Welcome to the 30th Oxfordshire Business Awards. It is a pleasure for Oxford Brookes University to host this event once again and to celebrate the ambition, innovation and expertise that continue to shape Oxfordshire’s business community.

These awards recognise organisations of every size and sector, from established companies to emerging enterprises. Together, they reflect the breadth of talent and entrepreneurial spirit that make this region such a distinctive place to live and work.

I am particularly pleased to welcome our many partners, alumni and friends of the University, alongside those visiting us for the first time this evening. Strong relationships between universities and businesses are more important than ever, and occasions such as this provide a valuable opportunity to share ideas, celebrate success and build new connections.

This evening takes place in the Forum, within the John Henry Brookes Building, named after our founding director.  John Henry Brookes vision for this university was one which would serve the needs of the industry and businesses of the region, and would contribute to a thriving and prosperous city.  His philosophy of education was that universities should be ‘close to the work’ priming a way of teaching and engagement with students that fostered collaborative ways of working and developed innovative, pragmatic and well rounded graduates.  It is a vision we at the university are recommitting to through our roadmap to 2030. This building is at the centre of a campus that continues to evolve to serve the needs of our students and to promote our relationships with our communities and partners.  On our Headington Hill site, two major new sustainable buildings have recently been completed as part of our wider investment in teaching, research and collaboration.

These new facilities will support work across engineering, motorsport, robotics, artificial intelligence, creative design and digital technologies, creating new opportunities for students, researchers and industry partners to work together in practical and innovative ways.

As Vice-Chancellor, I am proud of the role the University plays within the region, and of the partnerships that continue to strengthen our shared future.

My congratulations to all of tonight’s finalists. I hope you enjoy a memorable evening and every success in the year ahead.

Professor Helen Laville
Vice-Chancellor, Oxford Brookes University

venues@brookes.ac.uk
www.brookesvenues.co.uk