About this Event
Influence. Connect. Act.
This is not a traditional conference.
It's an opportunity for people from Bristol, Bath, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Swindon and the places in between to come together and help shape the future of the region we share.
Bringing together businesses, policymakers, educators, researchers, community organisations, public services and civic leaders, the event will create space for meaningful conversations, new connections and practical action on the issues that matter most.
By joining us, you'll have the opportunity to:
Influence
Bring your perspective. Help identify the opportunities, challenges and priorities that matter to people, businesses and communities across the Greater West.
Connect
Meet people you wouldn’t normally meet. Connect with organisations and individuals from across the region, and discover who you could work with next.
Act
Turn ideas into action. Explore what could be done differently and contribute to the partnerships and projects that can drive positive change across our communities, economy and environment.
The Brunel Centre Unconference Principles
Five principles for open, constructive and purposeful conversations:
- Principle #1 Equal voices in a neutral space
Everyone takes part on the same footing; sessions are for discussions, not presentations.
- Principle #2 The agenda belongs to participants
Anyone can convene a session and participants decide where the conversation goes.
- Principle #3 Two feet and freedom to move
People can move freely between sessions; whoever turns up is the right group.
- Principle #4 Evidence helps to spark debate
Regional data and evidence is there to inform and test assumptions, not to close down debate.
- Principle #5 Capture and act
Each session leaves a short record that is shared freely. What we learn will feed into the Brunel Centre's work.
What comes out of the day won’t stay in the room. The ideas, insights and priorities we develop together will be captured and shared in a regional priorities paper, and used to inform the Brunel Centre’s future research, partnerships and activity — helping to turn the conversations of the day into practical action for the Greater West.
How the Brunel Centre Unconference will work
Rather than following a predetermined programme of presentations, everyone attending the Unconference will have the opportunity to help shape the agenda around the issues they believe deserve attention.
The discussion topics should focus on one or more of five themes.
Theme 1: A thriving business ecosystem
Theme 2: A labour market that works for all
Theme 3: A sustainable economic transition
Theme 4: A prosperous built environment
Theme 5: Maximising the opportunities of devolution
Whether you're working in business, local government, education, health, research, the voluntary sector or your local community, your perspective matters.
We'll share a form to submit discussion topics alongside the event programme in the coming weeks.
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Your data will be shared with our event partner, Business West, for the purpose of adminstering and delivering Unconference 2026. Business West's privacy policy is available .
Event venue & nearby stays
We The Curious, One Anchor Road, Bristol, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.