Albion director Ray Bloom said he is thrilled with the culture he has helped foster in his business – and how it is mirrored in Brighton’s football success.
Bloom’s events management company Imex is enjoying a boom as one of the city’s hidden business successes after moving into new offices in Davigdor Road, Hove, and being named one of The Sunday Times best places to work in 2024.
And the long-standing Albion director heaped praise on his nephew Tony for helping to create a similar culture at the football club as they also climb from strength to strength, adding it “comes from the family”.
He said: “We have created an environment where people believe this is one of the best places to work and that comes back to culture.
“They believe they can enjoy their work and develop and be supported.
“I’m very proud of what we have achieved and what Tony continues to do at the club.
“This culture is not just an Imex thing – it comes from the family.”
Launched in 2001 in Brighton, Imex’s trade largely revolves around its two trade shows, in Frankfurt and Las Vegas, which attract thousands of people globally.
The shows are tailored towards events professionals to help them plan their own conferences and shows.
The events sector is worth over $1.6 trillion globally, and £70 billion in the UK alone.
Some of that benefit, Ray points out, is already felt in Brighton – Imex employs scores of people in the city and is looking to expand and the Brighton Centre draws thousands of people in each year.
Sitting in Ray’s office, the family links to both Imex and Albion are clear. On one wall you find a signed Argentina shirt from ex-Albion star Alexis Mac Allister and a personally signed Brazil shirt from legend Pele.
But on another you find Ray’s father, former Albion vice chairman Harry Bloom, overlooking the room standing next to Brian Clough.
The links between the club and the business are a family affair that extends far outside just Ray and Tony. Ray’s daughter, Carina Bauer, is chief executive of Imex and chairwoman of trustees at the Brighton and Hove Albion Foundation.
And Ray says the success and thriving cultures at both Imex and Albion can be traced back to the foundations built by his father.
He added: “When you look back in history, I look to my father. Brighton was always a good club and there was a good group of people who never had the success that we are having now.
“We created a good culture then and that is engendered in the period with Tony. I’ve always been close to Tony and historically he got his love for the club during the time his grandfather was on the board.
“I’m thrilled with what we have done at Imex, I’m thrilled that my daughter is the chief executive and manages such a great team and I’m proud of our achievement.”
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