Category: Business News

WE all know that Thame and South Oxfordshire in general is a great place to do business, but does the rest of the world?

To help us yell from the rooftops and encourage more businesses to take a look at we’ve got to offer, the district council’s Economic Development team have produced a new brochure and series of town fact-sheets to help promote South Oxfordshire to prospective businesses.

The eight-page brochure, produced by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, uses a combination of information and photographs to highlight the key strengths of the area.

It is hoped the brochure will encourage new businesses to locate in southern Oxfordshire and to consider investing in and around the many towns and villages the area has to offer.

The brochure highlights southern Oxfordshire?s strengths as a central location, housing world class businesses, a thriving economy with a highly skilled workforce, offering an exceptional range of business sites and premises and internationally renowned research facilities.

A montage of ‘place-based’ images also illustrates what the area has to offer in terms of countryside, the arts and culture and leisure activities.

There is also a series of seven fact-sheets to promote each town in the two districts, which highlight key statistics and data that potential investors will need to know before considering the area as a possible location in which to base their business. In essence, the town fact-sheets do a lot of the market research and due diligence so that the business doesn?t have to!

The fact-sheets present key information such as population, socio-economic data, earnings and a business profile for the towns of Abingdon-on-Thames, Faringdon, Wantage, Didcot, Thame, Henley-on-Thames and Walllingford. They also use images that illustrate the individual personalities of each of the towns, such as Cornerstone arts centre in Didcot and King Alfred in Wantage.

Cllr Elaine Ware, cabinet member for economy, leisure and property at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: ?Southern Oxfordshire is not only a great place to live, but also has a fantastic pedigree when it comes to leading business. We hope that by highlighting the key strengths of the area more organisations will see the tremendous value that it has to offer and consider moving here.?

Cllr Judith Nimmo-Smith, cabinet member for economy, property and technical services at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: ?In the past we haven?t been that great at making information readily available to those looking for a new location. The new brochure and fact-sheets provide a really easy way for potential investors to find key information about the area and should help to encourage businesses to seriously consider southern Oxfordshire as an area in which to do business.?

The ‘Let’s do business in Thame’ leaflet can be found HERE

The brochure and fact-sheets are now available from economic development and can also be downloaded from www.southoxon.gov.uk/business and www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/business

For further information about investing in southern Oxfordshire please call 01235 540475.

PHOTO: Copyright Thamenews.net

BROTHERS Hair salon in Thame is going all “Glitzy and Green” to raise money for Macmillan nurses, including a London to Brighton cycling challenge for one of its stylists.

Popular stylist, Vickie will be stretching her legs and her stamina to tackle the notorious London to Brighton bike ride and as well as encouraging sponsorship for her, the salon is holding a special Macmillan Day on April 28. All the staff at Brothers will be dressing up “Glitzy and Green,” running a raffle throughout the day, selling cakes, truffles and Katy will be doing hand nail file and varnishes all day, with all money going to Macmillan. Adults minimum

THAME is set to receive a major boost this April with funding to help support the local economy.

South Oxfordshire District Council is inviting businesses, community groups and other local organisations to come up with proposals which will boost the vitality of Thame, supporting a vibrant market town or promoting business in the area. The most suitable proposals will then win a share of

THAME Hair salon, Eclipse Hair Design, in North Street, Thame, are celebrating their first birthday in their present premises by raising funds for this year’s Sport Relief.

Tickets are available from Reception at the shop and cost just

ENTREPRENEURS Business Expo this Thursday, March 22, 2012!

VENUE: The Holiday Inn, Peartree, Oxford – Clare Strange, medal winning Paralympian is the keynote speaker.

Billed as “a day of inspiration, motivation, knowledge and advice to help ensure you reach your targets for 2012.”

The show runs from 10am – 5pm.

More details and FREE visitor registration at www.entrepreneurs-business-expo.co.uk

THE next Late Breakfast event at The Spread Eagle Hotel in Thame is on Thursday, March 22.

The Late Breakfast has been holding regular monthly events in Oxfordshire for over five years and at the Spread Eagle in Thame for the last three years, with a variety of presenters and networking formats and this month it’s an Open Networking meeting.

So, what happens at a Late Breakfast event?

The Late Breakfast events are friendly,
relaxed, informal networking affairs. They are run with an ?open door? policy welcoming people from all services, professions and trades irrespective of the size of their business whether they are individuals working from home or small and medium size companies.

There are is no forced selling, no ?one minute? presentations, just like-minded people coming together to build good connections. Ideal if you are new to business or networking. There is no membership or subscription, the only financial commitment is when you arrive and want to come in !

Events all run from 9.00-10.30am to give those unable for practical or family reasons to attend the early breakfast networking groups, their own opportunity to network.

Meetings are a mix of excellent presentations on a variety of business themed topics, fun and interactive workshops but always with the emphasis on allowing businesses to meet and communicate. Guests also get the chance to promote local and special business events.

All our details and locations are on www.thelatebreakfast.co.uk

THAME’S town partnership said ‘farewell’ to the town’s Market Town Co-ordinator this week.

Alison Isherwood was thanked by 21st Century Thame for all her hard work, tenacity and enthusiasm whilst in the role, and presented with flowers by the Steering Group Chair, Cat Young.

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PHOTO: Members of 21st Century Thame’s Steering Group (L to R) Town Cllr Andy Gunn, Town Cllr Helena Fickling, Shared Economic Development Team Leader, SODC, Trudy Godfrey, Alison Isherwood, Transport Working Group Chair, Peter Woodman, Town Cllr Mary Stiles & Chair of 21st Century Thame, Cat Young

A NEW caf

2012 has been a ‘Leap year’ of surprises for local business, Purple Frog, after they received no less than three awards following their Sue Ryder: Bigwigs Challenge, which earned them over

THE search is on ONCE again for the best new and restored buildings in the Chilterns.

The annual Chilterns Buildings Design Awards competition is seeking entries from home-owners, architects and developers who are proud of the work they have done in the Chilterns. The Awards are offered by the Chilterns Conservation Board and The Chiltern Society, two organisations dedicated to safeguarding what?s best in the Chilterns, one of the most outstanding areas of countryside in England, and to encouraging high standards for new development.

Colin White, Planning Officer at the Conservation Board, said: ?We want to encourage better building design, and to encourage architects and developers to use traditional, local materials and designs in their work. We are not trying to turn back the clock, or to prevent progress, but we do believe that new buildings in the Chilterns should fit in with the character and scale of their environment.”

It isn?t just new houses that are eligible for consideration. Industrial and public buildings are also eligible, as are conversions of existing buildings.

Last year two properties were jointly awarded the top prize. One is a restored Victorian model farm near Chorleywood in Herts which houses a business servicing and restoring classic Ferraris. The other is a sympathetically-extended cottage in the hilltop village of Speen near Princes Risborough.

The closing date for entries or nominations is March 1st 2012. Application forms and further information are available from the Conservation Board office (01844 355500), email: office@chilternsaonb.org) or from the Chiltern Society, White Hill Centre, Chesham (tel/fax: 01494 771250, email office@chilternsociety.org.uk

PHOTO: Kingsford Cottage, Speen, Joint winner 2011