Leap, the Sport and Activity Partnership for Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes, are urging workers to leave their desks at noon on Wednesday May 20 and walk a mile to aid their health. “Most office workers spend more than six hours a day sat down at their desks and all the evidence shows that this is simply not healthy,” said Kirsty Ingham, Leap’s marketing officer. “In addition, it’s not good for companies either because research shows that not taking a lunch break makes us less productive. Working flat out through the day makes you sluggish and slows down your output.”

The Midday Mile challenge can be adapted if workers want to cycle, run or swim. Leap is hoping that the May 20 event will be so popular that office staff will make lunchtime exercise a regular habit. More information, and route ideas, available at www.leapwithus.org.uk/middaymile.

TEDxAylesbury was a huge success at the Waterside Theatre on Saturday May 9, with inspirational talks that engaged the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to be in attendance. TEDxAylesbury is an independently-run event based on the global phenomenon of TED talks, which has seen over 1 billion downloads online with speakers including Bill Gates and Sir Richard Branson. 

The event was organised by BBF Member Devi Clark, with support from other member organisations Jamtastic Design, Framework Digital and Temple Street Wine Bar.

At the Waterside on Saturday, 10 inspirational speakers each shared their ‘idea worth spreading’ in 18 minutes or less, to a captivated live audience. The talks were filmed and will be available at www.tedxaylesbury.com for all to experience and enjoy. 

The line-up of speakers included Shappi Khorsandi, comedian and cultural commentator who’s had sell-out tours and appeared on BBC’s Question Time and Woman’s Hour, and Karen Blackett, CEO of the UK’s largest media agency Mediacom and No.1 on the UK’s Power List of most influential black people.

Speakers based more locally included Ian Wright, Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Open University who was involved in the first ever landing on a comet, Thame-based Alex Bellini, explorer and adventurer whose next project is to live on an iceberg until it melts, and Roy Bailey, the entertaining and thought-provoking performer who is Patron of the Towersey Festival.

There were also speakers from the world of medicine, law, literature and social enterprise.

Anyone interested in getting involved in a future TEDxAylesbury should get in touch via the website or via Twitter @tedxaylesbury.

Work has begun on the first phase of development at Westcott Venture Park, the largest business park in Buckinghamshire. The result of work planned for completion in the summer of 2015 will be known as Century Court, comprising two terraces of industrial units with space between 2,000 and 6,000 square feet.

Businesses are encouraged to enter the Marlow Dragon Boat Festival on Sunday June 14. The event, now in it’s 15^th year, could make for a great team bonding exercise, having proven great fun for everyone involved since inception. There are bronze, silver, gold and platinum entry packages available from £350.00 including VAT for a team of fifteen people, as well as a junior package at £250.00 including VAT. Information on registration can be found at www.dragonsalive.co.uk, or you can contact Lauren Kirkman: lauren@dragonsalive.co.uk / 07796 836 390.

Arla Foods, owner of a huge dairy in Aston Clinton, has been voted best in its sector in The Grocer’s 2015 Supplier of the Year Award. Hundreds of buyers from leading supermarkets and wholesalers were asked to assess the performance of suppliers across a range of categories, including consumer insight, value of brands, production quality, technical knowhow, consumer marketing and supply chain. Arla were named top of the pile along with other household names including Nestle and Walkers.

Haddenham-based PCMS Design received a highly commended award at the LABC Central Building Excellence award ceremony recently, winning for best partnership with a local authority building control team.

Send your news to bbfnews@bbf.uk.com and it could feature in an upcoming edition of the Buckinghamshire Business First newsletter.