Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of people in Bristol? Do you have the expertise, leadership and commitment to drive forward action and strategy on environmental issues and help shape the future of Bristol?

The Environment Board is recruiting new members – if this sounds like you, please submit an expression of interest to join the Bristol One City Environment Board!

The Bristol One City Approach brings together a huge range of public, private, voluntary and third sector partners to work together to make Bristol fairer, healthier and more sustainable.

Central to the One City Approach is the One City Plan, a timeline that sets out a path to a 2050 Bristol that is a “fair, healthy and sustainable city, a city of hope and aspiration, where everyone can share in its success”. It documents annual goals across six different themes: ‘Economy and Skills’, ‘Children and Young People’, Transport’, ‘Homes and Communities’, ‘Environment’ and ‘Health and Wellbeing’.

Each of the six themes has its own thematic board to lead on the monitoring and delivery of the goals within their strand of the plan, in addition to aligned strategies that have been commissioned or endorsed by the boards. Additionally, these boards are supported by the Culture Board, the Bristol SDG Alliance and the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change.

The One City Environment Board’s purpose is to provide leadership, drive action and champion collaboration to support faster, fairer and more effective progress towards delivery of the One City Climate Strategy, the One City Ecological Emergency Strategy and, together with other thematic boards, the achievement of the One City Plan goals.

Up to 22 Board members draw upon their individual and collective knowledge, expertise and influence to increase understanding of progress being made and challenges faced; to engage others in action and support initiatives; to ensure greater alignment of activity within the city and region; and to advocate for the principles of the Bristol Just Transition Declaration.

Members attend quarterly meetings and progress activity in between meetings through delivering on agreed actions, leading collaborative task and finish groups, connecting with other thematic boards and attending One City Gatherings.

Board Member Governance

Members of each board are appointed for 18 Months after which a refresh process takes place.

Each board is co-chaired by two board members:

a) The corresponding political Policy Committee Chair from Bristol City Council

b) An external expert partner.

Once the member refresh process is complete, all board members will be invited to express their interest in taking on the role of co-chair as the external expert partner.

Commitment Expectations

Board members are asked to commit to quarterly in person board meetings which last 3 hours. In addition to this, they may be invited to participate in Task & Finish groups and other ad-hoc cross-cutting workshops to make progress on the One City Goals.

There will also be an opportunity to attend and represent the One City Environment Board at the One City Gathering, a bi-annual half-day conference that showcases the One City approach and invited wider participation.

Applicants will be invited to attend an initial One City Plan workshop on 30 April 2025 (2-5pm).

Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

The One City Boards recognise and encourage the valuable contribution that people from all backgrounds and experiences bring to the city. The Secretariat will strive to make membership of the Board representative of the city and to ensure that board members experience the Board as an accessible, inclusive and welcoming forum where they can fulfil their potential for leadership and collaboration.

The City Office and Secretariat will do all it can to support access and inclusion and to remove barriers. For example, a small offer of financial support is available for board members who have financial barriers to attending meetings, the secretariat aims to meet all specific accessibility requirements and reasonable adjustments such as BSL interpreters, can provide online access to meetings and will take a proactive approach to any incidents of bigotry and discrimination.

Board members are selected through an open Expressions of Interest process.

Applicants are asked to submit an online Expression of Interest form.

The form will ask you to describe in no more than 2500 characters how you feel you can contribute to the One City Environment Board, which may be through individual experience and expertise, ability to represent stakeholders and/or providing leadership within key Bristol institutions, and to specify whether you are applying in an organisational or individual capacity.

All expressions of interest will be reviewed by a panel comprised of the Environment Board One City co-chair, a senior representative from Bristol City Council, a representative from the City Office and an independent panel member bringing insight and expertise from a community leadership and just transition perspective.

The panels selection process will involve shortlisting candidates based on how successfully candidates are able to meet the criteria set out, whilst also ensuring balanced representation across the Board. This will consider the need for a mix of private, public and third-sector representation; a spread of subject-specific individual / organisational expertise or remit related to delivery of the One City Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategies and related One City Plan goals; and a diversity of relevant insights or lived experience that will ensure backgrounds and experiences at risk of under-representation are included.

Reserved positions: There shall be positions reserved for the Bristol City Council Policy Committee Chair, a member of the senior management of Bristol City Council, and a representative of Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership.

Bristol City Office welcomes expressions of interest from all qualified candidates, and particularly encourages applications from Disabled people, young people aged 18-24 (we also work with the Youth Council, ages 11-18), and people from Global Majority communities, that risk being underrepresented on One City boards.

Your application will be benchmarked against the following criteria:

Board members should:

1. Have leadership roles or influence within their business, organisation, sector or field, for example:

• A senior role in a business or organisation in the city
• A key policy or regulatory body
• A key thought-leader and/or influencer, with an ability to shape or influence public, business and/or organisational action
• A representative of a specific community or group within the city
• Having other relevant influence in the city, region or country

2. Have skills/expertise in relevant areas of the board’s work (including lived experience).

3. Show willingness and an ability to engage and collaborate with stakeholders beyond their own organisation and in line with the One City Approach.

4. Have agency to affect change and have an ability to influence outcomes within their own organisations and/or in other forums.

5. Be committed to recognising and encouraging the valuable and enriching contribution that people from all backgrounds and experiences bring to the city.

To complete your application, please do so via this online form.

By applying, you are indicating your availability to actively contribute to the Board in the ways described above, including contributing to the One City Plan and Goals for 2025/2026 and providing strategic direction for the next iteration of the plan.

Please contact City Office (City.office@bristol.gov.uk) with any questions or any access requirements (such as providing the Expression of Interest form in an alternative format).