The Summer Initiative Member Meeting, held at St George's Bristol on Thursday, 15th June, brought together 100 members of the Bristol Initiative for an insightful and engaging event. Our meeting focused on key updates and achievements within Bristol and the wider West of England's visitor economy. Attendees had the opportunity to network, enjoy summer drinks, and listen to esteemed speakers who provided valuable insights. Here is a closer look at the highlights of this noteworthy gathering:
Jaya Chakrabarti MBE, President of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, commenced the event by introducing the venue and highlighting its historical significance. Jaya also shared that she had previously hosted an event at St George’s, a debate on the (then upcoming) EU Referendum that she jokingly titled “Have I Got EU For You”. Lastly, she invited attendees to participate in the Bristol Future Talent Partnership, emphasizing the importance of supporting local talent.
Bristol Future Talent Partnership is a collaboration of leading local organisations who all share the vision of making the city the fairest and most racially equal place to study and work by offering high quality work experience and mentoring opportunities to students aged 14 to 21 from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds.
We are always looking for new partner organisations to help us deliver on our goal of directly impacting 1000 students this year through work experience and mentoring opportunities in collaboration with the Partnership.
Next up Samir Savant, Chief Executive of St George's Bristol, took to the stage and talked about his lifelong passion for music. He highlighted the venue's renowned acoustic signature and award-winning renovation and extension. He said he was particularly proud of the award from The Concrete Society. Samir extended an invitation to businesses looking for event spaces to consider St George's Bristol, and talked about their work within the local community. Samir also recapped the “Sing for the King” event that he held on Coronation Day earlier this year, where he got together over 650 singers in Bristol Cathedral to sing in honour of the crowning of King Charles.
Next up was Victoria Matthews, Bristol Membership Director for Business West, to talk about Business West's 200th anniversary and showcased a video commemorating the event, highlighting the organization's rich history and ongoing commitment to the region's prosperity. Victoria also discussed the recent achievements of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and revealed exciting place-based regional projects that Business West are partnering in, including the Our City 2023 Project, Swindon Futures Project, Bristol One City Partnership and the Social Mobility Innovation Partnership. Additionally, she announced that the next Bristol Initiative Meeting will take place at the prestigious RWA on 13th September, focusing on the Bristol Temple Quarter development.
The keynote speaker, Kathryn Davis, Managing Director of Visit West, delivered an interesting and amusing presentation about Visit West’s work and the region's tourism industry. Kathryn highlighted the West of England's appeal and its resilience in the face of recent challenges. Despite the pandemic's impact, the visitor economy in the South West, previously valued at £2.3 billion in 2019, has experienced a revival due to the Staycation trend and increased domestic travel. Kathryn proudly announced that Meet Bristol & Bath, Visit West's corporate events arm, was shortlisted by MNIT as the best convention team in the UK, showcasing the region's capability to host outstanding events. She encouraged those planning conventions or events in the region to collaborate with Visit West for a memorable experience.
Our presentations were followed by some delicious food from local supplier Papadeli, with members having the opportunity to network over drinks and music in the lovely June sunshine on the St George’s lawn.
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