I would like to offer a warm welcome to you all on the occasion of the 27th Oxfordshire Business Awards. Oxford Brookes University is delighted to be hosting such a prestigious event in the Oxfordshire calendar to celebrate business excellence across the county.

Many of the businesses and individuals represented this evening are friends of the University, so I extend a special greeting to our alumni and partner organisations. We also look forward to establishing new connections with those we are meeting for the first time.

I'm especially proud that we are able to sponsor one of tonight's awards, thanks to the Help to Grow programme delivered by Oxford Brookes Business School. To date, we have engaged with over 200 local businesses to develop their leadership skills to enhance productivity and performance. We are excited to be able to continue this programme, at no cost to participants, over the next year.

The University has benefited tremendously from working with these organisations, which in turn has influenced our teaching and research. It is fantastic to note that many businesses here tonight already have a relationship with Oxford Brookes. The evening’s celebrations are taking place in the Forum which is at the heart of the award-winning John Henry Brookes Building.

At the University, we are continually investing in our campuses. In September, we were delighted to open the Oxford Brookes Enterprise Centre on Headington Campus. Funded jointly with the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership, the centre provides office and lab space as well as expertise to support more than 15 start-up companies and spin-outs.

We are planning to create further inspiring spaces. Over the next few years, a significant programme of refurbishment and new build will see all courses based at Wheatley and Harcourt Hill move to Headington Campus.

We are also harnessing new technologies. Backed by a £2.3 million Government grant, we have installed a pioneering geothermal heating system on our Gipsy Lane site, helping to reduce carbon emissions by up to 20%.

I encourage you to pay a further visit to Oxford Brookes and our inspirational spaces after tonight’s celebrations. Our Oxford Brookes Venues team have led the organisation of this event and I know they will endeavour to provide an exceptional experience for you all.

In keeping with the Oxfordshire theme, tonight’s dinner will showcase the best of locally sourced produce.

My congratulations to all finalists and wishing you the very best of luck with the awards. To all of our guests, I hope you have a successful and memorable evening.

Professor Alistair Fitt
Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University
venues@brookes.ac.uk
www.brookesvenues.co.uk
linktr.ee/brookesvenues