Bristol City Leap, a partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and Vattenfall Heat UK, has signed the Bristol Equalities Charter alongside several of its supply chain partners, including Thermamech and JeffWay.

The signing underlines Bristol City Leap’s commitment to helping improve equality, diversity and inclusion across Bristol. Its signing alongside supply chain partners enables it to extend this commitment to its wider supplier network in the city.

James Sterling, Communications and Social Value Manager for Bristol City Leap said: “Today marks an important milestone on our journey to creating a greener, more just and more inclusive response to the climate crisis. At Bristol City Leap, we put social value at the heart of everything that we do, ensuring that our efforts to decarbonise the city, also deliver the greatest opportunities to bring everyone along on the journey to net zero.

“We are proud to be building a broad partnership of local suppliers that share in our vision of a more inclusive Bristol and through our combined efforts we will ensure that opportunities for good quality jobs that are paid a fair wage are open to Bristol’s communities.”

Aaron Ascott, Delivery Director and Co-founder at Thermamech, a supply chain partner of Bristol City Leap, said: “We’re proud to be joining Bristol City Leap in signing the Bristol Equalities Charter. We’re committed to the values the Charter represents, and believe a just transition entails not only helping Bristol reach net zero but ensure a low carbon future is fair for all.”

The Bristol Equalities Charter was first launched in November 2018 and requires signatories to commit to making Bristol a welcoming city, recognising, valuing and celebrating diversity, while also building good relations and understanding between people.

Signatories are also agreeing to promote inclusion, participation and equal access, challenge discrimination, harassment, bullying, hate crime and victimisation. By becoming signatories to the Bristol Equalities Charter, Bristol City Leap, Thermamech, JeffWay and many more become members of the Bristol Equalities Network, giving them access to regular information and good practice to support them in realising the Charter’s values.

Chris Way, Director at JeffWay, another supply chain partner of Bristol City Leap, added: “Bristol is a city of great diversity, talent and innovation. Signing up to the Equalities Charter sends the message that Bristol is a city where everyone counts, and that businesses including ours will stand up for the right for everyone to be heard fairly, no matter who they are.”

The signing builds on Bristol City Leap’s existing pledge to embed social value in its work across the city and to support Bristolians through initiatives such as partnerships with local youth groups and through its Community Energy Fund, which provides funds for local community-led energy projects.

For more information about the Bristol Equality Charter, please visit the following link: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council/policies-plans-and-strategies/equality-diversity-and-cohesion-policies/bristol-equality-charter

To find out how local community groups from across Bristol can apply for support from Bristol City Leap’s Community Energy Fund, please visit the following link: https://www.bristolcityleap.co.uk/community/community-energy-fund/