The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 11: Spring 2019 | Page 32

THE RECRUITMENT PANEL Juice Recruitment has announced the launch of a special one-off event happening this May in Bath. Juice has teamed up with some of Bath’s most prolific business owners, legal firms, HR professionals and media partners to add value and recruitment expertise to organisations looking to recruit in 2019. On Thursday 2nd May, Juice Recruitment will host an inspiring, information event at Walcot House, Bath. Starting at 6pm a panel of recruitment experts will take to the floor to answer questions on: • How they are attracting talent to your business • What their selection process looks like • The onboarding of new recruits to promote long- term engagement and commitment • Motivating teams with reward and recognition programmes – Giving incentive ideas • Progression and development - Internal structures to retain great talent within businesses • The challenges we face in the current economic climate and how businesses can overcome these The panel will also be discussing immigration and how this looks post-Brexit. Emma Summers, director of Juice Recruitment said, “We would also love to know about any burning issues you would like to be discussed as we will be taking questions from the floor. “We look forward to seeing you on Thursday the 2nd of May.” If you would like to register your interest for this insight into recruitment event, contact Jenny at Juice Recruitment on 01225447870 or email: [email protected] INDIES, COMMUNITIES & BATH by Anji Henderson, Chair of Small Business Focus There is a lot to be said for being part of the community. Within our wonderful city, we have groups, organisations, associations, charities and non- profit groups that exist simply to support our small businesses and indies. Yes, Small Business Focus is just one of these and we are determined to be increasingly more active in our support. The chances are, you won’t need to look too far to find your nearest organisation, Kingsmead Square, the Guildhall Market, Moorland Road, Widcombe, The Guild, Walcot Street – just a few communities that have a history of creating, curating and hosting beneficial activities designed to promote and support their small businesses. The egg theatre is currently promoting and actively seeking sponsors for a city-wide egg hunt that will help to promote many of our independent businesses and several of the communities I have mentioned are getting involved as a group. Yes, I happily hold my hand up and say I am very involved in that project, but the point is that The Guildhall Market Traders are sponsoring an egg in the Great Big egg Hunt, as are The Kingsmead Square Association, The Guild and Small Business Focus – all as groups. It is our small businesses, our indies and their supporters that make our communities and it is our communities that make 32 THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2019 our city. Get involved in your community, support your local indies and help retain the true spirit of Bath. The Great Big Egg Hunt will run from 13th April to 12th May, taking in the Easter Holidays and the first May Bank Holiday. Public participation is free and families can work their way around the city, hunting down all the individually decorated eggs displayed in and around our local businesses and attractions, answering all the questions and dropping off their entries at the egg cafe. All monies raised through sponsorship and associated donations will contribute to the accessibility programme at the egg theatre for children – providing signed performances, audio described performances, relaxed performances and provide bursary places for activities to aide families who would not otherwise be able to participate. If you would like to get involved email: [email protected] or call 01225 823485 IT’S ALL ABOUT COLLABORATION Leslie Redwood, Head of Business Development and Partnerships at Visit Bath. As we progress into 2019 we reflect on the great deal of progress achieved in 2018 under our new Executive Chairman, Craig Jenkins, and look forward to growing more strategic partnerships across the city and region for Visit Bath. As our marketing activity increases with more digital, social and campaign activities than ever before - and our new visitbath. co.uk website attaining even greater heights of reach, we are working to add in new events across the year and a revitalised and reinvigorated broadened membership scheme. We are also increasing the range and activity of our online shop and Bath Box Office. We are increasingly finding that partnership working across all sectors in the city is becoming more vital as the challenges of high streets, overall economy and austerity continue to impact on us all - be they residents, businesses or visitors. I attended the hugely successful South West Charity Conference at The Apex Hotel (organised by The Business Exchange- well done Anita and team!) and what became very clear was that partnership working across all sectors is most definitely the ‘way ahead’ for all of us - be that as residents of the city, employees, employers, visitors, charities or other relevant organisations. We can only respond to these huge challenges effectively together. As many of you already know, here at Visit Bath we have been working on this over the last three years building more partners, charity and arts and cultural support, place making support, new sector support as well as the obvious championing of Economic Development and Regeneration of the city. This is not only in the Retail and Visitor Economy sectors, but also in our burgeoning Professional Services, Creative, Tech and Innovation sectors, as well as our two amazing universities. We are also working with an increasingly regional focus with our partners Destination Bristol and The West of England Combined Authority. We have formed a brand new Financial Services Forum (see page 4) along with Royds Withy King to champion this sector and have also gained the support of Invest in Bath for this new partnership. Our launch event at The Abbey Hotel was a huge success and we are already planning our second forum to support financial services firms across the city and region. This is part of the story of ‘New Bath’ - a value add to our already strong retail and visitor economy. We have also worked with Bath Spa University on a business networking event and look forward to many of these in the future embracing the new direction, energy and future of our rapidly changing city and region- the universities will, without doubt, be a key part of this future vision. Should you feel you are able to contribute to this new future and more regional partnership way of working - then please do not hesitate to contact me at the email below - we are here to support our fair city and region! [email protected]