Where Oxfordshire's Leaders Belong

Corum Quarterly at Earth Trust

Join Corum Quarterly, where senior decision-makers share experiences, discuss strategy & shape new ideas through trusted peer conversations.

Corum Members Only

Join us for the third B4 Corum Quarterly at Earth Trust as we bring together leading experts for an insightful panel discussion exploring the challenges, opportunities and innovations shaping the future. Set within one of Oxfordshire's most inspiring natural environments, this event offers senior leaders the opportunity to hear expert perspectives, ask questions and engage in meaningful discussion with fellow decision-makers.

We will be sharing more information about our speakers in due course but the theme of this Corum Quarterly will be sustainability.

Confirmed Panellist

John O'Brien

Founder and MD of LCMB MBA, B.S.C. (Hons), Dip. End, Dip. M

John is an engineer with over twenty years project and general management experience in construction, specialist engineering and Facilities Management (FM). Prior to forming LCMB in 2009, John spent the previous ten years operating as a Main Board and Operations Director within Inviron (formerly ABB Ltd.), a specialist M&E, FM contractor, and Laing O’Rourke, a large construction business. John has led projects and project teams on a range of buildings with values up to £100m. He has also been responsible for annual FM budgets up to £40m and as a Director has managed businesses with an annual turnover of up to £150m. John has delivered traditional, design and build, PPP/PFI, GMP and open book, procured projects, in both the private and public sector.

John is experienced in all phases of the building project life cycle, from inception to post completion operation and he set up LCMB in 2009 to help clients get the best performance from their buildings, both from a financial and an energy consumption point of view. LCMB specialises in:

• Getting the best value out of buildings
• Initiating and managing great project
• Reducing energy consumption
• Reviewing and rescuing poor performing projects.

About Earth Trust

Earth Trust is an environmental charity dedicated to connecting people with nature. Founded as the Northmoor Trust for Countryside Conservation in 1967 by Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, it became Earth Trust in 2011.

The charity's journey at Little Wittenham began with the acquisition of Little Wittenham Wood in 1982, followed by Wittenham Clumps in 1984. These acquisitions created one of Oxfordshire's most treasured landscapes and mark the beginning of what is now celebrated as Earth Trust's 40-year journey.

Since its founding in 1967, the organisation has championed nature conservation, sustainable farming, environmental education and community engagement. It has pioneered innovative approaches to habitat restoration, forestry research and agri-environment schemes, while expanding its stewardship to more than 1,200 acres of woodland, wetlands, meadows and farmland.

Today, Earth Trust continues to inspire positive environmental change through nature-based solutions, education and accessible green spaces. Supported by more than 30 staff, over 200 volunteers and hundreds of supporters, the charity remains committed to creating a greener, healthier future for people and nature.

Event is strictly limited to 50 guests.

Light breakfast of pastries and refreshments will be provided for this event.

Parking: Ample parking available on-site

PEOPLE Ecosystem Roundtable discussion at B4 HQ

Join B4 and our members for a People Ecosystem Roundtable discussion hosted by Claire Croft, Claire Croft Associates

Join fellow B4 members at our next PEOPLE Ecosystem Roundtable at B4 HQ.

We’re delighted to welcome Claire Croft, Owner of Claire Croft Associates Ltd, who will be leading the discussion.

Topic: High Impact Teams

About the discussion

Most team development focuses on how people work together. While this is of course important its doesn’t guarantee success. Why? Because it fails to address an important question - "who is the team for?”. This session flips the lens, exploring your team from the outside in, viewing it as part of a wider system: stakeholders, customers, and the shifting context you operate in.

Interactive throughout, you'll leave with a sharper sense of how the way your team works together can evolve to achieve even greater impact, inside and out.

About Claire Croft

Owner, Claire Croft Associates Ltd

Claire Croft is an executive coach and culture change consultant who helps leaders and leadership teams move beyond limiting patterns and perform at their best. She works with clients during pivotal moments of growth and change, helping them build clarity, confidence and cohesion — so they can work more effectively together and feel more energised in what they do.

Claire is known for her ability to spot what is getting in the way, especially the things that are not being said but are shaping outcomes. Taking a systemic approach, she helps clients understand what needs to shift — not just at an individual level, but across the wider context they operate within. Her work is strategic, commercially grounded and focused on delivering meaningful, lasting impact.

Her culture change work has been recognised through several industry awards, reflecting the impact and sustainability of the change achieved. Claire has worked with organisations including Invesco, Virgin, Unipart, TMS, The Jockey Club and Be Free Young Carers across a range of leadership and organisational challenges.

This event is strictly limited to 15 Guests

Parking: Ample parking on-site

Refreshments will be provided

Corum Six Breakfast with Ben Dudley, Oxford Direct Services

Join Corum Six, where senior leaders discuss key challenges, share insights and gain fresh perspectives from trusted peers.

Join us and Corum members for a discussion around Delivering Transformation While Maintaining Frontline Services on Wednesday 23rd September from 8:00–10:00am, bringing together a small group of senior executives for an informal and open discussion over breakfast.

Oxford Direct Services is delighted to host an exclusive Corum Six Breakfast, bringing together Corum Members for an engaging morning of networking, discussion and shared learning. Hosted by Ben Dudley, Commercial Director, we look forward to welcoming you as our guest.

This session will focus on a topic that is high on the agenda for many organisations:

Delivering Transformation While Maintaining Frontline Services

As organisations continue to navigate financial pressures, evolving customer expectations and increasing demands for efficiency, leaders are faced with the challenge of driving meaningful transformation while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of high-quality frontline services.

This breakfast discussion will provide an opportunity to share experiences, explore common challenges and discuss practical approaches to:

· Delivering change whilst maintaining operational performance

• Balancing innovation with day-to-day service delivery
• Embracing digital transformation and technology
• Realising benefits from transformation programmes
• Managing stakeholder expectations and organisational change
• Preparing for future challenges and opportunities

Corum Six brings together a select group of senior executives for open and confidential discussion, offering a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from peers and gain fresh perspectives in a relaxed and informal setting.

Date: Wednesday 23rd September 2026
Time: 8:00am – 10:00am
Venue: Oxford Direct Services, Marsh Road, Cowley Marsh, Oxford, OX4 2HH

We look forward to welcoming you for what promises to be an insightful and engaging discussion.

About Ben Dudley

Ben Dudley is the Commercial Director at ODS, overseeing the company’s waste management division, plus the Sales and Marketing teams and driving its transition into new commercial and FM-focused spaces. With over a decade of experience across environmental services, waste management, and outsourced operational solutions, he has held senior roles at Countrystyle Recycling, Totus Environmental, Powerday, Reconomy, and Acumen Waste, delivering innovative, cost-effective solutions for large-scale operations.

His background spans business development, sales leadership, outsourced services, and operational strategy, giving him a deep understanding of how to align FM services with client needs and sustainability goals.

A results-driven and strategic business leader, Ben excels at translating commercial strategy into practical FM solutions, developing long-term client relationships, and implementing sustainable practices that align with both operational efficiency and community impact.

About Oxford Direct Services (ODS)

ODS was borne out of the need to maintain Oxford City Council’s housing stock, parks and streets. It was formally established as a wholly-owned company in 2018. It is now made up of two companies that work together to deliver cost-effective public and commercial services.

ODS is now building homes, maintaining streets, parks and properties, and constructing highways and buildings. It provides managed services, repairs vehicles, conducts MOTs, collects recycling and waste, controls pests and removes trees.

ODS is a ‘doing good’ business, creating social value through the services delivered directly to residents and through the commercial services provided to business institutions and other local authorities.

Limited to 10 guests

Parking: Limited spaces available on-site. Nearest car park will be Cowley Marsh Park Car Park, Cowley, Oxford OX4 2DN (10 minutes walk).

Parking charges

This is a cashless car park. Payment must be made on arrival.

• Up to 3 hours: Free (ticket required)
• 3 to 5 hours: £4.00
• 5 to 24 hours: £15.00

We use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) for enforcement purposes.

Breakfast: Guests will enjoy breakfast refreshments including bacon rolls, pastries and drinks while sharing perspectives and experiences with fellow business leaders.

AI Ecosystem Roundtable with Marnie Wills, Business With AI Strategist

B4 AI Roundtable hosted at B4 HQ.

Join Marnie Wills, Business With AI Strategist for our next Ecosystem Roundtable at B4.

About Marnie Wills | AI Activist, Trainer & Strategy Consultant

Marnie Wills is an AI Activist, Trainer, and Strategy Consultant with a passion for helping businesses move from AI curiosity to AI confidence. As the founder of Business with AI Strategist, Marnie works with established businesses and leadership teams to build AI operating systems that will ensure they are ahead of this digital transformation.

Her approach goes far beyond the basics. Marnie specialises in customising business intelligence systems, building proprietary tools and applications, and deploying agents that multiply output without replacing the people behind it. For Marnie, the real power of AI lies in amplifying human capability and expanding business capacity , not substituting it.

Event is strictly limited to 15 guests.

Refreshments will be provided for this event.

The Oxfordshire Golf Challenge

Hosted by Frilford Heath Golf Club in partnership with B4

Come and join B4 and Frilford Heath for a day on the Championship Red Course where teams representing Oxford City and Oxfordshire will compete for The Colin Rosser Cup.

About The Oxfordshire Golf Challenge

The Oxfordshire Golf Challenge brings together organisations from across the county for a competitive, high-energy day of golf inspired by the Ryder Cup. Taking place at Frilford Heath Golf Club on Monday 28th September 2026, the event pits two teams — Oxford City versus Oxfordshire County — in a tournament supporting Raise* whilst celebrating teamwork, camaraderie and friendly rivalry across the business community.

*please note funds will be raised for the charities benefiting from Raise (see www.raise4charity.co.uk) on the day through a raffle and on the day competitions such as longest drive and nearest the pin. No funds from the entry fee will be donated to Raise unless there is a surplus.

City vs County: Oxfordshire’s Ryder Cup

Led by team captains Justin Merritt (City) and Ben Procter (County), the challenge mirrors the excitement and structure of the Ryder Cup. Each side will field 40 business golfers, competing across multiple matches throughout the day. Every point contributes to the overall score, with the winning side lifting the prestigious Colin Rosser Cup. Whether you’re representing the blue of Oxford City or the green of Oxfordshire County, this is golf with purpose — and bags of personality.

Format of the Competition

The tournament features 2-v-2 matchplay fourballs, ensuring every pairing has the chance to influence the scoreboard. With 40 players per side, every result matters. Just like the traditional Ryder Cup, the magic number is 10½ points — the first team to reach that threshold wins the cup. The format guarantees excitement from start to finish, with rapid scoring swings, decisive pairings and plenty of opportunities for standout performances.

How to Enter

Businesses and individuals of all abilities are welcome to enter and if you would like to play with a colleague, please mention when entering.

To enter, please purchase your ticket(s) and, if you are playing golf, click HERE to complete the player entry form.

Entry Fee

The entry fee is £150 + VAT per player.

With only 80 player places available, demand is expected to be high, so we recommend entering early.

Selection Process & Team Announcement

The final teams will be announced in once we have all 80 players adding to the drama and excitement. Applicants will receive full event details and pre-tournament updates.

Payment options: Register via Eventbrite or request an invoice, please contact tina@b4-business.com

What your ticket includes:

One bespoke embroidered team shirt and cap

08:45 - Welcome to Frilford with Breakfast Buffet

09:20 - Morning Briefing

10:00 - Shotgun Start on the Red Course

15:00 - Two Course Lunch in the Taylor Room with presentation of prizes

17:30 – Carriages

For information about the event or sponsorship opportunities, please click on the link below and scroll to the bottom of the page to see our sponsorship brochure:

www.raise4charity.co.uk/oxshire-golf-challenge

Parking: Ample parking on-site

About the Red Course

Laid out in 1908 by five-time Open champion J.H. Taylor — whose design expertise also shaped legendary courses like Royal Dornoch and Royal Birkdale — the Red Course is a gem celebrating traditional heathland golf in the club’s 440-acre estate. The Red Course has long been a stage for competition golf. The course has hosted everything from elite amateur tournaments to professional tours and we are very proud to be regular hosts of regional qualifying for the Open. In 2022, it reached a new pinnacle by welcoming the English Trophy as part of the European Challenge Tour, the largest event in its 116-year history. With its rolling fairways, elevated greens, and thoughtfully designed layout, the Red Course invites golfers of all levels to enjoy a rewarding challenge, combining precision with strategy for an unforgettable round.

BDM Ecosystem Roundtable with Caroline O’Connor of Fourth Born

Join B4 for a Business Development Managers Roundtable discussion hosted at B4 HQ.

This event is limited to 15 members.

Join fellow Business Development Managers from the B4 community as they share challenges, successes and advice with each other in the BDM Ecosystem Roundtable discussion at B4 HQ.

The session will be facilitated by Fourth Born's Caroline O'Connor who will share their top tips for BDM's to expand their toolkits.

More information to follow.

Refreshments will be provided