On 17th July 2026, Together Gloucestershire representatives joined other business, education, local government, and voluntary sector leaders at Patch in Gloucester to discuss how to drive investment into the county. The following is an overview of panel discussions throughout the day.
What does it take to build a stronger local economy?
That was the question at the heart of our recent event with Business Insights Gloucestershire, where leaders from business, education, local government, and the voluntary sector came together to explore the future of economic growth across the county.
From skills and employment to procurement, housing, and transport, the discussion covered many of the challenges facing Gloucestershire today. Yet one message consistently emerged above all others that collaboration is the key to sustainable economic growth.
Throughout the event, Together Gloucestershire was highlighted as an example of how businesses, education providers, charities, and public sector organisations can work together to create lasting opportunities for local people and local businesses.
Why collaboration is essential for Gloucestershire’s economy
Gloucestershire is home to world-leading industries, innovative SMEs, thriving communities, and ambitious education providers. However, unlocking the county’s full economic potential requires organisations to work together rather than in isolation. After all, no one achieves anything alone.
The Keeping Investment Local panel, chaired by Ian Mean MBE, repeatedly emphasised that future success will depend on stronger partnerships between:
- Local businesses and SMEs
- Colleges and education providers
- Local authorities
- Community organisations
- Large employers and anchor institutions
By connecting these sectors, Gloucestershire can create a more resilient local economy that benefits businesses, employees, and communities alike. We were thrilled that Together Gloucestershire was recognised throughout the discussion as an initiative already helping make these vital connections happen.
Supporting Gloucestershire SMEs through better procurement
One of the strongest themes during the day centred around local procurement and how more opportunities can be created for SMEs in Gloucestershire.
Many small and medium-sized businesses have the expertise and capability to deliver high-quality services but often face significant barriers when trying to access larger contracts. Complex procurement processes, certification requirements, and limited visibility of opportunities can prevent local suppliers from competing effectively, or often at all.
During a panel, our co-founder Adam Vines explained how Together Gloucestershire has spent the last four years building relationships with major organisations, while also helping local businesses understand what is required to become procurement ready.
Rather than simply introducing buyers to suppliers, we support businesses to understand:
- Procurement processes
- Compliance and certification requirements
- Expectations of larger organisations
- How to position themselves as trusted local suppliers
This approach is helping to strengthen Gloucestershire’s local supply chains while improving opportunities for businesses to win new work.
Building stronger local supply chains
One of the most profound moments for us, came during a discussion about community wealth building and local procurement. As panellists explored how Gloucestershire could strengthen its local economy, Jack Kidder from HBD (Golden Valley Development), shared his view that:
“Together Gloucestershire has something very special.”
Other panellists, including Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, also recognised the importance of supporting local procurement and creating more opportunities for Gloucestershire businesses to become part of local supply chains.
These were moments of great pride for us, recognising that procurement is evolving and highlighting the growing recognition that meaningful partnerships between businesses, public sector organisations, and education providers can create lasting economic benefits across the county.
Increasingly, public sector organisations and larger employers are exploring ways to make procurement more accessible to local businesses. This includes breaking larger contracts into smaller opportunities and encouraging collaborative bids between SMEs. Instead of competing individually for every contract, businesses can work together, combining their skills and expertise to deliver larger projects.
This collaborative approach truly reflects the ethos behind Together Gloucestershire – helping organisations build relationships that create long-term economic value for themselves and the county.
Creating Social Value across Gloucestershire
Stronger local supply chains don’t just benefit individual businesses, they also help retain investment within Gloucestershire, creating jobs and strengthening community wealth. Economic growth should benefit everyone, and businesses play a vital role in creating wider social value within their communities.
CSR and Social Value consultant Clare Thayers highlighted Together Gloucestershire as an example of organisations investing beyond commercial outcomes. By supporting local communities, training local people, working alongside councils and voluntary organisations, and creating lasting social impact, we’re seeing an important shift in how businesses measure success.
A powerful reminder that strong communities and strong businesses go hand in hand.
Connecting education and business for future skills
Creating a thriving economy doesn’t just focus on the now. It’s also dependent on developing the next generation of talent. A significant part of the discussion focused on strengthening links between education providers and employers to ensure young people are equipped with the skills businesses need. It’s why at Together Gloucestershire we work with colleges and education providers to develop stronger partnerships around:
- T Levels
- Work experience
- Employer engagement
- Career pathways
- Skills development
Together Gloucestershire is proud to be supporting a postgraduate research project being undertaken at the University of Bristol Business School, and we welcomed five postgraduate researchers to the event on the 17th July. Facilitated by Qing Lin, one of the founder volunteers of Together Gloucestershire, this partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful connections between academia, businesses, and the wider Gloucestershire community that benefit everyone.
Connections like these give businesses the opportunity to help shape future talent while providing students with meaningful experiences that improve their readiness for employment. The panel agreed that closer collaboration between education and business will be essential if Gloucestershire is to retain its talented young people and address future workforce challenges.
But education is only one part of the conversation. Panellists acknowledged that young people often face wider barriers to employment, including transport, confidence, mental health, and access to opportunities. Creating successful career pathways therefore requires more than qualifications alone.
By bringing together employers, education providers, and community organisations, Together Gloucestershire supports a more joined-up approach that helps young people develop the confidence, experience, and connections needed to succeed in the workplace.
Building Gloucestershire’s future together
The event concluded with incredible optimism about the county’s future.
While challenges remain including housing affordability, transport infrastructure, workforce development, and retaining graduate talent, the panel agreed that Gloucestershire has significant strengths on which to build. Innovation, entrepreneurship, education, and community partnership all provide a strong foundation for future growth.
By connecting businesses with education providers, supporting SMEs to become procurement-ready, encouraging stronger local supply chains and promoting partnerships that create social value, Together Gloucestershire is helping shape a stronger, more resilient and more inclusive local economy.
The recurring message throughout the event was simple: collaboration delivers better outcomes, and as Gloucestershire continues to grow, collaboration will remain one of its greatest strengths.
Together Gloucestershire is proud to be helping make that collaboration a reality.
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