During the early 1980s, towns and cities throughout the UK were in crisis; recession had damaged the UK economy and cities were the first to feel its effects. Economic decline caused unemployment levels to rise resulting in the eruption of riots throughout UK cities. Realising the need to find a solution, the CBI in 1988 published a significant report on business and urban regeneration.
The report detailed that urban decay was a problem whose solution lay beyond charity, but more importantly, it highlighted that Business must provide leadership and vision to reverse the cycle of economic and social decline. The CBI report sparked a nationwide effort from the business community to unite and work alongside local governance in order to address the problems that
plagued their cities.
It was in 1989, that a group of 12 visionary Bristol business leaders responded to this unrest, forming The Initiative, and set straight to work on addressing the social and economic issues of their city.
Initiatives have since been formed in Bath and, more recently, within the wider remit of Business West in Swindon. Today, over 160 business leaders are engaged in developing a shared vision. A vision to create a successful place for people to live, work and invest in for all its communities.