Somerset Chamber is proud to support a diverse range of organisations in the Somerset business community who are as passionate about our region as we are.
In the latest in our ongoing series of interviews, we will be shining a spotlight on some of our Business Partners, recognising their commitment to Somerset, its business community and beyond.
Somerset Voices is also a chance to find out more about the people behind the brands!
Our next Somerset Voices spotlight is on Carol Paris, Chief Executive of The Bath & West of England Society.
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your role. What does a typical day look like for you?
Hi, I am Carol Paris Chief Executive of the Bath & West of England Society.
There is no such thing as a typical day here. We may be running one of our own shows- The Royal Bath & West Show, The Dairy Show, Food & Drink Festival or one of of our children’s education days- Field To Food where we host up to 1,500 key stage one and two children from 37 schools, learning about where their food comes from.
Or we could be hosting one our diverse third party events such as, an antiques Fair, A car or motorcycle show, a Young Farmers event, a music festival, a fitness challenge or a religious festival.
We have a number of meeting rooms so we could also be hosting an auction or a regular sales meeting. We have spaces that can accommodate from 10 people to 15,000!
Can you tell us about your business/organisation, what you do, where you’re based and how your work has a positive impact on those you work with?
The Royal Bath and West Society is a charity. We were set up in 1777 to educate in agriculture and rural crafts and that is still what we do today. We encourage and facilitate research, education, knowledge transfer innovation and related activities for the benefit of agriculture, the countryside and the rural economy.
We fund under 16’s students and further education students, burseries have included Agri food Marketing, Veterinary medicine, Applied ecology & agronomy. We also fund art scholars.
We also run a number of awards such as the West Country Dairy Awards, Prince of Wales Awards, Long Service Awards and Farm Vet of the Future.
What do you enjoy most about doing business in Somerset?
I really enjoy the variety of events that the showground attracts. There is something going on every week and the rentals produce vital income to fulfil our charitable objectives and to maintain our site as a prime West Country venue.
We also are host to several tenant businesses on site. These include a food technology company, a butchers, Somerset Community Foundation and a personal trainer with a gym.
In addition we have the East Somerset Society of Model and Experimental Engineers on site with their Bath and West miniature railway.
Outside of work, what’s your ‘Somerset favourite’, as in a place to visit or activity you like to do in our county?
I am a lifelong equestrian enthusiast so love the opportunity for riding in the Mendip Hills. I live in Dolberrow with direct access to Dolebury Warren with miles of bridleways and footpaths.
Many of the tracks lead to a number of our wonderful Somerset pubs that are dog friendly so I can take my spaniels along with me.
How long have you been members of Somerset Chamber of Commerce and what prompted you to join?
The Bath and West Society have been members of the Chamber of Commerce for many years. My predecessor worked for the chamber and therefore knew first hand the benefits that membership would bring.
What has been the most valuable aspect for you/your organisation, of being part of Somerset Chamber?
A key benefit is the networking opportunities. The Chamber run a wide variety of events where you get to meet other member businesses and see first hand the breadth of businesses and sectors within Somerset.
The regular publication, the Voice, is also a vital resource for finding out what is happening within our County and finding out about new members and some fantastic B2B offers.
What advice would you give to a business thinking of joining Somerset Chamber?
You won’t know what you have been missing until you join!
Join Somerset Chamber of Commerce to give your business a stronger voice both locally, regionally and nationally. Combined with local town chambers, we represent over 2,000 businesses across Somerset with a direct line to policy-makers at all levels.
