Running a growing business is one of the most rewarding journeys you can take as an entrepreneur. It is exhilarating, fast-paced, and filled with potential. But let’s be honest: it can also be thoroughly exhausting.
As your team expands and operational demands pile up, finding the time and mental headspace to think clearly about your own leadership becomes nearly impossible. Most day-to-day decisions become reactive – responding to the immediate needs of your team, clients, and market, rather than proactive.
That is where Personal Leadership comes in. It’s the practice of consciously guiding your own thoughts, actions, and decisions toward your goals, rather than simply reacting to external pressures.
If you’ve been feeling the strain of growth, navigating business complexity, or simply needing the space to rediscover your strategic vision, the Oxfordshire SME Leadership Retreat is built for you.
What is the Oxfordshire SME Leadership Retreat?
Delivered as part of Enterprise Oxfordshire Business support, this exclusive 2-day, 1-night residential retreat is designed specifically for Oxfordshire SME owners and senior leaders managing teams of 5 or more staff.
Held at the beautiful Sudbury House Hotel in Faringdon on 29 – 30 September 2026, the retreat offers a structured, human-centred environment where you can step out of the daily noise, reflect, and work through the real challenges shaping your business.
To keep conversations meaningful and actionable, the cohort is limited to a maximum of 12 – 15 leaders.
What Makes This Retreat Different?
This isn’t just another conference full of leadership buzzwords, slides, and quick fixes. It’s a grounded, immersive experience centered on genuine human leadership, self-awareness, and real-world traction.
Across the two days, you will:
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Step away from the noise: Reconnect with what truly matters to you and your business.
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Explore core operational themes: Work through decision-making under pressure, managing people, and aligning strategic priorities.
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Engage in Mastermind sessions: Participate in intimate small-group conversations focused directly on solving your most pressing challenges.
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Build a trusted local network: Connect with peer leaders who understand the unique realities and pressures of running an SME in Oxfordshire.
A Complete, End-to-End Support Package
The retreat is structured to build momentum before you arrive and keep it going long after you leave:
Pre-Retreat Online Gathering:
Meet your cohort ahead of time, break the ice, and identify the leadership challenges you want to focus on.
The 2-Day Residential Retreat:
Fully catered stay at Sudbury House Hotel with structured workshops, experiential activities, and dedicated reflection time.
Post-Retreat Peer Follow-Up:
Designed accountability and peer check-ins to ensure your insights translate into real action back in your business.
Meet Your Facilitator: Duncan Skelton
The retreat will be delivered by Duncan Skelton, an award-winning leadership coach who brings deep real-world experience to the table.
With 24 years as a technical leader and engineering manager across UK start-ups, scale-ups, and global tech giants, including six years at Google in London and New York facilitating flagship internal leadership programmes, Duncan understands the pressure of building high-performing teams.
As a marathon runner and rock climber, Duncan brings a grounded, non-macho perspective on endurance, courage, and navigating uncertainty. He doesn’t coach from a textbook; he coaches from decades of hands-on experience helping leaders expand their range and build sustainable high performance.
What You Will Take Away
By joining this retreat, you will return to your business with:
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Clear, personalised next steps and built-in peer accountability.
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Fresh perspectives on your biggest leadership hurdles.
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A shared leadership language to bring back to your team.
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A trusted network of local peers you can call on long into the future.
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Renewed energy, grounded confidence, and an expanded sense of what’s possible.
Who Should Attend?
This event is tailored for:
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Owners and senior leaders of Oxfordshire-based SMEs with at least 3 staff members.
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Leaders navigating growth, organisational change, or strategic transition.
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Anyone who values honest, open conversations over generic corporate advice.
Event Details & How to Join
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Dates: 29 – 30 September 2026
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Location: Sudbury House Hotel, Faringdon, Oxfordshire
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Fee: The two days of coaching are fully funded but there is a fee of £268 (charged to cover accommodation and catering for the residential stay)
Ready to step back and transform how you lead?
Spaces for this intimate retreat are extremely limited. If you’re unsure whether it’s the right fit for your current stage of growth, you are warmly invited reach out to the team for an informal chat.
Take the space you need to lead your business forward.
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