Business in Bristol to thrive in 2012 – council leader
The case for Bristol to become the home of the government's Green Investment Bank will continue to be made this year by the city's authority. Bristol City Council leader Barbara Janke also told Insider it was hoped multimillion-pound government investment could be unlocked for super-fast broadband to be rolled out across the city.
Bristol has entered the race to be Europe's top green city in 2014 and is in the final stages of securing "major" European funding for large-scale energy-saving measures in the city, Janke said.
"Together with our business partners we shall continue to make the case for Bristol to be the home of the new Green Investment Bank, and to unlock multimillion-pound government investment for super-fast broadband roll out in cities.
"Bristol is recognised across the UK as one of the most economically strong and resilient cities in the country," she said.
The leader cites the funding of more than £60m for transport schemes such as the South Bristol Link and the city's rapid transit bus route from Ashton Vale to Temple Meads as examples.
"This confidence in the city has brought major dividends throughout 2011. The government's recent announcement that they will fund all our major transport schemes shows they share our belief that this significant investment in our infrastructure will help drive growth."
Janke added: "In its first year we've shown the benefits we can make by working closely with business. This has led to a huge injection of funding through the Local Enterprise Partnership from the Regional Growth Fund.
"Of course there will be challenges in 2012 but we are well placed – unemployment is falling over recent months in the city and new companies are moving to Bristol, such as Danish offshore and marine engineering company LIC Energy UK."
The company is moving into offices in the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone and plans to recruit up to 20 staff over the next two years.
"All these opportunities will reinforce the confidence in Bristol and help create the conditions for business to thrive in 2012," Janke said.
