Category: Business News

THE staff of local digital marketing agency, STW Search & Marketing, watched a new Channel 4 documentary last Thursday (12/07) with special interest. They were on the look out for the show?s supporting stars ? two cash machines supplied by their client, leading ATM deployer InfoCash.

Over two episodes, the ATM?s will play a central role in ?Bank of Dave? which follows the progress of entrepreneur Dave Fishwick who, fed up with stories of greed, corruption and bankers bonuses, sets out to take on the banking industry and prove that there is another, better way to do business. Putting his money where his mouth is, Dave decides to open his own bank to help inject new life into local businesses. With just 180 days to see his bank turn a profit, it?s a huge challenge for a man who, while extremely successful in business, is the first to admit that he knows very little about the banking system.

Oxfordshire based InfoCash is the third largest ATM deployer in the UK and has been a client of STW for three years. Cat Young of STW said: ?Bank of Dave is an interesting project and it?s great that InfoCash have been selected to be involved. It?s not often that an ATM gets cast for TV, but these cash machines have a key role to play in this experiment.?

InfoCash supplied Bank of Dave with two cash machines to use in his epic quest. One ATM was installed in the premises Dave used to set up his bank; the other was fitted into a specially converted coach to provide a mobile banking service to customers. Both machines dispensed cash free of charge to users.

Speaking about his project, Dave Fishwick says, ?There are businesses and individuals out there who are hardworking and honest but through no fault of their own, can no longer get loans. They are being ignored and let down by the banks, while bankers still pay themselves enormous salaries and bonuses. My bank may be tiny but it will be better than a High Street bank. I want to show how banking can be socially responsible and not greedy and reckless and I’m going to do what the High Street banks just can’t bring themselves to do – give away any profits to charity.”

The documentary promises to be compelling viewing with the possibility of further shows following the fortunes of the businesses that Dave invests his money into ? assuming of course, that Bank of Dave succeeds in taking on the established competition……..

WHERE? The Eden Suite at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket, Thame, from 9am – 10.30am; This month’s meeting is on Thursday, July 19, and is an OPEN NETWORKING event. As usual guests will have the opportunity to promote any forthcoming events they are associated with.

Please book through the website by 12.00 on Wednesday, July 18, to appear on the guest list or just turn up on the day. Either way the entry fee of

THE Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods, today presented a Certificate to the shop with the best Jubilee window display.

And the winner is…..Robert Stanley Opticians in the High Street! Their display of pictures of Her Majesty The Queen throughout the span of her reign – appropriately wearing specs in many of them – attracted a lot of attention throughout the run up to the jubilee weekend and the following week. The town’s guests from Montesson, Thame’s twin town, were seen admiring the display and taking pictures of it with their mobile phones when they came over the weekend before the Bank holiday. The magnificent crown in the window of the Cottage Bakery too attracted a lot of attention and admiration.

Nigel himself was in no doubt of the stand-out winner. As he walked round the town choosing the winner with Sonja Francis, Chair of Thame4Business who jointly sponsored the competition with the council, he commented: “I think Robert Stanley?s is a deserved winner because someone had put a lot of thought into the window display and not just filled the window with red white and blue, which is great in itself but just a bit more flair went into this one.

“The display took the Queen through all seven decades of her reign from the 50?s to the present day. It was subtle and clever. I think a little bit of licence was used on the photo of HRH and her two corgis with crowns on! Photo-shop perhaps!”

PHOTO: The Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods presents the winner’s certificate to Lesley Thatcher, Manager of Robert Stanley Opticians.

USUALLY associated with commemorating American Independence, today’s date, July 4, has special significance for independent retailers all over the country – including Thame.

Today was designated ‘Independents’ Day’, aimed at, in the words of its sponsors, Skillsmart Retail: “flying the flag for local retailers: the ones who help make our villages, towns and cities so special. It?s about championing diversity on the high street and recognising the skills behind the shopfront.”

Throughout the day, shoppers were being encouraged to photograph a purchase from a local, independent retailer, upload it to the social networking site, twitter, using the hashtag, southernoxonindependents, stating where they had bought it.

The best picture from each of the seven towns in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse areas, Thame, Henley, Abingdon, Wallingford, Wantage, Farringdon and Didcot, will be selected and the shopper awarded a

THE Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP, today met Oxfordshire businesses and the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership to discuss the future of the county?s economy.

Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership Vice Chair, Ian Wenman, said: ?Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership was delighted to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister to our county. The event, held at Blake Lapthorn?s Oxford office, was a perfect opportunity for local businesses to discuss with Nick Clegg the steps we all need to take to ensure the county?s economy continues to develop.”

?I would like to thank the 40 business men and women who attended this valuable session as well as for their very positive contribution to this meeting.

?We have received funding from Ministers to improve the county?s infrastructure and we are committed to developing our dialogue with the Government so that the Oxfordshire economy continues to thrive.”

?We were able to demonstrate to Nick Clegg that despite the difficult national economic figures, latest statistics for Oxfordshire shows that the number of unemployed people decreased in every district council area in the county.

?This shows the resilience and innovation of Oxfordshire businesses in adapting to the changing global economic pressures.

?It is only by positive partnership working between the public and private sectors that we can aim to ensure that every family in the county can gain from wider economic prosperity across Oxfordshire.?

WHY will four grown men from Thame be dressing up as Woody, Buzz, Evil Emperor Zurg and Stinky Pete, and getting into a rather ancient Saab convertible, decorated to resemble RC Racer from the film Toy Story?

Well, its all in a good cause, and their reputations are safe, because the group of Thame Businessmen will be taking part in this year’s Scally Rally, starting on Friday (29/06), to raise money for a leading children’s charity.

Team Ollie-RC RACER, as they are known, consists of Peter Butt, Stuart Groves, Tim Lancaster and Alun Rowe. Thame Round Tabler, Peter explained the inspiration behind their sponsored Scally Rally ride:

“When we heard that a friend’s child had been diagnosed with cancer, shortly before his second birthday, words simply felt inadequate. You wonder where the children and the families get the strength to fight this disease and you realise that the answer is simple- because they have no choice.

“We decided that we should try and bring some smiles to their days with the Toy Story theme, as well as raising money for the charity supporting them. Oliver Lee, the inspiration and drive for Team Ollie, has Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting just 60 children a year. Oliver had a 5.5cm tumour on his bladder and secondary tumours on his lungs and pelvic bone, and had to be catheterised as he could not urinate due to the size of his tumour.

“At his scan in January 2012 all secondary tumours have gone and the primary is down to 1cm,” explains Peter.
“This has taken four rounds of Chemo, causing hair and skin loss, but this little boy keeps smiling!”

To find out more about Team Ollie-RC RACER’S challenge, to support their cause to help kids like Ollie, go to their Just Giving page at: http://www.justgiving.com/teamolliercracer

PHOTO; Ollie Lee

WHY will four grown men from Thame be dressing up as Woody, Buzz, Evil Emperor Zurg and Stinky Pete, and getting into a rather ancient Saab convertible, decorated to resemble RC Racer from the film Toy Story?

Well, its all in a good cause, and their reputations are safe, because the group of Thame Businessmen will be taking part in this year’s Scally Rally, starting on Friday (29/06), to raise money for a leading children’s charity.

Team Ollie-RC RACER, as they are known, consists of Peter Butt, Stuart Groves, Tim Lancaster and Alun Rowe. Thame Round Tabler, Peter explained the inspiration behind their sponsored Scally Rally ride:

“When we heard that a friend’s child had been diagnosed with cancer, shortly before his second birthday, words simply felt inadequate. You wonder where the children and the families get the strength to fight this disease and you realise that the answer is simple- because they have no choice.

“We decided that we should try and bring some smiles to their days with the Toy Story theme, as well as raising money for the charity supporting them. Oliver Lee, the inspiration and drive for Team Ollie, has Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer affecting just 60 children a year. Oliver had a 5.5cm tumour on his bladder and secondary tumours on his lungs and pelvic bone, and had to be catheterised as he could not urinate due to the size of his tumour.

“At his scan in January 2012 all secondary tumours have gone and the primary is down to 1cm,” explains Peter.
“This has taken four rounds of Chemo, causing hair and skin loss, but this little boy keeps smiling!”

To find out more about Team Ollie-RC RACER’S challenge, to support their cause to help kids like Ollie, go to their Just Giving page at: http://www.justgiving.com/teamolliercracer

PHOTO; Ollie Lee

CHANNEL 4?s Baker Brothers are back with a brand new series but this time they are giving traditional British food a makeover.

Do you have a tea shop, caf

THE next June, Late Breakfast event in Thame will be on Thursday, the 21st in the Eden Suite at The Spread Eagle Hotel, Cornmarket from 9am – 10.30am.

Guest Speaker this month will be Chartered Occupational Psychologist and NLP Master Practitioner, MELANIE GREENE who works as a consultant, coach and trainer with a wide variety of organisations, talking about ‘Your Brain At Work: How To Increase Your Performance’. Based on David Rock?s wonderful book ‘Your Brain At Work’ this 30 minute session will be interactive and practical, equipping you with ideas and techniques to put directly into action after the session.

Book through the website by Wednesday, June 20, to appear on the guest list or simply turn up on the day. Either way the entry fee of

CHANNEL 4?s Baker Brothers are back with a brand new series but this time they are giving traditional British food a makeover.

Do you have a tea shop, caf