Get involved and see how we can represent your interests!
Call James Durie on 01275 370 787
One of our major roles is to act as the voice of the business community.
We welcome your involvement in the work of our representational groups.
The Initiative works to ensure the West of England remains an attractive place to work, live and do business encouraging enterprise in all its form.
Recent Actions: BW Economic Development Priorities Report
Click here to view previous activity
Access to the area is a pressing concern for business that relies on their staff being able to get to work, delivery and distribution of goods.
We continue to lobby vigorously for improvement to both the road and rail networks and also other public transport provision.
We support activities which improve the standards of the local education system and encourage employers to invest in skills and quality training.
The Initiative has been involved in the development of the Broadmead centre for more than 15 years so we are particularly pleased to see the culmination of those efforts in the opening of Cabot Circus later this year which put Bristol into the premier league of shopping destinations. Meanwhile the people of Bath are looking forward to the completion of the SouthGate centre and the arrival of the huge Debenhams anchor store which will add an extra element to the City’s retail offering.
We are fully engaged in the processes which will determine how many houses will be required, where they will be built, what they will cost and what other services and infrastructure will be needed to allow them to be part of sustainable communities. Click here to view previous activity
The Initiative is convinced that economic prosperity in the modern world can only be delivered in conjunction with a sensitivity to the needs of the environment. That doesn’t mean we should never re-draw green belt boundaries, but it does mean we make the best use of brownfield sites, regenerate run down areas and assist disadvantaged communities. The Initiative will remain at the heart of the debate, asking difficult questions, but also offering creative solutions and inspiring both the private and the public sector to work together across administrative boundaries.
The West of England is a wonderful place to live thanks to a thriving and lively entertainment scene, from the high culture of the Bath Festivals of music and literature to the traditional fun of an old fashioned seaside show via blockbusters in Bristol to cutting edge comedy.
Already a billion pound industry in the West of England, plans are being made to draw ever more visitors to experience the varied delights of this part of the country. Whether it’s the beach and the donkeys of Weston-super-Mare, the history of Bath or the modern European City chic of Bristol tourists find something to suit their tastes. The Initiative is committed to supporting a co-ordinated approach to future planning which will benefit the whole area.