Opportunities

• Urban change has created opportunities in Bristol
• Social opportunities in Bristol

  • Rapid growth of Bristol's population
  • Ethnically diverse population resulting from high levels of migration
  • Bristol has a youthful population with two universities
  • Over 2 million people live within 50km of Bristol
  • Bristol's connectivity has improved with a second River Severn crossing and improvements to motorways in the area
• Bristol's cultural mix


  • Youthful population fuels a lively underground music culture
  • The Colston Hall hosts notable artists from diverse genres
  • Vibrant theatre scene with the Bristol Old Vic, the Bristol Hippodrome, and the Tobacco Factory
  • Multicultural demographics enrich the city's attractions
  • Diverse culinary options reflecting the city's multicultural influence
• Recreation and entertainment in Bristol

  • Home to two professional football clubs, City and Rovers, and a rugby union team
  • Hub for Gloucestershire County Cricket
  • Sports teams continually upgrading their stadiums to offer diverse leisure, conference facilities, and accommodation options
• Shopping in Bristol


  • Cribbs Causeway retail park outside the city impacted the older Broadmead shopping complex in the city centre
  • Initiatives to revitalize the Central Business District (CBD) and draw shoppers back
  • Pedestrianization of the area and installation of CCTV cameras for enhanced safety
  • Creation of a more appealing shopping environment through new street furniture, attractive floral displays, and landscaping
  • Development of open street markets to add to the shopping variety
  • Improved public transportation to the centre with options such as park-and-ride services
• Tourism in Bristol


  • Transformation of the nearby Old Market district into a conservation area to boost spending
• Economic opportunities in Bristol

  • Migration of skilled youthful entrepreneurs from other areas of the UK and abroad
  • Research and development conducted by the local universities and the skilled, educated graduate workforce
  • Extensive urban regeneration transforming derelict industrial buildings and brownfield sites
  • Four hundred new companies have moved into Bristol's Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone
  • New superfast broadband infrastructure
  • Bristol's cultural heritage and 'green' credentials
• Historically, Bristol's primary industries were centred around its role as a port
• The closure of the city centre port resulted in vacant warehouses, which have since been repurposed into residential flats and venues for new industrial ventures
• Significant growth has been witnessed in Bristol's tertiary (service-oriented) and quaternary (high-tech) sectors
• As of 2015, Bristol boasted an unemployment rate below the UK average, and the employment growth rate in Bristol is forecasted to outpace that of the UK overall
• High-tech industries in Bristol


  • Bristol is a hotspot for micro-electronic and silicon design businesses, boasting 50 firms – the largest cluster outside California's Silicon Valley
  • Global companies like Aardman Animations, Hewlett-Packard, and Toshiba have set up bases in Bristol alongside smaller firms specializing in robotics, 3D printing, and other cutting-edge technologies
  • Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei, has made substantial investments in the city
  • £100 million government grant establishing Bristol as a SuperConnected City with broadband download speeds of at least 80Mbps
  • Strong partnership between the city council and the university
  • Highly educated and skilled workforce, advanced research carried out at the university, and a culture of collaboration across various industries in research and development efforts
• In 2015, Bristol was the first UK city to be designated the prestigious European Green Capital status with a strategic plan to achieve significant advancements in transport, energy efficiency, and renewable energy by 2020
• The city is dedicated to expanding job opportunities in low-carbon industries, aiming to increase the current 9000 jobs to 17000 by 2030
• The green economy within the city has shown promising growth, with a current annual rate as high as 4.7 per cent
• Bristol's achievements as European Green Capital in 2015


  • 175 businesses established a 'Green' action plan
  • Major events included an international festival focusing on leadership in green technology and an international competition for developing mobile apps and environmental awareness games
  • The city installed its first 100 electric car charging points
  • Every primary school student in Bristol planted a tree, contributing to the city's green coverage
• Urban greening in Bristol

  • Over a third of the city dedicated to open spaces, with over 90 per cent of residents living within 350m of parklands or waterways
  • Home to eight nature reserves and three hundred parks
  • Transformation of Queen Square, a busy dual carriageway, into an open green space featuring cycle routes
  • Elevating Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) to top conservation condition by 2026
  • Designating 27 per cent of the city as part of a wildlife network
  • Setting objectives for wildlife in non-natural habitats like cemeteries
  • Achieving a tree coverage of 30 per cent across the city
  • New housing development at Portbury Wharf approved to develop the adjacent area into a nature reserve
• In 2019 the 'Replant Bristol' campaign was launched, with the target to plant 250 000 new trees by 2030 to contribute to the city's carbon neutral goal by 2050
• Bristol's Integrated Transport System (ITS)


  • Bristol sees more people walking and cycling than any other UK city, with 57 per cent of its population opting for these modes of transport
  • The city aims to double the number of cyclists by 2020
  • Developing an Integrated Transport System (ITS) to connect different forms of transport within the city and surrounding areas
  • The ITS aims to enhance accessibility to and within the city, thereby reducing traffic congestion, cutting transport costs, improving the profitability of city industries, and increasing employment opportunities
  • The Rapid Transit Network is a component of this strategy, comprising three bus routes that link the central Temple Meads railway station with the city's Park and Ride sites
  • Plans for numerous rail improvements, including the line's electrification to London, to foster greener transportation, ensure more reliable journeys, and improve connections throughout southern England and South Wales