Apprentice finalist is fired up about Summertown businesses (From The Oxford Times)

Apprentice finalist is fired up about Summertown businesses

9:30am Tuesday 13th July 2010

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ONE of Britain’s best known business brains wants to bring the ‘Apprentice touch’ to Oxford.

Renowned former Apprentice finalist Saira Khan wants local firms to form a new business network giving independent entrepreneurs a voice, providing advice and helping to put more local shops on the city’s streets.

Ms Khan, 40, who moved to Summertown from London a year ago, fears shopping districts in the city centre and Summertown are in danger of being swamped by chain stores because small firms cannot afford the high rents and rates.

She wants to set up a network to lobby councillors and landlords to provide more affordable premises.

She was inspired after meeting mobile beauty therapist Hannah Wood, from Littlemore, who cannot afford the £25,000 annual rent of the cheapest vacant shop in Summertown.

Ms Khan, who wowed Lord Alan Sugar with her sales technique in the hit BBC1 show, also said many small businesses could compete with big firms by raising their profile.

Her comments come days after England’s oldest ironmonger Gill & Co announced it would shut down its Oxford shop after 480 years as it could not compete with B&Q and Homebase.

Ms Kahn, who runs a small business selling natural skincare products for children from her home, said: “There’s so many amazing business people doing things in Oxford but there doesn’t seem to be a recognisable business community.

“I’m fed up of high streets looking the same. I don’t think it needs to be the case in Oxford.

Miss Wood, 23, would like to open a shop and hire two beauticians after attracting 82 clients in 18 months.

She said: “It sounds a really good idea.

“We need to support little businesses otherwise it will only be big businesses that can afford anything.”

Anyone interested in joining the network should email saira@miamoo.co.uk

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