Collaboration in Your Sector – a ‘no go’ or are you open to sharing and working with your competitors?

Collaboration is firmly at the heart of B4 with Members connecting and collaborating in many ways. Peter Swanson, Founder and Executive Chair of B4 Platinum Members, Intertronics, believes that B4 plays a vital role in fostering collaboration. “A key requirement is an overarching, trusted and non-partisan organisation which provides the framework for meetings and forums. It represents a safe haven, a place to focus on community, learning and shared experience. B4 does just that. It will be even stronger as the members bring forward more common goals to work on with each other.”

Last Thursday, Blenheim was the epitome of a ‘safe haven’ and Heather Carter, Managing Director of Blenheim Visitor Attraction, couldn’t have been prouder as she commented. “I am reflecting with huge pride on the recent European Summit at Blenheim Palace. It’s astounding to consider the monumental effort that goes into such an event. The seamless execution of a summit that hosted over 45 European leaders, including our new Prime Minister and the King, is a testament to the dedication and skill of the Blenheim Team.

“The coordination between various agencies, from The Foreign Office to Thames Valley Police, showcases a level of collaboration that is truly inspiring. The ability to bring together so many different entities, each with their own expertise, to create a successful and memorable event is nothing short of remarkable.

“A special acknowledgment must go to the Operations, Events, House & Collections, and Catering Teams at Blenheim Palace. Their hard work ensured not only the success of the summit but also showcased the best of local produce and hospitality.

“Behind every great event are the unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes. From the sandwich makers to the gardeners, each played a pivotal role in adding to the grandeur of the summit. The meticulous attention to detail, whether it be in the preparation of over 1200 sandwiches or the maintenance of the palace grounds, did not go unnoticed.

“This summit was not just a meeting of leaders but a showcase of British hospitality and excellence. Here’s to the Blenheim Team for setting an extraordinary example of what can be achieved with passion and hard work!”

See more about Blenheim’s moment in the spotlight here: www.b4-business.com/news/blenheim-shines-on-the-world-stage/

Well done to all at Blenheim for putting Oxfordshire in the limelight and for showcasing the positive power of collaboration. The effects of another powerful example of collaboration are being seen following the official launch of OxTrail, a mind-bogglingly wonderful initiative from B4 Platinum Members, Sobell House, which you can read more about at www.oxtrail2024.co.uk. Social media has been flooded with brilliant posts leading up to the launch giving an insight into the hard work that has taken place behind the scenes.

B4 Members Darcica, Aston & James, Blenheim Palace, Oxford Brookes University, ODS, Beard, Kingerlee, Le Manoir, Oxford City FC, Oxford Property Consulting, Holiday Inn and Hundred Hills are all supporting or involved in some way and it’s been a joy to see this project come to life – why not join B4 on 7^th August when we walk around the trail? Contact tina@b4-business.com for more information.

On 13^th December, B4 will host the first annual RAISE event with RAISE’24 aiming to fundraise over £150,000 for eleven charities – see more here: www.raise4charity.co.uk. One of the most amazing things about this event is seeing the charities collaborate and work together for a common goal, it really is inspiring and the level of professionalism and knowledge they are investing in the event is incredible…it simply wouldn’t happen without them. According to the charities themselves, this is a unique event and they have never collaborated to this extent before.

But would you do the same in your sector? Would you work together, share knowledge and expertise or are you highly protective of your knowledge and knowhow? It’s a question B4’s CEO, Richard Rosser, put to the B4 members and here’s what they had to say.

“We are very open to collaborating and sharing experience and knowledge with other businesses in our sector and do so frequently. It is invaluable for us as it widens our thoughts and gives us different perspectives. We have built up various connections over the years and have found that most businesses share the same view as us.

“We all want good outcomes for our clients and by collaborating we learn from each other. We are in a highly regulated industry but often how that regulation is applied isn’t specific and so it becomes even more important to gather views from others on how they are applying it to their businesses. 

“The industry is big enough for all of us and I don’t see other firms as competitors. We are all slightly different and appeal to different clients and by working together we all become stronger. Overall I don’t really see a downside to collaboration.”

Alexandra Rae, CEO, Wise Investment

“It is heartening to see the charities collaborate in this way; this is facilitated by the common goals they are all working towards. In a more commercial world, looking for common goals can certainly help what we might call ‘coopetition’. Understanding and expanding a shared market, like many of the B4 companies have geographically, can bring businesses together for mutual benefit. And you would hope and expect that sustainability and corporate social responsibility projects can bring the most hardened competitors together.

“There are issues around regulatory threats, and learning and education opportunities which can be participated in by everyone. From the mid-90’s I spent fifteen years helping to run a trade association for electronics manufacturing; the largest of its kind in Europe. As a group, we helped the broader industry deal with the banning of cleaning chemicals (CFCs), the fast-moving miniaturisation of electronics, and the banning of lead in solder – all of which were challenging and alarming. Both the electronics manufacturers and the suppliers to them rubbed shoulders at many events in pursuit of knowledge and solutions to the problems these changes represented.

“After common goals, the second requirement is an overarching, trusted and non-partisan organisation which provides the framework for meetings and forums. It represents a safe haven, a place to focus on community, learning and shared experience. B4 does just that. It will be even stronger as the members bring forward more common goals to work on with each other.”

Peter Swanson, Founder and Executive Chair, Intertronics

“I find the concept of collaboration in our sector both intriguing and essential for growth. In an era where innovation thrives on shared knowledge and collective effort, initiatives like OxTrail and Raise’24 highlight the immense potential when competitors unite towards a common purpose. At Aston & James, we value the power of collaboration not only for advancing industry standards but also for fostering a community-driven approach that benefits all stakeholders involved. Embracing collaboration isn’t just about sharing resources; it’s about amplifying impact and paving the way for a more interconnected and prosperous future.”

Darren Aston, Managing Director, Aston & James

“We always believe that we are stronger together when we collaborate with other partners and Raise’24 is no exception. This is 11 charities working together to support each other as opposed to 11 charities competing with one another. In our case, the money that’s raised for Plunkett UK will make a tremendous difference in promoting the community ownership model across Oxfordshire and beyond.”

James Alcock, Chief Executive, Plunkett UK

“Here at Sobell House Hospice Charity, collaboration is one of our core values. We are thrilled to be participating in Raise’24, working together with 11 Oxfordshire charities and many local businesses, thanks to B4. The money raised could fund 6 weeks of delicious meals for our patients cooked onsite by our chef, or enable 11 people to die at home, if that is their wish, with the support of our home hospice carers. What a difference the money raised will make; we are so grateful to be involved.”

Amelia Foster, Chief Executive, Sobell House Hospice Charity