Founded in 1948, Bristol Junior Chamber(BJC) has been a fixture around Bristol Chambers of Commerce for over 75 years now and is responsible for several Bristol favourites, like the Balloon Fiesta. We recently caught up with Georgia Corp, the President of BJC for 2023-24, to talk about her role as President and also the Junior Chamber's membership in the Bristol Initiative.

Sam Harrison: Tell us about your role – what do you have responsibility for? What does a typical day look like?

Georgia Corp: I’m the 2023-2024 President of Bristol Junior Chamber (BJC), a local networking organisation for young professionals that has been operating since 1948 (this year is our 75th anniversary!). My role is to work alongside our fantastic, 16-strong Council of Management to ensure the smooth running of the organisation and to make sure we can offer a fun and diverse roster of events, activities, workshops, networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities for our 130+ members. 

In my day job, I’m an Account Director at Bristol-based content and copywriting agency Stratton Craig. I manage strategic, global projects for clients across a broad range of industries, working with our talented writers to deliver high-quality content for different channels and audiences. Tone of voice is also another focus of mine, supporting our specialists in helping brands to create or develop their verbal identity. I’m very much a words person (I genuinely have a grammar-related tattoo…), and I’m a qualified editor and proofreader, and French/Spanish to English translator too.

SH: What does your organisation do? Why do you like working for them? (You can include how many people you employ, the role you play across the city etc.) 

GC: BJC was established to promote trade, commerce and industry in the city, to support the agenda of Business West and Bristol Chamber of Commerce, and to provide its members with professional networking and skills-development opportunities. The organisation has been involved in a number of significant projects in Bristol, including founding the world-renowned Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and the Bristol Heritage Walk. Today, the BJC has a membership of over 130 young professionals spanning a wide range of industries, including financial services, law, charity, marketing and communications, and consulting. 

I joined the organisation in 2019 after moving to Bristol and I have since found it to be such a brilliant way to get to know the city and to meet new people. Our monthly meetings feature guest speakers who tell us about local businesses, initiatives, charities, social issues and events. 

I joined the BJC Council of Management in 2020 as Chair of Marketing, PR and Social media, a role I held for two years before becoming Vice President in 2022. In 2023, I became President and it’s been an absolutely fantastic year so far (I’ll hand over to the next President, Emma Carter, in April).

SH: Why have you joined the Bristol Initiative?

GC: BJC was founded to support Business West and the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, so it’s brilliant to have this ongoing relationship with the Bristol Initiative. In my capacity as President, it’s been fantastic attending the Quarterly Initiative Meetings which provide invaluable opportunities to find out more about local and national events, issues and priorities, and to meet other people from across the Bristol business community. 

Bristol’s Chamber of Commerce is of course hugely active, and I think there’s so much our organisations can do to learn from and support each other. Last year, I was delighted to welcome the Bristol Initiative’s Director, Victoria Matthews, as a guest speaker at a BJC Monthly Meeting which took the form of a panel session exploring our role in the city over our 75-year history and the value of keeping our business community connected. 

SH: What are the key agendas that you’re looking forward to getting involved with? (Any offers/asks to members?)

GC: I’m really enjoying meeting other members of the initiative and learning more about the wonderful businesses and organisations we have in the city. I would be more than happy to speak with anyone looking for personal and professional networking opportunities, or with those who have employees, colleagues or team members they think could benefit from what BJC has to offer.

I have found being part of BJC to be such a valuable membership over the past four or so years, from the perspective of both professional and personal development. It offers a chance to explore our city, meet new people and hear different experiences and viewpoints, boost confidence and develop new skills, try things you never thought you’d try (I’ve climbed the rigging of the SS Great Britain thanks to BJC!) and have loads of fun too.

SH: Where is your favourite place to visit in Bristol?

GC: That’s a hard question! I’ve been in Bristol for over six years now and I love it, and I think there’s so much more to discover as well. I like that it’s almost a mini version of London (where I used to live), with different and very distinct areas that have their own identities. But unlike London, the city centre is generally more accessible and you can walk to a lot of places. I think I’d have to say my favourite thing is the food scene, though. The celebration of independent bars and eateries here is fantastic, which means you are absolutely spoiled for choice! As I write this, I’m sat in Bakesmiths enjoying some cake… definitely a favourite.