About

Agenda

05:30 - Arrivals

06:00 - Mass ascent- tea/coffee/pastries served

07:00 - Panel session commences

08:30 - Panel session concludes, networking

09:00 - Session closes

Taking place on Friday 8 August, the opening day of the 2025 Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in partnership with Albert Goodman, from 5.30am to 9am, this year’s event will be hosted in partnership with IOD South West. The event is also supported by membership organisations, Business West and Bristol Junior Chamber of Commerce.

Set against the magical backdrop of the Fiesta’s first mass ascent, guests will enjoy breakfast refreshments before engaging with two thought-provoking panel discussions. The theme this year will be ‘Beyond the Horizon: celebrating the South West and embracing global opportunity.’

Beyond the Horizon: Celebrating the South West and Embracing Global Opportunity

What used to be one of the most anticipated events in the city’s business calendar, is making a return this summer. The Fiesta Business Breakfast is back for 2025, offering professionals a rare opportunity to network, learn and be inspired alongside a field of fabric and wicker.

The South West is a region defined by creativity, resilience, and ambition — a place where businesses not only take root but thrive. In an increasingly uncertain economic and trading environment, our region’s unique strengths have never been more important, or more full of potential.

At this year’s Business Breakfast, we bring together two dynamic panel discussions exploring the power and promise of the South West business community:

Panel 1: Celebrating the South West as a Place to Start and Scale
We’ll hear from leading local brands about why they chose to build and grow their businesses here, what makes the South West such a compelling base for innovation and entrepreneurship, and why more companies — from across the UK and internationally — should look to our region as a place to scale.

Panel 2: Encouraging South West Companies to Look Beyond the Horizon
As we celebrate local success, we’ll also look outward. Our second panel will focus on how we can inspire and support more South West businesses to export and expand internationally. We’ll hear from organisations helping companies take those steps — including Tech West England Advocates, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Institute of Directors’ International Trade Group — alongside businesses already making their mark in global markets.

Together, we’ll explore how the South West’s spirit of ambition and collaboration can open up new horizons for businesses across our region — and beyond.