HSS ProService Marketplace has appointed Sam Davies as Supply Chain Director. He joins from Amazon, where he spent a decade in delivery operations.

Davies will lead changes to the company’s supplier network and digital customer systems as the building services marketplace pushes further into a data-led operating model.

His remit includes expanding the supplier base, raising standards across the network and connecting fragmented processes. He will also build systems designed to give suppliers a single view of contracts and performance.

Before joining HSS ProService Marketplace, Davies worked at Amazon during a period of major UK expansion in last-mile delivery, from a small number of sites to almost 100. During that time, he moved from managing delivery stations to introducing technology and products, before going on to lead the Midlands parcel delivery region.

That experience is expected to shape HSS ProService Marketplace’s approach to supplier management and customer service in the hire market. The business is seeking to move from a largely reactive model to one built more heavily around dashboards, metrics and structured performance oversight.

Supplier focus

A central part of the plan is to bring in more suppliers while giving them digital tools to manage contracts, identify growth opportunities and access operational data. HSS ProService Marketplace also wants to make it easier for suppliers to work across the platform by integrating systems behind the scenes.

This reflects broader changes in the equipment hire and building services sector, where operators face pressure to improve availability, pricing visibility and service consistency while managing complex supplier relationships. Digital marketplaces have become an increasingly important route for customers seeking equipment and related services without having to deal separately with multiple providers.

HSS ProService Marketplace describes itself as Europe’s largest building services marketplace and operates a nationwide supplier network. The business connects customers with equipment hire and related services through an asset-light model.

Operational shift

At Amazon, Davies worked on replacing manual workflows with integrated portals and dashboards, alongside data-led supplier performance management. HSS ProService Marketplace aims to apply similar disciplines to improve service reliability and oversight across its own network.

The appointment also forms part of a broader management and digital transformation programme. The business has been hiring leaders with technology and retail experience as it looks to modernise its operations in the UK building services and hire market.

For suppliers, the shift could bring more standardised reporting and clearer service-level benchmarks. For customers, the company is aiming to deliver a more consistent experience across product access, fulfilment and support.

Davies outlined his view of the opportunity in the sector in his first comments after taking the role.

“There is a huge opportunity to revolutionise this industry through innovating on behalf of suppliers and customers. We want to be the platform suppliers choose to grow with because it is easy to work with and helps them serve more customers even better. For customers, this means greater confidence, with reliable access to quality products, competitive pricing and consistently great service. By combining digital-enabled innovation with operational excellence, we are building a marketplace ecosystem where everyone benefits,” said Sam Davies, Supply Chain Director at HSS ProService Marketplace.

Oxford Science Enterprises has appointed Antonia Jenkinson as chief financial officer as the investment firm moves towards more portfolio realisations.

Jenkinson joins from the Advanced Research and Invention Agency, where she was founding chief financial and operating officer. At the UK government-backed research funding body, she helped deploy more than £450 million into science and technology projects.

Her appointment follows a period of exits for Oxford Science Enterprises, which backs companies emerging from Oxford research. In the past nine months, the firm recorded its first $1 billion unicorn exit with the sale of Oxford Ionics to IonQ, and sold Dark Blue Therapeutics to Amgen for total consideration of up to $840 million.

It added 12 new companies to its portfolio in 2025. A decade after launch, the firm is nearing a phase in which it expects more regular realisations from that portfolio.

Jenkinson succeeds Jim Wilkinson, who stepped down at the end of March after 10 years in the role. He joined Oxford Science Enterprises in 2015 at its inception and oversaw its finances through its early development and subsequent expansion.

Portfolio phase

Oxford Science Enterprises is an investor and venture builder focused on science and technology companies linked to Oxford research. Its portfolio spans deep tech, life sciences and health technology.

In addition, the enterprise has worked with more than 300 international investors, who have collectively invested more than £3 billion in more than 125 companies. That track record forms the backdrop to the finance leadership change as the business shifts its focus from company creation and backing towards exits and returns.

Jenkinson has held executive and non-executive roles across corporate finance, consultancy and board positions. In 2015, she received the Sunday Times Non-Executive Director Award. She is a chartered certified accountant and a fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

In a statement on her appointment, Jenkinson said: “I am delighted to be joining OSE at such an exciting stage of its development. OSE has built an impressive portfolio and a clear long-term strategy. I look forward to working with the team to support its continued growth, drive value realisation for its shareholders, and help shape the next chapter of the organisation’s success.”

Chief Executive Officer Ed Bussey said the appointment reflected the firm’s priorities as it approaches a new stage of development.

He said: “I could not be more delighted to welcome Antonia to the OSE leadership team. Antonia’s capital raising and private equity-backed CFO experience, combined with her uniquely deep knowledge of the university innovation ecosystem in which OSE operates, make her exceptionally well-suited to the next phase of our journey, as we approach the point of regular realisations in our portfolio.”

The Home Office has confirmed that pub trading hours will be extended to three more early evening fixtures during this summer’s men’s FIFA World Cup from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A total of 13 matches involving England or Scotland could potentially be included in the national pub licensing hours extension.

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Licensed premises in England and Scotland were previously granted permission to extend their hours to 1am or 2am for fixtures kicking off between 8pm and 10pm for any home nation knockout.

Now, pubs will be allowed to stay open an extra two hours until 1am for round of 32, the first knockout stage, and round of 16 games, the second knockout stage, kicking off between 5pm and 9pm.

Last orders will be pushed back to 2am for matches starting between 9pm and 10pm.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has the power to extend licensing hours for events of “exceptional international, national or local significance”.

She said: “If our boys are on the pitch we want our fans to stay in the pub. So we’re giving pubs and bars an open goal to serve punters long after the last penalty hits the back of the net.

“We won’t have fans coming home before football does.”

Similar extensions were previously used for the Women’s Euro 2025 tournament and Men’s Euro 2024 final.