The Bicester Business Collective

Your website might look great, but is it doing what your business needs?

In this episode of The Bicester Business Collective, Samantha Vaughan chats with Richard Holmes, founder of Ampersand Studio, about his unexpected journey from managing leisure centres to web development and running his own business.

Richard shares the conversation that changed his focus from replacing a monthly salary to building a business for the long term. He also explains why an effective website starts with understanding your audience, your goals and the numbers behind what’s happening online.

From SEO and relevant content to the changing role of AI, this is a practical conversation for business owners who want to understand more about their online presence—without needing to be tech experts.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Changing careers and deciding when to become self-employed.
• Moving beyond month-to-month thinking to plan for growth.
• Bringing in specialists to deliver more value for clients.
• Why a good website needs a clear purpose.
• Understanding the difference between a traffic problem and a conversion problem.
• Creating relevant content and planning for search visibility.
• Richard’s perspective on AI and the opportunities it presents.
• Building relationships through networking—and taking business conversations onto the golf course.

Connect with Richard

Find out more about Ampersand Studio’s website design, development, hosting and SEO services:
Ampersand Studio

Richard also shares details of the SEO audits and AI visibility reports discussed in the episode, plus where you can meet him through local networking.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow or subscribe to The Bicester Business Collective, leave a review, and share this episode with someone in your network.

Behind every business is a story worth telling.

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

In this episode of the Bicester Business Collective Podcast, Samantha Vaughan talks to Sam Pennycook, founder of the Growth Network.

Sam shares the story of leaving a successful sales career to start his own business, the mistakes he made along the way, and how his network helped him rebuild when things went badly wrong.

They discuss why good networking is about relationships rather than sales, why consistency matters, and how even nervous networkers can make valuable connections simply by starting a conversation.

Sam also explains the thinking behind the Growth Network and the philosophy that came from his own experience: “Chase the network, never the net worth.”

If you run a business, work for yourself, or simply want to get more from networking, this episode is packed with useful ideas and an inspiring story.

Hosted by Samantha Vaughan, Hub Manager at Town Square Bicester.

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

What should you get right before spending money on digital advertising—and why do relationships still matter in an increasingly automated world?

Samantha Vaughan welcomes Becky Hopkin, owner of Bicester-based pay-per-click advertising agency Digital Gearbox, to the Bicester Business Collective.

Becky shares her unexpected journey from employee to business owner, the responsibilities she hadn’t anticipated, and how building a trusted team has helped her balance running an agency with family life.

Along the way, she offers practical advice for business owners trying to make sense of digital marketing: start with your business objectives, get your website ready before paying for traffic, and focus on the channels that suit your customers.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why outsourcing your marketing still needs your involvement.
• Common mistakes that waste digital advertising budgets.
• Why you don’t need to be on every social media platform.
• Where AI can help—and why human judgement remains essential.
• Building a business that gives you flexibility.
• How to approach networking without the pressure to sell.
• What Becky values about Bicester’s growing business community.

An honest conversation about marketing, business ownership and the value of getting to know the people around you.

Becky Hopkin on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-hopkin/

Enjoyed the episode? Follow the Bicester Business Collective, leave us a review, and share it with someone in your business network.

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

In this episode of the Bicester Business Collective podcast, Sam Vaughan is joined by Roy Magara, founder and director of Magara Law, to talk about his journey from law school to building his own employment law firm.

Roy shares how redundancy during the pandemic became the catalyst for starting Magara Law, why he wanted to create a different kind of legal practice, and how values such as empathy, care and trust have helped shape the business. He also reflects on the importance of building the right team, creating strong professional relationships and standing out in a competitive market.

The conversation also explores Roy’s passion for employment law, the impact workplace problems can have on people’s lives, the role of networking and reputation in business growth, and his ambitions for Magara Law in the years ahead.

Roy also talks about becoming the number one employment law firm on Review Solicitors, his work with Oxford Buzz, the upcoming Workplace Summit in Birmingham, and his life outside law as an author.

In this episode:

• How Roy built his legal career
• Why redundancy led to the launch of Magara Law
• Building a business around values and client care
• The importance of reputation and reviews
• Creating a strong team culture
• Why networking matters
• Roy’s advice for people starting their careers
• The future of Magara Law
• Roy’s upcoming book and Workplace Summit

About the Bicester Business Collective Podcast

Hosted by Sam Vaughan, Hub Manager at Town Square Bicester, the Bicester Business Collective podcast shares the stories of local business owners, entrepreneurs and leaders from across Bicester and the surrounding area.

If you enjoyed the episode, please follow or subscribe and leave a review to help more people discover the brilliant businesses in our local community.

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

In this episode of the Bicester Business Collective Podcast, Sam Vaughan talks to Jen Williams, founder of Exec Support Solutions, about her journey from a ten-year career as an Executive Assistant — including several years working in Formula 1 — to launching her own business and building a team of virtual assistants and book-keepers supporting businesses of all shapes and sizes. 

Sam and Jen discuss:

• How many small business owners can feel overwhelmed and how having a virtual assistant can help
• Coping with Imposter Syndrome
• The importance of networking when running a small business - Jen is the host of the Bicester Business Buzz networking group
• Why small business owners find it hard to delegate
• Why running a small business can help create the work-life balance you want
• Why business owners can often feel lonely and having business friends to call on is so important

Jen also discusses her new venture - It Starts With Hello- a real life singles face to face dating business.

Jen Williams on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferwilliamsessers/

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

What does a modern apprenticeship really look like — and why should construction be seen as an exciting career choice rather than a fallback option?

In this episode of the Bicester Business Collective Podcast, Sam Vaughan is joined by Lisa Perkins from ACE Training and Consultancy, a specialist construction training provider based in Oxfordshire. Lisa’s own route into training has been anything but conventional, taking her from sales and business development in hospitality to managing a marine conservation base in Fiji, before discovering a passion for helping young people develop their skills and confidence.

Lisa explains how ACE Training supports apprentices in brickwork, carpentry and joinery, and property maintenance, as well as working closely with employers to make taking on an apprentice far simpler than many businesses imagine. They discuss the changing perception of apprenticeships, the wide range of careers available within construction, opportunities for people of different ages, and why increasing numbers of young women are considering careers in the trades.

Sam and Lisa also explore the human side of training: building confidence, recognising when a learner may be struggling, providing mentoring and mental-health support, and helping young people find an environment in which they can thrive. Lisa shares the inspiring story of one learner who went from questioning whether he wanted an apprenticeship at all to becoming a finalist in the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards.

In this episode:

• Why apprenticeships deserve to be viewed alongside university as a genuine career choice
• The different routes into construction and where they can lead
• How ACE works with employers to recruit and support apprentices
• Why taking on an apprentice may be easier than small businesses think
• The importance of work experience in finding the right career path
• Supporting young people beyond simply teaching practical skills
• Changing perceptions of women working in construction
• How former ACE apprentices are now returning as employers to take on apprentices of their own
• Why construction can offer highly rewarding and well-paid careers

Lisa Perkins on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-marie-perkins-6b2bb9142/

The Bicester Business Collective Podcast celebrates the people, businesses and organisations helping Bicester and the surrounding area thrive. Hosted by Sam Vaughan of Town Square Bicester, each episode explores the stories behind local businesses, the lessons people have learnt along the way and the connections that help our business community grow.

If you enjoy the episode, please follow or subscribe, leave us a review and share it with someone who might find Lisa’s story useful.

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

Buying a home can feel complicated, expensive and sometimes completely out of reach. But are there more options available than many of us realise?

In this episode of the Bicester Business Collective Podcast, Samantha Vaughan is joined by Charlotte Massey of Hive Mortgage Solutions, based at Town Square Bicester.

Charlotte has worked in mortgage advice for around 15 years and launched Hive Mortgage Solutions to create a more personal, client-focused approach to mortgages and protection. She talks to Sam about why she loves helping people through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives — and why good mortgage advice is about far more than simply finding a competitive interest rate.

They discuss the options available to first-time buyers, including mortgages requiring little or even no deposit in some circumstances, and why people are often surprised by how much they may actually be able to borrow. Charlotte also explains why she recommends speaking to a mortgage adviser a year or even two years before you intend to buy, rather than waiting until you've already started viewing properties.

Charlotte and Sam also explore:

• Why different lenders can offer very different borrowing amounts
• How even a small difference in mortgage rate can make a significant financial difference
• The challenges of getting a mortgage when you're self-employed
• Joint borrower, sole proprietor mortgages and how family members may be able to help
• Why income protection can be just as important as life insurance
• The importance of tailoring financial protection to an individual's circumstances
• Why Charlotte enjoys following clients from their first home through to their “forever home”
• The realities — and occasional loneliness — of starting your own business
• The value of working alongside other businesses at Town Square Bicester
• Why first-time buyers should view plenty of properties before making a decision
• The importance of researching not just the house, but the neighbour-hood and location too

Charlotte also shares her ambitions for Hive: not only helping mortgage customers, but eventually building a supportive community for other mortgage brokers who want to develop businesses of their own.

It’s a friendly, practical conversation packed with useful advice for anyone considering buying a property — whether that's next month or several years from now.

Charlotte's LinkedIn Profile

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

In this episode of the Bicester Business Collective Podcast, Samantha Vaughan sits down with Jo Wilson, founder of Bicester Food Hub, to discover how one local idea has grown into one of Bicester's most valuable community projects.

What began as a mission to rescue perfectly good food from landfill has become something much bigger. Jo explains how the Food Hub not only reduces food waste but also tackles loneliness, creates friendships, supports local charities and gives hundreds of people a welcoming place to connect every week.

You'll hear about the incredible volunteer team who collect surplus food seven days a week, the organisations they support across the town, and why Jo believes nobody should ever feel guilty about making use of food that would otherwise be thrown away.

The conversation also explores the environmental impact of food waste, community initiatives such as the recycled prom dress project, partnerships with local businesses, and why Bicester Food Hub is about far more than simply providing food.

Whether you're passionate about sustainability, community projects or simply love hearing inspiring local stories, this is an episode that will leave you feeling optimistic about what can be achieved when people come together.

In this episode you'll hear about:

•  How Bicester Food Hub was founded in 2022 
•  The shocking amount of perfectly good food that would otherwise end up in landfill 
•  Why the Food Hub has become a place to combat loneliness and isolation 
•  The role of 23 dedicated volunteers 
•  Supporting food banks, baby banks, community cafés and local charities 
•  The importance of removing any stigma around surplus food 
•  Recycling prom dresses and reducing textile waste 
•  Ensuring nothing goes to waste—even food unsuitable for people is donated to an animal sanctuary 
•  Why Jo believes supermarkets and government could do even more to tackle food waste 
•  The importance of community partnerships, including the support of Town Square Bicester 

Find out more

To learn more about Bicester Food Hub, visit their Facebook page by searching Bicester Community Hub, or contact the team at:

[email protected]

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

In the first full episode of The Bicester Business Collective, Samantha Vaughan is joined by Luke Roberts, founder of House Made Ready and an experienced architectural designer with a passion for helping homeowners unlock the hidden potential of their properties.

Luke shares his journey from studying architecture and sustainable design, through running his own architectural practice, to launching House Made Ready—a business born from a simple idea: homeowners deserve better information before making expensive property decisions.

Together, Samantha and Luke explore why so many people underestimate what their home could become, how a simple planning concept can add significant value, and why understanding your property's possibilities is just as important as knowing its current worth.

The conversation also looks at how technology and AI can make the property journey easier, the importance of work-life balance when starting a business, and why Bicester continues to be a fantastic place to build a business and raise a family.

Whether you're planning to move, renovate, invest, or simply want to understand your home's potential, this episode offers practical insights and an inspiring look at innovation within the local property industry.

In this episode you'll discover:

• Luke's journey from architectural designer to entrepreneur.
• How House Made Ready was inspired by a real client challenge.
• Why planning permission isn't always necessary.
• The hidden value many homeowners don't realise they already have.
• How technology and AI can simplify the property journey.
• Why improving your home's EPC rating can sometimes deliver a better return than building an extension.
• The importance of giving homeowners the knowledge to make confident decisions.
• Luke's vision for bringing architects, estate agents, developers and homeowners together through a single property ecosystem.
• Why Bicester is the perfect place to grow a business.

If you've enjoyed this episode, don't forget to follow The Bicester Business Collective wherever you listen to podcasts. Leaving a five-star review and sharing the show with friends or colleagues helps us shine a spotlight on even more of the amazing businesses and people that make Bicester such a thriving community.

Guest: Luke Roberts
Business: House Made Ready

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK. 

Welcome to the very first episode of The Bicester Business Collective.

Host Samantha Vaughan introduces the podcast and shares the vision behind creating a platform dedicated to celebrating the businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals that make Bicester and the surrounding area such a vibrant place to work and do business.

Recorded from Perch Eco Business Centre, each fortnightly episode will feature inspiring conversations with local business owners and community leaders, exploring their journeys, lessons learned, challenges overcome and the ideas they're passionate about.

Whether you're running an established business, launching a new venture or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind successful local organisations, The Bicester Business Collective is your opportunity to connect with the people shaping our business community.

Interested in being a guest? Samantha would love to hear from local business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals with a story, experience or expertise to share. Get in touch and join the conversation.

Samantha (Sam) Vaughan is Hub Centre Manager for the Town Square Bicester  Business Centre. A certified Eco-Friendly Passivhaus, the Bicester Hub is part of Town Square, a  certified B Corp with 9 business hubs across the UK.