Event

The Productivity Engine: Unlocking Oxford’s Economic Potential

21 Nov 2024 8:30am - 12 midday The Randolph Hotel, Oxford

Oxford is on the brink of transformative growth, with real estate and strategic infrastructure key to unlocking its economic potential. Join us to explore innovative housing, high-tech workspaces, and the future of Oxford’s productivity - shaping both local communities and the wider economy.

Nov 2024

Time:

8:30am - 12 midday

Address:

The Randolph Hotel, Oxford

Discover how real estate can elevate Oxford’s influence on both national and global stages, with insights from leaders at Present Made, Greencore Homes, Pioneer Group, ARC, and more.

Amid a national productivity crisis - leaving the average UK worker £9,000 worse off each year compared to pre-2008 trends - Oxford is at a pivotal moment. With the right approach to real estate planning, development, and infrastructure, the city has the potential to drive significant economic growth.

This event will delve into the challenges and, importantly, highlight the opportunities that can enable Oxford to realise its full potential, benefiting its communities and the wider economy.

Programme

The conference will begin with Bidwells’ latest insights on economic productivity, presented by Research Director Sue Foxley, followed by an impactful keynote from Oxfordshire County Council.

Guests will then have the opportunity to explore focussed sessions on Living in Oxfordshire or Working in Oxfordshire, depending on your area of interest, each designed to delve deeper into the region’s unique challenges and opportunities for growth.

Stream one: Living in Oxfordshire: Designing for Optimum Productivity

Explore forward-thinking approaches to housing and urban living in Oxfordshire. From garden cities to co-living, we will discuss which models and associated infrastructure can foster sustainable, vibrant communities. How can real estate investment shape the future of living while driving economic productivity?

Hear panellists from Greencore Homes, Present Made, Oxford City Council and BDP

Stream two: Working in Oxfordshire: Powering the Innovation Economy

Oxfordshire is on the cutting edge of science and technology innovation. This session will focus on how the city’s real estate and infrastructure must evolve to meet the needs of these rapidly growing sectors. What role can real estate investment play in boosting Oxford’s productivity as it pioneers tomorrow's technology?

Hear panellists from Pioneer Group, Touchlight, and ARC

Register your place here

Agenda

8:30

Arrival, networking breakfast and registration

9:15

Welcome note from Chris Pattison, Head of Oxford, Bidwells; Research Presentation on Economic Productivity by Sue Foxley, Research Director, Bidwells; followed by a keynote from Martin Reeves of Oxfordshire County Council

9:55

Choose your event stream – panels on Living in Oxfordshire or Working in Oxfordshire

10:40

Roundtables on each event stream topic

11:25

Coffee and networking

Some of our speakers

Martin Reeves

Oxfordshire County Council

Alex Hollingsworth

Councillor, Oxford City Council

Jenny Gardner

Director of Development, ARC

David Rudlin

Director, BDP

Ayokunmi Ajetunmobi

Head of Ventures, Pioneer Group

Angela Calvert

Head of Partnering, Touchlight

Laura Stone

COO, Greencore Homes

Alan Penfold

Managing Director, Present Made

Chris Pattison

Head of Oxford, Bidwells

Sue Foxley

Research Director, Bidwells

Sam Potts

Partner, Building Surveying, Bidwells

Download the report

The Productivity Engine

In our latest groundbreaking report, The Productivity Engine, we uncover the fundamental role that space plays in understanding - and solving - the UK’s productivity problems.

Download here

Get in touch with the team

Chris Pattison

Deputy Head of Planning

Chris has been delivering challenging client briefs across Oxford, the South East and Scotland for more than 20 years.

Sue Foxley

Research Director

Sue leads a dynamic programme of research at Bidwells. Working with her colleague Mark Callender, she is particularly focused on the real estate implications of the science and technology sector.

Victoria Hasson

Business Development & Marketing Manager

Aligning and enabling colleagues across the business, Victoria is dedicated to driving business growth.