Continuing our Business Focus series, this week we talked to Darren Aston about how Aston & James and Oxford City work as a perfect team.

Aston & James are Oxfordshire’s leading workplace solutions provider. Having started out in 1990 they continue to develop and implement relevant and suitable solutions with all the benefits of ‘buying local’ without compromise. Based in Oxfordshire they have partnerships with influential global buyers, and a network to deliver their services nationwide.

Their partnership with Oxford City is very much part of their plans for the future.

“It started in the promotion season of 2022/23 “ Darren told us from their base in Witney . “Ignite Training do amazing work that combines football and education and they were kitting out a new classroom at the ground and we came along, took a look and were hugely impressed by the way the club has all of its community and education links. We love to tailor what we do to suit different businesses and working with a football club was an exciting project for all of us.

“We help a lot of businesses across Oxfordshire and our mantra is very much to innovate rather than evaporate. If you think about it our business has needed to change so much since we started in 1990. In the early days we were very much office supplies, but in 2025 what does that mean? Flexible working, people working from home or in shared co-working spaces means we have adapted very quickly, and in my eyes very well, in a fast paced sector.

“Most offices are ‘paper less’ now but few are ‘paperless’ and we offer workplace services that we can quickly adapt to suit most people’s needs. Not everything can be cloud based and we offer office supplies, furniture, workwear branding and merchandise for businesses.

“Obviously if someone comes to us and mentions Oxford City we’ll always try to help! There’s a strong network of businesses around the club; for example we work closely with Darcica who are another big supporter of the club.

“Since Lockdown there has been a momentum shift and our business has moved forward and we have moved with it to make sure we are supplying the modern work world. I am proud of how we have adapted and stayed relevant and looking forward to growing and expanding, and I am sure there are exciting times ahead for Oxford City as well which we will be proud to share.”

Find out more about how Aston & James can help your business HERE.