The event will directly support the next phase of Bristol Bus Boycott 360, including a historic bid to bring Martin Luther King III to Bristol this winter, marking the 60th anniversary of the Race Relations Act. This final year of the initiative represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for businesses to engage with Bristol’s civil rights legacy while actively shaping the future of racial and social justice.
Community - Press Releases
The Big Bristol Bus Boycott Business Breakfast: A Unique Opportunity For Business Leaders To Shape The Future
Bristol’s business community is being called upon to take part in a landmark event celebrating the city’s civil rights history while exploring the role of business in driving meaningful social change.
05/03/2025
On Friday 21st March at VWV Harbourside, the Big Bristol Bus Boycott Business Breakfast will bring together industry leaders, civic voices and community advocates as part of the final year of Bristol Bus Boycott 360 – a three-year initiative that has used public storytelling, art and education to promote racial and social equity. The event is supported by Redcliffe & Temple Business Improvement District (BID), which is committed to fostering an inclusive and socially responsible business community in Bristol. The BID’s backing reflects a shared ambition to ensure businesses play an active role in shaping a fairer, more inclusive future.
Steve Bluff, Director of Redcliffe & Temple BID, said:
“The Bristol Bus Boycott was a pivotal moment in our city’s history and its legacy continues to shape conversations around inclusion and equality today. As a business community, we have a responsibility to learn from the past and take action to create a more inclusive future. We’re proud to support the Big Bristol Bus Boycott Business Breakfast and encourage businesses across the city to get involved in this important initiative.”Since launching in 2022, Bristol Bus Boycott 360 has delivered a powerful range of initiatives that have amplified the city’s role in civil rights history. In 2023, a wrapped First Bus featuring the voices of boycott pioneers was taken to Parliament, where Keir Starmer publicly pledged to introduce a Race Equality Act – a commitment now expected to come into force in 2026.
The initiative has also driven major public storytelling projects, including murals, plaques, exhibitions and the Anthem for Change music project, which brought together young artists and boycott elders in a creative tribute to activism.
This year, Bristol Bus Boycott 360 will launch a national ‘Designs4Change’ competition in April, inviting creatives across the country to submit artwork inspired by the boycott. Winning designs will be displayed across bus stops, trains stations and shopping malls nationwide, with the winners announced on Thursday 28th August, the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.
From major exhibitions, national design competitions, talks and film screenings the final year of the Bristol Bus Boycott 360 promises to be its biggest yet. The final event of the year will take place on Tuesday 11th November at Wills Memorial Building, marking 60 years since the Race Relations Act and remembering the activists – such as Paul Stephenson – who helped bring about lasting change.
Julz Davis, Disruptor-In-Chief of Curiosity Un(Ltd) and founder of Bristol Bus Boycott 360, said:
"Businesses are central to shaping Bristol - not just economically, but socially. The Big Bristol Bus Boycott Business Breakfast is a chance for business leaders to connect, engage and take transformative and positive action to build a city that truly reflects the values of inclusion and equality."With support from Visit West, VVW Solicitors, Arts Council England, University of Bristol and strong interest from businesses and civic leaders, early registration is encouraged. For more details on the event and how your organisation can take part, click here.
Bristol Bus Boycott 360 is an ambitious dream to co-create 360 ways to help Bristol become the best UK city for people of all colours, cultures and class to live, work, study and play.
