Bristol Business Guide

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BUSINESS WEST
Business West is the City’s premier
business support and membership
organisation, representing the interests
of commerce and providing a range of
services to assist in the creation of
further prosperity. With more than two
thousand members across the West of
England, Business West can speak with
credibility and authority on the issues
that matter to the private sector.
Meanwhile, the organisation contributes
to a wide variety of partnerships to
ensure close and effective links with
the local authority, including the West
of England Initiative, which acts as a
broker to deliver major change.
All companies can benefit from the
information, advice networking events
and training courses that are available
as well as specialist help such as aid to
International Trade and the production
of Export Documents.
For further information please visit:
telephone
01275 373 373.
Skills West
Connecting for Success - bringing
business and training closer together
Skills West is a 'one stop' free
impartial skills advice service which
offers businesses bespoke solutions
to skills and training needs.
Through a team of experienced skills
advisers, businesses can gain access
to a wide range of skills advice and
support, including:
• sector specific support
• apprenticeship and levy advice
• recruitment guidance
• access to relevant training
programmes for your employees
• connections with regional and
national skills support networks
• access to new talent and support
to develop your existing workforce
• relevant funding advice
Created in partnership with the
Western Training Provider Network
and local and national training
providers, the impartial referral
service ensures businesses receive
access to quality, relevant training
and ensures best value through
brokering bespoke training packages
to suit their business needs.
Skills West is funded through the
European Social Fund and Skills
Funding Agency and commissioned
by the West of England Local
Enterprise Partnership.
For more information visit:
The Bristol Pound is the UK’s first city
wide local currency, the first to have
electronic accounts managed by a
regulated financial institution, and the
first that can be used to pay some local
taxes. This means that sterling will no
longer be the only means of paying for
goods and services purchased in the
city. It will also mean that the money
spent is more likely to remain for
longer in the local economy – doing
more for Bristol and those that live
and work here.
Why a local currency?
A local currency is a practical way to
encourage people and businesses to
target their spending in favour of those
based in the local community. Studies
have demonstrated that keeping
spending local can make a significant
difference to the local economy.
Key Facts
• Bristol Pounds are purchased for
sterling and can be spent with
business members.
• Bristol Pounds are spent just like
pounds sterling with £B1 equal in
value to £1 sterling.
• Each Bristol Pound is backed pound
for pound by sterling deposits, so
taking part incurs no more financial
risk than is generally the case when
depositing money with an authorised
and regulated institution.
• The Bristol Pound is a complementary
currency, designed to work alongside
sterling, not replace it.
• Business accounts are available to
traders that are independently owned
and based in or around Bristol.
• Anyone can pay with or accept
printed Bristol Pounds.
• The Bristol Pound is not legal
tender and so accepting Bristol
Pounds is voluntary.
• Printed Bristol Pounds are printed
by specialist printers, incorporating
eight security features.
• All Bristol Pound systems are very
secure. Money can only be taken
out of the system by registered
account holders.
• Some traders are offering special
offers & discounts for Bristol Pound
users.
What should you do
now?
If you are a Bristol based business
– or if you do business in the area
and work with a local supply chain
to do so – you should start thinking
about the extent to which you can
use the local currency to improve
your business prospects and to
demonstrate a tangible
contribution on your part
to supporting the local economy.
To find out more:
Website:
Email:
Telephone: 0117 9298642
THE BRISTOL POUND