Business leaders from around the West gathered at Aerospace Bristol on Thursday (January 20) for the launch of the Western Daily Press Business Guide 2022.
The Guide - which was published inside yesterday’s Western Daily Press and on BusinessLive celebrated the region’s economic successes in 2021 and looks at what is on the agenda for 2022.
Delegates enjoyed a networking breakfast in the shadow of Concorde at the popular visitor attraction in Filton.
Richard Bache, who edited the Guide, sponsored by EDF Energy, spoke about his belief that the West’s pioneering companies were well-placed to lead Britain’s economic response to the coronavirus pandemic.
With continuing signs that the economy will suffer fewer coronavirus-related restrictions in 2022 than the past two years, he shared his optimism that the region had the dynamism, skilled workforce and expertise to thrive.
Companies have to be mindful that inflation and rising energy prices don’t dent consumer confidence too badly, while hoping for a bit more political stability than Britain has experienced lately.
He also spoke about the importance of West businesses grasping the huge economic opportunities on the journey to Net-Zero.
Tilly Spencer, director of Edvance UK, who leads EDF’s nuclear engineering design centre at Aztec West, updated the gathering on the massive progress made at Hinkley Point C in 2021.
She spoke about how the teams on site had overcome a number of significant challenges to continue delivering the £23 billion power station.
She also told of the huge investment made in the region’s economy by EDF and the upskilling of the workforce, which will leave a lasting legacy in Somerset and the wider West.
It has already employed more than 850 apprentices on the site and hopes to reach 1,000 in 2022.
Apprenticeships and the development of the West’s future workforce were also addressed by South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) head of apprenticeships Sarah Stephens-Lewis.
She spoke of how the college was partnering with businesses to deliver meaningful apprenticeships that were working positively for employer and employee.
She told of outstanding retention rates and the value of collaboration between education and business.
Donna Kenny, project manager of Bristol Talent, a joint venture between SGS and the City of Bristol College, told delegates of the pioneering project.
It aims to engage employers across the Greater Bristol area to shape the next generation workforce from among its pool of students.
The initiative is designed to address the skills gap so that students are confident in transitioning from education to employment via apprenticeships.
She urged businesses in the region to back the initiative by offering placements, guest lectures and workshops so that they too can help shape their future workforces.
The Guide can be viewed at https://bit.ly/wdpbizguide2022
