Bristol Junior Chamber Meeting Minutes

Tuesday 2nd June 2015 6pm Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Attendees; 48 attendees

Nadia Abdulla, Gemma Alaway, Tom Alexander, Rosy Allan, Paul Anslow, Rachel Arkle, Tom Bacon, Robert Barnes, Lucy Bartlett, Calum Black, Amy Bracey, Karl Brown, Oliver Brown, Jack Callow, Andrew Casselden, Chris Conway, Caroline Coxon, Chris Dowling, Laura East, Robert Holloway, Catherine Hall, Catherine Haugh, Melissa Houston, James Milne-Smith, Robert Nye, Carly O'Dwyer, Gemma-Jane Ogden, Alice Peacock, Rebecca Purchase, Heather Rees, Alex Riddell, Nicholas Roberts, Anna Rutherford, Ashley Sandeman, Gareth Simpson, Lizzie Smith, Andie Spragg, Ben St Quintin, Adam Staite, Kirsty Swan, Jonathan Williams, Alex Wong 42 members

Josie Alexander, Laura Coombes, Tom Donaldson, Lucy Kirkbright, Hannah Mingo, Charlotte Taylor 6 guests

Paul Rummer - Bristol Old Vic

Explanation of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and their training, plus the development plans for the development of the building.

Paul Wilson Bristol is Open

Bristol becoming the worlds first programmable city. Bristol as a laboratory for change with various world firsts including the IMAX

theatre, smart grids on renewable energy systems, 4k cinema in the Watershed. The first time the University of Bristol and UWE has been brought together in such a way around this project.

The world of Smart Cities is becoming a hot topic. Detail about various projects and developments including sensors in buildings, modelling cities using BIM. Also working with projects such as Happy City, to monitor happiness, health and well-being and not just GDP.

The growth in world population, and the growth of people living in cities, are important factors. We are a playable city, we use technology to make the city fun (shadows/lampposts for 6 weeks).

What is it that connects to everything? The telco networks pervasiveness can gather data. We can simulate, gather and use data to improve our cities. We are reaching out to other cities to connect with us and our environment.

Can we use technology to make life in the city better and is it worth doing?

Driverless cars in Bristol are being developed, Digital Prom venues to create 1 performance at the same time, lots of different things being developed and organised. Lots of experiments, within the intelligent city, and using open data.

When will it work for who? Societal and technical combination. The network will be available and people can use this data and these ideas. We will have long term partners and advisors, there is plenty of investment that has gone into this (75m worth of value). Firms can get involved and commit for 5 years, and local groups/teams can also do so and pay as you go.

Ben St.Quintin (BSQ) Thank you Paul. Any questions.

OB Will a driverless car be in use in my lifetime?

PW There is a driverless car already working in San Francisco, people sit facing each other with cocktail bar in between. I do think it will be within our lifetime.

KS Why the focus on cities? Countryside and suburbs are the people who struggle, why not venture out further?

PW There is a global phenomenon of verbalisation, half of the worlds population live in cities and this is growing. It is where 80% of economy and 70% of people come from. The city phenomenon is a global phenomenon, 1.8 million people a day are added to the urban population. This isnt necessarily all good news, it is a huge challenge. We do take this out into the surrounding area, but there are parts of Britain that have done a lot of work on spreading signals around the countryside.

GJO Hacking and global terrorism and people breaking into global systems, are you working with people about how to use this for good and not evil?

PW There is a quantum cryptology department at UWE, who work with us. They are wanting to use the network, they are very experimental, and there are risks.

RN You have signed some 5 year contracts, where do you want to be in 5 years time?

PW In 5 years time we will have an operations centre where we will gather data. One of the key targets is to reduce our carbon footprint, were able to measure the carbon emissions more in real time and then to be able to intervene than before. The West needs to skill-up our young people, a project like this that teaches young people will be a very useful thing.

LB Is your plan to adapt homes, or move people into new homes?

PW Sphere Project Bristol has an animation by Aardman about this project, the benefits of staying in your own home and the downfalls of having intrusive technology in your own home. Watch this video!

Paul Rummer (speaker) Im really excited by this, we do a lot of work with young people, and with Schools who cannot afford things being able to go into Schools digitally, would be great. Doing vocal skills with actors online would be incredible.

Formal BJC Meeting -

BSQ Thanks to those who came to Spring Drinks, and 45 people from Bordeaux (students, councillors, representatives of the Mayor) was a huge success, thank you to those who helped with this and those who hosted. They were very impressed and grateful. Spring Drinks very successful, thank you to Becky and the team. Womens

Awareness Week (a 5 day programme) ran fantastically for young female students from South Bristol, look out for some PR about this event.

Oliver Brown Vice President The Bristol LEP (encouraging growth in Bristol) are setting up a financial services group, and would like a BJC member to sit on their board especially someone young and fresh for the team. I will report back next month, should we have a number of people who want to be involved.

Rebecca Purchase Chair of Events & Social - Thank you to those who came along, Facebook please like/tag/share. I am in the process of organising Members Dinner. Please keep dates free in October.

Charles Chami Chair of Business & Enterprise Thursday 11th June, tour to Bloodhound (supersonic car), 10 and open to guests and members as well. Eventbrite link to register.

Gareth Mason Chair of Heritage and Culture Not present, BSQ read on his behalf Civic Society Event, Tuesday 9th June.

Laura East Chair of PR & Marketing Email Laura for any events on social media, Facebook & Twitter.

Rob Barnes Chair of Education & Skills Bristol Leadership Programme dinner (Marvin Rees, July 6th onwards, if you are interested please send your information through especially not lawyers/accountants). Womens Awareness Week thank you Georgie and Claire. Young Enterprise if anyone wants to get involved please see the Facebook page. St.Brendans College for interviews and Bradley Stoke speed networking, details for these are on the emails and please contact for information.

Tom Alexander Treasurer Please pay your invoices.

Alice Peacock Honorary Secretary Apologies for the issues with the dates for this weeks email (!) but all made it ok. Any changes to make with details or issues with emails please get in touch. Everything will be sent on email, including minutes.

Heather Rees Chair of Membership Reminder about pop-up drinks and introduce new members.

Catherine Hall from Foot Anstey Disputes Adam Staite EC Harris Surveyor Project Manager Andy Casselden EC Harris Project Manager Gareth Simpson Digital Marketing for Web Design and Army Reservist Lizzie Smith Clarke Willmott Family law, mainly in Taunton Nadia Abdulla Park Street Events and experiential events James Milne-Smith QS for Sweett Group

Ben St.Quintin BJC dragonboating team, this Sunday if you are in the team good luck and please come down to support. Team dressed as Wheres Wally if you want to try and spot us! Its a great day out so hopefully you can join us.

19.45 Adjourning to Kings Arms on Whiteladies Road.