Business events are easy to attend and easy to forget. What makes them genuinely valuable is the breadth of people in the room. At the Oxfordshire Business Summit 2026 (OBS2026), Georgie Spurling of ARVRA and Greg Barnes of Breckon & Breckon reflected on why diversity of sector, age and background is the real draw.

Their perspectives from Blenheim Palace spoke to both the newcomer and the seasoned operator.

Community matters, especially for founders

Having recently moved to the area, Georgie Spurling came to OBS2026 as a relative newcomer, attending only her second local event. Her aim was straightforward: to meet new people across different sectors and connect with other business leaders. Being a founder, she noted, can be a lonely place, which makes a sense of community all the more valuable.

Something to learn from everyone

For Greg Barnes, the diversity in the room was the very reason to attend. Whatever someone’s demographic, age group or sector, he argued, there is always something to learn from them. That openness, the willingness to take insight from people unlike yourself, was for Barnes the most fascinating part of the day.

Why mixed rooms produce better thinking

Taken together, the two perspectives make a quiet but important case. A summit that brings founders together with established firms, and newcomers together with long-standing members, creates the conditions for fresh thinking and unexpected connections. For the Oxfordshire business community, that breadth is a feature, not a coincidence.

In summary

Spurling and Barnes capture what the best business communities understand instinctively: value comes from difference. Whether you are finding your feet or decades into your career, a diverse room offers something a like-minded one never can.

This interview was filmed and produced by our Media Partner, MOTION3. https://motion3.agency

Watch the interview below.