Occasionally 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 Neil Priscott, CEO of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club to talk about their work and their relationship with the Bristol Initiative.
Tell us about your role – what do you have responsibility for?
As CEO, I have responsibility for the origination, implementation and execution of the strategy for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, together with the executive leadership of the Club to ensure we’re commercially and operationally successful.
What does a typical day look like?
There’s no typical day – it’s so varied. There are challenges aplenty but opportunities everywhere, and the sheer variety of our activities means it’s an exciting and rewarding role. I get to meet a whole host of different people in carrying out my duties – from citywide stakeholders, and organisers running other venues and events to our Members, people within cricket and in our community. My day will naturally vary throughout the seasons. From my time in cricket, one of the two most asked questions of me is “What do you do in the winter?!” The answer is…a lot! We do all our strategic and venue operational planning from October to March, before switching to ‘delivery mode’ for cricket between April and September. But with a year-round onsite gym (BS7) and conferencing and event offerings, we’re always busy.
What does your organisation do?
Formed in 1870, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has a proud and historic legacy at the heart of English cricket. Glos legends, from WG Grace and Syd Lawrence to Mike Procter and David Payne adorn the walls around our home, the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, a venue that has been transformed into a top-tier cricketing destination. Hosting international matches and offering state-of-the-art facilities for year-round events, our stadium stands as a symbol of our growth and ambition. Our Men’s team were winners of the Vitality Blast T20 competition in 2024 and we’re excited to mark a new chapter for the Club in 2025 by taking on the management of the Gloucestershire women’s team. Beyond Bristol, Gloucestershire is home to one of the country’s most historic cricketing traditions— our annual outground festival at Cheltenham College, which has been running since 1872. The country’s longest-standing festival, set against the stunning backdrop of the college, reflects the scale and passion for cricket across the county. The Club remains committed to developing talent through both Boys’ and Girls’ Pathway cricket, with homegrown stars like Jack Taylor and Miles Hammond emerging from our system. Beyond the boundary, we are deeply embedded in the community. We are dedicated to growing the game, inspiring the next generation, and using cricket as a force for social good.
Why do you like working for them?
We’re a Club with a social purpose at its heart, and we strive to ensure everyone gets a warm welcome at Nevil Road. I feel incredibly lucky to be leading a team of passionate, hardworking and fun colleagues, who care about what we do and the impact we can have with everyone we come into contact with. We’ve got around 80 full-time members of staff who possess a whole range of skills – players and coaches of course, but all the backroom, administrative and commercial staff you’d expect to be supporting our on-field activities. With an in-house catering provision and a really successful gym, we’ve also got brilliant people helping others host memorable events and keep fit!
Why have you joined the Bristol Initiative?
I joined Glos in June 2019 and, from that time onwards, the second most asked question of me from friends and people I meet has been “Are you based in Gloucester?” The answer is, clearly not, but not enough people know that! I see our involvement with the Bristol Initiative as crucial to helping break down some barriers, introduce us to new people and give us an opportunity to understand what others are doing, and how they are doing it. We want to ensure we’re at the top table of English cricket and provide an inspirational year-round venue, so there’s much to learn from other members of the Initiative who are inspiring and successful in equal measure.
What are the key agendas that you’re looking forward to getting involved with?
We’re proud of our sustainability credentials but still consider ourselves ‘learning’ in this space, so that’s something we can tap into with the Initiative. But generally, it’s about getting us out and about a bit more by engaging with our wonderful city.
In terms of offers, we are keen to be known more widely amongst the membership. We would be delighted to offer bespoke deals for our fellow members, be it for group tickets to a Gloucestershire T20 match, hospitality tickets to watch International cricket, corporate team building opportunities or simply to host a special occasion you may be celebrating. Our fantastic venue is located not far from the city centre, and we’re worth taking a closer look at if you haven’t already.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our offerings at the Seat Unique Stadium, please contact sales@glosccc.co.uk and one of my excellent colleagues will be in touch!
Where is your favourite place to visit in Bristol?
Full disclosure, I grew up in Bath, but I’ve been living in Bristol for nearly 20 years now. My kids were born in Southmead and I most definitely consider myself a Bristolian! Living just off the Gloucester Road, I feel fortunate at the sheer array of great shops, pubs and restaurants on my doorstep. I’m a huge music lover and will go to a gig as often as possible, and we’ve got some awesome venues. Perhaps the annual Dot-to-Dot Festival would be a highlight, as you get to listen to new bands across multiple sites on the same day – which is about as good as it gets aside from watching the mighty Glos play cricket!
If you'd like to follow Neil on social media you can do so on Linkedin here, and you can follow Gloucestershire Cricket on Linkedin as well. Also if you are a member of The Bristol Initiative and would like to be featured in a blog just like this one then you can get in touch with Jenny.
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