Events
The Economic Development team organise and commission various events in support of current projects. These events are listed on the Economic Development Eventbrite page.
Bristol Business Newsletter
We send a fortnightly newsletter for businesses in Bristol and the surrounding area. It provides useful information and updates that support businesses development and growth.
Topics covered include:
- news and events
- grants and funding opportunities
- business support, for example information on keeping your business secure and resilient
- events and webinars
- training and networking opportunities
- education, skills and learning
- links to council partners who provider business support, for example WECA, YTKO
- policy-related developments
- consultations
- transport and travel updates
- health and wellbeing resources, tools and training to help promote good mental health practices and support your employees
- city centre and high street events and campaigns
The newsletter is usually sent on a Tuesday afternoon.
Sometimes we send an extra newsletter on Thursdays for important updates.
Newsletter sign up
To sign up to receive the newsletter email business@bristol.gov.uk
Current Projects
Produce West
We lead this West of England pilot project which supports growth, innovation, inclusion and sustainability in the region's food, drink and hospitality sector. We work closely with FoodWorks SW (food enterprise centre) and other local authorities and partners to provide technical business support and training as well as new kitchen spaces for micro and small enterprises, especially start-ups and early stage businesses.
Bristol Business and Enterprise Support (BrisBES)
Provides support to start-up and existing businesses in Bristol. BrisBES closes on 31 March 2026. We're working with the West of England Growth Hub to provide different support options in Bristol from April 2026.
High streets
Go to our High streets page for advice and support for high street or local centre businesses and independent traders in Bristol.
City Centre Vacant Property Taskforce
We facilitate the Taskforce which is focused on assessing the barriers and developing initiatives to bring properties back into use. It includes internal council teams, the Bristol Business Improvement District, Cabot Circus, The Galleries, Sparks Bristol, the University of the West of England and legal and property agent representatives.
Street scene and greening improvements
We're carrying out a series of street scene and greening improvements across several high streets in the city. These works are designed to make our high streets more attractive and welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Some improvements have already been completed, including new planting, upgraded paving, and enhanced public spaces. Further projects will be completed over the coming year, with each location benefiting from tailored designs that reflect the needs of the local community.
Promotion of Bristol Living Wage City
We're actively engaging businesses in Bristol to become Living Wage employers.
Bristol Temple Quarter
One of the UK's largest regeneration programmes, covering 135 hectares on the south eastern edge of the city centre which will provide major mixed-use development, including 10,000 new homes and 22,000 jobs. We lead on engaging with businesses in the area and work to attract investment and new occupiers.
Inward investment
We work to promote the area to potential inward investors, and support businesses and entrepreneurs to find space to meet their needs.
West of England Industrial Cluster (WEIC)
We're an active partner in the West of England Industrial Cluster (WEIC). This area covers the Bristol Port sites at Avonmouth and Portbury Docks and stretches 6 miles north to the Severn bridges.
The WEIC published its Industrial Decarbonisation Plan in March 2025. Its goal is to reduce carbon emissions from more than 600 businesses in the area. It also aims to support new clean energy, heating and fuel projects, and to grow the green economy by 2040. The plan could bring up to £3.5 billion to the local economy and create around 15,000 jobs. Includes development of a Clean Growth Hub on a 16‑hectare site owned by the Council at Hallen Marsh, near Seabank power station, and new wind and solar farms at Avonmouth under Bristol City Leap.
Circular Economy Demonstrator Hub
We're working with the Bristol Repair Coalition, led by University of the West of England. We bring together convening diverse business and community-based organisations to promote circular economic models such as SevernNet, Bristol Waste Company, Sparks, Factory X and the repair cafes. This is to identify sites for a city hub project that demonstrates larger-scale repair and re-use of both domestic and industrial waste items such as small electricals, bicycles, furniture, clothing, construction and retrofit materials.