October 18, 2016 1:47 pm / Leave a comment
As part of a rationalisation of websites, blogs and other online content managed by Bristol City Council staff the decision has been made to cease the updating and maintenance of this blog.
This does not constitute a diminution of the services that BCC offers to business rather an attempt to streamline those services through https://www.bristol.gov.uk/business to that end this blog will no longer be monitored and requests and messages will no longer be responded to via this channel as of 30/10/16
For those of you that used this blog to access Items of Interest you are able to sign up to receive a copy directly to your inbox should you so wish; for contracts and tenders please access the above web page and see “Tenders and Contracts” towards to bottom of the page; to be kept up-to-date with Bristol business news please follow @shoplocalbris on Twitter.
If there is anything further you would like to discuss please contact me via email at michael.dow@bristol.gov.uk
September 13, 2016 1:36 pm / Leave a comment
Dear all,
This week’s Items of Interest:
- The annual Travelwest Awards recognise achievements in sustainable travel. The ceremony takes place at St George’s on Wednesday 2 November. Nominations close this Friday, 16 September; more here.
- Bristol Pound will be celebrating their fourth birthday at the Make Sunday Special event outside St Nicholas Market on Sunday 18 September (11am – 4.30pm). The first 50 people to sign up for an account at the Bristol Pound stall will get £B10 for free; find out more here.
- Smart factories, digital fabrication technologies, new materials and changes in distribution networks are radically re-shaping who makes what, where and how. An event entitled We Can Make on Thursday 22 September (6pm – 8pm) at Filwood Green Business Park, Filwood Park Lane (off Hengrove Way) BS4 1ET brings together leading manufacturers, decision makers, thinkers, makers and artists to share new research and ideas. Find out more here.
- Musicians on the Run – twenty venues; twenty bands and musicians – are back in Bedminster on Thursday 22 September (7pm – 10pm); more here.
- The Architecture Centre, near the Arnolfini on Narrow Quay BS1 4QA, is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a series of events on the weekend of Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September; find out more here.
- YENA’s Showcase 2016 event takes place on Wednesday 28 September (6.30pm – 9pm) at Bath Road Studios, 470 Bath Road BS4 3HG. A chance to hear inspirational speakers, network with fellow entrepreneurs and input into YENA’s plans for the next year; book here.
- Discretionary Business Rates Relief for retail premises such as shops and cafes with a rateable value of £50,000 or less, (subject to State Aid limits) was available up until 31 March 2016. If your property is eligible, and if you haven’t already done so, the cut-off date for applying for this relief is Friday 30 September. Find out more here.
- In anticipation of the busy festive period a jobs fair specifically tailored for the local catering sector takes place at The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, BS1 4QF on Monday 3 October (10.30am – 1.30pm); if you’re in this sector and looking to recruit in the run up to Christmas see the attached flyer and/or contact mitchell@bristol.gov.uk. Please note places are free but there are a limited number of them.
- Bristol Bazaar, a market and pop up shop project run by the makers themselves for local independents and creatives, is recruiting for its Christmas Pop-up at The Island, Bridewell Street BS1 2LE.The deadline for applications is Monday 17 October; more details here.
- The Council’s latest quarterly economic briefing can be found here. In the year to July 2016 there were about 3,500 new business starts in Bristol, including nearly 330 retail starts.
- If you’re a local business covering the St Paul’s, St Werburgh’s and Montpelier areas you may be interested in community magazine Vocalise which is putting together a business directory on its website.
- The Skills Funding Agency wants to understand how the process of recruiting apprentices can be made easier for employers. As part of its research, a survey is being conducted, which should take no more than 5 minutes; click here.
Kind regards,
Declan
Declan Murphy
Economic Development Project Officer
Bristol City Council – Place
T: 0117 922 3546
E: declan.murphy@bristol.gov.uk
@ShopLocalBris
September 8, 2016 10:44 am / Leave a comment
Dear all,
This week’s Items of Interest:
- A final reminder about this year’s Great British High Street of the Year competition – the entry deadline is this Friday 9 September. Thanks to those who have let us know they’re entering.
- Bristol is hosting the penultimate day of racing in the 2016 Tour of Britain cycle race on Saturday 10 September with a double-stage including both an individual time trial and a circuit race. Find out more about the route, timings, travel information etc here and here.
- Visit our stand – and scores of others – at the Bristol Business Exhibition on Tuesday 13 September (10am – 3pm) at the new Ashton Gate Conference Centre BS3 2EJ; full details of the event here.
- The 9th annual Montpelier Bean Feast takes place on Saturday September 17 (1pm – 6pm) in Montpelier Park, St Andrew’s Road BS6 5EF. A mixture of food from local vendors, music from Bristol-based bands, a bike-repair station, crafts for sale, and games for all ages; more information here.
- Read about the West of England region’s recent success at attracting inward investment – and a record number of jobs – here.
- Earlier this year Bristol was awarded silver in the Sustainable Food Cities awards. Following this success, the Bristol Food Network is keen to see the city become the first in the country to achieve the gold award. If you’d like to join the Network in this mission, then click here.
- Young Enterprise is looking for volunteer Business Advisers to help on its Company Programme. If you have 1 or 2 hours to spare, one day per week, want to share your knowledge and experience with young people and gain a huge amount of personal satisfaction, email tarbuck@y-e.org.uk or call 07436 153520.
- A series of Be Your Own Boss taster sessions are taking place across the city later this month and next; see attached for further information. be-your-own-boss-taster-sessions
- The UK Government has announced that £250m of Start Up Loans have been made available to entrepreneurs since 2012. At the start of 2016, there were a record 4m SMEs in the UK, creating more than 15m jobs and contributing £1.8tr to the economy; read more here.
- The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities. Any group doing volunteer work that provides a social, economic or environmental service to the local community can be nominated for the award; more here.
Kind regards,
Declan
Declan Murphy
Economic Development Project Officer
Bristol City Council – Place
T: 0117 922 3546
E: declan.murphy@bristol.gov.uk
@ShopLocalBris
August 30, 2016 2:17 pm / Leave a comment
Dear all,
This week’s Items of Interest:
- Brizzlewood – Make Sunday Special in Brislington – takes place on Hollywood Road BS4 4LD this Sunday, 4 September; more here.
- What’s In Your Box? is a new, interactive tool for addressing business resilience, helping business owners, managers, employees and suppliers think through what may be needed in a shock or stress situation – be it fire, power cut, flood, or terrorism. Find out more at a Go Green-hosted event at Copper Consultancy, 16 Narrow Quay BS1 4QA on Monday 12 September (8.45am – 11.30am); book here.
- The latest in the Engine Shed’s series of Finance Briefings focuses on crowdfunding and will discuss if it’s still an alternative source of finance. The briefing takes place on Wednesday 14 September (4pm-5.30pm); more information here.
- Among the many events coming up at The Island on Nelson Street BS1 2LE are the following free-to-attend ones: 11 Million Reasons is a week-long photographic exhibition positively profiling deaf and disabled people who dance starting on Wednesday 14 September; and a day-long celebration of the Hindu Mela festival on Saturday 24 September.
- This year’s Celebrating Age Festival, hosted by Age UK Bristol, begins on Sunday 18 September (10am-4pm) at M-Shed, Princes Wharf BS1 4RN, and runs till Sunday 9 October. The festival engages older people in a wide range of activities taking place across the city.
- Windmill Hill City Farm on Philip St, Bedminster BS3 4EA celebrates its 40th birthday on Saturday 24 September (11am to 5pm). Activities at this free-to-enter event include a human jukebox, BBQ, live music, a puppet show, and campfire cookery; more here.
- GetSet for Growth is holding an event entitled Sources of Commercial Finance on Thursday 6 October (10am-12pm) at KPMG, 66 Queen Square BS1 4BE. Learn more about options such as equity investment, crowdfunding and business banking. Businesses of all types and sizes are welcome; book here.
- If you pay business rates, you can register your email address with the Valuation Office Agency who will contact you with the draft rateable values due to be made available online in October.
- Redbrick Housein Stokes Croft is PAPER Art’s new creative workspace for freelancers, entrepreneurs and start-ups of all ages. There’s a variety of spaces available including art studios, fixed desks, meeting rooms and open plan co-working environments. Find out more here.
- The UK Government has recently published data on exports by UK regions. In 2015 the South West exported £15.3bn (an increase of £1.5bn on the previous year); more here.
- If you have been a victim of fraud, support and information is available via Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. It includes an online reporting tool, and a helpline: 0300 123 2040.
- The Great British Exchange champions British-made produce, bringing retailers into contact with a wide range of goods and services. Producers can use the GBE to sell their products to retailers everywhere. Find out more here.
Kind regards,
Declan
Declan Murphy
Economic Development Project Officer
Bristol City Council – Place
T: 0117 922 3546
E: declan.murphy@bristol.gov.uk
@ShopLocalBris
August 23, 2016 2:51 pm / Leave a comment
Dear All,
This week’s Items of Interest:
- The rise of the UK independent beer sector continues unabated and Bristol is playing a major part in its success. Bristol Beer Week, running at venues across the city between Saturday 27 August and Friday 2 September, celebrates the people at the core of the Bristol beer scene, home to some of the country’s most lauded small breweries and independent establishments.
- The Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner is keen to hear what businesses want from the police. This is your opportunity to have your say and to help shape the Police and Crime Plan for our area. The survey, which closes on Tuesday 30 August, can be accessed here.
- Small business community Enterprise Nation are beginning a series of monthly coffee and conversation mornings in Bristol. The first one takes place on Wednesday 7 September (10am-11.30am) at Café Revival, Corn Street BS1 1JG; to find out more and to book click here.
- Grow Bristol is a new urban farming enterprise developing innovative and sustainable ways of growing food in the city for the benefit of all its inhabitants and the wider world. The opening of its site in the heart of the city at 16 Feeder Road, BS2 0SB, together with a social enterprise networking event, takes place on Wednesday 7 September (3pm – 7pm); book here.
- Don’t forget the deadline for entries for this year’s Great British High Street of the Year is Friday 9 September. Categories include the Rising Star Award celebrating high streets that are turning around their fortunes; and High Street Heroes – examples of local business owners and store managers that are working hard for their towns and high streets. Please let us know if you plan to enter, or have already done so.
- A number of jobs fairs are taking place next month: at the Jobcentre in Horfield on Tuesday 13 September (10am-2pm); and at Shirehampton Jobcentre on Thursday 29 September (10am-2pm). If you’re an employer looking to recruit and would like to take part contact mitchell@bristol.gov.uk. Also, on Friday 9 September (10am-4pm) there will be a Deaf and Disability Careers Fair at the Greenway Centre in Southmead; contact alasdair.grant@deafunity.org for more information.
- Bristol Doors Open Day, this year on the weekend of Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 September, is a once-a-year chance to look behind closed doors and discover the city’s hidden treasures. You can explore fascinating buildings, join guided tours and enjoy a range of events and activities – all free for the day. Venues include The Island (Nelson Street), Underfall Yard (Cumberland Road), Bottle Yard Studios (Whitchurch Lane), and Filwood Green Business Park (off Hengrove Way). Find out more here.
- The 2016 Harbourside Christmas Market is accepting applications from new traders and makers; more information here.
- The Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District proposal continues to be developed, with the focus now on BID priorities. The BID team continue to meet with businesses in the area to be covered, and open consultation sessions are planned. Businesses can also have their say through this survey.
- The UK Government is seeking views on draft regulations to support business rates appeals reforms. To find out more, and to respond to the consultation which closes on Tuesday 11 October, click here.
- Bristol has been shortlisted in the Best UK City Break for Families category in the Family Travel Awards 2016. Find out more and vote here; voting closes on Tuesday 20 September.
- This article highlights some of Bristol’s newest restaurants, pubs, bars & cafes.
Kind regards,
Declan
Declan Murphy
Economic Development Project Officer
Bristol City Council – Place
T: 0117 922 3546
E: declan.murphy@bristol.gov.uk
@ShopLocalBris
August 22, 2016 9:00 am / Leave a comment
via Upcoming Events Entrepreneurial Spark | Hatchery Tour
September 13 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Do you wish there was a way to take your business idea to the next step?
Or are you looking for a way that you can give back to the entrepreneurial community?
Perhaps you’ve wondered what goes on inside a business accelerator – or even what a business accelerator is?
By attending an Entrepreneurial Spark Hatchery tour, you will find the answers to these questions and many more.
The Hatchery is the physical office space that Entrepreneurial Spark provides to our Chiclets – that’s what we call our fledgling businesses. Our Hatchery tours last no more than an hour and are led by Caroline Thompson, Entrepreneur Development Manager from NatWest. By joining a tour, you’ll get a chance to have a look round the Hatchery and find out more about getting involved in the Entrepreneurial Spark programme: you can sign up as a Chiclet, or offer your services as a Mentor to support the Chiclets. Or maybe there’s another way you think you can lend your expertise – we’re all ears.
Bristol Business Guide 