OxTalks

How do you stop workplace wellbeing becoming a tick-box exercise and make it something that genuinely changes how teams work? In this episode of OxTalks, host Howard Bentham speaks with Olga Zilberberg, founder of The Missing Link, about mental health training, neurodiversity, and what real cultural change looks like inside organisations. Olga shares lived experience of anxiety, panic attacks and...

How do you build a high-performing leadership team when 82% of UK managers have received no formal training ? In this episode of OxTalks, host Howard Bentham speaks with Claire Croft, founder of Claire Croft Associates and executive coach, about what defines effective leadership in today's workplace. They explore why transparency, clarity and a willingness to develop people's potential are essenti...

Can a business grow and scale whilst genuinely putting purpose before profit?  In this episode of OxTalks, host Howard Bentham speaks with Bethan Thomas, co-founder and CEO of HotTea Mama, an award-winning women's wellness tea company that has grown from a kitchen-table start-up to a brand stocked in Holland & Barrett, Selfridges and Planet Organic. Bethan shares her remarkable journey from st...

We hope you're enjoying Series Four of OxTalks so far. We are going to be taking a short break over the festive period. But we'll be back in the New Year with more amazing guests and inspiring business stories. From the whole OxTalks team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we'll see you in 2026. Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is o...

How do you build a purposeful, science-backed wellness brand that truly stands out in the highly competitive and saturated UK market? In this insightful episode, host Howard Bentham welcomes Catherine Hurley Arbibe, founder of the award-winning brand, NEWROAD. Catherine shares her remarkable career journey, from studying medicine at Oxford to a stellar modelling career on the cover of Vogue , and...

What does it truly take to transform a local business into a world-class global enterprise? In this insightful conversation, host Howard Bentham speaks with Liz Lewis-Jones, the CEO of Liquid, an award-winning integrated communications agency. Liz shares the compelling story of launching her business in a room above her mother's garage in 2004 and scaling it across 26 jurisdictions and 20 time zon...

Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks is your partner in tackling business challenges and achieving your goals, giving an insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does to support local organisations and communities. OxTalks host Howard Bentham talks to successful leaders from Oxfordshire and beyond to hear their advice to help your business...

Welcome to Season Four of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond, to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve. Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-...

Flexible working covers a whole range of scenarios, beneficial to employees with diverse needs. Its aim is to strike a work-life balance – but it isn’t always an easy journey getting there. Is flexible working just as effective as having a full-time position? Is there evidence to showcase the real impact of flexibility on productivity and wellbeing?   In this episode of OxTalks, powered by Enterpr...

Equality, diversity and inclusion are often grouped together and have become a buzzword in the workplace. However, each term comes with its nuances and challenges.   Many organisations have a strong commitment to ED&I, but what do they actually do to ensure each area is covered? How can businesses embrace diversity in the workplace, while making it an equal and inclusive environment?   In this...

In England, 1.5 million people work in social care in 1.2 million full time equivalent roles. To cope with demand, an extra 440,000 roles will be needed by 2035. So, how will the care sector cope now and in the future? How can staff retention be improved, and new people upskilled?   In this episode of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Amr...

Artificial Intelligence is becoming more widespread across the business landscape, with the industry contributing £3.7 billion to the UK economy. Some sectors are already using the technology to great effect, such as telecoms, legal and finance, whereas others lag behind in adopting new systems.   Many businesses remain unsure about the uses and benefits of AI technology, and some are even worried...

The UK has set out clear targets to achieve net zero by 2050, with Oxfordshire set to be a leader in the low carbon transition nationally. But how can business leaders make practical changes to their organisations to support the transition, while keeping costs down?   In this episode of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Melanie Tattersall...

How can independent organisations, and their employees, adapt to the everchanging business landscape to compete with larger companies and achieve growth? How do they balance tradition with driving a small to medium sized enterprise forward?   In this episode of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by James Clarke, Managing Director at Hook Nort...

How does a business make the leap from a brilliant idea to a fully functioning company? What hurdles are in the way and who is there to champion and nurture entrepreneurs to give them every chance of succeeding?    In this episode of OxTalks – sponsored by leading national law firm, Mills & Reeve – host Howard Bentham is joined by Andrea Stewart, the Head of Marketing, Communications & PR...

How do we create and nurture a dynamic business landscape which attracts new companies, innovation and investment?     In this episode of OxTalks – sponsored by leading national law firm, Mills & Reeve – host Howard Bentham is joined by Artem Korolev, Founder and CEO of Mission Street.      Oxfordshire is one of the world’s most well-regarded destinations when it comes to science and innovatio...

What is the key to creating a happy and motivated workforce? How can you improve your staff retention rate?   In this edition of OxTalks – sponsored by leading national law firm, Mills & Reeve – host Howard Bentham is joined by Sarah Powell, HR Director at luxury Oxfordshire hotel Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.   Today, we live in difficult times, where many vacancies remain unfilled, and employe...

What if you were to turn your hobby or passion into a full-time job? Where would you start? Is there any help out there and to whom should you turn?   In this edition of OxTalks – sponsored by leading national law firm, Mills & Reeve – host Howard Bentham is joined by Paul Wilkinson, multi-award-winning photographer and founder of Paul Wilkinson Photography. Many of us have hobbies and interes...

How exactly do you start a business? What is realistic and what is fantasy? In this edition of OxTalks – sponsored by leading national law firm, Mills & Reeve – host Howard Bentham is joined by Fiona Reid, Associate Professor of Bioscience Entrepreneurship at University College London, to explore her top tips for starting a business and becoming a successful entrepreneur.   The word entreprene...

What makes a good leader? How exactly can you lead by example? In this edition of OxTalks – sponsored by leading national law firm, Mills & Reeve – host Howard Bentham is joined by Daniel Geoghegan, Chief Executive of Bicester Motion, as they delve into his career journey and how his organisation is shaping leaders of the future. Almost everyone that has ever had a job will have had a boss. Le...

Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve. In the final episode of the series, our focus is the changing face of the workplace, with...

Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve. In this episode – which is the fifth in this series – OxTalks looks into the importance o...

Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve. Oxfordshire is home to some of the world's best and most innovative technologies, helping...

Welcome to OxTalks, powered Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve. Some of the world's most-talented people work in the county with a host of globally-signific...

Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve.  With major retail locations, an award-winning World Heritage site and an area of outstan...