OxTalks

OxLEP are delighted to bring to you a brand-new podcast, OxTalks, for businesses in Oxfordshire and beyond wanting to take their organisation to the next level.

OxTalks explores the big questions in business – from finding and retaining talent, to adopting new technologies, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and creating equal opportunities. 

Hosted by renowned radio and TV presenter, Howard Bentham, the series will see a variety of key industry figures join us in the studio, delving deep on the challenges faced by business communities, both locally and globally.

Series one consists of six episodes and will be released every other Monday (from 27 February). Guests for our first series include:

• Andy Edwards, Makespace Oxford
• Dominic Hare, Blenheim Palace
• Kelly Huggard, Blenheim Palace
• Chas Bountra, University of Oxford
• Dr Rajarshi Banerjee, Perspectum
• Tim Bestwick, UK Atomic Energy Authority
• Emma Gibson, KPMG
• Sebastian Johnson, OxLEP

Find out more on OxTalks series one

Watch OxTalks:

Series one, episode three: 'Retaining world-class talent for Oxfordshire'

Released 27 March 2023

Some of the world's most-talented people work in the county with a host of globally-significant companies calling Oxfordshire home. Last year alone spin-outs, start-ups and social enterprises from Oxford University Innovation generated over £30 million of income.

Many of these people, and the organisations they work for, are delivering critical responses to major issues within fields like energy, medicine and emerging technologies.

But as one of the most expensive locations to live in the UK, how can we ensure that Oxfordshire retains - and importantly develops - the world's best talent for the benefit of everyone, nationwide and internationally?

In this episode, Howard Bentham is joined by Chas Bountra and Dr Rajarshi Banerjee for their thoughts on mapping out a clear and affordable path to building a successful business in Oxfordshire.

WATCH: OxTalks – series one, episode three: 'Retaining world-class talent in Oxfordshire'

Series one, episode two: 'Destination Oxfordshire: Is tourism the key to all sectors?'

Released on 13 March 2023

With major retail locations, an award-winning World Heritage site and an area of outstanding natural beauty, Oxfordshire has a visitor economy offer like no other – but like all four corners of the globe, following the Covid-19 outbreak, its tourism industry has suffered from a lack of footfall.

Working with its local destination management organisations, OxLEP has recently-launched a new programme, aimed at promoting Oxfordshire as a ‘staycation’ of choice in the UK. But is there more we should be doing collectively?

In this podcast, we find out in the company of Dominic Hare from Blenheim Palace, why the county’s visitor economy must be supported and highlight its criticality to many other related sectors too, helping them to be both profitable and successful. 

WATCH: OxTalks – series one, episode two: 'Destination Oxfordshire: Is tourism the key to all sectors?'

Series one, episode one: 'Creating Opportunities For All Communities'

Released on 27 February 2023

Despite being home to the world's best university for a seventh year running, Oxfordshire has many communities that suffer from deprivation, major cost of living difficulties and a lack of opportunities.

The county contains 17 wards, specifically in Oxford, Banbury and Abingdon, that fall into the 20% most deprived areas in England.

For those struggling communities, what are the barriers they are facing? Are there realistic solutions? And is there the will to fix this?

Host Howard Bentham speaks to Andy Edwards, one of the key players at Makespace Oxford, who are helping to reimagine spaces, and locations for the benefit of all. We'll also learn just what OxLEP are doing to support this change through its latest batch of business support programmes.

WATCH: OxTalks – series one, episode one: 'Creating Opportunities For All Communities'

Listen to OxTalks:

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Head to our latest OxTalks episodes below:

Series one, episode three – 'Retaining world-class talent in Oxfordshire'

Series one, episode two – 'Destination Oxfordshire: Is tourism the key to all sectors?'

Series one, episode one – 'Creating Opportunities For All Communities'.