OXFORD: Nicholas Tidder has been appointed as property lawyer at Chaselaw Solicitors in Beaumont Street, Oxford. Mr Tidder, 46, has worked in the property field for 25 years, starting at Harrow District Land Registry. He previously worked for law firms Smith Chamberlain of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and Mishcon de Reya of London. He said: "Chaselaw is a great family firm to work for. We pride ourselves in offering a modern high-tech approach while preserving a friendly, first-class personal service."

WATERPERRY: The boss of a public relations firm has been appointed as one of the UK's first Women's Enterprise Ambassadors. Gillian Gibbons, who runs Wychwood Communications based at Waterperry, will be one of a Government-backed network across the country who will be on hand to support and encourage women to start their own businesses. Ms Gibbons, 42, said: "I believe that women have a huge amount to offer but that many are intimidated by the thought of what is entailed in setting up their own business. My role as ambassador will be to provide support and guidance, as well as to inspire women in Oxford to take the first step to realise their dreams."

Pam Alexander, chief executive of SEEDA and co-chairman of the National Women's Enterprise Taskforce, said: "Men are twice as likely as women to set up their own business and women are massively under-represented among the region's business owners."

ARDINGTON: Industrial design consultancy Crucible Industrial Design, has expanded its staff with the appointment of designer Stuart Campbell. Mr Campbell, who graduated last summer with first class honours in Product Design from the University of Sussex, is already an award-winning designer, having won the Intellectual Property Award 2006. Managing director Mike Ayre said: "Stuart is a welcome addition to the team. We have some exciting projects in the pipeline and his fresh enthusiasm and graphics expertise will be invaluable in helping us to meet our clients' objectives and timescales."

WANTAGE: Family lawyer Claire Marshall who works for Charles Lucas & Marshall has been awarded accredited specialist status from family law group, Resolution. A member of the firm's family team, Ms Marshall had to pass a series of examinations to demonstrate her specialist knowledge of family law issues. She said:."I am committed to encouraging a non-confrontational approach to resolving family disputes. That way, both the emotional and financial costs of divorce, or family breakdown, are minimised."

BOTLEY: Sam Vanags, a tax expert at finance firm Grant Thornton, has been appointed as a partner. Previously with KPMG, Ms Vanags joined the firm in 2000 as a tax manager and created the firm's research and development (R&D) tax specialist group. Core to her role will be growing the firm's involvement in R&D tax, but she will also lead tax advisory assignments, particularly corporate acquisitions and disposals. Ms Vanags said: "The development of leading edge technology in the UK is, in many cases, key to staving off competition. This is a particularly important sector for the Oxford market, so I am relishing the prospect of making sure Grant Thornton helps companies to take full advantage of the tax breaks on offer."

BOTLEY: Law firm Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons is expanding its charities team with the appointment of Alison Talbot who joins the firm as partner. Ms Talbot, who joins from Henmans in Oxford, specialises in advising charity legacy officers on the administration of complex estates and trusts, as well as giving advice to trustees on a wide range of charity issues. She also deals with trusts, wills, inheritance tax and probate matters.

Elizabeth Davis, head of charities, said: "We are delighted that Alison is joining us as the team continues to build on its leading reputation and expands the number and size of the clients we advise."

OXFORD: Sharp Laboratories of Europe, a research centre for consumer electronics, has signed an agreement with Business Travel Direct to manage its business travel.

Business Travel Direct's Oxford office will manage the business travel bookings for Sharp Laboratories staff based at its office at the Oxford Science Park to destinations including Japan, the USA and Europe.

Peter Reglar, chief executive of Business Travel Direct, said: "The Sharp Laboratories account is a great win for our Oxford team. I believe the flexibility of our business offering has also been key in helping us win this account."

OXFORD: Professor Malcolm McDonald, international marketing guru and consultant to the operating boards of several of the world's leading multinationals, has joined Oxford College of Marketing as academic advisor. The college, which is a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) accredited study centre, and is celebrating its tenth anniversary, offers training by distance learning, part-time evening courses, and an intensive weekend programme at Oxford Brookes University.

Prof McDonald said: "I have been very impressed by the college's growth from a small centre in Oxford to a national training provider with centres in six key cities, and providing distance learning globally. Future marketers need continuing professional development to equip them for the constant challenges that lie ahead, and Oxford College is well placed to provide this."

FARMOOR: Paul Bailey, who works for mechanical and electrical engineering consultancy CBG has won chartered engineer status. Mr Bailey, a senior mechanical engineer, joined the company in 1998 and joins an elite band of individuals to earn the recognition. Managing director Andrew Payne said: "A culture of excellence and innovation is central to our strategic growth and we invest accordingly to provide a training programme which offers opportunities for development and career progression for all.

"We congratulate Paul on his achievement and know he will be a fantastic mentor for our next batch of chartered engineers."

HENLEY: Olivia Thorne has joined CAS Marketing as media manager. Ms Thorne has seven years' experience of media planning and buying on behalf of clients such as Porsche, Volvo and British Gas Business. She said: "I am thrilled with the prospect of working with such a dynamic team. There is a real energy at CAS, and I look forward to adding value to the service offered to clients."

MILTON PARK: Residential property specialists Grainger has been awarded a gold quality mark for the second year running for its outstanding commitment to a workplace giving scheme. A total of 37 per cent of staff in the company are involved in the scheme, organised by Workplace Giving UK. Grainger spokesman Debra Yudolph said: "I feel very proud to be working among colleagues who have made such a tremendous contribution to help raise money for charity." Workplace Giving is a simple, tax efficient, scheme that allows employees to give to any charity they choose by having a deduction taken straight from their pay.

OXFORD: Stuart Capel, formerly of Pryce & Co in Abingdon, has joined the property team at lawyers Henmans as a consultant specialising in agriculture. Humphrey Marten, Catherine Rolfe and Lisa Mark-Bell will also be joining from Pryce & Co, and will add to the ranks of the expanding private client team, while Kathy Crook will also join the property team on the residential conveyancing side. Richard Shallard, head of property at Henmans and senior partner, commented, "We are delighted that Stuart will be joining us. Our recent move into new premises to accommodate our growing teams signifies our ambition and we plan to continue our expansion."

OXFORD: Richard Moss, of the Oxford Hearing Centre, has been appointed chairman of the Association of Independent Hearing Healthcare Professionals (AIHHP). The organisation is a group of leading hearing aid audiologists committed to promoting and maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards in hearing healthcare.

Mr Moss said: "I am passionate about providing the best in hearing healthcare and I will work hard to promote AIHHP's commitment to quality, professionalism and service excellence."

ABINGDON: Recruitment firm Aligra Personnel has been appointed as preferred supplier for bathroom retailer Bathstore's Southern UK distribution operations. The contract is to supply all temporary and permanent staff including driving, warehouse, administration and management in Sidcup, Kent and Epsom, Surrey. Aligra managing director Mark Neilson said: "We are delighted to secure such a prestigious and high volume new contract, especially as Aligra Personnel only started trading in May 2007."

ABINGDON: Finance provider Cattles Invoice Finance has appointed Andy Clarke as group risk and operations director. He joins the company's board after 14 years with RBS Invoice Finance where he headed up their southern risk division. Mr Clarke will be responsible for all risk and operational risk monitoring for the entire client portfolio.

He said: "I wanted to work in a business with a more personal approach to invoice discounting and factoring."