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Image credit: Jason Goodman

Workforce for the Future was a free support service for businesses and individuals in the West of England.

The £8m programme was funded by the West of England Combined Authority and European Social Fund (ESF) to help businesses across all industries & sectors develop employees’ skills, understand how they can meet their current and future skills needs and attract, develop and retain talented people.

The programme ran from February 2020 – September 2023 across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and was delivered with support from a range of partners.

The programme supported*

  • 603 small and medium enterprises
  • 668 meaningful projects
  • 3,809 learners

Continue to develop your workforce with these resources

Following the closure of the Workforce for the Future programme, discover our ongoing support and resources to ensure your business has the right skills and experience to get set for success. Speak to our Skills Connect team to find out what skills support and workforce development training is available to you.

Recruitment, retention and accessibility resources

Discover how to widen your recruitment pool and improve workplace retention and accessibility.

Talent resources

Discover how education and training providers can help you with employee training and connecting with and finding new talent for your business.

Sustainability resources

Discover resources designed to support businesses achieve clean growth and green jobs.

Digital resources

Access resources to develop the digital skills of your workforce.

European Social Fund

The project has received £4m of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme.

Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations.

* these numbers represent total actual outputs, and differ to the number of unique businesses/individuals supported, which are 592 businesses supported, 458 projects completed and 3809 learners.