The 9th of April saw the debut of the Sedgemoor Business Conference, the first in a new series of flagship events that the Chamber will stage each spring. The conference opened with our headline announcement: Bridgwater Chamber is rebranding as Sedgemoor Chamber of Commerce. The remainder of the day spotlighted the major projects and business opportunities now taking shape across the region.

Somerset Council opened the morning with a clear statement of vision and a pledge to work hand-in-hand with local business organisations. Funding experts SWIG Finance and The FSE Group followed, stressing that future lending decisions will focus on the people behind the plans, not just automated tick-box scoring.

Sustainability then took centre stage. Gravity’s team described the remarkable transformation of the former ROF site into a world-leading hub for low-carbon industry, while Balanced Energy offered practical, bite-size steps any SME can take on its route to Net Zero.

Afternoon sessions examined Sedgemoor’s two megaprojects. EDF reiterated its commitment to a local supply chain for Hinkley Point C; Agratas and Sir Robert McAlpine delivered a detailed timeline for the UK’s new battery-cell facility and underlined the scale of opportunity over the next two-and-a-half years.  Bridgwater & Taunton College closed proceedings with an overview of its Ofsted-rated “Outstanding” facilities and bespoke training programmes that will ensure home-grown talent stays in the region.

Roger Smith, General Manager, summed up the mood:

Thank you to all our speakers for giving their time to share the incredible opportunities available to our business community with their fantastic presentations full of insightful information.

Matt Ruddle, Chair, added:

Sedgemoor really has been the cornerstone of growth in Somerset for quite a while, from HPC to Agratas, The Tidal Barrier project and the huge numbers of businesses either starting here or coming to the area, it’s a very exciting time, which is why it was important for us to have an event that brought all of these things together.

The Chamber extends special thanks to headline sponsor MMES Electrical & Mechanical Services for making the day possible; to every speaker for their expertise; and to photographer Anthony Joseph (Pass the Keys & Visit Bridgwater & DavMay Photography) for capturing the highlights.