Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees today insisted that collaboration and creativity would be key to ensuring Bristol’s economy does not suffer as a result of the UK leaving the EU.
Speaking after an emergency meeting with business leaders, community groups and his cabinet, Mr Rees said Bristol’s innovation, creativity and diversity would maintain its position as a leading European business location. 
He also said he would build on its existing, strong links in Europe to make sure that, while the UK was now out of the EU, Bristol would still play a lead role in pan-European business and collaboration.
All parts of the city would now work together to avoid being thrown off course.
Mr Rees said: “Our reputation as one of Europe’s leading innovative, creative and sustainable cities makes Bristol a valuable asset for partners around the world.
“I will ensure we secure and develop our international reputation as a city that is open for business and can attract global investment and opportunities for our citizens and businesses.”
But question marks have immediately been raised over whether investment from overseas firms would continue to come into the city now the UK is no longer in the EU.
Two of the area’s key sectors – aerospace and financial services – are susceptible to changes in investment strategies from major players such as Airbus, which has its main wing design base at Filton employing around 4,000 people.
Airbus has warned it could reconsider its position in the UK in the long term.
Airbus chief executive Tom Enders Enders, one of the first major industry leaders to publicly back the Remain camp, said: “Of course we will review our UK investment strategy, as everybody else will.”
Bristol voters strongly backed the Remain campaign in yesterday’s referendum with 62% in favour of staying in the EU against 38% leaving.
Mr Rees added: “I am proud Bristol voted to remain. It says a lot about where we are as a city and our culture. It showed confidence in the strength of our society and our economy, the foundations of our position as global city. The challenge presented by Leave will not stop us from pursing our aspirations for the city – to be a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable city in which no-one is left behind.
“It’s important we understand the meaning of the Brexit vote. It was a call for change. The attractiveness of the Brexit call was a judgment on how we have done economic development and managed our public services as a country. Too many people have been left out of the so-called economic recovery. And they have suffered from a failure to protect and invest in our public services.
“We must learn from these lessons as we go forward as we build our future. The plans we put in place must put tackling inequality, creating opportunity and decent jobs and protecting and investing in our public services at the heart of what we do. We need to ensure we don’t only get economic growth, we need the right kind of economic development. A month ago the people of Bristol gave me this mandate. And it remains my duty to fulfil it.
“We are a global city of mixed heritage. We are a welcoming city. And we are a city of sanctuary. I pledge we will continue to be so.
“Bristol has always been an outward looking city and we benefit enormously from our overseas relationships. We must not forget that a large number of our international links exist because of Bristol’s diverse communities from Somalia to Poland, with 91 different languages spoken in our city. As the dust settles over the coming days and weeks, my focus will be on how we continue to maintain and build links across Europe and with other countries around the globe.
“We will keep Bristol moving forward together.”
He also said he had an assurance that the £1bn devolution funding promised by the government was still available, despite Brexit and the shifting political scenario.
The deal, which goes before the city council next Wednesday, will unlock additional investment in the West of England and bring more local decision making to areas such as transport, housing and skills.
