‘Being part of an event like this makes you realise what an entrepreneurial county Gloucestershire is,’ is how businessman Joe Snow summed being part of SoGlos’s exclusive 40 under 40 event.
Snow, of Just Wholefoods, Cirencester, was one of the businesspeople named on our 40 under 40 list – a joint project with the University of Gloucestershire shining a spotlight on 40 individuals, partnerships and teams – aged under 40 – that are the county’s ones to watch.
Publication of the list was followed by an exclusive networking event at the university’s business school, at its Oxstalls Campus, also headquarters of the county’s Growth Hub network and GFirst LEP.
Jordan Tuck, of Gloucestershire-based women’s activewear brand J.Luxe.Fit, said: ‘I don’t know of any other county that has such great support that helps people grow their businesses. Everyone should try and get into an environment like this.’
Michelle Fyrne, group editor and co-founder of SoGlos, said: ‘We are thrilled that SoGlos and the University of Gloucestershire have teamed up to create the very first celebration of the county’s 40 under 40.
‘From up-and-coming talent to established faces in the business community, spanning industries as diverse as construction, brewing, retail and fashion…, it is a real who’s who of ones to watch.’
Dominic Page, head of the university’s business school, said: ‘We are really, really pleased to be hosting this and being able to meet so much of the county’s emerging talent.
‘As a business school we have 2,000 learners in eight different countries. We aim to support people to become ethical, innovative and creative entrepreneurs, but we are also really aware of the need to know our local business community and to have an impact on our local economy – and events like this help us do that.’
Guest speakers for the event were the siblings behind Cheltenham’s Imperial Haus bar and restaurant, James Wilding and sister Sophie – fresh from her appearance on BBC’s The Apprentice – and Tyler Attwood, founder of community focused company Your Next Move and a GFirst LEP board member.
Students from the university’s MBA course also introduced everyone to their fledgling Global MBA Society, being launched to make even better connections between students and businesses, before the guests in attendance took advantage of the opportunity to network with other young business leaders from across the county.
