B4’s latest Platinum Dinner brought Oxfordshire’s business community together for a memorable evening in the magnificent Great Hall, celebrating a longstanding partnership built on friendship, collaboration and a shared commitment to the county’s future.

There are few settings quite like the magnificent Great Hall at Blenheim Palace, and last week’s B4 Platinum Dinner was another wonderful reminder of why this extraordinary venue holds such a special place in B4’s history.

From the exceptional hospitality and beautifully presented dinner to the conversations, connections and thought-provoking contributions from our speakers, it was an evening that perfectly captured what B4 is all about – bringing great people together, building relationships and strengthening our business community.

As B4 celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, our relationship with Blenheim Palace continues to be one of the most valued and enduring partnerships in our history.

A Special Relationship with Blenheim Palace

We were delighted that Heather Carter, Managing Director, Heritage Businesses at Blenheim Palace, joined us and said a few words on behalf of Blenheim. Heather reflected on the wonderful relationship Blenheim enjoys with B4, a partnership that has developed over many years and continues to bring Oxfordshire’s business community together in one of the county’s most iconic settings.

It was a particularly fitting moment during B4’s 20th anniversary year. From our earliest events at Blenheim to our Platinum Dinners, Platinum Breakfasts and the Oxfordshire Business Summit, the Palace has played a significant role in B4’s development.

Our relationship has been built not simply around hosting events, but around a shared commitment to supporting Oxfordshire’s businesses, encouraging collaboration and creating opportunities for people to connect. We are enormously grateful to Heather and the wider Blenheim team for their continued friendship, encouragement and support.

Richard Venables: Oxfordshire’s Extraordinary Opportunity

Our special guest speaker, Richard Venables, Senior Director at CBRE and one of Oxfordshire’s most respected business and community figures, delivered a thought-provoking contribution about the future of our county.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience in Oxfordshire’s commercial property and economic development landscape, Richard reflected on the remarkable opportunities available to the county, particularly through its world-leading universities, science and technology sectors, innovation ecosystem and talented business community.

But his message went beyond economic growth. Richard challenged us to consider how Oxfordshire can make the most of its extraordinary strengths while ensuring that the benefits of success are shared more widely. The importance of opportunity for young people, stronger connections between business and community, and a collective responsibility to address the county’s challenges were central themes.

His contribution was a timely reminder that Oxfordshire’s future will be shaped not simply by investment and innovation, but by the decisions we make, the relationships we build and the opportunities we create for others.

Thank you, Richard, for such an engaging and thoughtful contribution to the evening.

Twenty Years of Building Bridges Between Businesses

B4 Chief Executive Richard Rosser also reflected on the organisation’s 20-year journey and the importance of the people who have helped shape its success. Since launching in 2006, B4 has evolved from its early networking events into a thriving business community, bringing together organisations of all sizes and sectors across Oxfordshire. But throughout those two decades, one principle has remained constant: the importance of genuine relationships.

As Richard reflected, B4 has never simply been about organising events or bringing people into impressive venues. Its real value lies in the introductions made, the friendships formed, the opportunities created and the willingness of members to support one another. That spirit continues through B4’s wider activities, including its leadership communities, the development of NX for ambitious professionals under 35, the Oxfordshire Business Summit and the RAISE programme supporting local charities.

In an increasingly digital world, where technology and artificial intelligence are transforming how businesses operate, the importance of meeting face to face, building trust and developing meaningful relationships remains as relevant as ever. The message was simple: B4 doesn’t make its members. Our members make B4.

And after 20 years, our commitment to Building Bridges Between Businesses remains as strong as ever.

A Huge Thank You to the Blenheim Team

An evening of this quality simply doesn’t happen without an enormous amount of work behind the scenes.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Heather Carter, Megan Carter, Head of People, Minnie Fledderus-Diaconu, Senior Sales Manager, and Emma Rogers, Sales and Events Manager, for their continued support and exceptional hospitality.

Our thanks also go to Michael, Clara, Natalie, Roy, Stephanie, Jack and the entire Blenheim team, including everyone involved in preparing and serving such a wonderful meal and ensuring that every guest was so well looked after.

The attention to detail, professionalism and warmth of the Blenheim team never fail to impress. A particularly special thank you must go to Emma Rogers, who has worked so closely with B4 over the years. Emma’s patience, flexibility, attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile have made her an invaluable part of our events at Blenheim. She is an absolute pleasure to work with, and we are incredibly grateful for everything she does to help make these occasions so special.

The People Who Made the Evening

Our sincere thanks also go to Jonty Hedges, whose beautiful piano playing provided the perfect musical accompaniment to the evening in the Long Library before dinner. Thank you to Samuel Holdsworth for capturing the occasion through his photography, providing a wonderful record of the people, atmosphere and special moments that made the dinner so memorable.

We were also delighted to welcome Katy Lockett, who has recently joined the B4 team. Katy has already made a positive contribution to B4, and it was wonderful to have her involved in such a special evening. And, of course, an enormous thank you to Tina Rosser, B4’s Events Manager, whose hard work, creativity and meticulous attention to detail underpin so many of our events.

Tina’s stunning table centrepieces were once again a highlight of the evening, adding a wonderful finishing touch to the magnificent Great Hall.

Working closely with Emma and the Blenheim team, Tina helped ensure that every aspect of the dinner came together beautifully.

Thank You to Our Members and Guests

Finally, and most importantly, thank you to every B4 member and guest who joined us. The success of these evenings is ultimately down to the people in the room – their willingness to engage, share experiences, make introductions and support one another. It is this generosity of spirit that has sustained B4 for 20 years and continues to make our community so special. We are privileged to work with so many exceptional people and organisations, and evenings like this remind us why bringing people together remains at the heart of everything we do.

Relive the Evening

Thanks to Samuel Holdsworth, we have a wonderful photographic record of the dinner.

View more photographs from the evening on the B4 Flickr account: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD93C9

Here’s to many more wonderful evenings at Blenheim Palace and to continuing to Build Bridges Between Businesses.