Businesses focus on employability skills
With employability looming as one of the major issues for 2021, a group of Oxfordshire business representatives have started working on how the next generation of employees can be better prepared for work.
Articles
High quality educational & inspirational articles written by B4 members, including advice pieces, interviews, and thoughts on current topics. Articles are reviewed by the B4 editorial team before being published.
Wealth today and tomorrow
I’ve been helping Rebecca organise her money following the death of her father, who had also been one of our clients.
A Leap of Faith needs Reliable Partners
Having wandered relatively blind into the world of webinars early in lockdown, B4 quickly got to grips with delivering regular content from members on a daily basis, culminating with BIO2020 which saw 102 live webinars delivered over three days.
Unconscious bias
In December 2020, the Cabinet Office announced that unconscious bias training is being phased out of the civil service on the grounds that there is no proof that it changes behaviour and that it may in fact cause a negative response. This comes after a group of MPs previously refused to undergo training on the grounds that it was ‘pandering to the woke agenda’ and it shows the depth of resistance within government to this type of training. But are they right?
Why should a white guy care about diversity? And what can...
I grew up feeling like a bit of an outsider. I have carried that with me throughout life, and always tried to think about who isn’t here, or who we aren’t talking about or including. That can be a challenging question, but I think it’s an important one for all organisations and people to think about.
The future of office design
The enforced restrictions of the last year have brought about seismic changes in the way we work. In working from home, many have discovered that they can still be efficient and get the job done. Beyond the initial enjoyment of being surrounded by home comforts and not having to commute, our separation from the mothership has also brought into sharp focus what we miss about life in the office and how those thoughts will potentially help shape the future of office design. Here are some areas which are likely to receive increased attention.
Dirty Vegan Launches the Ultimate Vegan Kit for Veganuary 2021
Dirty Vegan and friends have come together this Veganuary with delicious plant-based comfort food, in DIY kit form to kick the new year of with some much needed
comfort and joy.
Creating the conditions for diverse teams to thrive
We all know that diverse teams deliver better results. And that inclusion creates the conditions for diverse teams to thrive.
Tech in the year ahead
Predicting the future of technology is hard enough in a normal year. Where the pace of development and innovation continues unabated, seemingly limited only by our human imagination. Although in the world of Artificial Intelligence, that barrier may soon be broken as we hear about AI capable of writing new Beetles tracks. I’m not sure how I feel about that…
Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
Numerous studies show that Black, Asian and minority ethnic employees still face significant barriers in the workplace. From recruitment and progression to reaching leadership positions, there are strategies that organisations can adopt to improve team representation from entry level all the way through to boardroom.
Is now the time to take control of your finances?
2020 was a year of uncertainty for us all. We awaited the outcome of the US election, we didn’t know if a Brexit deal could be agreed in time, and the Covid-19 pandemic caused sharp falls in share prices across the globe.
Supporting Black Founders And Businesses
This could be a very long article as to why and how racism still exists within modern British society. I could divulge countless racist experiences I have personally had – such as being attacked by the police, or racist slurs in the workplace – but this was not the focus of my talk at the B4 One Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Talk, or this piece. Rather, the purpose is to speak to how we can tangibly contribute to seeing racial equality and equity become the institutional norm in the corporate setting.
Inclusion and Diversity at GWR
Great Western Railway has worked collaboratively with colleagues to establish an Inclusion and Diversity Strategy and Action Plan that creates an environment where all colleagues feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work. Over 600 colleagues and Trades Union representatives worked with us to develop the strategy that aims to achieve our vision where: We are progressive. We are one family. We are inclusive. First time, every time.
A Unique Venue in Oxford – Inspiring Minds Since 1683
The Ashmolean Museum with its imposing façade is a well-known landmark building in the City of Oxford and one of the oldest public Museums in the world. Its Collection contains artefacts from across the globe which illuminate elements of the human story; from the earliest civilisations right up to the modern day.
Brexit and driving in Europe from 1 January 2021
The United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU) on 31st January 2020 with a Withdrawal Agreement and subsequently entered into a transitional period which ended on 31st December 2020. The UK Government has announced that discussions with the EU to agree the terms of the future relationship between the two have been successful, and a trade deal has been confirmed. However, not all of the details are fully known.