BJC Bugle BristolJuniorChamber

Issue Twenty One Summer 2014

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I am very humbled to have become the President of the BJC in its 66th year. A busy start to the new BJC year has included a trip to Parliament, contributing to a Bristol north jobs fair as well as hearing from Bonnie Dean OBE (Chief Executive of Bristol and Bath Science Park) and David Warburton (Homes and Communities Agency) at our May members’ meeting.

Core themes for my Presidency are preparing BJC members to be leaders of 21st Century Bristol (or what I call “Bristol 21”), considering the concept of innovation in Bristol and “brand Bristol” and improving social mobility. The main ethos of the BJC is to help create a great city for all sections of the community.

Future events include the BJC President’s Annual Lecture, which this year will be given by the Right Honourable Baroness Gillian Shephard, deputy chair of the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission and parliamentary hustings in February/March next year.

Booker T Washington once said, “those who are happiest are those who do the most for others”. BJC members please join me, and the rest of the Council of Management, in doing the most for Bristol.

Karl Brown, President

From the President…BJC Parliamentary Delegation to the Palace of Westminster

The day started with an official tour of the Palace of Westminster - including the Queen’s official robing room and the chambers of both the House of Lords and House of Commons. Following the tour, the Right Honourable Baroness Royall of Blaisdon PC hosted a committee room debate in the House of Lords on the role of the House of Lords. As a privy counsellor and former Leader of the House of Lords, the Right Honourable Baroness Royall gave the BJC a fascinating insight into the role of the peers of the realm. Lunch followed in the House of Commons - where we were joined by the Chief Executive of the Local Enterprise

Partnership to discuss the link between Bristol and Westminster and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons (and MP for Bristol South), the Right Honourable Dawn Primorolo MP. Our official host for the day, Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy then whisked us off to Portcullis House for a committee room meeting with her and former Parliamentary aid Kamella Hudson on the role of the House of Commons. We finally made our way up to the strangers gallery of the House of Commons to witness Home Office questions taking place in the House of Commons chamber below us. Darren Jones

May Members Meeting

On Monday 7 April our past Chair of Policy and Influence, Darren Jones, led a delegation of BJC members to Westminster for a day of history, politics and policy.

MEMBERS INTERVIEW

Bonnie Dean, OBE, Chief Executive of the Bristol & Bath Science Park and David Warburton, Head of Area in the South West for the Homes and Communities Agency each provided insightful talks for the May members meeting, kindly held at Clarke Willmott. Bonnie Dean OBE described how it took 30 years to bring about the science park and the benefit it has for the economic development of the city. She also talked about the Brandon Trust, a charity that help people with learning disabilities live independently by using new technologies. David Warburton explained how the HCA focuses on regeneration and unlocking land. Particularly interesting is the HCA’s aim to diversify the Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone to make it more attractive to creative industries! Gemma Alaway, Chair of PR & Marketing

MEMBERS INTERVIEW

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Annual DinnerMarch 2014 once again saw the BJC throw our Annual Black Tie Charity Ball, this year hosted at the charming Marriott Royal Bristol on College Green. With nearly 200 guests in their finest livery the event always promised to be one to remember & this year’s turnout certainly didn’t disappoint!

Our guests were serenaded into a champagne reception by the Bristol Quartet (at times playing some rather funky modern tunes!), accompanied by the always charismatic magician Kieron the Mighty providing entertainment throughout the evening. We enjoyed a sumptuous dinner provided by the hotel, followed by farewell & welcome speeches by our outgoing President Tom Selway & incoming President Karl Brown respectively.

Many, many thanks to all who made the BJC record charitable donation possible (raising over £1,500!) also thanks to the generosity of local firms for the prizes for our raffle. Our benefitting charity this year was 1625 Independent People, who work in the community supporting young people all over the city.

And who can forget the amazing shapes being thrown by many a guest & VIP once the dancing shoes were donned during the amazing set played by one of Bristol’s finest bands, Tinman!

Our events team are always looking for help with the ball, and other events, so register your interest with the Chair of Social & Events, Gemma-Jane Ogden, now!

Thanks to Jon Craig photography for the fantastic photos of the event.

Mark Langmead

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Introducing our new Council of Management

Meeting with Stephen Williams MP

As a fun and interesting way to introduce our new Council of Management, we asked each member to provide a random fact about themselves…

Stephen Williams is an MP for the Liberal Democrats and currently serves for the constituency of Bristol West. He met with Karl Brown, Claire Davies, Gemma Alaway and Leon Musmann on 24th April to discuss the work of the BJC. His role includes being Minister for Communities in the area.

Being from a working class background Stephen shares our President’s passion for social mobility. He seemed proud of his status as the only serving MP to have received free school meals as a child and does a large amount of work with Future First, a charity through which he helps mentor young people

into aspirational careers for which they wouldn’t ordinarily have a role model.

He has a passion for Bristol having moved here, like many of our members, to go to university. The city grabbed him with its diversity and vibrancy but he feels that the city does a rather poor job of promoting itself. He campaigns to promote the city (both central and greater) to industries far and wide. Bristol has the highest concentration of technology firms anywhere in the world outside of Silicon Valley and is something that we should all shout about! Leon Musmann, Treasurer

Please feel free to come and chat to us, we look forward to meeting as many new members and prospective members as possible over the coming months!

Karl Brown, President Karl achieved journalistic fame at the age of nine with a letter he wrote to John Barnes, which was published in Roy of the Rovers.

Claire Davies, Chair of Education & Skills Claire is a classically trained singer and has sung, as part of a choir, for the Queen and as backing for The Three Tenors.

Ben St Quintin, Vice-President Following his Vice-Presidential Year, Ben will become the 7th BJC President to have worked in the JLL Bristol office; dating back to the days of JP Sturge, King Sturge and now JLL.

Gemma-Jane Ogden, Chair of Social & Events Gemma-Jane worked as a holiday rep for a summer in Turkey, teaching people to sail whilst living on a yacht!

Tom Selway, Immediate Past President Immediate Past President, Tom Selway has two jobs. By day he is a PR consultant, by weekend he is an Army Reservist in the Royal Yeomanry.

Charles Chami, Chair of Business & Enterprise Charlie has a YouTube video with over 26,000 views!

Rob Barnes, Membership Secretary Rob once ran up and down Snowden to complete the 3 Peaks challenge in 23 hours.

Gareth Mason, Chair of Heritage & Culture Gareth recently built a Design Classic (1920’s) De Stijl inspired chair.

Leon Musmann, Treasurer The comedian Russell Howard once gave Leon a spiked pint of beer.

Lucy Mills, Chief Communication Officer Lucy once won a Sony Megadrive on Maggot Moments on Saturday morning kids’ TV!

Gemma Alaway, Chair of PR & Marketing Gemma originally wanted to be a fashion designer and still enjoys sewing and adapting clothes.

Michael Pearce, Company Secretary Michael is from the Isle of Wight, each Christmas he has a mad dash to go from work to catch the last ferry back to the island!

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Spring Drinks SponsorsThanks to the following organisations for their support with the BJC’s annual spring drinks:

When did you join BJC?I joined the BJC in February, just in time for the annual Ball!

Why did you join?It was Leon that introduced me to the BJC, initially as an enquiry into whether our function band was available to play for the ball. He explained that there are a number of social events organised each year, but also a number of other benefits that I could enjoy as a young business Director. Quite the salesman! I attended the next meeting and found the members to be friendly and professional, sharing many of my own views on how business integrates with the community as a whole. More importantly, the social side of the BJC seemed to be very important to everyone, something else I feel is very important.

What has been your best moment as a BJC member so far?No contest. Getting the opportunity at my very first meeting to listen to the incredible Johnny Johnson’s Dambuster story was fantastic! There are lots of events that are very enjoyable, but that was most definitely a one off. It was a great evening!

What areas of the BJC interest you most?I have been involved in education as a School Governor and young enterprise mentor and feel very passionately that supporting Bristol’s commercial momentum, starts with us helping our youngsters understand the mechanics of business at a very early age. I could see clearly that the BJC recognises this, and that is very encouraging. I would be keen to be involved with supporting this where I can.

What is your day job?10 years ago, as a post-grad I started a telecommunications business, offering calls and lines services to businesses in the South West. We are now an ISP (internet service provider), and developer of some unique cloud applications. We have also recently set up a training operation offering formal training for those who demonstrate a great attitude to work, but need experience to get onto the career ladder.

As a company that is focused on innovation, my role is primarily to develop the new products and services, and to manage the business in accordance with our ‘roadmap’. Something that I enjoy a great deal!

When did you join BJC?March 2014

Why did you join?Most of my greatest friends are or have been members of the BJC. I felt, as a 6th generation Bristolian, I wanted to try to contribute more to Bristol and try and be more part of the community, as my work can often give me tunnel vision and I get very self focused on a show that once it transmits, never gets seen again! So I want to give some of my energies to something more worthwhile and enduring.

What has been your best moment as a BJC member so far?The trip to the Houses of Parliament was brilliant... the tour revealed so much history, I cant believe I’ve not been before! Everyone who went was so friendly and welcoming, and we had an especially in depth look into the lives of the politicians up there as we were fortunate enough for Darren to

have organised that we meet politicians who act for and with Bristol. It was really interesting and relevant to the BJC.

What areas of the BJC interest you most?I really want to be part of giving something back to Bristol, to promoting its existing wealth of history & creative projects and to enrich Bristol’s prosperity if possible.

What is your day job?I am a freelance Assistant Producer who specialises in Natural History television (Bristol being probably the centre for the finest Natural History output in the world). I currently work for Icon Films on a programme for Discovery Channel about a tagged Great White shark called Gill Rakers who has been followed for her 18 month gestation, and who is hopefully about to finally pup in the sea of Cortez in the next few weeks. (An App follows her here: www.expeditionwhiteshark.com)

MEMBERS INTERVIEW

Dates for your Diary

BJC PRESIDENT ON UJIMA RADIO 98 FM

Date: Monday 19 May, 5.30-6.30pm

POP UP DRINKS

Date: Friday 23 May

MONTHLY MEETING AT THE NEW ROOM BRISTOL

Date: Tuesday 3 June

DRAGON BOAT RACE

Date: Sunday 8 June

MONTHLY MEETING AT BRISTOL ZOO

Date: Tuesday 1 July

MONTHLY MEETING, WINETASTING AT AVERYS

Date: Tuesday 5 August

BRISTOL BALLOON FIESTA

Date: 7-9 August

Winterbourne International Academy Mock InterviewsAs a new member of the BJC, a key reason for joining was the BJC’s strong support for early career development, in particular mock interviews regularly organised with local schools. These interviews provide a great opportunity for students to gain a taste of a real interview situation; in a risk-free environment, where they receive full, open, feedback. On the 6th March I joined four BJC members, interviewing nine 6th form students from Winterbourne Academy. Students had a range of careers ahead of them; of the two I interviewed one is applying for a Law degree, and the other to join the Police Force. Both took the interviews seriously (with a healthy amount of nerves!) and were very open to advice. The students all appreciated the opportunity and the BJC received lots of thank-you notes! As well as being rewarding, the interviewer role provides benefit to BJC Members: A week later I was responsible for interviewing apprentices for Rolls-Royce, and the session gave me a good insight into how people of that age think and react in high pressure situations, as well as allowing me to reflect on what I could do better. Mock interviews provide a great opportunity to both students and BJC members – I encourage you all to get involved! Jon Warner

MEMBERS INTERVIEW

Paul Anslow

Jo Avery