In today’s episode I chat with the inspirational Vivienne Kennedy about her job as Head of Broadmead BID in Bristol. Viv joined the BID as a social media intern aged 47 and seven years later she is now running it!  Broadmead BID was one of the first Business Improvement Districts to operate in the UK and is responsible for supporting around 270 retail and hospitality businesses in the city. If you have ever been to Bristol, it is likely that you have been to Broadmead. At the heart of the Bristol Shopping Quarter, along with Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars, it provides one of the best, most extensive, shopping experiences in the West of England.  In this episode, Viv and I chat about Broadmead and some of the challenges businesses are facing, in particular the recruitment shortage. Viv talks about Broadmead's evolution over the years and what its future might look like, despite losing large retailers Debenhams and Marks & Spencer.   As for Viv's personal story and career in the visitor economy, Viv shares how she got to where she is today, and some of the tips she would give to her younger self. This episode is an inspiration for anyone who is not comfortable in the place they are right now. Viv shows how anything is possible with her ‘relentless optimism’.  There’s a lot to ponder from this episode – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  For more information on Broadmead BID, go to: https://broadmeadbristolbid.co.uk https://twitter.com/broadmeadbid https://www.linkedin.com/company/broadmeadbid/And for more on Bristol Shopping Quarter, go to  https://bristolshoppingquarter.co.uk/http://instagram.com/bristolshoppinghttps://www.facebook.com/bristolshoppinghttps://twitter.com/bristolshoppingConnect with Viv on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienne-kennedy-29175148/