Thame.net

Category: Business News

  • Appeal for laptops for Thame students

    STUDENTS from Lord Williams’s School in Thame,  have been home-schooling since the March lockdown, under trying circumstances.  For those with devices and laptops readily accessible, the experience has been manageable. 

    For those without, it has meant their connection with school and their learning progress has been severely affected.  Following a request to local businesses and the community, the school has been promised of upwards of 70 old laptops. 

    Nicky Stallwood, Careers Lead at Lord Williams’s school has been co-ordinating the appeal: “I think folk have welcomed the opportunity to dig out their old laptops and find a use for them. It’s been an amazing response.  Students are really going to benefit from these donations.  hanks to everyone”.  

    If you have old laptops you are no longer using, please consider gifting them to the school.  LWS IT team will wipe and clean the devices and make them student ready.   Please contact Nicky Stallwood: n.stallwood@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk

  • Claim your Covid 19 grant support

    BUSINESSES across Oxfordshire that are yet to submit their details for grant support in response to COVID-19 should do so as soon as possible, including those who already receive 100 per cent rate relief.

    South Oxfordshire District Council  is working hard to ensure that those who are eligible for support receive their money as quickly as possible by contacting businesses directly to remind them to submit their requests but they do not have contact details for all eligible businesses, so it is vital that you contact them if you have not already heard from them.

    For more information and to confirm your eligibility for a Business Grant please go to southoxon.gov.uk/businessrates

  • Be part of a new ‘first’ for Thame businesses!

    CAN Thame be the town with the best managed, safest queues in the UK? A Thame company thinks we could, and is building a ‘take a ticket’ App to help businesses manage queues, observing social distancing safely and fairly for everyone. 

    The Tech wizards at Adactus, based in Church, Thame, are currently building SmartQ, which they are aiming to launch at the end of April so that it can be part of the UK emerging safely from lockdown, when the time is right. 

    “We’d like to be the first town to benefit from SmartQ – so we’ll be offering it free to all Thame businesses that have or will have queues of customers to manage,” explained Adactus’s Scott Muncaster.

    The Key features of SmartQ include: – 

    • Customers can ‘take a ticket’ via the app, text or from a staff member at the front of the store – all at a safe distance 
    • Reduces time spent close to people as you wait in your car or stand away from other shoppers – no need to take your place in a physical queue
    • Removes the challenge of neighbouring shop’s queues getting in each other’s way
    • Can be configured for your brand, your messages to customers
    • Managed by the team in-store on any android or apple device 
    • GDPR compliant

    Adactus would love to hear from any Thame businesses who would like to be involved now, or when their business re-opens, to discuss how you can work together.

    Contact:
    Hello@adactus.co.uk 

    www.adactus.co.uk
    O1844 2690



  • Invitation to Thame businesses to help Oxfordshire grow

    OXFORDSHIRE’S world profile is set to expand and grow in the coming decade and at Lord Williams’s School’s next business event, Richard Byard from OxLEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) will introduce the local industry strategy that aims to support business,  apprenticeship programmes and education to grow Oxfordshire’s world class profile. 

     The Science and Technology Facilities Council will share their experience of developing an apprenticeship scheme that produces ‘best in class’ technicians. 
     
    Any businesses that have an interest in developing employee potential, young talent and business growth, will find this talk of interest. 

    Lord Williams’s School is inviting local business to join the event on March 9, between 8am – 9.30am.  To book your place at the talk, contact  Nicky Stallwood, Careers Lead at Lord Williams’s School:  n.stallwood@lordwilliams.oxon.sch.uk 

  • Local business support for new ‘Taste of Thame’ event

    THAME businesses are stepping up to support and sponsor Thame’s forthcoming food and drink event, to celebrate producers from within a five mile radius of Thame, due to take place in the town centre.

    Thame Cars, The Deli @ No 5 (who are the drivers behind the event), Fran Momen Copywriting, Pentangale, 21st Century Thame and The Black Horse have already offered their support for ‘Taste of Thame‘ on Saturday, May 30, 2020. There are still Sponsorship opportunities available for a local printer, photographer and social media expert, as well as other sponsorship opportunities. To find out more click HERE

  • Time for a Taste of Thame

    LAUNCHED today, Taste of Thame is a new food and drink event in the town, to celebrate the amazing food and drink offer on our doorstep.

    On Saturday, May 30, 2020,  this multi-venue event will  be an opportunity for participants to pick up a feature trail map and use it to explore a variety of destinations in and around Thame Town Centre. On their travels they will have the opportunity to experience new tastes, attend behind the scenes workshops, enter competitions, watch live demonstrations and much more besides.

    Applications to take part in the first ever Taste of Thame are now open. The organisers want to hear from any producers from within a five mile radius of Thame, or with a strong connections to Thame, who would like to feature in the event. They are also keen to hear from Town Centre Venues who want to take part. Although the theme of the event is Food & Drink, venues do not need to be a food or drink business to take part. Any businesses can take part – the only criteria is that they have a space that a producer could use for a pop-up exhibition of their produce and are in, or very close, to the town centre.
    For more information visit the Taste of Thame website: www.tasteofthame.co.uk

  • How to earn money doing what you love!

    IF you’re unemployed, in a full-time or part-time job, or just looking to earn more money in a flexible way, then @popUPBusiness will help you make it happen!

    The free business course shows you a new way of thinking and practical ways to get your business idea off the ground without spending any money. The course is interactive and full of activities, and there’s no requirement to attend every day of the course. Simply attend the ones that will be relevant to you and your business ideas!

    Sign up for your free place at #Didcot event here: www.popupbusinessschool.co.uk/didcot

  • National award for district councils’ team for supporting start-ups

    THE South and Vale Business Support team at South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils is celebrating after winning an important national award.

    (L-R) Sir Howard Bernstein (IED Patron), Dr Melanie Smans (Economic Development Manager), Karen Roberts (Economic Development Lead), Karen Tolley (Economic Development Lead – Vale towns) and Bev Hurley (Chair of IED)

    The team was presented with the Institute of Economic Development 2019 Greatest Economic Impact Award, at national conference in recognition of the councils’ successful ‘Stronger Economy – Start-Up’ initiative, which stimulated the local economy by supporting 87 new businesses to start up in just 18 months. This was achieved by holding practical workshops in Didcot, Faringdon, Berinsfield and Shrivenham.

    The team was praised by Sir Howard Bernstein, IED Patron, and Bev Hurley, Chair of the Institute, for attending each business workshop to raise awareness of the councils’ support and to provide general reassurance to people thinking of starting their own enterprise. Residents attending said they felt encouraged knowing the councils’ team is available to support their business growth and help signpost them to new opportunities.

    Cllr Sue Cooper, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “I’m delighted our team has won this national award. Despite the economic uncertainty in recent years, the team has helped support the creation of new opportunities and jobs for our residents, which helps ensure our local economy continues to prosper.”

    IED Chair Bev Hurley said: “We would like to congratulate South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils on winning our Greatest Economic Impact award for 2019. In previous years a select of transport schemes have won this category. This year, however, we have selected a grass-roots project where we were particularly struck by the economic return, the delivery of the service and the completeness of their impact analysis. The project provided free business advice to organisations over one week and was provided in local towns to help prevent economic shocks derailing the economy.”

    The ‘Stronger Economy – Start-Up’ campaign is one of the many projects from the council’s Business and Innovation Strategy Action Plan 2016-2020, which highlights the importance of encouraging new business to be created, increasing business resilience to economic shocks, and boosting productivity.

  • Calling All Gin and Cheese Lovers!

    NOW’S your chance to enjoy a unique British gin and cheese tasting evening at Thame’s Players Theatre in Nelson Street, and learn about local gins and cheeses as well as pick up those last-minute Christmas gifts – all at the same time!

    During the evening you will be tasting a range of local gins, each paired with a superb British cheese, accompanied by chutney and crackers. As we are in Thame – alias Causton, a Midsomer Murders filming location – there’s even a Midsomer gin and a cheese dedicated to Inspector Barnaby of Midsomer fame!

    The presenter will Joe Bastin of The Deli at No. 5, in Buttermarket, Thame, one of Thame’s favourite speciality food and drinks retailers, offering an extensive range of delicious deli items sourced from all over the UK. Joe will be giving a presentation all about the history of gin as part of this amazing gin and cheese-themed event.

    The tasting menu for the evening’s gins and cheeses will be:

    Twisting Spirits Kaffir Lime and Lemongrass Gin paired with Wookey Hole Cheddar Cheese

    Toads Physic Gin paired with Reiver Cheese

    Midsomer Gin paired with Barnaby Blue Cheese

    All of the gins featured in the tasting will be available to buy from the on-stage shop in variously sized bottles, alongside bespoke artisan gin hampers and other gift options.

    There will also be a Gin Bar, stocked with the three gins featured in the tasting as well as three more British artisan gins, all expertly mixed with Fevertree tonic water.

    WHEN?

    The Gin and Cheese Experience is happening at the Players Theatre, Thame OX9 2DP on Saturday, December 21, at 7.45 pm. Tickets are £15, available from Thame Town Hall Information Centre, either in person Monday-Friday (check opening times at https://www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk/contact-us/) or on 01844 212833, or from thameplayers.co.uk. For more information about The Deli at No. 5 go to https://www.thedeliatno5.co.uk/

  • Transport expected to be the service most hit by a ‘Halloween’ Brexit

    AGENCIES across Oxfordshire have been working together to prepare for the UK potentially leaving the EU on October 31. Although there is national uncertainty about the short-term impact of Brexit, the Government has asked Oxfordshire councils to highlight that they are prepared to respond to any foreseeable potential impact on public services for which they are directly responsible.

    Image of Waitrose’s new ultra, low carbon vehicle – Courtesy of gray-adams.com

    Short-term risks to public safety and normal daily life have been assessed by emergency planners in Oxfordshire and remain ‘low’, though Transport and the supply chain is expected to be the service most hit by disruption, for instance for managing lorry traffic to or from the south coast ports.

    Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer and Oxfordshire County Council lead Brexit planner, said: “All the councils and other agencies have been working well together to plan for Brexit, including leaving the EU without a deal. There are already plans in place to cover foreseeable types of short-term disruption to public services that are delivered by local partners in Oxfordshire.

    “Overall we believe the risks to public service delivery are low. The biggest risk of disruption is to transport and the supply chain, for instance managing lorry traffic to or from the south coast ports.

    “In fact, plans for this kind of disruption had already been made. The Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum role includes managing the impact of major disruption to strategic roads in the area which are being reviewed in the context of Brexit.

    “The government has asked to closely monitor potential impacts of Brexit on local businesses. We recognise concerns expressed by local employers. Oxfordshire councils stand ready to provide any practical support within their powers to local businesses. This could include identifying specific Oxfordshire impacts and relaying those to the government.”

    Mark Stone, Chief Executive of South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse District Councils, said: “We’re not expecting any significant impact on our part of the country, but we hope our residents are reassured that we have been working together across Oxfordshire to ensure the councils here are well prepared.”

    Links to specific information and advice for businesses and individuals can be found HERE