By Councilor Toby Savage, leader of South Gloucestershire Council:

THE South Glos Business Show is returning again this year and will take place at UWE’s University Enterprise Zone (UEZ) on Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 November.

The free, two-day event caters for start-ups and micro businesses, through to corporates and multinationals, across all business sectors. It will feature around 40 exhibitors, with a programme including talks from a wide range of speakers, networking events, specialist clinics and demonstrations, offering businesses in the area an opportunity to make new connections, build relationships and be inspired.

A wide range of topical issues will be discussed by experts and business leaders this year, including riding out economic uncertainty, cyber security, diversity in leadership and mental health in the workplace. There are also a number of sessions focused on the high street, looking at how changing communities, social values, social media and shifting culture are all affecting how we think about our high streets and the communities they serve.

Another important area on the agenda is around how businesses can play their part in responding to the climate and nature emergency.

South Gloucestershire Council’s climate and nature emergency declaration recognises that we all need to take urgent steps to address the climate challenges we face. The council launched its national award-winning Local Nature Action Plans last year as an enabling tool to support nature recovery and following their success we have been preparing a version of the toolkit for businesses too, which we will be introducing at the show.