B4 Board members called last week’s launch of our brilliant new B4 website a statement of confidence in Oxfordshire’s business community at a moment of significant economic change.
Directors said the timing was deliberate: a period of uncertainty for businesses across the region is precisely when the connections, knowledge and trusted relationships B4 was built on matter most.
B4’s Chairman, Frank Nigriello, said: “Oxfordshire has one of the most dynamic and diverse business economies in the country, yet the firms that drive it — overwhelmingly small and medium-sized — are navigating a period of almost unprecedented change and uncertainty. Costs, technology, regulation and the basic terms of trade are all shifting at once.
“In that environment, the value of a genuine community is not a soft benefit. It is infrastructure. For twenty years B4 has helped businesses across the region find one another, share what they know and build the relationships that carry them through difficult periods as well as good ones.
“As board members, our goal is to enable B4 to continue to play a strong role in engaging with the county’s business leaders and provide a voice for business in our community.”
Connecting business leaders is a core strength of B4, as board member, Stuart Crook explained.
“One of Oxfordshire’s greatest strengths is the breadth and diversity of its business community. From innovative start-ups and global science businesses to hospitality, property, professional services and the voluntary sector, our success depends on organisations being able to connect, collaborate and learn from one another,” said Crook.
“For almost twenty years, B4 has played a unique role in bringing those conversations together. I have seen first-hand how meaningful relationships formed through the network have created opportunities, solved challenges and supported growth across the county. The launch of this new platform is not just for B4, it is an investment in the future of Oxfordshire’s business community, making it easier than ever for people to build trusted connections and unlock the value that comes from being part of this unique regional network.”
A particular focus for Oxfordshire has been the visitor economy. B4 has played an important role in bringing together business leaders from the sector as Board member John Hoy, former CEO of Blenheim Palace and now a consultant and NED in the heritage sector, explained.
“Tourism, hospitality, culture and events are an enormous and sometimes overlooked part of what Oxfordshire offers, and the businesses behind them have weathered more storms and disruption than most in recent years. They thrive on profile, on connections and on partnership. A stronger, more visible and proactive B4 gives those firms a bigger stage, a route to the audiences and collaborators they need, and reflects how central that part of our economy really is.”
As property developments continue strongly across the county, it is increasingly important to provide connections with a wide range of stakeholders and to ensure that business leaders are informed and have a voice in developments.
“Property and the built environment underpin almost everything else: where companies locate, expand and invest, and how our towns and high streets evolve,” said Claire Croft, Executive Coach and B4 board member.
“Those decisions depend on relationships and on a clear reading of where the market is heading. B4 has long been one of the places those conversations happen. The new membership structure, built around outcomes rather than tiers, suits a sector that has always been about long-term value rather than short-term position.”
Board members said the launch of B4’s new website, now live at www.b4-business.com, alongside a refreshed identity and a membership portfolio reinforced B4’s reputation and standing as the premier business network in the county.
B4 Membership
To find out more about membership, please visit www.b4-business.com/membership/
Meet the B4 Executive Board
See more about our Executive Board here: B4 Executive Board