Future Bright

Future Bright offers free, one-to-one career coaching and support to help you take your next step at work.

How can Future Bright help?

Future Bright offers free, one-to-one career coaching and advice to help you create a personalised action plan, so that you can start making positive progress right away. We can help you with:

Support from your personal career progression coach

Training and development tailored to your needs

Practical help to take control of your work and earnings

What support does Future Bright offer?

Future Bright offers FREE career coaching to those living in the West of England (that’s Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire), with access to training and support to help you develop the skills and confidence you need to take your next step.

When you join Future Bright, you will get a dedicated career progression coach working with you for 3 to 6 months, who will:

Support you to create a career action plan
Explore opportunities for career progression with you
Help you to build your confidence and motivation
Give you the opportunity to gain employability tools and skills such as CV, personal statement, application and interview techniques
Provide information on local opportunities and services
Signpost to specialist support that we are not able to provide including training, money, benefits, counselling and self-employed business support
Keep your information private (we have a duty to pass on information if we believe that you or another person is at risk)

Future Bright success stories

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Kim, jewellery maker from South Gloucestershire

“My entire experience with Future Bright was friendly, supportive and non-judgmental. My career coach Chris took the time to listen and asked questions to make sure he understood my aims and barriers. Chris and Future Bright were flexible, accessible and responsive throughout the coaching journey."

Robert, a self-employed graffiti artist from Bristol

"Future Bright has been a massive help to us. We knew some of the changes we wanted to make to the business but didn’t have the funds or connections to make it happen. The changes we’ve put in place have given us extra time, improved our skills and our branding, and brought in new business."

Lindi Lu, a yoga instructor from Bath

"Carol (my Future Bright career coach) also helped me see that there are lots of people like me working on our own striving to grow our businesses. Now I’m feeling more positive, hopeful and excited for the future."

Who is eligible for Future Bright?

You're eligible for Future Bright if you are living in the West of England (that’s Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire), and you are:

Aged 18 or over,
In paid work (including zero hours and self-employed), AND
Receiving eligible benefits OR earning below the Real Living Wage (Currently below £9.50 an hour)

For an informal chat about Future Bright, contact your local team:

Bath & North East Somerset:

futurebright@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 395555

Bristol:

futurebright@bristol.gov.uk 0117 9222250

South Gloucestershire:

future.bright@southglos.gov.uk 01454 866008

If you have any problems submitting this form please contact your local team above.

Complete the form below and a member of the Future Bright team will be in touch.

I’m applying for myself

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1 If you are making a referral on someone else’s behalf, check this box and enter your contact details

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1 As the referrer I confirm I have permission to share the individual's details.

By providing this data and ticking this box I confirm that I agree for Future Bright to contact me about my participation on the project and to store my information on their system so that the local team can contact me and record any interactions that I may have on the project. For more information about how we store and use your data and your rights under GDPR, please refer to the Future Bright privacy notice.

What happens after I sign up?

We will contact you to confirm your interest and eligibility to take part in Future Bright. We will then organise your first meeting with your dedicated career coach. To find our more, check out our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I want to leave? / I’ve finished with Future Bright can I re-join?

We understand that things can change in life, your participation in the programme is voluntary and you can withdraw from it at any time, just let us know. If you have previously completed a journey with Future Bright you will not be able to return, however we can provide signposting to other support and provision. If you are unsure if you have completed your journey please get in touch with your local team.

Are my identity and personal data kept confidential? Does my employer need to know I am working with you?

Unless you agree to be a case study, your participation in the programme is completely anonymous. How your data is used is explained in our Future Bright Privacy Notice.

It is your choice if you want to tell your employer you are working with a Future Bright coach to help you progress at work.

What are my responsibilities?

Your career progression coach will work with you to create a personal plan based on what you want to achieve. Once the plan is agreed, we will ask that you work with your coach to:

Set realistic and time bound goals during your time with us
Follow up on the actions you agree with your coach
Tell us of any additional needs you may have or issues that arise
Tell us straight away if you have a problem attending a coaching session, interview or training
When your journey finishes with us complete an evaluation of your time with us and
Support the programme for others by providing your feedback

You will be required to provide evidence and ID to confirm your eligibility for the project.

How much time will it take, and will it fit in with my existing commitments?

Future Bright is designed to fit around you and any commitments you already have. The amount of time you spend with Future Bright depends on what you want to achieve. You will work with a coach for a maximum of 3-6 months and meetings will be arranged to fit in around your existing commitments.

I’m an employer, how can Future Bright help me and my staff?

Many sectors are struggling to recruit and retain staff. Offering opportunities for staff development will make you stand out from other employers and increase productivity. Our coaches work with clients to gain news skills including access to training, develop confidence, manage work life balance and stress and plan a career. The benefits for you investing in employee development include increased productivity, innovative workers, reduced staff turnover and reduced costs from staff absences.