The Business Exchange Bath & Somerset Issue 34: Autumn 2024 | Page 9

Upskill with Bath Spa University
BUSINESS NEWS

Bath shortlisted for best small city award

Bath is in the running for a prestigious national award for being the best small city in the UK , Europe and beyond thanks to its ambitious regeneration and place improvement projects .
The city has been selected as one of three national finalists in the Great Town or Small City category of the 2024 Urbanism Awards which recognise the best , most enduring or most improved urban environments .
Following a nomination by a member of the public , Bath was chosen as a finalist by a panel from the Academy of Urbanism which is a not-for-profit organisation committed to creating , sustaining , and learning from great cities , towns , and neighbourhoods .
The city was selected due to projects such as the Milsom Quarter Masterplan - a proposal to reimagine the northern part of the city centre by positioning the area as a fashion destination for the South West , including a new Fashion Museum in the Old Post Office building that will be the only museum in the UK dedicated to fashion heritage .
The panel also mentioned the city ’ s ambitious approach to tackling the climate and nature emergencies .
The Urbanism Awards have run every year since 2006 and the most recent winners in the Great Town or Small City category include Stromness in Scotland , Dún Laoghaire in Ireland and Penzance in Cornwall .
There are seven criteria for which the finalists are assessed : Leadership and Governance , Local Character , Amenity and Housing , Commercial Success and Viability , Environmental Sustainability , Community , Health and Wellbeing , and Connectivity .
Bath and the other finalists Lewes and Shrewsbury will be visited by the Academy of Urbanism later this year ahead of the winners ’ awards ceremony on 13th November in London . Councillor Paul Roper , Cabinet Member for
Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development , said , “ It ’ s fantastic that our projects to improve the urban landscape and environment of our communities are getting national recognition . To become a finalist for this award is a great achievement in itself .
“ The recognition for our Regeneration Team at the council is well deserved . They have been working tirelessly on reshaping our high streets and town centres in Radstock , Keynsham , Midsomer Norton and Bath , securing invaluable grant funding and making a real difference to our communities . We are looking forward to welcoming the Academy of Urbanism to Bath later this year to show them how our Bath Masterplan proposals are developing and demonstrate everything the city has to offer .”

BATH BID TO HOST BATH BUSINESS CONFERENCE 2024

Bath Business Improvement District ( BID ) is set to host the 2024 Bath Business Conference at Apex Hotel on Thursday 4th October .
The day ’ s theme is ‘ Better Business in Bath ’ and is designed to bring Bath ’ s businesses together to share their ideas . The day will look at the benefit of culture in Bath , putting
community purpose at the heart of your organisation and sustainability in business . Further sessions and workshops are planned for the day tackling mental health and wellbeing
in the workplace , women : reshaping the workplace and what young people want . The all-day event which is being sponsored by Gradwell will take place from
8:30am-4:30pm and tickets are on sale now via the Bath BID website .
Upskill with Bath Spa University
Subjects include :
• Data and AI
• Digital
• Creativity and Design
• Health
• Leadership
• Project management
• And more !
• Bespoke short courses to match your business needs
• Opportunities to upskill staff
• Design new courses for your customers and clients
Get in touch : shortcourses @ bathspa . ac . uk
Learn more :
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