Every so often we like to shine the spotlight on our members, and in this case one of the members of the Bristol Initiative. We sat down with Ben Lowndes, Director at Distinctive Communications and their relationship with the Bristol Initiative.
Sam Harrison: What does your business do?
Ben Lowndes: We’re a public relations consultancy that works with organisations to build their reputations and maintain trust with stakeholders and the wider public.
We tell stories that make an impact and generate interest. This work supports major city centre regeneration projects, helps organisations connect with stakeholders and supports businesses’ growth ambitions.
It’s a fascinating, often misunderstood, area of work that’s changing all the time. I love it because of the positive impact we can achieve by working with clients and partners who want to make a difference.
SH: Tell us about your role – what do you have responsibility for?
BL: I lead a talented, Bristol-based team delivering a mix of campaigns for public, private and third sector organisations.
A significant part of our work is focused on places – towns, cities, homes and communities. In the West of England, we’ve supported the long-term regeneration of part of Portishead town centre, engaging hundreds of people in the process.
We also support the region’s inward investment drive by providing PR and social media campaign support for Nuclear South West.
And we’ve delivered campaigns, full scale rebrands and new websites for clients.
As I write this, we aren’t even 18 months old. It’s amazing how much we’ve achieved in that time.
SH: Why have you joined the Bristol Initiative?
BL: I’ve been connected with the Initiative for several years before setting up Distinctive. Relationships are important to us. Being part of the Initiative is a great way to maintain connections and make new ones.
There is a shared ambition for a better region, and it’s increasingly recognised that organisations need to work together to achieve that. We can achieve so much more together, and the Initiative enables the collaboration we need.
During lockdown, I saw the strength of the Initiative network come into its own. The team worked so hard to bring people together – virtually, of course – and share information about what was happening.
It’s even better now that we can come together, though.
SH: What are the key agendas that you’re looking forward to getting involved with?
BL: Our region is a success story by most measures, as we regularly hear. But it’s also clear that many people and communities are disconnected from this.
Affordable housing, educational attainment, skills and access to jobs are all important parts of addressing that challenge. As a small business owner who has invested here, I look forward to joining conversations about these key topics.
SH: Where is your favourite place to visit in Bristol?
BL: Mud Dock Café or the nearby River Station on The Grove are always a hit, and a short walk from our base.
I also like spending time in Southville on Saturdays when my daughter (16) volunteers at the Tobacco Factory.
As a development, Wapping Wharf is tremendous. I remember supporting a media announcement in 2013 with politicians and ‘spades in the ground’ to mark significant funding for that project. It’s been brilliant to see how things have progressed since.
You can follow Distinctive Communications’ work on LinkedIn and their Distinctive Dispatch monthly newsletter on Substack. Connect with Ben on LinkedIn.
Would you like your business to be featured on the Business West blog? We're always looking to spotlight more of our Initiative Members, so if you'd like to get involved please email jenny.ablett@businesswest.co.uk
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