heythrop Park Resort & The Bodleian Library Visit Oxfordshire Oxford Inspires News CIS News Hawkwell House News

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SPOTLIGHT 26 Change and the Community: Tony Haines of Wenn Townsend tells us his ideas on Corporate Social Responsibility 36 Growing Stronger: Darbys' Rebecca Kashti talks to B4 about two years of fantastic growth for the firm

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58 What Lies Ahead for the Food and Beverage Sector?: Jim Rogers of Grant Thornton LLP talks to us about the key challenges being faced as well as opportunities for growth 64 How Sociable is Your Media?: Henmans Freeth LLP take a look at some new strategies that can help raise a company’s business presence

34 FINANCE

34 Business Confidence with Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking: B4 talks to Karl Leitelmayer about the economy's rising optimism 73 Are You Ready for AutoEnrolment?: The M Group gives us some key tips on planning for the upcoming Government 'Qualifying Pension Scheme'

86 The Unbeatables: A new animated film starring Rupert Grint and co-produced

by Oxford film maker Victor Glynn 116 Music Architecture and Profound Sound: Kathryn Allison talks to Kevin Cousineau, owner of Cooz’s Recording Studio - the largest recording studio in Oxford

30 VENUES

43 ADVICE

43 LinkedIn and You: O Consultancy's Olivia Lane-Knott explains why businesses cannot afford to ignore this useful tool 52 The 'Bring Your Own Device' Policy: BrookStreet des Roches takes a look at how employees can work on their own devices without compromising the security of their business

30 Pembroke College: Fantastic new facilities at this beautiful piece of Oxford history

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EDUCATION 40 Bridging the Skills Gap: A bold new development for students and the public at City of Oxford College

www.b4-business.com

B4 contents 89

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89 Diet and a Productive Workforce: Helen Money explans how providing employees with appropriate care will return them to work faster and stronger

33 Breckon & Breckon: Read our review of one of the longest established Estate & Letting Agents in Oxford

HEALTH

PROPERTY

48 The Oxford Property Market May Fly Soon: Robin Swailes of North Oxford Property Services shares his findings on the future of the Oxford property market 54 Development Dreams: B4's Kathryn Allison takes a look at some of Strutt & Parker's great new developments 98 Draw on our Experience and Build on our Success: KMP, awardwinning RIBA Chartered Architects, talk to B4 about the integrated end-to-end offering of this family owned business

24 EVENTS

112 Why now is the time to ‘Think Outside The Box’: Peter Mark talks to B4 about his latest business venture into ‘Outer Space’ 102 Selling Homes the Pink & Black Way: Pink & Black talk to B4 about their plans and services in the current property market

24 Macbeth comes to Lady Margaret Hall: Join Creation Theatre this Summer for their first performance at LMH, sure to be awe-inspiring!

MARKETING 63 Downton Demand in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds: West Oxfordshire District Council create leaflets and tours with a distinctly Downton Abbey theme to bring in visitors 106 Strangebrew Brand Alchemy: A reassuringly inexpensive yet very special, extremely potent and highly intoxicating brew of Branding, Identity and Graphic Design

www.b4-business.com

94 Serving the Business Community: Read how The Four Pillars are providing special venues for meetings, conferences, events and even exhibitions 97 Fly to Jersey from London Oxford Airport this Summer: All you need to know about the return of Oxford's favourite flight destination 105 Malikas: Read Lucy Howard's mouthwatering review of this newly refurbished award-winning Indian restaurant 109 A new venture in Dining, Catering, and Event Planning: Owners of the popular La Cucina restaurant talk to B4 about their new business, Saporita Limited 110 Frilford Heath Golf Club is a Gem!: Colin Rosser, B4 Chairman, visited these beautiful grounds to give you the rundown on why this is the place to play 115 New Offers from Magnolia Park Golf Club: Check out these exciting new offers from this thriving and stunning club

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68 Modern Art Oxford: Read about upcoming events at one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces

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90 The Feathers Hotel, Woodstock: Read about this inviting country retreat that combines historic charm with a fun personality

SERVICES

60 A Revolutionary New Service from Aston & James: 100% Recycled Paper, made from your Office Waste!

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76 Onwards and Upwards: Sue Randall, MD of Oxford Fine Dining, tells B4 about the journey from the seed of an idea to an established event caterer

R&R

79 Oxford Castle Quarter: An overview of Oxford's most iconic attraction and how it has developed over the years 80 The Oxford Hotel: A fresh look at this convenient yet luxurious, AA Rosette winning hotel, by Ian Francis

119 CONTACTS

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B U C K I N G H AM S H I R E

B E R K S H I R E

B4 Platinum Members We would like to thank our B4 Platinum Ambassadors for supporting B4 Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. To find out more about joining them and over six hundred B4 Member companies, please call us on 01494 373183.

OX F O R D S H I R E

O X F O R D

Residential Letting · Property Management

meet oxfordshire D E S I G N

&

P R I N T

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

Members are also invited to events in all B4 areas, up to 12 per annum. Call us now on 01494 373183 to book your membership or e-mail sales@b4-business.com for more details.

The B4 Website – the most efficient way to network your business from your PC! *Quoted rate is per company entitling all employees to attend B4 events. The Ambassador scheme is separate and subject to a different charge of £250+VAT for the first Ambassador and £99+VAT for subsequent Ambassadors. Call us for more information or visit the B4 website at www.b4-business.com and click on B4 Membership.

B4

THE O OAKLEY AKLEY COURT COUR UR RT WINDSOR WINDSO R

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

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

B4 contributors PICK OF THE B4 PLATINUM AMBASSADOR CONTRIBUTORS

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B4 CONTRIBUTORS IN THIS ISSUE (IN PAGE ORDER) Hedges...............................................................................................................................................44

Four Pillars.....................................................................................................................................94

North Oxford Property Services...............................................................................48

Frilford Heath GC....................................................................................................................111

Strutt & Parker............................................................................................................................54

BrookStreet de Roches LLP.............................................................................................51

Henmans Freeth........................................................................................................................64

Helen Money................................................................................................................................89

Modern Art Oxford.................................................................................................................68

Darbys................................................................................................................................................36

Owen Mumford..........................................................................................................................84

Lady Margaret Hall...............................................................................................................24

Lloyds TSB.......................................................................................................................................34

Carter Jonas.................................................................................................................................74

Visit Oxfordshire......................................................................................................................47

CIS Ltd................................................................................................................................................92

www.b4-business.com

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B4 diary

In Association with Carter Jonas

Event Organiser

Venues

Date

Time

Event Details

Turl Street Kitchen, 16-17 Turl Street, Oxford

30th April 1st May 2014

30th April, 6pm to 1st May, 2pm

Turl Street Kitchen is pulling an all-nighter for May Day! Our house will be open so that you can see in May Day in style – and then begin to recover with TSK brunch and Bloody Mary served until 2pm on 1st May. Book a table from midday – email book@turlstreetkitchen.co.uk

10am to 7pm

Oxford University Rugby Club Invitational 7’s Tournament. A full day of a 7-a-side rugby with competitions for men and women. Entry for the full day is £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (Over 60’s, under 18’s & students) and includes entry to the Official After Party at the O2.

Iffley Road Rugby Ground, Oxford

Penningtons Manches LLP, 9400 Garsington Road, Oxford Business Park, OX4 2HN

Buckinghamshire University Technical College, Aylesbury

Morgan Cole, Buxton Court, 3 West Way, Oxford, OX2 0SZ

11th May 2014

14th May 2014

8th May 11th Jun 10th Jul

1st May 2014

After Party at 10pm

4.30pm to 6.30pm (drinks reception after)

NEC3 – An Introduction: For those who are already using the NEC3, or for those who are complete NEC novices, this seminar provides valuable insight into the pros and cons of this new form of contract. The seminar is aimed at those from all sides of the industry. If you would like to register for this event, please contact Asha Rodel on 020 7457 3066 or asha.rodel@penningtons.co.uk

9.30am

We're offering a variety of interactive business workshops that aim to improve key skills within the workplace. You will work alongside course leader Sara Smith in areas such as time management, customer care and team leadership. For more information on any of our courses or to book a place, please visit www.bucksutc.com/business-workshops

8.30am to 12.15pm

In-house Lawyers' Forum - Commercial Update: In this free session, we take a look at some specific legislative changes coming into effect this year. We also look at protecting your business from third party insolvency, finishing with an imteractive session looking at Boilerplate clauses.

These play a key role in governing the relatio ship between contracting parties. Contact details: Lynne Williams at lynne.williams@morgancole.com or Tel: 0118 955 3027. For more information www.morgan-cole.com/ihlf

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 U N E

AYLESBURY COLLEGE, AYLESBURY

Thursday 12th June 2014 6pm to 8.30pm Special Guest Speakers: Phil Robinson

events

2014

BLACKWELL’S, OXFORD

Thursday 3rd July 2014 7pm to 9pm

J U L Y

Special Guest Speakers: Peter Bennett-Jones

DONNINGTON VALLEY HOTEL, NEWBURY

Thursday 10th July 2014 6.30pm to 9pm

O C T O B E R

S E P T E M B E R

Special Guest Speakers: Ross Wilson, Wilson Partners

RHODES HOUSE

Thursday 4th September 2014 6pm to 8pm

SHELDONIAN THEATRE

Thursday 30th October 2014 6pm to 8.30pm

REGISTER FOR ALL EVENTS AT WWW.B4-BUSINESS.COM USINESS.COM NESS t: 01865 742211 e: events@b4-business.com a: The Firs, Headington Hill, ill, Oxford, Oxford, OX3 0BT 0BT

B 4

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S ponsored

by

Makes perfect Marketing Sense For many successful companies the decision to use an outsourced marketing agency is a viable strategic alternative to an in-house resource, as Jo Sensecall of Marketing Sense knows. For the last 7 years she’s been working with some of Oxfordshire’s most exciting companies to bring a fresh approach to their marketing.

Whilst outsourcing helps business owners to focus on the core competencies of the business, it also eliminates the "We’ve always done it this way" mentality, often leveraging a broader perspective.

By using the strategic thinking and creative expertise of an experienced marketing professional who works as an integral part of the team, companies achieve their growth objectives with reduced overheads.

“Being passionate about marketing and always striving to excel for every client are some of the reasons for our success,” said Jo, “but the ability to take a more strategic view yet also implement the activities makes for a complete results-driven outsourced marketing solution.”

www.marketing-sense.co.uk

Adventures in 2D This April, the Shop and Gallery at the Old Fire Station are taking the Oxfordshire public on an adventure in two dimensions with four weeks dedicated to the flat plane. The month will be filled with events and workshops as well as three exhibitions for children and adults alike.

There will be the chance to watch artists doing live drawing as well as opportunities to learn new skills or hear interesting talks from professional artists

about their craft. The opening night on 4th April will include live drawing on our Gallery walls, a collage workshop for young and old, all done with a glass in hand. Please join us if you can.

Makers Month runs from Friday 4th April to Sunday 27th April at the Old Fire Station. www.oldfirestation.org.uk/Gallery

“Jack” by Helen Victoria Bishop Divorce and separation is inevitably a very difficult time for families, especially when there are children involved.

Even the most amicable of splits can be devastating for the children. At a time when parents are wrapped up in their own emotional turmoil and working out the practicalities of the split and the financial repercussions it can be difficult to take time out to ensure the children are coping with the changes.

To help children deal with the issues of blame and the practicalities of having two homes, I have utilised my experience as a family solicitor to write a short illustrated book called “ Jack” to help children aged 4 to 11 come to terms with the changes in their life. Having a tangible object such as a book can really help children open up and share their emotions and concerns.

The book is endorsed by “Resolution” ( Family Law Association) and can be purchased via Amazon or

through Waterstones for £6.99. If you are struggling with family separation and you would like some free advice contact Family Matters at Turpin and Miller on 01865 406038 or 01865 406009.

Branching Out

© Roger Askew

“The team behind Turl Street Kitchen’s plans continue apace to redevelop the former Barclay’s branch on Turl Street. Current plans are to develop a café-bakery concept, once again aiming to highlight the best of local produce in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere.

A crowd funding campaign is due to begin when final negotiations with Barclays are completed.

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Change is also afoot at the current site at 16-17 Turl Street, where space upstairs is on course to be refurbished to provide improved private dining capability. TSK expects to be able to offer private space for parties of up to 40 in the near future, significantly expanding its current group dining capacity.” www.turlstreetkitchen.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

B4 news Partnership approach boosts environmental projects Working hard to keep Oxfordshire “green” in all senses of the word is the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE2).

The charity provides guidance, support and funding to local communities to help increase access to the countryside and green spaces, to improve biodiversity of local habitats, and to encourage and develop the sustainable use of renewable resources in local communities.

Recent projects include the building of two new viewing areas at the RSPB’s flagship Otmoor nature

reserve; a £10,000 grant for the Earth Trust’s River of Life Project to create wetland habitats on the River Thames near Long Wittenham; and an energy audit and workshop programme to increase energy efficiency in community and village halls across the county.

A key supporter of TOE2 is Grundon Waste Management, which donates money through the Landfill Communities Fund. The company is passionate about its environmental credentials and recently became CarbonNeutral® across its entire road-going vehicle fleet

For more information on TOE2, email fiona.danks@trustforoxfordshire.org.uk or visit www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk. To find out more about Grundon’s services, visit www.grundon.com

Are you making use of the Government’s IP tax relief schemes?

One year on from the launch of the Patent Box tax relief scheme businesses in Oxford are being given the chance to make their voices heard about it and the existing R&D tax relief schemes.

During April, IP tax specialists from accountants and business advisers BDO LLP will be talking to businesses to understand their experiences of the schemes and to hear their views on whether the Government’s incentives are an effective way of

promoting the UK as an attractive location for the development and exploitation of technology and IP. The findings will be published and shared with participants and used as part of BDO’s ongoing dialogue in this area.

If you would like to participate please email margaret.savory@bdo.co.uk in the firm’s Thames Valley office.

Malmaison Oxford wins hotel of the year at “Dare to be different Awards” On Sunday 9th February Malmaison celebrated its annual “Dare to be Different Hotel Awards” at the brand new Malmaison Dundee, which officially opened its doors on 10th February.

Malmaison Oxford won two of the awards, Anna Seglina for Brasserie Manager of the Year and the most highly anticipated prize, Hotel of the Year!

The party was true Malmaison style with lots of glitz and glamour and celebrated the group’s dedicated staff and the achievements of 2013.

Guests from each of the group’s 13 hotels were in

attendance and were treated to “Malchemy” cocktails followed by a full sit down dinner and award ceremony. The awards included GM of the Year, Hotel of the Year, Team of the Year and a Lifetime Achievement Award amongst others.

Lindsay Southward, Director of People & Development, commented, “We wanted to invite all our best people, new and old not only to show off the new family member but also to demonstrate what great looks like. Out people are what make Mal special and what our guests come back for, not just great service, but faultless, fantastic experiences.

For further information please contact: Paul Watson, PWatson@malmaison.com www.malmaison.com

B4 at Blackwell’s with special guest speaker, Peter Bennett-Jones CBE Thursday 3rd July, 7pm Register for this event today to experience the history and culture of Blackwell’s where we will welcome guest speaker, Peter Bennett-Jones.

Peter was founder of the Tiger Aspect Group and of PBJ Management. The Tiger Group has produced over 500 titles under his guidance

www.b4-business.com

and won scores of domestics and international awards for its television, film, radio and theatre output.

Peter served as Chair of Trustees of Comic Relief and Sport Relief from 1998-2013 and is a director of the Millennium Promise (UK). Visit the www.b4-business.com website to register.

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Follow us

The Venue for all Occasions

meetings | weddings | conferences | dinners At the heart of Oxford, Oxford Town Hall is a stunning Grade II* listed Victorian building which offers a diverse range of spaces for hire.

With a capacity for over 700 guests, we are one of the largest venues in Oxford.

Contact us to discuss your requirements w. oxfordtownhall.co.uk | t. 01865 252195 | e. townhall@oxford.gov.uk

B 4

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S ponsored

B4 news

by

Exclusive Invitation to Two Great Upcoming Events at Blenheim Palace

Champagne Dinner on Thursday 22nd May 2014 (£75.00 per person): We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to enjoy a delicious four

course Champagne Dinner. Hosted by Brigitte Hennessey, International Brand Ambassador for the Laurent Perrier Champagne House. An exquisite menu has been created and each course has been wonderfully paired with Champagnes from the Laurent Perrier portfolio. Dinner will be served in The Marlborough Room at Blenheim Palace.

courses Sir Winston Churchill will address you as he did in the House of Commons. The menu has been created from some of his favourite dishes. Sir Winston Churchill's Dinner shall be served in the Marlborough Room at Blenheim Palace. (A Sir Winston Churchill look alike will be representing Sir Winton Churchill.)

Churchill Dinner on Friday 30th May 2014 (£49.00 per person): We are delighted to offer you the opportunity to step back in History and enjoy dinner with Sir Winston Churchill. During the

Book now by emailing: sales@blenheimpalacehospitality.com or call 01993 813874

Wenn Townsend Tax Cards Inside the posted editions of B430 we included the incredibly helpful Wenn Townsend Tax Card.

If you have picked up a copy of B4 and the card has already been snaffled by someone else in the office (!), please contact Tony Haines at Wenn Townsend as per the details below and he will be pleased to issue one (or multiple copies should you require)to you: E-Mail: aehaines@wenntownsend.co.uk Phone: 01865 559900

The tax card provides useful information on Income Tax Rates; Tax Reliefs; Tax Credits; Pension Premiums; Car, Van and Fuel Benefits; Mileage Allowance Payments; Individual Savings Accounts; Corporation Tax; Research and Development Credits; Capital Allowances; VAT; Capital Gains Tax; Inheritance Tax; National Insurance; Main Social Security Benefits; Self Assessment; Key Dates 2014-2015.

Make sure you get yours!

Cerub PR and 4C Supporting Hearing Dogs for Deaf People presentation on the importance of effective communication and Pat Snelson, a volunteer for Hearing Dogs, gave a personal insight into her experience of hearing loss. Hearing Dogs trainers, with the help of Bruce the Labrador and Scout the King Charles Spaniel, also demonstrated some of the key sounds that a hearing dog will respond to.

Michele Jennings, Chief Executive of Hearing Dogs, said: ‘We were delighted to showcase the work of the Charity and the impact our dogs have on the lives of deaf people.’

On Tuesday 11 March, 4C in association with Cerub PR, held a business networking event in conjunction with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a national charity and centre of excellence in training hearing dogs to alert deaf people to important sounds and danger signals in the home, workplace and public buildings.

www.b4-business.com

Sponsored by Cerub PR, this event provided an opportunity for members to see for themselves the special work that the charity does.

As well as providing a great opportunity to network with other businesses in the area, Sally Hindmarch, Managing Director of ‘Partners with You’ gave a

Ceri-Jane Hackling, MD of Cerub PR explains: ‘The event was a huge success. From our previous work with Hearing Dogs for Deaf People we have experienced first-hand how important their work is and the impact it has on the people they support.

We would urge other companies to look at sponsoring an event with 4C to support local charities and the local business community.’

For further information about 4C or Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, visit www.4cbucks.co.uk and www.hearingdogs.org.uk.

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B4 LEAD

INVESTING IN THE

FUTURE

Rob Brighouse of Chiltern Railways first spoke to B4 back in the Summer of 2011 having just been appointed Managing Director. Chiltern have since reinforced their standing as one of the most innovative rail companies in the country under Rob’s stewardship and certainly the best performing in terms of on time arrivals. They are also investing heavily as B4’s Richard Rosser found out when he met Rob at Banbury Station, where he told me not only about the 707 space car park Chiltern are building at the station but also about a new rail link the company is building between Oxford and London Marylebone due to open in Summer 2015.

A proposed design of what Oxford Parkway will look like when it opens in summer 2015.

“The key investment is the new rail line we are building between Oxford and London Marylebone. In essence, commuters can get on the train on the outskirts of Oxford at a brand new station we are building called Oxford Parkway and get to London in under an hour.

That is a major plus for Oxford residents and businesses as it not only enables them to avoid getting involved in congestion in Oxford but also removes them from that equation, hopefully meaning that the centre of Oxford won’t be as busy in terms of the number of cars!

“So businesses in the north and west of Oxford will have superb connectivity not only to London but between Oxford, Bicester and High Wycombe which is fantastic news. The line also provides connectivity between London and Oxford to Bicester Village which is obviously a massive and

20

growing market. The growing number of visitors from the Far East and the Middle East will be able to take in Bicester Village and Oxford which will be a major boost not only for businesses in Bicester but also in Oxford.”

“The railway are building is a 100mph railway compatible with electrification. The track that we have taken up was a single line with a 20 mph speed limit in places, so it’s a radically different service.

Working in partnership with Network Rail, the new link will open from Oxford Parkway in summer 2015. In spring 2016, the line to the existing Oxford station will open transforming the way commuters and tourists travel between the city centre and London.

“It’s also a very historic development being the first new line between British city and London for over 100 years and Oxford Parkway becoming the first new station in Oxfordshire since 1935.”

“The upgrade of the Oxford to Bicester line not only facilitates the new Chiltern Railways service between Oxford and London, but also the first phase of works on the western section of the East West Rail scheme that will reinstate the railway for passenger and freight services through to Milton Keynes and Bedford.

The investment in the new line is significant with Chiltern committing £130 million to the project, but, as Rob explains, that accounts for only part of the investment. “We are doing this in partnership with the Department of Transport. They are adding to our financial commitment to make the line compatible with the future East West Rail.

Continued overleaf

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Rob Brighouse - Chiltern Railways

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building is a two track 100mph railway compatible with electrification. The track that we have taken up was a single line with a 20 mph speed limit in places, so it’s a radically different service

O xf

“The railway we are

London Marylebone Bicester Town station design, which will open in summer 2015.

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21

B4 LEAD Rob Brighouse talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about the new plans for Chiltern Railways

“It is not just a line to London but it is also a line that serves High Wycombe. In that respect it actually connects High Wycombe and Oxford to major centres of business and employment so they will be directly linked by our rail services. For sports fans, Chiltern will also connect Oxford directly with Wembley Stadium.”

One location, according to Rob, on the Chiltern line which doesn’t get the press it should get is Marylebone. “It’s very central, right next to Baker Street with great connectivity into central London and in one trip you can be in the heart of the West End or even Canary Wharf. So it’s a very simple door to door trip.”

Rob’s team have researched expected usage levels of the new line and are expecting significant numbers to start using the new line.

Chiltern have also signed a deal which will deliver additional trains for the much anticipated opening of their new line. Nine trains totalling over 1100 seats will be refurbished and brought up to the

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Chiltern Railways specification with power points, tables and free Wi-Fi. The addition of these facilities is part of Chiltern’s strategy to provide the optimum onboard experience for Oxfordshire’s business and leisure travellers.

The investment doesn’t stop there and Rob stresses that Chiltern’s focus hasn’t been solely on the new line. “We are investing across the entire route. We have just signed a contract for some new locomotives so we are investing in the route to Birmingham as well.”

“We’ve always been at the forefront of ticketing technology and we were the first to launch an app that allows passengers to buy a ticket on their phone and then scan their phone to get through the ticket gates. Our recent development in this area is a trial where travellers swipe their credit card at the start and end of the journey and the system will calculate the most cost effective price. So you pay for the journey you’ve made, not the trip you thought you were going to make. This will be up and running next summer.”

Banbury station, as referenced in the opening paragraph, is also undergoing some refurbishments, as Rob explains: “We are providing car parking and renovating the station itself. A brand new car park will open in May 2014 with 707 spaces. (remove the following sentence) We are also transforming the catering facilities at Banbury and also completing a similar project at Haddenham & Thame Parkway.”

Train companies are much maligned but Chiltern have a refreshing approach to everything they do, cultivating a community feel in their stations and a clear appetite for customer service amongst every employee. By significantly investing in the line between Oxford and London, transport will be transformed for the better and the impact along the line will be hugely positive and long term.

For more information about Chiltern Railways and future developments, visit the website: www.chilternrailways.co.uk

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B4 EVENTS

CREATION BRING MACBETH TO LADY MARGARET HALL For 18 years Creation has been exploring Oxford, finding amazing spaces and bringing classic stories to life.

This summer we’ll be pitching up with our actors, set and of course our audience at a new venue for us, Lady Margaret Hall.

Over the years we’ve turned Headington Hill Park into Sherwood Forest, Oxford Castle has become the field of Agincourt and we’ve descended into hell in the basement of Blackwell’s Bookshop. At the heart of what we do is to find the stories that fit perfectly with these spaces; the set, the characters and the experience are directly informed by the environment.

Which brings us around nicely to Lady Margaret Hall’s beautiful gardens this summer. Following last year’s Henry V at Oxford Castle and three fantastic years at The Saïd Business School we were starting to feel that some greenery was in order. The buildings and landscaped gardens might not immediately say regicide, jealousy and supernatural omens but to us this is the perfect home for Macbeth this summer.

For six weeks in August and September we’ll present Macbeth against the backdrop of civilised and manicured society that Lady Margaret Hall so strongly evokes. With a nod to this year’s commemoration of the outbreak of WWI we’ll take the inter-war era as our inspiration and set the personal conflicts and political machinations of this epic tale against a more genteel scene.

At Creation we never really go in for a ‘theme’. We don’t want to re-tell stories that have already more than proved their relevance to any era; rather we use a certain style, moment in history or idea to enter a world. We’re at a pretty early stage in the

planning of this show (having just finished meeting lots of exciting Directors) but, inspired by Lady Margaret Hall, we’ve got plenty of ideas to be getting on with.

The gardens, at the minute immaculate lawns and subdued flowerbeds, are asking to be turned into a stately home on a summer’s evening. Who could wish for a painted set when we’ve got the red brick and white windows of the college to play with?

Could the characters have returned from the front?

Are they in a convalescent home? Surely Lady Macbeth has some strong feelings on women’s suffrage. It all remains to be seen.

After the floods of 2007 resulted in a miserable summer for outdoor theatre Creation put in place a policy that, whenever possible, we would ensure a warm and dry back-up venue and luckily for us Lady Margaret Hall’s Simpkins Lee Theatre fits the bill perfectly. We can seat 130 people with a fantastic view of the action should the elements be against us on a couple of evenings.

Lady Margaret Hall provides such a flexible event space as they host a range of events throughout the year including the ‘3rd Oxford International Tango Festival’ as well as being home to 2 weekends of outdoor cinema in conjunction with the Phoenix picture house. We’re also pretty excited about the prospect of sharing the space with first ’Flowers @ Oxford’ flower festival and then some of the country’s top jazz musicians in a week long celebration ‘Summer Jazz’. To feel part

of a summer of creativity and inspiration is a great starting point to make something really special happen.

And of course, a trip to the theatre wouldn’t be complete without a glass of something chilled and an ice cream. Being sent picnic menu ideas by the LMH catering team, as well as being a tempting distraction, conjures up images of the audience rolling out their blankets and enjoying the views of the Cherwell before the show.

Hot on the heels of our professional performances come a talented band of young performers as part of our Drama Clubs and Holiday Workshops. This summer we’ll be letting them explore Lady Margaret Hall in week-long workshops where they’ll get to grips with the text, explore the spaces and create a performance for their family and friends.

Whenever we find another perfect venue it’s hard to believe that someone hasn’t come up with the idea before us and that couldn’t be truer of our collaboration with Lady Margaret Hall this summer.

With so many spaces and so many ideas who knows where Macbeth will take us. www.lmh.ox.ac.uk www.creationtheatre.co.uk

© Richard Budd

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www.b4-business.com

“To feel part of a

summer of creativity and inspiration is a

great starting point to make something really special happen”

“We’re at a pretty early

stage in the planning of this show but, inspired

by Lady Margaret Hall, we’ve got plenty of ideas to be getting on with.

”

© Bill Knight

www.b4-business.com

© Judie Waldmann

25

B4 SPOTLIGHT

WE MUST BE THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN THIS WORLD I thought it was about time that I wrote an article for B4 that wasn’t about tax, wasn’t about finance and wasn’t about accounting. Instead, for this issue, I was inspired to write about engaging with our community at a local level.

Article by Tony Haines of Wenn Townsend.

Deborah Pluck is Chairman of the Governors of her old school Wychwood on the Banbury Road and is seen here with girls from Year 7 photographed by GCSE level photography student Connie Rogers

SUPPORTING LOCAL CLUBS As a firm we support both this Football Club and Summertown Stars. In fact Ajay Bahl has served several years as the Treasurer for the latter. He says: Summertown Stars is the largest young people’s football club in Oxfordshire having over 400 playing members, both boys and girls, with teams at every age group from under 6’s to under 18’s.

Youngsters from Charlbury FC enjoying a sweet moment of success.

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Like all voluntary organisations, it works because of the commitment and dedication of the “volunteers” which in our case are the team managers, coaches, committee members and parents. Like all good partnerships we are greater than the sum of our parts, all working together to ensure that the “children” (I include 14+ in this category even

though some tower over me!) have a safe and fun environment to play our national game. Football brings together people from a wide variety of backgrounds and I am sure that many will stay in touch long after they have hung up their boots.

I would encourage anyone interested to get involved with their local sports club as any help will be more than welcome. The adage “children are our future” (remember we need them to pay our pension!) is true and sport does help to give them confidence, improved social skills and a greater circle of friends which is not only good for them but society as a whole.

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The inspiration came from a meeting one of my partners had at which I was not present. He was asked what we, as a firm, do for the community.

My hunch was his answer was less than comprehensive.

Now some would couch that question in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility. Personally I think that is and always has been a dreadful phrase.

Since when did it become a Responsibility of a business or even an individual to do what is plainly right? Big business analyses and reanalyses this sphere of their connection with the community, arguably, in my opinion, to ensure they are getting value for money.

I believe that truth, by its nature, is self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that

surround it, it shines clear. I thought it was time for me to find out the truth about the type of things we do as a firm and as individuals do to help others and to hopefully inspire you as business leaders and individuals to maybe get involved in a small, or indeed large, way. I knew the firm supported the Performing Arts on a corporate level but I was more interested in finding out the ways in which we engage with the Community on a daily basis.

My fellow partners are School Governors, Chairpersons of local charities and Chambers of Commerce, Treasurers of various sporting clubs to name but a few. They are all very much engaged in what they do. I was given 850 words to write and since a picture paints a thousand words I thought I would rather show you than write about what they do.

An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching. So get inspired if not by this article perhaps by some other means. Always remember that whatever you do might seem insignificant to you but it is most important that you do it.

Lastly, I hope that you have found our tax cards useful over the years that we have been distributing 9,000 of them through B4. You should find one in this edition and you are most welcome to use it or pass it on to a colleague who might find it helpful.

Yes, it is a marketing tool but we like to think it’s another way of helping local businesses. www.wenntownsend.co.uk

Lee Baker raising money for charity during the Wolf run

RuthHerbert from our Cirencester office raising funds for a local charity

Helping Cirencester celebrate Christmas

USING SKILLS IN A VOLUNTARY ROLL Voluntary work takes many guises and for one of our partners, as well as the traditional role of Trustee and Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee for the City of Oxford Charity, John Gould, our finance partner, can be seen dressed all in white and striding up and down a swimming pool when volunteering as an ASA swimming judge.

John says that all those hard-learned business skills transfer well to the voluntary role of a level 2 swimming judge/technical official; whether it be comfort with numbers when operating a stopwatch; the ability to make real-time decisions within a rules framework; operating in an

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independent and discreet fashion whilst under public scrutiny and all of these whilst being sensitive to the needs of the swimmers. John has been volunteering as a judge with the City of Oxford Swimming Club, one of the premier clubs in the South East, for a number of years, at swimming pools throughout England and Wales.

Like many amateur organisations, the Club relies heavily on local support, whether it is financial or people, and in the former category, Wenn Townsend are also pleased to be shirt sponsors.

Will we see John in Rio, doubtful, but he certainly believes this to be a worthwhile use of his time away from the office!

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unrivalled local and regional expertise Richard Venables Tom Barton Duncan May

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

news

L-R: Richard Venables, Lizzie Young, Duncan May, Richard Sherrott, Tom Barton, Annie Davis, Andrew Lockhart and Angie Prosser at the Ashmolean Museum.

VSL & Partners celebrate a decade in business & wins Oxfordshire’s Most Active Agent VSL & Partners celebrate a decade in business serving the Oxfordshire commercial property market and has been recognised once again by The Estates Gazette online service - EGi in its annual competition for the country’s Most Active Agent.

The Estates Gazette EGi assessment team gathered information regarding deals transacted in the last 12 months, covering all sectors of the market including industrial, office, retail and leisure and awarded VSL & Partners Oxfordshire’s Most Active Agent accolade. The firm’s director, Richard Venables, also won EGi’s Deal Maker of the Year for 2013 for the most transactions undertaken.

Richard says: “We are delighted to have received these awards, which is testament to another year of hard work by the team. We are positive about the future of Oxfordshire as a commercial region and feel passionately that we should be proactively involved in the cultural and economic development of the city and surrounds.”

“We are proud to have been serving the Oxfordshire commercial property market for a decade and are confident that with our entrepreneurial culture and commitment to clients, we can continue to reinforce our position as Oxfordshire’s top performing commercial property firm. We are very optimistic about the continued growth of our company and the next ten years ahead.”

VSL & Partners was formed in 2003 by five leading chartered surveyors who act for many of Oxfordshire’s leading business parks including Oxford Business Park, Oxford Industrial Park and Abingdon Business Park alongside leading developers, investors and local businesses. The firm has won the Most Active Agent accolade since 2009.

Richard Venables, director, VSL & Partners explains: “We completed a total of 95 transactions between August 2012 and July 2013 equating to 550,000 sq ft of office and industrial premises - significantly a higher number of deals than our nearest competitor. We were also awarded the Most Active Agent for Oxfordshire for the fourth time, so it’s great to see our results receive such prestigious external recognition.”

As part of their commitment to supporting business and encouraging culture in Oxfordshire, VSL takes a leading role in many local initiatives including Oxford Inspires in helping to organise cultural platforms across the county. They are corporate sponsors for the Ashmolean Museum and are involved with the Cherwell – M40 Investment Partnership (CHIP), Oxford City Council Economic Development team, the Oxford Strategic Partnership and are on the steering group of the Oxford Town team dealing with city centre development.

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www.vslandp.com

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PEMBROKE COLLEGE OXFORD

FANTASTIC FACILITIES

It is an exciting time at Pembroke College Oxford. In recent months, Pembroke has been welcoming prestigious clients through its doors and treating them to first experiences of a range of fantastic new facilities. In 2013 an ambitious project was completed providing the College with a large complex of new buildings, situated around a picturesque quadrangle and integrated into the historic College site by means of a specially designed footbridge which crosses a narrow medieval street.

Almost 100 new en-suite bedrooms have been created, as well as an auditorium, a cafĂŠ, a large flexible meeting room, and three new seminar rooms. Since their completion these additions have enabled Pembroke to host many different types of company and event, with the majority of these clients concluding their meeting by booking their place in the diary to return again the following year.

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The flexible meeting space gained allows Pembroke to accommodate groups of varying sizes. The Pichette Auditorium, when arranged with raked seating and chairs in theatre style, can accommodate meetings of up to 170 but can also be set out in cabaret style with round tables to seat up to 80 delegates.

The three new seminar rooms, situated on the next floor and perfect as breakout rooms, seat between 16 and 20 in boardroom style. The Harold Lee Room, where the Pembroke tutors choose to gather for their own meetings, seats up

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B4 VENUES to 34 in boardroom style or can accommodate 60 with chairs in theatre style.

All new meeting rooms have built-in audio visual facilities and guest wifi access is available throughout the site. In addition, several fully equipped disabled access bedrooms are available and lifts ensure full and easy access to all the new meeting rooms.

The College’s new additions sit comfortably alongside historic buildings dating back to the 15th Century, so guests have the chance to experience the charm and atmosphere of these parts of the College as well as the convenience of the modern areas, without doing more than crossing the bridge into the next quadrangle.

Becoming a University of Oxford college in 1624, Pembroke can count amongst its members prominent names such as the lexicographer Samuel Johnson, scientist and founder of the great US Institution James Smithson, and jurist William Blackstone. In more recent years High and Supreme Court Judges, US Senators, the King of

Jordan and a former UK Deputy Prime Minister. Sir Roger Bannister is a former Master of the College and J. R. R. Tolkien penned the Hobbit whilst he was a Pembroke Fellow.

“the auditorium and new

rooms are a tremendous facility, and the catering staff did a great job

”

Angus McCullough QC, Professional Negligence Bar Association

Pembroke’s dining hall, dating from the mid-1800s, is an impressive location for banquets and seats up to 150 guests for a formal dinner. The College can now offer a full conference experience for this large number, with delegates meeting in plenary in The Pichette Auditorium, using the four conveniently close meeting rooms for break-out sessions,

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enjoying refreshment breaks in the main Foyer and adjacent areas (including outdoors when possible) and a cafeteria lunch. In the evening, a served banquet in Hall can be followed by entertainment in the College bar, and overnight accommodation in new en-suite bedrooms, with a cooked breakfast provided in Hall the next morning.

“We had high hopes for

hosting this event at an Oxford College, but I am delighted to say that our hopes were in every way exceeded by the welcome, facilities, catering and presentation at Pembroke College

”

Behind the scenes, experienced teams of accommodation and IT staff are there to troubleshoot any issues which might arise.

Pembroke College itself is very conveniently situated, right in the heart of the city centre and easily accessible by both national and international guests, with regular trains to Oxford from London Paddington and buses directly to and from both Gatwick and Heathrow.

With excellent feedback received from clients in recent months about service and value for money, Pembroke is establishing itself as a top venue for events and conferences in Oxford. Meetings and dinners are available all year round with accommodation also available outside of academic terms.

For more information please email huw.edmunds@pmb.ox.ac.uk or visit the website www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/conferences

Neil MacIntosh, HR Director, CABI Future Leaders Programme

Pembroke's Head of Conferences and Events, Huw Edmunds, responds personally to initial queries from potential clients, providing detailed venue information and costings. Pembroke has worked hard to gain a reputation for professional and friendly service and all our clients receive individual attention. The core team of event organisers make sure that small details are not neglected and are happy to arrange those special touches on the client’s behalf, such as flower displays or live music, or perhaps the provision of day passes for the adjacent gym.

It is not just the Conference Office staff who are around to ensure events run smoothly and to make everyone feel at home. The College porters welcome guests the moment they enter the College and staff the lodge reception 24 hours a day. With the recent introduction of an Executive Chef post Pembroke is able to provide detailed tailoring of menu options for all banqueting clients on which the kitchen brigade deliver with aplomb.

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B4 PROPERTY

BRECKON & BRECKON

Breckon & Breckon are one of the county’s leading independent Estate and Lettings Agents. With public facing offices in Central Oxford (Beaumont Street and the High Street), Woodstock, Summertown, Headington and Witney having recently celebrated their 65th anniversary and just about to open their seventh office, Breckon & Breckon are also one of the most established.

Director Greg Barnes welcomed me to the Headington office to tell me more about the business. As reviews go, I suppose I should have bought or rented a house, but, I hope B4 readers will forgive me on this occasion!

The economic downturn saw certain sectors pull down the blinds and head for cover, particularly in the property sector. But it marked the start of a rapid phase of expansion for Breckon & Breckon, culminating in the opening of the Headington office in 2011, explains Greg.

“We’ve drawn strength from a difficult position. We could have easily said, ‘right, that’s it, we’ll shelter until the economy picks up’ but I honestly think that we’d have slipped back considerably. The forecast for the economy in 2011 didn’t exactly fill you with confidence, but we’re in great shape and now seeing the benefits of our expansion which we hope to continue this year and are just about to open our seventh office.

“We know we have a trusted brand, an excellent reputation and a track record which speaks for itself. www.b4-business.com

But it’s today that counts and the challenges are consistently being met by our fantastic staff. We currently have a team of just over 40 professional and hard-working individuals with an impressive combined experience of over 400 years! We are seen as a good company to work for, a fact that is echoed by the number of applications we receive every year from agents currently working for our competitors.

“We know we have a trusted brand, an excellent reputation and a track record which speaks for itself

”

Trust in the brand from their customers and trust in staff have certainly been key factors in reinforcing Breckon & Breckon’s already strong position.

It would be easy in a firm like Breckon & Breckon for the key directors to sit back and not get involved in the day to day minutiae of running the firm. But that’s not the case as Greg illustrates. “We’re all very hands on. We’ve all been doing business for a long time in Oxfordshire and have developed our own networks which are great for recommendations and referrals.

“We continually have to review how we keep ahead of the game. From a marketing perspective we are the only firm in Oxfordshire to have employed our own professional photographer (Can Sengunes).

And we’re very active in the local community, supporting school fetes and other events like the Bury Knowle Park Film Festival and even supporting great charities like CLIC Sargent and Macmillan by cycling from Edinburgh to Blenheim Palace which I did last year.”

So if you’re moving or need to rent, make sure you get in touch with Breckon & Breckon, Oxfordshire’s leading independent agents. www.breckon.co.uk 33

BUSINESS CONFIDENCE

B4 talks to Karl Leitelmayer, Senior Director, SME Banking, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, West Berkshire & Wiltshire

We recently issued our latest twice-yearly Business in Britain study, which found that business confidence has reached its strongest level nationally since January 1994, reflecting rising expectations for orders, sales and profits.

This is encouraging news for companies who are now more optimistic about the economy than they have been in previous years.

After years of subdued economic forecasts, I believe that this could be the year that SMEs across the South East can put growth ambitions into action by launching new products and taking the opportunity to enter new markets.

To enable growth, it is important that we champion South East businesses. To do this the bank offers a number of financial options to support new start-up companies through to multimillion pound turnover businesses. Last year alone we supported 94,000 start-ups and have achieved a five per cent year-on-year net growth in advances to SMEs. At Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, we are fully supportive of the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) and encourage growth for UK businesses through offering discounts of one per cent to all SMEs for the life of their loans. Since September 2012 to present day, we have committed £6.3 billion to our small and medium-sized customers through FLS. Crucial to this region, FLS has helped many Oxfordshire and South East businesses to either invest in their company or start new projects. One such firm, Banbury-based Toby Electronics, was able to take advantage of this discount offered on a £880,000 commercial loan to fund a warehouse extension.

Toby Electronics was founded in 1983 by Tim Portlock and his father James, and has since grown to be one of the leading distributors of electronic hardware and components in the UK, exporting products to Europe, Asia, Brazil and the United States.

The new extension signals further growth for the company, with the extra space allowing Toby Electronics to begin manufacturing some products at its Banbury site instead of importing from Asia and other parts of the UK.

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We also support the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) which can help companies that can demonstrate job creation in Oxfordshire and across the UK, to fund projects and programmes that are using private sector investment, to create economic growth and sustainable employment.

According to our latest Lloyds Bank Business in Britain report, more than a quarter of UK firms now expect their capital expenditure to increase with companies becoming hopeful about recruitment prospects with the fourth consecutive rise in businesses expecting to increase their members of staff.

To help companies, Lloyds Banking Group takes part in a number of initiatives to build business skills across Oxfordshire and the UK, including enterprise mentoring.

“The initiative offers entrepreneurs the chance to work with industry professionals and use them as a sounding-board for ideas and strategies to help their business grow

”

The mentoring scheme is a nationwide programme, set up by the five major high street banks, the BBA and the Business Finance Taskforce, with the overall aim of helping the economy return to sustainable growth by training industry professionals to share their own skills and experience with entrepreneurs.

The initiative offers entrepreneurs the chance to work with industry professionals and use them as a sounding-board for ideas and strategies to help their business grow. We have been leading the mentoring initiative with 425 mentors, 41 per cent of all mentors from banks involved.

We have also has joined with Go ON UK which supports people and organisations that want to share their digital skills with others, and have committed to ensure that digital skills development is available to our entire workforce as well as the communities in which we operate.

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B4 FINANCE

“encouraging businesses to look to forms of finance that might help them smooth any bumps in cashflow, will also help to ensure that firms are able to grow, and secure a long-term sustainable recovery

�

We provide access to digital mentoring for SMEs throughout Britain, setting targets to increase the uptake of digital banking for individuals, small businesses and charities and create a new UK digitisation index which will provide an indicator of internet usage.

Improving industry practice through initiatives such as enterprise mentoring and Go ON UK, and encouraging businesses to look to forms of finance that might help them smooth any bumps in cashflow, will also help to ensure that firms are able to grow, and secure a long-term sustainable recovery.

By planning ahead and leaving ample headroom to account for any challenges that may occur during 2014, Oxfordshire businesses can look forward and plan for the future. It is important that firms have a bank which understands their needs and at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, we are committed to help firms choose the best option for their business.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial to have the backing of a bank that can understand the opportunities that businesses face and help them to achieve their ambitions.

T: 07970566065 E: Karl.leitelmayer@lloydsbanking.com www.lloydsbankinggroup.com Any property given as security which may include your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other debts secured on it.

All lending is subject to a satisfactory credit assessment.

94,000 start ups supported and 5% Year on year net growth of lending and 3% industry decline from the October 2013 edition of Support UK business report Licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 under licence number 0004685. We subscribe to The Lending Code; copies of the Code can be obtained from www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk The Lloyds Banking Group includes companies using brands including Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland and their associated companies.

More information on the Lloyds Banking Group can be found at www.lloydsbankinggroup.com

www.b4-business.com

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GROWING STRONGER We last met Darbys Solicitors' Rebecca Kashti in B4 Issue 15 in Spring 2010. Now as the head of the Oxford office, Rebecca has literally just completed the move of Darbys’ central Oxford office to a new location, which will be covered in more detail in Issue 31 of B4. Speaking with B4’s Richard Rosser, she explains how the move comes after two years of fantastic growth for the firm.

“The past two years have been incredibly rewarding and the hard work has certainly paid off. 2012 and 2013 have both seen 35% growth on previous years, largely due to the people we now have on board. We have made a number of changes in the business since Managing Partner Simon McCrum joined the firm and over the last few years we have had the right people in place at all levels.

“The focus has been on getting all aspects of the team working together and that has meant coordinating the right people at a senior level with middle management lawyers together with business support which has always, historically, been overlooked and not seen as an integral part of the firm.

“This focus, particularly on the business support element of the business, has paid dividends. We now have all members of staff aspiring to become associates and partners, not just fee earning lawyers. This helps create a fantastic ‘same page’ ethic amongst what is now a very strong team. The lawyers have to obviously deliver, but without business support and the marketing team, they wouldn’t have so much to deliver!”

In Issue 26 of B4, Simon McCrum told B4 how all staff had been shown a path to become associates and now, one year later with two members of the IT team as associates, the building blocks put in place are bearing fruit, explains Rebecca. “It sends a really important message that everybody here is on an equal footing and everyone is important. We now have just over 150 in this office and approximately 210 nationwide, including our Manchester and Colchester offices. And if we are to continue to grow, it is important that we can all see ourselves personally developing and achieving.

We are all paddling very hard to get the new work in and it’s coming through our different schemes and affiliates that we deal with.”

Darbys 2014 is very different to 2007. The law firm landscape is very different and the changes implemented over the last seven years have reflected those changes, comments Rebecca.

“Darbys 2007 was a very traditional law firm but we have successfully broken that mould to become a legal services provider that is pulling ahead. A

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clear example of this change was the fact that in 2014, 136 law firms didn’t get insurance renewal.

They simply didn’t respond to requirements which we responded to in 2007. That’s a huge number of casualties and shows a high level of malaise amongst law firms including some which would have been regarded as star performing law firms that quite simply ceased to exist.”

Rebecca is now in her 2nd year as head of the Oxford office having moved from heading up the Private Client Team to heading up the office, aptly demonstrating the moves staff can make in this fast moving firm. “It’s really indicative of where Darbys is now, that it is investing in someone who isn’t fee earning. It would be quite a shift for most law firms where any sort of management roles are usually combined with fee earning, but I am 100%

“The focus has been on getting all aspects of the team working together and that has meant co-ordinating the right people at a senior level with middle management lawyers together with business support

”

focussed on the management of the business now.

“My time is spent working on compliance, finances, business development and, importantly, people our own and our clients. So there are two people, Simon and myself, committed to the business support side of the business and it’s a great role for me.

“One of the key areas we have focused on has been to really get back to basics with our clients.

The legal world is complicated enough at the best of times so we made a conscious move to make what we do for our clients completely transparent.

We brought out new terms and conditions in plain English so that our clients knew what we were doing for them and, vitally, what our work was

going to cost. This is good not only for our clients but also for us – it protects both parties so we both know where we stand.

“We wanted to make our client’s journey with us much simpler. We wanted to shake off that age old perception of lawyers being a bit obtuse, vague and coming up with complicated bills. We brought it all back to basics and told our clients what we were going to do and for how much. There are no grey areas anymore, everyone knows where they stand and there are no misunderstandings. We looked at what was the norm from a client’s point of view (in today's legal market) and we came to the conclusion that their journey was often shrouded in mystery. We had to change this.”

In Issue 26, Simon McCrum explained about the new client feedback system where lawyers were graded by clients on an ABC rating. This real-time service-level monitoring continues as the case progresses and clients can give their feedback every two weeks. This has continued to work well as Rebecca explains.

“The feedback we are getting reflects the success of our new transparent approach. Historically dissatisfaction would have arisen mainly because of lack of clarity but our new terms and conditions are enabling us to provide that clarity.”

The foundations are laid for the next chapter in the life of Darbys as it breathes its energy into a new home. On the back of seven years of hard work, the future looks incredibly positive, as Rebecca concludes. “Darbys is making great strides but we want to keep growing. Our fundamental ethos is that we want to keep our clients on board for their legal lifetime. We don’t want them just for one job.

We know, on average, we will all need a lawyer four times in our lifetime, more if you are a business owner. We want to give our clients excellent levels of service and we want to look after them so that if they have a transaction that needs doing, they know that we will be able to provide the level of service they are looking for. We need to invest our care in every client, new and old, to make sure they keep coming back whenever they need us. It’s simple….but it’s working.” www.darbys.co.uk

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

We wanted to make our “client’s journey with us much simpler. We wanted to shake off that age old perception of lawyers being a bit obtuse, vague and coming up with complicated bills

”

Rebecca Kashti, Head of Oxford Office, Darbys

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38

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B4 NEWS

TWO GREAT B4 EVENTS B4 Ambassadors, Members and their guests have enjoyed two great B4 Oxfordshire events at stunning locations.

In March, 25 teams of 4 battled it out to win the first B4 Battle of the Business Minds held at Heythrop Park Resort. The evening started with drinks and canapés in the main hall followed by a stunning buffet in the Enstone Room.

Photography: Rob Scotcher B4

It was then down to business with our host, Derek Walker of Blackwell’s, running two question rounds, a practical round where teams had to build a tower out of paper and straws and finally a head to head. The worthy winners were GBS Architects with Obergine and OPP second and third.

In April, over 150 B4 Ambassadors and Members enjoyed a drinks and canapé reception in the beautiful 15th-century Divinity School at The Old Bodleian Library, the University’s first teaching room and earliest examination hall. Oxford Wine Company, Passion for Food and Daisies supported the event, with Live Jazz playing throughout. Guests were also treated to a private tour of The Radcliffe Camera and Duke Humfrey’s Library.

Thank you to both of our hosts for such wonderful events.

See www.b4-business.com and click on B4 Events for more information or to see more pictures visit the B4 Flickr account accessible through the B4 website.

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BRIDGING THE SKILLS GAP City of Oxford College is preparing students for employment with a bold new development and a fresh approach to learning

This September, City of Oxford College will open a landmark development in the West End of the city, offering local people a place to get fit, enjoy the latest hair and beauty treatments and relax by the riverside.

The £6m lifestyle centre will form part of the college’s campus in Oxpens Road, but will open its facilities to paying customers and keep commercial hours, operating during evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

The centre will be a showcase for the college’s new learning company model, which immerses students in commercial operations as an integral part of their studies. Students will work alongside industry professionals to run all aspects of the facilities, while developing the skills and qualifications needed for successful future employment.

Ian Francis, principal of City of Oxford College, part of Activate Learning, said: “This exciting scheme will transform the city centre campus and give our students access to some of the most contemporary learning and work environments around. We believe that this will offer students fast and direct pathways into employment, by enabling them to develop skills and knowledge relevant to their industry along with the personal attributes that can only be developed in commercial contexts.

“The centre will also provide a holistic package of lifestyle services for local people, offering customers the best in fitness, hair and beauty right in the heart of the city centre. Our vision is for the centre to become a haven for busy people who want a convenient, stylish place to work out, have a hair or beauty treatment or simply relax with a coffee and a snack.

“The centre will bring together learning and employment more closely than

40

ever before, and we look forward to welcoming the first students to the centre in September.”

The centre’s hair salon will be run in partnership with award-winning high street hairdressing chain, Francesco. Students will work under the guidance of the salon manager, providing the same customer experience found at any other high-end salon. Sport and exercise science students will support the running of the new fitness suite, which will utilise the latest ‘techno-gym’ technology, while students in hospitality and catering will operate the café with a focus on healthy nutrition.

The facilities will be complemented by a new riverside boardwalk, improving linkages with the city’s West End redevelopment, and providing space for internal and external art exhibitions.

Ian said: “We are working more and more closely with employer partners in the development of our curriculum to ensure the skills that our students gain while at college, are the ones required for success. For too long, employers have complained of a skills gap that exists between education and employment and we are committed to reducing it.

“Our learning company model creates the live environment which students need to develop the hard and softer skills and become ready for employment.”

Enterprise and employability The new lifestyle centre at City of Oxford College will support a growing focus on equipping young people with the enterprise-related skills needed for career success. These employability skills were highlighted as a particular strength in a recent government inspection.

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B4 EDUCATION

Ofsted inspectors visited all colleges within the Activate Learning group – City of Oxford, Banbury and Bicester and Reading College – at the end of 2013.

for enterprise, with money raised through commercial ventures reinvested to support student welfare.

The report, published in January, recognised that “students develop valuable employability skills thanks to high quality teaching and learning, a focus on enterprise and effective use of the latest technology”. Inspectors also praised college staff for their well-developed and productive links with employers, which help students to make good progress.

Among the success stories, students in public services have been managing a car parking project, offering city centre shoppers parking for £5 a day during weekends and bank holidays. The business has not only generated income for the student fund, but has given students paid work experience that has helped them to bolster their skills and CVs before moving onto to future employment.

“We are working more and more

A group that’s going places City of Oxford College is part of Activate Learning – the new name for Oxford & Cherwell Valley College Group.

closely with employer partners in the development of our curriculum to ensure the skills that our students gain while at college, are the ones required for success

”

Away from the lifestyle centre, students from other curriculum areas are gaining valuable real-world experience, from hospitality students running the on-site restaurant and catering outlets, to public services students running outward bound and team building sessions and media students completing filming projects for external clients through learning company StudioX1.

Activate Learning was officially launched in November last year, and is fast building a reputation as a leader in learning.

The group combines secondary, further and higher education, together with workforce training, social enterprise and commercial business.

It comprises three further education colleges, three schools (one launched and two in development) and a successful apprenticeships division, Activate Enterprise.

The group’s vision is to transform lives through learning, and its members work with learners and employers to provide career-focused learning experiences that maximise the potential of every individual.

Find out more at www.activatelearning.ac.uk

A social enterprise company, called SweetFE, has been established as a vehicle

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41

B4 ADVICE

THE WORLD’S LARGEST PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, AND YOU With 13 million people in the UK registered LinkedIn members, up from 11 million in 2013, and 259+ million members worldwide, businesses cannot afford to ignore this invaluable business development tool.

Olivia Lane-Nott, founder of O Consultancy, the business and marketing communications consultancy, gives her top five tips to making the most of LinkedIn. Professional services firms rely on personal recommendations and word of mouth advertising, but how do you influence such recommendations, position yourself as an expert, build an excellent network and win more business? The answer is: use LinkedIn. Designed specifically for business professionals, LinkedIn is an invaluable tool that helps its registered members to: keep in contact with people, connect with potential business partners, find a job, or unlock new business.

5 easy steps to getting on LinkedIn 1. Register Go to www.linkedin.com, and simply provide some basic information: name, email address, location, current employer, and education.

2. Optimise your profile: 1. Think about what people will search for 2. Use a catchy headline using keywords, for example, “Partner, Tax” isn’t as catchy as “Tax expert who keeps everything simple” or “Family business tax specialist” 3. Upload a profile photo; it will make you 7x more likely to found in searches 4. Include two most recent positions with full description; it will make you 12x more likely to be found 3. Search for your contacts 1. Easily upload your email contacts through Hotmail, Gmail etc 2. Search for your colleagues by typing in a company name 3. For an individual, just type in their name 4. Search by classmates or university friends 5. Advanced search comes in handy when you don’t have all someone’s information 4. Update your status Status updates are the engine that drives LinkedIn.

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Things to include in your status: What you’re working on; sharing what you’ve read/ resources/industry news; give your advice or opinion on a hot topic; pose questions; or post an invitation to an event. Top tip: everything you say should be relevant to your work. Don’t sell.

Security Like most online networking sites, you are in control of your privacy. You can select who sees your activity feed, who sees your connections, and how your profile appears to the outside world. You set your own security.

5. Prove your expertise You can do this through the Recommendations’ section. You can be endorsed for your work by: 1. Doing good work: clients might provide a recommendation out of the blue 2. Asking for them – timing is everything though, but it’s easy to email a contact to request such a testimonial 3. Giving them, but remember that it’s not quid pro quo Top tip: obtain three recommendations – they are powerful things and say you’re great without you saying it

Return on investment There are many cases where someone has reconnected with a contact after many years having lost their business cards and it’s resulted in discussions or new business. If you’ve been to a networking event, look up new contacts and invite them to join your network. And of most interest, research suggests that cold calling a lead has the most impact when you send a message to them through LinkedIn. That way they can see you, see your profile and connections and then decide whether they wish to connect or meet.

You can also search for Groups to join. Type in in what you’re interested, for example, your professional body will be sure to have a group, or you can be suggested new groups to join. You can grow your network through these whilst keeping up to date on relevant issues. Good local groups include: IOD Oxfordshire Leaders and Directors, and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

Where should you spend your time?

1 minute a day • Write a status update – what’s the most interesting thing you’re working on/have to share today?

• Comment on another contact’s status update • Endorse someone’s skills • Click on “Who’s viewed my profile”; see who’s seeking you out 2 minutes a day • Choose one discussion from one of your groups and comment • Review one target client’s company profile to stay up to date with them • Send a message to a contact you haven’t spoken to in a while; suggest a meeting if appropriate • Write a recommendation for someone

In summary 1. LinkedIn is free – there is no need to pay for the Premium package unless you’re a recruiter 2. The stronger your network, the more likely you are to be found 3. It’s vital that your first degree connections be people you know. You decide how to use LinkedIn – do you want your competitors listed, or just your clients?

4. Use this instead of, or before, cold calls And finally Being active on LinkedIn demonstrates that your firm and you are technologically up to date, and you are part of an ever-growing professional network.

Extracted from a presentation given to Carter Jonas’ Oxford office.

For further information on how marketing and communications can help your business increase revenues, please contact Olivia Lane-Nott on 07968 081 128, olivia@oconsultancy.com, or visit the wesbite www.oconsultancy.com or find her on LinkedIn.

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HEDGES LAW

ADVICE ROUND THE KITCHEN TABLE Kathryn Allison meets David Engwell, the newly appointed Director and Head of Business Services at Hedges Law in their new, centrally located office, opposite the Ashmoleon in Oxford.

Cast your mind back and imagine a kitchen table from 1789, the year Hedges Law was founded. Now picture a kitchen table from today: contemporary, modern and dynamic.

Combine the traditional with the contemporary and you have a clear idea of what makes Hedges Law. We all need a lawyer at some stage in our lives: to settle disputes, gain specialist tax advice, streamline business agreements, conveyancing, selling your business, franchising your business, divorce and separation agreements, wills, probate, pre-nuptial agreements, the options are endless.

In an ideal world, these issues could be resolved around the kitchen table: a place for trusted, collaborative discussions. At Hedges Law, this is exactly what they provide: a kitchen table sits firmly in one of their two private meeting rooms.

This ethos behind Hedges Law is one that David is determined to get across “we are a small business, with 32 employees across two offices in Oxford and Wallingford, with experienced individuals behind every service offered. We will find a way forward to settle any legal issues you may have, always giving the best possible advice. We will set you on the right path to resolve any disputes, and we are always here 24/7 by text, e-mail or phone. We are here to give you advice for life.”

Nicola Poole, who owns the limited company, firmly believes in providing trusted advisors for your business; for your family, for your home and for your future. In addition to supporting this philosophy, with an open, professional, attractive office space, the new team are dynamic and fresh full of ideas. A question box is placed in each office allowing each team member to offer their suggestions towards improving the functions, technology and services offered to their clients, allowing for ongoing analysis and improvement to the services they provide.

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In the last five years the company has undergone a transformation with the opening of the Oxford office and the refurbishment of the Wallingford office. An ambitious growth target is in place: the company has grown in the last two years by 30% with an aim to grow in 2014 by 20% with further expansion and growth plans forecast for the next five years.

One new forecast is for the call and need for new business services, which is part of David Engwell’s remit. This target sector is best generated through a network of contacts which David has developed through his many years working and living in Oxford. An affable

“We will find a way forward to settle any legal issues you may have, always giving the best possible advice. We will set you on the right path to resolve any disputes, and we are always here 24/7

”

individual, his easy yet professional style encourages long-term relationships and his energy and enthusiasm is there in abundance alongside his knowledge of company law. His expertise is building rapport and a clear understanding of the individuals that drive each business, analysing their needs and requirements as he reaches out with focussed advice.

A recent client was deliberating on whether to sell a company or wait for retirement age.

David could see the benefits of both options, but the monetary value gained by selling now is currently overshadowed by their likely retirement age and forecast turnover. By putting in place a few recruitment and logistical procedures, the advice from David is to keep running the business.

David is capitalising on the trusted, advisory relationship between himself and his client rather than the short gain of selling the business and Hedges Law winning a fee now.

It is advice for life at Hedges Law, which works for both sides of the kitchen table. This company has been shown the best way forward and the ongoing business allows members of the Hedges Law team to contribute in essential areas of agreements, tax specialism, wills and upselling these areas as well.

As well as promoting the ‘advice for life’ message, the company has developed the theme of give and take at both sides of the table by supporting charitable causes and assisting prospective lawyers-to-be. Last year, SeeSaw was selected as the annual charity, a grief and bereavement support charity for children and Hedges Law raised a magnificent £1,800 towards their excellent work. This year it is Sobell House Hospice Charity, an excellent charity that provides palliative care.

The company also runs an annual competition for sixth formers at local schools: it is aimed at all final year students with an ambition to study law. The company sets an essay-style question in March, which students have until the end of April to submit. The winner has the opportunity for a summer internship at Hedges Law. Taking a personal step further, Nicola Poole ran the 2014 London Marathon for Breakthrough Cancer.

Stepping into Hedges Law, one feels instantly relaxed and supported within a professional setting. Meeting and sitting around the kitchen table is a two way thing, the team at Hedges Law listen, respect and resolve your individual requirements ensuring you are happy with the outcome. They will advise you for life… www.hedgeslaw.co.uk uk.linkedin.com/in/davidengwell

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

As well as promoting the “ ‘advice for life’ message, the company has developed the theme of give and take at both sides of the table by supporting charitable causes and assisting prospective lawyers-to-be

”

David Engwell, Director and Head of Business Services, Hedges Law

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45

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www.intouchcrm.com

news New Membership Packages for Tourism-Related Businesses Visit Oxfordshire have launched new membership packages aimed at: accommodation providers; conference venues; retailers; arts venues; attractions and activities; transport providers and business services – and even events such as music and literary festivals.

All are promoted to a range of market segments via brochures, leaflets, the Visit Oxfordshire website (over 2 million users per year), social media (twitter and Facebook 11,000 users), Visit England’s website, and by representation at exhibitions, shows and similar promotional events.

In addition, Visit Oxfordshire is the conduit for press visits by overseas journalists authorized by Visit England and Visit Britain and giving invaluable exposure in respected overseas markets. These initiatives are complemented by Visit Oxfordshire’s extensive image library which is free to download from the Visit England Images website.

Cotswold Wildlife Park ©AndrewLaws

Visit Oxfordshire’s New 2014 Brochure An important promotional tool is the new 2014 destination brochure, now available in hard copy at Tourist Information Centres throughout England and online via the Visit Oxfordshire website.

Comprising a tour through Oxfordshire’s Glorious Gardens, History and Heritage, Great Outdoors, Family Fun, Food and Drink providers and Film/TV

locations, the guide also includes a programme of major events, including those commemorating the outbreak of WWI. Forty thousand copies of the brochure have been produced and it expected that a further 9,000 copies will be downloaded from the Visit Oxfordshire website. www.visitoxfordshire.org

New 2014 Gardens Guide Gardening is said to be the favourite British hobby – an interest shared world-wide. There’s no better place than Oxfordshire and its surrounds to make visiting gardens the focus of a tour. The new 2014 Gardens Guide helps you do just that – taking in the formal gardens of Blenheim Palace, the hidden gardens at Stonor, unexpected floral delights at Cotswold Wildlife Park and the Peto-designed Buscot Park.

Hidcote’s famous garden ‘rooms’, Broughton Castle’s magical setting and Batsford’s arboreal acres are also included. There’s even a 2 for 1 offer at Waterperry and a free entry competition whose

lucky winners will stay in the De Vere Heythrop Park Hotel, set in Thomas Archer- landscaped parkland complete with outdoor (spring-fed) bathhouse.

(Brrr…….)

Said Jo Butler, Head of Tourism and Marketing at Visit Oxfordshire, ‘Oxfordshire has such a wide range of opportunities for leisure, group and business tourism – all within easy reach of London, Birmingham and international airports - that the county has instant appeal. The cultural offer – museums, theatres, music, dance, festivals of all descriptions – is unequalled outside London. But we are competing internationally with other

destinations so Visit Oxfordshire work hard to ensure Oxford and Oxfordshire retain their high profile.’

To become a Member of Visit Oxfordshire please see details on the website www.visitoxfordshire.org/become-a-partner/

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www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

47

WHY THE OXFORD PROPERTY MARKET Oxfordshire vs London Average house prices

MIGHT JUST FLY VERY SHORTLY £ Sterling

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Red London Blue Oxfordshire

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200,000 Robin Swailes specialises in Oxford Investment property, he holds companies that invest, develop and100,000 let property exclusively in Oxford.

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The article discusses the traditional residences of the academic community which favoured grand red brick built central north oxford properties, being replaced by the ‘global society’. This is not a new phenomenon, apparently this was first written about in the early nineties by Tanis Hincherclife an Yearly % Average change architectural historian. The FT article mentions the financial access point of North Oxford Victorian conservation area property at around £1.5 million.

John Baugh the headmaster at the long established

rebased house price 1995 to 2014 In this issue we look at the present and past growth of the Oxford property market. The market in relation to our big successful brother, London.

Anecdotal evidence and reports are fun to read but how does Oxford compare, contrast and follow the London market?

Let’s look at the chart below North Oxford Property Services (NOPS) have looked back to 1996 to give a number of years to ascertain the trend line and this 19 year period shows that Oxfordshire consistently follows London in annual averaged property price changes. London consistently peaks and recovers before Oxford.

The London growth peak averages are generally higher than Oxfordshire and the lows are not as

Oxfordshire vs London

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pronounced which translates into a nett higher overall growth for London over the last two decades.

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an elite preparatory Dragon School which attracts many wealthy families to the area comments: Compared to London house prices the transition to quality private schooling in Oxford is very affordable and presumably is happening.

I believe it is inevitable that “ Oxford will follow the London lead ay

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In the last issue of B4 I put my case for rising property prices in Oxford for the next five years bar financial or natural catastrophes which are by their nature difficult to predict. In particular I found that the ripple effect of high London property growth had not extended into the surrounding counties with such ferocity as might have been expected. Those reading the recent weekend Financial Times may have spotted the article relating specifically to Oxford’s property market.

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and house prices in Oxford may even outperform London over the next five years.

North Oxford Property Services Data provided by Land Registry

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Interestingly, interpretation from the most recent data points shows a large divergence (break away) between the increase in prices in London and those of Oxford. The latest data point (12 months data to Dec 2013) being 3.1% for Oxfordshire compared to 11.2% for London, the largest divergence since 1996 when these average records were initiated. This is another way of describing the lack of ripple between London and outside the M25 one point being Oxford.

Oxford vs London Yearly % Average change 30 25

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North Oxford Property Services Data provided by Land Registry

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B4 PROPERTY

This ripple is on its way, it may even have arrived according to a number of sales agents. Writing this article in February/March there is a severe shortage of properties for sale, in fact one of our architectural designers (Oxford Architectural Services) is searching for a small one bedroom apartment. He spotted a fairly priced one bedroom flat for sale in North Oxford, immediately he rang the agent Breckon and Breckon and viewed the apartment the same day. After viewing the property he put in an offer for the full asking price, only to find three other keen buyers had done the same. This property may well achieve a record price by the time this article goes to print.

only represents Oxfordshire which slightly reduces actual average prices) over the last 19 years and as predicted the adjusted price of Oxfordshire at the start of the time period against the most recent December data shows London average prices growing 400% and Oxford growing by 300%.

Oxford is relatively well priced compared to London and offers top education in a great environment.

Did you know that a direct train between Oxford and Heathrow airport is likely within the next few years making Oxford a most attractive destination to international commuters.

So, to summarise On the 12 month trend, average Oxford price change have diverged (see graph 1) a greater amount than in the previous 19 years and look likely to increase (break out) in the very near future.

Robin Swailes MA specialises in investing and developing property in Oxford. His clients range from local investors to overseas business clients. If you are considering investing in Oxford property either for short term high return development fund or long term buy to let investment and would like practical advice please ring his office on 01865 318524 or Robin@NOPS.co.uk. Robin Swailes is NOT a financial advisor.

Oxford property is less volatile to extreme price change than London, a good assett if you value steady and more predictable growth.(less severe swings)

I believe it is inevitable that Oxford will follow the London lead and house prices in Oxford may even outperform London over the next five years.

Oxfordshire vs London On average it is less expensive in charges to use

www.nops.co.uk

My second graph shows the actualhouse average prices price an Oxford agent to let your investment house than Average of a property in London versus Oxfordshire (Land a London agent meaning relatively more profit in registry does not delineate Oxford as a city it’s data your pocket.

Oxford vs London Yearly house prices ÂŁ Sterling 500,000

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49

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The Feathers

to try our new menu and experience the world’s finest and rarest gins – currently a world record 181... and counting.

The Feathers Hotel, Woodstock www.feathers.co.uk Follow us on Twitter @feathershotel 01993 812291 Located in the heart of Woodstock by the gates of Blenheim Palace

B4 ADVICE

“Businesses should consider how their employees use personal devices and have an appropriate policy and procedures in place rather than reacting to problems in an ad hoc way

”

Claire Jacques - Solicitor at BrookStreet Des Roches LLP

HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS BENEFIT FROM A BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE (BYOD) POLICY? In this article Claire Jacques, solicitor at BrookStreet Des Roches LLP, considers recent guidance from the UK data protection regulator which covers the use by employees of their personal devices for work and considers what practical steps businesses can take to manage the security and legal risks that this can pose.

Introduction In recent years, as internet connectivity has improved, there has been an increase in people using their smartphones and tablets, rather than personal computers, to access information and it has become common for people to use their own personal devices (mobile phones, tablets, laptops) for work purposes, whether traveling or working from home.

This creates a new IT challenge for businesses: “How to allow employees to access information on their preferred devices without compromising the security of their business?”

Some employers are adapting to these changes faster than others and a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy is a new consideration for businesses. In October 2013, the UK Data Protection Regulator released guidance highlighting the need for organisations to have a policy in place explaining how information stored for work should be looked after on personal devices. If employers fail to adapt their IT policies to reflect how the modern workforce uses their personal devices for work, they could be at risk of being penalised under the Data Protection Act 1998.

BYOD Policy An appropriate BYOD policy allows employees to use their personal devices to conduct business securely, rather than putting barriers in their way. Developing such a policy is about recognising how existing challenges, such as protecting company secrets and keeping customer data confidential, can be addressed in a remote working world. Some of the things businesses should consider when creating a BYOD policy are: Data - A business will always be held responsible for its own data even where it is lost due to employee negligence. If an employee can access work data from a personal device then the business needs to work with employees to ensure that the data is accessed securely. Some steps that businesses can take are: • Expressly state what data can be accessed from personal devices; and • Restrict access to sensitive data.

Resources – Businesses should provide employees with IT resources that have been assessed and approved for use out of work. These can include: • Remote access to emails; • Secure channels to transmit work data; and • Encrypted storage devices.

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Organisational Response - A security breach does not have to be disastrous if a strong reporting procedure and contingency plans have been put in place.

These can include: • Designating an emergency out of hours contact; and • Registering devices with a remote locate and wipe facility.

Training Staff - No business will have an effective security policy unless they invest in training their employees on implementing the contents of the policy into their work routines and IT usage. Some basic rules that all employees should be aware of and follow at all times are: • Segregate work data from personal data; and • Password protecting devices.

Ultimate responsibility for data breaches will lie with the business, but the employee should be aware that they can be subject to internal disciplinary processes if they are negligent.

Conclusion Over recent weeks the Government has considered increasing the power of the Data Protection regulator to fine organisations for data loss and security breaches. The European Commission is also in the process of finalising a new Data Protection Regulation which will replace and update the UK Data Protection Act. When this Regulation comes into force the level of responsibility placed on businesses holding personal data will increase.

Businesses should consider how their employees use personal devices and have an appropriate policy and procedures in place rather than reacting to problems in an ad hoc way. Something as simple as a misplaced USB stick or email from an employee could have serious reputational and commercial consequences for a business.

Getting the right policy in place, that is understood and implemented by employees and management, and which sets out not only what risks to avoid, but what happens when things go wrong, is essential!

Should you wish to seek advice on the issues outlined in this article then please feel free to contact Claire Jacques on 01235 836643 or claire.jacques@bsdr.com. Or see www.bsdr.com.

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Last July, David Cameron helped Jill and her team celebrate ten years in business, a significant milestone and a chance to take stock. “After a number of years trading as Jill Treloggen Interiors, we felt the time was right to make a strategic shift in our branding, so the name of the company had less emphasis on me – there are three of us in the business, and we make a great team, so it made sense to focus on all of us as a company.

“As part of marking our anniversary, we launched a new website and then, of course, we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate with clients, suppliers, friends and family who have supported us over the last ten years. Being part of a busy company can be tough, and we all really appreciate the hard work and support of those around us. So in July we threw a party at which David Cameron was the guest of honour. It was great to receive the seal of approval from someone with such a high profile. We were also delighted that our very first client from ten years ago, along with many clients from current projects also joined us.”

“A milestone anniversary also gave us a good opportunity to evaluate the business, rebrand,

the transition into staging show homes for local developers such as Willis Homes and Glenbreck Developments.”

“In the last three or four years we have also increased our presence in the commercial sector, and now work in a variety of disciplines including educational establishments, offices, hotels and retail outlets. Projects have ranged in size from designing the award winning boutique hotel Hope House in Woodstock, which now has Mr & Mrs Smith status, to the recently completed 63 bedrooms, conference suites, coffee rooms and Enstone Ballroom at Heythrop Park Hotel. The Enstone Suite was completed just in time for the recent B4 quiz if any of your readers went along!

We are particularly proud of the transformation to this hotel, and also the positive comments that are being posted on TripAdvisor!!”

“In the centre of Oxford we have recently completed the bar and common rooms for Somerville and Oriel Colleges. We also worked alongside Natural Motion Games in designing their new offices, which was fantastic fun as we had lots of branding and characters to help us formulate our designs. We are also delighted to be designing a

child’s play room for instance. Both need to be interesting and stylish but at the same time durable, sturdy and stain resistant to stand up to the rigours of both clients!”

“When working on student bars for example, we have to draw on our hotel experience so that they work for the students in term time, but are also appealing to corporate guests that will be using them out of term time. It is not just about providing a stylish environment, there is a hard business case that says an inviting bar is one in which people spend more time and money! This is the key point with commercial work, it has to be functional but, above all, it has to have a return on investment for the client. We’re able to achieve that and ensure the end product looks great!”

So how do JT Interiors continue to grow and expand the business? “We get a lot of repeat business from past clients, and also many referrals by word of mouth, and of course an internet presence is increasingly vital. We were also delighted to recently welcome Tanya on board, who is a master of social media and does a great job getting our name out there. She also researches and writes our e-Newsletter which we

“The key point with commercial work is that it has to be stylish, functional but, above all, it has to have a return on investment for the client. We’re able to achieve that and ensure the end product looks great!

”

refresh, and re-launch ourselves in a way that better reflects the business today. When I started the company, I was working on my own and focusing on residential properties, helping clients redesign living rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms etc. As we grew we began to encompass the residential sales and letting market and started to work with companies like Scottfraser, Breckon & Breckon, and Lucy Properties. This also resulted in us making

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brand new offering for a leading retailer in the city the Autumn – so watch this space!!”

JT Interiors enjoy a 50 / 50 split of residential and commercial work now. “One of the benefits we bring to our clients is our knowledge of products and finishes that are suitable for both environments. We can call on ideas we use for a bar or common room when we are working on a

find is crucial to let people know what we are doing, and remind customers of the services we offer. My other designer Sophie keeps a close eye on the new trends and writes our style blog which also forms part of our newsletter. She has also recently undertaken extensive training in lighting concepts and installations, so is also our resident expert on illuminating matters!”

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

JT INTERIORS OXFORDSHIRE’S LEADING INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANY We last spoke to Jill Treloggen in 2010 at the recently refurbished Hope House Hotel in Woodstock. Four years on and Jill has grown the business and earned a widely held reputation as the county’s leading interior designer.

Jill spoke to Richard Rosser about how she did it.

So what is it that keeps customers coming back or recommending JT Interiors to their own networks?

“Quite simply, we deliver. We know our stuff, and I believe bring a unique mix of business acumen as well as creative thoughts. Our customer service is second to none, we are clear on our customer’s requirements and work hard as a team to deliver every project to a high standard. Part of the reason we have been able to do this is that we focus on a small geographical area so we can spend our time working, not travelling. We also have a policy of no surprises, our clients are given clear work schedules and project budgets, and we keep them up to date on progress.”

Being in the business for ten years, Jill has built up a trusted circle of associates who work as part of the team to deliver projects. “Usually we will be project managing a complete job and that means coordinating a team of builders, plumbers and electricians, also furniture and soft furnishing makers. Because we are used to regularly working as a team, we know what is expected of each other and the standards required, so we can work towards the same goal and get the job done.”

This trusted group are a key part of JT Interior’s success, but Jill admits that maintaining this group is a job in itself. “A lot of aspiring interior designers must look in from the outside and think the job is easy, far from it. It takes years to build up a trusted circle of suppliers, contractors and other associates, we may make it look easy, but it is the result of years of hard work, experience and dedication that make it appear to be straight forward!”

“Of course we are constantly looking for new suppliers to add to the mix. We attend trade shows throughout the year in search of new ideas and innovations to add to the quality and value of our offering. Seeing the products in the flesh also means we can be sure of the quality of manufacture which is vital, and also get a chance to meet the senior team at each supplier to ensure

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they have the same values and attention to detail that we do.” Many of the manufacturers that JT Interiors uses also supply big names on the High Street, however not having an expensive retail outlet allows JT Interiors to keep costs down and pass on good value to their clients.

So how would Jill describe the job of an interior designer? “I think a lot of people have the impression that interior design is all glamour. It does have its moments, but in actual fact there’s a lot of hard work and detail involved. Initial ideas probably take 20% of the time, and then 80% is about delivery. People that don’t know the industry think that interior design is all about cushions and lovely fabrics – which it is – but it is more about managing a team of contractors to deliver on time, ensuring the budget is under control and chasing up suppliers to make sure everything will be ready on time!”

Jill says she loves drawing inspiration for new ideas from magazines and travelling the world. “It’s easy to be inspired when travelling. I went to Morocco recently and I must have a dozen business cards from companies that provide fabulous rugs and artefacts. We have already imported lights from Denmark and carpets from Australia, so who knows what will be next!

There’s no doubting JT Interior’s reliability, experience, creative flair and business like approach, so if you’re looking to brighten up your offices, modernise the college bar or transform your home, Jill and the team will be delighted to hear from you. Alternatively if you want to get inspiration and insights, visit their website and sign up for their monthly newsletter. www.jtiuk.com 01993 700515

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DEVELOPMENT DREAMS WITH STRUTT

& PARKER

Kathryn Allison meets Mike Robinson, Partner and Head of Planning at Strutt & Parker Oxford to discover new developments since the previous B4 review by Richard Rosser in late 2013.

“realising the opportunities in the market

place, Strutt & Parker are investing specifically in planning and development within the Oxford area

�

Mike Robinson MRTPI - Head of Planning, Oxford

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B4 PROPERTY

Currently, there is a “ shortage of housing in the country which the Government is seeking to address. Every local authority is under pressure to provide more housing in their areas and provide for sustainable economic growth

”

Mike Robinson MRTPI - Head of Planning, Oxford

The ‘National Planning Policy Framework’, ‘Local Plans’, ‘sustainable development’, housing targets, economic growth and infrastructure are terms that are frequently used in the world of planning. These are well understood in Strutt & Parker's recently opened Oxford office located in Summertown. This new location and contemporary open-plan office (the 50th of Strutt & Parker) not only looks good but feels good and in addition to the residential business there is a dedicated and growing team of planners for a new business model in the Oxford area.

Mike explains that “realising the opportunities in the market place, Strutt & Parker are investing specifically in planning and development within the Oxford area. Regionally, the firm has a network of offices in Banbury, Moreton-in-Marsh, Cirencester, Newbury and Pangbourne.

These are well established offices with specialist staff who have a clients with interests in farming, estates, residential and commercial property.

Through cooperation and team working with these offices as well as the wider Strutt & Parker network, we are well-placed to advise on planning and development matters across the key regions of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and even further afield..”

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Mike Robinson MRTPI, with over twenty years planning experience, was invited to join the Oxford team as Head of Planning alongside Miles Collison MRICS, Head of Development. Their remit is to build, plan and develop a business model to support the Strutt & Parker vision. Currently, there is a shortage of housing in the country which the Government is seeking to address. Every local authority is under pressure to provide more housing in their areas and provide for sustainable economic growth. This has come into sharp focus recently with the publication of the Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Availability Assessment (SHMAA) which has identified a need for significantly more housing in the county.

Whether it is a small development of one or two new houses or a major town extension then Strutt & Parker's planning team has the experience and skills to help guide its clients through the increasingly complex planning process. They advise on everything from identifying opportunities and site appraisals through to planning applications, appeals and strategic land promotion. Mike works closely with Miles whose team provides important marketing, valuation and viability advice when sites are acquired or sold for development. 'It is working in partnership that achieves the best results for our clients' Mike explains.

This knowledgeable team is expanding rapidly and has already recruited further senior staff and local graduates to meet the growing demand for well informed professional property advice.

In addition to collaboration with colleagues in other offices, Mike and the team also work closely with many house builders such as Taylor Wimpey, Berkeley Homes, Cala, Bloor and Crest Nicholson.

The team also offers advice to farmers and other landowners who have a suitable piece of land on the edge of a town or village which could be brought forward to help address the housing supply problem. The team is equally comfortable in handling applications for the conversion or redevelopment of derelict farm buildings.

Mike’s experience is best seen when it comes to negotiating a project through the increasingly complex planning process.

As well as understanding the ever changing planning rules and regulations, he is the person who attends meetings in district council offices as well as local and town and parish halls to explain future development proposals. These initial stages have the potential to introduce confrontation between parties. However, Mike can clearly see the agendas from both sides and with clear, open dialogue and professional integrity he seeks to achieve the right balance in the often controversial world of planning. www.struttandparker.com

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

CITY AUDIO

VISUAL

We can’t believe that spring has come around already! It truly was a tempestuous winter, hampered by flooding around us, and across the country. Thankfully the waters have calmed, and our premises are ship-shape again. The high season for live events and conferences is just around the corner, and CAV is ready to steam ahead in 2014.

The company and I are delighted to continue our support for worthy causes in and around Oxfordshire. Following our provision of a PA system in November along St. Giles, for Oxford’s Remembrance Sunday event, we are preparing for work in other worthwhile areas. As we did in 2013, we are gearing up for the charity Breast Cancer Care’s Pink Ribbon Walk events, starting just up the road at Blenheim Palace on the tenth of May. We also provided equipment for BCC’s events in Surrey and Kent last year, and look forward to doing so again. We are also pleased to have been involved in furnishing the new Alzheimer’s Day Centre in Holton, near Wheatley. On top of this, we are proud to continue supporting the Oxford Rugby Partnership, which encourages a higher standard of rugby among several local teams. We feel that work such as this is valuable work, and are delighted to continue supporting these diverse projects.

have been contacted to provide “theWeinfrastructure for a popup sensory

Of course, not all of City Audio Visual’s work is in live events. We are lucky to be based in Oxfordshire just as the area is seeing a surge in development. For instance, Oxford University is in the midst of expanding and developing many of its campus sites, and we are delighted to be a part of it. We have recently installed a 4x1 video wall in a new building at the redeveloped Old Road Campus, which will be at the forefront of medical research. Not all of our work is based in the county, however. Local firm Minoli Tiles have opened a state-of-the-art showroom a stone’s throw away from London’s Oxford Street, in a striking grade 2-listed Georgian building. CAV was pleased to provide and install a set of networked Loewe TVs in the new galleries and offices; we hope it will be a striking way to showcase Minoli’s best work.

restaurant (definitely a new one for us!)

The idea is for the environment to match the food: sights, sounds and even scents that correspond to the type of food served

We value the loyalty of many longstanding customers, and are very glad to work with them again. Over the coming months, our diary is certainly beginning to fill up! We are planning an installation of a distributed PA system into Oxford’s Rhodes House, a stunning building which hosts many of the University’s most prestigious lectures, conferences and reunions. We also look forward to providing a brand new PA system in the debating chamber of the world-renowned Oxford Union.

”

That’s not to say that we’re resting on our laurels. I must say, it’s a very good time to be involved in the live events industry. One project in particular has piqued our interest.

We have been contacted to provide the infrastructure for a popup sensory restaurant (definitely a new one for us!). The idea is for the environment to match the food: sights, sounds and even scents that correspond to the type of food served. A novel concept indeed; we’re always open to novel ideas such as this!

And, as Steve Jobs was wont to say, “One more thing”. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but things could be set to change back at base. Up until now, there has been something missing at our central Oxford warehouse and offices. We’re pleased with what we’ve done so far, but haven’t yet had the space to show our customers exactly what we’re about. To that end, we are at the design stage of building a showroom of our own. We don’t want to reveal too much, naturally, but we think you’re going to like it. Watch this space. www.cityav.co.uk

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WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SECTOR? As the wider UK economy continues to move onwards and upwards, what lies ahead for the UK food and beverage (F&B) sector in particular? Our recent ‘Hunger for Growth’ report surveyed executives across the sector to get a sense of the key challenges being faced as well as opportunities for growth. The good news is there was a lot of optimism.

Increased investment For the first time in years, many businesses expect to build or expand factories. Like most sectors, the recession had a profound impact, forcing many to postpone investments and reduce innovation, making a return to investment priorities welcome. New facilities and better technologies all help to bring greater efficiencies in production and the fact that businesses expect profits (not just sales) to increase in 2014 highlights that, while a lot of work has been undertaken out of necessity, to maximise efficiencies during the lean times, businesses are continuing to look for even greater improvements to drive healthier margins. As a large proportion of consumers continue to be driven by price considerations, the application of new equipment to enhance productivity will be essential in order to fend off margin pressures.

The export opportunity The UK us a significant net-importer thanks to both the type of food that is produced here and the consumer demand for foreign produce that exists. However, our report found that many in the sector are anticipating significant growth in exports over the next two years, with an expected increase of at least 25% in the number of UK businesses looking to sell their products abroad.

There is increasing appetite for British brands abroad – highlighted by the fact that several famous UK brands are now foreign owned.

Particular growth opportunities are being seen in emerging markets like southeast Asia and China where the emerging middle class consumers have a fondness for British brands, but closer to home companies such as Tyrells have been very successful in selling its products to French consumers for example.

The report also found that more than three quarters of F&B executives plan to increase spending on product development (82%) and information technology (IT, 78%). Product development is aimed at both fulfilling supermarket demand for innovative new products or product variations, but also to generate or maintain better margins. The investment in IT has two main drivers, the first is to assist with efficiencies internally, and the second is from an external perspective to generate opportunities from social media, which is becoming increasingly important for branded businesses and products in particular.

“Businesses are also

Sourcing locally vs. importing Locally sourced goods continue to be an important consideration for retailers and consumers and businesses have invested to maintain and improve product integrity and to apply more rigour to their supply chains. UK sourcing is not always the most feasible option when pricing and consumer demand is taken into consideration. However, it is likely that the bar for standards of imported products will continue to rise, which will benefit businesses that focus on quality.

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under pressure from regulators to ensure that they keep ahead of changing regulations, which is an additional burden to deal with

”

Exporting does offer enticing opportunities, but only for those businesses willing to do their homework — studying local regulations, meeting with in-country retailers and wholesalers, potentially teaming up with local partners, completing market research on price points and competitors, thinking about transportation and supply chain issues as well. It's vital to understand an market before entering it.

Overcoming industry concerns Despite the widespread optimism across the board there are some industry 'concerns' to overcome. First and foremost, F&B companies remain concerned about costs, with many

anticipating further rises in 2014 for every cost studied – from energy costs and research and development to labour and raw materials.

Innovation and new product development are not cheap. And whilst consumers are starting to appreciate that good quality food comes at a price, the costs often have to managed by the manufacturers and producers.

Businesses are also under pressure from regulators to ensure that they keep ahead of changing regulations, which is an additional burden to deal with and again, can be more difficult and diversionary for less well-resourced businesses.

Seizing growth in 2014 It’s interesting to reflect that many of today’s most popular F&B trends were actually niche markets only a decade ago. The continued growth of segments like gluten-free, for example, highlight just how quickly the industry is moving.

In the UK in the past year the volume of food sold was down for the first time on record due to both the economic environment and efforts to reduce food waste. Shopping habits are changing too with both online grocery shopping to the wider use of convenience stores both continuing to increase.

Such a diverse combination of food trends helps to create widespread opportunity for F&B businesses. The savviest of these will continue to conduct research on product-category growth rates, incorporating demographic, market and competitive factors.

The sector is surrounded by change and uncertainty so to succeed, businesses will have to be open-minded in offering value to customers. With a big opportunity for growth on the horizon, those who most quickly associate themselves with the evolving market conditions will get the first slice of the pie.

Jim Rogers, Partner, Assurance, For Grant Thornton UK LLP. T 0118 9559 114 E jim.n.rogers@uk.gt.com

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B4 ADVICE

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B4 SERVICES 5 StarTM Remarkable Loop Paper lives on, up to 20 times longer than normal paper.

Instead of using wood pulp from freshly cut trees, 5 StarTM Remarkable Loop Paper is made from 100% recycled paper.

This means that the quality of the paper entering the process is guranteed.

The paper mill use guaranteed high grade paper waste to make 100% recycled paper. The finished paper goes to a distributor.

Who send it to Remarkable.

They carefully sort and grade the paper before providing it to the paper mill.

5 STAR REMARKABLE LOOP PAPER:

100% RECYCLED PAPER MADE FROM YOUR OFFICE WASTE

REVOLUTIONARY NEW SERVICE FROM ASTON & JAMES 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper is a 100% recycled closed loop paper.

Closed loop (circular economy) refers to the process in which the paper is produced. The process is simple, rather than having your waste collected by an external party Aston & James collect your white paper waste for FREE, when they deliver your workplace essentials. That waste, alongside other customer waste, is sorted, bundled and shipped to the mill where it is turned into 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper. The 100% recycled paper is then delivered to Aston & James ready for when you order your paper; including greater price benefits for participating. Simple and environmental friendly – helping to avoid UK landfill!

Using 83% less water, 71% less energy, 100% less timber and 53% less CO2 compared to standard copier paper; 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper is the ideal choice for those wanting an excellent quality product which helps protect the UK environment, saves energy and precious resources.

Available in A4 80gsm, by the ream, box or pallet; 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper can be used on laser, copy and inkjet machines. Whiteness OBA level of the paper is CIE 135; the highest level of whiteness achievable without using optical bleaching agents.

How it works • Put your waste office paper into the special bins that Aston & James provide, at minimal cost • Aston & James will collect your paper for FREE when they deliver your stationery, reducing their carbon footprint • Your sorted paper, alongside other customers waste, is sent to the eco factory to be 100% recycled • You buy 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper back from Aston & James ...the loop then starts again

Compared to normal standard copier paper, 500 sheets of 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper results in the following savings:

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Then on to us, your stationery supplier.

And deliver it back to the distributor.

Before finally ending up in your stationery cupboard.

Instead of going in the bin and then on into landfill, all your office waste paper is collected in special Remarkable bins.

When we drop off your stationery, we pick up all your waste paper.

Environmental Impact 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper is made from the office paper waste Aston & James collects from you (it can be used and recycled up to 20 times). By participating and contributing you will be helping to avoid UK landfill (landfill tax will increase to £80 per tonne on 1st April 2014), protect the UK environment and save energy and resources. You will also receive a greater price benefit compared to those who do not supply their waste.

Contact Aston & James to find out more about this revolutionary service.

Alternatively request a paper sample today. Call 01993 706900 or email sales@aston-james.co.uk or visit Aston & James’ website http://www.aston-james.co.uk/115-5-star-remarkable-loop-paper.htm for more information.

Benefits to you • • • • • •

FREE waste paper collection, with price benefits for participating Enables you to tick CSR policies Helps you meet some of the CSR challenges Helps towards ISO14001 Meets UK regulation ‘your waste your responsibility’ TEA Reduces landfill costs (landfill tax will increase to £80 per tonne on 1st April 2014) • Positive contribution to environment • Enhances brand perception (to staff, suppliers and customers) The Mill Steinbeis is 60km from Hamburg; they use only 100% recovered paper to become the most advanced recovered paper processing plant in Europe. Their entire paper range has been awarded Blue Angel status since 1983. Blue Angel is the highest standard, where no optical bleaching agents are used in the process. 5 Star Remarkable Loop paper has been awarded the Blue Angel accreditation and EU label, amongst others. The whiteness of the paper is CIE 135 (whiteness OBA levels). Which is the highest level of whiteness achievable without using optical bleaching agents. UK Standard C Grade office paper is typically 145 to 150 CIE therefore 5 Star Remarkable Loop has an excellent whiteness without the use of environmentally harmful bleaching agents.

What next • Aston & James will collect your waste paper for FREE, when delivering your office supplies • Aston & James will recycle it • Aston & James will sell it back to you as office paper To be used again... and again, and again. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

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B4 MARKETING The Council’s tourism service has worked with tour operator International Friends, which specialises in organising trips for overseas visitors, to introduce ‘Downton Abbey’ guided tours from London.

LEAFLET AND

Tours are for small groups and will take visitors to Bampton, the scene of ‘Downton village’ used in all four series of the hit programme. Visitors will also be taken to other areas of the District, including Cogges, Witney, The Swan Inn at Swinbrook and The Old Forge, at Shilton, which have been used for filming, as well as local landmarks such as Blenheim Palace.

TOURS HELP CATER FOR DOWNTON DEMAND IN THE OXFORDSHIRE COTSWOLDS

A leaflet with film locations and information about the local area has been produced by the Council as part of the project and a designated ‘Downton Abbey’ page launched on its Oxfordshire Cotswolds website, www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org/downton, which promotes West Oxfordshire to visitors.

The tours and leaflet are part of the Council’s work to encourage tourism in West Oxfordshire and support local tourism businesses and the economy as a whole.

Hayley Beer who heads up the Tourism Service for the Oxfordshire Cotswolds and West Oxfordshire said; “We saw a real opportunity to capitalise on the world wide interest and demand there is for Downton Abbey and have been delighted to work with our local businesses and International Friends to deliver this new product offering that we are confident will attract significant visitors to the Oxfordshire Cotswolds”.

Cllr Richard Langridge, Cabinet Member with responsibility for tourism and local economy, said: “It’s hardly surprising, given its beautiful setting and scenery, that West Oxfordshire is often chosen as a film location and the success of Downton Abbey has really put the spotlight on the area.

Tours and a leaflet showing filming locations in West Oxfordshire of television drama Downton Abbey have been developed by the District Council to tap into the demand from overseas visitors.

“We are proud to not only support our tourism industry, but also work actively to encourage its growth and ensure West Oxfordshire is a must-see destination for people from across the world. By working with an experienced tour operator, we are tapping into a growing demand from overseas visitors and this is good news for the District.”

The fourth series of Downton Abbey has recently premiered in the US with a record 10.2 million viewers. The programme has also aired in China and Japan in the last 18 months.

The guided tours will be for small groups, up to 16 people, starting March. In Bampton, visitors will get to see: • Churchgate House, used as the Crawley family home • The old Grammar School building - ‘Downton’ hospital.

• St Mary’s Church, renamed as St Michael and All Angels, the set of various Downton weddings, funerals and christenings.

• Church View, which has appeared regularly throughout all four of the programme’s series and is home to two fictional pubs - The Grantham Arms and The Dog & Duck - as well as being the site of Downton Fair.

Jimmy Greene, Director of International Friends, said: “It’s been fantastic working with the team at Oxfordshire Cotswolds to launch a selection of Downton Abbey themed day trips and overnight tours. From day one the interest from trade and consumers has been exceptionally high, particularly from North America.”

Cllr Pauline Smith, of Bampton Parish Council, said: “We love having the Downton cast here and welcome this initiative by West Oxfordshire. It will enable us to share our lovely village and we look forward to welcoming new visitors. Although we no longer have the 13 pubs there were when Downton is set, we hope these tours will enable us to offer a traditional Cotswold hospitality.”

To view the Downton film locations leaflet and find out more about the Council’s tourism work see www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org. Alternatively, call 01993 861558.

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downton leaflet chris jackson at st mary's

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HOW SOCIABLE IS YOUR MEDIA? Social media offers new strategies that can help raise a company’s business presence. Blogs and similar media present a unique opportunity to put a positive image of a business into the public domain, as well as providing an innovative way of sharing information and knowledge with others.

But all the things that give social media its huge benefits also provide real danger to your brand.

Have a look at the shocking video about Domino’s Pizza on the news section of Henmans Freeth LLP’s website. Social media, in this case YouTube, must have heavily influenced the public’s perception of Domino’s Pizza.

Employers may want to direct their employees’ use of social media considering the impact it can have on their brand. As a result, there is a growing body of case law in the employment tribunals surrounding disputes that have arisen between companies and their employees due to the use of blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and comparable platforms.

There are some common themes emerging, which can be seen by looking at some recent tribunal decisions in relation to Facebook.

Asda Stores found themselves in trouble when a manager took to Facebook to declare it would make her happy to hit customers on the back of the head with a “pic axe” (sic). Asda, perhaps understandably, viewed the comments quite seriously – the comment had been made in the public domain and it hardly reflected the tone it wanted to hit (excuse the pun) in relation to customer service. Asda dismissed the manager summarily for gross misconduct. However, Asda later lost a claim for unfair dismissal brought by the employee.

In contrast, when Apple faced a claim from an employee, after they were dismissed summarily for making critical comments on Facebook about the company and its products, they were able to successfully defend it.

Mr Crisp, the former Apple employee, posted comments such as “jesusPhone” and “tomorrow is just another day that hopefully I will forget”. The latter posted a day before Apple used the tagline of “Tomorrow is another day. That you’ll never forget” in advance of the Beatles’ music being available on iTunes.

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So why were Asda and Apple treated differently by the employment tribunals?

Well…Asda couldn’t successfully defend the claim because the employee’s conduct fell into the “misconduct” category (rather than gross misconduct) of the examples given in Asda’s own internet policy – and the policy failed to say that such conduct would be viewed more seriously if it concerned a manager (although that was their later argument).

Asda Stores found “ themselves in trouble when a manager took to Facebook to declare it would make her happy to hit customers on the back of the head with a “pic axe”

”

But in Apple’s case, the tribunal was persuaded by how clear it had been about its “core value” being the protection of its image – Apple had hammered this home (again, excuse the pun) to employees in all its policies and training material.

To what extent can an employer control or access a former employee’s LinkedIn account?

Although a different issue to those faced by Asda and Apple, the question of who is the owner of social media accounts is also an issue that has come before the courts. A recent ruling has shed some light on the extent to which employers can control or access a former employee’s LinkedIn account to protect themselves upon an employee’s departures. The High Court granted an interim injunction to prevent a group of former employees, who had left their employer to set up a competing business, from making use of their former employer’s confidential information following the termination of their employment.

The ex-employees had been responsible during their employment for dealing with LinkedIn groups on behalf of their former employer. The groups

were operated for the employer’s benefit, promoted its business and the operation of the groups was carried out during working hours using the employer’s computers. The ex-employee who ran the groups continued to do so after the termination of her employment, but instead of continuing to promote her former employer’s interests via the groups, she used the groups to further the activities of the new competing venture set up by the group of ex-employees.

The impact of the interim injunction ordered by the Court was to effectively make the former employees hand over control of the LinkedIn groups to their former employer.

As the decision to grant an interim injunction is not the High Court’s final decision in the matter, which will be addressed if the case proceeds to trial, this case leaves questions unanswered as to when, and the extent to which, employers will be able to gain access and to control to social media accounts, such as LinkedIn, used by employees during the working relationship following its termination.

These disputes show the importance of training your staff to guide them on the use of social media.

These cases also make it clear that you should update your disciplinary and internet policies as well as ensuring you have a social media policy – setting out what is expected of your employees is the best way to lower the chance of your company going viral for all the wrong reasons. Employers should also take care to ensure that contracts of employment have been drafted with social media in mind and are consistent with any social media policies in place. Confidentiality clauses and posttermination restrictions can be tailored to ensure they deal with social media and ensure that any proprietary rights that may be linked to social media accounts or groups are assigned to the employer via express contractual provisions.

If you wish to receive a free social media policy template, please contact Melanie Slocombe, employment consultant at Henmans Freeth LLP, on 01865 781194 or email: melanie.slocombe@henmansfreeth.co.uk

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B4 ADVICE

James Symons employment solicitor

Melanie Slocombe employment consultant Christopher Sing employment partner

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news Dame Helen Ghosh addresses Oxfordshire’s Cultural Platform The Oxford Inspires platform provides the opportunity for cultural leaders to pose provocative questions about the role of culture in our society. Dame Helen was no exception as she explained her controversial decision to open the Big Brother house for two days to raise money for National Trust campaigns and her questioning whether many National Trust properties should be ‘preserved in aspic’ or whether the public, who the trust hold the properties for, would like to see different modern cultural approaches applied to heritage properties.

A lively question and answer session followed Dame Helen’s speech from the attendees - Oxfordshire’s captains of industry, University and local government leaders, managers of museums and country estates.

Dame Helen Ghosh Director General National Trust

The bi-annual Oxford Inspires Cultural Platform took place on 30 January, at the Ashmolean Museum, with guest speaker, Dame Helen Ghosh, Director General of the National Trust. The event was hosted in partnership with Oxford ASPIRE (a consortium of Oxford University Museums and the Oxfordshire County Museum Service funded by the Arts Council as a Major Partner Museum), and the Ashmolean Museum, Britain’s first public museum. Previous cultural platform speakers have included Mark Thompson, Director General of the BBC, Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture, Author, Phillip Pullman, Liberty Director, Shami Chakrabati and most recently BBC Arts Editor, Will Gompertz.

Dame Helen’s address raised a number of fascinating questions about the National Trust’s role in promoting and conserving British ‘culture’, ‘for ever, for everyone’ through its care for a diverse property portfolio including stately homes, grand estates, fragile countryside, farms, coastal paths and holiday homes – not to mention back-to-backs and tea rooms.

Dame Helen was preceded by a speech from Giles Ingram, CEO of Experience Oxfordshire, who stressed the importance of the National Trust’s role in both his own and all our lives. He also explained the developing role of Experience Oxfordshire, the umbrella organisation tasked with promoting ‘culture’ through Oxford Inspires and tourism through Visit Oxfordshire. This year’s themes, common to both organizations, are the commemoration of WWI and ‘Radical Thinking’ – in all its forms.

L-R: Richard Venables and Bob Price

Said Giles, “We are delighted that Dame Helen, who lives and was educated in Oxford, gave such an informative and stimulating talk which generated a wide variety of questions from the floor. Experience Oxfordshire works in partnership with the National Trust to showcase its treasures in Oxfordshire – from Jacobean Chastleton House to GreysCourt, an intimate family home.”

Giles Ingram’s speech can be downloaded from the website: www.visitoxfordshire.org/speech Susan McCormack, Head of Public Engagement at the Ashmolean Museum, said: “The Ashmolean was honoured to be the host institution for the first Cultural Platform of 2014, and to have welcomed so many members of the region’s arts, heritage, and business communities to the Museum. The event provided the opportunity to talk about Oxford’s museums and the contribution we make to the local tourist economy and the cultural life of Oxfordshire and the wider area.”

L-R: Jacqui Ibbotson, Giles Ingram and Jo Butler

Experience Oxfordshire is Oxfordshire’s development agency for culture and tourism. Created through the merger of Visit Oxfordshire and Oxford Inspires, the organisation is focused on creating an environment where cultural organisations and tourism businesses thrive. Our focus is to attract and retain visitors to the county and help create more cultural experiences for more people more often. We believe that a flourishing tourism sector will contribute to the wider Oxfordshire economy and that culture contributes, significantly, to individual, community and economic wellbeing.

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www.oxfordinspires.org

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MODERN ART OXFORD

Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s leading contemporary art spaces with an international reputation for innovative and ambitious programmes, adopting a playful but critical approach to the idea of the art institution. Celebrating the relevance of contemporary visual culture to society today, the programme is shaped by a belief in dialogue between contemporary art and ideas, and seeks to create new relationships between artists and audiences at the beginning of the 21st century.

With this in mind, the current exhibition (until 21 April) by young British artist Hannah Rickards draws attention to the way communities experience natural phenomena like weather systems and rare atmospheric conditions – from the Northern Lights to thunder and mirage. At the centre of the exhibition is the sound piece Thunder – a thunder-clap stretched and translated into a musical score and back again – which bellows out intermittently across the gallery, bringing the anxious environment of the world beyond the gallery walls into a charged experience of the art works within.

Rickards’ multi-sensory art focuses on the way in which experiences are both individual and communal and that art provides a space for experience and reflection; translating experiences that everyone can relate to into something inspiring.

Later in April a new exhibition by Irish artist Sean Lynch follows more historic lines of enquiry. A blow-by-blow account of stone carving in Oxford is an installation exploring the work of nineteenth century stone carvers John and James O'Shea, whose naturalistic renditions of animals and plants are still visible in locations in Oxford and Dublin.

From an artisan working class tradition, the O'Sheas completed a series of notable stone carvings in 1850s Dublin before relocating to Oxford to work on the new Museum of Natural History. While specific historical circumstances remain unclear, controversy surrounded the carvings of monkeys on the building's facade. Popular belief claimed the O'Sheas carved a rendition of Darwin's theory of evolution, a contentious subject within theological and social debate of the time.

Due to a resulting quarrel, a series of impromptu carvings were attempted by James O'Shea

A blow-by-blow account of stone carving in Oxford Photo: Sean Lynch

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intending to caricature the authorities of Oxford as parrots and owls; these are still visible at the site today.

collages of images and text critique the language of mass media and the role of Western consumerist culture.

Lynch introduces a variety of objects to the gallery spaces, including materials from the Pitt Rivers, signage from a fried chicken outlet in London, and a carving of a monkey completed by carver Stephen Burke in the style and ethos of the O’Sheas. These seemingly unrelated objects intertwine into a narrative around museum culture, public space and individual agency, as a slide projection with scripted voiceover argue for the ethnographical relevance of the O’Sheas to the identity of Oxford.

Occupying all of the gallery spaces at Modern Art Oxford, Kruger’s visceral and arresting works of video, installation, collage and photography present a compelling interrogation of the power relations of capitalism and globalized mass media. Her bold black, oblique slogans (“I shop therefore I am”; “Love for sale” and “Your body is a battleground”) deal with conformity, love, consumerism, the female condition and more.

Events around this exhibition will see Lynch and Pitt Rivers curator Dan Hicks take visitors on a speculative, historical walk between the Pitt Rivers Museum and Modern Art Oxford reflecting on the architectural, social and cultural histories encountered along the route. Easter weekend sees the gallery’s Yard space transformed into a stone masons workshop as a group of stone carvers create a collaborative work for the exhibition.

Coming up In early May a new annual five week programme, Test Run will see performance, artists’ projects, work in progress and discussion take over our Upper Galleries, previewing themes and ideas from the upcoming exhibitions programme at Modern Art Oxford.

This first edition of Test Run will focus on the act of making as a craft, way of thinking, industrial process and political engagement.

From 27 June, Modern Art Oxford presents a major solo exhibition of new and recent work by the internationally acclaimed artist, Barbara Kruger.

Instantly recognizable and with a career that spans over four decades, Kruger’s graphic, large-scale

One not to miss, so why not sign up to the gallery’s e-bulletin list online to receive your invitation to the preview.

Alongside this intriguing set of exhibitions, the Modern Art Oxford also hosts a contemporary gift shop that features unique jewelry, children’s art selection, catalogues and design-led homewares.

The family-friendly café offers a fresh, healthy menu with delicious home-made cakes accompanied by either DaVinci coffee or an array of teas. Also on offer are wines and artisan beer to accompany evening events and don’t forget the free wi-fi while exploring the exhibitions.

To find out more about what the gallery is up to check out www.modernartoxford.org.uk or come and visit us at 30 Pembroke St in the centre of Oxford. We regularly programme new events including live performance, talks and films. Visit our website for complete, up to date listings and booking information or follow us on Twitter and Facebook. www.modernartoxford.org.uk @mao_gallery 30 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP

Barbara Kruger - Don’t Shoot.

Photo: Courtesy Sprüth Magers Berlin & London

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B4 EVENTS

FORTHCOMING On until 21 April - Hannah Rickards To enable me to fix my attention on any one of these symbols I was to imagine that I was looking at the colours as I might see them on a moving picture screen.

2 May – 8 June - Test Run 12 April – 8 June - Sean Lynch A blow-by-blow account of stone carving in Oxford 28 June – 31 August - Barbara Kruger Hannah Rickards Installation image of ...a legend, it, it sounds like a legend...

Upper Gallery, Modern Art Oxford February 2014. Photo: Andy Stagg

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OXFORD INNOVATION

I'm met in reception by Margaret Hewitt, Director of Oxford Centre for Innovation ‘OCFI’, which is a managed-office facility located next to the Castle Mound, right in the heart of Oxford. As Centre Director, Margaret is in charge of meeting potential tenants to explain how OCFI can help their companies to grow. Matthew Wright reports for B4 Magazine.

OCFI is not just a serviced office - it is a place which nurtures businesses, providing practical support to enable companies to grow. It is the perfect solution for start-up and fast-growing knowledge based companies.

right environment for small and medium businesses to grow. I asked Margaret to explain this in some more detail:

A managed-office solution for 1-30 employees OCFI is managed by Oxford Innovation as part of a network of 21 centres across the UK. The centre currently houses 33 companies in 19,500 sq ft, spread over 5 floors and provides: [further details can be found on ocfi.co.uk and oxin-centres.co.uk]

companies ourselves before they become tenants in OCFI, we understand their needs, and can respond to their changing requirements

• Prime location, excellent transport links, and (most unusually for Oxford) visitor parking right outside the building; • Fully-serviced office space suitable for 1 to 30 employees; • Virtual offices • Meeting rooms • High-speed broadband • Receptionists offering a professional front of house service However, providing office space is only part of what OCFI does - it is much more about creating the

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“By meeting all the

afternoon. Everybody knows us – we’re a team and we're all very accessible.

By meeting all the companies ourselves before they become tenants in OCFI, we understand their needs, and can respond to their changing requirements, which in the fast-growing knowledge based sector, can change very quickly indeed!

“Could you give us an example of how you’ve responded to a tenant’s changing needs?”

“What do you think makes your offices unique here at OCFI?”

Let's start with one of the bigger companies here Journl Ltd journl.com, a web-app development company. They moved in here shortly after we opened in March 2011, into one of our smallest offices; 1 room for 2 people. As they've grown though, they've taken on more space, and recently moved into one of our largest offices, a suite housing up to17 people.

We like to think that we go far beyond what a ‘normal’ landlord would do. We're a small team here, but with a lot of experience. There is myself, Charlie the Assistant Centre Manager who is in charge of day-to-day operations, and 2 receptionists - Rose in the morning, and Sam in the

Although our occupancy rates are very high, we regularly talk to our tenants, to understand when they might need more office space. So, in Journal’s case, knowing which space would be coming available enabled us to re-house them in OCFI as they grew and took on more staff.

”

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

LtoR: Margaret Hewitt, Sandie Alcock, Tom Hanney and Stephanie Henwood. Other Oxfordshire centres managed by Oxford Innovation in Bicester, Upper Heyford, Witney, Culham and Harwell.

Oxford Innovation Services ‘OIS’ – a division of Oxford Innovation Limited

we're just in the process of finalising our 2014 programme!

The strapline on OIS’s website is “We’re here to help businesses reach their full potential”.

“You mentioned raising finance – that must be difficult, especially given the difficult economic climate?”

So, if OCFI provides the solid base, OIS provides the impetus.

“What practical support can a small business expect?”

Where do I begin....I suppose at the beginning is as good a place as any - 'Starting a Business'. We help to get start-ups going, helping them along with 1:1 coaching, group workshops, and finance raising.

We have a network of like-minded entrepreneurs here at the OCFI, so we aim to put on networking events, seminars, and workshops that are relevant to the companies here. For example, our most recent seminar was from an outside expert on the subject of cloud-based computing.

We find people are always keen to obtain exposure to the sort of companies we have here, so there is a lot of outside demand to come and speak here,

Yes, raising bank financing is always a challenge for small businesses, but we help them to prepare properly for that, both internally with business planning workshops, and externally, using outside expert help.

Remember though, there are also other sources of non-bank finance out there, especially for growth companies Oxford Innovation Ltd manage 3 Investment networks; Oxford Investment Opportunity Network, Thames Valley Investment Network, and Oxford Early Investments – together, these networks have contributed over £7m in funding.

“You also mentioned 1:1 coaching - how can small businesses afford that?”

about them first.

There is a network of business coaches, who are all part of the Growth Accelerator service, and Oxford Innovation Ltd helps to match the right coach to the right business. With Government coinvesting in the growth of these businesses and making a major contribution towards the overall cost, SMEs pay only a one-off fixed fee.

“What help can you provide for companies looking to grow not just domestically, but internationally?”

The companies here at OCFI tend to be in fastgrowing industries, with lots of export potential. For example, last month Enterprise Europe Network ran a well-attended breakfast meeting, to talk about how companies could access European funding & finance. ocfi.co.uk oxin-centres.co.uk

As you've hopefully seen, OCFI is a great hub, and consequently, if there are grants out there, we hear

“We have a network of like-minded entrepreneurs here at the OCFI, so we aim to put on networking events, seminars, and workshops that are relevant to the companies here

”

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We can guide you safely through the minefield Being an Employer can feel like a risky business The MGroup have the expertise to ensure that you comply with challenges in taxation and pension legislation

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B4 FINANCE

ARE YOU READY FOR AUTO ENROLMENT? 1 April 2014 marked the turn of another group of UK employers to help their workforce save for retirement.

The Government estimates that currently about seven million people aren’t saving enough for their retirement.

As a result, it is (and has been) putting the responsibility on employers to help encourage more people to save.

The Government are doing so by requiring all employers to automatically enrol ‘eligible employees’ into a ‘qualifying pension scheme’. For larger Employers, this requirement has been in place since 2012, however, the regime will ultimately impact on the smallest of businesses, and by 2017, will demand all Employers comply with the reforms.

Eventually, all Employers will be required to contribute a minimum of 3% of each employee’s ‘qualifying earnings’. Every employee will be required to add their own 4% contribution and 1% tax relief will also be added to meet a minimum 8% contribution. However, the minimum contributions will be

if you are a small business this “ requirement is yet another hurdle to overcome and many owners may be wondering how this will impact on them

”

phased in, rising from 1% initially to 2% in October 2017 and 3% a year later.

The Government recognise that these reforms place Employers at the very heart of pension provision, and can only succeed with their support. To aid the transition and to ensure maximum impact and minimum disruption to Employers, it is recommended that employers prepare for these reforms in advance and key measures are in place designed to minimise the burden on Employers.

Consequently, and particularly if you are a small business this requirement is yet another hurdle to overcome and many owners may be wondering how this will impact on them. After all, for most Employers, we are still at the early stages of recovery of what has become one of the worst recessions ever recorded and if a Pension Scheme isn’t something you have in place or are

John puts in

Employer puts in

unsure of the steps you need to take to implement one, this can be a very daunting time.

However, there is help at hand and many businesses owners will be looking to source and recruit help with the implementation and planning of the reform to ensure the transition will be as smooth and as stress free as possible.

Qualified Accountant and Partner, Darren Green at The M Group, indicates that the impact of these reforms can be managed and with proper planning, steps can be put in place alongside existing remuneration strategies, he quotes “if auto enrolment is approached in the right way, then Employers can reduce the cost burden by phasing in contributions as part of an Employees ‘remuneration package’ which will help manage the cost burden but beware of trying to reduce the impact by encouraging employees to ‘Opt out’ as this is strictly not permitted and will result in a fine!”

So, in the long run, if you are a small, medium or large Employer, you will be required to automatically enrol all ‘eligible employees’ into a ‘qualifying pension scheme’ as a compulsory measure by 2017. Ultimately, this is something that will affect the whole business and demands a professional approach with financial and remuneration planning at the forefront to help reduce the impact of these reforms on your business. Several steps will need to be carried out and put in place including checking your ‘staging date’ (the date when Auto Enrolment compliance is required), assessing the financial impact on your business, deciding the scheme with which to use (your existing scheme, if you have one, may be eligible) and finally ensure that you communicate with your staff.

For more information and help with your financial planning, you can contact Darren Green, Partner at The M Group on 01865 552925. www.themgroup.co.uk

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£80

Going into John’s pension

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UNEARTHING THE EXPERTS’ STORIES

EMMA JEWSON

JON WESTERMAN

Senior Associate Planning & Development

Associate Planning

HOW MANY YEARS' SERVICE AT CJ One year with 25 years’ in property

HOW MANY YEARS' SERVICE AT CJ 3 months with nearly 20 years’ public and private sector experience across Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL CLIENT They vary from private individuals to national house-builders, charities to public sector bodies BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR CLIENT We seek to provide and implement advice to maximise our clients’ assets through the development process. Collaboration with our planning & new homes colleagues ensures that proposed development is financially viable, deliverable and able to generate best value WHAT'S THE MOST UNUSUAL THING YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR JOB? The Diamond Synchrotron at Harwell - the locally based and nationally significant “Big Science” facility. It covers an area of five football pitches and its design and physical scale is so impressive. I led the commercial agency instruction at Harwell and Diamond was an important facility to attract occupiers to the wider park AND FINALLY, WHAT YOU'VE LEARNT? “Attention to detail”, and don’t ever give in to peer pressure. Basic rules even if the outcome of a job isn’t what the client necessarily wants to hear

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DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL CLIENT Clients vary from national and regional house builders, rural estates and landowners BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR CLIENT I guide clients through the planning process and unlock the development potential of sites, from the preparation of site appraisals and development briefs, undertaking community engagement, through to the submission and management of planning applications and the delivery of projects. Recent projects include residential, retail, hotel & leisure developments, and the provision of Extra Care Housing. I have a particular expertise dealing with projects involving heritage assets and I am currently working with a number of rural estates on diversification schemes WHAT'S THE MOST UNUSUAL THING YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR JOB? The Rectorial Tithe Barn in Enstone, a Grade II* listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. What were thought to be medieval fish ponds were discovered to be part of the famous Enstone Water Gardens - destroyed during Cromwell's rule after the Civil War. In terms of heritage assets, this one doesn’t get more sensitive AND FINALLY, WHAT YOU'VE LEARNT? Honesty – never give anybody false hope

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

Meet four more of Carter Jonas’ Oxford office’s experts as we unearth their stories, ranging from rural land to planning, and development to new homes. www.carterjonas.co.uk

CLAIRE JOHNSON

STEVEN McLAUGHLIN

New Homes Sales Manager New Homes

Partner, Head of Valuation, Rural Division Rural

HOW MANY YEARS' SERVICE AT CJ Five, with 18 years in property

HOW MANY YEARS' SERVICE AT CJ Four, with 14 years in property

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL CLIENT Two types: National and local Developers in Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Berkshire who need the services of our dedicated new homes team to market and sell their sites, plus buyers who are looking to move to a new home

DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL CLIENT No such thing, could be corporate lawyers, banks, institutional landowners or farmers

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR CLIENT We offer a full sales and marketing service to our developers, covering market appraisals of sites, providing PR and marketing ideas to promote new homes, carrying out viewings, plus home demonstrations and handovers to buyers on completion. I also spend a lot of time seeking potential new sites with or without planning and identifying agent free sites where we may be able to win new business WHAT'S THE MOST UNUSUAL THING YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR JOB? Discovering piles of leather gloves, antique glove moulds and sewing machines in the roof space of an old glove factory in Witney that was being converted into apartments. They were dated back to 1830 and now sit in the local museum

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR CLIENT We aim to identify opportunities for our clients to add value, sometimes through the planning system, sometimes with renewable energy projects taking advantage of Government incentives, sometimes working with other professionals to ensure property is held in a tax-efficient manner WHAT'S THE MOST UNUSUAL THING YOU'VE SEEN IN YOUR JOB? Being asked to value my local pub – a tall order for any beer drinker!

AND FINALLY, WHAT YOU'VE LEARNT? We’re all used to a world in which we caveat our advice with assumptions, but if relying on material facts, don’t take anyone’s word for it – check it yourself.

AND FINALLY, WHAT YOU'VE LEARNT? Never over promise when it comes to providing a build completion date to a buyer. There are so many factors involved in developers achieving their build schedules, from supply of materials to the English weather!

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B4 SERVICES

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS To celebrate 7 years of successful trading and growth, Oxford Fine Dining has recently moved into new premises bringing together the office and a brand new event kitchen. Sue Randall MD of Oxford Fine Dining tells B4 about the journey from the seed of an idea to an established event caterer.

The paint was barely dry on the walls and the builders had just put the finishing touches to the new kitchen when the chefs moved in and started to prepare canapés for 150 people, a dinner for 70, a hot fork buffet for 45 plus a sandwich lunch for 40. Such is the way that event catering works – with multiple events on a day there’s no time to loose. But it’s not always been this busy at Oxford Fine Dining...

In 2013, OFD catered for weddings, balls, dinners, lunches, breakfasts, canapé receptions, provided hot and cold buffets for conferences, afternoon teas and morning coffees. They are approved caterers for a number of Oxford’s prestigious venues including Rhodes House, Bodeian Library, Oxford University Natural History Museum, Yarnton Manor and the Cotswold Organic Estate at Lew. They also work closely with many of the county’s leading marquee companies, event planners and corporate clients. And how have they built this business? “On reputation.” answers Sue. “Oxford Fine Dining has developed a good reputation 76

amongst corporate and private clients for tailor made catering solutions with high quality food and service. Whatever the size, the venue or the occasion, Oxford Fine Dining has a wealth of experience that makes each event a success and that is what is really driving the business forward.”

Oxford Fine Dining was founded in 2007 by Sue Randall, Managing Director, and Martin Bridgeman, Executive Head Chef, who worked together as General Manager and Head Chef at the Four Pillars Hotel Group before they set up OFD. Sue and Martin recognised a gap in the market for a high end event caterer with the quality of food that you would find in a good restaurant, but produced in quantity for events, hence the name Oxford Fine Dining. Sue and Martin are supported by Mel Cooper‚ Operations Manager, who joined in 2009 and between the three of them they have over 40 years’ experience in the catering industry.

Says Sue, “Our professionalism and passion for quality food and service excellence make us the

perfect team. We understand that attention to detail every step of the way is key to a successful event.

We take great pride in every meal we serve, everything is freshly made on the premises, ingredients are carefully chosen locally and our professional staff offer friendly, efficient, yet discreet service. Our Event Manager manages each of our events from start to finish, making sure that every party runs smoothly, that the food delights and that the service is exemplary.”

Sue admits that they have learnt lots about running a business along the way. “When we first started OFD our business plan was 24 pages long and targeted at the bank. We now have a much more concise plan that we use as a practical driver for growing the business. Each quarter we refer to the plan and review our figures and activities against it.

It is a working document that changes as we grow and as the market evolves. This also includes reviewing and modifying our marketing and business development strategies.”

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M EET

THE TEAM Sue Randall, MD, (seated middle) and Mel Cooper, Operations Manager, (standing middle) with some of the OFD waiting staff.

From Martin’s perspective, his reputation is based on the quality of the food that his team of chefs produces. He constantly researches recipes and styles in order to ensure that the menus offer excellence and met the firm’s initial objective for ‘fine dining’. “We use locally sourced ingredients to come up with imaginative dishes for the menus.

Using seasonal produce and adapting recipes makes life in the kitchen exciting.” says Martin.

Presentation is key and OFD uses a range of modern crockery that show the dishes off. “The plates are a blank canvas for the food and even though we might be sending out 300 dishes at a time, each one needs to have beautifully presented food so that the guests are visually stimulated before they eat it.”

Oxford Fine Dining aims to make guests feel that they have been to an outstanding event that far exceeded their initial expectations, which includes not just the food that they eat, but also the table settings, the attention to detail that Oxford Fine Dining provides, the appearance and service of the

throughout, all members of staff were friendly, polite and respectful. With Mel overseeing the event, ensuring that wine glasses were topped up and guests happy, the lunch went without a hitch.”

“Judging by the lovely post event comments, cards, letters and emails we receive, OFD is doing a pretty good job.” says Sue. New corporate business, weddings and events often come as a result of a referral from a past customer. “We were recently asked to cater for the grand reopening of the Oxford University Natural History Museum on the recommendation of another venue, who had been delighted with the way we run events from start to finish.”

Now that OFD has new premises it’s onwards and upwards! The new kitchen is fully equipped with the very latest food preparation technology and storage. There are also taste testing facilities for brides and grooms to come and sample their chosen menus, cutlery and crockery to make sure that they are completely happy with their choices.

Executive Head Chef Martin Bridgeman

“Our professionalism and passion for quality food and service excellence make us the perfect team. We understand that attention to detail every step of the way is key to the success of every event.

”

Sue Randall - Managing Director, Oxford Fine Dining

staff. “As for event organisers, we like them to receive the accolade from their guests for having put on a good event, by supporting them with pre and post event support to make their job as straightforward and stress free as possible.” says Mel who manages the events, ensuring that everything goes smoothly on the day.

B4’s Richard Rosser can vouch for this as OFD catered for their Christmas lunch at the Museum of Modern Art last December. “Oxford Fine Dining provided us with excellent service and superb food at the last B4 Christmas lunch. Attentive www.b4-business.com

The new much larger offices in Weston on the Green also have a meeting room that is available for hire by businesses wanting a private board or seminar room – with exceptional standards of catering, of course!

If you have an event planned, contact us to find out how we can work with you to ensure it is an amazing success. Call Sue on 01865 728240 or email enquiries@oxfordfinedining.co.uk www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

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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 R&R In this fine city bursting with history, heritage and art, one can find culture on every street and in every corner.

Not surprisingly the words ‘cultural’ and ‘commerce’ are rarely juxtaposed but this is not reflective of the relationship between the two, particularly in the city of Oxford and there can be no better example of how culture and commerce work so successfully well together as at Oxford Castle Quarter.

Once home to the Norman Oxford Castle, much of the castle was destroyed during the English Civil War and latterly the site was developed and used as the infamous HM Oxford Prison.

These historic buildings have been sympathetically and creatively restored and, as such, have shaped the development and reformation of Oxford Castle Quarter as it stands today, including St George's Tower and the Castle Mound. The complete story of Oxford Castle Quarter's secrets and history can be fully explored in the site’s ever popular and exciting animated visitor attraction, Oxford Castle Unlocked.

by the Trevor Osborne Property Group which was responsible for the regeneration of the Oxford Castle Quarter site amongst other successful developments across the United Kingdom.

Founded in 1973, The Trevor Osborne Property Group undertakes high quality projects involving both historic buildings and local authority partnerships, with an emphasis on mixed use environments.

Whilst it is clear that an alliance between cultural and commercial venues exists, the questions is, what, if anything does it achieve? ‘The answer’, argues Sam Pace, ‘is clear; a hotbed for tourism.’

Visit Britain state that culture and heritage matters to tourism: 57% of respondents from 20 countries agreed that history and culture are strong influences on their choice of holiday destination (only 15% disagreed), so it is clear that destinations excelling in this area are likely to be high on travellers’ consideration lists.

The Oxford Castle Quarter also boasts a diverse and exciting hub of bars and restaurants including Cafe 1071, Prezzo, La Tasca, The Big Bang, Pizza Express, 1855 Wine Bar and Bistro, The Swan & Castle, and The Living Room as well as the stunning Malmaison hotel; cleverly transformed from the original prison to this unique and much acclaimed boutique hotel.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has recently announced new research showing that heritage-based tourism is now worth £26.4bn to the UK economy, which comes in at a staggering £5.8bn higher than the previous estimate published 2010. The new report also suggests that heritage is playing an increasingly important part in the choices of Brits who decide to stay in the UK for their holiday – over a quarter of all UK holiday activities undertaken by UK residents now involve heritage.

In addition the Castle Quarter is also home to the O3 Gallery and shop, a high quality contemporary art space offering a dynamic programme of year round

Heritage tourism encompasses elements of living culture, history, and natural history of place that communities value and steward for the future. These elements are

OXFORD CASTLE QUARTER Everyone who visits Oxford Castle Quarter will be impressed by how much this stunning mixed use heritage site has to offer, it really does have something for everyone - right in the heart of Oxford’s bustling and beautiful city centre.

“The diversity within Oxford Castle

Quarter’s mixed use environment reflects both the rich culture and thriving economy of Oxford” exhibitions and affordable, original art, cards and gifts.

“The diversity within Oxford Castle Quarter’s mixed use environment reflects both the rich culture and thriving economy of Oxford,” explains Sam Pace, Operations Manager at Oxford Castle Quarter. “In many ways Oxford Castle Quarter is the embodiment of the intrinsic relationship between culture and commerce which exists within our thriving city, of which I am extremely proud.”

very specific to a community or region and can contribute to pride, stability, growth, and economic development.

Oxford Castle Quarter is an example of how businesses do not need to compromise their cultural integrity to be successful; in fact the opposite is true.

Combining commercial enterprise with the arts and heritage is key to economic success. www.oxfordcastlequarter.com

This is a relationship which is embraced www.b4-business.com

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THE OXFORD HOTEL Ian Francis, Principal at City of Oxford College, and partner Linda Francis visited The Oxford Hotel to give us a fresh look at this luxurious, AA Rosette winning hotel. With great transport links into Oxford, The Oxford Hotel is the ideal place to stay when exploring Oxford and the surrounding area.

The Oxford Hotel is a large hotel with some 160+ bedrooms and extensive function and conference facilities attracting a midweek business clientele. We stayed at the Oxford Hotel for a post-Christmas weekend leisure stay on the 4th January. We missed the Christmas and new-year festivities and enjoyed a calm and relaxing stay. Other guests at the hotel included couples and small parties all seemingly also enjoying a weekend leisure break.

The hotel is well located, just two miles from the centre of Oxford, and easily accessed from the M40 and A34 road networks. Parking was free and plenty of it and when we entered the hotel out of the gusting wind and rain (you may recall the weather in early January) the foyer, bedecked with Christmas tree and decorations, was warm, bright, modern and spacious, The reception staff were polite and welcoming and we were able to check in immediately even though we were early.

Our room was spacious and pristine, with neutral

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decor and red and gold soft furnishings. We had a Premium double room, with an especially comfortable king-size bed and finishing touches of bathrobes slippers and chocolates. The bathroom was gleaming and tastefully finished.

There is a small health and leisure club available to hotel guests and members. The pool is small but delightful and unusually shaped and was pleased to discover that there was both a steam room and a sauna as my preference is definitely the hydrating heat of the steam room. We used the gym, which was well equipped with high spec. equipment.

The ambience in the health and leisure club was relaxed and informal and staff were approachable and personable. This small club had none of the feel of the large impersonal facilities that often feature in large corporate organisations.

Included in the health and leisure facility are the Beauty Rooms. There is a good selection of treatments available for men and women using Decleor therapeutic skincare products. Sadly, there

were no appointments available during our stay but I would definitely visit for a treatment in future.

“The ambience in the health and leisure club was relaxed and informal and staff were approachable and personable. This small club had none of the feel of the large impersonal facilities that often feature in large corporate organisations

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Walking and jogging routes are available for those wishing to leave the treadmill behind and venture outside. The River Thames is close by and if you

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B4 R&R

walk just a quarter of a mile you will find yourself in the village of Wolvercote where you can wander around the nature reserve and Port Meadow, or visit one of two local pubs. The Trout, which was famously used as a location in an episode of Inspector Morse, nestles on the bank of the river Thames with a spectacular weir in full view.

We chose a simple club sandwich lunch from the all-day a la carte bar menu. In the evening we dined in the Medio restaurant which was modern and simple with clear lines and neutral decor. The service was courteous, friendly and attentive without being intrusive. The menu was 5, 5 and 5 format and we started with salmon fish cake with plum sauce, mushroom soup and croutons. For our main course we opted for fillet of sea bass with mussel sauce and new potatoes, and a braised feather blade of beef, mustard mash with red wine sauce and baby onions.

The wine menu was well presented with good descriptive information. It offered an extensive selection of wines from around the world, with an excellent choice of both red and white. A good

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number of the wines were available by the carafe and glass which meant we could have a wine of choice with each course without waste or compromise.

“Presentation of the food was thoughtful and without fuss. Displayed on contrasting, plain white crockery the structure and natural colour of the food was emphasised

”

For dessert we enjoyed a refreshing raspberry posset and a honeyed panacotta with fruit compote accompanied by a lovely Sauvignon dessert wine with hints of vanilla and honey.

crockery the structure and natural colour of the food was emphasised.

Throughout our stay and in all areas of the hotel the service was consistently good and the staff were friendly and responsive.

You could spend a weekend in this hotel without stepping outside. Just relax and enjoy the food, leisure and beauty rooms and leave feeling completely rested. Or, combine it with a trip into Oxford and immerse yourself in the heritage of the famous university city and you will undoubtedly be amazed at the jewel that is Oxford. With the Oxford Hotel’s excellent proximity to the centre of Oxford and the regular and direct bus service close by, this an ideal base from which to explore the city of Oxford and experience a cultural extravaganza. www.pumahotels.co.uk/hotels/the-oxfordhotel

Presentation of the food was thoughtful and without fuss. Displayed on contrasting, plain white

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L-R: Mike Bridgman (LPD) and Stephen Kuester (R&D) at Woodstock

Jarl Severn, Managing Director of Owen Mumford Ltd

The new hi-tech Chipping Norton site

The ever successful Unistik® 3

Chipping Norton - a modern building for 21st century manufacturing As well as own-label products, Owen Mumford operates a highly successful OEM (original equipment manufacture) business, producing custom devices for pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies and to meet anticipated demand over the next few years, a significant increase in moulding capacity was required at the Chipping Norton site where products for some OEM partners are made. The new site became fully operational from January 2014 and boasts an impressive hitech manufacturing facility.

One of the priorities for the company was the installation of an independent Cleanroom for injection moulding and assembly. Normally, this would be based on the conversion of an existing space and built within the “host” building but Modestino Graziano, Group Operations Director says that while this works for some businesses, it wasn’t right for Owen Mumford. He explained, “I believe what we’ve achieved is simply ‘best in class’ because the host building and Cleanroom are one so that there is no compromise on integrity and all manufacturing and assembly work are carried out 84

within the same space, establishing a new frontier in Cleanroom manufacturing.”

“Energy conservation at the Chipping Norton site was always a priority with solar panels added to support high electricity demands

”

Environmentally friendly Energy conservation at the Chipping Norton site was always a priority with solar panels added to support high electricity demands for the moulding machines as well as providing heated water for the washrooms. In addition, a grey water system has been installed to recycle rainwater from the roof for flushing.

Hi-tech manufacturing and assembly at Woodstock At Woodstock (the company’s Head Office and original manufacturing base), another expansion project has been taking place; this time to support the increasing demand for Unistik® 3, one of Owen Mumford’s most successful products.

Increasing manufacturing capacity at Woodstock required a major reorganisation of the site to make the best use of existing space ready for the arrival of new hi-tech manufacturing and assembly equipment. This includes an all-electric moulding machine capable of producing a third of a million parts per day and a new hi-tech assembly machine.

Mike Bridgman, General Manager of the Lancet Production Division, who has played a key role in the expansion project said, “We are confident that this bold investment in the most advanced technology available will reap rewards as we can continue to offer customers first-class engineering in both injection moulding and assembly. The increase in Woodstock’s overall capacity will help us meet future customer orders, enabling Owen Mumford to grow market share within the singleuse lancing device market.” www.b4-business.com

B4 SPOTLIGHT

OWEN MUMFORD INVESTS IN HI-TECH MANUFACTURING Owen Mumford, Oxfordshire’s Business of the Year 2013 has been investing in its manufacturing sites. As diabetes reaches unprecedented levels worldwide1, global demand for the company’s range of specialist medical devices has significantly increased, which has led to the company progressing a substantial expansion programme at its Chipping Norton and Woodstock sites.

New hi-tech machinery at Woodstock. Pictured, Steve Haynes, Production Support Engineer

“As one of the UK’s

biggest medical device manufacturers, it’s essential we attract highly skilled and talented people to help us retain and grow the business

”

Maintaining a competitive edge Since the company was founded in 1952, innovation has played a key role in its success and in an industry that is constantly changing it is essential to stay ahead of the curve. To that end, Research and Development (R&D) has always been fundamental to the business and an upgrade of the R&D department at Woodstock was another important element of the company's investment programme.

A new hi-spec development laboratory has been built providing a world-class facility to meet new and future international regulatory standards and a state of the art 3D printing machine with system upgrades for Computer Aided Design and Modelling and Simulation Tools have all contributed to enhancing the department’s capabilities.

Andy Vardé, Director of Research and Development said the investment was an integral part of Owen Mumford’s strategic plan. “We are always looking to drive the next “big idea” in healthcare, one that will keep us ahead of competitors. I am confident that our investment in R&D will pay dividends as we continue to build on the strengths of this www.b4-business.com

outstanding facility to develop world beating products and services for our customers around the world.”

“We are always

looking to drive the next “big idea” in healthcare, one that will keep us ahead of competitors” One of the UK’s top exporters, Owen Mumford sells nearly 90% of its products outside of the UK and last year restructured its global business activities with five new regional management structures to drive the business in both the company’s direct markets (USA, UK, France, Germany and China) and other territories where Owen Mumford operates through distributors.

Jarl Severn, Managing Director said: “The Company’s investment in global strategic marketing will help us open up new markets and business segments worldwide and our recent investment in manufacturing underlines our commitment to customers and associates alike.

As one of the UK’s biggest medical device manufacturers, it’s essential we continue to attract highly skilled and talented people to help us retain business as well as drive growth. We achieved outstanding sales results last year and I am confident the important business decisions taken in 2013 will help us achieve Owen Mumford’s ambitious 2020 VISION.” Tel: 01993 812021 www.owenmumford.com 1 WHO Fact sheet N°312 March 2013 www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs312/en/

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THE UNBEATABLES Producing cinema films at any time is a huge challenge. The whole creative and financial enterprise is like a massive military style operation. Rights to be acquired and copyright cleared; scripts commissioned, written, rewritten and rewritten again; a director secured, stars lured, lunched and landed; credits negotiated, egos massaged and endured; finance raised, secured and deposited; insurances sorted; distribution agreements entered into and advertising budgets planned, TV campaigns argued over, merchandising opportunities explored; several hundred amazing creative and craft crew assembled including camera people, composers, musicians, designers, sound recordists, editors, production managers, location managers, sparks, painters, chippies, nurses, drivers, stuntmen and many more.

Given this is what, among many other things, a producer does it was galling to hear from my son’s school that when asked exactly what Daddy did he replied “lunch”!

I have been responsible for over fifty films in my career. Some have been memorable but many less so but with a few winning prestigious awards. I have worked with some of the most wonderful

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actors as well as some of the most egocentric over paid plonkers on the planet. In the first category these have included Deborah Kerr, Leonardo di Caprio, Jacqueline Bisset, Fernando Rey, Diana Rigg, Gary Oldman, Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman.

Those in the second category remain shameless and will stay nameless.

The Unbeatables is like nothing I have ever done before. A 3D animated picture in the mold of Toy Story, it had started life about five years ago when a young producer named Gastón Gorali approached the director Juan José Campanella with a short story about an arrogant soccer star, written

by Roberto Fontanarrosa. Intrigued by the story, and the claim that an animated feature based on it could be made for just two million dollars, Campanella agreed to direct and his and my long term film partner Jorge Estrada Mora agreed to finance it. Jorge, whose day job is as a highly successful oil executive, had financed enough films to know that this was probably a bit ambitious. He guessed that US$7 million was nearer the mark. I was blown away by the first material I was sent and told Jorge, who I had first worked with in 1991 that he could count us in immediately.

So now, at a cost of US$23m things have

transformed somewhat. Suffice it to say that following the reception of the film everyone feels very positive indeed. There have been moments when they didn't!

In a piece of perfect timing for the production, two years after signing up to do the film Campanella won an Academy Award for his film The Secret in their Eyes. This was his third Oscar nomination and it suddenly made him a very hot ticket in Hollywood. Luckily for us he resisted the blandishments of tinsel town and stuck with Foosball as it was then called.

My task, which I chose to accept, was to produce the UK version of the film. The film was to be recorded in Spanish and English. Despite having over 30 years’ experience as a film producer nothing had prepared me for the challenge of this film. To put the process in some context, it takes a day on a conventional movie to produce between 3 and 5 minutes of screen time. On this kind of film it takes 20 hours to render one frame of film.

And there are 24 frames per second! Sometimes as little as 3 seconds of screen time is achieved in a week.

Our task here was especially tortuous because we

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B4 SPOTLIGHT

Rupert Grint plays “The Unbeatables” hero Amadeo, a shy table soccer genius whose table soccer figures come alive to help him save his local town and win his childhood sweetheart, both threatened by a vain preening soccer divo in a new film co-produced by Oxford film maker Victor Glynn. The film has already taken US$25 million in South America and won a Goya for Best Animated Picture in Spain. It will be opening in the UK and the USA in August and has an Oxford Charity premiere planned for May. had to write an English script that would both lip-sync to a picture that had been motion captured in Spanish and be idiomatically acceptable in this market. Whilst the main story is the same, there are situations and dialogues that would cause offence here but in BA are hysterically funny. Let us just say that they are less PC than us. However, the quality

“Despite having over

30 years’ experience as a film producer nothing had prepared me for the challenge of this film.

”

of the picture which was made in downtown Buenos Aires is equal to that of Pixar or DreamWorks and would have cost at least US$80m if made in the USA. To aid this process I called upon the talents of various people including my old TV commercials colleague David Burgess, together some local writers. Richard O Smith in particular, a local scribe

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who is passionate about the beautiful game and has written thousands of gags for Radio and TV has provided some wonderfully funny dialogue for the film. It really feels like a British film with all this talent and skilful writing. Even the very clever score is performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.

This was then followed by casting a dream team headed by Rupert Grint together with Rob Brydon, Peter Serafinowicz, Ralf Little, Anthony Head and Eve Ponsonby. Jonathan Pearce and Alistair McGowan do the commentary on the big football match scene and there is even a cameo appearance from Radio Oxford’s Malcolm Boyden!

The Daily Telegraph wrote “What a joyous way to open a film festival. An inspired family-friendly 3-D animation (it is) a touching, thoughtful story of triumphing against the odds… with a relentless stream of genuinely funny gags”

very, very good. I love him! As to Rob Brydon he was so brilliant in The Trip I just wanted him in the film.”

Campanella is absolutely delighted. “I think the dub is amazing. The commentators are genius. The main actors, Rupert and Eve, are terrific.” he said.

“Football is an international sport and the story is universal. It is about passion and the determination to win. How far will people go to succeed? There’s also a love story!! Victor’s hiring of Rupert and Rob was inspired and was my perfect cast. Rupert played the part of Amadeo perfectly. He is really

For information about the Charity Première please harriet@369productions.co.uk

The Unbeatables will open in the UK on 8th August on a nationwide wide release on over 400 screens and in the USA later in the month on over 2,000 screens. Over US$25 million has been committed to the marketing alone.

Let’s hope that the prediction from Variety turns out to be true “The English version from 369 Prods., should also see sky-high returns!” However, I haven’t put the deposit down on the new Maserati quattroporte just yet.

Victor Glynn is President of 369 Productions the UK Co-Producer of The Unbeatables.

Oxford contact

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Trusted advisors, exemplary service. Call 01865 262103 or visit: www.morgan-cole.com MorganColeLLP

B4 HEALTH

WHEN IT COMES TO BUILDING A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE DIET MATTERS It is estimated that 7,500,000 working days are lost a year in the UK due to musculoskeletal injury either caused or made worse by work. 85% of people that suffer from musculoskeletal pain and 82% of those with back pain return to work. Reducing recovery time is therefore financially beneficial to employers.

Physiotherapy is commonly used to restore pre-injury health which together with a preventative exercise program can help reduce the chances of the same problem recurring. However diet also plays an important role. For an injury to mend the body must synthesis new cells and a number of nutritional factors impact the speed at which it does this and the strength of the repair.

When the body undergoes increased synthesis basal metabolic rate increases; energy is used in mending the injury. Very low calorie diets aimed at weight loss during this period are not advised as this will slow the recovery process. The nutritional value of diet is also important, each of the macronutrients protein, carbohydrate and fat have specific functions during recovery. Protein is needed to repair muscle, it is recommended that protein intake is increased to compensate for increased demand. The amino acids arginine and glutamine are thought to be particularly important for muscle repair and these can be taken in supplement form. Carbohydrate is the body’s preferred source of energy, if the diet is too low in carbohydrate the body will use more protein as an energy source reducing the amount available for muscle repair. Fatty acids are an essential part of the cell membrane and deficiency may lead to weaker cells being formed. A key element of recovery is inflammation management. Omega 3 fatty acids found in foods such as oily fish, linseed and walnuts reduce inflammation, however a diet high in omega 6, as is commonly the Western diet blocks omega 3 pathways making it ineffective.

Micronutrients are also important especially the antioxidants vitamins A,C,E and minerals selenium and zinc. Inflammation causes an increase in free radicals which can weaken cells, antioxidants element free radicals thereby preventing cell damage. Good sources of antioxidant vitamins are fruit and vegetables and brazil nuts are very high in selenium. Vitamin A and C are also needed to create collagen. Zinc which I find is often low in people’s diets, especially men is essential for enzyme activity needed to create new cells, good sources include red meat, shellfish, especially oysters and pumpkin seeds. For bone repair calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D are essential.

Providing employees with appropriate care through access to physiotherapy and nutritional support will return employees to work faster and stronger. A winning combination for both employer and employee.

Helen Money works with a team of specialist in both occupational and sports rehabilitation at the The Bosworth Clinic, Cassington www.thebosworthclinic.co.uk For more information on nutrition related conditions you can contact Helen directly at helen@helenmoneynutrition.com or on 01865 339672. Please visit the website at: www.helenmoneynutriion.com

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“Providing employees with

appropriate care through access to physiotherapy and nutritional support will return employees to work faster and stronger

” 89

B4 R&R

THE

FEATHERS HOTEL

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

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

Contemporary wallpapers adorn the walls, alongside tastefully chosen art works, such as an eye-catching dressmaker mannequin. The bespoke carpet in the dining room bearing a feather motif is also testament to the hotel’s cool outlook.

Eating and drinking is at the heart of The Feathers experience. The hotel introduced the first dedicated ‘Gin Bar’ in the UK and has the largest collection of gins in the world. It currently has 181 types of gin from around the world and holds the Guinness World Record.

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Head Chef Simon Kealy features the best of modern English cuisine in the 2 AA rosette restaurant, using locally sourced ingredients in dishes such as: Roast butternut squash soup with sage & walnut dressing; Lamb rump, shepherd’s pie, puy lentil casserole & kale; and Sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce & clotted cream.

Alternatively, guests could opt for “The Gin Experience”, a carefully devised menu incorporating specifically chosen gins throughout the courses for example, in a “Gin & Tonic Jelly”. The restaurant also serves a selection of afternoon tea menus, plus a variety of traditional picnic hampers starting at £39.50. The stylish restaurant seats up to 60 guests, with room for a further 30 in the bar.

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

The Feathers is also equipped for business meetings. The private master bedroom has a conference table suitable for up to eight, alternatively one end of the restaurant can host up to 20 people boardroom style. The daily delegate rate starts from £65 per person.

The Feathers is the perfect location for events. The hotel can be exclusively hired for wedding receptions from £5,000 during the week or £7,500 at the weekend. The ceremony can take place in the nearby church or town hall, which is a couple of minutes walk from the hotel.

Reservations on 01993 812291 or visit www.feathers.co.uk

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

The Feathers, Market Street, Woodstock, Oxfordshire, OX20 1SX

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“The hotel introduced the first dedicated ‘Gin Bar’ in the UK and has the largest collection of gins in the world. It currently has 181 types of gin from around the world and holds the Guinness World Record

”

www.b4-business.com

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CIS is offering free tours of our top secret cloud location, the most resilient data centre in the UK We understand your data is critical to your business. That’s why we look after it like nobody else can. Our data centres are former military command centres, upgraded with millions of pounds of investment in extra power and cooling. They’re not just secure; they’re ultra secure, making your business ultra resilient and your information ultra available.

Want to see...? www.cisltd.com

news

Photograph by Graham Lacdao

CIS Designs State of the Art IT Systems in Custom Built IT Suite at St Paul’s Cathedral An update to our article back in 2009 “CIS Appointed IT consultants to St Paul's cathedral”.

Oxfordshire based IT consultancy company Computing Information Systems (CIS LTD) has now been the appointed IT consultant at St Paul’s Cathedral for over 3 years. Appointed in 2009 by the Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral, CIS were specifically hired for their solution based IT consultancy, with a reputation in keeping with St Paul’s world-famous dome. CIS were hired in an undertaking during 2009 to advise and design from the IT perspective on the multimillion pound Chapter House refurbishment scheme. The project being to design a state of the art server room and IT systems for all of St Paul’s IT needs, both now and in the future, underground deep inside the expansive buildings at St Paul’s.

The Chapter House is the central administrative and management building for the Cathedral and had to be ‘decamped’ into short term office space at others sites near the Cathedral, keeping all staff working, communications lines connected, and IT in service for everybody at the Cathedral, logistically a challenge.

the depths of St Paul’s, whilst keeping the system running, before moving them into their new locations. The systems have all been upgraded and redeployed into the new IT estate, giving St Pauls plenty of new capacity and features to deliver to the staff and even the public. St Paul’s has worked alongside CIS in the move, upgrade, installation and now ongoing planning and design of the whole IT infrastructure.

Using the latest in Green technologies the server room monitors its own moisture and temperature in the air, and adjusts it accordingly. By 2015 when the project finishes the server room will also recover all of the exhausted heat from the servers in the room and store that heat underground to be drawn on later by heat pumps used around the Cathedral and the main Cathedral buildings. A very efficient way of storing normally wasted heat from a server room.

CIS carried out this project successfully, and purpose built a new state of the art server room in

CIS has designed a multi platform virtualization infrastructure that harnesses the best in technology solutions and resiliency, meaning the Cathedral systems are always on, this design is in line with, but a scaled back version of CIS’s own private cloud hosted in the UKs most secure datacentre. CIS

Photograph by Peter Smith

Photograph by Graham Lacdao

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succeeded against much larger IT companies through the tender process due to its extensive and in depth knowledge of virtualization technologies and its specialist and consultative approach.

The completed project will not be finished until 2015, but significant progress is being made, additional works are now being added in terms of security, firewalling and the ever growing demand for wireless and the ability to connect your own device, something St Paul’s provides for both its staff and eventually the public, in a secure, managed way using the latest in Sophos technologies installed by CIS. "We are delighted to be working with CIS, the project has been well organised from start to almost completion, CIS have been well organised and innovative right throughout the process, we have grown used to them being an extension to our IT department. CIS deliver a prompt professional service with trusted knowledge we can rely on at all times." Gerald Wynter - Head of IT, St. Paul's Cathedral www.cisltd.com www.stpauls.co.uk

Photograph by Peter Smith

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FOUR PILLARS HOTELS SERVING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Oxford City is a hive of business activity, from research, construction, manufacturing, specialist medical and health, finance and business services. Home to many companies such as MINI production, Oxford University Press, Morrells Brewery, Wiley-Blackwell, Harley-Davidson Europe, Oxfam, Manches LLP, businesses are regularly looking for that special venue to hold their meetings, conferences, events and even exhibitions.

At the heart of this thriving business community is Four Pillars Hotels, the hotel group founded in 1974, who has been working with many local businesses - big and small - to cater for their meeting requirements.

The hotel Group, with four hotels in and around the city - Oxford Thames, Oxford Spires, Oxford Witney and Oxford Abingdon – as well as Cotswold Water Park near Cirencester and Tortworth Court, near Bristol – last year invested £4.5 million in improving and enhancing their meetings facilities in all their hotels.

This programme has included expanded and additional meetings space; stateof-the art technology; new and upgraded bedrooms and extra car parking space.

Standing out from the competition Suzanne Bush, Four Pillars Hotels Commercial Director believes that the Group offers the local business community with a different approach to dealing with clients: “What we offer businesses based in and around Oxford is a choice of options whether looking for room for a board meeting or a full scale awards dinner.

“What makes Four Pillars Hotels though stand out from the crowd is ‘doing the simple things well’ and understanding that what meeting planners require from venues is ‘flexibility’; flexibility in responding to a brief, in providing value for money by staying competitive and in delivering what the client wants. With no such thing as a standard event, meeting options need to be individual to each client, tailored specifically to each brief which is why we have created our

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‘Meetings Four Your’ package. Clients, quite justifiably, want to only pay for the things they require. That is why we offer ‘meetings by the hour’ with a clear list of optional extras as well as our comprehensive conference packages, so clients can choose the option that best meets their needs and budgets”.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE Oxford Thames Four Pillars Hotel Just over three miles from the centre of Oxford, this luxury four star hotel is set in 30 acres of beautiful parkland on the River Thames. Its architectural style combines rustic medieval charm with modern design. Having undergone a major investment programme, the hotel now boasts 22 new ‘Garden Rooms’ bringing capacity up to 84 rooms.

The new double bedrooms all feature air conditioning, iPod docking stations, complimentary drinks trays, LCD digital televisions and importantly, free Wi-Fi, while in the bathrooms guest can enjoy relaxing drench showers and toiletries from Clarins.

Ten of the rooms enjoy uninterrupted views over the hotel’s 30 acre grounds leading down to the River Thames; those on the ground floor having direct patio access onto the lawns and two first floor corner rooms feature Juliette balconies. The remaining 12 new rooms have uninterrupted views of Heyford Meadows and the hotel’s Walled Garden.

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B4 R&R B4 EVENTS

“With no such thing as a standard event, meeting options need to be individual to each client, tailored specifically to each brief” Also, opened in June 2013, a new Conservatory adds 135 sqm of space to the hotel’s current choice of nine meeting rooms which can accommodate events from a largescale conference for up to 200 to a small board meeting. It also can cater for marquee events for up to 500 guests.

The hotel is also able to offer a unique College Barge moored on the Thames as part of any meetings package and even has a helicopter landing site.

Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel This four star hotel, just a short walk from the centre, is set in 40 acres of parkland and an ideal venue for companies seeking both the buzz of the city and a picturesque setting. The hotel has 174 bedrooms, a leisure club and 19 meeting spaces. The largest meeting space, the Cathedral suite, divides into four and holds 266 people theatre-style and up to 160 banquet style.

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Oxford Witney Four Pillars Hotel This smart, contemporary hotel, just 10 miles from Oxford, reflects the charming architectural style of the nearby Cotswolds. A short walk away is the centre of Witney, a historic market town on the River Windrush.

The hotel has 87 rooms, a leisure club and is able to cater for up to 150 meeting delegates across an adaptable range of conference rooms.

Oxford Abingdon Four Pillars Hotel Set in the historic town of Abingdon-onThames, 6 miles south of Oxford, in the heart of the Thames Valley, this hotel offers modern facilities with all the comforts of home. Ideal for day meetings and exhibitions the hotel has a total of four meeting rooms and suites which can accommodate from two to 140 delegates.

For further details on Four Pillars Hotels’ ‘Meetings Four You’ which includes details of their Meetings By The Hour and bundle packages visit www.meetingsfouryou.co.uk or call 0845 600 7071.

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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

“We’re thrilled

that London Oxford Airport is able to welcome the return of the Jersey service”

JERSEY FLIGHTS RETURN TO LONDON OXFORD AIRPORT FROM SUMMER 2014 NEW INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL THEMED PACKAGE DEALS ON OFFER

Marking 30 years of Channel Island travel this year, C.I. Travel Group is delighted to be reinstating its popular summer service between London Oxford Airport and Jersey with weekly flights starting May 10th, 2014 through to midSeptember. Flights will be operated by Channel Islands-based Blue Islands and served by a modern and comfortable 46 seat ATR42 aircraft.

Famous for its flowers, Jersey’s Battle of Flowers carnival in August is offered as a special package which includes a behind-the-scenes tour and tickets to both the day and night parade at the island’s biggest annual festival. Equally appealing is the Floral Escapades package, which features a full island tour and entrance to two of Jersey's worldrenowned floral attractions.

Flights will depart London Oxford’s business aviation terminal for Jersey on Saturdays at 09:40 returning back to Oxford at 09:10. Seat only flights start at £179 per person. Competitive holiday prices start at £347 for seven nights and will be on sale through local travel agents as well as online at www.jerseytravel.com.

Ahead of the launch, London Oxford Airport will take on a Jersey theme on February 26th with some key tourism participants from the biggest Channel Island joining an evening reception for agents and travel managers.

Saturday Schedule: Oxford-Jersey Depart Oxf 09:40 Jersey-Oxford Depart Jer 08:00

Arrive Jer 10:50 Arrive Oxf 09:10

To coincide with the launch, C.I. Travel Group is offering a number of unique, competitively priced, special themed packages including a Luxury Michelin Experience Break, Battle of Flowers Tour, Floral Escapades and an Island Hopping two centre trip. The Luxury Michelin Experience features a stay at one of Jersey's luxury hotels with pre-bookings for fine dining at some of the island's top Michelinstarred restaurants.

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Tony Farmer, Head of Sales and Route Development at London Oxford Airport comments: “We’re thrilled that London Oxford Airport is able to welcome the return of the Jersey service. We are also pleased to be welcoming some of Jersey’s key tourism partners to London Oxford this month in what should be a highly successful day. With such enticing packages on offer and the convenience and ease of flying from London Oxford, I am sure that the new service will prove highly appealing to those customers in our catchment area.”

C.I Travel Group introduced the regular service from London Oxford in 2009 marking the first commercial route at the airport for 20 years until

its cessation last summer. Robert Mackenzie, Managing Director of Jersey-based C. I. Travel Group added: “We are delighted to be able to reintroduce our popular summer air route from Oxford to Jersey on this our 30th year of bringing happy customers to the Channel Islands. Many of our clients missed the stress-free travel opportunity that the route provides, with just a 100 metre walk from the terminal entrance to the aircraft steps.

Now with our unique special packages on offer, there’s something to appeal to everyone.”

The route will appeal to residents in Oxfordshire, the South Midlands and the north western Home Counties who can now conveniently fly from Oxford without the hassle of going to Birmingham or one of the London airports. Some five million people live within an hour’s drive of the airport, which is close to the M40, A34, A40 and A44 road networks. Equally, the convenient lunchtime departure will enable passengers to arrive in Jersey in plenty of time to enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the beach and dinner at one of the Island’s fine restaurants. www.oxfordairport.co.uk Visit www.jerseytravel.com for more details, or call 0844 415 6653.

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DRAW ON OUR EXPERIENCE AND BUILD ON OUR SUCCESS Buckinghamshire based Peter Mark, Managing Director of KMP, the award winning RIBA Chartered Architects, Surveyors and Project Management practice, talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about the integrated end-to-end offering of his long established family owned business.

“What certainly sets us apart from other architects is that for the convenience of our Clients, we also offer full in-house Surveying and Project Management services which has the considerable benefit of KMP being able to combine vision and design flair across a project with the necessary considerations of practicality and cost.

KMP, originally and until recently The Kenneth Mark Practice, was founded by my father in Saffron Walden in 1980. We have maintained a consistent presence across the South East over the last 4 decades and we are well known and respected for providing quality in every aspect of our work.

Historically, we have in the main undertaken commissions for domestic and corporate Clients throughout Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Sussex and London but our success has led us more recently to extend and expand our home counties coverage. We are now extending more into Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire where we are very actively building collaborative partnerships with related trades and professions.

To reflect this, our Saffron Walden office is now run by our Principal Architect, John Patterson, to whom 98

initial enquiries should be directed while I am developing our business in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire ” A broad range of experience “Our wealth of experience includes working on new houses, extensions and conversions, listed buildings, churches, schools and even a windmill!

In addition to our Architectural, Surveying and Project Management services, we are also Party Wall Surveyors and Construction (Design and Management) Co-ordinators and we have extensive experience in supervising Cyclical Planned Maintenance for Housing Associations and on-going estate management for corporate Clients.

We offer a full service not just for listed buildings, but also for the design and construction of new buildings. We are able to offer a full architectural and surveying service, together with renovations and improvements to existing buildings and extensions and conversions.

Our broad range of experience includes prestigious and small-scale projects for both individual domestic and corporate Clients – and one recently completed project for a private Client (the fourth project that we had successfully completed for

him) was a stunning contemporary beach-side residence with all modern facilities on Millionaires Row on Brighton Seafront’s Western Esplanade, alongside properties owned by Adele, David Walliams and Fat Boy Slim.”

A wide range of commissions “We are happy to accept a very wide range of commissions from preliminary services only ie up to Planning and Building Regulations stages, through to full service commissions including preparation of specifications, tender invitations, supervision of works on site and agreement of the final account with the appointed contractor.

Our preliminary service would typically include taking instruction and preparing a brief for the project, carrying out the necessary survey work, preparing sketches for approval and planning consultation and preparing reliable estimates of cost. For this preliminary service, we would agree a fixed fee before starting works and this would then not be varied. If required, we can also provide a high quality Project Management service.

We also offer a professional advice service to persons thinking of buying a property or to those www.b4-business.com

B4 PROPERTY

ARCHITECTURAL

SERVICES Why use an Architect?

When you appoint an RIBA Chartered Architect, you are employing someone who has undertaken seven years of training – no other building professional is trained in design and construction to such a level of expertise.

An architect will help you achieve your aspirations and add value to your project through good design and sound construction management. A good architect will save you money.

seeking advice on the potential in a property before they offer it for sale.”

We offer end to end peace of mind “In response to an enquiry, KMP offer an initial complimentary face to face consultation to Clients in order to discuss their possible requirements, ideas and budget. We advise Clients of our Architectural Services fee structure and also, if requested, we would provide some initial sketches and outline design proposals.

Assuming that we are then appointed and outline plans and budgets are agreed, we would make any Planning Permission Applications to the Local Authority and Building Regulations on behalf of our Clients and, if required, Listed Building Consent would be applied for.

Once planning permission is received, we would then proceed to prepare a specification and compile a list of suitable building contractors, obtain competitive tenders and, through our surveying department, we would draw up building contracts.

We can also provide full end to end Project Management and inspect the entire works to www.b4-business.com

ensure that the project is delivered on time and on budget in accordance with the agreed specification.

KMP will help you understand from the start how to extract the most from your budget and deliver a transparent menu-based costing so that you can choose only the elements you require.”

Above all, we pride ourselves on our service and commitment to our Clients Concluded Peter, “No matter what the nature of the project is, at KMP we pride ourselves on our commitment to offer a highly personal service by working very closely with every Client to help them to realise their vision for their projects”

How to select an Architect Clients often appoint an Architect based on a recommendation from acquaintances. This is understandable if your project is similar.

However, it is most important to ensure that you and your Architect are compatible. Your Architects must convince you of their creativity, their listening skills and their ability to get things done.

Are they RIBA Chartered Architects? This will guarantee a code of conduct and a level of professionalism. Be aware that some people call themselves ‘Architect’ without formal registration.

If you would like to discuss how KMP could be of assistance to you, please initially contact John Patterson, Principal Architect on 01799 521 734.

Regarding enquiries relating specifically to Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire or Berkshire, please contact Peter Mark on 01494 257 482

Can they offer other disciplines in-house (e.g. surveying, structural engineering and project management)? In the end, this will ensure a smoothly run project and will help contain costs.

www.kmpractice.co.uk

Is their experience appropriate to your project?

How many other projects are they working on?

Will your project be treated as a priority?

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news Gym for Iffley Hotel Hawkwell House looks to create a gym facility within its existing annexe - Elm House.

The cellars at Elm House are typical of the Georgian style house that is situated behind the main hotel at Hawkwell House. Previously a Staff house, the current owners converted Elm House, early on in their ownership, in 2003, to 15 luxury bedrooms. The annexe has become particularly popular with private parties and groups who are looking for a hotel experience, but with the privacy of their own building.

The cellars beneath are currently used for archives, and the management are looking to convert two large rooms into a gym facility for their residents.

Equipment will be top end, and the area will be tiled in a contemporary style with all the associated TV screens and music systems, with air conditioning.

Entrance will be via an outside door, and the project is scheduled to be ready by autumn of this year.

Tim Spittles of Hawkwell commented, “This is another part of the significant

upgrade that the hotel has gone through over the last few years. We feel that it will add to the guest experience to be able to work out on site , rather than off site”.

Smokehouse for Iffley Blue “This is a great opportunity for us to do more of our own smoked dishes and increase the provenance that we already strive for in our menus” Head chef Chris Kennedy said.

Lying within the grounds of Hawkwell House, is an octagonal outhouse that used to be where the game for its annexe building, Elm House was hung. Currently just used for storage, the chefs of Iffley Blue have been tasked with the job of designing their own curing/smoke house.

When starting Iffley Blue, the intention was to keep the menus changing regularly with seasonal menu items. Since opening in September, the chefs are now are on their 4th menu, and are busy writing the next one. The style of food has been very popular with the Iffley Blue diners, as well as extremely good value. The addition of a specialised “smoke” area, will enhance the already excellent and innovative menus.

The Restaurant now boasts a £10 set menu that is available all day Monday to Saturday, 12 till 7, and this changes weekly.

Hawkwell Sponsors County Sport Hawkwell House Hotel is proud to be continuing it’s sponsorship of sport for some of the County’s youth.

The Oxfordshire Cricket Board hold many meetings for free at the hotel, and also host the popular county youth dinners at subsidised rates.

Hawkwell is one of the main sponsors for the Oxfordshire District Cricket Festival that takes place during May half term.

Recently, Hawkwell have agreed to host any meetings for Oxfordshire Hockey and they are pleased to be hosting the inaugural County Youth Dinner on the 10th May for the 15’s 16’s and 17’s age groups.

Hawkwell and Iffley Blue exposure to a prime target audience!”

General Manager Tim Spittles is active in coaching both sports, and is a great believer in promoting youth development through sport. “I see it as a way to put something back into the sporting community, and of course, it’s giving

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www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk www.iffleyblue.co.uk

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SELLING HOMES THE PINK & BLACK WAY As we start to see signs of an economic recovery, people start to think to the future and start to formulate new plans and aspirations. There has been much focus on the housing market rising steadily and talk of pre-crash levels of prices and confidence in the housing market. This all sounds very positive and we are certainly seeing more buyers keen to secure a purchase and take advantage of some good mortgage rates. There is still a reluctance for sellers to come to the market before they have found a new house to buy, our advice to sellers is to come to market as soon as possible, the more that is available the more likely that people will find that illusive new home.

Pink & Black Property's success is based on the way we look after our customers and our passion for selling their homes.

We are a small independent agency based in Summertown, North Oxford with a history of selling beautiful homes throughout Oxfordshire and beyond. There is no one 'type' of Pink and Black property. We treat every one of our vendors with the same high level of service regardless of the size or location of their property. A property is almost always the biggest asset that somebody owns so we treat your sale as personally and professionally as if it were our own.

Whilst we do not have several offices, we do have a large range of contacts, a wealth of experience and a very proactive sales and marketing approach.

Bigger is not always better and our customers frequently comment upon how they enjoy our personal approach and refreshingly honest way of dealing with them.

Buyers are just as important as sellers so we take just as much time and pride in helping our buyers find the right house for them as we do selling houses for our vendors. A property sale is more than just a transaction, it is about people and that's why people come back to Pink and Black time and time again. We are more than happy to carry out individual targeted campaigns to find people houses and as a result are successful at selling property off market. We have often created house

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swap situations through this type of marketing.

The internet is a major element of the marketing campaign and we are constantly monitoring all property to ensure that activity on the property is high enough to result in viewings.

“A property sale is more than just a transaction, it is about people and that's why people come back to Pink and Black time and time again

”

We ensure details of our properties can be accessed via all the major property portals; Primelocation, Rightmove, Country Life, Globrix, Zoopla and Find a Property. The internet is a major element of the marketing campaign and we are constantly monitoring all property to ensure that activity is high enough to result in viewings. Our properties are also available on international property portals that are written in country and trusted, to attract the increasing number of foreign buyers to our properties.

We invest heavily in local direct marketing, our website and a proactive social media strategy. We are now in an age whereby people expect to be able to find us and your property on all platforms at all times of day and we are working tirelessly to achieve this exposure. Incidentally, you can follow us on twitter @pinkandblackpc!

We have had to adapt to the modern world of the internet and offer a comprehensive marketing campaign for our clients, but we still like the old agency ways. We quite like to talk at Pink & Black and are happy to give people our time and knowledge to help them find out where really is the right place for them to live, this also means that we need to listen to our clients, it’s amazing how much smoother the process is when this happens.

We have made some great connections in London through property exhibitions and the networking that we do there, we also have a referral agreement with a number of agents and are therefore able to open our client’s property to the London market in a very real way.

Why not come pop in to our office in Summertown and meet the team, we have parking and the coffee is pretty good too. www.pinkandblackproperty.com

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B4 PROPERTY

“We need to listen to our clients, it’s amazing how much smoother the process is when this happens

”

www.b4-business.com

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PROVIDING OXFORDSHIRE’S VENUES WITH A FULL RANGE OF AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT

PARTIES CONFERENCES FESTIVALS LECTURES DINNERS AWARD CEREMONIES LAUNCH EVENTS OPENING CEREMONIES VIDEO TECHNICIAN WEDDINGS EXHIBITONS TRAINING COURSES INSTALLATIONS OUTSIDE EVENTS LIVE EVENTS GROUND BREAKING TOPPING UP MEMORIALS CORPORATE EVENTS AUCTIONS TEAM BUILDING VIDEO CONFERENCING SATELLITE LINKS HIRE SEMINARS SYMPOSIUMS EQUIPMENT SERVICE SIMULTANIOUS INTERPRETATION TRANSLATION SYSTEMS LIGHTING TECHNICIAN SOUND ENGINEER VIP EVENTS BUSINESS DINNERS NETWORKING EVENTS BOARD MEETINGS SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS

CALL CITY AUDIO VISUAL ON 01865 722800 WWW.CITYAUDIOVISUAL.CO.UK

B4 R&R

MALIKAS

B4's Lucy Howard visited Malikas Indian restaurant on Cowley Road - Recently reburbished, elegant and modern, with an award-winning chef. Read her mouth-watering review below.

Malikas ticks every box- a warm welcome, good service, tasteful decor, relaxing background music- and exquisite food.

It is hard to choose from the wide and mouthwatering variety of food and drink on offer. To start with, we were promptly served with a generous pile of thin, crisp papadums and a range of

“For those who love Indian food, this is the place to come” accompaniments including mango chutney, yoghurt and onion. This was followed by starters of Chot-Poti- a tasty blend of chickpeas, egg, potatoes, coriander and tamarind sauce- along with Baza Maach, a fried fish dish with aromatic mixed spices.

Then we tried Achari, one of the chef’s specialities, which comes with chicken or lamb: we chose lamb, and it had a good thick curry sauce with just www.b4-business.com

the right amount of spice, along with a homemade pickle, a sour mango which, staff explained, was often used in such dishes and sucked on for an extra kick. Sag Paneer, an Indian classic, with paneer cheese and creamy spinach, didn’t disappoint either, and neither did the thick fluffy naan bread and the Pulao (basmati) rice. As well as tasting good, all dishes are beautifully presented.

For those who love Indian food, this is the place to come. As well as a variety of dishes and options (including a range of spice options, from mild to hot, and several different varieties of naan bread and rice), the extensive drinks list includes homemade lassi, a sweet or salty (again, you can choose!) yoghurt drink with mango, Indian beers such as Cobra and Kingfisher, and award-winning Indian wines from Nasik Valley.

It is a challenge to stand out from the huge number of restaurants in the large and wide-ranging cuisine melting pot that is Cowley Road, but Malikas triumphantly succeeds. Its impressive food, passionate and knowledgeable staff and welcoming environment make you want to return

as soon as possible. For more Malikas magic, they also cater for corporate events, parties and weddings. malikasrestaurant.co.uk

THE MEAL Chot-Poti Baza Maach Achari Sag Paneer Kingfisher beer

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT MALIKAS Décor Music Staff Knowledge and Passion Food Presentation The Sag Paneer and the Naan bread!

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STRANGEBREW – REFRESHING THE BUSINESSES AND BRANDS THAT OTHER GRAPHIC DESIGNERS CANNOT REACH Strangebrew’s Phil Strachan talks to Richard Rosser about why his reassuringly inexpensive yet very special, extremely potent and highly intoxicating brew of Branding, Identity and Graphic Design experience and expertise is refreshing, revitalising and re-energising businesses and brands of all shapes and sizes across the Home Counties. So, what is the special formula? What are the magic ingredients?

“I don’t think that it is any great secret. There really is no top secret formula, no magic ingredients. Having said that, my authentic blend of London quality at Glasgow prices seems to just hit the right spot and go down very well.

If there is any special formula or special ingredients involved, it is just about taking my 14 years plus of Client-side brand marketing experience and mixing it thoroughly with over 20 years consultancy-side experience specialising in the areas of Branding, Identity and Graphic Design” The result is a ‘Think Brand – not bland’ approach that seems to go down very well with business and brands of all shapes and sizes ranging from Professional Practices through to Breweries, Automotive Technology businesses and just recently a Wine Merchant and Importer.

What they did all have in common, and where Strangebrew really does deliver, is that they all knew they wanted to stand out from the crowd, in Strangebrew speak, to be Brand - not bland.

“In the case of existing businesses, it was mostly a question of them looking to move up to the next level, sometimes with a slight change of direction and often to punch above their weight, and for me to help put in place the wherewithal for them to do so. My promise to them, and my challenge to myself, is to be able to add value to businesses and brands of all shapes and sizes by providing them with the foundations upon which to build. It is a challenge that I really enjoy and it enables me to bring freshness to businesses and brands in any market. It also keeps me fresh too – there really is no formula.

Recent challenges include a healthy mix of a Social Media Client, a Photographer, an Architectural Practice, a Business Development Specialist and a business operating in the Sustainability field. Most often what is involved is a deconstruction process designed to identify what they are really all about and have to offer followed by a reconstruction 106

process designed to put them back together again - but in better shape and with a better offering.”

In Strangebrew’s case, much of the new business comes from referrals from extremely satisfied Clients whose business has benefitted from an injection of Phil Strachan’s special brand of Business and/or Brand Alchemy.

Says Phil “There can be no better demonstration of a Client’s satisfaction with what you have done for them and I have had some Clients referring me on to other potential new Clients even before I had nearly finished working on their projects. For me, that speaks volumes.”

“What they all had in common, and where Strangebrew really does deliver, is that they all wanted to stand out from the crowd, in Strangebrew speak, to be Brand - not bland.

I deliver. Admittedly, nowadays I use a little creative licence since I actually deliver it from my Berkshire base rather than from Glasgow where I was born and raised!

This was exactly the type of Client I look for and can really help. They wanted more than just a logo – they wanted to create a business and brand that would stand out from the crowd. As is most often the case, they got a lot more than they expected, including input on vision and strategy.”

What is the best example of Strangebrew being able to add real value to a business and its brands by refreshing, revitalising and re-energising their presentation? Phil reckons that it was, quite fittingly, the brewery he took on the journey of maturity from being a town’s biggest micro-brewery to being the town’s biggest Brewery.

Business also comes from people who have read about Strangebrew and want to know more about how Phil could help them to Think Brand – not bland.

Explains Phil, “It was a very good business, brewing a portfolio of wonderful, some award-winning, Real Ales. But getting a business with the mindset of being a town’s biggest micro-brewery to spend a relatively modest four figure sum for a new grown up Corporate Identity and similarly refreshed and grown up Identities for its portfolio of Real Ales took more than a little convincing. In very sharp contrast, two and a half years later they seemed to take a whole lot less convincing to invest £600,000 in plant and premises to triple the Brewery capacity and to create six new full-time jobs in order to keep up with the increased demand that had occurred.

In less than three years, investment in Branding, Identity and Graphic Design went from being regarded by them as a debatably necessary luxury to being recognised as an absolute competitive necessity.

Continued Phil, “A few months ago, I had a call completely out of the blue from someone who had read about Strangebrew in B4 magazine. They were looking to set up a new business and, in their words, wanted it to be ‘Brand – not bland’. They also liked the idea of my ‘London quality at Glasgow prices’ proposition – which I know, having worked from London for 10years, is precisely what

The most interesting fact is that all I did was to honestly re-align the presentation of their business and their brands with what they actually delivered.

They were a quality brewer with high quality awardwinning Real Ales but you would never have guessed that from their Corporate Brewery Identity or from their brands as represented by their pumpclips on the bar.

”

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B4 MARKETING If you think about it, we all hate when a business promises something and then fails to deliver. But in business, if you are delivering a high quality product or service and experience and yet you fail to promise such, you can be missing out big time.

You might be overlooked and not stocked by key retailers you need to be listed by who don’t think you look good enough. Equally, you might be rejected by potential key business partners who don’t feel you match up to their own high standards and you might not be discovered or sampled by the very people you are targeting and who are key to your success. Underselling yourself so seriously is commercial suicide – and it does not have to be that way It is quite incredible how many businesses and brands simply fail to promise, to their own cost, the high quality of the product or service that they deliver. As a direct result, they fall way short of connecting, communicating and thus engaging effectively with their selected and deserved target markets.

These are often businesses that have been established for some time but the quality of their presentation and what they communicate has become outdated as their presentation and offering has been far outstripped - not only by the quality and nature of what they themselves deliver, but also by their competitors and by the expectations of their target market. In short, they are in serious need of re-appraising and refreshing and revitalising not only their presentation and communications but possibly also their business name and Identity.

Often, such businesses are spending (and largely wasting) money on advertising or promoting their offering or re-doing their website when the simple truth is that such monies could be very much better invested by firstly going back to basics with Strangebrew and then promoting with renewed confidence and success.

The simple truth is that there is not much point in delivering a premium product or service if your perceived promise and what you are promoting is of something much less. Similarly, there is not much point in spending monies on promoting an offering that falls way short of the value and experience that you deliver.

If, like the micro-brewery detailed above, you would like to have the problem of having to invest in your business or brand to triple your output capability in order to keep up with demand after an injection of Business and Brand Alchemy from Strangebrew, call Phil Strachan on 07770 753 975.

Find out how, by helping you to ‘Think Brand – not bland’, he can refresh, revitalise and re-energise your business and/or brand. www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

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Broadband Installation Grants Available from Oxford City Council

•

Grants available from £200 to £3,000 from Oxford City Council for small and medium-sized businesses in Oxford to upgrade their broadband connection

•

£3.1 million has been secured by Oxford City Council from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport

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Use the online postcode checker to ensure your business operates within the catchment area

•

Most businesses are eligible, just check online

•

With over 250 suppliers to choose from all you need is one quote in order to complete your application

•

Applying for a voucher is simple and can all be done online at www.connectionvouchers.co.uk/oxford

Contact the team at: superconnected@oxford.gov.uk 0r call 01865 252 845

B4 R&R

“Our personal approach delivers memorable experiences that are the make up of the best of hospitality”

SAPORITA LIMITED

Alberto Brunelli and Yola Drage, Directors of the fantastic La Cucina in Oxford, talk to B4 about their exciting new restaurant venture.

With Alberto heading up the chef creative team and Yola the event planning, we feel that our experiences have given us the tools to deliver memorable events! And anyway, we love what we do and we hope it shows!

Oh, and we can't forget our team - Chefs Marcus and Michele start preparations for some events in the early hours, to ensure that no food is prepared too early! Events are run by the front of house team, none too shy to assist with a stack of chairs or a bride's bouquet - Melchiorre and Patrick are always ready with a smile and full of assurance.

We want to make a great impression at any event; we offer a bespoke catering and event planning service. Private parties at home, cocktail events at museums, even if in the boardroom, conference dining can be creative and delicious with a twist too. Sandwiches do not have to be the answer!

Innovative presentation and styling does not have to cost the earth and a little bit of thought goes a long way to create a diverse appropriate

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presentation such as an executive lunch box or tray.

When clients come to us, some know exactly what they want - possibly they follow a tried and tested formula that works, but that does not stop us wanting to over deliver to surprise them and of course still suitably meet their requirements, even if we supersede expectation. We try our utmost!

Other clients need guidance, they have no idea what they require until they see it, or start to find the thread, through meetings and tastings, so we take as much time as possible to ascertain all their dislikes and adverse feelings of past experiences etc. and from there we create a picture for them of our perfect menu or event matching their needs, tweaking all the way and finally reflecting their needs, however brief at the outset!

Our personal approach delivers memorable experiences that are the make up of the best of hospitality. With our expertise, we can offer creative guidance and interpretation of all clients needs.

There really is nothing better than hearing the "wow" and seeing the happy faces when you know it is perfect!

Food and Drink We do not work with set menus, hence you will see none here on the website, however, we work with seasonal local produce, the best we can source for our clients. We try to work where possible with independent businesses like ourselves to support

the vibrancy of the smaller businesses in the city Alden’s Butchers, John Lindsey and Sons in the covered market, Haymans Fisheries, Kingston Fruiterers to name a few…

Here are a few of the delicious and innovative food ideas we offer: • Canapés - formal cocktails parties, pre- and post meal event, themed food party events • Tasting bowls - ideal for all events where seating is not always available, but substantial dishes an selection are required • Food stations and stalls - all help theming events and creating buzz from dessert fun stations to cocktail flaring, pizza tossing, ice cream vans everything is possible • Formal seated dining events - menus would be created and tasted for all events for all clients • Bars and receptions - ice sculpture vodka luges, signature cocktails, wine selections to order whatever may well reflect the details...

Event planning We can bring Saporita to you... prepare and deliver food with the least fuss, or we can take over the reigns and plan your event from conception to close.

For more information about our food and event planning services, please contact Yola on 01865 793811.

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Photography: Rob Scotcher B4

We have worked together for 25 years, in some of the most prestigious establishments on the hospitality scene from Harry’s Bar London, Daphne’s, Claridge’s, The Berkeley, The Savoy, The Dorchester, The Cipriani - Venice, the Carlyle Hotel - New York, Nusa Dua Spa resort Bali, Conran Restaurants… We really live for the moment and thrive on a “delicious” life! Hence our name and motto.

FRILFORD HEALTH GOLF CLUB IS A GEM!

Frilford Heath Golf Club is one of the few Golf Clubs in Southern England to boast three separate 18 hole courses, each with its own character. B4's own Chairman, Colin Rosser, visited these beautiful grounds to give you the rundown on why Frilford Heath is the place to play.

Frilford Heath is located just off the A34 South of Oxford making it easily accessible whilst driving from any direction and when you get there it is always well worth the journey. My friends and I played the Green Course. Although the shortest of the courses on offer from Frilford, still requires you to plot your way round to ensure a good score. After the enormous amount of rain we have had this Winter you would expect a lot of water and mud, but thanks to the sandy subsoil the course was dry and very playable.

The fairways and greens were immaculate as they always are. The outward nine is the easier and starts with the only par five, but the 7th is a long par four which is quite rightly stroke index 1!

Coming home there are four particularly tough par fours, the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th which really gives the course some teeth! They are followed by a long par three and to end with a tricky short par four.

After the game we all had a refreshing shower where towels are always supplied and then went to the bar. There are a great range of both soft and alcoholic drinks available. We were just in time to catch the last of The Green Thai Chicken Curry which went down superbly with a pint of IPA! The food in my experience is without equal in Oxfordshire Golf Clubs, and on the many occasions I have been here I have never had a bad meal.

The Golf Club is hugely popular with Societies and host meetings with up to 200 players. It also caters for a number of Local, National and International Tournaments, which is well beyond the capabilities of the majority of Golf Clubs.

Due to there being three courses available you do not have to book a tee time, however the club will book a tee time if you take a group. The Courses are divided between accepting two, three and fourball games on a rotational basis. It is a very friendly club and a guest or new member would

not have a problem linking up with different groups for a game.

As you would expect Frilford has a well stocked Pro Shop offering a large array of equipment and accessories, and under the leadership of Derek Craik, the Head Professional has the normal Golf lessons available from him and his staff.

For Membership enquiries please contact the Executive Director, Alistair Booth or the General Manager both of whom I have always found very approachable and keen to help prospective Members.

Abingdon, OX13 5NW Tel: 01865 390864 Web: www.frilfordheath.co.uk

THE COURSES Frilford's three 18 hole courses offer a range of delights. With over a hundred years of golf course design heritage, players can choose a classic or a modern challenge as they see fit.

course design at courses such as Royal Birkdale and Royal Mid-Surrey. At nearly 7,000 yards, the Red course will be a test of any golfer's skills.

Red Course The quality of the Red course, has attracted top class amateur golf for many years. Laid out in 1908 by five times Open champion JH Taylor, part of the 'Great Triumvirate', along with James Braid and Harry Vardon, Taylor dominated golf around the turn of the twentieth century. He later turned to

Green Course The Green course at Frilford Heath may be the shortest, at just over 6,000 yards, but playing to a stiff par of 69, it is no pushover. As at the legendary Rye links in Kent, the Green's only par five is the opening hole - from then on, birdie opportunities can be few and far between.

Blue Course Opened in 1994, the Blue course, designed by respected British golf architect Simon Gidman, has a more modern, open look, with a number of water hazards threatening, notably on the early holes. The course offers a stern test, with par five and par three holes in particular facing in all directions.

Greens are more undulating than on the two older courses, and offer a number of interesting and challenging flag positions.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Golf Club is

hugely popular with Societies and host meetings with up to 200 playersâ&#x20AC;?

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B4 R&R

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is a very friendly

club and a guest or new member would not have a problem linking up with different groups for a game.â&#x20AC;?

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WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO ‘THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX’ Peter Mark talks to B4’s Richard Rosser about his latest business venture into ‘Outer Space’. Specifically, he covers why, when it comes to the need to create extra living, working or leisure space, for many people there can be a much less disruptive, much less invasive, much quicker and much more cost effective way to achieve this. Interestingly, the answer lies in Outer Space – find out why below.

So, what is the reference to Outer Space and Thinking outside the Box all about?

“It is really very simple. For very many people, our current economic climate brings with it the challenge to create extra living, working or leisure space without the need to make an expensive house move with all the accompanying disruption and inconvenience this can entail.

The good news is that whether you need to create a quiet studio or home office, an extra room for children living at home or maybe returning home or a self-contained annexe to provide personal space for an elderly relative, we now have the perfect solution for many people to make the very best use of the space available in every situation and in the most flexible and versatile manner.

That’s because the quickest, least disruptive and most cost effective way to increase your usable space is to ‘think outside the box’ of your existing dwelling and take advantage of space that you have available in your garden. That’s why the business is called Outer Space. The resulting outer space created by these outdoor garden rooms ultimately becomes an asset that will last for decades and add value to your home – by becoming an integral part of your home but one which remains sufficiently apart so as not to be intrusive.”

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How are Outer Space buildings constructed?

“Every Outer Space bespoke timber garden building is solidly constructed using sustainable timber, fully insulated and double glazed and can incorporate power, light, plumbing and any other services our Clients may want. This is because, unlike for example a summerhouse, our bespoke Outer Space timber buildings are intended for all year round use either as a garden studio, office, gym, children’s playroom, music room, granny annexe or spare bedroom. Importantly, each one is architect designed and finished to complement your house and garden.

We offer a full end-to-end turnkey service from conception to maintaining the building after completion because all our Outer Space buildings are RIBA Chartered Architect detailed and designed (to an extent that exceeds the building regulations required for current housing) and we manufacture, assemble and install each and every bespoke building.

Unlike other suppliers, with Outer Space this includes providing the base, footings and drainage too. Foundations are vital to the longevity of any building and we therefore offer this as part of the project for quality control purposes. Our research into the market has indicated that many of our

competitors tend to pass this vital aspect of the project back to the Client to arrange with local labour. Whilst we understand the benefit to our competitors in this approach, we think that for quality buildings with an expected life in excess of 30 years, our Clients will understand that with foundations being such an important part of the project, this vital element should be controlled and carried out with the same care and expertise as the building itself. Foundations can often be ignored as they are not part of the project that is visible, but if they are not correctly formed, they can jeopardise the quality of the whole project – over time, even if not immediately.

Because Outer Space buildings are specially designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of the permitted development regulations that came into force in 2008 and were refined in 2013, they do not, depending on the intended use they will be put to, necessarily require formal planning permission. But Outer Space can advise you on all those issues.

From initial contact, each of our Clients has a designated point of contact to guide them through the entire process and there is continual monitoring of each project with a survey completed by each customer at the completion of each contract. This

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B4 PROPERTY

buildings are based on a “ modular and highly versatile design principle that is easily adaptable in order to create a building to meet the individual sizing requirements and specifications of any prospective Client

”

covers items such as service experience at each stage of the project and this feedback is analysed as part of our customer experience training. We do not employ high pressure sales staff – just professionals to listen to your brief and help you achieve your vision.”

At Outer Space, we offer truly bespoke products not just bespoke sizing offerings of our own styles or models.

“Outer Space buildings are based on a modular and highly versatile design principle that is easily adaptable in order to create a building to meet the individual sizing requirements and specifications of any prospective Client. With our own in-house Architect ensuring that each building meets not only the requirements of the planning and building regulations but also the precise requirements of each individual Client, no two buildings need ever to be the same.

On the subject of individuality, there are various additional internal items that can be included, such as toilets - both chemical and traditional, kitchen areas and shower rooms and we also handle the electrical connection of the building to the mains with our fully qualified electrician.

traditional pitched roof and wall finishes to enable the customer to match the existing style of the main home exactly or choose a contrasting style if preferred and all Outer Space roofs have a 10 year guarantee. And to finish things off, we also offer landscaping services to the garden on completion of installation, a service which very few of our competitors offer.”

So, are you ready to think outside the box and to begin to explore Outer Space?

“If you have a need to create specific extra space, call us on one of the numbers below to find out how a bespoke Outer Space timber building could help you to extend the boundaries of your thinking and provide a versatile and affordable additional room for your home – with the minimum of disruption.” www.outerspaceuk.co.uk The Garden Office, Hillbrow, Coombe Lane, Naphill, Bucks HP14 4QX Tel: 01494 257 482.

The Cottage, Audley End Business Centre, London Road, Wendens Ambo, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 4JL Tel: 01799 521 734.

WHAT’S

INCLUDED...?

Survey Design Planning Permission Manufacture Base Installation All Services Construction Maintenance

P P P P P P P P

We take care of everything, all for a fixed price, so that you don’t have to.

Externally, we offer a comprehensive range of

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Transparency – The Illusion of Zero Gravity Highly eĸcient pendant LED luminaire.

Architecture of light and transparency.

15mm visible frame.

Built-in Light Control Structure (LCS).

CombinaƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ěŝrect and indirect light.

Light statement in the room: minimalist and clear cut. www.wila.com

B4 R&R

ENJOY A FULL 7 DAY GOLF MEMBERSHIP AT MAGNOLIA PARK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB FROM JUST £19.50 A WEEK! JOIN NOW and get a FREE 3D Motion Golf Lesson worth £75! And NEW FOR 2014, Members get FREE JUNIOR GOLF for their children & grandchildren!

Memberships at Magnolia Park Magnolia Park is a thriving, proactive club with a busy competition calendar and a lively, social clubhouse and players of all ages and abilities are always made welcome at Magnolia Park Golf Club.

There's no joining fee and we accept new membership applications all year round.

20 FANTASTIC REASONS TO JOIN MAGNOLIA PARK GOLF CLUB! 1. Enjoy a FULL 7-DAY Golf Membership from just £19.50 a week!

2. All NEW Members receive a FREE 3D Motion Golf lesson worth £75! - NEW for 2014!

3. FREE JUNIOR GOLF for all Members' children & grandchildren (under 16's) - NEW for 2014!

4. Full use of 18-hole Championship Course 5. Full use of 9-hole Par 3 Course 6. Full use of the Practice Green & Driving Range 7. No restriction on advanced bookings - book up to 12 months in advance 8. Discount on the hire of our GPS Golf Buggies - a saving of £5 each time 9. 10% discount on food & drink purchases 10. Use of our Fully equipped Gymnasium 11. Use of Changing Rooms, Lockers, Showers, Steam Rooms and Sauna's 12. Use of our fully stocked fishing lakes 13. FREE hire of our Function Suite for private parties - a saving of £650!

14. FREE Towel Service - no need to bring your own and wash it at home!

15. FREE golf at 20 golf clubs around the UK & Europe with our Reciprocal Club Network

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16. Fully stocked Pro Shop with leading brand stock 17. PGA Qualified Professional Mark McGeehan is available for all your teaching needs 18. 10% discount on all indoor tuition & Cleveland Club & Ball custom fittings 19. No Joining Fee 20. Pay your Membership monthly by direct debit over 6, 10 or 12 months with Golf Plus Direct Our 5 Day Membership is now only £725!

If your weekends are just too busy for golf and you'd rather play during the week, then our 5-day Membership is the perfect choice for you! And it's now just £725 - a great price for a great membership package!

Membership Packages Our Membership packages include single, joint, intermediate and junior and are available at fantastic rates.

• • • • • •

Single 7 day Joint 7 day Single 5 day Intermediate Academy Junior

£ 995 £ 1,795 £ 725 £ 525 £ 210 £ 155

Apply to become a Magnolia Park Golf Club Member NOW! Call us to apply for membership on 01844 239700 or apply online at www.magnoliapark.co.uk/memberships

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 Clubhouse 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. 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.

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 SPOTLIGHT

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kevin offers imaginative and technical ideas for bespoke, individual requirements to give the best recording and audio post productionâ&#x20AC;?

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MUSIC ARCHITECTURE & PROFOUND SOUND Music matters a lot to Kevin Cousineau. As owner of both Oxford Audio Post Production (OAPP) and sister company Cooz’s Recording Studio (the largest recording studio in Oxford), his energy, creativity and ability come to the fore through an almost hidden door of a fairly uninspiring building on a business trading estate in west Oxford, as Kathryn Allison reviews ‘With OAPP, the business is a one stop shop for audio post production. In a current project Kevin is working with the well-renowned commercial director Chris Bartle, of Bio Montage (http://vimeo.com/66422380), on a new architectural documentary. Chris hopes to film this summer, the buildings and structures of Oxford, both historic and contemporary, using his natural flair and ability to capture scenes and shots with fresh vision and warmth.

The film will be sent to Kevin, who then mixes and edits the audio, uses audio dialogue replacement and creates classical accompanying music as well as sound design to take the audio to a new level. The result is a powerful and enthralling documentary both visually and auditorily.

Chris comments, “Kevin somehow exudes this über positive energy and crackles with creativity. I’ve recorded at many top recording studios in Soho and even at Abbey Road (for TV commercials) and Cooz’s is right up there in studios I want to record in!”

Kevin’s talents in the fields of audio post production and music composition enables him to construct audio in such a way as to map the contours of scenes unfolding through the visuals. This is never more apparent then in his composition of music and sound design to convey fun and energy for an advertisement (filmed by Chalkstar Films) or in a film by Warpline films conveying the feelings of love and loss through emotive music and stop effects.

With the help of his cutting-edge audio equipment, he is an able master at deconstructing and reconstructing the associated music. He engineers

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an updated, modern sound with clarity and added dimensions to allow easy yet compelling listening to accompany visuals. The same way as you might construct a building design framework: ‘Music Architecture’!

o2 sound engineers, mixing at Cooz’s through the pro-audio equipment to sell to bands. He also tours and attends other venues in Oxford to create a ‘pool’ of sound and music to promote and inspire artists.

Recently, he has worked on two documentaries in collaboration with Cardinal Releasing: the first, a documentary on Nat King Cole, will be screened on BBC 2 in 2014. The other is a film about the reformed 1970’s Bad Company band to be shown on SKY, which has been bought by Universal for DVD. In each case the audio supplied required subtle enhancement using analogue compression and eq, then each was mixed in 5.1 surround sound.’

And it doesn’t end there! 2014 sees the business collaborating with New Music Connection (NMC), the aim is simple: ‘To get new music heard and put talented people together to make things happen.’

How does it work? Kevin explains, “Five companies working together to offer all the requirements and packages a band needs to support their plans and ambitions for music success!”

With such achievements under his belt, OAPP is well placed to offer Oxfordshire businesses audio advertising for promoting products or services.

From recording right through to digital mastering, supported by an excellent team of sound engineers, Kevin offers imaginative and technical ideas for bespoke, individual requirements to give the best recording and audio post production.

With Cooz’s recording studio, Kevin can market his facilities to bands and recording artists, as well as for audio advertising recordings. The uninspiring exterior hides high-end audio equipment, a terraced screened working area, three recording spaces (including the largest drum room in Oxford) and a two-seater live recording booth. He has a huge archive ‘library’ of live music which he dips into and has also created a publishing side to his business, but Kevin’s enthusiasm for music doesn’t stop there! With Cooz’s Live, his team records o2 gigs and performances working in conjunction with

These are: • Recording and Rehearsal with Kevin Cousineau, OAPP and Cooz’s Recording Studio • Videos from Tom Brooks of www.indrama.co.uk • Website and Apps from Ed Catling www.mademobile.co.uk • Gig promotion and band charitable fund access with Stephanie Wright, NMC www.newmusicconnection.co.uk • CD duplication and artwork from Chery-Lee Foulsham www.theduplicationcentre.co.uk Kevin’s talent clearly lies in the post audio editing services, yet he has this boundless energy to support new and upcoming talent. His tenacious attention to detail, commercial acumen and a natural ability to work with sound is Kevin’s world of Music Architecture. www.oxfordaudiopostproduction.com www.coozes.com www.bootsandlegs.bandcamp.com www.newmusicconnection.co.uk

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CONTACTS DIRECTORY Advice................................................................................................................................................119 Business Services...................................................................................................................121 Charities................................................................................................................................123 Conference, Events & Venues......................................................................................123 Education.......................................................................................................................................125 Finance.............................................................................................................................................127 Health & Leisure......................................................................................................................127 Manufacturing..........................................................................................................................129

ADVICE

A M B A S S A D O R

A

Science & Technology.........................................................................................................129 Marketing & Design.............................................................................................................129 HR.........................................................................................................................................................131 IT & Telecommunications................................................................................................131 Property & Building..............................................................................................................133 R&R......................................................................................................................................................135 Retail..................................................................................................................................................139

Peter Upton Ltd t: 01628 781636 w: www.peterupton.co.uk

Increase Your Sales in 30 Days t: 07850 547423 w: www.increaseyoursalesin30days.com

Wenn Townsend P Tony Haines Partner

BUSINESS ADVICE

t: 01865 559900 w: www.wenntownsend.co.uk

Coaching Business A Andrew Pearson Director

Oxford Professional Consulting t: 01865 436791 w: www.oxfordprofessionalconsulting.com

The MGroup P Richard Clayton Partner

t: 01280 844966 w: www.coaching-business.co.uk

t: 01865 552925 w: www.themgroup.co.uk

Action Coach t: 01183 400 351 w: www.actioncoach.com

ACCOUNTING

Shaw Gibbs A Peter Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell Partner t: 01865 292200 w: www.shawgibbs.com

Jamesons Insolvency & Business Recovery Carolyn Dunn A Partner t: 01993 707860 w: www.jamesons.co.uk

Wellers A Stuart Crook Partner

Thomas International t: 01608 659910 w: www.thomasinternational.net

t: 01865 723131 w: www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

Strategic Mentors t: 01993 771728 w: www.strategicmentors.co.uk

Grant Thornton UK LLP P Wendy Hart Managing Partner t: 01865 799899 w: www.grant-thornton.co.uk Russell Whitlock Accountancy t: 01865 481625 w: www.rw-accountancy.co.uk Rees Russell t: 01993 702418 w: www.reesrussell.co.uk Richardsons Accountants t: 01844 261155 w: www.richardsons-group.co.uk Whitley Stimpson Ltd A Andy Jones Director t: 01295 270200 w: www.whitleystimpson.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

Exilia t: 07817 767649 Anrah Development t: 01865 243655 w: www.anrah.co.uk

RTS Breakthrough Solutions t: 07789 405079 w: www.rts-breakthroughsolutions.co.uk PARTNER? t: 07798 653139 w: www.partner-in-business.co.uk The Mustard Concept t: 01865 589507 w: www.themustardconcept.com

LEGAL Darbys Solicitors P Simon McCrum Managing Partner t: 01865 811700 w: www.darbys.co.uk BrookStreet Des Roches LLP A Paddy Gregan Partner t: 01235 836655 w: www.bsdr.com Henmans Freeth LLP A Malcolm Sadler Senior Partner

Concept Leaders Ltd t: 01666 849071 w: www.conceptleaders.com

t: 01865 781000 w: www.henmansfreeth.co.uk

Hilltop Consultancy t: 01844 238692 w: www.hilltopconsultancy.co.uk

Bower & Bailey A Stuart Palmer Partner

Sandler Training t: 01608 611211 w: www.sandler.com Adhere Training t: 0844 846 3866 w: www.adheretraining.co.uk Active Education and Training Ltd t: 01865 594325 w: www.oxfordactive.co.uk

t: 01993 705095 w: www.bowerandbailey.co.uk Penningtons Manches LLP A Richard Smith Managing Partner t: 01865 722106 w: www.manches.com

119

events

‘Special Guest, Phil Robinson of CD Wow!’

Phil Robinson

AYLESBURY COLLEGE Thursday 12th June 2014 6:00pm - 8:30pm

ABOUT OUR HOSTS Aylesbury College are delighted to host another B4 Buckinghamshire event following the successful launch last year.

Aylesbury College's Principal, Karen Mitchell, comments. "We are excited to host another B4 event which will strengthen the links with local businesses that have been forged in recent years, we hope to see some new faces on the night and look forward to another productive year.”

Oxford Rd, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP21 8PD, United Kingdom.

Phil Robinson will be our special guest speaker at this event. We look forward to hearing Phil provide an insight into the phenomenal rise of CD Wow! which he has grown to a turnover in excess of £150 million.

Dress code: Smart business casual

Having established CD Wow!, Phil is devoting a significant amount of his time advising start up businesses and setting them on the right track to achieve growth. This will be a fascinating talk for businesses of all sizes and stages in their lives, so make sure you register today.

Any enquiries should be directed to Tina Rosser 01865 742211 or events@b4-business.com

REGISTRATION

www.aylesbury.ac.uk

Please register for the event here: https://www.regonline.com/ B4AylesburyEvent2014

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 contacts Turpin & Miller LLP A Emily Boardman Partner t: 01865 770111 w: www.turpinmiller.co.uk Brethertons A Karina Ray Key Client Manager t: 01295 661425 w: www.brethertons.co.uk Sipara t: 0844 2253 570 w: www.sipara.com Dehns t: 01865 305100 w: www.dehns.com White & Black Legal LLP t: 0800 035 2656 w: www.wablegal.com 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

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

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

ShiningWithProductions A Sander Aben Film Producer / Director / Editor

Gavin Jones A Martin Ford Business Development Executive

t: 07976 939420 w: www.shiningwithproductions.com

t: 01932 833833 w: www.gavinjones.co.uk

BUSINESS CONSULTANTS

PAVY Ltd t: 01865 349014 w: www.pavy.co.uk

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

Grundon t: 01491 839212 w: www.grundon.com TOE2 t: 01865 882488 w: www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk

INSURANCE Chase Templeton A Charles Frost Independent Insurance Consultant t: 0800 018 3633 w: www.chasetempleton.co.uk

BUSINESS SERVICES

BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS

ARCHIVING AND STORAGE

Institute of Directors A Timon Colgrove Chairman

Osbornes Insurances t: 01844 214316 w: www.osbornesins.co.uk

t: 01235 773500 w: www.iod.com/oxfordshire

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Bizlinx t: 0333 700 1057 w: www.bizlinx.org.uk

West Oxfordshire A District Council William Barton Business Development Officer

BUSINESS SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

w: www.westoxon.gov.uk/business

Aston & James Office P Supplies Limited Darren Aston Director t: 01993 706900 w: www.aston-james.co.uk

West Oxfordshire A District Council Hayley Beer Tourism Services Manager t: 01993 861558 w: www.oxfordshirecotswolds.org

Ardington Archives A Janet Gibbons Director t: 01367 718710 w: www.ardingtonarchives.co.uk The Archive Centre A David Coulton Owner t: 01296 425744 w: www.thearchivecentre.com My Business Backup t: 01865 920581 w: www.mybusinessbackup.co.uk

CLEANING SERVICES Pinewood Cleaning Services t: 01993 862866 w: www.pinewoodcc.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

121

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B4 contacts NETWORKING GROUPS

TRAVEL

B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Editor

Great Experience Travel David Gambier Managing Director

t: 01865 742211 w: www.b4-business.com

t: 0845 217 8284 w: www.greatexperiencetravel.co.uk

Opendoorz t: 01865 339434 w: www.opendoorz.biz

City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager

SECURITY

t: 01865 790 522 w: www.citysightseeingoxford.com

Crisis t: 01865 263911 w: www.crisis.org.uk

Executive Alarms Ltd A John Keown Director

London Oxford Airport P Tony Farmer Head of Sales and Route Development

Aspire t: 01865 204450 w: www.aspireoxford.co.uk

t: 01865 435435 w: www.executive-systems.co.uk

t: 01865 290 600 w: www.londonoxfordairport.com

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES

Executive Fire A Protection Ltd Mickey Franklin Managing Director t: 01865 771133 w: www.executive-systems.co.uk

Visit Oxfordshire A Joanne Butler Tourism Team Leader t: 01865 252200 w: www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com Weekly Home t: 01993 811711 w: www.weeklyhome.com

TRANSPORT Chiltern Railways t: 08456 005 165 w: www.chilternrailways.co.uk

Travel Counsellors t: 01295 720266 w: www.travelcounsellors.com

Teletrax Limited t: 01235 856054 w: www.teletraxltd.co.uk

MOTOR 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 t: 01865 319000 w: www.oxfordbmw.co.uk

A

P

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research t: 0207 5042231 w: www.beatingbloodcancers.org.uk CLIC Sargent t: 03003 300803 w: www.clicsargent.org.uk Sue Ryder Care t: 01491 641404 w: www.sueryder.org

CATERING Oxford Fine Dining Sue Randall Managing Director

P

t: 01865 728240 w: www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk Elegant Cuisine A Michael Ashton Managing Director t: 01865 391888 w: www.elegantcuisine.com

A

CHARITIES

Complete Catering Jon Kay General Manager

RAF Benevolent Fund A Paul Hewson Regional Director, South England

t: 01235 820840 w: www.completecatering.co.uk

t. 01296 656586 w: www.rafbf.org.uk

Passion for Food Philip Baker Managing Director

Helen & Douglas House A Vanessa Fay Corporate & Trusts Fundraising Manager t. 01865 794749 w: www.helenanddouglas.org.uk Oxford Inspires A t: 01865 815525 w: www.oxfordinspires.org

A

t: 08452 969226 w: www.passion-for-food.co.uk

CONFERENCES Lady Margaret Hall P Bill Kemp Head of Conference Services

Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Charitable Funds A Graham Brogden Head of Community Fundraising t: 01865 743442 w: www.oxfordradcliffe.nhs.uk

t: 01865 611079 w: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

Oxfordshire Community A Foundation Jayne Woodley Chief Executive t: 01865 798666 w: www.oxfordshire.org

t: 01865 276484 w: www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences

Pembroke College A Huw Edmunds Head of Conferences and Events

Egrove Park A Jill Grieveson Conference Manager t: 01865 422757 w: www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing

www.b4-business.com

123

B4 contacts Four Pillars Hotels A Chris Green Group Marketing Manager

Oakley Court t: 01753 609 988 w: www.oakleycourt.co.uk

The Active Network P t: 08700 841 480 w: www.regonline.co.uk

t: 01993 777532 w: www.four-pillars.co.uk

Oxford Town Hall A Lucy Parr Sales Officer

Altis Consulting Charlie Allen Managing Director

t: 01865 252195 w: www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk

t: 01451 812237 w: www.altisconsulting.co.uk

EVENTS

Boys and Girls Promotions t: 01865 595717 w: www.boysandgirlspromotions.co.uk

Magdalen College School A Emma Withers Events Manager t: 01865 242191 w: www.mcsoxford.org 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 Faye Bellamy Business Development Executive t: 01235 777900 w: www.williamsconferencecentre.com The Examination Schools A Kay Hogg Events Manager

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 Oxfordshire Business Awards Paul Lowe P Chairman w: oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk Venus Awards t: 01202 559039 w: oxfordshire.venusawards.co.uk

A

The Sound Foundation t: 07973 559203 w: www.soundfoundation.co.uk

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

VENUES t: 01865 276905 w: www.examschools.ox.ac.uk Exeter College t: 01865 279600 w: www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences/ St Hugh's College t: 01865 274424 w: www.st-hughs.ox.ac.uk 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

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 t: 01865 270918 w: www.rhodeshouseoxford.com Venue Services, Bodleian Library A Alice Ogilvie Head of Venue Services t: 01865 277 224 w: www.bodleian.ox.ac.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 Oxford University A Student Union Max Richardson Advertising Sales Manager t: 01865 288456 w: www.ousu.org SAE Institute P Steve Hartley Media & PR Manager

The Burlington House t: 01865 513513 w: www.burlington-hotel-oxford.co.uk

EVENT MANAGEMENT

t: 01865 787150 w: oxford.sae.edu

The Feathers P t: 01993 812291 w: www.feathers.co.uk

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

www.b4-business.com

125

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B4 contacts SCHOOLS Bloxham School A Nick Irvine Marketing Director t: 01295 724332 w: www.bloxhamschool.com Tudor Hall Boarding School Wendy Griffiths Headmistress

A

t: 01295 263434 w: www.tudorhallschool.com

FINANCE 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

Coutts t: 01865 389039 w: www.coutts.com

Magnolia Park Golf Club A Mark McGeehan Head PGA Professional

RBS Corporate Banking t: 0845 8351249 w: www.rbs.co.uk

t: 01844 239700 w: www.magnoliapark.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 FOCUS t: 01865 295295 w: www.focus-oxford.co.ukk

MORTGAGE ADVICE Mortgage Choices A James Keene Principal Consultant

HEALTHCARE Robert Stanley Opticians A John Edwards Director t: 01865 766488 w: www.robertstanley.co.uk Clinic95 A Maria Hardman Business Manager t: 01865 241661 w: www.clinic95.com Monica Franke Osteopathy & Pilates t: 07970 119721 w: www.monicafranke.com James Bateman t: 01865 483839 w: www.shs.brookes.ac.uk/clear

Strategic Finance Director t: 07967 681 774 w: www.strategicfd.co.uk

t: 01993 862888 w: www.mortgage-choices.com

Linda Flanigan Hypnotherapy t: 07866 360359 w: www.lfhypnotherapy-oxfordshire.co.uk

Herbert & Webster t: 01865 407755 w: www.herbertandwebster.co.uk

HEALTH AND LEISURE

SPORT

FITNESS

Oxford United Football Club A Ian Lenagan Chairman

Critchleys t: 01865 261100 w: www.critchleys.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 Brown Shipley A Trudy Papafio Private Client Manager t: 0207 282 3227 w: www.brownshipley.co.uk Santander Steve Bateman Relationship Director

TLA Fitness A Tom Alden Founder t: 07554 400 401 w: www.tlafitness.com Prime Energy Fitness Ltd t: 01869 352000 w: www.primeenergy.org Cherwell Boathouse t: 01865 552746 w: www.cherwellboathouse.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

t: 01865 337505 w: www.oufc.co.uk Oxford University Rugby Football Club A Tim Stevens Club Administrator t: 01865 432000 w: www.ourfc.org London Welsh Rugby Club P Cerys Roberts Head of Corporates t: 07768 306007 w: www.london-welsh.co.uk 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

t: 01865 351122 w: www.studleywoodgolfclub.co.uk

t: 07809 493616 w: www.santander.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

127

Corporate AS A COMPANY, HOW DO YOU SAY ‘THANKS’ TO YOUR STAFF, YOUR CUSTOMERS OR SUPPLIERS? c WE HAVE THE PERFECT SOLUTION FOR YOU. v ouch ha ve been pr oviding fantastic off ers ttoo the general public vouch have providing offers ffor or over thr ee year eat plac es lik e: three yearss now now,, gr great places like:

with mor moree vouchers vouchers coming coming up ffor or sale weekly c It’s It’s a gr great eat wa wayy ffor or you ttoo buy a voucher at a 50% disc discount ount (at least) and say say to someone ffor ate vouch vouch off ers you the ‘thanks’ ‘thanks’ to or their har hardd work. Corpor Corporate offers opportunity ttoo buy 12 voucher or the pric voucherss ffor pricee of 10* c J ust call 01865 742211 742211 quoting ‘Corpor ate vouch’ vouch’ and Just ‘Corporate we can put a package of voucher ogether ffor or you. voucherss ttogether c TToo see the full rrange ange of voucher s, see the vouchers, www.vouchoffers.co.uk sitee www .vouchoffers.co.uk sit c FFollow ollow vouch on T witter or sign up ffor Twitter or the e-newslett e-newsletter er at www www.vouchoffers.co.uk .vouchoffers.co.uk

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

B4 contacts SEOptimise t: 0845 299 0818 w: www.seoptimise.com

DESIGN

EMAIL MARKETING

Blink Design A t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com

ClientMailer t: 01865 339406 w: www.clientmailer.com

Strangebrew A Phil Strachan Director

MANUFACTURING

t: 07770 753975 w: www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

LIGHTING WILA Group Ltd A Mike Collett Chief Executive Officer t: 01235 773500 w: www.wila.com

ADS t: 01993 885122 w: www.adsoxford.co.uk Isis Creative Framing t: 01865 203420 w: www.isiscreative.co.uk

MEDICAL GOODS Owen Mumford A Jarl Severn Director t: 01993 812021 w: www.owenmumford.com

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 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

Hutchhouse Ltd A Ben Hutchins Creative Director t: 0845 467 8089 w: www.hutchhouse.co.uk indiumonline t: 01865 980630 w: www.indiumonline.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY Studio 8 P Clark Wiseman Managing Director

Noble Word Matt Wright Owner

t: 01865 842525 w: www.studio-8.co.uk

t: 07500 531485 Nicholas Newman Freelance Journalist t: 01865 762710 w: www.nicnewmanoxford.com

MARKETING RESEARCH / TELEMARKETING Lingo Telemarketing A Su Copeland Managing Director t: 01865 886340 w: www.lingotelemarketing.com

MARKETING Marketing Sense A Jo Sensecall Director t: 01865 883579 w: www.marketing-sense.co.uk

In Oxford Magazine P Colin Rosser Chairman

Cardwell Marketing A Ian Merriman Director

t: 01865 742211 w: www.inoxford.com

t: 0845 1306634 w: www.cardwellmarketing.co.uk

CORPORATE IDENTITY

AWM Marketing t: 01367 244996 w: www.awm-marketing.com

t: 01295 257611 w: www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk/

t: 01865 245777 w: www.obergine.com

FREELANCE COPY WRITING AND EDITING

ADVERTISING

Recognition Express A Andy Olejnik Managing Director

Obergine A Jeremy Anderson Director

Reputation Selling t: 07976 684009 w: www.reputation-selling.co.uk Heart of Business Jackie Jarvis Director

Lyon Photography t: 01865 481550 w: www.lyonphotography.co.uk

PRINTING Advent Colour P Mike Ackerman Sales Director t: 01264 359359 w: www.advent-colour.co.uk Blueprint Imaging A Martin Matthews Managing Director t: 01993 892360 w: www.blueprintimaging.com The Oxford Duplication Centre t: 01865 457000 w: www.oxfordduplicationcentre.co.uk Culham Publication Services 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

t: 07801293022

www.b4-business.com

129

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B4 contacts WELLBEING Helen Money Nutrition A Helen Money Owner

Sylo Associates t: 01844 216290 w: www.sylo-associates.co.uk

GHM Communications t: 0845 058 4668 w: www.ghmcommunications.com

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT

t: 01865 339672 w: www.helenmoneynutrition.com

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS DATABASE MANAGEMENT

Blink Design & Print A Keith Simpson Senior Designer

BEAUTY

InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director

t: 01865 742211 w: www.on-the-blink.com

t: 0845 310 9973 w: www.intouchcrm.co.uk

Torpedo Group Limited A Iain Lewis Director

IT SERVICES

t: 01865 733710 w: www.torpedogroup.com

Bare UK t: 07773 764817 w: www.bareuk.co.uk Popham Hairdressing t: 01865 517040 w: www.popham.com

HR RECRUITMENT Allen Associates Kate Allen Managing Director t: 01865 335600 w: www.allen-associates.co.uk Berry Recruitment t: 01865 777733 w: www.berryrecruitment.co.uk myFD Recruitment t: 01869 354041 w: www.myfdrecruitment.co.uk Avatar Recruitment Consultancy Ltd t: 01295 724570 w: www.avatarrecruit.co.uk 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 Gazella HR t: 01865 339411 w: www.gazellahr.co.uk Spires HR t: 01865 880391 w: www.spireshr.co.uk MB HR Support Ltd t: 01993 882744 w: www.mbhrsupport.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

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

Made Mobile Edward Catling Director

A

t: 0845 299 7529 w: www.unicityapp.com Alberon A Tim Ault Managing Director

Data Efficiency t: 01993 608612 w: www.dataefficiency.co.uk

t: 01865 263220 w: www.alberon.co.uk

QPQ Software Ltd t: 01235 522516 w: www.qpqsoftware.com

Olamalu A Christoph Corvin Director

First Line Support Ltd t: 01865 260 220 w: www.firstline-it.com

MOBILE PHONES Everything Everywhere t: 07968 107671 w: www.everythingeverywhere.com

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

t: 01993 764566 w: www.olamalu.com Rare Form New Media A Jean H. Paldan Director t: 01865 790039 w: www.rareformnewmedia.com Urban Element t: 01993 776 999 w: www.urbanelement.com

QuarkXPress t: 0207 632 5612 w: www.quark.com

White October t: 01865 706017 w: www.whiteoctober.co.uk

Sophos t: 01235 559933 w: www.sophos.com

WEB OPTIMISATION & SERVICES

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Orange Stripe A Telecommunications Nigel Pursall Managing Director t: 0845 241 7772 w: www.orangestripe.co.uk Pink Connect t: 01865 592222 w: www.pinkconnect.com

Oxford Digital Marketing A Simon Wallace-Jones Co-Founder t: 01865 600 508 w: www.oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk Zest A Alex Minchin Director t: 0843 289 0161 w: www.zestdigital.co

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B4 contacts PUBLIC RELATIONS The Buzzworks A Sarah Airey Proprietor t: 01993 813848 w: www.thebuzzworks.co.uk Adapt Communications A Tracey Jefferies Partner t: 0845 4591007 w: www.adapt.co Papa Romeo A Claire Thompson PR Director t: 07811 339577 w: www.paparomeopr.com Esplin PR A Louise Esplin Freelance PR Consultant t: 07775 678237 w: www.esplinpr.co.uk GB PR A Gail Buckle Owner t: 01865 742940 w: www.gbprconsultancy.blogspot.com Love Communication t: 07887 775271 w: www.lovecommunication.co.uk Spriggs David A Karen David Partner t: 01865 512662 w: www.spriggsdavid.co.uk Cerub PR t: 01494 761651 w: www.cerubpr.co.uk O Consultancy t: 01295 811 781 w: www.oconsultancy.com

MEDIA JACKfm Ian Walker General Manager t: 01865 315980 w: www.jackfm.co.uk Oxford Film Productions t: 01865 761962 / 01865 762710

www.b4-business.com

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTS Riach Architects A Douglas Riach Principal t: 01865 553772 w: www.riacharchitects.com John Hallam Associates A John Hallam Director t: 01608 646969 w: www.johnhallamassociates.co.uk KMP A Peter Mark Managing Director t: 07785 225675 w: www.kmpractice.co.uk GBS Architects t: 01865 305130 w: www.gbsarchitects.co.uk Outer Space t: 07785 225675

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

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 Pure Offices t: 01865 811110 w: www.pureoffices.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS VSL and Partners P Richard Venables Director t: 01865 848488 w: www.vslandp.com Carter Jonas P Scott Harkness Partner

Pink & Black Property Consultants A Claire Moloney Director t: 01865 515919 w: www.pinkandblackproperty.com

t: 01865 511444 w: www.carterjonas.co.uk

Forge Engineering Design Solutions Ltd t: 01865 362780 w: wwww.f-eds.co.uk

Marriotts t: 01865 316311 w: www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

BUILDERS MERCHANTS

Lambert Smith Hampton t: 01865 200 244 w: www.lsh.co.uk

Buildbase P David Robertson Central Regional Director t: 01865 787763 w: www.buildbase.co.uk

Meeson Williams Ltd t: 01865 349011 w: www.meesonwilliams.com

DEVELOPMENT The Trevor Osborne P Property Group Trevor Osborne Chairman t: 01225 832302 w: www.topgroup.co.uk

133

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E AT - D R I N K - E N J O Y W W W. OX F O R D C A S T L E Q UA R T E R . CO M - OX F O R D C A S T L E Q UA R T E R , OX F O R D, OX 1 1 AY

B4 contacts 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: 01865 760055 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk

Windover Facilities A Management Edward MacFarlane CEO t: 01869 368095 w: www.windoverfm.com

Lucy Properties A Ian Ashcroft Managing Director

Next Generation Solar t: 01993 813105 w: www.nextgenerationsolar.co.uk

t: 01865 559973 w: www.lucyproperties.co.uk

JCC Electrical t: 01869 570827 w: www.jccelectrical.co.uk

North Oxford Property Services A Robin Swailes Director t: 01865 311745 w: www.nops.co.uk

t: 01993 705507 w: www.scottfraser.co.uk Kemp & Kemp A Graham MacDonald Director

College and County A Mark Crampton-Smith Owner t: 01865 722722 w: www.collegeandcounty.biz

t: 01865 510000 w: www.kempandkemp.co.uk frontdoorz A Sonia Kearns Creative Director

Premier Letting Charles Bartlett Partner

A

Strutt & Parker A Miles Collison Partner, Development Land & New Homes t: 01865 366660 w: www.struttandparker.com

A

t: 01865 318013 w: www.pennyandsinclair.co.uk

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

www.b4-business.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

PROPERTY SERVICES Absolutely Offices Beryl Huntingdon Managing Director

rb Gas t: 01865 200902 w: www.rbgas.co.uk Jill Treloggen Interiors Jill Treloggen Owner t: 01993 700515 w: www.jtiuk.com

A

CS Electrical t: 01793 526003 w: www.cs-elec.co.uk Darke & Taylor Ltd t: 01865 290000 w: www.darkeandtaylor.co.uk

t: 01865 792299 w: www.premier.uk.com

t: 01865 339444 w: www.frontdoorz.com

Penny & Sinclair James Penny Director

scottfraser A Andrew Greenwood Group Managing Director

A

t: 01256 316500 w: www.absolutely-offices.co.uk EIFLA-3D A Nigel J Blanchard Founder & CEO t: 0844 7767 1870

R&R ACCOMMODATION Macdonald Randolph Hotel A Michael Grange General Manager t: 0844 879 9132 w: www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk The Royal Oxford Hotel A Tom Crampton-Smith Owner t: 01865 248432 w: www.royaloxfordhotel.co.uk The Oxford Hotel P Paul Russell Executive General Manager t: 01865 489988 w: www.pumahotels.co.uk/ hotels/the-oxford-hotel Westwood Hotel A Anthony Healey Owner

Savvy Maintenance A & Renovations Stephen Dunne Director t: 01865 920020 w: www.savvy-group.co.uk

t: 01865 735408 w: www.westwoodhotel.co.uk

A1 Plumbing & Heating t: 01865 327732 w: www.a1ltd.co.uk

t: 01865 820416 w: www.fallowfields.com

Fallowfields Hotel & Restaurant Anthony Lloyd A Managing Director

Conifers Guest House t: 01865 763055 w: www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk

135

SHARING COMMERCIAL PERSPECTIVE Penningtons Manches LLP - expert legal insight for businesses and individuals across the Thames Valley. To find out more, call us on 01865 722106 or e-mail info@penningtons.co.uk

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:HČ&#x2021;UH KHUH WR RIIHU D helping hand when you need it most.

CORPORATE RECOVERY AND INSOLVENCY SOLUTIONS C O R P O R A T E R E S TR U C TU R IN G A N D TU R N A R O U N D A D V IC E P E R S O N A L IN S OL V E N C Y A D V IC E | D E B T M E D IA TIO N

JAMESONS INSOLVENCY & BUSINESS RECOVERY t. 01993 707860 | e. hello@jamesons-ibr.co.uk

B4 contacts Old Swan & Minster Mill A Amanda Baker t: 01993 862510 w: www.oldswanandminstermill.com Hawkwell House Hotel P Tim Spittles General Manager

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL Orchestra of St John's John Lubbock Artistic Director t: 07765 252489 w: www.osj.org.uk

t: 01865 749988 w: www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk

Oxford Philomusica t: 07775 904626 w: www.oxfordphil.com

Hope House Woodstock t: 01993 815990 w: www.hopehousewoodstock.co.uk

Modern Art Oxford A Hannah Evans Communications Manager

HEYTHROP PARK RESORT Round Discount £20pp Mon to Fri - £25pp Sat & Sun 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.

C: Tracy Stanton | E: info@heythroppark.co.uk | T: 01608 673333 | W: www.heythropparkresort.co.uk

The Bear & Ragged Staff Mark Greenwood Landlord

A

t: 01865 862329 w: www.bearandraggedstaff.com Eynsham Hall t: 01993 885238 w: www.eynshamhall.com Spirit Health Club t: 01865 888444 w: www.spirithealthclubs.co.uk

BEAR AND RAGGED STAFF 15% OFF 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.

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

RENTAL ACCOMMODATION Lower Mill Estate Red Paxton Marketing and Sales Director

A

t: 01865 813826 w: www.modernartoxford.org.uk Rachel Ducker w: www.rachelducker.co.uk Ashmolean Museum t: 01865 288 364 w: www.ashmus.ox.ac.uk

GALLERIES

Roots of Oxford P Mike Hirons Managing Director t: 01865 792060 w: www.rootsofoxford.com First Class Products A Thomas Ellis Owner t: 07919 133476 w: www.firstclassproducts.biz Philip Dennis Foodservice t: 01993 700030 w: www.philipdennis.co.uk Booker t: 01933 371000 w: www.booker.co.uk

RESTAURANTS Browns Restaurant P Simon Stonehouse General Manager t: 01865 511995 w: www.browns-restaurants.co.uk

Wiseman Gallery A Sarah Wiseman Owner t: 01865 515123 w: www.wisegal.com

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Sam Strange Magic A Sam Strange Owner t: 01865 742211 w: www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

BROWNS Complimentary House WIne With lunch & Dinner Monday-Friday Enjoy the sophisticated sound of great live pianoplaying at Browns Oxford – the perfect accompaniment for drinks and dinner.

C: Simon Stonehouse | T: 01865 511 995 | W:www.brownsrestaurants.co.uk/locations/oxford/

ENTERTAINMENT Pegasus Theatre A Bel Crewe Development Director

The Trout P Chris Lewis General Manager

t: 01865 812160 w: www.pegasustheatre.org.uk

t: 01865 510930 w: www.thetroutoxford.co.uk

Oxford Playhouse t: 01865 305305 w: www.oxfordplayhouse.com

The Red Lion P Mark Purton General Manager

Creation Theatre t: 01865 761393 w: www.creationtheatre.co.uk

t: 01865 726255 w: www.redlionoxford.co.uk

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES The Oxford Wine Company A Ted Sandbach Managing Director

4500 MIles From Delhi A Nav Kandola Owner t: 01865 244 922 w: www.milesfromdelhi.com/oxford

t: 01865 301144 w: www.oxfordwine.co.uk

t: 01285 869489 w: www.lowermillestate.com

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137

PROFESSIONAL COMMERCIAL

AND INDUSTRIAL CLEANERS

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B4 contacts Spice Lounge A Ali Aktar Owner

Bayleaf t: 01865 884401 w: www.bayleafrestaurant.net

t: 01865 510071 w: www.spiceloungeoxford.co.uk

The Chequers at Burcot t: 01865 407771 w: www.thechequers-burcot.co.uk

The Snooty Mehmaan Asad Ahmed Director

A

t: 01367 242260 w: www.thesnootymehmaan.co.uk

OXFORD UNIVERSITY RFC 50% Off OURFC Supporters Club Membership 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: Tim Stevens | E: tim.stevens@sport.ox.ac.uk | T: 01865 432000 | W: www.sport.ox.ac.uk

Brookes Restaurant Jonathan Warhurst Operations Director

A

t: 01865 483873 w: www.brookes.ac.uk Turl Street Kitchen A t: 07717 341628 w: www.turlstreetkitchen.co.uk Gee’s Restaurant & Bar t: 01865 553 540 w: www.gees-restaurant.co.uk Old Parsonage Hotel t: 01865 310 210 w: www.oldparsonage-hotel.co.uk Quod Brasserie & Bar t: 01865 202505 w: www.quod.co.uk Cockadoo t: 01865 341030 w: www.cockadoo.co.uk The Big Bang t: 01865 249413 w: www.thebigbangrestaurants.co.uk Pierre Victoire t: 01865 316616 w: www.pierrevictoire.co.uk The Oxford Blue t: 01865 460215 w: www.theoxfordblue.com The Quince Tree t: 01491 639039 w: www.thequincetree.com

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The First Floor A t: 01865 200203 w: www.thefirstfloor-restaurant.com

University of Oxford Shop P t: 01865 247414 w: www.oushop.com

OXFORD EVENT HIRE 10% OFF Equipment Hire

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 Chariots and Cherry Pie w: www.chariotsandcherrypie.co.uk

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.

C: Kieran Lynch | E: info@oxfordeventhire.co.uk | T: 01865 760158 | W: www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk

Bicester Village Helen Peters Sales & Marketing Manager - Tourism t: 01869 323200 w: www.bicestervillage.com

LADY MARGARET HALL 10% Off

Beeline Bicycles A Luis Tulip Manager

Any accommodation & Meeting Bookings

t: 01865 246615 w: www.beelinebicycles.co.uk

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.

Casa Rose Boudoir t: 01865 510191 w: www.casaroseoxford.com

C: Bill Kemp | E: lodge@lmh.ox.ac.uk | T: 01865 611079 | W: www.lmh.ox.ac.uk

Argenteus t: 01865 840810 w: www.argenteus.co.uk

Malikas t: 01865 723029 w: www.malikasrestaurant.co.uk La Cucina t: 01865 793811 w: www.lacucinaoxford.co.uk

Clements and Church t: 01865 511212 w: www.clementsandchurch.co.uk Riche de Fleurs t: 01993 869202 w: www.richeflowers.com

Qumins t: 01865 247093 w: www.qumins.co.uk

COFFEE SHOPS Java & Co t: 07736 950673 w: www.javaandco.co.uk

RETAIL SHOPPING Blackwell’s P David Prescott Managing Director

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t: 01865 382500 w: www.blackwell.co.uk

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LISTEN UP

FOLKS An authentic slice of Americana is coming to your neighbourhood soon

Delicious gourmet diner food and our deluxe hand car wash service at your disposal from dawn till dusk.

For a taste of things to come drop by and sample our menu at our mobile trailer on site from March.