Cala Homes Chiltern visited St Edburg’s CE Primary School as part of its Stay Safe, Stay Away programme to raise awareness among children about the dangers of construction sites.

The visit formed part of the school’s Careers Week and included an interactive talk on jobs in the homebuilding industry, along with a strong warning about the hazards of unsupervised entry onto building sites.

Fiona Mowbray, customer services director at Cala Chiltern, said: “The Stay Safe, Stay Away programme is designed to spread the message to children that construction sites are not somewhere to play around.

“Although we ensure all Cala sites are secure, young people must be aware of the dangers of entering a construction area, so they don’t put themselves or their friends in harm’s way.”

Ms Mowbray also gave pupils an insight into how Cala works to keep its nearby Himley Village development safe, while children took part in practical activities and tried on protective clothing.

The programme, part of Cala Homes’ wider Community Pledge, also included classroom tasks such as designing safety posters and writing news articles.

Tina Woodgate, Year 5 teacher and computing lead at St Edburg’s, said: “We’re grateful to Cala Homes for coming into school and delivering a really interesting session on site safety and careers in construction as part of our Career’s Week.

“The children gained valuable insights into the various roles within the construction industry and they came away inspired.”

Martin Gibbon takes on the role covering operations across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire, Swindon, and Wiltshire.

He returns to the region after previously serving as operations director from 2019 to 2023.

Most recently, Mr Gibbon was managing director of Stagecoach South Wales and also served as chair of CPT (The Confederation of Public Transport) Wales.

Mr Gibbon said: “My focus will be on continuing to grow bus use by delivering reliable, high-quality services that people want to choose.

“I’ve seen first-hand how good public transport can transform opportunities for people, and that’s what motivates me to keep improving it.

“I’ve always been motivated by roles that make a real difference to people’s daily lives.

“Public transport is one of the few industries where you can see that impact immediately — connecting communities, supporting local economies and helping people access work, education and essential services.

“It also plays a vital role in improving social inclusion and delivering meaningful environmental benefits.

“You can expect openness, partnership and a genuine commitment to making your local bus services the best they can be.”

Mr Gibbon began his career with Stagecoach in 2011 and has since held a variety of operational and leadership roles across the South of England, including the West, Oxfordshire, and Wales.

Sam Greer, chief operating officer at Stagecoach Group Limited, said: “Martin brings real passion for our industry, strong leadership, and deep operational expertise.

“Importantly, he brings a transparency and genuine care for our local communities that really reflects what we mean when we say ‘We’ve got you’.

“I’m proud of this appointment and confident he will continue to strengthen the trust our customers place in us and deliver for the communities we serve across the region.”

Stagecoach, founded in 1980, is the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, with a fleet of 8,300 vehicles connecting over 100 major towns and cities across England, Scotland, and Wales.

The company employs 25,000 people and is deeply rooted in the communities it serves, aiming to make everyday journeys simpler, greener, and more reliable.

Stagecoach works with partners to promote greener, smarter, and more inclusive transport.

This helps reduce congestion, lower emissions, and support local economies.

The company continues to invest in sustainability, with more than 15 per cent of its fleet now electric.

As part of its sustainability strategy, Stagecoach has committed to donating up to 0.5 per cent of its annual profit before tax to charitable causes across the UK.

Witney-based digital agency Olamalu, founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Kate Berman and Christoph Corvin. , has grown into an award-winning company supporting organisations across Oxfordshire and beyond.

Reflecting on the milestone, co-founder Kate Berman said: “Reaching 16 years in business is a huge moment for us and one we’re incredibly proud of.

“When we started Olamalu, we wanted to create a business that delivered brilliant technical solutions but also genuinely cared about people – from our clients and team to the wider community around us.”

Built on values of creativity and community, the company has expanded its reach while remaining committed to its original mission.

Olamalu has gained particular recognition for its support of the Oxfordshire community and its investment in youth.

It runs an apprenticeship scheme aimed at helping young people build careers in technology without needing to relocate to bigger cities.

In 2024, the company was named SME Apprentice Employer of the Year in the South East regional finals and was highly commended nationally.

Niall Middleton, software developer team leader and former apprentice, said: “My skills grew and grew as I went through my apprenticeship and now I’m at a place where I’m proud to say that I can tackle complex software development projects and develop the skills of our newer apprentices.

“I want to give back to this company after what they’ve given me: a chance to stretch myself, grow and learn these new skills.

“I want to feed that back into the business and be one of the driving forces of Olamalu’s growth.”

The business also supports charities including Homeless Oxfordshire, MyVision Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire Community Foundation, Cogges Heritage Trust, and Wychwood Forest Trust.

Its team runs school coding clubs, attends careers events, and offers work experience to students interested in tech.

Ms Berman said: “Helping young people into careers in tech and building long-lasting relationships has always been just as important to us as the work itself.

“Looking back over the last 16 years, we’re incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received and excited about what comes next.”

Olamalu’s commitment to the community has been recognised by clients such as Cogges Manor Farm.

Guy Reed, general manager at Cogges, said: “Cogges Manor Farm were one of Olamalu’s first customers.

“As a small, independent heritage charity, our website is the heartbeat of our business.

“We’ve just launched a brand-new site which Olamalu developed, and it’s made a difference to us already.

“We’re grateful for the 16 years of support and wish Olamalu a very happy birthday.”