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Group on a Future Bright course

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:

Graphic of two people talking Support from your personal career progression coach
Graphic of building blocks Training and development tailored to your needs
Graphic of wallet and bank cards Practical help to take control of your work and earnings
Future Bright

What support does Future Bright offer?

Future Bright offers FREE career coaching to people living in the West of England (that’s Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire).

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

  • Support you to create a career action plan Explore career progression opportunities with you
  • Help you with employability tools and skills such as CV, personal statement, application and interview techniques
  • Help you to build your confidence and motivation
  • Provide information and advice on other services
  • Signpost you to specialist support 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)

Joining Future Bright gave me a sense of direction and gave me something to work towards. Even if the job role I wanted wasn’t available now then I could get information and be prepared for it when the opportunity comes.

Taiwo - Bristol

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 £9.90 an hour)

If you are unsure if you are eligible, please scroll down to get in contact with us and we may be able to direct you to other support services which are more suitable for you.

Meet a Future Bright coach

This is Chris, Career progression Coach from the South Gloucestershire Council team. When asked about his approach to coaching Chris said “My approach to coaching is continually develop my listening skills enabling a person to be heard. I hope to ask good probing questions which can be a catalyst for a participant’s own development. Chris was also asked about the most rewarding part of his job; “Watching people start a new career or enjoy training which they would have only dreamed about prior to joining Future Bright”.

Case studies

Developing new skills – Qaisar from Bristol

Creating a business plan – Anna from Bath and North East Somerset

Developing a freelance business – Lucy from South Gloucestershire

Joining Future Bright gave me direction – Taiwo from Bristol

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Support services

We offer a number of other support services to help you to develop new skills, access training or find new opportunities.

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