OxTalks

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 episode of OxTalks, powered by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Laura Ayoade, the first ever Equity, Diversity & Inclusion lead at Aston Martin.

With a varied career path starting in hip hop dance to getting a master’s in international human rights law, being a performing arts teacher, and becoming an ED&I specialist, Laura is passionate about civil rights and international humanitarian law.

Laura shares her thoughts on how businesses can embrace ED&I, the benefits it brings, and how to foster an environment where all employees feel valued and listened to. 

OxLEP’s Communications Executive, Leona Weston, joins the discussion to share the support that OxLEP can offer to help small businesses looking to embrace ED&I.

• (00:00) - Introduction to OxTalks
• (03:56) - Laura's Career and Insights on ED&I
• (11:16) - Challenges and Strategies in ED&I
• (21:41) - Aston Martin's ED&I Initiatives
• (42:54) - OxLEP's Role and Support for Businesses
• (53:45) - Future of ED&I in the Automotive Industry
• (01:00:16) - Final Thoughts and Advice
• (01:02:25) - Conclusion and Podcast Information

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 the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Amrit Dhaliwal, Chief Executive of Walfinch, and Kam Gill, Managing Director at Walfinch Oxfordshire.

Walfinch is a thriving and successful company providing bespoke, high-quality care at home to individuals and families across the UK. They run a franchise model that has won national accolades being named Best for Day Care Expertise at the recent Home Care Awards.

On a mission to redefine home care and franchising for the sector, Amrit started Walfinch in 2019. Building the business up from scratch, Walfinch now has over 40 locations spanning across the nation. His sister Kam later joined the business and heads up the Oxfordshire division.

Amrit and Kam share their thoughts on the key challenges facing the care sector and solutions to these – such as retaining talent through building a skilled and trusted workforce and encouraging retention by adapting to the needs and expertise of the team.

They are joined by OxLEP’s Apprenticeship Advisor, Leah Bryan, who discusses the valuable work that OxLEP does to redistribute funds from large apprenticeship levy paying businesses in the county to smaller businesses with less resources available, to help cover training costs.

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 that it could replace human jobs. So, as a business leader, how can you use this technology effectively to streamline and grow operations and support the transition, while keeping costs down?

In this episode of OxTalks, powered by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Guy Gadney, CEO of Charisma.ai, and Grae Laws, Managing Director of Beyond Touch.

Charisma.ai creates a platform for writers to share their stories, bridging the creative and tech industries. Supporting diverse voices and storytelling, they make a positive, ethical contribution to the evolution of creative AI, having pioneered features like memory, emotion, story tracking and AI voices. Guy has worked with the likes of Hollywood Studios, NBC, DreamWorks and Warner Brothers.

Beyond Touch helps business owners to transform their organisation by thinking lean, staying energised and adapting to change. Grae runs business mentoring and group training to help people unpack their ideas and realise their true values, working with local organisations like OxLEP.

Guy and Grae discuss their experiences of the growth of AI across the technology, creative and business sectors, and share their top tips for businesses wanting to embrace the technology.

They are joined by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Rob Panting, who discusses the tailored support that OxLEP can offer to businesses looking to implement new technology such as AI.

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 the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Melanie Tattersall, Director of Sustainability and Communications at Darcica Logistics.

Award-winning delivery and fulfilment services business Darcica Logistics was launched by Melanie and her husband Anthony in the pandemic in June 2020, with the ambition to create a more sustainable logistics option for Oxfordshire. The company now has a 15,000 sq. ft warehouse in Bicester, wth a comprehensive service offering and over 80 drivers across 3 depots.

With over 20 years’ experience in environmental management, Melanie shares her advice for small businesses wanting to grow a more sustainable organisation, prioritise social value and make a positive impact on our planet.

Howard and James are joined by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Rob Panting, who discusses the tailored support that OxLEP has given to help Darcica Logistics’ growth, and the guidance on offer for other businesses needing support.

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 the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by James Clarke, Managing Director at Hook Norton Brewery.

The 175-year-old Hook Norton Brewery in Oxfordshire is still powered by steam and uses dray horses to make its deliveries, yet it survives in the digital age with thriving online sales and a growing customer base. James Clarke shares his insight on how the brewery has evolved to keep up with changing times, including online sales, product offering, brand development and consumer preferences. He also discusses how the local business keeps family traditions alive and thriving.

Howard and James are joined by the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Rob Panting, who discusses the tailored support that OxLEP offers to help businesses achieve success, whether it be in the early stages or for more established organisations.