The Institute of Directors Oxfordshire has launched a new quarterly networking event, which is open to both members and non-members.

Announcing this initiative, chairman Timon Colegrove said: “The IoD has a bit of a superiority complex.

This is incompatible with today’s business world, which is about inter-dependency. There is no point in any organisation having a facade or veneer, and part of my role as chairman is to challenge some of the old ways.”

Mr Colegrove (pictured), who is also chief executive officer of Kidlington-based Hunts Paper & Pixel, said that the inaugural IoD Oxfordshire Connect events are intended to attract non-members and young business people, as well as existing members. The first one will be held on 5 February (6-8pm) at The Jam Factory in Oxford.

“There is nothing to replace meeting and chatting, letting the conversation take its own way. It’s an opportunity for people to meet without having to listen to a speaker or turn up at a particular time. Rather than forced networking, it’s natural networking.”

Mr Colegrove added that “being in business can be a very lonely place.”

In his own experience, the greatest learning has resulted from meeting other people.

Subsequent Connect events in 2015 will be held: on 7 May at The Crown, Woodstock; on 6 August at The Jam Factory; and on 5 November at The Plum Pudding, Milton (near Didcot). Anyone interested in more information should e-mail admin.oxfordshire@iod.net.