About us
Our History
Bristol Junior Chamber is proud to have made an important contribution to the history of Bristol by furthering trade, commerce and industry, since the organisation was founded in 1948. BJC has been involved in a number of high-profile projects including:
- The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta – Formed by the BJC in 1978 and now one of the UK’s top five outdoor events.
- Bristol’s Heritage Walk – Formed by the BJC in 1984 in conjunction with the Bristol Tourist Information Centre, numbered plaques enable visitors to walk around some of the most exciting parts of the city centre.
- Secret Underground Bristol Book
- Bristol and Ballooning Book
- Brunel 200 – Exhibitions, projects and celebrations taking place during 2006 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Our Projects
The BJC has a strong reputation for developing and organising projects, supporting everything that’s fantastic about Bristol. These projects range from Business and Enterprise, Education and Training, Heritage and Culture, International Exchanges and Influencing.
Influencing
The BJC are active contributors to the agenda developed by Business West and the West of England Initiative. Members are involved in strategic forums, influencing policy such as transport and development. Presentations from key influencers across the region enable our membership to engage in debate, expressing the views and opinions of Bristol’s young business leaders.
Business and Enterprise
The B&E yearly programme includes activities such as networking events, topical talks or panel discussions, training sessions and industrial visits. The visits were initially developed to discuss developments and their environmental impact, this format has now progressed to industrial visits, providing BJC members with an insight into how other organisations and businesses function. Normally inaccessible to the general public, BJC members gain a fascinating insight into the mechanics of different organisations. Recent visits have included the Houses of Parliament, Bakesmiths Factory, Bristol Airport and the Elizabeth Shaw Chocolate Factory.
Education and Training
The BJC runs a Mock Interview Service for students aged 15 – 17 to practice their interview technique prior to attending university/work interviews. BJC members give a presentation to the school group focusing on completing application forms, interview preparation and interview technique before a team of BJC volunteers run mock interviews for the students. A rewarding and often challenging project, BJC members get as much out of this as the students.
Our Objectives
(a) To promote the trade, commerce, and industry of Bristol and its environs and the United Kingdom generally.
(b) To collect and disseminate statistical and other information relating to trade, commerce and industry.
(c) To promote, support or oppose legislative or other measures affecting trade, commerce and industry.
(d) To assist and support Business West in the attainment of objects (a), (b) and (c) above.
(e) To give experience to members in the procedure and conducting of business meetings and opportunity to acquire and develop other skills useful in business.
(f) To inform Business West of the views of members in relation trade, commerce, industry and shipping.
(g) To develop the acquaintance of members through the media of their business occupations and social activities.
(h) To promote membership of Business West.
(paraphrased from the memorandum of the Bristol Junior Chamber)
The Council of Management (CofM) is elected each year by the Membership. The CofM works together to ensure the smooth running and growth of Bristol Junior Chamber and is the main point of contact for all current and potential members.
The position of Vice President automatically leads to President, which in turn leads to Immediate Past President. This role is therefore in effect a three-year commitment leading the rest of CofM and the membership during that time.
The 2024-2025 CofM took up their positions on 5 April 2024, please find more information below:
President – Emma Carter
Vice President –Connor Jones
Immediate Past President – Georgia Corp
Treasurer –Hannah Diffey
Membership Secretary – Zara Brewer
Honorary Secretary – Rachel Horsburgh
Chair of Marketing, PR and Social Media – Aaron Sims
Chair of Business, Enterprise and Education – Kathryn Binnie and Rachel Griffith (joint position)
Chair of Heritage and Culture – Lara Wiggin
Chairs of Events and Social – Laura Heard
Chair of Charity – Danielle Argent
Chair of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion – George Hooton
Chair of Sport – Rose Gentle
For general enquiries, please email us at: [email protected]
The following people have held the post of President of the Bristol Junior Chamber:
| 1948 S V P Cornwell/P Kinnersley | 1985 C J Naylor |
| 1949 A F Bull/D A Newton | 1986 P Quigley |
| 1950 L G Philpott/J G Dodson | 1987 K W J Brown |
| 1951 C P Franklin | 1988 R A Harper |
| 1952 M F Andrews | 1989 S J Pitchers |
| 1953 L C H Smart | 1990 Robert Whittington |
| 1954 D H Carrick | 1991 M A Cavanna |
| 1955 G H Grimes | 1992 D A Geddes |
| 1956 P L Lynch | 1993 C S Merrick |
| 1957 F W M Arkle | 1994 D M M Elson |
| 1958 M R Clark | 1995 N Tolchard |
| 1959 P H Dyer | 1996 P Hillman |
| 1960 R V Culverwell | 1997 J Rickard |
| 1961 A Lam | 1998 Paul Brown |
| 1962 T J Organ | 1999 M Shaw |
| 1963 J P G Weston | 2000 J D Rimmer |
| 1964 P A Hilton | 2001 D M Ashman |
| 1965 B C Symons | 2002 P Angliss |
| 1966 J G Hordle | 2003 James Durie |
| 1967 G A L Bennett | 2004 Peter Sulzman |
| 1968 R C Bladon | 2005 Jon Rathbone |
| 1969 M J Gay | 2006 Ed Gunnery |
| 1970 R J Hill | 2007 Ben Hardy |
| 1971 K M Lansdown | 2008 Simon Gilbert |
| 1972 Bob Durie FRICS OBE | 2009 Sue Atkinson |
| 1973 J H W Pepper | 2010 Emma Glynn |
| 1974 M R Hill | 2011 David Bird |
| 1975 J G Brown | 2012 Savita Willmott (nee Custead) |
| 1976 F H Pearson | 2013 Tom Selway |
| 1977 W R Rowsell | 2014 Karl Brown |
| 1978 D H Cowgill | 2015 Ben St Quintin |
| 1980 M P Setter | 2016 Oliver Brown |
| 1979 M F H Ware | 2017 Charles Chami |
| 1981 J A Barrett | 2018 Kirsty Swan |
| 1982 A M Goodall | 2019 Alice Floate |
| 1983 D C J Evans | 2020 Jack Callow |
| 1984 M G Pearce | 2021 Daniel St Quintin |
Current Honorary Vice Presidents: W H R Durie OBE |
Would you like to join the BJC?
Any business minded person under the age of 40 who works within the Bristol region is encouraged to make an application to the BJC.
Have any questions or want an application form?