Bristol Women in Business Charter

🎉 SOLD OUT 🎉 Tickets for our inaugural Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026 have officially sold out. Every ticket gone is an incredible feeling – more than 200 leaders, founders, changemakers and rising stars ready to celebrate the women shaping Bristol’s business landscape. Having talked with so many organisations and leaders across the past few months has shown this isn’t only an evening of celebration. It's a signal our city and region believes that women’s lives at work matter – and that when we collaborate we can make a difference. Massive thanks to our amazing sponsors for ensuring this can all happen YTL UK Group (YTL Construction UK & Wessex Water) Bristol Airport Burges Salmon LLP Stride Treglown S&W Birketts LLP Sprague Gibbons, event partner ZiaBia Events Consultancy | B Corp™ and media partner TheBusinessDesk.com. 🎉 To everyone attending - we’ll see you on March 12th @7pm, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. 🥂 To everyone shortlisted – huge congratulations, your work is already making waves. 👉🏽 To those watching this space – we are growing, get involved! Drop us a DM we'd love to have a coffee. Sandra Gordon Kristal McNamara Lucy Kirmond Sonia Cohen Laura C Aiken Nick Sturge MBE Sandra Trotman Meadows MBE DL Jess Woodsford Sophie Joyce-Bonetti Helen Farmer Emilie Culwick Charlotte Phillips Megan Belcher Zoe Slater-Peters (Chartered MCIPD)

✨ BWIBC IWD Panel: Women, Entrepreneurship & Building Work Around Life 📍 Bristol City Hall – Council Chambers 📅 Saturday 7th March | ⏰ 11.00–12.15pm What does it really take for women to build values-led businesses while navigating parenting, financial pressure and the invisible mental load? Join us as part of Bristol Women's Voice's International Women's Day celebrations for an honest conversation on the realities of entrepreneurship, from flexibility and autonomy to childcare, time poverty and access to opportunity. Expect lived experience, expert insight and practical strategies for running and growing a business around life. 🎤 Featuring: Bianca Jones CIPD (EDP Training) Dr. Nkechi Adeeko & Dr. Roman Barwinski, University of Bristol Business School Faye Dicker, Founder of Freelance Mum For women running, growing or considering a business, and anyone passionate about inclusive entrepreneurship. 🎟️ Join us and be part of the conversation. Link to tickets in comments. #IWD2026 #WomenInBusiness #BristolEvents Sarah Rice Sandra Gordon Kristal McNamara Lucy Kirmond Sonia Cohen Laura C Aiken

It feels like *quite* a while ago when we teamed up with Robert Buckland and TheBusinessDesk.com to launch our first ever Bristol Women in Business Awards. Having Rob, editor TBD South West, and the wider team on board has been instrumental in the success of the evening - with our amazing sponsors on board and only a few tickets for the evening left, it's been a great partnership. Rob is also part of our esteemed judging panel, who have had the unenviable task of choosing our winners! Rob Buckland said: "We are proud to partner with Bristol Women in Business Charter for these inaugural awards – a major step forward for inclusion in the region. “This collaboration reflects Bristol’s energy and ambition as a business community, and its determination to lead the way in equity and inclusion. “It’s an opportunity for businesses across the region to shine a spotlight on the talent, innovation and leadership shaping our city’s future.” Massive thanks also to our amazing sponsors for ensuring this can all happen! YTL Construction UK Wessex Water Bristol Airport Burges Salmon LLP Stride Treglown S&W Birketts LLP Sprague Gibbons and event partner ZiaBia Events Consultancy | B Corp™ #bwiba26 ----------------------- We’d love you to join us 💛 📍 Bristol Museum, Queens Road 📅 Thursday 12 March 2026 ⏰ 7pm – late 👉 Full ticket download here: https://lnkd.in/eq6YjWHy Need more info? info@bristolwomeninbusinesscharter.org Sandra Gordon Kristal McNamara Lucy Kirmond Sonia Cohen Laura C Aiken Nick Sturge MBE Sandra Trotman Meadows MBE DL Jess Woodsford Sophie Joyce-Bonetti Helen Farmer Emilie Culwick Charlotte Phillips Megan Belcher Zoe Slater-Peters (Chartered MCIPD)

The countdown is on, and we could not be more excited to share who will be guiding us through the Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026 … So thrilled to announce that sherrie Eugene Hart will be our host for the evening. Sherrie is one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters and communicators, with a career spanning more than three decades in television, radio and live presentation. Born and raised in Bristol, she began her media journey as a British Sign Language interpreter on HTV News (now ITV West Country) before going on to anchor nightly news for ITV West, becoming a trusted and familiar voice across the region. A true pioneer, Sherrie was the first Black woman in the UK to qualify as a British Sign Language interpreter and has received multiple awards recognising her contribution to broadcasting and storytelling. Her commitment to inclusion, representation and amplifying voices reflects exactly what these Awards stand for. We couldn’t imagine a better host to lead an evening celebrating leadership, equity and impact across Bristol’s business community 👏👏👏 Massive thanks also to our amazing sponsors for ensuring this can all happen! YTL Construction UK Wessex Water Bristol Airport Burges Salmon LLP Stride Treglown S&W Birketts LLP Sprague Gibbons and media partner TheBusinessDesk.com and event partner ZiaBia Events Consultancy | B Corp™ #bwiba26 ----------------------- We’d love you to join us 💛 📍 Bristol Museum, Queens Road 📅 Thursday 12 March 2026 ⏰ 7pm – late 👉 Full ticket download here: https://lnkd.in/eq6YjWHy Need more info? info@bristolwomeninbusinesscharter.org Sandra Gordon Kristal McNamara Lucy Kirmond Sonia Cohen Laura C Aiken Nick Sturge MBE Sandra Trotman Meadows MBE DL Jess Woodsford Sophie Joyce-Bonetti Helen Farmer Emilie Culwick Emma Fry Charlotte Phillips Megan Belcher Zoe Slater-Peters (Chartered MCIPD)

85% SOLD – JOIN US FOR A NIGHT THAT MATTERS On Thursday, 12 March 2026, we’ll transform Bristol Museum into a powerful celebration of leadership, accountability, and the Bristol spirit of standing up for what’s right. Together, we will celebrate organisations and individuals who are not just talking about equity, but delivering it. This isn’t just an awards night. It’s a statement about the city we are building together. As a Director of the Bristol Women in Business Charter, I’m incredibly proud to be part of this moment for our city. These awards matter because they represent accountability, visibility, and progress. They shine a light on what’s possible when businesses commit to creating workplaces where women can truly thrive — and when we hold ourselves to that commitment. This isn’t “just another awards night”. It’s a statement of Bristol’s values. On the night, we’ll be guided by the brilliant Sherrie Eugene-Hart, with live music from Grammy Award-winning Celestine, all set within a formal gala atmosphere designed to inspire, connect, and celebrate. Why attend? ✔️ To stand visibly behind equity and inclusive leadership ✔️ To celebrate Bristol’s trailblazers and changemakers ✔️ To reward your team with a meaningful, inspiring night out ✔️ To be part of a community that believes progress is better when we do it together Importantly, this is a not-for-profit event. Every ticket directly supports the ongoing work of the Charter and our mission to drive real change across workplaces in our city.  We’ve already sold 85% of tickets — and tickets are on sale until the end of February. Book here: https://lnkd.in/e6cJwusF Bristol has always led the way in equity and inclusion. I hope you’ll join us — not just to celebrate success, but to reaffirm what we stand for as a city. #ProudDirector #BristolWomenInBusiness #EquityInAction #Leadership #Inclusion #BristolBusiness #AwardsNight #FinalTickets Bristol Women in Business CharterBristol Women's VoiceWomen in Property South WestBianca Jones CIPDNick Sturge MBEEmilie CulwickAnita SawhneyLaura C AikenSerrie ChapmanJess WoodsfordSandra Trotman Meadows MBE DLMegan BelcherCharlotte PhillipsDan WoodKalpna WoolfMartino BurgessRebecca MearPhil SmithRobert Buckland

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 🔬 Yesterday marked International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In a city like Bristol, home to world-leading aerospace, tech, robotics, life sciences and outstanding universities, science and innovation are part of our identity. Women across our region are driving breakthroughs in engineering, launching tech start-ups, leading research teams, advancing climate solutions, and shaping the future of health and digital industries. Yet despite this progress, women and girls remain underrepresented across many STEM sectors, particularly at senior levels, in high-growth tech, and in investment-backed ventures. For Bristol to remain a truly world-class innovation city, inclusion cannot be optional. At the Bristol Women in Business Charter, we believe that representation matters everywhere decisions are made, from boardrooms to laboratories, from funding panels to founder networks. Diverse leadership drives better ideas, stronger businesses, and a more resilient regional economy. This week is a reminder to: • Encourage girls across Bristol and the South West to pursue STEM with confidence • Support women progressing into senior technical and leadership roles • Back women-led innovation with visibility, sponsorship and investment • Build workplace cultures where talent thrives without bias Progress takes intention, and collaboration across business, education and civic leadership. To the women and girls shaping science and innovation in Bristol: we celebrate your impact and remain committed to accelerating equity across our business community. #WomenInScience #IWDGS2026 #BristolWomenInBusiness #STEM #BristolTech #InclusiveInnovation Sandra Gordon Sonia Cohen Sarah Rice Kristal McNamara Laura C Aiken Nick Sturge MBE James Durie Jess Woodsford Anita Sawhney Bianca Jones CIPD Emma Fry Emilie Culwick Helen Farmer Serrie Chapman

We’re delighted to welcome Martino Burgess to the Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026 judging panel. Marti is a Partner at Knights, where she works as a corporate lawyer advising businesses on growth, investment and M&A. Alongside her legal career, she plays a significant leadership role in shaping Bristol’s civic, cultural and economic life. She chairs the Black South West Network, a Black-led racial justice organisation supporting Black and minoritised communities, businesses and organisations to flourish while actively challenging systemic barriers. She is also Vice Chair of the Bristol Legacy Foundation, working with partners including Bristol City Council to help implement the city’s Atonement and Reparations Motion and align reparatory justice efforts across Bristol. Marti’s influence extends deeply into the city’s cultural fabric. She is a co-owner of Lakota, one of Bristol’s most iconic music venues, and serves on boards including 91 Ways, alongside hands-on involvement in grassroots initiatives across the city. Her career spans law, culture and community leadership, united by a clear commitment to bridging business and civic life, shaping Bristol’s growth with creativity, values and purpose. We’re proud to have Marti bring her insight, integrity and perspective to the judging panel as we celebrate women driving impact across business, leadership and community in 2026. ------- We’d love you to join us 💛 📍 Bristol Museum, Queens Road 📅 Thursday 12 March 2026 ⏰ 7pm – late 👉 Full ticket download here: https://lnkd.in/eq6YjWHy Need more info? info@bristolwomeninbusinesscharter.org Sandra Gordon Kristal McNamara Lucy Kirmond Sonia Cohen Laura C Aiken Nick Sturge MBE Sandra Trotman Meadows MBE DL Jess Woodsford Sophie Joyce-Bonetti Helen Farmer Emilie Culwick Emma Fry Charlotte Phillips Megan Belcher Zoe Slater-Peters (Chartered MCIPD)