Bristol and The West of England, the final frontier. These are the voyages of a Chamber of Commerce President. My two-year-ish mission: to explore strange new sectors, to seek out more businesses doing good and sustainable business models, to boldly go where no (female, ethnic minority) president has gone before.. Every president has a theme…
Blog
Business as a Force for Good: Roger Proctor’s perspective
I have seldom met anyone who leads a business who doesn’t want to do good, alongside making a success of the business. Also, I have seldom met anyone who isn’t caring about their team, their jobs, their welfare. That doesn’t mean to say there aren’t others who take a different view, but in my experience…
Business as force for good: Tackling the housing crisis
By Jez Sweetland, Project Director, Bristol Housing Festival How a Housing Festival is tackling the housing crisis The Bristol Housing Festival launched in 2018, inspired by festivals in Britain that historically celebrated and showcase innovation and led to cultural change. The most iconic festivals being the Great Exhibition, opened by Queen Victoria in 1851, and…
Business as a Force for Good: By Sally Melvin, CEO of Ablaze
I have worked for over 20 years connecting businesses to young people and I’m a great believer in the potential of business as a force for good. I have witnessed, time after time, the impact on the confidence, aspirations and well-being of the young people involved. For seven years I’ve been CEO of Ablaze, an…
Interview with Councillor Toby Savage, Leader, South Gloucestershire Council
Toby and I had a great chat in April on matters of leadership, the #WestOfEngland, #CommitteeSystems and #BusinessAsAForceForGood. I’m very much looking forward to working more closely with Toby on meeting some of the challenges facing South Gloucestershire and the West of England!
Bristol Planning Law and Policy Conference 22, Ashton Gate
On the 31st March 2022, I attended the Bristol Planning Law and Policy Conference to represent the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. I was kindly hosted by my fellow BCCI board member Kevin Gibbs, Senior Counsel – Head of Strategic Planning of Initiative member Womble Bond Dickinson. Ashton Gate Stadium was, as ever, an impressive venue,…
Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales Annual Dinner 2022
The 5th May saw the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales (ICAEW) annual dinner finally come back in 2022, after a pandemic-induced hiatus, and a very kind invitation was extended to me to join them, to represent the Bristol Chamber of Commerce. We were hosted at the Bristol Aerospace Museum, ICAEW President Natalie Binstead…
Bristol Port CEO David Brown calls Businesses to Job Fair for Afghan Resettlers
Bristol City Council is currently providing accommodation as part of the UK’s Afghan Resettlement Programme for 120 Afghans who have been torn away from their homes. Later this week on the 1st April 4pm-8pm at the Mercure Hotel Conference Suite BS1 6SQ, we will be bringing Afghan resettlers and local businesses together for a job…
Sandra Gordon and the Bristol Women In Business Charter
As the business sector continue to emerge from the disruption of the last two years, what lasting impact are we experiencing for the fight on gender parity and equity in the workplace? And what can organisations do to ensure that the focus is not lost and the work on equality for women is not regressing. …
New Creative Youth Network CEO Mark Coates reports on his first two months
Mark is the new Chief Executive at Creative Youth Network, a youth charity with a mission to help young people achieve their potential I’m two months into my new role as Creative Youth Network’s new CEO and blimey, it’s been a baptism of fire! I still feel humbled to be leading such an amazing organisation.…
Pay it forward by mentoring at Bristol University
Bristol has always been good to me. I first came to the city in 1990 to undertake an MPhil in Politics. Since then, I have been lucky enough, among other things, to run two successful digital design and marketing agencies and Chair Bristol Creative Industries; I’ve always felt it’s important to give back to the…