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Find the right support for your next step

Whether you're looking to progress at work, develop new skills or find a new job, we've brought together all the training and skills support services in the West of England.

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Our work

Support for individuals

We provide one-to-one career coaching and access to a range of training and skills support.

Support for businesses

Access a range of business support to help you develop your employees' skills.

Kids learning
Careers Hub

We're transforming careers education for schools and colleges in our region.

Adult Education Budget

We have responsibility for Adult Education powers and funding in the West of England.

Skills Connect

Skills Connect is the West of England's 'One Stop Shop' for all things training, skills, and career support. You can search through hundreds of resources, events and opportunities; find out which job sectors are booming in the region, and explore the training you need to thrive.

You can also access free support from a team of friendly advisers, who are here to help you whether you have a job or are out of work.

Find out more today

Skills Bootcamps

Skills Bootcamps are free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to an interview with an employer. They could be the perfect option for you if you're looking to progress in your current role or gain qualifications to take your career in a different direction.

You can find out more about the Skills Bootcamps that are currently available on our webpage.

Explore Skills Bootcamps

Employment and Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) Report

Since 2018, the Employment and Skills Advisory Panels (ESAP) have been bringing together employers, skills providers and key local stakeholders to better understand and resolve skills mismatches at a local level. The West of England ESAP was established in March 2020 to oversee the strategic implementation of the people and skills components of the region’s adopted Local Industrial Strategy (LIS).

This latest ESAP Report (January 2022) sets out the local skills strengths and needs, and helps underpin our planning to address key economic and skills priorities.

View the appendix of data

Download Employment and Skills Advisory Panel Report

Horizon Scanning: Post-16 Education and Skills Infrastructure

In 2021, the West of England Combined Authority commissioned Pye Tait Consulting and Cambridge Econometrics to undertake a two-part demand and supply forecasting assessment of the region’s post-16 estate and infrastructure in order to establish the extent to which it will be able to meet its future skills and training needs. Read the report to learn more.

Download Education and Skills Infrastructure Report

Digital exclusion & skills

We are investing in digital skills to support our residents to up-skill and gain confidence using online services and digital devices.

Learn more

Green skills

Green skills cover the expertise that we need in order to develop and support a sustainable society.

By helping the current workforce gain new skills and engaging the next generation of workers, we can help tackle climate change and meet our net zero carbon target.

Find out more

Employment and Skills Plan

Our Employment and Skills Plan sets out how we support the people, communities, and businesses in the region to thrive. We are investing in programmes which will help our residents develop the skills they need to secure good jobs.

Read the West of England Employment and Skills Plan