The talk forms part of a unit designed to encourage students to deal with real-world issues by engaging with experienced practitioners rather than relying on traditional paper case studies. Ferguson, who recently completed his first year in office as the city’s first elected mayor, has a long and varied association with Bristol, as an alumnus of the University, an architect, a social entrepreneur and a Liberal councillor. In his recent annual address hosted by the University in association with the Bristol Festival of Ideas, he described a city where vibrant places and passionate people contribute to a resilient local economy that is about more than purely financial matters.

Ferguson’s lecture in the Department of Management will be followed by a question-and-answer session with 30 students. Other speakers to address the students during the two-hour workshop include Hanif Virji (Partner at AHV Associates LLP venture capital firm), Ltc Ben Tomkins of the British Army, Rowan Sexon (Services Account Manager at Cisco Systems), David Cameron (VP at Allied World Assurance) and Clair Nuttall (Head of Strategic Projects Office, University of Bristol).

John McCormack from the Department of Management said: ‘This new unit has been developed as part of our initiative to bring our classrooms closer to the world of practice. We have a distinctive approach to studying Management here at Bristol which incorporates the strategic and critical thinking strengths which go with being a part of a Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, integrated with a highly rigorous quantitative and analytical learning environment.’