B4 issue 50 by B4 Magazine

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’s s re es hi in K ds us e E 24 or B in LIN xf g az OFF O din ag N & a M HIP O Le RS

MAGAZINE ISSUE 50 JANUARY 2018

Thank you to all of our members and readers for their support in helping us publish 50 great issues.

OXFORD SCIENCE PARK

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

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B U I L D I N G B R I D G E S B E T W E E N B U S I N E S S E S

BROADEN YOUR BUSINESS HORIZONS TODAY Connect your business with over 600 members and raise your profile through our established B4 promotional platforms.

Magazine  You’re looking at it! One word sums up B4 Magazine: Quality. Not only is B4 Magazine designed to the highest possible standards, the print finish is excellent and the magazine oozes style and sophistication. In terms of content, B4 covers a wide range of businesses from mainstream as well as niche sectors, providing our readers with excellent insight, opinion and advice. B4 is published bimonthly and distributed to 3,000 business decision makers in Oxfordshire and beyond with a growing number of multi copy outlets.

Social Media 

20,000+

Not only do we use Twitter and LinkedIn to promote everything B4, the real news we push out to the world is YOUR news. So if you post a press release on the B4 website, we’ll post it out to a network approaching 20,000 connections. Why not use us for specific campaigns where we can schedule your messages to go out to our growing networks? An increasingly effective platform for B4.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS AND RISING

Website  Connect on line with the growing network of B4 members through our excellent new website and post unlimited press releases, events, offers and job vacancies. You can also recommend and review other members, introduce members to each other, not to mention we will post any articles you have in B4 Magazine on the website. Get recognised as a business or an individual, build your following and establish yourself in the B4 network.

NO 903

B4 Classic Events: High quality sums up B4 events. Superb venues, excellent hospitality, access to some of Oxfordshire’s more exclusive locations and great networking. B4 Classic Events are not to be missed opportunities to relax and develop your networks. B4 Platinum Dinners: Connect with senior representatives from some of Oxfordshire’s leading businesses in some of our most spectacular locations. A great way to build and cement invaluable business relationships. Business In Oxford: Oxfordshire’s leading business to business networking and showcase event. Approaching in excess of 700 delegates with over 70 exhibitors and 80 presenters at BIO2017, make sure BIO2018 is on your radar. www.businessinoxford.com

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Video  Video is proven as one of the most effective means of absorbing information and that’s why we use B4TV to capture the latest news and interviews with our members. Get to know our members and find out more about what makes them a success with B4TV. To get your message and personality across to our growing network and beyond, contact B4 and we’ll do the rest. All you’ve got to do is make sure you don’t fluff your lines...

“ B4 is the trusted and respected B2B network in Oxford and for Conference Oxford: congratulations on your 50th edition” Mike Naworynsky, Chair, Conference Oxford

Richard Rosser Chief Executive & Editor

Colin Rosser Chairman

Keith Simpson Senior Designer

Lorna Dodson Production Manager & Assistant Editor

Rob Scotcher Design & Photography

welcome to 50 Thank you to all of our members, advertisers and readers for helping us to reach 50 issues, a significant milestone.

PARTNERS

Official E-mail Marketing Partner

I mentioned in my last introduction that we were about to have our first B4 Advisory Board Meeting. Since then we have had two meetings plus countless one to one meetings with our members and it has helped us to appreciate the warmth and community that has developed within B4. If you attended either of our events in the first week of December at Divinity School or the Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre at Worcester College, then you will have witnessed the excellent atmosphere at both events, something we are very proud of. Read more about both events and our event at TOAD inside.

Official HR Partner

2018 is going to be a big year for B4 as we have some great plans to help enhance the B4 community with more events. We like to do things well but we know we can do so much more to add value to B4 members and it’s an exciting time as we turn 50 to be in the B4 community. But this issue isn’t just about B4 celebrating, there are lots of significant achievements to recognise. Corpus Christi had the celebration of all celebrations as they hit 500 years, Oxford Fine Dining celebrate their 10th anniversary, Conference Oxford look back on a fantastic year and ADS mark 30 years in business. You HR announce the launch of their academy and Oxford Science Park look ahead after a year of progress. There are new recruits at Freeths who welcome Rebecca Howlett and Knights 1759 announce key promotions.

Official Cloud Partner

On a sad note, we recently learned of the sad passing of Nick Walker from Focus. Nick was always friendly, courteous, professional and did business with a smile. He will be sadly missed by all of us at B4 and the wider business community. Emma Davis Design & Social Media Co-ordinator

Thank you again to all of you for your support, epitomised by our member rich front cover and thank you to Dominic Hare and Heather Carter at Blenheim for facilitating the shoot, expertly captured by Clark Wiseman of Studio 8 and set for the cover by Rob Scotcher.

Official Charity Partner

ON THE

Enjoy B4 Issue 50 and have a great 2018! Sue Rosser Credit Control

HILL

Visual Design Partner

Richard Rosser Editor Lydiah Igweh Commercial Director

About Sandra Dibling Business Development Executive

Jess Palmer Account Manager & Event Co-ordinator

p2. p3. p8. p10. p11. p12. p14. p16. p17.

What is B4? Introduction, Meet the Team Platinum, Gold, New & Renewing Members Why Become a B4 Member? B4 Advisory Board Recent B4 Events Forthcoming B4 Events B4 Members’ Events Good News from the B4 Community

“ There’s no doubt that B4 unites Oxfordshire’s business community, connecting and championing it’s people and the work that happens across this dynamic county. Happy 50th edition!.” Olivia Lane-Nott, Founder & Director, Spacecraft Consulting Ltd

Official Stationery Partner

Official Print Partner

lead

legal

advice

6 A Timeline of B4: We look back over the past 50 editions and 11 years of B4.

20 Intellectual Property: Freeths look at how to protect and promote your intellectual property.

35 High Performing Teams: Diane Wilkinson explains how good leaders communicate and collaborate.

22 Avoiding Discrimination: Hedges look at how to remove discrimination and sexism in your workplace.

36 Transformative PR: Haiku Consulting talk about the big difference between advertising and PR.

24 Key Promotions: Leading law firm Knights explain their robust strategy for retaining people.

39 Facing Challenges: YoCO is raising confidence and self-belief in vulnerable young people.

26 Beneficiary of an Estate: Freeths look at how estate beneficiaries can receive what they are entitled to.

40 Social Animals: Alison Haill explains how quality conversations can boost business growth.

csr

club

43 A Gift to Oxford: Manager of the new John Lewis hopes to bring great things to Oxford.

8 Latest B4 Members 10 B4 Membership 11 B4 Advisory Board 12 Recent B4 Events 14 Upcoming B4 Events 16 Upcoming Members’ Events 17 Good News from B4

45 Turning Over a New Leaf: The Wildlife Trust and Saïd Business School join forces to help the environment.

finance 29 Stand Out From the Crowd: Whitley Stimpson’s Val and Owen celebrate 30 years with the firm. 30 Autumn Budget 2017: Wellers take a look at what you need to know from the Autumn Budget. 32 The M Group’s 90 Years: B4’s own accountants celebrate their 90th birthday a look back over the years.

property news 18 B4 Members’ News 47 Freeths’ News 49 Whitley Stimpson’s News 66 Sobell House’s News

50 Challenges in Letting: Breckon & Breckon explain why these are challenging times for the lettings industry. 52 2017 in Property: Mark Charter of Carter Jonas looks back over the last year. 54 VSL & Partners: Check out the latest commercial properties from VSL & Partners.

contents technology

services

57 ActiveNeedle: An intuitive medical device is being developed at Culham Innovation Centre.

93 10 Years of Fine Dining: Specialist caterers Oxford Fine Dining are celebrating their 10th birthday.

59 Surviving Winter Outages: Complete IT talk about how to avoid business downtime this Winter.

94 Your Local Choice: Read about Aston & James’ office solutions designed to make your life hassle-free.

60 The Significance of Encryption: CIS explain how you can ensure your customer’s data is secure. 76 A Divinity School Christmas: Read about our fantastic Christmas Dinner and Awards Ceremony for members. 78 Howbery Business Park: Howbery Park shares some of it’s own success stories from over the years. 81 A Year of Celebration: Corpus Christi College celebrated its 500th year in 2017. 82 B4 and the Sultan: We held a great event at the stunning new Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre at Worcester College.

hr &

84 A Year of Progress: Oxford Science Park celebrate a year of progress a look ahead to the future.

corp. life

recruitment

97 New York Italian in Oxford: Read our review of Marco’s New York Italian restaurant in the heart of Oxford.

63 Specialist Recruitment: Finance.work discuss what effective recruitment is really about.

98 Royal Lancaster London: We visited this stunning hotel after its recent £80m refurbishment.

64 You HR Academy: You HR celebrate the launch of their new online HR academy.

100 B4 Travel: Travel tips and guides from B4’s own travel editor David Gambier.

venues 69 A Story of Success: Conference Oxford celebrate a hugely successful year in the world of venues. 70 B4 Event at TOAD: B4 recaps the wonderful Classic Event we held at The Oxford Artisan Distillery.

marketing

72 Saïd Business School: Find out about the dinners and functions available at this great modern venue.

87 30 Years at ADS: ads Advertising & Design looks back ahead of its 30th year celebrations.

75 Oxford Brookes Venues: Read about this award winning venue offering a stunning setting.

88 Alina K: Strangebrew tells us about Alina’s recent successes and recording at Abbey Road.

Contacts 102

B4 50th

Timeline November 2005 – B4 is Born! At a meeting with John Kennedy, then of Darbys (now Knights), Colin and Richard Rosser agreed to launch a quarterly business magazine aimed at giving Oxfordshire businesses a profile in high quality print. John came up with the name B4, standing for Building Bridges Between Businesses and commented. John Kennedy explains his thinking. “We wanted to create a Business Magazine that could be a platform to communicate effectively, empower relationships and genuinely support and build business. Connecting and building businesses does not need to be a daunting walk on a tightrope for business leaders - it can be a solid pathway to bridge the boundaries that keep businesses separate and limit opportunities and growth.. Our vision was to Build Bridges Between Businesses and enable business people to cross barriers in a trusted and supported way – hence our final title………. B4.” Simon Howson-Green, the editor of Issue 1 recalls. “B4 began life in the days when print media titles were beginning to fade over the horizon of the traditional publishing landscape. Despite this, B4’s birth was noisy, impactful, attention grabbing and significant. It was what the Oxford business community needed. It grew up fast, changed the rules and evolved into an iconic force in the digital age. A decade later B4 - in all its guises - is still setting trends and has influence and value. It was a real privilege to have been part of the team which brought B4 kicking and screaming into the business world. It was also a lot of fun.” Colin Rosser, B4’s Chairman, remembers. “In the early days our publishing company produced entirely consumer facing publications, like ‘In Oxford Magazine’, ‘The Oxfordshire Restaurant Guide’ and ‘The Best in Oxford’. It wasn’t until 2004, when we produced our first ‘Black Book’ which was an annual ‘Who’s Who’ of local business men and women, that we looked to the business world. This was very well received and set us on the path of thinking about producing a more regular business to business publication. Hence the birth of B4, which was not only to become just a magazine, but a thriving business community that continues to connect businesses and people in print, on line, face to face and through social media.” Richard Rosser, B4’s CEO admits it’s been quite a journey. “We knew there was an opportunity to provide Oxfordshire’s business community with something different but we had no idea B4 would develop the way it has. From what was meant to be a collection of Newsletters, B4 has taken on a life of its own with a growing community of members and some fantastic events over the years. We are really proud of what we have achieved to date, but we’re only just beginning.” Keith Simpson, the man behind the look of B4, commented “B4 was a major leap forward from the projects we were doing at the time. It was something new and exciting to design. As it has grown, its style has grown, and I think its clean, colourful, less corporate feel, has made the magazine something that people want to pick up, read and be seen in.” 6

June 2006 – Issue 1 of B4 is out! Issue 1 of B4 is launched with a core of supporting companies including Jayne Woodley, then of Barclays and now CEO of the Oxfordshire Community Foundation backing the new title. The magazine was launched on the terrace at Malmaison with over 100 guests.

March 2007 – B4 Website goes live The first B4 website was launched providing a site where B4 magazine could be viewed electronically.

May 2007 – B4’s first Networking Event at Malmaison

2014 – B4 consolidates into one magazine and goes bi-monthly The expansion into Berks and Bucks wasn’t quite what we expected so we decided to print one magazine more frequently for all three counties.

23rd to 27th May 2013 – B4 Edinburgh to Oxford Bike Ride As if 280 miles wasn’t enough, with the support of De Vere Hotels and Browns, a team of 30 riders and support crew completed a fantastic 428 mile cycling adventure, raising over £10,000 for charity.

Almost a year on from the launch of B4 on the terrace at Malmaison, over 100 guests crammed into the Visitor’s Room at Malmaison for a spontaneous, one off, networking event. It was the first of many.

April 2011 – Venues Guide Launch Oxfordshire is packed full of fascinating venues and this brand new supplement to B4 provided them with a fantastic opportunity to gain excellent profile.

9th June 2011 – 5th Birthday celebrations at Blenheim Palace

2nd to 4th June 2012 – B4 Paris to Oxford Bike Ride A team of 20 B4 members and staff cycle 280 miles from Paris to Blenheim Palace raising over £6,000 for local charities.

The B4 team cut their 5th Birthday cake in the fantastic surroundings of Blenheim Palace.

2012 – B4 branches into Berks and Bucks Having secured a foothold in Oxfordshire, B4 expands to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

www.b4-business.com

We Have Held Events At Over 40 Venues 2014 – Launch of Business in Oxford

DECEMBER 2017 – WE’RE 50!

Having been approached by Cllr Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, to help connect the Council with the business community, we launched Business in Oxford at Saïd Business School with over 300 delegates attending our inaugural event.

B4 celebrates its 50th edition and looks forward to another 50….really?! Gulp!

December 2017 – Over 200 B4 guests entertained in one week On Monday 4th December we hosted almost 90 guests in a wonderful black tie dinner at the Divinity School, one of Oxford’s oldest venues. On Thursday 7th December, Sir Jonathan Bate OBE, Provost of Worcester College, welcomed over 130 B4 Members and their guests to the superb Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre for a fantastic B4 Classic Event.

2015 to 2017 inclusive – Marathon Man CEO Richard Rosser completes three London Marathons in aid of CLIC Sargent (twice) and Helen & Douglas House raising over £5,000.

November 2016 – runners up in Santander Financial Media Awards Sitting alongside the might of The FT and The Economist, B4’s hard work pays off with the runners up slot at these prestigious awards held in London.

October 2017 – B4 Advisory Board meets for the first time Over 20 B4 members convene at the fantastic Ashmolean Museum for B4’s first Advisory Board meeting to help shape the future development of B4.

B4 Stats

January 2017 - PM recognises B4’s 10th Anniversary

Total unique views of website OVER 500,000

Prime Minister David Cameron presents B4 with a 10th Anniversary certificate.

December 2017 – B4 on the move Having established B4 in the family home in Headington, B4 moves to Weston-on-the-Green to new premises with our own brand new offices scheduled to open in January 2018 – we can’t wait!!

www.b4-business.com

Ashmolean Aylesbury College Blackwell’s Blenheim Palace Bodleian Library Bombay Sapphire Distillery British Gas HQ Bucks New University Christ Church College Divinity School Donnington Valley Hotel Examination Schools Hawkwell House Heythrop Park Holiday Inn Peartree Macdonald Randolph Hotel Malmaison Milton Hill House Modern Art Oxford Newbury Racecourse North Oxford Garage Oakley Court Hotel Oxford Town Hall Pembroke College Rhodes House Said Business School Sheldonian Theatre St Anne’s College St Antony’s College The Compleat Angler The Forbury Hotel The Globe, Oxford The King’s Centre The Oxford Union The Vineyard TOAD Unipart Weston Library Williams Conference Centre Worcester College

Total copies of magazines OVER 250,000

Total number of guests through B4 events 7,920 attendees Total number of views on ISSUU Over 500,000 Social Media Connections Over 20,000 Estimated business through B4 Estimated over £10 million with at least £1 million of businesses conducted between members per annum

PLATINUM

Everything for the Workplace

ON THE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

HILL

Platinum & Gold Members “ The team at B4 are an extremely valuable business partner to Aston & James but more than that we also see them as part of our team.” Darren Aston, Managing Director, Aston & James

New & Renewing Members

GOLD

Become a part of the B4 Network today. Call 01865 742211, or visit www.b4-business.com “ We have been proud to have been a supporter of the B4 Magazine since it’s inception many years ago. It is the must-read business magazine in Oxfordshire” Sarah Foster, Managing Partner, Freeths

Why Become a

Member?

All B4 Members, from Standard to Platinum Membership, receive the following basic benefits: B4 Magazine Directory listing: With a readership of 24,000 B4 Magazines, the B4 Business Directory is a fast growing and key part of the Magazine. Make sure you are listed and get seen by influential business decision makers. Attend B4 Classic Events: Network with other B4 Members in fantastic venues across the Thames Valley. No extra charge to attend B4 Classic events.

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B4 Web Directory listing: With over 200 visitors to the B4 website every day, get listed on the B4 Web Directory and have access to upload unlimited press releases, event details, offers and jobs and also connect with other members, recommend, review and introduce. Account access for up to 5 employees. Discounted Advertising Rates: By becoming a B4 Member you can benefit from Member’s Rates for editorial or advertising in B4 Magazine.

Membership Options & Perks  Member

 Gold Member

 Platinum Member

Business listing in B4 Business Directory in B4 Magazine

Yes

Business listing on B4 website Directory and unlimited uploads

Yes

Access to all B4 Classic Events - minimum 12 per annum

Yes

Logo in this section at front of B4 Magazine

Yes

Discount on rates for B4 Magazine

10%

15%

B4 Magazine Pages

B4 Dinners

1 seat at 1 dinner

1 seat at 6 dinners

B4 TV Interviews

Early booking for limited number of events

Gold Members have second option after Platinum

Platinum Members have first option

Newsdesk

Yes

Your event in collaboration with B4

Yes

B4 Editor Introductions

Yes

One off payment

£750

£1,500

£6,000

Quarterly payment

£215= £860

£425 = £1,700

£1,600 = £6,400

“ B4 is a brilliant publication which has established itself as the in-house magazine for Oxfordshire’s business community.” Bob Price, Leader, Oxford City Council

Advisory Board SPOTLIGHT

Jonna Mundy Chief Executive Officer - You HR | www.youhrconsultancy.co.uk Jonna is a Human Resources and Organisational Development professional. A fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) with over 20 years experience across both public and private sector, from the NHS and RBS to Centrica and the Royal Mail. In 2010 Jonna set up You HR to address the need for a personalised approach to HR solutions more aligned to differing client business needs. Her commercially-focused approach enables her to work flexibly in any environment and influence and engage with all types of client and stakeholder groups. She believes in shaping the future and is passionate about motivating individuals’ to realise their full potential. She’s also a Sushi ninja, and You HR’s Friday Fundays wouldn’t be the same without her culinary delights. Jonna loves the great outdoors, enjoying new experiences with her family and exploring all that life has to offer. She is also highly community focused and harbours a strong belief for giving back.

Thank you to our Advisory Board for taking the time to support B4 as we develop our ideas and plans to make B4 an even more effective community.

Wendy Ball Head of Events Ashmolean Museum

Darren Aston Managing Director Aston and James

Colin Rosser Chairman B4

Richard Rosser CEO B4

Lydiah Igweh Commercial Director B4

Lorna Dodson Production Manager B4

Greg Barnes Director Breckon & Breckon

Richard Marsh CEO CIS Ltd

Mike Foster Commercial Director CRM

Stewart Elliston Freeths Principal Manager, Business Development

Helen Fallon Director Global CTS

Toby Newman Growth Advisor Grant Thornton UK LLP

Orhan Ertughrul Executive Vice President G-Smatt Europe

Nicola Poole Managing Director Hedges Law

James White Founder InTouch CRM

Andy Cowie Marketing & Business Development Director James Cowper Kreston

Jarl Severn Managing Director Owen Mumford

Gavin Jones Group Finance Director Owen Mumford

Edward Rosser Founder OXCUK

Phil Southall Managing Director Oxford Bus Company

Jo Willett Head of Marketing Oxford Centre for Innovation

Bob Price Leader Oxford City Council

Cheryl-Lee Foulsham Business Manager Oxford Digitisation Centre

Jayne Woodley CEO Oxfordshire Community Foundation

Sebastian Johnson Head of Innovation & Inward Investment Oxfordshire LEP

Claire Thompson Managing Director Papa Romeo Public Relations Ltd

Tim Wraith Corporate Partnerships Manager Sobell House

Phil Strachan Owner Strangebrew

Katherine Bertram Founder The Career Boutique

Richard Venables Director VSL & Partners

John Kennedy Brand Protection Wildbore and Gibbons

Visit www.b4-business.com for more information on our board members.

“ From the very first edition, B4 has provided us with the perfect platform to reach and engage with our audience within Oxfordshire and presents some great networking opportunities. ” Greg Barnes, Managing Director, Breckon & Breckon

Event Stats

B4 PLATINUM DINNER AT MACDONALD RANDOLPH HOTEL

B4 CLASSIC EVENT AT TOAD

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Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2LN

12th October, 7pm - 11pm

Old Depot, Cheney Lane, Oxford, OX3 7QJ

23rd November, 6pm - 8pm

HOST

Gurval Durand, General Manager, Macdonald Randolph Hotel

Tom Nicolson, Founder & CEO, TOAD

ATTENDEES INCLUDING

• Cotswold Taste • Grant Thornton • MINI Plant Oxford • Knights

• G-Smatt Europe • College & County • Kingerlee • Rhodes House

“A warm, welcoming and delicious way to spend the evening!”

“A great tour of Oxford’s own Artisan Distillery topped off with a smattering of networking.”

– Lorna Dodson, Production Manager, IOG

– Chaz Snell, Owner, The Plastic Goldfish Company

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SOCIAL STATS LinkedIn 12  610  e-Newsletter 798 

DID YOU KNOW... Macdonald Randolph Hotel is the leading 5-star hotel in Oxford.

SOCIAL STATS LinkedIn 27  7  23,369  e-Newsletter 797 

DID YOU KNOW... TOAD is Oxford’s first and only artisan distillery.

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

3-course fine dining

Tour of the distillery & tasting

“ B4 has become an institution. I always look forward to their events. If you are serious about your business, can you afford not to be a member?” Alan Hine, Director, Finance.Work

B4 XMAS DINNER & IN OXFORD AWARDS AT DIVINITY SCHOOL

B4 CLASSIC EVENT AT WORCESTER COLLEGE

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Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG

4th December, 7pm - 10.30pm

1 Walton St, Oxford OX1 2HB

7th December, 6pm - 8pm

HOST

Caroline Trevers, Head of Conference & Accommodation, Worcester College

Alice Ogilvie, Head of Venue Services, Bodleian Libraries

130

ATTENDEES INCLUDING

• Beard Construction • Newbury Racecourse • OxLEP • Finders Keepers

• Ashmolean Museum • Oxford City Council • Oxford United FC • Tottenham Hotspur FC

“What a splendid evening, a fantastic showcase for Oxford.”

“A stunning venue for the local business community.” – Marie O’Connor, Conference Oxford

– Cllr Bob Price, Oxford City Council

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SOCIAL STATS LinkedIn 43  3  4,677  e-Newsletter 805 

DID YOU KNOW... Divinity School is the oldest (15th century) purpose-built building for University use.

SOCIAL STATS LinkedIn 28  61  3,362  e-Newsletter 807 

DID YOU KNOW... The Sultant Nazrin Shah building is the newest University building in Oxford.

SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Speech from Sir Jonathan Bate, Provost of Worcester College

In Oxford Awards Ceremony

“ Many congrats on 50 not out and for being a champion of local business. All the best from everyone at Finders Keepers.” Dan Channer, Director, Finders Keepers

Forthcoming

Events

B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Date: 6-8pm, Wed 24th January 2018 Venue: Hartwell House Hotel & Spa, Aylesbury, HP17 8NR Dress code Smart Casual Price: Free

B4 and Hartwell House are proud to welcome you back to this fantastic venue for an evening of relaxed networking, with drinks and canapés in a stunning setting. Hartwell House is one of England’s stately homes, just 40 miles North West of London, set in over 90 acres of gardens and parkland designed by a contemporary of Capability Brown. Hartwell House is located within the Vale of Aylesbury and on the edge of the Chilterns, an area of outstanding natural beauty. The National Trust-owned Grade 1 listed Jacobean and Georgian house provides all that is best in country house hospitality and service.

B4 Classic Event at Milton Hill House Date: 6-8pm, Thu 8th March 2018 Venue: Milton Hill House, Steventon, Abingdon, OX13 6AF Dress code: Smart Casual Price: Free

This B4 Classic Event will involve networking with drinks and canapés, followed by welcome speeches from B4’s Richard Rosser and Ben Sanders of Milton Hill House, with tours of the beautiful venue taking place afterwards alongside further networking opportunities. Milton Hill House is a stylish, elegant venue & hotel in Oxfordshire. Surrounded by 22 acres of tranquil parkland just 13 miles from Oxford, Milton Hill, Abingdon seamlessly blends a graceful Georgian manor house with modern amenities. You’ll feel the history the moment you arrive at this charming Georgian mansion house.

B4 Classic Event at Pint Shop Date: 6-8pm, Thu 19th April 2018 Venue: Pint Shop, 25-27 George St, Oxford, OX1 2AU Dress code: Smart Casual Price: Free Join B4 members and guests at the lively and inviting Pint Shop in Oxford for an evening of relaxed networking with Hop & Beer tasting activities. Pint Shop is inspired by the original ‘Beer Houses’ or ‘Tom and Jerry Shops’ as they became known, which are viewed by many as the birth place of today’s pub.

We have the following events also confirmed for 2018: 1st February Blenheim Palace 10th May MEPC

23rd May August

BIO2018 at The King’s Centre Bombay Sapphire

August The Manor Hotel 4th October Freeths

“ Happy 50th Edition B4! In print, online and in person, B4 has proven to be an invaluable partner to the Ashmolean and the wider university, business and not-for-profit community in Oxfordshire” Wendy Ball, Head of Events, Ashmolean Museum

 B4 Classic Event at Weston Library Date: 6-8pm, Mon 11th June 2018 Weston Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG Venue: Dress code: Smart Casual Price: Free Join B4 Members and Guests for an evening of networking, guest speakers, drinks and canapés in the beautiful new development of Weston Library, part of the historic Bodleian Libraries. During the event guests will be welcome to view the galleries and visit the roof terrace for stunning views of the Oxford skyline. The Weston Library provides a new home for the Bodleian’s special collections and its £80m refurbishment was designed to create high quality storage for its collections, to develop the space for both advanced research and to extend public access to the Libraries’ treasures.

B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House Date: 6-8pm, Thu 6th September 2018 Rhodes House, South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3RG Venue: Dress code: Smart Casual Price: Free A hidden delight situated in the heart of Oxford, Rhodes House is a beautiful venue steeped in history – ideal for dinners, business meetings, product launches and weddings. For nearly a century Rhodes House has been the gathering place for Rhodes scholars and distinguished guests. Now, the House is available so that others can enjoy the peace, quiet and unique atmosphere of this private, exclusive venue. It is ideal for both corporate and private events, for large and small functions. Join other B4 Members and their guests at this stunning venue, home of the Rhodes Scholars.

B4 Classic Event at Divinity School Date: 6-8pm, Mon 29th October 2018 Venue: Divinity School, Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG Dress code: Smart Casual Price: Free Join B4 Members and Guests for an evening of networking, guest speakers, drinks and canapés in the beautiful and historic Divinity School of the Old Library, part of the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries. The Grandest room in the Old Bodleian Library was designed to impress. Completed in 1488, the Divinity School is a masterpiece of late gothic architecture with a magnificent stone carved ceiling. This splendid medieval room is the oldest teaching hall and earliest examination hall of the University. During the event guests will be offered tours of the Duke Humphrey Library.

Visit www.b4-business.com to register for these events Please note for all events. The following conditions must be observed by all B4 members and guests: • If you are unable to attend a B4 event for any reason, please notify us in writing no later than 72 hours before the event • If we are not made aware of your inability to attend we will be charging a fee per ticket which will be passed on to our preferred charity for each particular event, nominated by the host. Fees as follows: -- With more than 72 hours notice there will be no charge made -- With less than 72 hours notice there will be a charge of £10+VAT made -- With no notice there will be a charge of £25+VAT made • Please note we regret there are no exceptions to our no-show / no notice policy. Failure to pay outstanding invoices will impact on your ability to attend future events as follows: -- Members: You have one “no notice” of a no-show allowance per annum for your company as a whole. Once this has been used then any registration privileges you are entitled to will be removed for up to two events and all future ‘no notice instances will be charged as per the rates above -- Non Members: You will not be allowed to register for future B4 events as a guest until your invoice has been settled • It is not appropriate to leave stacks of flyers or business cards on tables at the venue. Any found will be disposed of.

“

Incredible that B4 is passing such an impressive milestone even more unbelievable that in my previous life at Barclays, I was the banker that helped get the first edition published. Just goes to show Oxfordshire is such a small place where friendship and communities can make great things happen.” Jayne Woodley, Chief Executive, Oxfordshire Community Foundation

Upcoming

Members’ Events

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B4 Members are encouraged to post their own events on the B4 website. Here is a selection of upcoming events from the network:

Christopher Farrell: Vantage Point ( A Contemporary View Of Oxford) Date: 13th Jan - 10th Feb 2018 Venue: Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford Organiser: Sarah Wiseman Gallery, Oxford In his new solo exhibition Vantage Point, Christopher Farrell is setting out to explore Oxford, recording not just its iconic skyline but the rapidly changing face of the city too. Christopher Farrell is already well known for his interpretations of historic painting techniques, used to make his distinctive paintings of London. Often large scale, his paintings contain breath-taking detail using combinations of highly skilled drawn marks, as well as more gestural and abstract forms. Using similar approaches to painters of the past, in particular Canaletto, Christopher practices methods that have not changed for centuries, yet he doesn’t romanticise the or omit indicators of a rapidly changing skyline – the cranes, traffic lanes and glow of air-craft tail lights are all very much part of his work.

Business Breakfast Seminar: Sugar Smart & Keeping Your Workforce Active Date: 18th Jan 2018 Unipart House, Oxford Venue: Organiser: Reciprocate Oxfordshire Workplace Wellbeing Network invite you to learn how you can support your workforce to eat better and feel fitter! Enjoy a healthy breakfast whilst hearing from local organisations who have implemented physical activity programmes through partnership working, benefiting from a healthier workforce with reduced absenteeism and improved mental wellbeing. • Opening address from Richard Venables, High Sheriff in Nomination and Chair of Local Oxford Responsible Business Group, Reciprocate • SUGAR SMART campaign launch for business – strategies of how to make your workplace SUGAR SMART with the Jamie Oliver backed campaign from Good Food Oxford • Examples of leisure centre and business engagement partnerships with ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ from the Park Club Milton • Active travel inititatives to support starting your employees day with a burst of activity – Veronica Reynolds & Nancy Leadley, Milton Park • Toolkits from Public Health England and Business in the Community on physical activity and healthy eating in the workplace.

Twin Town Challenge 2018 Date: Fri 25th - Mon 28th May 2018 Venue: Blenheim Palace to Le Touquet and back! Organiser: Twin Town Challenge Twin towns, 100 cars, 1 amazing weekend. The Twin Town Challenge is a fun, team-based car challenge. Buy a £500 banger, add your own style and drive it from Oxfordshire to Le Touquet, France, competing in challenges along the way. Dance the night away to live bands at a very special street party, visit a circuit and join in a weekend packed full of entertainment. All to raise money for local technology charity SpecialEffect! Guaranteed lots of fun, networking and helping to raise tons of money for charity.

Visit www.b4-business.com for more information on any of these events.

“ B4 has been an excellent partner in helping us launch our business into Oxfordshire and meet lots of new faces.” Paul Wood, Managing Director, Indulge Media UK Ltd

Good News from the

Wonderful B4 Christmas Dinner & In Oxford Awards Ceremony 2017 On the 11th of December 2017, Bodleian Library’s prestigious Divinity School played host to not only this year’s B4 Christmas Dinner but also to the annual In Oxford Awards. The event included an opportunity to connect with a wide range of Oxfordshire’s leading businesses and enjoy the hospitality of Oxford Fine Dining, with speeches from Alice Ogilvie, Head of Venue Services at Bodleian Libraries, Cllr Price, Leader of Oxford City Council and Richard Rosser, CEO of B4. The 2017 In Oxford Awards were a huge success with thousands of votes being cast by the general public to nominate the county’s favourite establishments. Among the winners were Creation Theatre, taking the coveted grand prize of “Oxfordshire’s Favourite” overall, and Pierre Victoire winning Oxfordshire’s Restaurant of the Year. To see the full results visit: awards.inoxford.com

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the UK, FIFA and the world of sport - all guests of the Embassy of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom. The prestigious celebratory event was the first in the world to mark the official start of next year’s World Cup, due to be hosted across Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018. English footballing legend Stan Collymore interviewed the TOAD team for inclusion in his new TV programme, “The Stan Collymore Show” on RT (formerly Russia Today). Former England International footballer Sol Campbell gave a presentation at the launch. The English vodka, already being hailed a world class spirit, is distilled from ancient grains, grown sustainably in fields close to the Oxford distillery and has total ‘grain-to-glass’ provenance. It is farmed in ways once common in medieval times, contributing to biodiversity in the English countryside. It has an exceptionally smooth, caramel taste – the result of distilling rye grain in TOAD’s hand-crafted copper stills. TOAD’s founder Tom Nicolson said: “We were deeply honoured to have been selected to participate in this event. The world rightly acknowledges the role that Russia has played over the centuries in creating superb vodkas.” If you haven’t been to one of our events, what are you waiting for? See the full list of upcoming events at www.b4-business.com

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The Power of Networking with B4 B4 Members’ events have come a long way in the last 12 months, and are generating some fantastic opportunities for all parties involved. Thanks to the networking power of B4, The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) attended a reception to launch the FIFA World Cup 2018, on Tuesday 12 December at the Russian Embassy in London. Oxford’s first grain to glass distiller served its Oxford Rye Vodka to around 170 dignitaries from Russia,

B4 Welcome Lunches at The Manor Country House Hotel As part of a review of all of our processes at B4, we are delighted to announce a series of new member lunches that will be held at The Manor Country House Hotel, starting in January 2018. The lunches will be hosted by the hotel’s General Manager, Michael Stevenson, who commented, “We are delighted to be hosting the B4 New Member lunches next year. B4 is the county’s premier networking organisation and for us to be new B4 Members’ first ‘event’ is an absolute pleasure for us and a great opportunity to showcase our facilities.” The lunches will also be open to renewing members who would like to find out more about getting the most out of their membership. The lunches will include networking with new and existing B4 members, an introduction to the benefits of B4 membership and how to get the most out of the services we provide and, of course, a great lunch and a look around The Manor’s facilities. Visit www.b4-business.com for more information.

To Read the latest B4 News visit www.b4-business.com

“ B4 serves as a great platform for us to expand our network, generate awareness of our brand and to promote the personal side of our business, this is vital for our business relationships and how we deliver our solutions” Richard Marsh, CEO, CIS Ltd

Community News No more cables! Fully wireless; lighting, audio and video* solutions. THAT event company are now offering fully wireless solutions for your event - no power cables & no signal cables - less time, less staff & no cables in sight! Tried and tested by the larger professional production companies worldwide we now feature as part of our hire stock the latest products from industry leaders such as Core lighting, Wireless solutions Sweden and for mics and speakers; Sennheiser. We offer seamless professional presentations & conferences in less time, with less stress - even the most complex venues are straight forward and safe to setup any way you want; with no trailing cables, cable ramps or tape. Audio systems - unlimited hours with hot swappable batteries. Lighting systems - up to 14 hours. * Video is wireless HD signal only. Contact us now for pricing create@that-event.com www.that-event.com 01844 215857

What do a bike and a Roman have in common? Celebrating “World Car Free Day” at Milton Park, MEPC saw the weird and wonderful ways in which people travelled to work – including a Roman costume-wearing uni-cyclist. This is part of a green travel campaign that MEPC, asset manager and developer of Milton Park, has worked hard over the year to introduce. Bringing in travel consultancy, Vectos, MEPC has worked alongside Behavioural Change Advisor, Veronica Reynolds to implement a number of sustainability and customer engagement initiatives

including a free bike loan scheme and an upgraded car-sharing scheme. As a result, Liftshare membership has grown from 74 to 563 people, cycling is up 5% and there has been a 4% reduction in single occupancy vehicles. In November, MEPC was awarded the ‘Best Responsible Property Investment (RPI) Environmental Sustainability Initiative’ award at Hermes Investment Management’s RPI Awards – a nod to the green travel campaign and, of course, the Roman on a uni-cycle. www.miltonpark.co.uk

Hartwell House & Spa B4 delegate rates With good links to the M40, London Heathrow and Luton airports and only 35 minutes by train from London Marylebone, this magnificent country house is readily accessible.

Hartwell House & Spa, in the Vale of Aylesbury, is ideally situated to accommodate business meetings, conferences and social occasions.

Business users will find that Hartwell House provides separate meeting rooms away from the main house; all equipped with the latest technology, yet adjacent to the Hartwell Spa with its indoor pool, gymnasium and treatment rooms. Backed up by a dedicated team providing the support necessary, you cannot fail to have a successful and enjoyable meeting at Hartwell House.

Take advantage of special delegate rates for B4 network members in January and February 2018. The eight hour day delegate rate is only £65 and the 24 hour residential package only £225 per person (both ex VAT) Call the Meetings & Events office on 01296 746502 to discuss your requirements in detail. www.hartwell-house.com

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 2017 Queen’s Award presented to Owen Mumford as HM The Queen’s representative to present the Award which includes a Grant of Appointment and a commemorative crystal bowl bearing the Queen’s Award Emblem. The day began with Jarl Severn, Managing Director welcoming the Lord-Lieutenant and making introductions to Adam Mumford, Director and Mark Owen, Chairman. The Lord-Lieutenant responded by thanking Owen Mumford for its outstanding contribution to the medical devices industry and remarking on the particular success of Unifine® Pentips® Plus. The Lord-Lieutenant also congratulated Owen Mumford on its impressive achievement in being conferred with four Queen’s Awards over the years. After the speeches and product demonstrations, the VIP guests were taken on a tour of the Woodstock site, visiting Research & Development and Lancet Production. Jarl Severn said of the day:

The official presentation of the Queen’s Award for Innovation 2017 in November was a proud day for Owen Mumford. L to R: Adam Mumford, Director, Jarl Severn, Managing Director, HM the Queen’s Lord-Lieutenant for Oxfordshire, Mr Tim Stevenson OBE, Mark Owen, Chairman and Mrs Jill Dunsmore, Governor of the Marlborough School in Woodstock.

In April this year, Owen Mumford won the 2017 Queen’s Award for Innovation for its innovative medical device, Unifine® Pentips® Plus, the world’s first all-in-one pen needle and remover. Owen Mumford was the only Oxfordshire business to receive a Queen’s Award in 2017 and it is the fourth time the company has been bestowed the prestigious business award.

On Monday 20th November, the official presentation ceremony took place in Woodstock and Owen Mumford was delighted to receive a visit from Mr Tim Stevenson OBE, HM the Queen’s Lord-Lieutenant for Oxfordshire together with Mrs Jill Dunsmore who, as well as serving other public office roles, is a Governor at the Marlborough School in Woodstock. One of the Lord-Lieutenant’s duties is to visit winners at their business premises

“We were delighted to receive the 2017 Queen’s Award for Innovation from Her Majesty’s personal representative, the Lord-Lieutenant for Oxfordshire. This prestigious award is for all Owen Mumford associates, for their loyal commitment and invaluable contribution to the company’s success. Today’s event is a mark of the high esteem in which the company is held, and we will treasure the Queen’s Award with pride.” www.owenmumford.com

Leading Wycombe based accountancy firm Seymour Taylor have been celebrating their Centenary during 2017. For their Centenary Seymour Taylor decided to raise £10,000 for local & national charities and to deliver 100 hours of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Business award for Apprentice and Young Person Employer of the year and Practice Excellence Practice Growth Firm of the Year.

They have raised over £12,000 for local and national charities. The local charities they supported were Victim Support, Child Bereavement UK, Scannappeal and Wycombe Mind and they completed 100 hours of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Simon Turner, Seymour Taylor’s Managing Director said “It’s been fantastic celebrating our Centenary and we are really proud of what we have achieved this year. “We believe as a business that by focusing on ‘Excellent Client Service’, that we can continue to build on our business now and in the future”.

The firm won two awards a Buckinghamshire

www.stca.co.uk

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Six things you need to know to protect and promote your intellectual property Failing to protect your intellectual property (IP) rights can impact considerably on your finances. Even worse, if you don’t own control over the rights that your business was founded on, this could destroy it. Yet many companies only address the issue of IP when something has gone awry and needs to be fixed. Written by: Rebecca Howlett - Commercial Lawyer Photography by: Freeths Solicitors

In this article commercial lawyer and IP expert, Rebecca Howlett of Freeths Solicitors, explains the importance of knowing your IP rights, how to protect them and how to exploit them. She also shares some of her top tips for getting it right.

1. Register your trademarks. Just because you’ve registered your company name with Companies House or registered your domain, don’t assume this gives you protection over the name or the right to stop others from using it. You need to register your company name and/or brands as trademarks. This will show clear ownership and make it far easier for you to defend any infringement. Taking this step early on will prevent someone else from registering the name before you do and ensures you can use it and defend it. Failure to do so could result in a protracted and costly legal battle.

2. Keep your ideas under your hat. The easiest way for someone to take advantage of your IP rights is to give them away unwittingly. It happens. Frequently. So don’t chat about your business venture to a friend in the pub, or give away secrets when talking to a business you want to partner with or a potential manufacturer. Once the information is shared, it can be very costly to secure your rights. If you want to save legal fees later down the line, make sure anyone you divulge your confidential information to is someone who has already signed a nondisclosure agreement.

3. Don’t sign away your key rights. Time and time again I am asked to look at an agreement that a client believes gives them full rights over their IP. However, a quick review of the documents shows it doesn’t and they have actually assigned their core IP to a third party. Always read the small print and, if in doubt, ask for legal advice. I know of a luxury skincare company that paid £3,000 for a logo design but they didn’t realise the designer retained the IP rights. They only discovered this when the company was up for sale and had to pay the designer £60,000 to assign the IP and enable the sale to go through. An expensive oversight.

4. Once protected, commercialise it. If your business has secure IP, you can commercialise it and use your brand as a powerful tool. IP rights are a commodity like anything else, so why not license them to create additional revenue streams for your business? Review your IP assets and think through which ones are suitable for building licensing streams. Consider whether you want to branch into new markets and whether you want to use a distributor or an agent with local knowledge to help with this growth.

The easiest way for someone to take “advantage of your IP rights is to give

them away unwittingly. It happens; frequently. So don’t chat about your business venture to a friend in the pub

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Rebecca Howlett - Freeths Solicitors

5. Know who you are dealing with. Always carry out comprehensive due diligence checks on any business or entity before you enter into discussions regarding your business or its IP. You need to ensure the business is legitimate, honest and able to deliver the results they say they can. If you enter into a business relationship that goes wrong, it can be a hard battle to win back your rights.

6. Consider your exit. Every decision you make for your business should be with an eye on the exit. The sale of your business may not be on the cards for a number of years, but if you build your business so it is desirable for a potential buyer then you can drive up its value. You need to ensure three things:

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Always carry out comprehensive due diligence checks on any business or entity before you enter into discussions regarding your business or its IP. You need to ensure the business is legitimate, honest and able to deliver the results it say

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it can

Rebecca Howlett - Freeths Solicitors

• Firstly that you have protected your IP; • Secondly, the ownership of your business sits where it should; and • Thirdly all contracts you have in place will survive a sale. Taking legal advice two to three years in advance of a sale can help increase your sale price and reduce the time it can take to sell your business. Investing in your IP early on can save a great deal of money later – and once you have identified and protected it you can really make it work for you. Do the hard work up front and keep monitoring the position so you are not distracted by a threat to your brand. After all, if you have not done your homework, you may need to rebrand your business at short notice and this can have a significant impact upon your financial and time resources as well as your reputation, as the brand that people have already come to know suddenly disappears. If you are not sure if your Intellectual Property Rights are secure or are about to partner with a third party, then call Rebecca Howlett, Commercial & IP Partner, on 01865 781 082 or by email at rebecca.howlett@ freeths.co.uk, to make sure your rights don’t stray.

pictured: Rebecca Howlett

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 rebecca.howlett@freeths.co.uk  01865 781 082  www.freethsoxford.co.uk

Getting in on the act: How to remove discrimination and sexism in your workplace If Westminster can’t get it right, how can we be sure that we are creating and promoting a safe working environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment? Written by: Prisca Bradley and Roy Magara

Photography by: Jackie Cross

With so many equality issues on the radar at present, including gender pay gap reporting and sexual harassment, is this the right time for employers to stop and ensure that their equality and inclusion initiatives are fit for purpose? What we know from press coverage over the last year is that in spite of the extension of equality legislation over the years, discrimination is still prevalent. A 2015 report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) concluded that some forms of discrimination are in fact on the increase.

Pregnancy and maternity discrimination Based on interviews with 3,034 employers and 3,254 mothers, the findings showed that the majority of employers agreed with the notion of supporting pregnant women and those on maternity leave, and also agreed that the statutory rights relating to pregnancy and maternity leave were ‘reasonable and easy to implement’. However: • 1 in 10 (10%) mothers stated that their employer had discouraged them from attending antenatal appointments. This could mean as many as 53,000 mothers a year if scaled up to the general population of the UK. • Approximately 1 in 9 mothers (11%) reported that they were either dismissed, singled out and made redundant, or treated so poorly that they felt that leaving work was their only option. This could mean as many as 54,000 mothers a year if scaled up to the general population of the UK.

• 1 in 5 (20%) mothers said they had suffered less favourable treatment relating to pregnancy or requests for flexible working from their employer and/or colleagues. This could mean as many as 100,000 mothers a year if scaled up to the general population of the UK.

What we know from press coverage “over the last year is that in spite of the extension of equality legislation over the years, discrimination is still prevalent. A 2015 report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) concluded that some forms of discrimination are in fact on the increase. Prisca Bradley - Hedges Law

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When we look at what is being revealed about Hollywood, we are reminded about the perennial nature of such inequality and can ponder the difficult historical quest for parity of treatment and opportunity. A study carried out by the Pew Research Centre in America found that out of 4602 adults, 63% of the women believed that there continue to be major obstacles for women in the workplace. Only 41% of the men hold the same view.

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B4 legal Prisca Bradley

The Everyday Sexism Project (#everydaysexism) which was launched in 2012 has collected over 25,000 women’s stories, of which over 5000 occurred in the workplace. One reads: “Often he would sit next to me with his hand on my leg while we analysed data together.” Another reads: “I was applying for a senior job with a well-known female led architecture practice, and afterwards the recruiter called me for a post interview catch up. She said they didn’t have any questions, and could see me growing into an M.D. role eventually. They had just one question they needed to know – whether I was planning to have children in the next couple of years!”

How do we effect more longer-lasting change? It is one thing to have a grievance or even harassment policy, but perhaps more creative ways of tackling the problem are required. One suggestion which might be viewed as controversial or challenging would be to actively look for evidence of inequality. If we draw analogies with the way whistleblowers are often treated when they raise very serious public interest

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issues such as patient harm, we see that the best initiatives not only focus on having robust reporting procedures but also provide a framework for eliciting such information in the first place. This successful approach is often supplemented by a continuous equality and inclusion training programme including the operation of unconscious bias.

Roy Magara

Murray is known for speaking out against sexism in tennis and corrected a comment that he was the first to win two Olympic gold medals by reminding the commentator that Venus and Serena had won at least four. He is not alone. The men in our organisations can and do want to do more. Let’s make sure they are part of the solution.

Unlike the current rhetoric of demonisation, this is not about casting women as victims and men as villains. Neither is it a matter for only women to speak out about and resolve: It is everyone’s issue. As responsible employers, we can prompt each employee within the organisation to play their part in reducing the prevalence of harassment and discrimination. Apart from doing the right thing and complying with statutory requirements, creating a positive culture which encourages disclosure will give your business a commercial advantage and help your recruitment and retention statistics. Going further than one parliamentary spokesperson who said that we must make parliament safe for our daughters, maybe we should ensure that we are offering such environments for our sons too. Andy

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prisca.bradley@hedgeslaw.co.uk 01865 594 265 www.hedgeslaw.co.uk @hedgeslaw @hedgeslaw

Promotions for the Knights Oxford Team

Knights 1759 makes several key promotions as part of its growth strategy The UK’s fastest-growing professional services business, Knights 1759 wouldn’t be where it is today without its people –the lifeblood of the business. Written by: Knights 1759 Photography by: Studio8

Knights 1759 set out to achieve UK-top 100 status five years ago; now a £33.5 million turnover business recording a 64% growth in revenue during 2016, it’s clear that by having a robust strategy for retaining and developing people is the key to its success. With 500 professionals operating from six regional offices across the UK, Knights 1759 is well-known for becoming the first UK commercial law firm to be granted an ABS licence and to attract private equity investment.

Commitment to developing great people is a key element of the Knights 1759 growth strategy in Oxford having made several key promotions from within the business recently.

Jenny Peus and Michael Wong will see them commence their training contracts in March 2018.

With a wealth of experience between them, Knights is pleased to announce promotions for Bellann Hollingbury, Jane Bedford, Jenny Clendining, Jo Levy and Sharon Tuckey who have all been promoted to senior associates with Katharine Lockhart and Rachel Carrington-Matthews being promoted to associates.

Oxford office leader, Mark Beech, said: “Oxford is a key region for us and we continue to cement our position in the market by making a number of promotions from within the business.

Further promotions for paralegals Emily Llewellyn, 24

Oxford - a key market

“We recognise our professionals who share the same core values as our business and we are delighted to announce a key number of promotions within our www.b4-business.com

B4 legal Jane Bedford - Senior Associate

Jenny Clendining - Senior Associate

Private Client team “inTheOxford is extremely close-knit and thriving. I am delighted to have my commitment to this fantastic team recognised through my promotion. Bellann Hollingbury - Senior Associate

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Bellann Hollingbury - Senior Associate

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It is certainly an exciting time to be a part of the Knights’ team in Oxford. I’m extremely proud to be promoted to senior associate and very much looking forward to what the future holds. Jane Bedford - Senior Associate

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Oxford office, this is testament to their hard work and contribution to our culture at Knights. We’re particularly excited about our future as we continue to expand.”

An exciting period of change Jane Bedford, senior associate in the Private Client team has been working in the region for more than seven years. She said: “It is certainly an exciting time to be a part of the Knights’ team in Oxford. I’m extremely proud to be promoted to senior associate and very much looking forward to what the future holds. The Private Client team undertakes a wide variety of work for a diverse range of clients and we’re relishing continuing to attract quality clients to the business.” Bellann Hollingbury is an experienced legal professional and has spent many years advising on private client matters throughout Oxfordshire which includes dealing with complex estate administration cases, statutory wills and advising on powers of attorney and capacity issues. “The Private Client team in Oxford is extremely close-knit and thriving. I am delighted to have my commitment to this fantastic team recognised through my promotion.” Jenny Clendining, who has also been promoted to www.b4-business.com

The Oxford office is a great place to be and I am thrilled to have my commitment to the company rewarded with this promotion. Jenny Clendining - Senior Associate

senior associate at Knights 1759, is a specialist in clinical negligence. She said: “The Oxford office is a great place to be and I am thrilled to have my commitment to the business rewarded with this promotion.

People at the heart of the business Great people are at the heart of our business as Oxford office leader Mark Beech, explains: “As we continue to grow in Oxford and the wider region, it’s important that the balance of the team is maintained by bringing in a mixture of skillsets. The main trait we look for in people is an ability to make a difference to our clients – if you’re passionate about helping businesses achieve their long-term goals and take a forward-thinking approach then that’s us in abundance.

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heart of the business. It aims to further strengthen its position in the Oxford marketplace by growing and developing the 100-strong team. Providing specialist legal and professional support to businesses in all areas of corporate, commercial and real estate as well as support with legal issues, Knights’ ABS status enables it to provide ‘non-law’ services such as town planning, corporate finance, and specialist tax advice. You can contact the Knights 1759 Oxford office on 01865 811700. Find out more at www.knights1759.co.uk or join the conversation at @Knights1759

“We’re passionate about changing the face of professional services. At Knights 1759, although we operate across six different regional offices, the same ethos, drive and vision is shared across the business no matter which office you step into.”

Where next? As one of the fastest growing professional services businesses, the Oxford office of Knights 1759 is only set to prosper further with great people at the

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jane.reeve@knights1759.co.uk 01865 811 700 www.knights1759.co.uk @Knights1759

How can the beneficiary of an estate be sure that they have received what they are entitled to? Are you dealing with the estate of someone who has died, and want to know what records you must keep and what information you must give to the beneficiaries? Written by: Sally Goodger and Rachel Wos Photography by: Freeths Solicitors

Personal representative’s duties When someone dies, the Will or the intestacy provisions determine who is entitled to deal with the administration of the estate, and who is to benefit from the estate. Personal representatives (the persons authorised to deal with a deceased person’s estate) have a duty to keep clear and accurate accounts. These ‘estate accounts’ should contain a complete record of the financial transactions during the administration of an estate from the date of death to the date of distribution. Estate accounts should show: • All of the deceased’s assets; • All of the deceased’s liabilities; • Income received during the course of the administration; • What tax has been paid; • What fees and administration expenses have been incurred; and

• How the balance of the estate has been distributed. Clear estate accounts ensure that the correct payments are made to the beneficiaries of the estate; and give the personal representatives and beneficiaries a clear overview.

All too often, beneficiaries feel as though they have no information as to how the estate administration is progressing, if it has been dealt with properly, or when they are likely to receive their inheritance.

Beneficiaries’ rights

A personal representative is not bound to distribute the estate of the deceased before the expiration of one year from the death. This is known as the ‘executor’s year’. This means that a personal representative cannot be forced to distribute before the executor’s year is up and, even after the year’s end, a court will not order distribution if the personal representative can show that there are good reasons for retention and that the personal representative is acting honestly.

Once admitted to probate, a Will becomes a public document. A beneficiary who receives a cash legacy from an estate would have no need to see the estate accounts if they have received in full the sum due to them from the Will.

Sometimes there can be good reason why an estate is taking longer to administer than expected. It is however advisable to open up the lines of communication with the personal representative if as a beneficiary you have any concerns.

A beneficiary who receives a share of the residuary estate, is however entitled to ask for the estate accounts.

Writing to the personal representatives in the first instance may well put a beneficiary’s mind at ease if the personal representatives are able to explain

There is no prescribed format for the estate accounts. A personal representative would be entitled to ask for professional help in preparing the estate accounts, and the costs of doing so can usually be met from the estate.

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B4 legal

Sally Goodger

Rachel Wos

the reasons for the apparent delays and provide a copy of the interim estate accounts.

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If no response is forthcoming, or if a beneficiary is not satisfied with the response from the personal representative, they may wish to consider taking further action.

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Beneficiaries have the right to apply to the court for an order that the personal representatives produce a set of estate accounts, if the personal representatives have not provided them upon request (commonly referred to as, an inventory and account application). The production of estate accounts allows beneficiaries to see what assets are in the estate and it should provide an indication as to why distribution has not taken place or when distribution is likely. Using this method effectively holds the personal representative to account with a view to the estate administration been completed without further delay, or face being in contempt of a court order.

good evidence that the estate administration will not be completed without new personal representatives being appointed. If you are an executor or beneficiary of an estate and require further information on any of the above matters or related issues please contact Rachel Wos or Sally Goodger at Freeths LLP on 01865 781000.

Where the intervention of the court does not result in the timely distribution of the estate then beneficiaries may need to consider taking further steps to bring about the estate administration and distribution. One option is to consider whether it is appropriate to apply to the court to remove one or more of the personal representatives. Such a step is not to be taken lightly and the courts are reluctant to remove personal representatives unless there is

 rachel.wos@freeths.co.uk sally.goodger@freeths.co.uk

 01865 781 000  www.freethsoxford.co.uk

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 finance Whitley Stimpson Directors, Val Buzzard and Owen Kyffin

WHY VAL AND OWEN STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD Val Buzzard and Owen Kyffin, two directors with expertise in different areas, stood out from the crowd at this years’ annual staff conference of one of the leading accountancy practice and business advisors Whitley Stimpson. Written by: Claire Thompson, Papa Romeo PR

Photography by: Vic Toplisek, Whitley Stimpson

Although they are part of a close knit team in a company that prides itself on the quality of its training, development and integration with the communities it serves, they were in the spotlight to celebrate a total of 30 years’ service with the company. Val Buzzard is celebrating 20 years with the company. She joined Whitley Stimpson as a qualified accountant and became the first woman partner 16 years ago - and 2017 is definitely her special year. For Val, who is a fully registered holder of the Trust and Estate Practitioner Diploma, was crowned as businesswoman of the year at the Banbury Women in Business awards in March this year. Within the company she is currently working to develop further the firm’s payroll management programme for companies of all sizes and has restructured a team to create a more efficient, effective and cohesive service for clients. She is also audit compliance director for Whitley Stimpson and plays a leading role in bringing procedures across all four offices in Banbury, Bicester, High Wycombe and Witney in line during the company’s strategic merger process over the last five years. Val is also pioneering the company’s specialisation in areas associated with trusts and estate administration, following her award in this field, which gives clients assurance that the company is well versed in this area. She is busy building up the specialist service team to deal with this growing www.b4-business.com

element of the company’s business. She is also the link with Husky Finance, a workplace pensions service provider, to provide small and micro employers with a range of solutions to meet their auto-enrolment programmes. This service allows companies to compare pension providers based on their specific needs. Owen and Val both regularly collaborate with other local professionals to run seminars and webinars on contemporary matters, as diverse as government budgets and tax relief changes for buy-to-let landlords to helping employers and staff of small and micro companies through the complexities of pensions auto-enrolment. Owen Kyffin came to the fore to celebrate 10 years as a director. He is a well-known specialist in tax planning and qualified in that field with the Inland Revenue, now HMRC, in 1988. After two years in the Inland Revenue he moved to a top ten international firm, where he studied for his professional qualifications with the Chartered institute of Taxation. He stayed with this firm for 20 years, working mainly with family and management owned companies, before joining Whitley Stimpson in 2007, where he advises companies and individuals on the ever increasing complexities of tax matters. Owen is also committed to community service and he was a charter member of the Rotary Club of

Banbury Cherwell in 1977, which means he has been involved in Banbury Rotary for 20 years. He is also a cricket fan and has been involved with Banbury Cricket Club for 23 years and is a fervent believer in the company’s commitment to involvement in the communities in which the company works. Whitley Stimpson’s managing director Jonathan Walton paid tribute to the two long service directors at the company’s annual conference where staff from all their offices meet to discuss past performance and to help plan the future of the company. He said: “Everyone in our team is a star in their own right, but it was a good opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of these two directors. Their achievement embodies the very spirit of the company and represents our commitment to excellence in service to our clients and to the communities in which we work.”

CHARTER ED ACCO UNTANTS AND BUS I NES S A D V I SOR S

 ban@whitleystimpson.co.uk  01295 270 200  www.whitleystimpson.co.uk

What you need to know from the Autumn Budget 2017 Debbie Austin of Wellers assesses the Budget and its impact on businesses and individuals. Written by: Debbie Austin

The Chancellor began his Autumn Budget 2017 statement by describing a future full of opportunities. While the UK economy has appeared quite robust in the face of Brexit negotiation uncertainty, the reality was a synopsis of weak growth, lower productivity and thus worse public finances than previously projected. Pensioners will be most relieved as there weren’t any changes to the tax treatment of pensions, an area that could have raised plenty of additional revenue for the Exchequer. First time home buyers were the other big winner with the stamp duty land tax changes. This may help stimulate what has been a quite stagnant property market of late which is also good news for sellers.

1. How the budget impacts SME businesses Significantly the government announced an extra £2.3bn investment in Research and Development (R&D). As part of this the R&D expenditure tax credit will be increased to 12% from its current 11% level from 1 January 2018. A campaign is also being launched to increase awareness of the eligibility for R&D tax credits among SMEs. This will be aimed at businesses using emerging technologies. Technology was a key area of focus with new funding from the British Business Bank for projects including fibre broadband, 5G mobile and artificial intelligence. This will come as a boost to many cash starved start-up businesses.

corporation tax and referred to as chargeable gains. Total chargeable gains are detailed in the corporation tax return. Significantly as of January 2018 the corporate indexation allowance for chargeable gains will be frozen, so that companies will no longer benefit from relief for inflation after this date. Employers should note that the minimum wage will rise in April 2018 to £7.83 from the current £7.50 rate per hour. Plans for a £9 minimum wage for the over 25’s didn’t come to fruition due to the weak economic data. Contrary to speculation beforehand, the VAT registration threshold remains at £85,000 for 2018/19 and 2019/20. Businesses that operate as online market places will now become jointly and severally liable for any unpaid VAT of both UK and overseas traders. For residential property held within a limited company, the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) charges will rise by 3% from 1 April 2018 in line with the Consumer Prices index. The charges for 2018 to 2019 will be as follows:

Property value

Annual charge

£500,000 - £1,000,000

£3,600

£1,000,001 - £2,000,000

£7,250

£2,000,001 - £5,000,000

£24,250

£5,000,001 - £10,000,000

£56,550

£10,000,001 - £20,000,000

£113,400

£20,000,001+

£226,950

There will be a number of changes to business rates which include: • Bringing forward to 2018 the switch in indexation from RPI to the (usually lower) CPI • Increasing the frequency of revaluations to every 3 years (previously it was 5) after the next one in 2022. • Retrospective legislation to deal with the impact of the so-called ‘staircase tax’ by recalculating valuations and qualification for small business relief to the position in the period before April 2010 With regards to capital gains for limited companies, these are dealt with through 30

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finance

that operate “asBusinesses online market places will now become jointly and severally liable for any unpaid VAT of both UK and overseas traders.

”

Debbie Austin - Wellers

The company car benefit in kind diesel supplement will rise from 3% to 4% with effect from 6 April 2018, except for cars that meet the real driving emission step 2 (RDE2) standards. The fuel benefit charge and van benefit charge will increase by the September 2017 RPI from 6 April 2018.

2. What this budget means for individuals The income tax Personal Allowance will increase from the current £11,500 to £11,850 from April 2018. It should be noted that the increase is in line with inflation at 3%. Similarly the higher rate threshold will rise from £45,000 to £46,350 in April 2018. On the face of it there was good news for those trying to get on the housing ladder (excluding Scotland) with no stamp duty land tax on the first £300,000 of a purchase for first time home buyers. The caveat being the value of the property can’t exceed £500,000. This may make such properties appear more within reach without the tax but long term it may ramp up demand and so could drive prices upwards. On housing, the Chancellor is looking to use a £45bn package of investment, loans and guarantees to increase the annual number of new homes to 300,000 by 2025. This is up from 217,000 last year which again is good news for first time buyers. The Chancellor also supported a plan to build 100,000 new homes in Oxfordshire by 2031.

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There will be higher taxation on second homes, specifically empty properties which could be subject to double council tax. The lifetime pension allowance will increase to £1.03 million from the current £1 million level as of April 2018. The annual allowance however, remains the same. While the ISA limit is frozen at £20,000 and the Lifetime ISA (LISA) limit at £4,000, the Junior ISA and child trust funds will rise to £4,260 from April 2018. Tax relief in relation to venture capital trusts (VCT), enterprise investment schemes (EIS) and seed enterprise investment scheme (SEIS) will be altered to focus more on businesses where this is a real investment risk. Legislation will be put in place to tighten up the rules for investments to qualify under these tax schemes.

balance sheets may have shown signs of recovery since then but interest rates being so low could have distorted the economy. Such a policy might have actually guaranteed the survival of less productive businesses that usually wouldn’t make it through recessions. Business investment has remained weak in recent years and the uncertainty of Brexit negotiations won’t have helped matters. That said, issues do create opportunities. If the business world is forced to shift away from a reliance on cheap EU migrant labour then they will have to invest in their employees in order to get more out of them. The message for SMEs is therefore clear, to achieve growth, focus and invest in your staff long term.

3. The economy The reality is the Chancellor was very constrained by the public finance figures. Employment is high but only a significant rise in productivity will boost GDP and thus tax receipts. The problem is productivity “hasn’t been this stagnant since the end of the Napoleonic wars”, according to the Economist. The UK lags behind our close EU competitors in the form of Germany and France when it comes to output per hour. The reasons for poor productivity growth vary. The banking crisis led to healthy SMEs not receiving the finance they so needed to invest and expand. Bank

 debbie.austin@wellersaccountants.co.uk  0333 241 6000  www.wellersaccountants.co.uk

“ We have been working with The MGroup for over ten years and have formed

an excellent working relationship where both parties enjoy the benefits of each other’s expertise. We have always found The MGroup’s staff to be professional, courteous and attentive and would not hesitate to recommend their services Richard Rosser, Chief Executive, The In Oxford Group & B4

”

CONGRATULATIONS TO B4 ON THEIR 50TH EDITION! The MGroup are pleased to have worked alongside Oxford’s B4 owners Colin and Richard Rosser over the years, looking after their accountancy affairs and supporting them during a period of expansion and diversification. They are proud of their relationship with B4, being the ultimate networkers, with a reputation for establishing long-term relationships with Oxfordshire businesses. Written by: Penny Casterton and Ian Walker Painting by: Ken Messer

The MGroup believe in maintaining strong long-term relationships with our clients and there are many for whom we have acted for in excess of thirty years. There are even clients we have worked with for more than 50 years and the firm itself will soon be 90 years old. The MGroup were established in 1928 as Miell and Company and then rebranded as The MGroup in 2000. We have supported Oxfordshire businesses throughout periods of change, with many being handed down within families from one generation to the next.

Adapting and changing: 1928-2018

However the nature of our work has changed hugely since the Miell and Company days. No longer do the majority of clients use manual records – for example – over the years part of our role has changed to providing accounting software and advice. This helps our clients to ensure their information is accurate, compliant, and up-to-date for maximum efficiency and profitability. It is common for businesses to find there is additional functionality they require that is not available within their accounts software. We understand that whilst off-the-shelf commercial software will often satisfy the business’ needs to a large extent, there may be requirements specific to your activities that need to be met with a more bespoke solution.

Working with clients for a long period of time enables us to build up an in-depth knowledge and understanding of their business and the people within it. We come to understand what motivates them and the culture within the company, which helps us to tailor our advice and support to meet their exact needs. It’s a given that businesses adapt and change over time, shifting the goods and services they offer to remain successful. It’s our job to understand these changes and continue to provide a high-level of support, understanding, and sometimes being a sounding board for business owners and finance directors.

Over the years we have adapted our approach by using in-house software development tools and our team of software experts to customise, integrate and develop bespoke accounting solutions that are perfectly suited to your business. So, as well as using long-established products such as Microsoft, Sage and Xero the MGroup have also developed a number of products in-house such as our Office Management System. Alongside the software packages, we also offer pre-sales consultancy, implementation, training and support services.

Evolution of accounting services

Business purchase & exit

The core services that a firm of accountants provides remain the same as they always were - accounts preparation, dealing with statutory and tax compliance.

Another non-core service we provide is business purchase and exit strategy advice and support. Whether you are looking to acquire, preparing to sell or

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B4 finance

Original Miell & Company offices from 1928, opposite Carfax Tower in Oxford’s city centre

The next 90 years?

“ Over the years part of our

role has changed to providing accounting software and advice. This helps our clients to ensure their information is accurate, compliant, and up-to-date for maximum efficiency and profitability

”

simply arranging corporate finance for your business, we have an experienced team dedicated to helping you attain a successful deal. Businesses are often sold at under their potential market value, or buyers are discouraged from proceeding when they encounter unprepared business owners. Our team will guide you through the entire preparation for the sale process in a calm, assured and professional manner.

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At The MGroup, we believe the clients we have worked with for many years choose to stay with us due to the trust built up through our working relationships, our extensive services and the care we provide. As our clients evolve, our wide range of services become more beneficial and enable us to support their growth. MGroup partners and staff are dedicated to adding value through proactive work and continuing to adapt to the needs of our clients. Looking after your business and finances is what we are passionate about and why we have been in operation for almost 90 years. What will the future bring to the world of accountancy? To find out more about how The MGroup can help you or your business, contact Ian Walker.

 i.walker@themgroup.co.uk  01865 552 925



07787 428030

 www.themgroup.co.uk

Recruiting Excellence

Maximising the return on your recruitment investment? You will if you partner with us Find out more at allen-associates.co.uk

B4 advice

Agile high performing teams improve the bottom line Silo mentality affects many organisations, no matter what their size. It fragments the business, disconnects decisions and impacts results. On the other hand, leaders with a clear vision, the ability to inspire their teams with a compelling story thrive. The best leaders also communicate their goals, collaborate and have the discipline to hold people to account. Written by: Diane Wilkinson Photography by: Emma Shipperley

“

People learn to stop bashing their head against a brick wall. They see that changing how they behave could deliver better results Diane Wilkinson

Balancing task and behaviour Most organisations hold regular meetings to evaluate targets. They understand what they do, but they rarely examine how they do it. When was the last time your organisation asked itself: “How are we behaving together?” Goal clarity is a key feature of high performing teams, but it is not enough. These teams also give – and request – feedback on how they work. Teams that balance “what” and “how” in meetings, and hold regular 1:1 reviews, become high performers faster. Diane Wilkinson’s Agile High Performing Team model lets teams push the pause button and reflect. “We review both tasks and how people behave as a team,” she says. “When departments work in silos, interfaces are forgotten. Exploring what departments need from, and can offer each other is vital to lift performance.” Highly interactive and results-driven team development days provide executives with ‘time out’, allowing senior leaders the opportunity to explore their goals and how they behave together. “We’ve all got bags of experience. Why aren’t we pulling together as a team?” is a typical realisation as leaders work with Diane to uncover blockages in team performance. These discussions help clarify strategies for more effective collaboration and holding each other to account. An Audi head of business recently expressed how valuable his team development session was. “Days www.b4-business.com

like this are vital, as too often we are focussed on our operational duties. This team session will have a long-lasting effect on improving behaviour, attitude and culture in our business.”

Connecting to excellence “Team events are creative and interactive,” Diane says. “Leaders discover how to improve profitability because they’re now working in synch and listening to each other.” Her flexible team development sessions begin by exploring how people tick. “People learn to stop bashing their head against a brick wall. They see that changing how they behave could deliver better results,” she says. “Sometimes the grit in the oyster can become a pearl.” A head of business in the automotive industry says, “I gained a far better understanding of how I need to change my approach with different people to get the best out of them”.

”

crucial piece to explore.” One global car dealership brand manager says, “As senior management, we often work within our own departments. Our team day made us realise this and discover how much better we could work if we were more in sync with each other.” Her team-based approach can also cascade across an entire organisation. The process starts with senior executives, runs through their teams and on to front line leaders. Everyone uses the same structured feedback frameworks and unemotive language, this helps people to see what they need to change in order to deliver consistent results. Once the senior leadership team is both high performing and agile, everything flows more smoothly. “With a synchronised approach and aligned thinking, roles are clearer and people’s goals more likely to be achieved,” Diane says.

“These team events often kick-start a team’s growth journey. Once the team connects to excellence – within themselves and together – it becomes a more agile and high performing,” Diane says.

A synchronised, aligned approach Diane’s experience covers many industries: automotive, pharmaceutical, healthcare, construction and third sector. “Silo mentality is so common,” she says. “The interface between departments is the

 diane@dianewilkinson.co.uk  01865 430 470  www.dianewilkinson.co.uk 35

Joy Le Fevre, PR and Brand consultant

Tom Nicolson, championing biodiversity in the English countryside

Lessons in Transformative PR Written by Joy Le Fevre, CEO Haiku Consulting

When David Cameron picked up the phone and ordered a shepherd’s hut in early 2017, he did an amazing thing. He enabled a PR story which has possibly surpassed Thomas Hardy’s success in building global desire for these charming homeson-wheels. On the day that the Cameron story broke, Haiku client Red Sky Shepherds Huts received web hits from all over the world. Only 14 countries did not click on the Oxfordshire hut maker’s website as traffic to the site climbed to 47,000 in one day. Orders for Red Sky’s premium, hand-built, bespoke huts have continued to flow and the company now has an enviable waiting list and ambitious plans. Farrow

and Ball, impressed by the hut maker’s story and ethos, have made them a preferred partner. The company’s fortunes have been transformed. Another artisan Haiku client, The Oxford Artisan Distillery, opened for business in July. On the day of launch, it appeared on prime-time TV news programmes on BBC South and ITV Meridian and enjoyed news and feature articles across Oxfordshire’s print and online media. Within weeks, the grain-to-glass distiller was featured on BBC Countryfile’s harvest special, speaking to a national audience of around 10 million people and being endorsed by that national treasure, John Craven. Then, ethical living writer Lucy Siegle hailed TOAD as a sustainability pioneer in The Observer and

Guardian and described its gin as a “saviour of the planet”! Unsurprisingly, Oxford’s first craft distiller has smashed its early sales targets and is enjoying powerful brand awareness. What links these two stories? In short, they both demonstrate the power of transformative PR. They both illustrate how, by wielding the power of “The Three Ps”, their stories have grabbed hearts, minds and major media attention. The “Ps” stand for People, Pictures and Purpose – three core tenets of storytelling which, if you get them right, can power up your PR and transform a business.

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B4 advice

Tom Nicolson and BBC Countryfile presenter John Craven (r)

Stories are not made of words alone – “ they also rely on pictures. Not just actual images like photography and film (both hugely important) – but the pictures created in the mind of a journalist or customer through powerful use of metaphor.

”

David Cameron with his world-famous Red Sky shepherd hut

PEOPLE The big difference between advertising and PR is about ‘who’ is doing the selling. Everyone knows that, when they see an ad on TV, it’s the brand that’s paid for it and, as compelling as the story might be, we know we’re being sold to. By contrast, an article from a journalist or recommendation from a trusted expert packs a powerful yet subtle punch. It is believable because it rests on the endorsement of others – not the brand – to do the selling. Not all products have the good fortune to gain the custom of a big public figure like David Cameron. They don’t have to. Every time a journalist covers your product positively, you are gaining their endorsement - and that is massive. When the Guardian called TOAD gin “saviour of the planet”, it was the kind of priceless praise which could simply never be bought through advertising. So, P stands for People. Know whose endorsement you need and nurture them well.

PICTURES Stories are not made of words alone – they also rely on pictures. Not just actual images like photography and film (both hugely important) – but the pictures created in the mind of a journalist or customer through powerful use of metaphor. Neurolinguistics research shows us that language which is rich in metaphor can bypass our logic and trigger visceral, emotional responses. We respond instinctively to www.b4-business.com

pictures – and engage powerfully with the story as a result. So, when talking about an ex-Prime Minister enjoying the rural idyll of a shepherd hut while his successor was engaging in the battle of a snap election, it created an irresistible picture of contrast for journalists. When talking about TOAD’s

Within weeks, the “ grain-to-glass distiller was featured on BBC Countryfile’s harvest special, speaking to a national audience of around 10 million people and being endorsed by that national treasure, John Craven.

”

fields of grain, bursting with life and biodiversity, like mini Amazon rainforests – who could fail to ‘get the picture’? P is for Picture. Make sure your stories paint them.

PURPOSE The third and most important P is for Purpose, the central “Why” which guides everything. It’s the difference between a bricklayer who believes he is “laying bricks” and one who knows he is “building a cathedral”. It’s the steady hum of intention that steers the ship through choppy seas and towards a bright horizon. Red Sky delights and inspires its customers with uncompromising craftsmanship and products which transport us back to an age of innocence. In a fast moving, complicated world, a Red Sky shepherd hut can move us out of chaos and into charm and calm. It’s their purpose – and it’s working for Prime Ministers and Joe public alike. Oxford’s artisan distiller isn’t just making booze – it is helping to return farming to better, more sustainable methods. It is championing biodiversity. It has heart. And people love it. Joy Le Fevre is a brand and PR consultant at Haiku Consulting.

 joy@haiku.consulting  07885 066 163  www.haiku.consulting

Did you realise Finders Keepers can...

Find… We started out originally as a search service

– the ‘finders’ in Finders Keepers – and over the years we have helped clients to invest in hundreds of properties. Today, our service is unique: we are the only search and acquisition service in Oxfordshire whose advice is founded on decades of letting and management expertise. Our fantastic relationships with vendors, agents and developers means we will often be advised about up and coming properties well before they hit the open market (or Rightmove and Zoopla).

Acquire… We negotiate the acquisition of the

property, often achieving a significant discount for buying off-plan. We ensure you pay the fair price, not an inflated price. By negotiating thousands of lets a year, we can give the most robust advice available about a property’s target letting market and predicted rental income. We will help you succeed in your financial goals and avoid the mistakes into which less rigorous investors commonly fall.

How can you benefit? The Inspired Investment department, headed up by Maxine Allington, has had great success over recent months selling properties from the current portfolio and acquiring properties from unique development sites across the county. If you would like to receive regular updates of exclusive deals, email: inspired@finderskeepers.co.uk Alternatively, if you are ready to start your search call Maxine on 01865 302314.

Sell… As part of Inspired Investment we have been

selling properties to tenants, other landlords and via third party estate agents for many years. We are particularly good at selling your investment property to other investors, often with a tenant in situ, which is beneficial for the investor, the seller and the tenant residing in the property.

Frank Webster Vice Chairman

Maxine Allington Inspired Investment Manager

E: inspired@finderskeepers.co.uk | T: 01865 302314

B4 advice

YoCO

‘This is the best year of my life; I don’t want it to end’ Dan aged 20. Dan is part of an exciting youth group programme designed by Youth Challenge Oxfordshire (YoCO) to raise confidence and self- belief in vulnerable young people so that they are equipped to make good decisions when faced with the challenges that affect all young people today such on-line safety, bullying, peer pressure to take drugs and abuse alcohol. Written by: Christine Douglas Photography by: John Cornelius

Regular weekly meetings for up to 12 young people follow a challenging programme provided by YoCO and delivered by volunteer youth leaders. It includes exciting off site activities such as a team building and leadership weekend at Youlbury Camp and a cookery and healthy eating morning at May Messy. The programme is delivered with local partners such as Oxfordshire Youth, The Abingdon Bridge and The Nasio Trust. The positive impact on the young people is evident almost as soon as the meetings start. Dan is now applying for work, has helped to design a new skate park in his community and is developing his computer skills. Over twelve months the youth group also prepares for a truly life changing 10 day trip to Western Kenya. Here they volunteer with the Nasio Trust in the school for 400 AIDS orphans, they build a home for a Kenyan family displaced by the death of the father through AIDS, and plant trees and crops in the Nasio fields. It is NOT a holiday; it’s a challenge! The young people fund raise £800 each for their Kenyan project; running events (bingo evening at Oxford Academy), helping at events ( bag drop at Blenheim 10k, May morning at Dorchester Abbey ), selling cakes, running the 5k KOA Bagley Wood fun run, they watch their savings grow online whilst learning how to work as a team and develop their leadership skills. www.b4-business.com

They learn some Swahili; Asante Sana! and are paired with orphans in Kenya to develop a personal link. This trip has a truly amazing impact on the YoCO group as they realise how much they have to offer and the impact they can have on the lives of others less fortunate than themselves; they return with a real zest for life, a purpose in their own future and a determination to return to Kenya! After giving a presentation for their parents and supporters about their trip the young people are strongly encouraged to continue to volunteer in their own communities and with future YoCO groups. They are helped to prepare their CVs, given careers advice and practice interviews. Collaboration with the Berin Centre, Berinsfield and Tesco, Blackbird Leys is under discussion to support this further. With membership of the YoCO family for as long as they want, some of the young people will be trained to become YoCO leaders and ambassadors. An annual reunion in Dorchester helps YoCO to keep in touch with past and present groups from Berinsfield, Blackbird Leys, Dalton Barracks, Wallingford and Wantage. YoCO is the High Sheriff of Oxfordshire’s charity 2017-18 and has greatly benefitted from the financial support of the High Sheriff’s fund, the OCF Youth Social Action Fund as well as the generosity of many individuals in its first year. Future fundraising events will ensure that YoCO can continue to deliver this programme that transforms young people’s lives.

YoCO would welcome volunteer expertise to deliver the programme, help with fund raising events or general administration. Perhaps you could start a group and travel with them to Kenya? Could you provide training for youth leaders or opportunities for the young people to fund raise for their trip? If you are running an event could the YoCO groups take part? To be kept informed of YoCO’s work and events please become a Friend of YoCO by registering on our web-site or contacting Christine Douglas. We would be delighted to hear from you. YoCO is a member of OCVA and Oxfordshire Youth.

 info@ yoco.online  07999 340 597  www.yoco.online

HOW CAN BETTER QUALITY CONVERSATIONS BOOST BUSINESS GROWTH? I recently read the story of Clairol (now part of Unilver) who went from being a dying company into full colour. Due to starting a conversation, and a shift in the quality of conversations that took place, a spirit of collaboration was born which allowed the management to not only transform the company but also the industry. * Written by: Alison Haill Photography by: Jackie Cross

Conversation - effective enjoyable conversation - is an art. It is also an essential business skill.

increase your impact and influence at work so you convince others more easily.

So here are 3 ways to treat the conversation with proper respect:

This is more true than ever today because of our business lifestyle. The more we use the internet, the more estranged we may become from each other. And the busier we seem to be. Finding time for real conversation slips down the to-do list.

How can you meet these very different objectives? Through improving the quality of your conversations.

Tip: Put thought into how to make a positive impact for all concerned. Don’t waste these prized opportunities by being unprepared or lazy in how you put yourself across. Tip: Be sure to have a real conversation. Make sure there is give as well as take. Good listening is vital. Then react to what you heard – don’t push your own pre-prepared message if it no longer fits.

So, the art of communicating clearly while building trust and relationships, has become more important. And the most efficient way to do all three of these at once is not in writing, but in conversation.

Tip: Don’t make yourself inaccessible. If you refuse meetings, screening yourself by written communication instead, you will be missing the co-creating opportunity that conversation gives.

Social animals Humans are social animals – we are designed for conversation. Face-to-face conversation, which uses all the nonverbal skills, has to be the best quality. Second best is audio conversations where nuance of inflection, pauses and tone add to the meaning of words spoken. Written conversation must make do with the words on the page/screen, aided only by punctuation and an occasional emoticon or drawing.

A simple, powerful message for leaders My message for leaders is simple: use conversation as a strategy. To grow your business, improve the quality of your conversations at work. You will build a culture where business, reputation and income flourishes, alongside improved work-life balance. Perhaps as a leader or manager you’d like your team to be more productive, or you’d like better staff retention, more innovation, higher turnover. Or, you might have a personal aspiration, say, to

Conversation is much more than communication TIP: Be sure to have a real “conversation. Make sure there is give as well as take. Good listening is vital. Then react to what you heard – don’t push your own pre-prepared message if it no longer fits.

”

Alison Haill - Oxford Professional Consulting

Prized opportunity In our busy lives real conversations are prized. A face-to-face meeting is often hard to arrange and even phone conversations are shelved if an email or e-message will do instead.

Yes, conversation is communication, but it is much more than that. Business communication tends to forget listening - it tends to be a one-way speak-athon, announcement or series of soundbites. Conversation, on the other hand, is more friendly. It includes relationship, connection and personality. Also, interaction is at the core. So, think ‘conversation’ and you will make a better quality connection each time. Even Public Speaking can be seen as conversation: you speak and others listen, then the Q&A. Good speakers have listened first so that they know what concerns and interests the audience.

Leadership through Conversation How, you might ask, does conversation fit in to leadership? “We don’t have time for chat,” you might say.

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B4 advice

TIP: To grow your business, improve “ the quality of your conversations at work.

You will build a culture where business, reputation and income growth flourishes, alongside improved work-life balance. Alison Haill - Oxford Professional Consulting

Chat and conversation is where great ideas are born. In each of these 4 types of Leadership Conversations, the more truly interactive the conversation, the richer and more productive it will be: -- Leader as Coach in 1;1 conversations: to develop career plans or a project, to appraise, to give feedback, to delegate

A stuctured process Under Alison Haill’s leadership, Oxford Professional Consulting provides coaching programmes that are structured, practical and effective, based on her wide experience and insights from Conversational Intelligence®.

-- Leader in meetings: Group conversations with an agenda, such as Investor Meetings, Board Meetings, Leadership Meetings

Tip: In some contexts you can ask for questions at several points. When you don’t want to do this, stay in listening mode, open to the reactions from your audience. You’ll find you are more at ease – and in tune - with them. You’ll be co-creating the presentation with them, in the moment.

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• Give better feedback and delegate successfully so your time is freed up

• Grow your own resilience and belief so you lead with increased confidence • Create a happier team, so you see increased staff retention and reduced sick days.

How to make Public Speaking interactive

Tip: When you speak to your audience, be alert to their reactions as if they were speaking to you. Stay open to these reactions. Allow yourself to react. Feel the response in the atmosphere of the room.

• Understand your team as individuals, so you motivate them effectively

• Engage innovation and creativity in others so team performance improves

-- Leader in the Community: Public Speaking, conversations with the public, listening to their concerns and interests, answering questions

Tip: Think conversation, not communication. It will remind you that listening plays a part. Find out their concerns and interests before you prepare your talk. Then create one that is relevant.

Contact Alison Haill to discover how to transform the quality of your workplace conversations so you gain these positive results:

• Build trust based on a sincere win-win focus so you achieve loyal customer relationships

-- Leader of the Company: conversation with staff, listening to their concerns, sharing information, vision, plans, answering their concerns and questions

Here are 3 tips:

”

Think conversation, “notTIP: communication. It will

remind you that listening plays a part. Find out their concerns and interests before you prepare your talk. Then prepare a talk that is relevant.

Alison Haill is Founder of Oxford Professional Consulting, the Oxford specialists in Leadership Communication for businesses and achievement-oriented professionals.

*Taken from “Conversational Intelligence” by Judith Glaser pp 92-99

”

Alison Haill - Oxford Professional Consulting

Conversational Intelligence® is the cutting-edge approach which uses the findings of neuroscience to improve conversation, ideas and business performance.

 alison.haill@opcOxford.com  +44 (0) 1865 436 791  www.opcOxford.com

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B4 csr

John Lewis: Our gift to Oxford I am delighted to have taken the helm at the new John Lewis store in Oxford, and to have received such a warm welcome into the business community here. The opening of our shop in the new Westgate development is the chance for us to give something back to the city, and we’re working with Oxfordshire Community Foundation to do just that. Written by: Julie Blake, Branch Manager at John Lewis Oxford

Oxford leaders with Alice-in-Wonderland themed performers on the opening day at the Westgate

The opening of the new Westgate centre, along with the overall redevelopment of the city’s west end, is an important moment in Oxford’s evolution. Since arriving here earlier this year, I can see that there is great excitement locally about the new facilities and the prosperity it is hoped they will bring. However, the companies involved in the Westgate’s development, including John Lewis, acknowledge that the city has many unacceptable social problems that do not sit so easily with the launch of a sophisticated new shopping experience. For example, I was shocked to hear that one in five children in Oxford is living in poverty, and that the city is the most unaffordable city to live in in the whole of the UK. As the Westgate’s flagship company, John Lewis is committed to being good neighbours and making a meaningful contribution to the city by lending our support to local community organisations. This is why we have chosen to work with Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF), and become a member of OCF’s responsible business group Reciprocate. OCF is well embedded in the charitable sector, which does so much to alleviate these social problems, and provides invaluable support to local charities and community groups via its grant-making programmes, through which OCF gives out around £1 million in funding per year. The community foundation cannot do this without the support of its generous donors, which is why John Lewis has made a donation of £125,000 to found a new Westgate Fund. This fund is John Lewis’s gift to the city of Oxford – and we hope that other businesses will come on board to co-create a lasting legacy that will be available to support local www.b4-business.com

Julie Blake with Jayne Woodley, Chief Executive at Oxfordshire Community Foundation

charitable organisations over the long term. The fund will capitalise on OCF’s well established grant-making processes to support local charities and community groups that are helping to improve the economic wellbeing of the most vulnerable local people. Grants will target work that reduces isolation and increases employability for people in the city who have struggled with homelessness, substance abuse, a history of offending or an impoverished start in life.

“

As the Westgate’s flagship company, John Lewis is committed to being good neighbours and making a meaningful contribution to the city by lending our support to local community organisations. This is why we have chosen to work with Oxfordshire Community Foundation Julie Blake, Branch Manager at John Lewis Oxford

”

Allocations from The Westgate Fund will be made throughout the year to OCF’s Delivering Impact grants programme, giving away awards of up to £10,000 per group. As a member of OCF’s responsible business group Reciprocate, John Lewis hopes to become a leading member of the local business community, sharing expertise, ideas and resources with other member

The John Lewis store in Westgate Oxford when it opened on Tuesday 24th October 2017

companies. I began this process of sharing by speaking to fellow Reciprocate members at OCF’s #GivingTuesday event on 28th November, which follows retail days #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday. This was a wonderful celebration of giving and a reminder of what we can all do as businesses to be proactive members of the communities in which we operate. We’re now looking for more partner companies to follow our lead and make a contribution to the Westgate Fund. We would love other businesses based in Oxford, whether or not they are directly associated with the Westgate centre, to contribute a one-off or annual pledge to the Westgate Fund. The more funds contributed, the greater difference OCF can make to the lives of those less fortunate right on our doorsteps. To find out more about joining us in this endeavour, please contact OCF’s Chief Executive Jayne Woodley at jayne@oxfordshire.org.



B4’s LinkedIn post about this event had:

3273

views

 reciprocate@oxfordshire.org  01865 798 666  www.reciprocateox.org Reciprocate is hosted by Oxfordshire Community Foundation

CLIENT SUPPORT AUDIT ACCOUNTANCY CHARITIES COMPANY SECRETARIAL CONSULTANCY FINANCIAL PLANNING FORENSIC ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS PAYROLL TAXATION TRUSTS

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

B4 csr

Chimney Meadows nature reserve, converted from arable farming to wildlife-rich haven in the last ten years, is one of 54 reserves making an identifiable contribution to water quality and flood regulation. Credit Wendy Tobitt

Tom Beckett, Director of External Affairs at the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust

The local Wildlife Trust and the Saïd Business School join forces to help businesses turn over a new leaf and help the local environment. On Thursday 25th January, the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is hosting Turning Over a New Leaf – Improving Approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility in 2018 an innovative event at the Saïd Business School at Egrove Park to give local businesses new ways of meeting their Corporate Social Responsibility targets.

Global leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility, including Mike Barry, Head of Plan A at Marks & Spencer and Simon Eves, Head of Sustainability at Panasonic UK will inspire local companies to work with the natural environment to benefit their employees and their business bottom line. The Wildlife Trust’s Director of External Affairs Tom Beckett gives a preview: “A healthy natural environment is fundamental to all our lives and businesses. Clean water, natural flood defences, carbon sequestration, good air quality, healthy soils producing nourishing food, a sustainable supply of raw materials and beautiful places to live and work, are all benefits from nature that is in decline.. “The Saïd Business School leads the way with its interdisciplinary approach to the issues of responsible business. Our Turning Over a New Leaf event offers local companies a unique opportunity to find out how they can make good decisions about offsetting their business impacts on society and the environment, and ensuring our local economy is sustained and sustainable.” The Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust is the largest of 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK and looks after 88 nature reserves, many of them just a few miles from business parks, industrial areas and universities. Tom Beckett makes the links between a healthy workforce and healthy nature: “Just spending time in www.b4-business.com

natural environments can improve people’s mental and physical wellbeing and can improve productivity. It’s all part of doing business responsibly.” The Wildlife Trust works with landowners, local authorities and companies to restore and create local wildlife habitats; and many local businesses encourage their employees to take part in fun and health-giving natural conservation work with the Trust. Leading Oxfordshire-based businesses including the Milton Park-based publisher Taylor and Francis, already work with the Wildlife Trust: “We want our employees to see our commitment to the local environment and to give them the opportunity to do something practical. BBOWT is a perfect fit - they are local, flexible and have a great team to help us to do various activities which support their cause. We would recommend any business to set up a relationship with BBOWT.” The Wildlife Trust works with landfill and aggregate companies including Grundon Waste Management Ltd who have supported numerous projects over the last ten years. “It’s important to Grundon to protect local wildlife, and working with BBOWT is a great way to demonstrate this! What we’ve achieved together is phenomenal. We would strongly recommend working with BBOWT to help achieve a company’s environmental and social responsibility objectives.”

Curlew, one of the iconic species now making its home on wetlands in the River Ray valley managed by BBOWT. Storing water on these nature reserves helps to improve water quality. Credit David Richardson

‘We just dug a pond for wildlife!’ Happy volunteers from Taylor and Francis at the Wildlife Trust’s Parsonage Moor nature reserve. Credit Jess Peters.

The nodding heads of snake’s-head fritillary flowers on Iffley Meadows nature reserve beside the River Thames. Credit Andy Fairbairn.

Tom Beckett expects Turning Over a New Leaf – Improving Approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility in 2018 will be a networking event as much as a ‘listen and learn’. “I’m looking forward to meeting enthusiastic people who value ethical and environmental issues and are keen to offset their impacts on the local natural environments. It’s great to bring together people who are already working with BBOWT, with people who are interested in effective CSR programmes.” Book your place on Turning Over a New Leaf – Improving Approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility in 2018 to be held on Thursday 25 January from 2 to 4.30pm at the Saïd Business School at Egrove Park. Email richardwoods@bbowt. org.uk or go to the event page on www.bbowt.org. uk/whats-on

Berkshire Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire  richardwoods@bbowt.org.uk  01865 775 476  www.bbowt.org.uk 45

Feel Tri-mendous at the Bloodwise Blenheim Triathlon

Held in the stunning grounds of Oxfordshire’s UNESCO World Heritage site, Blenheim Palace is without a doubt the UK’s most picturesque triathlon. With its sprint and super sprint distances, this is the perfect challenge for those dipping a toe into the world of triathlons. If you don’t fancy getting your feet wet, why not take on the team relay instead? Every penny raised will go towards vital blood cancer research.

Get your place online now or by emailing triathlons@bloodwise.org.uk! www.bloodwise.org.uk/blenheim

Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 June 2018

Registered charity 216032 (England & Wales) SC037529 (Scotland)

news to be joining “suchI amanexcited innovative, forward thinking law firm. Freeths has a great reputation for providing legal services to local and global businesses. My initial focus over the coming weeks will be spending my time meeting the firm’s clients and introducing myself to the key professionals that Freeths work with.

”

Freeths expands its commercial team with lateral partner hire Freeths Solicitors is delighted to announce that it has recruited a commercial contracts specialist in to its Oxford offices on Cowley Business Park. Rebecca Howlett joins the firm’s highly regarded commercial team as a partner having previously worked at law firms such as Harrison Clark Rickerbys, Mackrell Turner Garrett, and RLS Law. Rebecca is a commercial contracts lawyer advising businesses on a wide range of commercial matters and specialises in the use, development, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights. Her experience includes working with national and international brands across many jurisdictions to protect their intellectual property rights. Rebecca will provide advice and support to Freeths’ clients on issues relating to manufacturing, distribution, agency, licensing, supply and outsourcing agreements across a range of sectors including hospitality and leisure, retail, defence and security, media and transport. In addition to this, she will also advise clients on how to identify, protect and commercialise their trademarks, copyright, designs, patents and other intellectual property.

 welcome@freeths.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

 +44 (0)1865 781 000  www.freethsoxford.co.uk

Sarah Foster, managing partner of Freeths’ Oxford office, said: “It is a pleasure to announce the arrival of Rebecca and we are delighted to welcome her to the firm. As our clients’ most trusted legal adviser, it’s important that we have the skill-set and resource to support our commercial and private clients across a range of legal disciplines. Recruiting Rebecca into the firm’s commercial team will provide us with greater capacity to provide our clients with the legal support to advise on their commercial issues and protect their intellectual property rights particularly. Her knowledge, experience, and expertise will be extremely useful to clients.” Rebecca Howlett, commercial partner, said: “I am excited to be joining such an innovative, forward thinking law firm. Freeths has a great reputation for providing legal services to local and global businesses. My initial focus over the coming weeks will be spending my time meeting the firm’s clients and introducing myself to the key professionals that Freeths work with.”

 twitter.com/freeths

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news

C H A RT E R E D A C CO U N TA N T S A N D B U S I N E S S A D V I S O R S

Our firm has seen “tremendous growth

over the last four years which is testament to the high service standards delivered by our staff and our loyal client base. We would like to say a big thank you to our staff for helping us to retain our title of leading accountancy firm.

”

Jonathan Walton, Managing Director - Whitley Stimpson

Whitley Stimpson climbs the rankings within the Top 100 UK accounting firms Whitley Stimpson has been officially ranked as one of the country’s top accountancy firms for the fourth year running by the prestigious Accountancy Age 50+50 survey. Released on 4th October, the 2017 Accountancy Age Top 50+50 issue features the Top 100 Accountancy firms in the UK and is recognised as the UK’s most comprehensive breakdown of accountancy sector performance. To achieve the national honor, Whitley Stimpson’s revenue and growth were measured against accounting firms throughout the country. Over the past year we have encountered Brexit negotiations, a snap election, ongoing political tensions and the ever-present disruptive nature of technology, all of which have thrown up challenges and created opportunities for the accounting industry. The 2017 rankings show remarkable stability within the Top 20 firms. Across the rankings firms have demonstrated significant growth with regard to total fee income, with 95 firms registering positive figures, indicating that there has been no slowdown in UK firms’ ability to thrive in the current environment. Whitley Stimpson’s substantial growth is further endorsed by climbing the ranks a further five places to 84th place in the league table, a clear two positions

 ban@whitleystimpson.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

higher than its closest competitor. Managing director Jonathan Walton said: “Our firm has seen tremendous growth over the last four years which is testament to the high service standards delivered by our staff and our loyal client base. We would like to say a big thank you to our staff for helping us to retain our title of leading accountancy firm. We take great pride in the fact that we employ and retain the very best talent in the industry and work in close partnership with our clients.” Consistently ranked in the top 100 list, Whitley Stimpson which has offices in Banbury, Bicester, Witney and High Wycombe and has received many accolades already this year. In March director Val Buzzard won Business Woman of the Year at the Banbury Women in Business (BWIB) Awards and Payroll Manager Tracy Gill has been shortlisted for the Reward Strategy awards 2017 in the category of Best Manager. The firm has also been shortlisted in the category for Established Business at the Cherwell Business Awards and AccountingWEB Practice Excellence Awards 2017 in the category for best large practice. To view the full list of rankings visitL http://bit.ly/2ypnWqn and for further information or to speak to one of Whitley Stimpson’s accountancy experts, please call 01295 270 200 or visit www.whitleystimpson.co.uk

 +44 (0)1295 270 200  www.whitleystimpson.co.uk

 twitter.com/https://twitter.com/WhitleyStimpson

Breckon & Breckon: Challenging times for Landlords and Agents With so much on the agenda, the next few years potentially has some challenging times ahead for landlords and their agents as we see new legislation and the tenant fee ban unfold. Greg Barnes, Managing Director of Breckon & Breckon’s Letting Division and the ARLA Propertymark Representative for Oxfordshire & Berkshire explains… Written by: Greg Barnes Photography by: Can Sengunes

Industry Regulation ‘Mandatory regulation is to be introduced for letting agents in England and welcomed by many as a huge step forward for consumer protection within the private rented sector. Regulation offers to do more to clean up the image of the industry than the hundreds of smaller laws and pieces of legislation passed over the last two decades. At the Conservative Party Conference, Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid MP, also included an announcement that landlords will be required to belong to a redress scheme while promising incentives for those “who do the right thing”. He also referenced consultation with the judiciary on a new, specialist housing court. The Secretary of State specified measures for tenancies of a minimum of twelve months to be offered to those that want them to promote greater fairness for tenants.’

Tenant Fees Bill 2017 With cross-party support this bill seeks to reduce costs to tenants by banning landlords and their

agents from requiring any payments from tenants as a condition of granting, renewing or continuing a tenancy with the exception of rent, a refundable tenancy deposit, a refundable holding deposit and tenant default fees (for things like lost keys or late rent payments). The Bill bans landlords and agents from requiring tenants to secure and pay for services from any third party.

We’re all agreed that “ access to decent housing stock is essential, but attacking agents doesn’t really seem to address the issue; it simply causes additional economic and commercial pressure on small business.

”

Greg Barnes, Breckon & Breckon

Most people understand that some unscrupulous letting agents do charge unreasonable fees, however,

the vast majority charge what is fair and reasonable to complete the work required in the preparation of a tenancy. It could be argued that this legislation is using a sledge hammer to crack a nut, although many would argue that the work is in the interest of the landlord in any case. The issues with a ban would be that landlords are very likely to pass on their increased costs to tenants in the form of higher rents. As a result, according to research on behalf of ARLA Propertymark, tenants across the UK will pay, on average, an extra £103 per year. This means those tenants who move more frequently will receive savings on overall costs but longer term tenants, who are likely to be lower income families, will see a loss. As a result, the proposed ban contradicts the Government’s stated aim to encourage longer term tenancies. The same economic research also proves that fees cover real work which must be undertaken, and these costs need to be recovered. Tenant referencing and mandatory Right to Rent checks take a number of hours to complete and staff are directly employed to complete these; a ban will

www.b4-business.com

B4 property

undoubtedly create issues in terms of lost revenue yet with no adjustment to expenditure, the net result is likely to be heavy staff cuts in agencies. We’re all agreed that access to decent housing stock is essential, but attacking agents doesn’t really seem to address the issue; it simply causes additional economic and commercial pressure on small business. A more sensible approach would be to propose a fair cap on what agents can charge or exclude referencing charges and elements of the transaction which are essential although this is looking unlikely. The Tenant Fees bill, which has now been published in draft, raises unprecedented questions for the future of the industry and brings all agencies in England, large and small, to a fork in the road. So what’s the penalty? Trading Standards could impose fines of up to £5,000 on landlords or their letting agent if it’s beyond reasonable doubt that a tenant had been required to make a prohibited payment, or if the landlord or agent has failed to

www.b4-business.com

return a holding deposit. However, this fine could be increased to anything up to £30,000 as an alternative to prosecution for repeat offenders.

“

regulation of our industry is very welcome and speaking as someone who is a firm advocate of professionalism it does provide opportunity, especially for ARLA Propertymark members to promote their expertise. Greg Barnes, Breckon & Breckon

So landlords and their agents have a bit to consider and we haven’t even touched on a change to Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards from April 2018, Universal Credit and Private Rented Housing, Right to Rent Immigration Checks, compulsory Client Money Protection and more…we’ll leave that for another day. If you are interested in more information on the changes, or want to know more about ARLA Propertymark, get in touch with Greg Barnes at greg@breckon.co.uk or call 01865 201 111.

”

Challenging times for the letting industry are ahead, however regulation of our industry is very welcome and speaking as someone who is a firm advocate of professionalism it does provide opportunity, especially for ARLA Propertymark members to promote their expertise.

 greg@breckon.co.uk  01865 201 111  www.breckon.co.uk

Mark Charter

Head of Residential Agency, Carter Jonas Oxford 2017 has proved to be a dichotomy for our local housing market. Although Oxfordshire has shown overall annual house price growth, we have undoubtedly been hit by declining transaction volumes following the two rounds of reform made to the calculation of stamp duty, implemented first in November 2014 and then in April 2016. In addition, the broader economic and political turmoil that has ensued following the vote in favour of Brexit last year and then the snap General Election earlier this year has had an inevitable impact on buyer and vendor mentality. Written by: Mark Charter Photography by: Aurelian Langlais (portraits)

First time buyers have unequivocally made it to the top of the Chancellor’s agenda, with Philip Hammond’s recent decision in November’s Autumn Budget to abolish stamp duty for first time buyers for properties under £300,000 and a tax reduction on properties under £500,000. In Oxfordshire terms, this end of the market has always performed well, but we could see more activity driven by first-time buyers in future.

That being said, the Chancellor potentially missed a trick in failing to incentivise empty nesters and downsizers, whose movements are heavily relied upon to free up much needed larger properties, and allow second steppers the chance to buy a family-sized home. When it comes to the performance of the residential sales market within the city of Oxford itself, there are three distinct levels of activity. Flats and apartments

www.b4-business.com

B4 property

...the Chancellor “ potentially missed a trick in failing to incentivise empty nesters and downsizers, whose movements are heavily relied upon to free up much needed larger properties.

”

Mark Charter - Carter Jonas

under £600,000 are still incredibly popular, the midmarket up to £1.5m remains fairly strong – held in part by a shortage of stock, and unsurprisingly the market over £2m is slow and we have seen prices track back over the course of 2017. Oxford’s desirability is helping it to weather the postBrexit storm. However, in the past the area has been sought-after by London buyers, particularly from affluent boroughs, who wish for their children to attend the high-achieving private schools on offer in the county. Historically, much of the churn of the London market has come from international and domestic investment rather than the traditional owner occupiers and, as such, the capital has been the hardest hit by political volatility and fiscal strains, leaving the market wanting. This impact is felt in Oxford through the decline of the London buyer. We are seeing more positivity in the lettings market with consistent demand for properties under £2,500pcm. The market above this price bracket is much more sensitive, a by-product of the aforementioned tighter London market and reduced budgets coming out of the capital. As the population of Oxford continues to grow, thanks in part to its continuing appeal to businesses as a hub of innovation, we expect to see an increase in demand of medium and long-term rentals within the city centre. The rental market is perfectly placed for individuals here on a one to three year

www.b4-business.com

employment contract, providing them with flexibility should they wish to move on in the future. We have been advising landlords to be flexible to get the best results. Domestically speaking across Oxfordshire there is an overall shortage of property on the market. Many sellers are adopting a wait and see approach and, instead of opting to spend on what would be a hefty stamp duty bill, they are extending or improving their existing homes with a view to selling down the line once there is more clarity surrounding the UK’s exit from the EU and its economic implications – thus bringing about a boost in activity and perhaps with it, an increase in house prices. That said, there is still a growing demand for property, especially from first and second time buyers with typical jobs paying modest incomes. This is ideally where the new homes piece comes in. Firstly (and obviously) in a market where few are moving, empty new homes are more accessible than second hand stock. Secondly, buyers like the convenience of having lower energy bills, less maintenance and practically sized rooms. Finally and most crucially the new build properties we are selling are typically valued between £350,000 and £800,000 - a price bracket proving to be most attractive and active in the current market. As example, earlier in the year we released eight houses at a site near Chinnor in South Oxfordshire and five of them went under offer in the first few weeks.

If asked to describe the current property market here in Oxfordshire, we would say cooling, cautious and conservative. Looking ahead motivated vendors will need to be realistic with guide prices in order to stimulate interest. Existing market conditions are likely to prevail, coinciding perhaps with a further increase in interest rates, compounding the current shortage of stock coming to the market in 2018, which could lead to more competitive bidding for best in class or unique properties. Regional nuance aside, Oxfordshire has an incredible global reputation as a centre of educational excellence and innovative business. Moving forward, this reputation will certainly help to protect the market and transaction levels – especially as a number of new businesses and their employees look to relocate here.

 Mark.Charter@carterjonas.co.uk  01865 404 406  www.carterjonas.co.uk

FOXCOMBE Abingdon Business Park, OX14 TO LET 10,000 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 49,317 sq ft FRAME UP NOW Foxcombe is a new hi-tech distribution and manufacturing development meeting the green credential standards now expected of new buildings.

HANBOROUGH HOUSE Botley, Oxford, OX2 TO LET 3,281 sq ft Newly refurbished ground floor open plan office suite with dedicated entrance and car parking, with excellent access to Oxford City Centre and the A34.

HARCOURT HOUSE Oxford, OX3 TO LET 17,979 sq ft Unique and stylish office development within walking distance of Oxford City Centre. Ample parking. Tailored specification options.

3 OMEGA Didcot, OX11 TO LET 29,716 sq ft Self contained high bay distribution/production premises with independent fenced secure yard, 8 metre clear eaves height and ample car parking.

unrivalled local and regional expertise Richard Venables rvenables@vslandp.com Tom Barton tbarton@vslandp.com Duncan May dmay@vslandp.com

news VSL celebrates 15 years as top performer Oxfordshire has one of the highest five-year ‘survival rates’ for SMEs in the UK. Oxford’s technology sector helped it into second place behind London in a ranking of UK cities total economic output, according to the latest UK Powerhouse report by Irwin Mitchell.

Commercial property specialists, VSL & Partners, is celebrating its 15-year anniversary, toasting a period that has seen it remain the top performing Oxfordshire agency for over eight years. Established in 2002 with a team of ten, the Kidlington based firm now employs the largest commercial property agency team in the area. The team has representation on around 40% of deals completed across central Oxford and the A34 ‘Innovation Knowledge Corridor’. In a market that is dominated by national agents, VSL has been ranked as the most active agent and dealmaker of the year by leading property publication Estates Gazette Interactive (EGi) for the last eight years. The team continues to create value for their clients by combining industry acumen with detailed local market intelligence and research.

involving 767,000 sq ft of space from June 2016 to July 2017 for its clients. A large percentage of these transactions were with companies in the flourishing science and technology sector, which in 2017 accounted for 70% of total industrial take up in the county. Oxfordshire is experiencing an exciting growth period in the science and technology market with new companies relocating to the area and with the emergence of a secure and substantial funding base for the Oxford University spin-out companies. The continued provision of this funding will be key to future growth in the science and tech sector emerging from Oxford - a city which has created its very own innovation ecosystem to enable these spin-out companies to flourish.

Oxfordshire has also topped a list of growth cities for the second year running. PWC’s annual ‘Good Growth for Cities’ index measures the performance of UK cities in terms of economic success and wellbeing. The Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) was also ranked first in CoStar’s ‘Local Enterprise Partnership Index’ for the most successful in the country at driving economic development. Richard Venables, director at VSL said: “It’s great to see Oxford topping yet another league table, a further endorsement of it being a great place to live and work. We have enjoyed an immensely active and successful 15-years since VSL was founded in 2002. Despite the global financial crisis, we managed to stay strong, which is testament to the success of our strategy to remain a niche independent agency, committed to doing business in Oxfordshire. “We would like to congratulate Richard Rosser and the team at B4 Magazine for its 50th issue and thank them for their continued collaboration and support.“

Across Oxfordshire, VSL completed deals in the industrial, office, retail, land and investment sectors

According to Nesta’s ‘State of Small Business’ report, Oxford is one of the only two non-London Boroughs in the UK’s top-10 for inward venture capital investment. The report also finds South

For further information or to speak to one of VSL & Partners experts, please call 01865 848488 or visit www.vslandp.com

27-31 Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford 1,944 sq ft. Freehold Sold

13 & 14 Kidlington Centre 836 sq ft. Let to Tattoo Studio

9 Chancerygate, Kidlington 2,114 sq ft. Let to John E Wright

3 Church Cowley Road 2,298 sq ft. Freehold Sold

6 Station Yard Adderbury 2,445 sq ft. Let to Global Foods

32 Nuffield Way, Abingdon 5,839 sq ft. Let to Oodle Finance

www.b4-business.com

B4 technology

“

ActiveNeedle has very exciting expansion plans with a product that will truly enhance the lives of patients and healthcare professionals, we are delighted to support the team on their journey of growth.

”

Dianne Heath, Centre Director - Culham and Harwell Innovation Centres

Precision needles will help patients and doctors An intuitive medical device for multiple applications is being developed at Culham Innovation Centre and is poised to enter the billion-dollar biopsy market. The device promises to improve accuracy, reduce time and limit patient stress during needle-based procedures. Written by: Oxford Innovation Ltd.

ActiveNeedle Technology is in the process of commercialising its needle-actuating device, which aims to reduce needle placement errors in ultrasound guided procedures and has recently taken more office space at Culham Innovation Centre to support ambitious expansion plans.

Over the next five years, the company will expand geographically, branching out to Europe, the Far East and US with plans to open a US office in 2019. A further 6 – 8 people will be recruited over the next year, with an additional 10 – 14 people hired by the end of 2020.

professionals, we are delighted to support the team on their journey of growth. We always aim to add value whether directing tenants to relevant advice about UK and European funding, introducing angel investors or by providing flexible office space to facilitate expansion at a time that suits the business.”

This week, ActiveNeedle Technology has been named as one of the most exciting technology companies in the UK and an innovator to watch in 2018 by industry peers via TechRadar.com. A well timed accolade as the company is about to go through its second round of funding and is inviting Oxfordshire investors and potential partners to join the team as it scales-up to launch its problem solving product in the UK next year.

Ian Quirk added: “Our headquarters will remain at Culham Innovation Centre for as long as we can expand within the building. We are currently benefitting from the Innovation Centre in more ways than one. ActiveNeedle Technology is due to commence a project next year with one of the other businesses based at the Centre following an introduction by the Centre team, proving they really do add value.”

Part of Oxfordshire’s Science Vale and based at Culham Science Centre, Culham Innovation Centre has over 10,000 sq. ft. of flexible office, laboratory, workshop and meeting room space. With offices available for 1 to 15 people, Culham Innovation Centre has the supportive solution to suit growing science and technology businesses.

Ian Quirk, CEO and founder of ActiveNeedle Technology, explains: “Our technology can really make a difference to healthcare professionals and patients, reducing procedure time and limiting the number of repeat operations. This will save the NHS millions and importantly, will help prevent unnecessary pain experienced as a result of prolonged or repeated biopsies.”

Culham Innovation Centre is part of the supportive environment at Culham Science Centre and is managed by Oxford Innovation, the leading operator of business and innovation centres with 23 located across the UK.

ActiveNeedle Technology recently attended an event at The Terrace Pavilion in the Palace of Westminster to receive the Commended Innovation Award presented by Prof. Dame Julia Higgins, President of the Institute of Physics in the presence of Alok Sharma MP. www.b4-business.com

For further information on ActiveNeedle Technology, visit: activeneedle.com or to find out more about Culham Innovation Centre, visit: culham-ic.co.uk.

Together with a combination of laboratory and office space, Culham Innovation Centre is in a prime location to help science and technology start-ups progress to the next level. Dianne Heath, Centre Director, Culham and Harwell Innovation Centres, said: “ActiveNeedle has very exciting expansion plans with a product that will truly enhance the lives of patients and healthcare

   

info.centres@oxin.co.uk 01865 261 489 www.oxin-centres.co.uk @oxinnovation

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B4 technology

DON’T LET WINTER OUTAGES CAUSE BUSINESS DOWNTIME We have already seen snow causing business downtime this year, in some instances this can not be helped but in many cases remote working and collaboration can mean the weather does not need to affect your business at all. Written by: Complete I.T.

For many businesses, the costs associated with business downtime are simply unsustainable. Obviously, severe weather in the winter is predictable, with 89% of managers recognising business continuity as a key responsibility – yet only around 63% have put suitable measures in place.

There’s a good chance that your business uses bespoke software for some of your operations, but again the Cloud can assist. By migrating applications to the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform, they too can be accessed remotely.

Why aren’t businesses doing more to ensure that employees can continue working when they cannot get into the office?

Migrating corporate systems to the Cloud is about more than simply making key systems accessible in times of disaster. A localised flood may destroy your company server, rendering all the data stored on it inaccessible – potentially permanently.

At Complete I.T. we work with our clients to ensure they have the best processes in place to keep them running. Here are just a few tips to keep you working this winter.

The power of the Cloud Embracing Cloud computing will ensure business continuity and productivity is not affected by winter outages. Cloud solutions such as Microsoft Office 365 provide access to your work applications any time, any place, and via any device. This means that localised disasters or outages, which prevent employees making it into the office, will not affect workflow. Your team can work remotely for as long as required, using the collaborative features and productivity tools of Office 365. www.b4-business.com

Avoiding permanent data loss

This is not an issue when using Cloud services because data is held offsite, often spread across several datacentres to protect against loss. This level of protection means that your office and one of the Cloud datacentres could be destroyed, but your data would be protected and still available.

Any team members that need to work from home must have access to a device they can work from. Everyone must know how to access the various Cloud based programmes you use as a business. To learn more about protecting your business against winter outages and other unexpected issues that may affect your ability to work, please get in touch to arrange a meeting. Complete I.T. are an IT Support Provider based in Oxford. We believe being local to our clients and able to get to them quickly and easily at critical times is important. We are a consultative business and become a part of our clients team, working with them to ensure they meet business goals and are working safer and smarter.

You must always have a back up solution in place to ensure you are able to restore your data from the most recent back up.

No more business downtime Of course, these benefits are only available if you have a business plan in place in case of an unexpected issue.

 enquiries@complete-it.co.uk  01865 593 012  www.complete-it.co.uk

GDPR and the Significance of Encryption By working with an MSP to encrypt your data you can ensure its security and forget about having to report any breaches to the ICO, says Gareth Johnson.

Over the past couple of months we’ve discussed the importance of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the EU’s new directive and most significant piece of legislation in the history of the union when it comes to the handling of customer data. It’s significant because for many firms there is a very real danger in failing to comply with this when it comes into force in May next year. That could have severe repercussions for your livelihood and even send you out of business. And with a fine of up to four percent of your annual revenue, or €20 million to think about, it demands attention.

by firms. Of course, these things are rarely simple and there are various methods of encryption you might consider when moving towards compliance.

it can “allIndeed, seem a bit

overwhelming if you’re not careful, leaving you wondering where on earth you should start.

”

Yet, like many businesses, you’re probably wondering how it all affects you because of the sheer amount of information that’s being put out there on the GDPR at the moment. Indeed, it can all seem a bit overwhelming if you’re not careful, leaving you wondering where on earth you should start.

However, are you aware that by using a Managed Services Provider (MSP) you could enjoy data protection that complies with all requirements of the GDPR and offers a complete portfolio of solutions solving key data protection issues at the endpoints?

At its core is an attempt by the EU to drive better standards of cybersecurity to provide increased protection for the data of EU citizens being handled

Now, securing your data is a complicated issue, so if you’re unsure what we mean by endpoints, let’s try to put the cybersecurity issue into context. If you

ran a local nightclub you wouldn’t attempt to run the door yourself, you’d get the professionals in. So, why leave the security of data to chance if unsure of the methodologies? Especially when the punitive consequences faced could put you out of business. Using the MSP model when it comes to the GDPR is a cost effective, hassle-free way of leaving things like encryption in the hands of real experts, leaving you to concentrate on generating revenue for your core business. Here, a good partner will first begin by assessing your exact organisational needs so that you are protected against risk that is directly relevant to you. This will ensure you aren’t oversold a ‘blanket’ solution that you don’t need. By working with an MSP such as CIS, you can also ensure that all data will be secured across any device at file, folder, email, network and cloud level wherever it may be. With systems that monitor data transfer by audit function you can avoid unencrypted file transfer as this is predefined in the platform. Similarly, you can also prove that files were encrypted at the point of any breach should you have a problem.

www.b4-business.com

B4 technology

This is particularly important when it comes to the GDPR, as if you suffer a breach and are encrypted in this way you wouldn’t need to report it to the Information Commissioner’s Office.

“

By working with an MSP such as CIS you can also ensure that all data will be secured across any device at file, folder, email, network and cloud level wherever it may be.

”

On top of this users are able to monitor and control all data transfer in real time, with any abnormal behaviour or activity automatically flagged so you can decide what to do. We are also able to provide a detailed view of data flow

www.b4-business.com

that identifies potential weaknesses, thereby enabling forensic examination. The ability to generate this information is important when it comes to compliance and will also help you adhere to various laws and regulations.

Need help with securing your data and the GDPR?

In addition, with clear mobile device management and cloud access control, data is locked down across devices at every level with real time preventative control and visibility as to who has access to what cloud services and to what extent. This prevents any unauthorised access to applications, devices or file types and stops ransomware in its tracks.

CIS offers a full set of services encompassing all aspects of the GDPR. These include a GDPR Compliance Gap Assessment Tool, suite of security solutions, cloud hosting as well as data mapping and policy and process reviews. For those who need it we also offer a Data Protection Officer as a Service (DPOaaS) to support you through establishing these and if any breach should occur.

Finally, a good partner will also be taking care of your carbon footprint and power output too by deploying intelligent power management solutions to ensure optimised IT operations by only consuming energy when computers are actually used. This approach to green-IT will help to reduce both IT operational costs and your impact on the environment.

 Gareth.Johnson@cisltd.com  01367 700 555  www.cisltd.com 61

FINANCE WORK This month we paid a visit to Alan Hine and Alexandria Keeble of Finance.work based in Banbury Road, Summertown. Their business specialises in placing Accountants and office support staff in small to medium enterprises (SMEs), Accountancy firms and IFAs

B4 hr & recruitment

Our success is based “ on our full understanding

that effective recruitment is not just about the right qualifications but also about getting the right personality to suit your business Allan Hine - Finance.work

”

Written by: B4 Magazine Photography by: Ben Molyneux

Over coffee in his bright and airy office, Alan shared the secrets of his success, as he spoke with lively enthusiasm about his background, and business. After graduating in law, Alan qualified as a chartered accountant in 1988 after training with Grant Thornton. He then pursued an accountancy career within a small a firm in Oxford where he developed a specialism working with ambitious growing SMEs. Combining his accountancy knowledge and strong interest in people, Alan made a successful career move into recruitment at Robert Walters Associates, now one of the leading recruitment firms in the finance market which he helped float in 1996. He subsequently held board level appointments at another listed recruiter and led the management team at a boutique search firm before running his own business for 7 years. He founded Finance.work with Simon Stevenson in 2015.Alexandria joined them shortly afterwards and specialises in administrative, customer service and junior accounting roles. Alan has successfully recruited permanent and interim positions for corporate clients ranging from SMEs to Plcs and now specialises in Finance roles in both commerce and practice. “Our success is based on our full understanding that effective recruitment is not just about the right qualifications but also about getting the right personality to suit your business” Alan explained. With 28 years of experience Alan has well established contacts across London, the South east and the Midlands. To many of these he is both a successful recruiter and a trusted adviser. Alan told us that as well as permanent recruitment, Finance.work can also offer interim and other flexible solutions. “We have an extensive network of high calibre professional contacts, which means we can respond promptly to source the optimum candidate to meet your business requirements.” Almost uniquely for a niche recruiter, Finance.work also has its own forum on the web-based business network, Linked-In. Whether you are looking to recruit an accounting or administrative professional or are one yourself and are seeking a new position, Alan and Alex’s skills in finding what exactly you are looking for seem to be right on the money.

 alan@finance.work  01865 657 657  www.finance.work

www.b4-business.com

B4 hr & recruitment

CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF YOU HR ACADEMY Written by: Jonna Mundy Photography by: Caroline Allington

What is You HR Academy? October 2017 is a milestone month for the team at You HR Consultancy Ltd because we are launching our new online Academy! I am truly amazed by what the system looks like and it is fascinating to see our plans that we have worked on for the last few months come to life and look as great as they do. It’s such an achievement – watch out for 2018 and our plans for the Academy to become Award winning! The creation of the Academy was formed after a number of clients enquired if we could provide online training, mainly covering your basic HR needs – such as Induction and Statutory Training (fire safety, equality, health and safety), but also to provide managers with core people management skills – like recruitment, performance management, workplace wellbeing, change management and managing conflict, to name but a few…

“

We are thrilled with our new induction programme and statutory training modules

”

Leadership and Management - ILM) modules come with coaching to further assist embedding learning in the workplace and of course our other products are available, depending on the learners needs. Each learner can see from their dashboard, the progress of what they have completed and managers can have an overall viewing access to monitor progress and run user reports.

“ I am more confident as a

manager having completed an ILM Accredited People Management Programme Sean Tucker – Manager Coronet Bingo

”

and enable it to flourish and grow through excellent people management practice., We work alongside your team of managers, guiding, supporting and mentoring them through all HR employee situations, empowering them as leaders and enhancing their knowledge and capability. Retained HR clients received a discount off all other services and products we provide. So whether your need is simply HR support, developing your staff, your needing to ‘change’ your organisation or boost your workplace wellbeing for staff – we will be able to help you. Get in touch, come and meet us for a coffee and we will offer you a FREE HR Health Check for your organisation and identify ways to enhance your business through your people.

We are now creating bespoke packages of e-learning modules designed to specifically meet each client needs. But we didn’t stop there… Our other main line of enquiry from clients was around having all our key HR documents and templates available online for them to access alongside obtaining the face to face support when they need us onsite. So we have set-up our ‘Retained HR’ services online, allowing clients access to our quality HR documents, guidelines, blogs, video and much more.

 www.youhracadmey.com

Kelvin Cheatle – HR Director Kingston NHS Foundation Trust

We set about designing a system to house the products that we currently deliver through facilitated training courses. The Academy has enabled us to let our brand shine through, our training modules boast a vibrant and enjoyable way to learn about each subject whilst ensuring the core components of the training are understood through completing a simple assessment at the end of each course. Some of our accredited (with the institute of 64

Our passion truly sits in helping clients reach their full potential, and our Academy is a powerful tool to make this happen… after all “it’s all about the people”!

You HR Consultancy Our approach is unique. We take pride in demonstrating to our clients the value of good HR practice. Our mission is to progress your business

 www.youhrconsultancy.co.uk  01491 820 800  alice@youhr.co.uk

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Our Service Line Tree shows all the products we offer At You HR Consultancy Ltd. we connect with our clients and what needs to be achieved. We believe this is through our values being engrained in our practice… We; listen to our clients, demonstrate we understand through producing a clear scope of work, we take action and achieve successful results.

e-learning As a member of our Academy, each client will have their own unique and secure access to the modules they need, we can even bespoke them to be branded and align to your organisation. You will be able to see through your own personalised dashboard and reports, the progress of learning that your staff are achieving.

People management As Fellow members of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), we really are the people experts you can rely on to manage change within your organisation. Whatever your consultative needs are our methods and processes enable a smooth transition to achieve change.

Retained HR Every clients needs are different so we offer a variety of ways in which we can work alongside you whether we provide extended ad-hoc support to your existing HR, or are your Retained HR service and you can rely on us to progress your standards of good HR practice each month. We have 3 tiers of retained support:

“ YHRC listen and provide a balanced

view on my behalf and that of my staff. Most importantly, they provide context and that helps me to make the right decisions

”

Richard Rosser – Chief Executive, The In Oxford Group

www.b4-business.com

Essential

Elite

Excellence

All your basic needs

Advancing your HR

Striving for the best

Starting From £16.99 per head per month

Workplace wellbeing Our most important branch to enable your people to be nurtured and flourish. We can design staff satisfaction survey for you and analyse the outcomes in a recommendation report. We can explore ways to enhance your organisational culture increase positive attendance, retention, reward & recognition and move to enrich your workplace. 65

Meet Dan Channer Managing Director of Finders Keepers who are supporting Sobell House as their Charity of the Year Why did you choose Sobell House as your Charity of the Year? We leave the selection of our charity of the year to our team. We feel that if they are involved in the process of choosing who to support, they will be more motivated to fundraise. They are invited to nominate a charity and a shortlist is then put out to the vote. I think that Sobell House won because it is such a fantastic local charity which has helped a lot of people in the county and even in our company.

House site. On the 9th June we had a ‘charity day’ where each office had a bake sale on the same day and we also had a static bike challenge outside of our Summertown office. It was great to have the whole company getting involved and even better to see how willing the public was to support Sobell House. With relatively minimal effort, it is possible to raise a lot of money, which will hopefully make a big difference. Have you been particularly creative in any of your fundraising? We are quite proud of our ‘Donate a Day’s Rent’ campaign. We came up with the idea in 2009 as an easy way for our clients to support our efforts for our charity of the year. Of course, we insist our team gets involved in lots of activities before we ask our clients to effectively ‘sponsor’ them, but it’s a great way of raising funds – and all our clients have to do is opt-in! We are lucky to have a diligent accounts team who put in a lot of work to process these donations and we are very grateful to the clients who donate...often raising thousands of pounds.

How important is it to you and Finders Keepers to get involved with a local charity? We have had a charity of the year every alternate year since 2009 (so that we are not asking our clients for donations every year) and we have supported BOB Air Ambulance and Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres in the past. It’s really pleasing to support a local charity and see the difference the fundraising and volunteering makes.

How has your team risen to the challenge and what difference does it make? Our team has been great this year, running 5ks and half marathons, manning bucket collections, holding bake sales and gardening up at the Sobell

If there are any local businesses considering having a ‘charity of the year’ we would certainly recommend Sobell House Hospice. Not only because it is such a superb organisation, but from a practical point of view they are incredibly easy to work with! We have had one point of contact throughout the year and any time we asked for supplies or help in organising an activity they were quick to assist. As one of the larger local charities, they also have their own events which they often need volunteers for so we had the opportunity to donate time as well as funds, which is very rewarding.

“It really is an uplifting

place with so many people giving so much time and effort to make everything possible

What are your thoughts about Sobell House? Sobell House Hospice is such an important place. They provide amazing care and comfort for patients and their families, and what could easily feel like a depressing space is actually incredibly bright and upbeat. It really is an uplifting place with so many people giving so much time and effort to make everything possible.

And lastly, what message would you give to other local businesses considering forming a partnership with Sobell House?

”

Do you think that your community driven CSR undertaking has helped to position your business more positively within Oxfordshire? Our main driver is being a good ‘corporate citizen’ in our staff’s eyes. These days, people expect their employer to be sponsoring local causes and so do our customers.

 marketing@finderskeepers.co.uk  01865 311 011  www.finders.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

news Sobell House, B4’s Official Charity Partner for 2017/18. We meet Sobell’s Tim Wraith, Corporate Partnership Manager specialist care. Many people express the wish to stay at home longer and by attending the Sobell Clinic, patients will be able to see a nurse or a doctor and receive support in so many ways. To fund the care taking place at Sobell House you rely on the kindness and generosity of so many people and organisation. How can the Oxfordshire business community support your work? Over the last few years we have developed wonderful partnerships with local businesses. The 40 Club gives the opportunity for businesses to engage with us over a four year period and commit to raising £10,000 over that time. This year we also have a record number of businesses that have chosen Sobell House as their Charity of the Year. Lots of others are engaging with us in so many different ways. Supporting Sobell House is a fantastic way to engage your employees with a local highly respected charity providing outstanding care at the heart of your community. How can people find out more?

We are delighted that Sobell House have been chosen as B4’s Official Charity Partner for 2017/18. To promote this wonderful partnership B4 took time out to speak to Tim Wraith who is the Corporate Partnership Manager at Sobell House having joined the hospice 12 months ago.

they are as calm and comfortable as possible, and offer support to their families and friends. Sobell House is a very special place.

Tell us about Sobell House

These are exciting times at Sobell House as we are just about to start building the new Sobell House Clinic and Garden Annex. This will enable us to provide the very best possible care to everyone in our community, for generations to come.

Sobell House cares for people at the end of their lives and supports their families, friends and carers. We have been doing this for over 41 years. Every day, our staff care for around 150 people in the Hospice, the Community and the local hospitals. Our staff accompany patients and their families on perhaps the most difficult journey they will ever make. At Sobell House we focus on quality of life, respecting each person’s dignity and uniqueness. Our aim is to support people in living as well and as fully as possible in the time they have left. When people are dying, our staff will strive to make sure

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Please do get in touch if you would like to support the care taking place here, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me below. You can also find more information on our website: www.sobellhouse.org/fundraising/companies/

Is there anything in particular you would like to tell our B4 members?

The Garden Annex has been specially designed to meet the needs of our frailer patients and those with complex conditions who have a high risk of falls and confusion. We are using high-tech solutions that balance people’s privacy and safety with their need for companionship and quick access to nursing staff. The Sobell Clinic is an outpatient service for people who have a terminal illness and need specific

 tim.wraith@sobellhospice.org  01865 857 066 / 07527 849 748  www.sobellhouse.org

Celebrating a stellar performance in Chambers and Legal 500

Our legal teams are celebrating a strong presence in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal directories. Our latest rankings, based on feedback from clients and peers, demonstrate our expertise and knowledge across the full range of legal services and the exemplary client service that we offer.

Legal 500 33 top practice areas 38 leading individuals 159 recommended lawyers Chambers 21 tier 1 rankings 25 tier 1 lawyers 78 lawyers recognised for their expertise

blakemorgan.co.uk

B4 venues

Conference Oxford – A Story of Success Conference Oxford is celebrating a hugely successful year, having attracted a record number of enquiries from clients wishing to hold events at the University of Oxford and its colleges. They are proud to represent 63 of the most stunning venues in Oxford, all providing outstanding services and facilities for every type of event, conferences, meetings, dinners, weddings and Christmas parties. Mike Naworynsky, Chair of Conference Oxford commented, “We are supporting businesses locally, nationally and internationally, helping clients to find the perfect venue for their event in our college and University venues. The high level of repeat business is testament to the excellent level of service provided by our experienced team and the fact that this is a free service comes as welcome surprise to our customers.” Written by: Marie O’Connor, Manager of Conference Oxford Photography by: David Fisher and Ralph Williamson

Conference Oxford was first established in 1994 with the purpose of promoting the collegiate University of Oxford as the number one destination for conferences and events. Over the years Conference Oxford has undergone many changes, constantly adapting to the needs of their customers. Conference Oxford’s small but perfectly formed team, headed up by Marie O’Connor, have a combined experience of over 50 years in the conferencing and events industry. Their expertise and dedication have seen Conference Oxford go from strength to strength.

How Conference Oxford can help you Whether you are looking for a small, characterful meeting room for board members or high profile clients, a vaulted dining hall in which to celebrate with your colleagues, or a state-of-the-art lecture theatre for a conference or product launch, Conference Oxford provides an invaluable service to businesses in Oxford and the surrounding areas. They represent 63 unique venues, colleges, libraries, museums, and iconic buildings of the University. The vast majority of the venues are located in the city centre

Mike Naworynsky Chair

www.b4-business.com

and within walking distance of Oxford train station. Day meetings can be accommodated year-round, while residential conferences and summer schools can be accommodated during the vacation periods (with up to 7000 student bedrooms!) The service offered by Conference Oxford is free and includes: -- An efficient venue and availability search amongst 63 college and University venues -- Information and advice on the most suitable venue/s for your event -- Bespoke site visits arranged -- Support and advice in planning your event, including multisite conferences -- Access to an exclusive list of recommended suppliers -- Regular Familiarisation Trips Over the last few years, Conference Oxford has worked closely with B4 on hosting a number of Classic Events at some of their prestigious college and University venues. At a recent B4 Classic event held at Christ Church, Mike Naworynsky, Chair of CO, said that Conference Oxford’s core message to local organisations is ‘we are open for business’. He added ‘Events such as this

Marie O’Connor Manager

Matthew Brown

Database and Enquiries Administrator

help to build new relationships and help to ensure that Conference Oxford are acknowledged as the first and best choice for business in Oxford’.

Onwards and upwards Conference Oxford is looking forward to another successful year with the demand to hold events at the University of Oxford growing all the time. So why not get in touch today to find out how Conference Oxford can help find the perfect venue for your next event.

   

enquiries@conference-oxford.ox.ac.uk 01865 276 190 www.conference-oxford.com @confoxford

Anna Dominey

Marketing and Enquiries Administrator

Victoria Allen

Marketing and Enquiries Assistant

23RD NOV B4 CLASSIC EVENTS

Excellent B4 Classic Event at The Oxford Artisan Distillery B4 & The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) welcomed B4 Members and their guests for a tour of the newly opened distillery, the first of its kind in central Oxford. The event included casual networking with drinks and canapés, with speeches by Tom Nicolson, CEO & Chairman of TOAD and Richard Rosser, CEO of B4. Photography by: Rob Scotcher Tom Nicolson commented: “It was wonderful to welcome B4 Members and their guests to TOAD last night. We were delighted to showcase our product and tell the story of TOAD to the variety of companies that attended. B4 is an excellent networking organisation and a great way to grow business. Networking has helped us immensely since the conception of TOAD.” B4’s Richard Rosser added: “What an excellent evening in the company of the flamboyant and charismatic Tom Nicolson and the team at TOAD. Tom is the original showman and gave our members an in-depth history of this real success story. We’ve really enjoyed supporting TOAD in their first year of

business and it’s such a wonderful story – they deserve the success they are enjoying and will no doubt continue to expand and create as they become more established over the years. Great feedback from the B4 members and their guests and one for the calendar for next year hopefully. If you haven’t had the pleasure of visiting TOAD, make sure you get up to support them on their fascinating journey.” Joy Le Fevre, Strategic Communications Consultant, who assisted in organising the event commented: “I am a huge supporter of organisations who put relationships first. B4 does this with great skill - effecting well considered business introductions

www.b4-business.com

B4 venues

Companies in Attendance

and taking every opportunity to put like-minded people in touch. The networking events are great - and the classic event at the distillery was no exception. People seemed genuinely to be having a marvellous time - and TOAD got to thoroughly demonstrate what lies at the heart of its brand. It was a fantastic evening.”

About TOAD

Now that’s the kind of networking I like! Great chat and new connections made at TOAD with the B4 Network. Very tasty gin indeed!” Lucie Davison, Employee Communications Consultant, Light Bright Communications



Scan to watch the event video:

TOAD is a true craft distillery; a rare species found in only a few very special places around the world. They care deeply about the quality of their spirits but also the impact of their production. Using ancient and genetically diverse populations of Rye, Wheat and Barley, grown exclusively on local farms, TOAD are one of a handful of distilleries that really do make spirits from the field to the bottle, overseeing the entire process on their site beneath the dreaming spires of Oxford.

Forthcoming B4 Events B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Hotel : Jan 24 2018 @ 6:00pm 8:00pm B4 Classic Event at Milton House Hotel : Mar 8 2018 @ 6:00pm 8:00pm

Feedback “Thanks for another great B4 Event. A fascinating and exciting journey for The Oxford Artisan Distillery and great to see and taste what they have created!” Anna Britnor Guest, Principal Consultant, Leading Edge Coaching

Addis Law ads advertising & design solutions Alberon Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust Better People Blue Pebble Consulting Brand New Dawn BrookStreet des Roches LLP Chapman Robinson and Moore College and County Cotswold Taste Elitonia Ltd ForPOS Ltd Frederick Jewson Freeths LLP Grant Thornton UK LLP Hawkwell House Hotel Helen & Douglas House Hilltop Consultancy HTA Jays Logistic Consulting Knights 1759 Leading Edge Coaching Lewis Silkin Light Bright Communications Mini Plant Oxford Mulholland Landscape Consultants Oxford Castle Unlocked Oxford City Council Oxford Garden Design Oxford Spires Pint Shop Progression Boats the imageworks The Plastic Goldfish Company Two One Services You HR Oxford Event Hire John Kennedy Ema Murphy PR & Digital Media

   

spawn@spiritoftoad.co.uk +44 (0)1865 767 918 www.spiritoftoad.co.uk @thespiritoftoad

B4 Classic Event at Pint Shop : Apr 19 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Business In Oxford 2018 : May 23 2018 @ 8:00am - 6:00pm B4 Classic Event at Weston Library : Jun 11 2018 @ 6:00pm 8:00pm B4 Classic Event at Rhodes House : Sep 6 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm

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Christmas Dinners and Functions from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Dinners and functions set against beautiful backdrops with exceptional cuisine. Written by: Verity Donovan

Photography by: David Fisher

As well as offering state of the art conference facilities, we also offer a wide range of functionsincluding plated dinners, sit down buffet dinners, gala dinners, awards ceremonies, themed dinners and Christmas parties. The focus of the award-winning catering team at Oxford Saïd is on the quality and standard of the food offering, with locally sourced British produce, and sustainably sourced fish. All meat is from farms which satisfy UK animal welfare standards.

finding new and innovative ways to accommodate these requirements such as the ‘free from’ range. We believe food and drink are essential to the success of any function. Our catering team offer a wide range of functions both indoor and outdoor, for example, the popular BBQ and High Tea menus.

Christmas Parties

Oxford Saïd holds the Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Mark. We were one of the first business schools to achieve this, which is something we are immensely proud of.

Exclusive use of either of our unique and stunning venues on the night of your party with bespoke tailored packages to suit all budgets: • Exceptional, attentive service : Hospitality Manager on hand throughout your event • Drinks packages and bar options available • Discreet security

The catering team are fully equipped to deal with any allergen or dietary requirements and are consistently

We offer a choice of menu options to suit all budgets from a 3 course set menu to a 3 course plated /

formal seated 2 course buffet: To enhance your evening we have fun additions such as • Discos/ bands • Photo booth – get your best pose ready! • Casino Night • Themed evening

Park End Street venue – In the heart of the City of Oxford Enjoy the stunning views of Oxford’s dreaming spires in the Pyramid dining room. We offer private dining from 40 guests up to 250 guests. Dedicated AV technicians are available for speeches and music if required. Entertainment is also available pre or post event at an additional charge.

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B4 venues

The Club Room with a bar, lounge space, terrace and views across private gardens, is the perfect space for a drinks reception and networking. The Garden Room: a brand new addition to the main building with lovely views of the private gardens. Dining for 60 delegates.

for a drinks reception and networking. The Nautilus dining room can seat up to 60 guests. The courtyard can be used exclusively for pre or post dinner drinks and summer outdoor functions such as BBQs.

Egrove Park Venue – In a parkland setting

Rosemary Stewart Lounge. This is a small private dining room ideal for intimate dinners for up to 30 guests. The floor to ceiling windows showcase the beautiful grounds and woodland areas of Egrove Park.

The Dining room enjoys spectacular views of the 37 acres of grounds that surrounds Egrove Park. We offer private dining from 20 guests up to 120 guests. Dedicated AV technicians are available for speeches and music if required. Entertainment is also available pre or post event at an additional charge.

Plated dinner menus vary on a regular basis in keeping with seasonal changes. Wine is included with the meal and will be selected to compliment your menu choice.

The Common Room areas with a bar, lounge space and views of the grounds, are the perfect spaces

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We also offer: • Teambuilding • Experience weekends

• Training and networking events • Conference facilities • Residential conferences – current 20% discount if you book and hold an event before end of 2017 – visit our website (Promotions page) for further information. For further information please contact: Lisa Sainsbury / Bryony Marshall-Falland

 conference@sbs.ox.ac.uk  01865 288 846  www.sbs.oxford.edu/conference

transform your business We create bespoke software and websites that simplify processes, transform performance, and give businesses the scope to grow. For more information call 01865 794009 or email grow@alberon.co.uk

the software and web solution specialists

www.alberon.co.uk

B4 venues

“ Our award winning venue offers a stunning setting unlike any other in Oxford.

”

OXFORD BROOKES VENUES If you’re looking for a venue for your next celebration, then why look anywhere else?

We offer contemporary venue spaces supported by great customer service and delicious food. The Terrace is Oxford Brookes Venues’ main function space. Encased within glass walls it is a light and airy space during the day whilst at night the windows become reflective surfaces creating a spectacular dining environment. The Terrace is also home to V4N3SSA, our vintage Citroën van, a great showpiece bar for functions and events. Taylors Yard is a fantastic, flexible space for smaller and more intimate occasions with imaginative set ups and menus from pop-up street food to seated dinners.

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“We’re proud to use local, seasonal produce to create an array of dishes for all occasions. We have a wonderful team of passionate chefs who are always looking at the latest food trends and take great pleasure in serving them in such a unique space” Carl Chappell, Executive Chef.

Party Size

The Terrace: Up to 350 Taylors Yard: Up to 60

Why choose Oxford Brookes Venues? • Contemporary and unique venue experience • Menus from the best seasonal and local produce, created by our passionate chefs. • Outstanding customer service • Easily accessible location close to the city centre with great transport links from the M40 and ring road

Located just two miles from the city centre with convenient public transport links on our doorstep and parking for evening events, we offer a unique venue experience and work with you to ensure your event is truly memorable

 venues@brookes.ac.uk  01865 488400  www.brookesvenues.co.uk 75

B4 CLASSIC EVENTS

Wonderful B4 Christmas Dinner & In Oxford Awards Ceremony 2017 B4 invited Platinum members and guests to celebrate the winners of this year’s In Oxford Awards at the B4 Christmas Dinner, held at the prestigious Divinity School. The event included an opportunity to connect with a wide range of Oxfordshire’s leading businesses and enjoy the hospitality of Oxford Fine Dining, with speeches from Alice Ogilvie, Head of Venue Services at Bodleian Libraries, Cllr Price, Leader of Oxford City Council and Richard Rosser, CEO of B4. Photography by: Chaz Snell, The Plastic Goldfish Company Lucy Askew, Chief Executive of Creation Theatre, the overall winner of the 2017 In Oxford Awards commented: “A superb event, fantastic atmosphere, delicious food, great networking. A great start to the festive season and delighted to come away with an award too!” B4’s Richard Rosser added: “Thank you to everyone in attendance at last night’s final B4 Platinum Dinner of 2017 for a superb evening. Sincere thanks to Kate del Nevo and Alice Ogilvie of Bodleian Libraries for hosting us in such a beautifully dressed Divinity School, the team at Oxford Fine Dining for the ultimate fine dining experience, photographer Chaz

Snell and my team at The In Oxford Group for their thorough preparation and excellent organisation last night. Congratulations to all of our In Oxford Awards winners and everyone who entered this year’s Awards. Special thanks to our guest speaker, Cllr Bob Price, Leader of Oxford City Council, who gave guests an insight into the long term plans for Oxford and underlined how well the evening reflected all that is good about Oxford.” Cllr Price commented: “What a splendid evening, a fantastic showcase for Oxford. It was a pleasure to address guests in the historic Divinity School and share in the celebrations of well deserved winners of The 2017 In Oxford Awards.”

Feedback “A superb event, fantastic atmosphere, delicious food and great networking. A great start to the festive season and delighted to come away with an award too!” – Lucy Askew, Chief Executive, Creation Theatre “As a local charity that cares for nearly 300 terminally ill children and their families a year, it’s an absolute honour and privilege to be nominated as Oxfordshire’s Favourite Charity. Thank you so much to all who voted.” – Lucy Walker, Community Fundraising Manager, Helen & Douglas House

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B4 venues

Companies in Attendance

4TH DEC “A great evening and a wonderful venue. Congratulations to all of the In Oxford Awards winners.” - Greg Barnes, Managing Director, Breckon & Breckon “As a local charity that cares for nearly 300 terminally ill children and their families a year, it’s an absolute honour and privilege to be nominated as Oxfordshire’s Favourite Charity. Thank you so much to all who voted.” – Lucy Walker, Community Fundraising Manager, Helen & Douglas House

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About Divinity School

The Divinity School is Oxford University’s oldest teaching and examination room, dating from the 1500s, a masterpiece of English gothic architecture. Built between 1427 and 1483, it is the oldest surviving purpose-built building for university use, specifically for lectures, oral exams and discussions on theology.

Forthcoming B4 Events B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Hotel : Jan 24 2018 @ 6:00pm 8:00pm

www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk Tel: 01865 277224

About In Oxford Awards The annual In Oxford Awards are decided by the readers of In Oxford Magazine and the general public. The Awards, now in their 3rd year, run in conjunction with the hugely popular Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards. The Awards set out to recognise Oxfordshire’s most beloved establishments and demonstrate how much their customers and the local community care about them. www.inoxford.com Tel: 01865 742211

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Alberon Finders Keepers Oxford Fine Dining Ashmolean Museum Freeths Oxford Garden Design Aston & James Global CTS Oxford Professional Consulting Bicester Village VIP Apartment Grant Thornton Oxford Spires Hotel Blake Morgan G-Smatt Europe Oxford United FC Bodleian Helen & Douglas House Pierre Victoire Breckon & Breckon James Cowper Kreston Sobell Carter Jonas Knights The Zeta Group Chapman, Robinson & Moore Land Securities Think, Inspire, Create Cherwell Boathouse Macdonald Randolph Hotel Tottenham Hotspur CIS Ltd MQB Tripp Hearing Conference Oxford Newbury Racecourse Unipart Creation Theatre NiRa Events Vaults & Garden Café Curzon PR Oxford Brookes University West Oxfordshire District Council Experience Oxfordshire Oxford City Council You HR

B4 Classic Event at Milton House Hotel : Mar 8 2018 @ 6:00pm 8:00pm

Bodleian Libraries U N I V E R S I T Y O F OX F O R D

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reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk +44 (0)1865 277 162 www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk @bodleianlibs

B4 Classic Event at Pint Shop : Apr 19 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Business In Oxford 2018 : May 23 2018 @ 8:00am - 6:00pm B4 Classic Event at Weston Library : Jun 11 2018 @ 6:00pm 8:00pm 77

SPOTLIGHT ON

HOWBERY BUSINESS PARK

Marcus Taylor founded Venture Harbour in 2012

A detailed physical model of a section of Colwyn Bay in HR Wallingford’s laboratories at Howbery Park

From education to employment

Venture Harbour

A Centre for Water Science

GTI

Venture Harbour is a digital innovation studio which has grown from one employee to having a globally distributed team of 20 plus people since setting up at Howbery Business Park.

Water Science remains an important focus for Howbery Park with civil engineering and environmental hydraulics organisation, HR Wallingford having its headquarters, physical modelling laboratories and UK Ship Simulation Centre on the Park.

GTI has been a local employer since its foundation over 30 years ago and moved onto Howbery Park in 2009.

With a team of passionate digital marketers, product designers & developers, Venture Harbour has built nine ventures ranging from lead generation software to artificial intelligence chatbots, transforming the way over 3 million marketers and entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Leadformly, the company’s latest venture is its most successful to date, and is now used by leading brands all over the world.

“We’ve grown by 330% per year since being at Howbery Park, making us one of the 50 fastest growing tech companies in the UK. And we base everything we do on one guiding principle: Each new venture we build must be more ambitious than the last.” Marcus Taylor, Founder and CEO, VentureHarbour

The independent research and consultancy which earlier this year celebrated its 70th anniversary, delivers solutions to complex water-related challenges faced by its clients around the world. HR Wallingford leads in the development of scientific methods and models for assessing flood risk; planning and implementing management strategies; and delivering innovative and intelligent risk-based approaches to securing a more resilient future. Maritime expertise includes the provision of technical consultancy services for the design of maritime projects around the world, such as the selection, design and improvement of ports, harbours, and terminals. The UK Ship Simulation Centre houses advanced navigation simulation technology with four real-time ship simulators, each simulator a functioning ship’s or tug’s bridge surrounded by a 360-degree simulated environment. The Environment Agency’s Wallingford Hub is also located on the Park, housed in Red Kite House, one of two award-winning grade A BREEAM specification office buildings.

When GTI was formed its mission was simple: to help organisations recruit top early talent, while providing students with the best resources possible to make successful decisions about their future. Today, it is the UK and Ireland’s leading provider of graduate and school leaver recruitment services for employers looking to attract and recruit the most talented students. GTI provides access to top-quality students through an unbeatable series of media products and databases. It also supports companies recruiting early talent with marketleading products and services including student research, employer branding, candidate sourcing, recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) and application tracking systems (ATS). For schools and higher education institutions, GTI offers unique support and partnerships to help their students make more informed career decisions. Its careers resources for students and school leavers include the UK’s largest graduate jobs website, the most-read careers publications on campus, and industry-renowned events designed to improve work-readiness.

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B4 venues

“Howbery Business Park has been part of the B4 network for over six years, and we’re delighted to take part in this milestone 50th edition to share some of the Park’s own success stories. Our award-winning Park has come a long way since its early days as the site acquired by the Government to house the Hydraulic Research Station in 1951, and is now a thriving commercial centre, the UK’s first solar-powered business park, and home to more than 50 different businesses and organisations.” Donna Bowles, Estates Manager

Rehabilitation is our passion

Clinical Research and Healthcare Specialists

The Environment Agency’s Wallingford Hub is also located on the Park, housed in Red Kite House, one of two award-winning grade A BREEAM specification office buildings.

Lifestyles Gym

P1vital

Further Development

Founded at Howbery Park, and having recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, Lifestyles is a gym specialising in rehabilitation which is helping people of all ages to improve their quality of life through movement therapy.

P1vital and its affiliate company P1vital Products, is an innovative Clinical Research and Healthcare Organisation specialising in products and services for psychiatric and eating disorders and obesity. P1vital moved to Howbery Park in 2013 when it relocated from the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry at the Warneford Hospital.

Howbery Park, which this year won Business Park of the Year in the Thames Valley Property Awards, has planning consent to develop a further 74,000 sq ft (6,875 sq m). Site owner, HR Wallingford, is keen to attract businesses and organisations, both commercial and academic, who have a focus on resilience, including water, infrastructure, cyber-security, or environmental hazards. Located near Wallingford, the Park is set in the grounds of the former Howbery Manor dating back to the 1850’s, and covers a 70 acre site, including mature parkland adjoining the River Thames.

Starting from just a few machines and a limited range of weights, the gym has since expanded to include a complete range of cardio equipment, weight training areas and treatment rooms. The gym’s clients include those who have had a heart attack or stroke, or who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, cancer, depression, and many other conditions.

“Rehabilitation is our passion. Whether it’s due to a sporting injury, stress at work, or a serious stroke or cardiac condition, we aim to get our clients moving and give them back some quality of life. Howbery Park is very convenient for our clients with easy access and parking and of course, we also offer a regular gym which many people working on the Park use before or after work.” Lisa Treacher, Founder, Lifestyles Gym

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The organisation was recently awarded €4 Million from the EU Commission to develop and launch its novel medical device the P1vital® PReDicT Test across Europe. The PReDicT Test is a major breakthrough in the treatment of depression, with the potential to significantly reduce the time for patients to return to good mental health, by enabling physicians to identify whether or not an antidepressant is working after only one week of starting treatment, and so decrease the time to response and remission for depressed patients.

“We were drawn to Howbery Business Park because of its parkland site and accessible location. It’s not only an inspiring setting to host visits from our pharmaceutical and healthcare clients, but it also provides an attractive location for our employees.”

 info@howberypark.com  01491 822 411  www.howberypark.com

Dr Colin Dourish, CEO, P1vital

B4 venues

A YEAR OF CELEBRATION 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. The College was founded by Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester, trusted diplomatic and political adviser to Henry VII. Five centuries later, Fox’s Tudor buildings are home to 365 students and a broad range of subjects including Medicine, Physics, Classics, Law, Economics, Philosophy, History and English. Written by: Sarah Salter Photography by: Nicholas Read

Planning for our momentous anniversary began over six years ago and the aim was to try and celebrate all aspects of College life, from the purely academic to the more hands-on. Although many of the events were held in College and focussed on the Old Members (former students) of Corpus, the College also held two major exhibitions of its rare manuscripts and other treasures in Washington DC and New York, took a very active part in this year’s Oxford Literary Festival and held a grand Summer Fête to which all College staff were invited. However, our most spectacular event was the College Quincentenary Ball. Held on a beautiful evening in late September, 400 alumni, Fellows and their guests were treated to an extravagant attempt to celebrate the entire 500 years. The Ball began with a Tudor theme that included Elizabethan minstrels, a horse ridden down Merton Street by a knight in armour, fire eaters and tumblers in the gardens, demonstrations of pavanes, gavottes in the Quad and sword fighting in the Hall. As the evening moved on, the musical offerings gradually came up to date, finishing with the very contemporary Hackney Colliery Band and a disco that came to rest in the present decade, having moved through fifty years during the evening. Guests also enjoyed a three course dinner in an elegant marquee in the grounds of Merton. The Ball was rapturously received, with one of our Old Members commenting: “……the College transformed into a magical world in keeping with the intelligence and style that makes www.b4-business.com

Corpus such a special place.” Back in early May, the College resounded to a roving version of As You Like It which featured students, Fellows and staff in its cast and had scenes set in the gardens, the auditorium and finally the Chapel. May also witnessed the traditional Eights Week Lunch,

“

Planning for our momentous anniversary began over six years ago and the aim was to try and celebrate all aspects of College life, from the purely academic to the more hands-on.

”

Sarah Salter, Corpus Christi College Oxford

to celebrate five decades of women teaching and studying at Corpus. We also held academic seminars on the future of Science, Politics, Economics and Education. Another major event held over two days Corpus at Home- included talks, wine tasting, a musical entertainment arranged by a former President, tours of the College and a formal dinner for 130 people under a specially erected transparent marquee in the front quad. For our final Quincentenary event, former Corpus Junior Research Fellow and now renowned tenor, Ian Bostridge, accompanied by Sebastian Wybrew, performed Schubert’s song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin in the Sheldonian to a very appreciative audience of alumni and the public. Ian Bostridge gave his services for free and although this was perhaps not the most cheerful way to end our year, the beauty of the performance and Ian’s generosity summed up the spirit of our Quincentenary. Twelve months is a short time in the history of this beautiful and distinguished college, but 2017 was unforgettable and a wonderful start to the next 500 years.

complete with blazers, boaters and a jazz band. In June, a group of 30 alumni visited Winchester to visit the elaborate tomb of our Founder and to hear more about this extraordinary man’s life and career at the heart of early Tudor England. Also in June we held a Choir Reunion which naturally included the guests performing Choral Evensong, and later in the year, the College hosted a dinner

 conferences@ccc.ox.ac.uk  01865 276 700  www.ccc.ox.ac.uk

7TH DEC B4 CLASSIC EVENTS

Fantastic event in the brand new, high tech Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre at Worcester College B4, in association with Conference Oxford were proud to invite B4 Members and their guests to experience the delights of Oxford’s newest venue: the sleek and modern Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre at Worcester College on Thursday 7th December, with speeches from Prof. Sir Jonathan Bate, Provost of Worcester College, Richie Carter, Contracts Manager of Beard Construction, Mike Naworynsky, Home Bursar of Pembroke College & Chairman of Conference Oxford and Richard Rosser, CEO of B4. Photography by: Chaz Snell, The Plastic Goldfish Company Professor Sir Jonathan Bate, Provost of Worcester College commented: “We were delighted to welcome B4 and Conference Oxford as joint hosts, for the classic event yesterday evening, to showcase the Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre which we consider to be our ‘jewel in the crown’ of Worcester College.” B4’s Richard Rosser added: “We have enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Conference Oxford this year, working closely with Marie O’Connor and Chairman, Mike Naworynsky. Successful events at St Anne’s, Christ Church and St Antony’s opened up a world of new venues to the B4 community, however, there was a surprise event in store. Little over a month before the event on 7th December, we were invited by Caroline Trevers, Worcester College’s Head of Conference and Accommodation to hold an event in the recently opened Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre, with a capacity of 160. 82

How could we say no? This state of the art new facility was constructed by Beard Construction and dedicated by Worcester alumnus, HRH Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, Malaysia. Situated by the lake, overlooking the gardens and the cricket pavilion, the Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre offers a world-class venue for conferences and events.” Marie O’Connor, Manager of Conference Oxford who co-hosted the evening commented: “Conference Oxford were delighted to co-host this B4 Classic Event at Worcester College it gave us the opportunity to highlight one of our stunning member venues to the local business community and to celebrate our continuing partnership with B4.”

About Worcester College

Worcester College occupies a 26 acre site on the western side of the city centre; it served as a college for the monks of the Benedictine Order from 1283

until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. The College, as it exists today, was established by Royal Charter in 1714 with a legacy from the Worcestershire baronet, Sir Thomas Cookes. www.meetworcester.com Tel: 01865 278345

About Conference Oxford It’s easier than you think to hold your event in the world-renowned surroundings of the University of Oxford. Conference Oxford represents 63 of the most wonderful historic and modern venues in Oxford, including the colleges of the University, museums, libraries and iconic buildings. www.conference-oxford.com Tel: 01865 276190

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B4 venues

Companies in Attendance

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Addis Law Albright Dene Anderson Orr Arrhythmia Alliance Ashmolean Museum BE Eventful Beard Construction Blake Morgan Bongo IT Boyes Turner Boys and Girls Promotions Brand New Dawn Breckon & Breckon Buzzworks Carbon Colour Chapman Robinson & Moore Chesterton Yeates CIS Collaborent / OxLEP ComputerPro Conference Oxford Conifers Guest House Cowley Road Works Cultural Chemistry Digitizelectric Limited Edgars Limited Elegant Cuisine Environmental Information Exchange Executive Alarms Explosive Learning Solutions Finders Keepers Frederick Jewson Freeths GBS Architects Global CTS Haiku Consulting Hays Hedges huwedmunds Associates Indulge Media James Cowper Kreston Jennings

Kaplan Kingerlee Lesley Ann Gentry Interior Design Lewis Silkin Libreea Ltd Marketing Sense MJF Mulholland Landscape Consultants NatWest Newbury Racecourse Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences OXC Oxford Architects Oxford City Council, Direct Services Oxford Duplication Centre Oxford Event Hire Oxford Fine Dining Oxford Professional Consulting Oxford Summer Courses Oxford United FC Oxford Innovation OxLEP Richardsons Ridgefield Consulting Savvy Maintenance & Renovations Selective Recruitment Solutions Shaw Gibbs Sobell House Solid Structures The King’s Centre The MGroup The Plastic Goldfish Company Think Inspire and Create Thompson & Terry Recruitment Two One Services University of Oxford Wildbore & Gibbons You HR

Forthcoming B4 Events B4 Classic Event at Hartwell House Hotel : Jan 24 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm

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meet@worc.ox.ac.uk +44 (0)1865 278 345 www.meetworcester.com @meetworcester

B4 Classic Event at Milton House Hotel : Mar 8 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm B4 Classic Event at Pint Shop : Apr 19 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm Business In Oxford 2018 : May 23 2018 @ 8:00am - 6:00pm B4 Classic Event at Weston Library : Jun 11 2018 @ 6:00pm - 8:00pm

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LOOKING AHEAD AFTER A YEAR OF PROGRESS AT THE OXFORD SCIENCE PARK The beautiful Autumn colours (and the delicious Christmas menu for the Sadler Brasserie) at The Oxford Science Park remind us that 2017 is drawing to a close....and it’s been a year of significant progress. Looking ahead, next year is expected to be just as exciting. Written by: Emma Palmer Foster

Photography by: Oxford Science Park and Aurelien Langlais

Over 2017, our new £13m state-of-the-art laboratory and office building, the Schrödinger Building, has progressed through contractor appointment, ground-breaking and construction to the point where it is wind- and water-tight. At 61,500 sq ft with a roof terrace, it is a prestigious addition to the Park and when completed in March 2018 will be the only Grade A office space available in Oxford. It is capable of housing up to 500 people. Advisers on the development include Bogle Architects, Carter Jonas and Horstonbridge Development Management, with Barnwood Construction as the main contractor. Magdalen College owns The Oxford Science Park, and so it was entirely fitting to name the landmark new building after one of its most famous alumni. Austrian theoretical physicist professor Erwin Rudolf Josef Alexander Schrödinger (1887 – 1961), who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1933, held a Fellowship at the College from 1933 to 1938.

The name of the building was revealed in April, when the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson MP, visited to take part in an official ground-breaking ceremony.

can claim to “haveFewhadpeople such an impact in

the field of quantum theory as Erwin Schrödinger. Magdalen College continues to develop the Oxford Science Park as a long-term strategic asset which supports growth, discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship in Oxford. Rory Maw, Bursar, Magdalen College, Oxford & Director of The Oxford Science Park

”

It’s no surprise that demand for space in the Schrödinger Building is high, and The Oxford Science

Park team has been in discussion with a range of potential occupiers. Signature of the first lease is expected to be announced soon, so watch this space! New occupiers will be joining the rich and diverse commercial eco-system on the Park. Food and fitness are key to a happy and healthy workforce, and The Oxford Science Park has done its bit this year to provide a great working environment. The recent launch of a fitness trail around the site, with equipment including parallel bars and balance beams, will enable staff to keep fit and network at the same time. And for a healthy recovery afterwards, the Sadler Building Deli Bar is just the spot. Supporting the local community has been an important theme for The Oxford Science Park in 2017 as well. In April we were pleased to become a Founding Member of the Friends of the Oxford United Football Academy, a new initiative at the club to help raise vital funds for their grassroots coaching work at The Oxford United Football Academy. The www.b4-business.com

B4 venues

Oxford Science Park

club is a close neighbour and so we were delighted to form links with it. Also, as the home to many entrepreneurial companies, it was natural to support the Innovation category at the Oxfordshire Business Awards, a relationship we will be continuing.

The new Schrödinger “Building will be another

important addition to Oxford, supporting the relationship between academics and businesses to foster the development of pioneering start-ups.

”

Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson MP

What does 2018 hold for The Oxford Science Park? The opening of the Schrödinger Building in the Spring will be a major milestone. We are looking forward to welcoming new occupiers to the Park’s exciting mix www.b4-business.com

of leading science and technology companies. There should also be a steady flow of development news from the companies, and further updates on the expansion of the Park in response to the continued demand for commercial space in the County. This expansion is part of our with ambitious plans to create an additional 300,000+ sq ft of office and laboratory space on the remaining 10+ acres of land over the next five years.

Created in 1991, the Park provides one of the most influential science & technology environments in the UK. There is half a million square feet of workspace accommodation across the Park, which is now home to more than 2,500 people and over 70 businesses. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and provide an inspirational working environment for our occupier companies. These range from startups based in the Magdalen Centre innovation hub to major international companies and include Circassia, IBM, OrganOx, OxSonics, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Sharp Laboratories, Oxford Genetics, ProImmune and Oxford Technology Management. The Oxford Science Park is located approximately four miles south-east of Oxford city centre, just off the City’s southern ring road. It has easy access to the M40 and A34, as well as to Heathrow Airport and mainline train services.

If you would like to visit The Oxford Science Park, or to know more about occupancy or hosting an event here, please contact us on +44 (0)1865 784 000 or at info@oxfordsp.com. You can also find information on the website, www.oxfordsp.com, and follow us on twitter @OxfordSciencePK

 info@oxfordsp.com  01865 784 000  www.oxfordsp.com

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B4 marketing

“

A business is a success if it has the right people behind it. We are passionate about developing our staff and ensuring everyone is continually learning – an imperative aspect of our changing industry. Sally Jeanes, Operations Director - ads

”

Advertising & Design agency ads looks back, ahead of its 30th year celebrations

There aren’t many businesses who can withstand the turbulent economic climate of the last three decades, but for ads Advertising & Design, that’s exactly what it’s done. Written by: ads Photography by: ads

As the company gears up to celebrate its 30th anniversary, we look back at how a company that chose its name when the phone book was the main advertising tool, is now leading the way as an all service advertising, design and marketing agency. ads Advertising & Design, or ads as it’s known today, started in 1986 with its original founder, Jenny Chaundy, who set up the business from home as a sole trader. Jenny then registered ads as a limited company in February 1988. Jenny formulated the brand name to encompass all the agency’s services. At the time, the phone book was the main source of advertising and ads would have appeared early in the listings! That inspired marketing approach helped Jenny grow the company before an internal management buyout in 2009 and again in 2015 which saw Kelly Scott and Sally Jeanes, the current directors, take over the business. The company, based on Blenheim Palace Sawmills, has continued to grow and now employs 12 members of staff. More impressively, Marion Shellard the very first employee is still with the company, proving ads not only has great relationships with clients, but also with its staff. Since taking over the business, Kelly and Sally have made significant investment back into the business and crucially the team. Sally Jeanes, Operations Director, says: “A business is a success if it has the right people behind it. We are passionate about developing our staff and ensuring everyone is continually learning – an imperative aspect of our changing industry. We are on the pulse of digital www.b4-business.com

developments and we invest in our team’s skills so they can implement new services with clients. As such, next year we will be introducing a new CRM system to streamline processes.” The beautiful offices nestled in the Oxfordshire countryside, is a far cry from the drawing boards, typesetting and manual artwork you’d see in the late eighties and early nineties. Now you’ll find drones, Apple Macs and video production and that’s down to Kelly and Sally who have focused on, and invested in, innovating and moving ads to the forefront of digital marketing solutions. However, the company still focuses on traditional marketing tactics including graphic design, print and media buying. The duo isn’t scared of embracing change and moving with the times. In addition to a focus on digital, ads has also expanded the business to offer event management expertise. A natural progression as Sally brought in her 15 years of knowledge and experience in the industry. While Oxfordshire is the company’s heartland, the team also work nationwide and has over a hundred clients on its books. Sally says: “We pride ourselves on our relationships and retaining our clients. Many of ads’ leads come through referrals which is a testament to the team and our ability to deliver cost effective, consistent marketing solutions”. Over the past three decades ads has built an invaluable black book of contacts which has led to it working with national brands including The Royal Albert Hall and British Heart Foundation, as

well as prominent local companies, charities and independent schools. Kelly Scott, Managing Director adds: “Whilst the emergence of digital solutions has been very exciting in terms of our offer, we still see value in the traditional techniques that have served us so well over the years. It’s important that we combine the two to deliver an integrated approach to campaigns. “We are really proud that several clients have been with us for over 25 years. We’re able to maintain this retention by working closely with clients to ensure the tactics we deploy are meaningful, relevant and will, ultimately, help clients grow. The last 30 years have seen significant changes to the marketing and advertising landscape and that excites us. We are looking forward to the next 30 years and seeing what else is to come and most importantly maintaining our position in the industry.”

creative solutions sales@adsoxford.co.uk 01993 885122 adsoxford.co.uk sales@adsoxford.co.uk

  01993 885 122  www.adsoxford.co.uk  @ADSOxford

NEW BEGINNINGS FOR COMPOSER/PIANIST ALINA K Phil Strachan of Brand Alchemists, Strangebrew, gives us an update on his Lithuanian born, London based composer/pianist friend, Alina Kozlovskaja, who recently recorded fourteen of her own compositions in the world famous Studio Two at Abbey Road Studios in NW London. Written by: Phil Strachan Photography by: Various

As regular readers of B4 will know, I have been a very great supporter of my incredibly talented friend, Alina Kozlovskaja, and her breathtakingly beautiful and emotionally engaging piano compositions since first hearing a sample after meeting her at a business event a few years ago. Regular readers will also know that Alina has played at a B4 Classic event at Rhodes House and has also graced The Oxfordshire Restaurant Awards.

When I first met Alina, she had written six piano compositions. Working full time in a management position in high end retail, she found it really challenging to find the time she wanted to dedicate to her number one passion. Fast forward two years and Alina made the brave decision to leave her very full time job as Concession Manager in Harrods for the French breakthrough technology audio equipment brand, Devialet, in order to devote more time to her music.

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“

Nick’s response was to ask me to play some of my music live for him and he then simply said ‘Let’s do an album’. That just blew me away! And it gave me a problem, admittedly a lovely problem to have though, because I urgently needed to write quite a few more compositions. Alina K

Destiny also played its part in a serendipitous manner following an introduction at around the same time to a legendary music producer. He instantly recognised her potential and that was followed closely by an opportunity that Alina was presented with to record at Abbey Road Studios. By this time Alina had written a total of 14 of her own incredible compositions meaning that she had the potential to record an EP and possibly even a full Album. Alina, this is quite a journey that you have been on over the last year or two and in the last six months or so in particular. Absolutely Phil. It has been amazing. During the last two or three years I have met some incredible people in the music industry but the real highlight for me was to have the opportunity not only to visit Abbey Road Studios but also to record there. It was a dream come true. It was following your introduction to and your meeting with legendary rock music producer, Nick Tauber, that the opportunity arose for you to visit and then to record at Abbey Road. Yes, I met Nick at Victoria Station over a coffee

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”

and we got on very well. He had heard one of my compositions recorded by myself at home with Logic Pro. He asked to hear more of my music and it all happened from there. But Nick is a rock music producer known for his work with the likes of Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy and Marillion – which seems a very long way from your piano music. True – and at that very time Nick was working with what he believed could be the next big rock band. However, he listened to some of my other compositions and and felt that there was something quite special in my music. And in fairness, in the past he had also produced for Toyah and even supermodel Twiggy when she ventured into the music world. He liked the fact that I write my own compositions, he loved my melodies and said thatt he thought that I had great potential.

perhaps I could record one of my compositions there. Nick’s response was to ask me to play some of my music live for him and he then simply said ‘Let’s do an album’. That just blew me away! And it gave me a problem, admittedly a lovely problem to have though, because I urgently needed to write quite a few more compositions. You ended up recording in Abbey Road, Alina – and not just in Abbey Road but in Studio Two where the Beatles, among many other famous artists over the years, did most of their recordings. I cannot describe the feeling – you really can feel the history. It was an unreal experience sitting on my own in that huge studio at the Steinway piano that has been played by Paul McCartney and so many other incredible musicians. It was an absolute privilege and a dream come true.

So, how did the Abbey Road opportunity come about? There can’t be very many new artists who record their first EP or Album at Abbey Road.

Prior to your recordings at Abbey Road, your music was solo piano only but the recordings from your Studio Two sessions feature other instrumentation. What is the story there?

Well, at the time, Nick was in and out of Abbey Road working with other artists and it was suggested that

This suggestion came from Nick Tauber. From discussions, he knew that one of my key ambitions

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was for my music to be used as scores/soundtracks in Films, in TV Dramas and Documentaries and in Advertising. He strongly advised that sensitive enhancement with other instrumentation would result in my music still being clearly piano-led but that it would provide a completeness. It took the music to a whole new level.

Your website and forthcoming EP cover feature 4 images of you walking on a piano keyboard. Where did this creative idea come from? Well, since I was recording at Abbey Road, I just had to be photographed walking across the zebra crossing made famous by the Beatles and used on their Abbey Road album. However, I wanted

How was this augmentation with other instruments achieved? We had several recording sessions at Abbey Road. The first session was just myself on the piano and we laid down the first 12 tracks – some of which I had only completed in the weeks before the recording session. We then had a couple of other sessions where string accompaniments were recorded and bass guitar, percussion and a gypsy violin were added. I also recorded two further tracks. The string arrangements were by Chris Worsey and the string orchestration was provided by his Millennia Strings players. Everyone was incredible and it was an unforgettable experience for me to witness it all coming together. So how were these separate sessions all brought together? Working closely with Nick and Davide Venco, his talented and very experienced sound engineer, I was present at every session to ensure that the balance of the added instrumentation was correct. Thereafter, we had mixing sessions at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick before the final mastering of all 14 tracks. www.b4-business.com

I cannot describe the “feeling – you really can feel the history. It was an unreal experience sitting on my own in that huge studio at the Steinway piano that has been played by Paul McCartney and so many other incredible musicians. Alina K

How can B4 readers hear your music? My ‘Awakening’ EP, produced with the help of Cheryl Lee Foulsham and Alison Martin at the Oxford Duplication Centre, is due to be released in early February. My ‘New Beginnings’ single can be accessed from www.alinakmusic.com and the title track is featured on the ‘behind the scenes at Abbey Road’ video which is also on my website. Thank you Alina. I think that your music is very special and I am sure that I will not be alone in wishing you every success on this next stage of your musical journey.

   

www.alinakmusic.com alinakmusic1 alinakmusic alinakmusic

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to do something different and original. We used a continuous burst photo technique and then transposed the pictures of me walking on the zebra crossing onto a piano keyboard.

 phil@strangebrew.co.uk   07770 753 975

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A truly formidable catering company with a superb reputation amongst corporate and private clients for tailor-made catering solutions

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“

We are incredibly pleased to be celebrating our 10 year anniversary and first and foremost would like to thank our clients and business partners for helping to make this achievement possible.

”

Sue Randall - Oxford Fine Dining

Oxford Fine Dining, specialists in event catering, are proud to be celebrating their 10 year anniversary milestone. Founded in 2007 by ambitious entrepreneur Sue Randall, Oxford Fine Dining has blossomed from a small setup run from Sue’s office at home and the production kitchens based at Rhodes house, their first venue and longest standing client, to a highly reputable catering company with its own creative and production kitchen, offices and menu tasting facilities. Photography by: Lee Atherton

Continuing to go from strength to strength the company is now an approved supplier to a number of prestigious venues in and around Oxford including Rhodes House, Bodleian Library, Weston Library, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Pitt Rivers Museum and Kirtlington Park Polo Club. Oxford Fine Dining is also the only contracted event caterer for Oxford University, an achievement the company is extremely proud of. “We are incredibly pleased to be celebrating our 10 year anniversary and first and foremost would like to thank our clients and business partners for helping to make this achievement possible”, says Sue. “We have an amazing team of people here at Oxford Fine Dining and their dedication, passion and attention to detail are the values that the company prides itself on – we work hard but we also have a lot of fun along the way”. Having recently appointed a new Head Chef, Sean Ducie, who brings over 20 years culinary experience

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to the business, Sue has ambitious plans for Oxford Fine Dining in the future. “We are always looking for new ways to grow and develop the business whilst staying loyal to our roots and offering a service that really is ‘deliciously different’. I am tremendously proud of Oxford Fine Dining and am looking forward to celebrating our anniversary in style with our clients and team, and seeing what the next 10 years and beyond has to bring!”.

Club, Oxford Fine Dining have an impressive portfolio of weddings, corporate events and private dining experiences. For more information please visit our website at www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk or follow us on FaceBook or Twitter @OFDltd.

About Oxford Fine Dining Established in 2007 and with vast experience, Oxford Fine Dining has developed a reputation amongst corporate and private clients for tailor made catering solutions with the highest quality food and service. Approved caterers to a number of prestigious venues in Oxford, including Rhodes House, Bodleian Library, Weston Library, Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Pitt Rivers Museum and Kirtlington Park Polo

 enquiries@oxfordfinedining.co.uk  01865 728 240  www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

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We are a local business, managed and run by local people... Since 1990 we have built a wealth of experience, knowledge and an outstanding reputation through working with local businesses, just like yours. So much so that we recently won the West Oxfordshire Small Business Award and the Thames Valley Family Business of the Year award. Starting as a small entrepreneurial venture to now employing 19 local people, our core focus remains the same; to put you at the centre of everything we do. We believe in building relationships. We’ll get to know you and understand your business. This allows

us to develop and implement relevant and suitable solutions, along with a great selection of products, delivered in a way that’s best for you. When you choose to partner with Aston & James, you get all the benefits of ‘buying local’ with absolutely no compromise. We are partnered with powerful global buyers, enabling us to successfully compete against our largest national competitors. Even though we are your local choice, we have the network to deliver our services nationwide. If you operate from multiple locations, we have you covered.

We would love an opportunity to prove why we should be your first and only port of call for all your workplace needs...

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If you are looking to save money and enhance the service levels you are currently receiving, then use the local choice, Aston and James. WRITTEN BY: DARREN ASTON

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Executive Security Locksmiths Ltd provide customers with a friendly, professional locksmith service for both domestic and commercial clients throughout Oxford and the surrounding areas. Executive Security Locksmiths Ltd are a member of the Master Locksmiths Association with a team of highly skilled, DBS checked locksmiths. We offer a range of locksmith services including the following: • Emergency callouts • Gain entry to faulty locks or where keys have been lost or stolen • Supply and installation of locks to wooden, aluminium and UPVC doors and windows • Key cutting • Master key systems • Architectural ironmongery • Security doors, grilles, gates, bars and safes • Salto Access Control

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Authentic New York Italian Authentic New York Italian - That’s what Marco says on the menu, and that’s just what this is – Great Italian comfort food. Written by Matthew Wright

Comfort food is exactly what you want when you’re away from home, so it’s no surprise then that Marco’s is a firm favourite of Oxford students and their visiting families, handily located near Magdalen Bridge. Personal service is always welcome too, and Nadeem (our waiter) was ever-obliging, even taking our order over the phone as we sat stuck in traffic and hence in danger of missing the 9:30pm last order deadline. As it was, the steaks (rump and sirloin respectively) were cooked exactly to order and along with a robust Argentinian Malbec, eased our stress levels nicely. A trio of desserts on a sharing board (interesting concept - you try sharing a delectable cheesecake, chocolate

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If I had to “ choose only one

cuisine to eat for the rest of my life, it would be Italian.

”

brownie, and tiramisu!) relaxed us even more. By now, the traffic had cleared, but we chose to linger over an espresso on the upholstered banquettes, savouring the crisp moonlight reflecting from the honeyed-stone walls beyond.

 info@marcosoxford.com  01865 248 695  www.marcosoxford.com

Royal Lancaster London Refurb Lives Up To Expectations We have been fortunate to visit Royal Lancaster on several occasions with B4 over the past five years, but this trip was especially eagerly awaited following its £80 million renovation. B4’s Richard Rosser reports. Written by: Richard Rosser

I was in London to attend an Awards ceremony for recently joined B4 Members, G-Smatt Europe so it was an excellent opportunity to stay at Royal Lancaster London, one of B4’s most regularly reviewed hotels over the past 12 years. Stunning, simply stunning. Overlooking Hyde Park, the hotel’s status as one of London’s most iconic establishments has never been in doubt, but following this considerable investment, it has certainly cemented its status. From the impressive entrance hall, through to the new Hyde Lobby Bar and rooms, Royal Lancaster London has certainly surpassed expectations, both internally and externally. Having secured my parking space just over the road in Sussex Mews, I made my away across Westbourne Street and was rather taken aback with the hotel’s new façade – quite dangerous when you’re crossing a notoriously busy street! The entire frontage of the hotel has been remodelled and the exterior architecture now features a dramatic 8-metre high glazed frontage revealing an impressive

double-height reception space. The showpiece of the lobby is a palatial sweeping staircase made of 300 square meters of white Carrara marble which wraps around to the first floor.

“

The hotel has had a rich and celebrated past, having opened as one of the most chic hotels in London in 1967. 50 years later, Royal Lancaster London will reopen in 2017 to once again be one of the most stylish hotels in the capital.

”

Once inside, the wonderful Hyde Lobby Bar is an impressive new addition with the hotel’s most discerning guests in mind with champagne, cocktails, coffee and light cuisine served throughout the day.

The cocktail menu has been meticulously created and includes signature cocktails to reflect the history of the iconic hotel. The Great Gats-bee features Chivas 18, cherry brandy and honey syrup collected from the hotel’s very own rooftop honey farm (£12); while The Italian Job cocktail is made with Beefeater 24 Gin, Martini Rosso, Campari and Aperol (£12) a salute to the original 1968 Italian Job film which included scenes filmed in front of Royal Lancaster London. For a touch of extra indulgence, the hotel has created its own aromatic Royal Lancaster Gin which will be served in the bar’s speciality Gin Martini (£12). During daylight hours, the bar is the perfect place to enjoy refined light cuisine. The alluring aroma of freshly ground coffee permeates the space each morning courtesy of the gold artesian Victoria Arduino press coffee machine. The breakfast menu features Homebaked Danish pastries (£2 each or £5 per trio); Granola with Greek yogurt, honey and berries (£6); Mango kiwi, strawberry and passion fruit salad (£8); Three pieces of Cruffin with smoked bacon and mature cheddar, or Somerset Brie, spinach, tomato and mushroom (£5).

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B4 corp. lifestyle The redesign of the impressive 18-storey hotel encompasses the complete refurbishment of all 411 guestrooms and suites. Every guestroom has fantastic view across London and my room was no exception. The views are unbelievable but don’t detract from the consideration which has been put into designing incredibly stylish rooms with every need taken into account. Room categories start with the Classic Double Room at 20 square meters, priced from £219 per night. All of the guest rooms have Handy phones, hidden international plug sockets, bath robes, slippers, The White Company toiletries, waterfall showers and under floor heating in the bathrooms. TVs show over 138 international channels and 33 radio stations are available.

Overlooking Hyde “ Park, the hotel’s status

as one of London’s most iconic establishments has never been in doubt, but following this considerable investment, it has certainly cemented its status

”

General Manager Sally Beck said: “The hotel has had a rich and celebrated past, having opened as one of the most chic hotels in London in 1967. 50 years later, Royal Lancaster London will reopen in 2017 to once again be one of the most stylish hotels in the capital. Our Thai owner, Khun Jatuporn Sihanatkathakul has been directly involved in the new design which exudes mid-century glamour and understated elegance synonymous with London. We are looking forward to the next 50 years.” Royal Lancaster London is one of the largest banqueting venues in Europe with a capacity of 3,000 guests across its 16 refurbished meetings and events spaces. These include the renowned Nine Kings and Westbourne Suites holding 2,400 guests collectively for a seated dinner. All in all a great visit - the hotel was simply superb in every aspect and G-Smatt won Technological Innovation of the Year at The London Construction Awards. Full marks to both!

 info@royallancaster.com  +44 (0)20 7551 6000  www.royallancaster.com

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Welcome to The B4 Travel Section. Please get in touch with your feedback, articles suggestions, hot travel topics and top tips! Written by: David Gambier, B4 Travel Editor

48 HOURS IN... INNSBRUCK For many visitors, Innsbruck Airport is somewhere that you pass through on the way to somewhere else, but this does the city that it represents a huge disservice. If you are looking for a city-break destination that offers everything on your doorstep, look no further than Innsbruck.

its magical location. In summer, the walking trails are endless, and whilst the skiing is a little limited on the Hungerburg itself, there’s more than enough to keep you going for a morning or afternoon on the slopes, if you just want to get your ski-legs back. An alternative would be to take the tram up to Igls, and then the cable-car up to the top of the Patscherkofel Mountain, where you have the full range of slopes.

The first great advantage of Innsbruck, especially if you are constrained to a 48-hour break, is that the Airport is only 20 minutes by the city’s extremely efficient and cheap public transport system from the city centre. Although you can opt to have your accommodation in one of the many picturesque villages close to Innsbruck such as Seefeld, Neustift or the particularly attractive Igls, basing yourself in the heart of the city, close to the Old Town, works just as well whether you are skiing, walking, or just taking in the city sights.

Wherever you look around Innsbruck, you’ll find reference to the Olympic Games – you can go ice-skating or watch an ice hockey match in the Eisstadion, where British skater, John Curry, won his Gold in 1976. You can stay in Igls and have a go on the Olympic Bobsleigh and Luge run, or you can go up to the top of the Olympic Ski Jump Hill, the Berg Isel.

Innsbruck is in the centre of the most beautiful mountains and the city’s public transport system links you easily with several areas where you can ski and walk to your heart’s content. The Hungerburgbahn – a funicular rail system takes you up to a bowl which gives you a startling perspective on the city and

If you are not keen on taking to the slopes, but still want the winter atmosphere, then head to Innsbruck any time from the last weekend of November to New Year’s Eve and you will find one of Austria’s finest Christmas Markets in the narrow streets of the Old Town, leading up to the famous landmark of ‘The Golden

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NEWS UPDATE – PRICE COMPARISON WEBSITES I don’t claim to have any special psychic powers, especially when it comes to predicting what our current government is likely to do next, but, picking up on my article in B4 September edition ‘Do price comparison websites help or hinder price transparency’, I was interested to learn last month that these sites have been referred to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate. The brief that the CMA has set for itself is to investigate how trustworthy these sites are, and do their claims to offer the best prices actually stand up to scrutiny. It is not that these sites don’t serve a useful purpose, but there should be some obligation on them to show their linkages to the businesses they are

the last weekend “ofFrom November to New Year’s Eve and you will find one of Austria’s finest Christmas Markets in the narrow streets of the Old Town, leading up to the famous landmark of ‘The Golden Roof’, and it’s a great place to see in the New Year

”

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comparing – for example, Expedia’s ownership not only of Trivago and many of the brands that Trivago claims are offering the best prices. There should also be some likelihood that you will actually be able to book the room at the promised price, and not find that you get to the end of the booking process only to be advised that the room is no longer available at the advertised cheap price, but a more expensive one would be available. At this point, surveys show that more than 70% of clients book the higher-priced room, rather than aborting their search and starting over. In this respect, the CMA investigation could, and possibly should, be widened to include flight booking sites, such as Skyscanner, where, from the feedback that we get

Roof’, and it’s a great place to see in the New Year. Innsbruck isn’t just a winter destination. Throughout the spring, summer and autumn months, Innsbruck provides you with beautiful scenery and wonderful walking, accessed through the same lift system that the skiers use in winter. Although it is a modern, high-tech city, there are immediate reminders that you are not far from village life that still drives the life-cycle of the local communities that surround the city. Don’t be surprised to see gentlemen walking around in Lederhosen, or wearing traditional jackets, or the ladies wearing their beautiful Dirndl dresses, and throughout September and into October, the Almabtrieb – the festival when the farmers bring

from numerous clients, your chances of actually confirming a flight at the promised headline price offered is often less than 50%. As business-owners, we are naturally competitive by instinct. It’s what gives us a buzz and drives us on to innovate and to find ways of improving the service that we provide to our clients. However, all most of us want is to compete on a level playingfield. Hopefully this CMA investigation will go some way towards making this more likely. In the next edition, we’ll be looking at what Brexit means for the travel industry.

their cattle down from the mountains to their winter accommodation – is still a high-point in the calendar. This isn’t something put on for the tourists. This is real life in a very real city that mixes traditional and modern, old and new, winter, spring, summer and autumn in a seamless fashion. If you can only spend 48 hours in Innsbruck, you’ll love your experience whatever time of year you can get there. It will just whet your appetite for another visit, and probably another after that.

 david-g@greatexperiencetravel.co.uk  01993 627 814  www.greatexperiencetravel.co.uk

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contacts directory ADVICE.......................................................................................................102 BUSINESS SERVICES............................................................................102 CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES...........................................103 EDUCATION.............................................................................................104 FINANCE....................................................................................................104 HEALTH & LEISURE...............................................................................104

ADVICE ACCOUNTING Wenn Townsend P Tony Haines Partner 01865 559 900 OXON www.wenntownsend.co.uk Grant Thornton UK LLP P Wendy Hart Managing Partner 01865 799 899 OXON www.grant-thornton.co.uk Grant Thornton UK LLP P Jim Rogers Assurance Partner 01189 559 114 BERKS www.grant-thornton.co.uk The MGroup P Richard Clayton Partner 01865 552 925 OXON www.themgroup.co.uk Wellers P Debbie Austin Partner 01865 723 131 OXON www.wellersaccountants.co.uk James Cowper Kreston P Andy Cowie Marketing & Business Development Director 01189 590 261 OXON www.jamescowperkreston.co.uk Whitley Stimpson Ltd G Jonathan Walton Director 01494 448 122 BUCKS www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Whitley Stimpson Ltd G Stuart Haigh Director 01869 252 151 OXON www.whitleystimpson.co.uk Shaw Gibbs G Peter O’Connell Partner 01865 292 200 OXON www.shawgibbs.com Wilson Partners G Allan Ian Wilson Managing Director 01628 770 770 BERKS www.wilson-partners.co.uk

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Seymour Taylor G Simon Turner Managing Director 01494 552 125 BUCKS www.stca.co.uk Auditel 01865 774 387 OXON www.auditel.co.uk Richardsons Accountants 01844 261 155 OXON www.richardsons-group.co.uk Rees Russell 01993 702 418 OXON www.reesrussell.co.uk Camerons Accountancy 01865 882 621 OXON www.camerons-uk.com Chapman, Robinson & Moore 01865 379 272 OXON www.crmoxford.co.uk

BUSINESS ADVICE Oxford Professional P Consulting Alison Haill Executive Coach 01865 436 791 OXON www.oxfordprofessionalconsulting.com Haiku Consulting G Joy Le Fevre 07885 066163 OXON www.haiku.consulting Business Doctors 0845 219 7077 OXON www.businessdoctors.co.uk Diane Wilkinson & Associates Ltd. 01865 430 470 OXON www.dianewilkinson.co.uk Strategic Mentors 01993 771 728 OXON www.strategicmentors.co.uk Ernst & Young 01189 281 100 BERKS www.ey.com/UK/en/home Libreea Ltd 01183 800 856 www.libreea.co.uk Hilltop Consultancy 01844 237 450 BUCKS www.hilltopconsultancy.co.uk

PLATINUM MEMBER

GOLD MEMBER

HR..................................................................................................................104 IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS.........................................................104 MANUFACTURING................................................................................105 MARKETING & DESIGN.........................................................................105 PROPERTY & BUILDING....................................................................105 R&R..........................................................................................................107

Sandler Training 01608 611 211 OXON www.oxford.sandler.com Active Education and Training Ltd 01865 594 325 OXON www.oxfordactive.co.uk Explosive Learning Solutions 01235 861 805 OXON www.explosivelearningsolutions.com Endeavour Consulting 07711 825 005 OXON www.endeavour-consulting.co.uk Leading Edge Coaching 01488 638 119 OXON www.leadingedgecoaching.co.uk Two One Services 07730 927 888 OXON www.facebook.com/twooneservices The Career Boutique 0845 520 4010 OXON www.thecareerboutique.com Alison Edgar – The Entrepreneur’s Godmother 020 3600 9967 OXON www.alisonedgar.com

LEGAL Knights P David Beech Chief Executive Officer 01865 811 700 OXON www.knights1759.co.uk Hedges Law P Nicola Poole Managing Director 01491 839 839 OXON www.hedgeslaw.co.uk Freeths LLP G Sarah Foster Managing Partner 01865 781 000 OXON www.freeths.co.uk Gardner Leader LLP G Derek Rogers Managing Partner 01635 508 080 BERKS www.gardner-leader.co.uk BrookStreet Des Roches LLP Paddy Gregan G Partner 01235 836 655 OXON www.bsdr.com

Blake Morgan LLP G Stephen Schneider Senior Associate 01865 248 607 OXON www.blakemorgan.co.uk Turpin & Miller LLP G Emily Boardman Partner 01865 770 111 OXON www.turpinmiller.co.uk Penningtons Manches LLP Richard Smith G Partner 01865 722 106 OXON www.penningtons.co.uk Brethertons LLP 01295 270 999 www.brethertons.co.uk Lewis Silkin 0207 0748 494 OXON www.lewissilkin.com David Parry Employment Law 01993 848 247 OXON www.parryemploymentlaw.com Blandy & Blandy 0118 951 6800 BERKS www.blandy.co.uk Moorcrofts LLP 01628 4700004 www.moorcrofts.com

BUSINESS SERVICES ARCHIVE & STORAGE Oxford Digitisation Centre Cheryl-Lee Foulsham G Managing Director 01865 457 000 OXON www.theduplicationcentre.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT Aston & James Office Supplies Ltd P Darren Aston Director 01993 706 900 OXON www.aston-james.co.uk ForPOS 01865 820 925 OXON www.forpos.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

Contacts NETWORKING GROUPS

Complete Catering G Jon Kay Managing Director 01235 820 840 OXON www.completecatering.co.uk

Egrove Park G Martin Garside Conference Manager 01865 422 757 OXON www.sbs.oxford.edu/conferencing

The Cocktail Service 01865 251 431 OXON www.thecocktailservice.co.uk

Ashmolean Museum 01865 288 364 OXON www.ashmus.ox.ac.uk

CONFERENCE VENUES

Sheldon Grange 07949 266 418 OXON www.sheldongrange.com

SECURITY

Rhodes House P Isabelle Barber Business Development Manager 01865 282 599 OXON www.rhodeshouseoxford.com

Culham Conference Centre 01235 466 494 OXON www.culhamconferencecentre.co.uk

Helen & Douglas House G Lucy Walker Community Fundraising Manager 01865 799 150 OXON www.helenanddouglas.org.uk

Executive Alarms Ltd G John Keown Director 01865 435 435 OXON www.executive-systems.co.uk

Westwood Country Hotel P Kat Groves General Manager 01865 735408 www.westwoodhotel.co.uk

Oxfordshire Community Foundation G Jayne Woodley Chief Executive 01865 798 666 OXON www.oxfordshire.org

Security Exchange 01491 683 710 BERKS www.securityexchange24.com

Bombay Sapphire Distillery G Amy Dobson Sales and Marketing Manager 01256 890 090 BERKS distillery.bombaysapphire.com

Abbotts Office Solutions 01844 268 368 OXON www.abbotts-office.com

CHARITIES Sobell House P Tim Wraith Corporate Partnerships Manager 01865 857 067 OXON www.sobellhouse.org Bloodwise G Matt Lawley Head of Sports Events 02075 042 231 OXON www.bloodwise.org.uk

B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Editor 01865 742 211 OXON www.b4-business.com MD2MD 01865 379 272 OXON www.md2md.co.uk The Oxford Business Network 01865 600 800 OXON www.oxfordbusinessnetwork.co.uk

TRANSPORT

Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust 01865 775 476 OXON www.bbowt.org.uk

Chiltern Railways P 020 7333 3113 OXON www.chilternrailways.co.uk

UCARE 01865 767 777 OXON www.ucare-oxford.org.uk

Headington Carriers P Peter Barrett Managing Director 01993 811276 OXON www.headingtoncarriers.co.uk

Berkshire Vision 0118 987 2803 BERKS www.berkshirevision.org.uk

CLEANING SERVICES Excel Dry Cleaners G 01865 511 773 OXON www.exceldrycleanersofoxford.co.uk WH Mobile Valeting 07979 480 886 OXON www.whvaleting.com

LOCAL GOVERNMENT OxfordshireLEP P Richard Byard Director of Business Development 01865 261 433 OXON www.oxfordshirelep.com Reciprocate G Tony Stratton Chairman 01865 798666 http://reciprocateox.org Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group 01753 870 500 BERKS www.thamesvalleychamber.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

OMC Global & Simply Chauffeur G Harry Oliver Sales Manager 01865 377 775 OXON www.omc.uk.com Findlay Chauffeurs G Claire Hickson Managing Director 0845 644 7099 OXON www.findlaycs.com London Oxford Airport 01865 290 710 OXON www.londonoxfordairport.com

TRAVEL City Sightseeing P Jane Marshall Transport Manager 01865 790 522 OXON www.citysightseeingoxford.com

CONFERENCE, EVENTS & VENUES CATERING SERVICES Oxford Fine Dining P Sue Randall Managing Director 01865 728 240 OXON www.oxfordfinedining.co.uk

Oxford Brookes Venues G Becky Rossiter Conference Sales and Marketing Manager 01865 484 612 OXON www.brookes.ac.uk Stoke Park G Nick Downie Head of Communications 01753 717 171 BUCKS www.stokepark.com Blenheim Palace Hospitality G 01993 813 874 OXON www.blenheimpalace.com/hospitality Pembroke College G Ellen Brady Head of Events 01865 276 484 OXON www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/Conferences Hartwell House Hotel G Matthew Johnson General Manager 01296 747 444 BUCKS www.hartwell-house.com Venue Services, Bodleian Library G Alice Ogilvie Head of Venue Services 01865 277 224 OXON www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk The Examination Schools Kay Miles G Events Manager 01865 276 905 OXON www.examschools.ox.ac.uk Howbery Business Park G Donna Bowles Estate Manager 01491 822 305 OXON www.howberypark.com

Conference Oxford 01865 287 378 OXON www.conference-oxford.com Exeter College 01865 279 600 OXON www.exeter.ox.ac.uk/conferences Malmaison 01865 268 400 OXON www.malmaison-oxford.com The King’s Centre 01865 297 400 OXON www.kingscentre.co.uk Swift Venue Finders 01491 824 634 OXON www.swiftvenuefinders.co.uk Horticulture House 0333 003 3550 OXON www.hta.org.uk Oxford Town Hall 01865 252 195 OXON www.oxfordtownhall.co.uk

EQUIPMENT HIRE Oxford Event Hire 01865 760 158 OXON www.oxfordeventhire.co.uk LNP Sound 01865 238 701 OXON www.lnpsound.com That Event Company 01844 215 857 OXON www.that-event.com

EVENT PLANNING Tina Rosser Event Solutions 07470 343226 OXON

EVENTS Business in Oxford 2018 P 01865 742 211 OXON www.businessinoxford.com Oxfordshire Business Awards OXON www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk

103

West Oxfordshire Business Awards 01993 220 690 OXON www.woba.org.uk

HSBC G 0845 850 174 OXON www.hsbc.com

Cowley Road Works 07816 681 704 OXON www.cowleyroadworks.org

NatWest 01865 305 175 OXON www.natwest.com

Grand Designs Live 0203 397 5180 www.granddesignslive.com Twin Town Challenge 01993 220 666 www.twintown.org.uk

HEALTH & LEISURE

Oxford International Study Centre 01865 201 009 OXON www.oxintstudycentre.com Lotus Tutors 0203 752 6743 OXON www.lotustutors.com

Cherwell Boathouse Punting 01865 552 746 OXON www.cherwellboathouse.co.uk

You HR P Jonna Mundy Owner 07703 719 464 www.youhrconsultancy.co.uk

Frilford Heath Golf Club P Alistair Booth Director 01865 390 864 OXON www.frilfordheath.co.uk Kirtlington Golf Club G Gary Quainton Golf and Pro Shop Manager 01869 351 133 OXON www.kirtlingtongolfclub.com

HEALTH CARE

ADVICE

Clinic95 P Maria Hardman Business Manager 01865 241 661 OXON www.clinic95.com

Cazenove Capital Management G Tom Allen Head of Oxford Office 01865 811 360 OXON www.cazenovecapital.com

Tara Tripp Hearing Care P Vincent Tripp Practice Manager 01865 910 202 OXON www.tripphearing.co.uk

FINANCE

Ridgefield Consulting 01865 364 350 OXON www.ridgefieldconsulting.co.uk Pro-Eco Ltd 01323 400 800 SUSS www.pro-eco.co.uk RIFT Group 01233 653 002 KENT www.riftgroup.com

INSURANCE FOCUS Oxford Risk Management Ltd P Nick Jones Partner 01865 813 307 OXON www.focusorm.co.uk

BANKING Barclays Corporate Banking Trevor French P Head of Business and Corporate Banking 0800 015 4242 OXON www.barclayscorporate.com

104

HR HR CONSULTANTS

GOLF

Corpus Christi College 01865 276 708 OXON www.ccc.ox.ac.uk

Helen Money Nutrition G Helen Money Owner 01865 339 672 OXON www.helenmoneynutrition.com

FITNESS

EDUCATION Abingdon & Witney College 01235 216 394 OXON www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk

WELLBEING

Diamond House Dental Practice 01865 559 521 OXON www.diamondhouse.co.uk

SPORT Tottenham Hotspur FC G Tony Davison Commercial Manager 0844 499 5000 www.tottenhamhotspur.com Oxford University Rugby Football Club G Tim Stevens Club Administrator 01865 432 000 OXON www.ourfc.org Bike Oxford 07808 161 394 OXON www.bikeoxford.co.uk Oxfordshire Cricket 07790 102 130 OXON www.oxoncb.com Headington Road Runners hrr.org.uk/h5m

Light Bright Communications 07811 180 388 GLOC www.lightbrightcommunications.co.uk Think Inspire and Create 0844 414 6056 OXON www.thinkinspireandcreate.com

RECRUITMENT e-volveHR 0800 634 5240 OXON www.e-volvehr.co.uk Gold Star Recruitment 01993 225 075 OXON www.goldstarrecruit.co.uk Allen Associates 01865 335 600 OXON www.allen-associates.co.uk Finance.work 01865 657 657 OXON www.finance.work Nicola Gardiner Executive Search 07900 912 941 OXON www.nicolagardiner.com Thompson & Terry Recruitment 01235 797 177 OXON www.thompsonandterry.co.uk Better People Ltd 01491 836 632 OXON www.betterpeopleltd.co.uk Global CTS 01235 209 154 OXON www.globalcts.co.uk

IT & TELECOMMUNICATIONS TELECOMMUNICATIONS Orange Stripe Telecommunications G Nigel Pursall Managing Director 0845 241 7772 OXON www.orangestripe.co.uk

STL Communications Ltd G Philip Donigan Sales Director 01993 777 113 OXON www.stlcomms.com

DATABASE MANAGEMENT InTouch CRM P James White Managing Director 0845 310 9973 OXON www.intouchcrm.co.uk

IT SERVICES Computing Information Systems (CIS) Ltd P Richard Marsh Director 01367 700 555 OXON www.cisltd.com Complete IT G James Gibson Account Manager 01865 593012 www.complete-it.co.uk Simeio G Ollie McGovern Founder 07795 235 995 OXON www.simeio.co.uk ComputerPro 01869 352 002 OXON www.computer-pro.co.uk CTS Group 01235 432 000 OXON https://cts-group.co.uk JP IT Solutions 01672 552 340 OXON www.jpitsolutions.co.uk Security Exchange Ltd. 01491 683 710 BERKS www.securityexchange24.com Bongo IT 01865 988 217 OXON www.bongoit.co.uk

WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT Alberon P Tim Ault Managing Director 01865 263 220 OXON www.alberon.co.uk Torpedo Group Limited G Iain Lewis Director 01865 733 710 OXON www.torpedogroup.com

www.b4-business.com

Contacts MANUFACTURING Unipart P Frank Nigriello Director of Corporate Affairs 01865 383 339 OXON www.unipart.com Owen Mumford G Jarl Severn Director 01993 812 021 OXON www.owenmumford.com G-Smatt Europe 01865 688 228 OXON www.g-smatteurope.com

MARKETING & DESIGN ADVERTISING B4 Magazine P Richard Rosser Managing Director 01865 742 211 OXON www.b4-business.com In Oxford Magazine Colin Rosser P Chairman 01865 742 211 OXON www.inoxford.com

CORPORATE IDENTITY Recognition Express P Andy Olejnik Managing Director 01295 257 611 OXON www.re-oxfordshire.co.uk

Marketing Sense G Jo Sensecall Director 01865 883 579 OXON www.marketing-sense.co.uk

MRD Digital Print 01865 715 181 OXON www.mrddigitalprint.com

Heart of Business G Jackie Jarvis Director 07801 293 022 OXON

Papa Romeo PR G Claire Thompson Managing Director 07811 339 577 OXON www.paparomeopr.com

ADS 01993 885 125 OXON www.adsoxford.co.uk Oxford Digital Marketing 01865 575 955 OXON www.oxforddigitalmarketing.co.uk Urban Element 01993 776 999 OXON www.urbanelement.com Amica Marketing 07762 417 379 OXON www.amica-marketing.co.uk BeSeen Marketing 01494 678 671 OXON www.beseen-marketing.co.uk

MEDIA/DIGITAL Imageworks 01865 865656 OXON www.imageworks.co.uk Indulge Media 01865 686 093 OXON www.indulgemedia.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Strangebrew P Phil Strachan Director 07770 753 975 BERKS www.thinkbrandnotbland.co.uk

Studio8 P Clark Wiseman Managing Director 01865 842 525 OXON www.studio-8.co.uk

Luna Branding 01367 705 055 OXON www.lunabranding.co.uk

Frederick Jewson 07817 395 660 OXON www.frederickjewson.co.uk

DESIGN

The Plastic Goldfish Company 01865 861 875 OXON www.plasticgoldfish.co.uk

House on the Hill P Keith Simpson Senior Designer 01865 742 211 OXON www.hothdesign.co.uk

FRAMING Isis Creative Framing 01865 203 420 OXON www.isiscreative.co.uk

MARKETING Experience Oxfordshire P Hayley Beer-Gamage Chief Executive 01865 252 409 OXON www.experienceoxfordshire.org

www.b4-business.com

PRINTING Henry Stone Ltd P Mark Scurr Production Director 01295 819 390 OXON www.henry-stone.co.uk OxUniPrint G Ian Wilton Managing Director 01865 844 918 OXON www.oxuniprint.co.uk Minuteman Press 01865 247 010 OXON www.oxford.minutemanpress.co.uk

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Spacecraft Consulting 01295 811 781 OXON www.oconsultancy.com Avril Chaffey PR 01488 608 898 BERKS www.avrilchaffeypr.co.uk

PROPERTY & BUILDING ARCHITECTURE Oxford Architects 01865 329 100 OXON www.oxford-architects.com Jessop & Cook Architects 01865 591212 OXON www.jessopandcook.co.uk

BUSINESS PARKS Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and Business Development Director 01865 261 400 OXON www.oxin-centres.co.uk The Oxford Science Park G Piers Scrimshaw-Wright Managing Director 01865 784 000 OXON www.oxfordsp.com Milton Park G 01235 865 555 OXON www.miltonpark.com Begbroke Science Park G Alistair Cory Managing Director 01865 283 700 OXON www.begbroke.ox.ac.uk Grove Business Park 01235 772 992 OXON www.grovebusinesspark.com Bloxham Mill 01295 722 800 www.bloxhammill.com

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS VSL and Partners P Richard Venables Director 01865 848 488 OXON www.vslandp.com

Carter Jonas P Scott Harkness Partner 01865 511 444 OXON www.carterjonas.co.uk Marriotts 01865 316 311 OXON www.marriottsoxford.co.uk

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SERVICES Oxford Innovation Ltd P Jo Willett Marketing and Business Development Director 01865 261 400 OXON www.oxin-centres.co.uk Bracknell Enterprise & Innovation Hub Shelley Furey G Centre Manager 01344 388 000 BERKS www.bracknell-hub.co.uk

ESTATE AGENTS Breckon & Breckon P Keith Stacey Managing Director 01865 244 735 OXON www.breckon.co.uk Wallers of Oxford 01865 435 175 OXON www.wallersofoxford.co.uk Savills 01865 339 705 OXON www.savills.com

LETTING AGENTS Breckon & Breckon P Greg Barnes Director 01865 201 111 OXON www.breckon.co.uk Finders Keepers P Frank Webster Director 01865 302 308 OXON www.finders.co.uk North Oxford Property Services G Robin Swailes Director 01865 311 745 OXON www.nops.co.uk Lucy Properties G Ian Ashcroft Managing Director 01865 559 973 OXON www.lucyproperties.co.uk College and County G Mark Crampton-Smith Owner 01865 722 722 OXON www.collegeandcounty.biz

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FOR

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Contacts ACCOMMODATION

Kempton Carr Croft G Rob Kerrigan Chartered Surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer 01628 771 221 BERKS www.kemptoncarr.co.uk Ridge and Partners LLP 01993 815 101 OXON www.ridge.co.uk

R&R

Macdonald Randolph Hotel Gurval Durand P General Manager 0844 879 9132 OXON www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk

Beard Construction 01865 860 046 OXON www.beardconstruction.co.uk Solid Structures 01608 690 858 OXON www.solid-structures.com Mulholland Landscape Consultants 07734 253 579 OXON www.mulhollandconsultants.co.uk PMS Oxford 01865 407 554 OXON www.pmsoxford.co.uk Element Studios 07887 407 456 OXON www.elementstudios.co.uk Forge Engineering Design Solutions 07780 452 099 OXON www.f-eds.co.uk Peter Brett Associates LLP 01865 410 002 OXON www.peterbrett.com Kingerlee 01865 840 000 OXON www.kingerlee.co.uk

PROPERTY SERVICES Savvy Maintenance & Renovations P Stephen Dunne Director 01865 920 020 OXON www.savvy-group.co.uk Bicester Roofing G Michael Staniford Managing Director 0870 264 6454 OXON www.bicesterroofing.co.uk Darke & Taylor Ltd 01865 290 000 OXON www.darkeandtaylor.co.uk A1 Plumbing & Heating 01865 327 732 OXON www.a1ltd.co.uk Oxford Garden Design 01993 813 721 OXON www.oxfordgardendesign.co.uk

The Manor at Weston on the Green G Michael Stevenson General Manager 01869 350 621 OXON www.themanorweston.com The Bear & Ragged Staff G Mark Greenwood Landlord 01865 862 329 OXON www.bearandraggedstaff.com Milton Hill House 01235 831 474 OXON www.miltonoxfordshire.co.uk Conifers Guest House 01865 763 055 OXON www.conifersguesthouse.co.uk Spirit Health Club 0207 973 7540 OXON www.langhamhotels.com Holiday Inn Oxford 0871 942 9086 OXON www.hioxfordhotel.co.uk Royal Oxford Hotel 01865 248 432 OXON www.royaloxfordhotel.co.uk De Vere Oxford Thames Hotel 01865 334 444 OXON www.phcompany.com/de-vere/oxford-thames Hawkwell House 01865 749 988 OXON www.hawkwellhouse.co.uk Oxford Spires Hotel 01865 324 324 OXON www.oxfordspireshotel.co.uk

The Crown 01993 813 339 www.thecrownwoodstock.com

Sam Strange Magic G Sam Strange Owner 01865 742 211 OXON www.samstrangemagic.co.uk

Cosmo 01865 297 575 OXON www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk

Oxford Castle Unlocked 01865 260 666 OXON www.oxfordcastleunlocked.co.uk

ENTERTAINMENT Oxford Playhouse 01865 305 305 OXON www.oxfordplayhouse.com

FOOD & DRINK SUPPLIES Laurent Perrier UK P David Green Regional Account Manager 01628 475 404 BUCKS www.laurent-perrier.co.uk

ARTISTIC & CULTURAL Ashmolean Museum 01865 288 364 OXON www.ashmus.ox.ac.uk Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra 01865 987 222 OXON www.oxfordphil.com

CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT Newbury Racecourse P Tracy Skinner Head of Sales 01635 40015 www.newburyracecourse.co.uk

SHOPPING OXC 07837 244 826 OXON www.oxcuk.com Blackwell's 01865 333 536 OXON www.blackwell.co.uk Bicester Village 01869 323 200 OXON www.bicestervillage.com Alexandra Roman 01295 721 629 OXON www.alexandraroman.co.uk

TOAD 01865 767 918 OXON www.spiritoftoad.com Maestria Brands 01865 818 664 OXON www.maestriabrands.com

GALLERIES Aidan Meller Galleries G Aidan Meller Proprietor 01865 727996 OXON www.aidanmeller.com Wiseman Gallery G Sarah Wiseman Owner 01865 515 123 OXON www.wisegal.com

RESTAURANTS

The House 01865 724 433 OXON www.housebar.co.uk

www.b4-business.com

The Duke of Cambridge 01865 558 173 OXON www.dukebar.com

Pint Shop G 01865 251194 OXON www.pintshop.co.uk Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons 01844 278 881 OXON www.manoir.com Pierre Victoire 01865 316 616 OXON www.pierrevictoire.co.uk Marco’s at Mercure Eastgate Hotel 01865 248 332 OXON www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk/restaurants /marcos-oxford

© 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.

ON THE

PROPERTY & CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS

HILL

B4 is designed by House on the Hill t: 01865 742211 w: hothdesign.co.uk

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107

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