Chamber round-up: Bristol

I hope that you’ve managed to pack in a well-deserved break during the busy summer months and that you’ve come back feeling refreshed and raring to go ‘back to school’ this September. It’s going to be a busy autumn for the business community in Bristol and across the city region.

So what's coming up?

Sport

This year Bristol has held the prestigious title of European City of Sport, with many great initiatives going on such as those led by Wesport and Access Sport. To celebrate a fantastic year of sport and the importance of health and well-being, a Bristol City of Sport conference will be held at Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground in December - a number of sponsorship opportunities are available so be quick!

Events

Just around the corner are a series of events supported by Business West and Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative, including:-

• Bristol Doors Open - a unique event which sees all manner of businesses and institutions across the city invite visitors behind the scenes over the course of a long weekend.
• In October the Festival of the Future City and also Digital Bristol Week help showcase the type of leading edge thinking and activity this city has to offer.
• The Bristol Distinguished Address kicks off at the end of September, bringing top business leaders from across the country to UWE Bristol’s brand new £55m business school.

Transport

Lots of transport developments are happening in the next few months too. The M4 Junction 18a consultation is underway, and you have your say here. Essential maintenance work on the Bromley Heath Viaduct begun over the summer and will last for 33 weeks. The Congestion Task Group, set up by the Mayor of Bristol in June to look at improving mobility and connectivity across the city, is due to provide its first report to the Mayor in October. Business West - Chamber & Initiative are involved and members have the opportunity to respond to the report in advance of this meeting so please get in touch if you’re interested.

Reducing homelessness

City Office continues to work on reducing homelessness in the city and will soon launch a campaign to get business involved – watch this space.

New Chamber President nominations

Finally, I’d like to notify members that the three-year term of office as Chamber president by Professor Stephen West CBE will expire shortly. In accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Bristol Chamber and Initiative, Chamber members are able to nominate persons for this office. Applications can be made by post and email until 15 September and once nominations are finalised a selection process will take place led by the BCCI board. For further information contact chairman John Savage by email at john.savage@businesswest.co.uk or by post to Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative, Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RA.

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