BSU: Open for Business
Event
BSU: Open for Business
Wednesday 3 June, 2026 – Wednesday 3 June, 20268:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Commons, Newton Park, Bath Spa University
Join us for a focused half-day at Bath Spa University. BSU: Open for Business offers a unique chance to save yourself from navigating labyrinthine departments trying to track down the opportunities, and focus your energy on accessing all the exceptional talent, expertise and practical support you need.
- Solve real business challenges
- Identify future talent
- Access expertise, funding and specialist facilities
- Upskill your team for long-term resilience
Whether you're tackling a specific issue, looking to grow, or need new people and ideas, this first-of-its-kind event brings together everything BSU has to offer - all in one place, in one morning.
No fluff: just useful conversations, practical ideas and clear next steps.
Solve real business challenges
Got a problem you can’t quite crack?
Bring a real, current challenge and explore how BSU can help you move forward.
From HR, legal and leadership to sustainability, storytelling and customer experience, our experts work with businesses to solve real problems through consultancy, student projects and collaborative work.
Hear directly from clients who have already benefited, saving time, reducing costs and unlocking new opportunities.
Meet and develop future talent
Struggling to find and retain the right people?
Discover how to:
- Recruit new talent
- Develop your existing workforce
- Build capability through internships, projects and training
From first hires to leadership development, BSU can support your workforce at every stage.
Access expertise, funding and specialist facilities
Need resources you can’t access inhouse?
Use BSU’s facilities, expertise and funding to move faster:
- Specialist facilities (TV, film, podcast and creative studios)
- Technical, consultancy and academic expertise
- Funding support for collaborative projects
Learn how other businesses are already using these resources to improve their marketing and resilience, develop new ideas and grow.
Upskill and grow your team for long term resilience
How are you building resilience in uncertain times?
Develop your team with flexible, practical training shaped by real business needs:
- Leadership and change management
- Workforce development and retention
- Creative approaches to growth and innovation
Delivered by academics and practitioners with real-world experience, from short courses to tailored programmes.
What to expect
A practical, half-day format designed to add value to busy businesses:
- Networking breakfast, 8am start
- Short, focused keynote and case study sessions
- Real examples of businesses working with BSU
- Opportunities to connect directly with experts, staff and students
- Opportunity to tour our world-class facilities
- Networking lunch to continue conversations
Tickets cost £25 and include breakfast, lunch and full access to all sessions and tours.
Book your place now and learn how BSU can support your business in practice.
Agenda
8am – 9.15am Breakfast networking
9:15am – 9:30am Welcome address – BSU is Open for Business
Andy Salmon, Professor of Social and Creative Enterprise at Bath Spa University, discusses why BSU is Open for Business and how this aligns with the newly announced Strategy 2035. This will be followed by a quick introduction to the morning by BSU’s Head of Business Development, Peter Russell.
9:30am – 9:50am Keynote: Veronica Hannon and Daniel O'Connor, Transform Comms
Discover the unexpected ways in which collaboration, communication and innovation can bring fresh ideas to business, support sustainability and equip you with cutting-edge ideas to solve your business challenges.
9:50am – 10:15am Pitch and Panel: Talent acquisition and development
How can BSU help you to identify, recruit and develop your staff? Join Ronnie, Dan and a panel of BSU experts as they explore the different ways the University can respond to your staffing related challenges and opportunities.
10:15am – 10:30am Transformation in Practice: Developing Human Skills and Wellbeing during times of change
Hear from the team at Bath Building Society, and Helen Gormley, BSU Academic Consultant and Executive and Leadership Coach, how the organisation has benefited from the training designed to underpin their business transformation programmes.
10:30am – 11.00am Solving Business Problems
Join us for an interactive session in which you have the chance to learn how the Bath Business School has been working with local companies and influence how we can support you in the future. Led by Steven Goulton, Course Director in Law, and Leslie Redwood, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Mogers Drewett LLP.
11.00am – 11:20am Networking Break and First Tour Departure
11:20am - 11:40am The Impact of Creative Thinking on Organisation Culture and Performance
Join our panel of creative innovators as they discuss the ways that BSU has worked with businesses in the region to develop creative thinking and the value of creative mechanisms such as artists in residence, installations and creative sub-contractors.
11:40am – 12:10pm Where Research Meets Business Need
Led by BSU’s Research and Enterprise team, find out how your business can access the expertise of the University and hear real examples of how collaborating on storytelling, technology and products have improved businesses in the region.
12:10pm - 12:30pm Creative Digital Media Innovation in BaNES and beyond
Join The Studio as they explore how businesses have benefited from our Innovation Hub, how businesses can access our innovative facilities, equipment and expertise, and how BSU has helped to grow a creative digital business.
12:30pm – 12:45pm Growing Sustainable Businesses – Lessons from the world of fashion, design and retail
Future Fashion Works and the SOMER team will discuss how businesses can work together towards sustainability through local supply chains and shared retail channels.
12:45 – 1pm Closing Keynote and Wrap Up
1:15pm Networking Lunch and Second Tour Departure
Keynote speaker: Transform Comms
Our first Keynote address will be from local entrepreneurs Veronica Hannon and Daniel O'Connor, co-founders of Transform Comms. Ronnie and Dan have together built several successful businesses and supported the success of many more.
Transform is over 16 years old and helps organisations of all sizes (from owner-founded ambitious businesses to large international corporations) navigate growth, change and complexity.
Ronnie and Dan will speak about the importance of collaboration, communication and innovation in building a sustainable business.
They will show how companies and their employees can benefit - sometimes in unexpected ways - from working with academic institutions like Bath Spa University.
Ronnie and Dan are regularly invited to share their knowledge including through TEDx talks and industry and academic events.