Events

We're not just about gender. Equity through an intersectional lens.

We run quarterly events exclusive for Charter signatories, in addition to our public events.

At our quarterly events, we bring signatories together with subject matter experts to discuss one of the Charter goals;
it is a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and progress with your business goals.

our latest event

We held our Annual Impact Report launch on 30th April 2024 at Bristol City Hall, hosted by our signatories, Bristol City Council and sponsored by TRIA recruitment.

It was a chance to highlight the achievements of our signatories and share their insight and expertise on their progress towards gender equality with intersectionality.

We want 2024 to have an even bigger impact for gender equality and intersectionality in Bristol and more men than ever attended the event, which is crucial to accelerating the pace of change.

We will share more insight, photos and videos from the event on our socials and also here.

our future event schedule

Flexible working - does it restrict women's careers,
what is the limitation?
is hybrid enough?
20th June 2024
(signatory exclusive, Online Event)

UWE Intersectionality Research
26th September 2024
(SIGNATORY EXCLUSIVE, Face to Face event, uwe business school)

Social Mobility 24th October 2024
(public Face to Face event, clarke willmott, central bristol)*

Disability and embracing the untapped talent 2nd December 2024
(SIGNATORY EXCLUSIVE, ONLINE EVENT)

Trade, Construction & Property February 2025
(PUBLIC FACE TO FACE EVENT, central bristol, venue tbc)*

International Women’s Day March 2025
(PUBLIC FACE TO FACE EVENT, CENTRAL BRISTOL, VENUE TBC)*

Annual Impact Event May 2025
(Face to Face - Open Event, CENTRAL BRISTOL, VENUE TBC)

*Paid for events (free for signatories)

OUr last event

Challenging Bias in AI - 20th February at the Engine Shed, Sponsored by Bristol University

It was such a privilege to host this important conversation on bias in AI. It was brilliant to hear from our speakers...

💻Professor Phil Taylor on the new IsambardAI at Bristol University and what we can do to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM at the student level.
🐶Joyann Boyce was thought-provoking as always with her keynote on "AI as a puppy" - be sure to check out her TED talk!
🌱And Dr. Rachel Dugdale brought such an important perspective from her decades of experience in AI and machine learning - particularly in how we move forward fairly and ethically.

Did you miss out on the event? We'll be putting all we talked about into a whitepaper (facilitated by AI of course...) get in touch if you'd like a copy.

"Access to the Bristol Women in Business Charter events and community has allowed us to continue to develop our understanding of good practice, to hold conversations with clients and other stakeholders about what that means and what our priorities are."

BURGES SALMON, PROGRESS REPORT

our previous eventS

SPOTLIGHT ON GOAL 2
A COMMITMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF WOMEN AT SENIOR LEVELS AND ON THE BOARD

Signatory only event - ONLINE
27th November, Lunchtime

At this event we heard hear from some of our Signatories to explore how they have managed to make progress against this goal. The full recording and advice given is available to all signatories, please get in touch for the detail, or to find out about becoming a signatory.

Guest Speaker: Olaide Oboh, Executive Director, Socius
Olaide shared that Socius have the responsibility to create representative voices, real estate is about people, about their lived experience. She focuses on creating partnerships to help make the right decisions and create better places.
Guest Speaker: Laura Calcott, Human Resources Business Partner, National Composites Centre
Laura asked the audidence to consider, what are the barriers for women in your organisation to progress, how do they develop their careers, are they lacking confidence. Then her and other managers work together to renove these barriers including in coaching and training.
Guest Speaker: Charlotte Whitaker, Partner, Dispute Resolution team, Burges Salmon. Charlotte has over 13 years
Burges Salmon are very supportive of balancing work and family life, with a focus on flexibility. Her job is demanding but because of that there is a two way approach, works both ways, gets flexibility in response.

PUBLIC EVENT - WOMEN IN BUSINESS SERIES, LAUNCH EVENT
RECRUITING FOR DIFFERENCE - 20th Sept 23

Panel one: Professional panel of experts on recruiting for difference

Panel Two - Those with lived experience of intersectionality and who have experienced barriers to the workplace
Representatives from: University of Bristol, Babbasa, TLT, MOD, Bristol City Council, Hargreaves Lansdown, Burges Salmon.

Our lived experience panel shared their advice and insight into areas including: race & ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+, neurodiversity.

Recruiting for Difference - not just the right thing to do, but makes business sense." Nina Searle from our hosts TLT LLP shared advice that has helped TLT to accelerate the pace of change business on their gender equality journey.
Sangeetha Wynter from Babbasa shared the disappointing statistic that #Bristol is the 7th worst city in the country for racial equality.

Annual impact - Public event - April 2022

In April, we launched our Annual Impact Report, with an event focusing on the amazing work carried out by the Charter and its Signatories in the past 12 months. Featuring an all male panel (a first at our events), we discussed the importance of allyship in addressing gender equality.

Dr Caroline McKinnon from University of Bristol joined our professional panel. Caroline is working with staff at the university to improve the diagnosis rate and offer them the support that they need, whilst recognising that no two people are the same.
Karen Cooke from Hargreaves Lansdown has been doing some great work with The Women's Work Lab to help women who have been on benefits long term back into the workplace. She joined our Professional Panel to share some insights on how the scheme has worked.
Mel Rodrigues from Gritty Talent, shared some of her experience of working in the TV industry. Organisations must do more to not only attract diverse talent, but also to remove microaggressions and create a culture where individuals can thrive.

Signatory exclusive event - goal one
flexible and part time working

We discussed how we can promote part-time and flexible working successfully within our Signatories businesses. We were joined by 3 speakers talk through the challenges, experience and opportunities for women who want to work flexibly and/or in reduced hours roles - particuarly in senior roles.

Susan Durbin - Professor of Employment Studies/Human Resource Management, UWE
Harriet Kirkpatrick Co founder, TRIA
Hannah Newmarch Deputy Director LCI, UWE

public event - october 2022
The Untapped talent pool

At our first face to face public event after the pandemic, we heard from existing Charter signatories and other guest speakers about how to address the gender bias in the workforce and how to make your business a truly gender equal work place.

past events

HOW to keep women moving in their careers

Charter Signatories came together to discuss Goal 4: Encouraging and supporting female employees in lower paid and lower skilled roles to progress throughout the organisation. With expert speakers:

Ellie Wintersgill, Head of Department, City of Bristol Collge
Zahid Gill, Head of Department of Higher Education, City of Bristol College
Serrie Chapman, The Women's Tech Hub

SUPPORTING WOMEN IN LOWER PAID AND OCCUPATIONS TO EXCEL

We focused on the 4th Charter goal: "Encouraging and supporting female employees in lower paid and lower skilled occupations to progress". To learn more about supporting your female employees to boost your progress as an organisation.
With expert speakers:
Camilla Rigby, founder of The Women's Work Lab CIC.
Robert Halton, Chief People Officer at independent law firm. Burges Salmon.

ENABLING FLEXIBLE AND PART-TIME WORKING
IN SENIOR LEVEL ROLES

Covid19 has changed the term flexible working. On the 5th of May we came together to learn more about real flexible and part-time working benefitting your business. With expert speakers:

Kristal McNamara, Charter Ambassador and founder of HR change consultancy firm, WorkWell.
Katharine Finn, a senior audit partner at PwC's audit practice.

ELIMINATING BIAS FROM YOUR MANAGEMENT PROCESSES

Charter Signatories joined together virtually to share what works (and what doesn't!) when implementing unbiased processes.

We discussed our challenges and celebrate our successes! Members of the Charter community are making a real difference in this area and there was lots to share.

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