NEWS From member to
Mayor for Geoff Bath businesses shine at Chamber and Initiative annual dinner
Members of Bath Chamber of Commerce and the Initiative in B&NES and their guests enjoyed their annual dinner at the University of Bath.
Bristolian accountant, Geoff Gollop, has become the new Lord Mayor of Bristol and has his sight set on moving the office into the 21st century.
Geoff has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for many years and has also been joint chairman of the Chamber Business Forum and Councillor for the ward of Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol for the past 10 years.
He has set out a number of aims for his year in office. In particular, he wants to support community groups, neighbourhood partnership activity and he also wants to emphasise the importance of job creation and support those innovating, developing and investing in the future of the city.
Geoff said: “As a father of teenage children, I understand how important social media is in today’s society. So, I want to encourage people to take photos at the events I attend and post them on my Flickr site so we can build a real photo history of my year in office. I also have a blog and can be followed on Twitter. This activity will help engage with younger members of our community and create a record for future reference about the vital role the Lord Mayor plays in Bristol life.” He continued: “I hope to meet as many people as I can from all aspects of Bristol life. I want to ensure that the Lord Mayor is available to all.” As Lord Mayor, Geoff anticipates attending over 800 appointments visiting Bristol charities, voluntary organisations, schools and businesses that are organising special events. Nigel Hutchings, director of Chambers of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that a Chamber member has become Lord Mayor of
Bristol.As an established
businessman, Geoff will understand the challenges facing local business during this difficult economic climate. We would like to
congratulate him on his appointment and wish him the very best for his year in office.”
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Guest speaker, Justin Webb, now a presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme, enthralled the audience with some fascinating insights into United States politics from his time as the BBC’s North America editor. They included his observations of the times he had met Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama. Chamber president, Brigid Musselwhite, welcomed her counterparts from Bristol and Chew Valley, Mike Bothamley and Jim King as well as Councillor Peter Edwards, the incoming
chairman of Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Initiative chairman Jonathan O’Shea reflected on the successful partnership working in which the private and public sectors combined their efforts and he said he looked forward to that spirit continuing in the future to help economic growth in the district.
Guests raised £725 which will go to the President’s Charity, the NICU appeal at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
Putting fire in the belly of Bristol’s youth
A former fire station in Broadmead is set to ignite the passions of Bristol’s young people when it opens its doors next year.
The Station is a £6m state of the art youth facility with a 250 seat performance space, recording and dance studios, media suite and café. It will provide leisure and training opportunities for more than 20,000 young people each year.
Key to its success will be the opportunities for young people to enter training, education and employment and the Station is looking for corporate partners to enable this.
If you want to learn more about the opportunities for young people at the Station, it is holding a launch event, sponsored by Smith & Williamson, on the 20 July at 6pm.
Speakers will include Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative exective
chairman, John Savage CBE, Stephen Williams MP and Heather Wright (Aardman Animations).
For further information about the Station and the launch event, contact Sandy Hore-Ruthven on 0117 947 7948 or email
shoreruthven@kfl.org.uk
Business West Update JULY/AUGUST 2011
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