When I sat down to write this article on Oxygen’s first year as an independent agency and our plans for 2026, I tried to work out if I was writing it from a personal or professional point of view. I soon realised that the two this year have become inextricably intertwined – something I have never experienced in any previous role and wasn’t necessarily expecting, when we took the decision to set up Oxygen Communications Ltd last year.
For example, I am so proud of my entire team for stepping up to this challenge of the unknown and putting themselves out there on pitches, in public speaking, taking leads on client accounts and generally working their socks off to ensure our clients are happy and our work is outstanding. As a result, we have continued to support long-standing clients such as Charity People, Oxford HR, Sculpt and Climate Change Coaches and won some outstanding new ones such as Westway Trust, Philosophy Consulting and WGS.
I finally got off my arse and took up running this year – exercise being something I have struggled to find the time to do over the last 12 years with three kids at home – and as a result, have now committed to running the Oxford Half Marathon in 2026 for Earth Trust, a charity we are corporate sponsors for. I’m afraid you will hear lots more about that next year in my fundraising efforts!
The pledges we have taken and partnerships we have developed are also a source of immense pride for us. Becoming part of the Independent Agency Alliance, the Ethical Agency Alliance, continuing to be Ambassadors for Clean Creatives, working with My Vision Oxfordshire and of course, becoming a B Corp, were all values-based decisions for us as a team and we all actively volunteer and support other initiatives in our own time.
There have been lows of course, it’s not all roses! And it’s been a steep learning curve (VAT rules anyone?!), but the personal commitment to Oxygen and the care we show our clients, is something I hope shines through in our work and actions and that is what I fully intend to continue into 2026.
But for now, we all deserve a rest and to enjoy some time away from work to relax and revive ourselves, to start the New Year and Year Two for Oxygen with optimism, passion and ambition.
Have a wonderful Xmas break and Happy New Year and thank you for supporting Oxygen in 2025.
Suzie Mills
As the CEO of Oxygen, I bring over 18 years of marketing expertise, combining a passion for purpose with a proven track record of creating impactful brand stories. Having worked across both in-house and agency environments, I’ve developed and executed transformative campaigns for global brands like P&G, Delta Airlines, Barclays, and Nissan. Since 2019, I’ve shifted my focus to the mission-driven sector, where I partner with organizations to understand their core values and craft communications strategies that accelerate the achievement of their objectives. I am driven by the opportunity to inspire, connect, and innovate, constantly seeking new ways to create meaningful impact for both clients and communities.
