Bristol Business School was proud to host the South Gloucestershire Business Show 2025 at UWE’s Conference Centre on 19 – 20 November 2025. The two-day event brought together businesses, community partners and industry experts for discussion, networking and practical learning. The sessions focused on innovation, sustainability, leadership and regional growth.
As part of UWE Bristol’s commitment to supporting business and enterprise across the region, 16 Bristol Business School academics delivered workshops, keynote sessions and panel contributions with the aim of sharing research-informed insights directly with local organisations.
Programme Highlights
The event included a rich programme of sessions led by Business School colleagues. Across the two days, attendees engaged with topics ranging from AI and decision-making to the psychology of customer behaviour, sustainable business models, coaching-led leadership and the future of employee ownership. Workshops and talks were delivered by:
Dr Alison Miles – Rethinking success and sustainability in turbulent times
Dr Christopher Lipp – AI Orchestration for Better Business Decisions
Dr Tom Bowden-Green – Why customers do what they do
Professor Mario Vafeas and Dr Ed Little – Workplace alienation and employee ownership
Professor Mario Vafeas and Ellen Parkes – Knowledge Transfer Partnerships: Collaborating for growth
Briony Whitaker – Rethinking sustainability and the importance of context
Dr Karine Mangion-Thornley – From Manager to Coach
Professor Peter Bradley and Dr Basil Omar – Understanding business models for sustainability
Professor Carol Jarvis and Dr Kay Galpin – (Un)leadership from everywhere
Each session offered practical takeaways for SMEs and provided space for dialogue with academics actively engaged in research and practice across the fields of management, sustainability, innovation and organisational development.
Strengthening Regional Knowledge Exchange
The South Gloucestershire Business Show plays an important role in showcasing the expertise, creativity and resilience of the region’s business community. UWE Bristol was delighted to host this year’s show and to contribute to its programme through the knowledge and experience of Bristol Business School colleagues.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with the South Gloucestershire business community and supporting organisations to innovate, grow and thrive.