Learn. Support. Empower.
We regularly run our public Women in Business event series, detailed below.
We also hold quarterly events, exclusive for Charter signatories, bringing our signatories together with
subject matter experts to share best practice, focused on one of the Charter goals,
it is a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and progress with your business goals.
Join the business journey to gender equality.
We regularly run our public Women in Business event series, detailed below.
We also hold quarterly events, exclusive for Charter signatories, bringing our signatories together with
subject matter experts to share best practice, focused on one of the Charter goals,
it is a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and progress with your business goals.
Join the business journey to gender equality.
our future event schedule
|
Signatory Exclusive Event -
Preventing Burnout While Driving Change
Preventing Burnout While Driving Change Join us for a powerful session on leadership burnout, resilience, and culture change, with science-backed strategies to build sustainable, inclusive workplaces. This event will be led by Laura Aiken, a Consultant and Founder of Thrive Leadership. She assists businesses in managing stress and building resilience through workshops and retreats. If you are from a signatory organisation, please sign up here |
Signatory Exclusive Event -
Sexual harrassment: creating safe, inclusive workplaces
We’ll explore: ✅ What the Oct 24 Workers' Rights Act means for employers & employees ✅ How to build a zero-tolerance culture in your workplace ✅ Practical strategies for prevention, intervention, and accountability If you are from a signatory organisation, please sign up here |
our recent events
International Women’s Day Sat 8th March 2025 Public, in person event, City Hall, Bristol Are our boards as inclusive as they should be? Hosted by Nick Sturge MBE, portfolio non-executive director and Chartered Director. Speakers and panelists included:
|
Bristol Women in Business Charter: Five-Year Impact Celebration. 28th April 2025, City Hall
Sponsored by Barcan + Kirby Supported by Simitiveand Bristol City Council Join us for an inspiring and thought-provoking event as we mark five years of impact, progress, and action through the Bristol Women in Business Charter. Our exclusive gathering brought together nearly 200 business leaders, change-makers, and advocates for gender equity to celebrate achievements, share insights, and shape the future of inclusion in the workplace. We had an amazing event, including: 🔹 Keynote Address - Delivered by Sam Castle, Partner and Employment Lawyer at Barcan + Kirby, this insightful keynote will share the progress of gender equity from our signatory, Barcan + Kirby as well as the evolving legal framework around workplace equality, the challenges businesses face, and the steps they must take to build truly inclusive environments. 🔹 Five Years of Progress – A look back at the strides made by our signatories, showcasing key achievements in gender equity and inclusion, with highlights from the past year. 🔹 The Big Panel – A compelling discussion featuring founding and large employer signatories on the progress made and what’s needed to accelerate change in the next five years. 
|
|
Disability and embracing the untapped talent:
Exclusive Signatory Event - 2nd December 2024 As we marked Disability History Month (14th November - 20th December), it’s the perfect time to reflect on the progress we’ve made—and the work still to be done—toward creating truly inclusive workplaces. Key Takeaways: Disabled employees bring invaluable strengths to the workplace: innovative problem-solving, diverse perspectives, and a strong work ethic. Significant barriers persist, such as inaccessible recruitment systems, inflexible interview processes, underrepresentation in leadership, and limited career development opportunities. 
|
Best Practice for Employers:
1️⃣ Revamp recruitment processes to remove barriers—consider providing interview questions in advance, offering diverse panel representation, and exploring alternative assessment methods. 2️⃣ Introduce a “reasonable adjustments passport” to streamline support for disabled employees and ensure continuity. 3️⃣ Educate managers to challenge ableist assumptions and foster a culture of inclusion. 4️⃣ Celebrate the contributions of disabled employees and reframe disability as a strength, not a limitation. 5️⃣ Broaden career progression opportunities through flexible promotion pathways and internal development. 6️⃣ Partner with disability organizations and employee resource groups to co-create inclusive solutions. Thank you again to our expert panel Frances Bathurst, Ghizzi (Ghislaine) Dunlop, Kyrby Brown and Alison Browning for their inspiring and educational words. To learn more about Disability History Month follow this link https://ukdhm.org/ |
OUr 2024 Impact 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 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.
|
|
|
|
our previous eventS
Guest panel included:
|
Women in Business Series: Social Mobility 23rd October 24
We recently held our latest event at the newly refurbished Clarke Willmott office, where experts gathered to discuss the transformative power of social mobility for individuals, organizations, and communities. This event provided an invaluable opportunity for attendees to learn, connect, and make a meaningful impact. We discussed: Work placements, apprenticeships, community engagement, the Social Mobility Foundation standards and other key initiatives. Call to action:
We wrapped up our session on a high note with breakout groups creating their pledges to enhance social inclusion and mobility within their organizations over the next year. We’re excited to see the progress these commitments will bring! |
|
Flexible working - does it restrict women's careers, what is the limitation? Is hybrid enough? 20th June 24
In this signatory exclusive online event, we were thrilled to be joined by Rosie and Caroline to discuss the challenges and best practice for flexible working. They shared their insight and experience with our other signatories. |
|
|
Challenging Bias in AI - 20th February 24 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...
|
|
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 23, 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.
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 - Senior leaders from TLT, University of Bristol, Babassa, Hargreaves Lansdown and Gritty Talent. 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.
Annual impact - Public event - April 2022In 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.
|
Signatory exclusive event - goal one
|
|
|
"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
BURGES SALMON, PROGRESS REPORT
COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY REGISTERED IN ENGLAND & WALES
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 12516760
REGISTRATION NUMBER: 12516760