It's your future...

Discover skills, training and career support in the West of England to help you get to where you want to be.

Choose a category to find out more

  • Apprenticeships
  • Career Guidance
  • Disability & Other Support Needs
  • Getting into Work
  • Mental Health & Wellbeing
  • Training & Upskilling
  • Volunteering
  • Workforce Development & Support

Can’t find what you’re looking for or unsure of where to start? Speak to one of our expert advisors

About us

Find your next step

Skills Connect empowers people of all ages and career stages to find skills, training, and career support in the region.

We’ve showcased what’s available in a simple and accessible way, so you can find success – whatever that means for you.

If you need extra help, contact one of our dedicated advisors who can assist you to navigate the support options and find something suitable for you.

Contact an advisor

A shot taken from above of a large group of people including Dan Norris at this year's Jobs and Skills Summit. There is a white flag with the West of England Combined Authority logo on to the left

Our campaigns

Future Bright: Free career coaching

Future Bright offers free career coaching to help you move forward.

Feel stuck, need a change, or don’t know how to progress?

Future Bright is here to help people who work and want to learn new skills, take the next step in their career, gain confidence or earn more money.

Join Future Bright

Our campaigns

Redundancy support

Being at risk of, or being made redundant, can be an extremely stressful and worrying time, however it can also present exciting new opportunities.  We can help you navigate support and identify new opportunities. 

Find out more

Two men talking at work

Our campaigns

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.

If you’re aged 19 and over and looking to change sectors or progress in your current industry, a Skills Bootcamp could be your next step to a better job with more job security and higher wages over time.

Find a relevant Skills Bootcamp

People sat at a table laughing

Our campaigns

Apprenticeships: Share to support

Are you a large employer with unspent apprenticeship levy?

You can stop the money being lost from the region by pledging your unspent levy to a local small business, helping to create jobs and support progression in work.

Learn more about share to support

Three people working on a project
Image credit: IDPS, University of Bath

Our Campaigns

Careers in Retrofit

Retrofitting is a growing industry driven by the need for low-carbon, energy-efficient buildings. Explore our retrofit careers insights pages to learn about opportunities in this rewarding field, including entry-level pathways, upskilling options for professionals, and how transferable skills benefit career changers.

Find out more

image
Image credit: Weston College

Apprenticeships

Earn and learn on the job

Apprenticeships are becoming increasingly popular – and for good reason. They offer many pathways to work, earn and train with options available for people of all ages, backgrounds and career stages.

An apprenticeship could be your opportunity to explore a career and gain a qualification in an area you didn't know was possible.

Find out more

Events

What’s on

Find a range of skills, training and career support events happening near you or virtually.

Whether it's information sessions, jobs fairs or networking, discover what's available and sign up today.

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

The class is just for 6 weeks from 28th April to 13 of June 2025, morning and afternoon session, Monday and Friday only for 2 hours.

Please register by the 22nd April 2025

 

Category: Training & Upskilling

Organizer: CC_BED

Address: St Paul's learning Centre, 94 Grosvenor Bristol BS2 8XJ

Bristol Date:28 Mar 2025 Time:10:00 am

Home Energy Fair

Want to make your home more comfortable and save money on energy bills while renovating?

If you’re planning a home upgrade, this session is for you!

Why Join?

  • Learn about energy-saving home improvements and meet trusted suppliers.
  • Discover smart ways to lower energy bills and make your home more comfortable.
  • Get expert advice on heat pumps, insulation, solar panels, and more.
  • Explore upgrades that save energy and create a healthier home.
  • Enjoy talks and demonstrations to help you make better renovation choices.

Who Should Attend the Home Energy Fair?

  • Homeowners – Looking for ways to save energy and improve comfort.
  • Builders & Tradespeople – Wanting to learn about energy-efficient building.
  • Surveyors, Project Managers & Architects – Interested in planning better home upgrades.
  • Property Managers & Companies – Exploring new business opportunities in construction.

Don’t miss this chance to get expert advice, meet professionals, and take the next step toward an energy-efficient home!

Organizer: Retrofit West, Future Leap and The Green Register

Address: SGS College, WISE Campus, BS34 8LP

South Gloucestershire Date:29 Mar 2025 Time:11:30 am

Green Construction Fair

How can builders make homes more comfortable, lower energy bills, and stay ahead in the industry?

This session is for builders, contractors, and construction workers who want to learn about energy-efficient building.

Why Join?

  • Get more jobs by keeping up with industry changes.
  • Be ready for future building rules with PAS compliance.
  • Reduce mistakes and call-backs with better installation.
  • Learn new skills and use new technology to grow your business.
  • Find out from The Green Register about the future of construction training.

This session includes expert talks, hands-on training, and demonstrations of the latest energy-saving building methods and technologies.

Category: Workforce Employee Development

Organizer: Retrofit West, Future Leap and The Green Register

Address: SGS College, WISE Campus, BS34 8LP

South Gloucestershire Date:29 Mar 2025 Time:9:00 am
A group of people flank Metro Mayor Dan Norris, all smiling at the camera at a Skills Event. Dan holds a drone.

Career Insights

Job market insights

Unsure about which career to choose? It can be tricky to know where to begin.

Find the perfect job match – uncover ideas and career pathways informed by the latest labour market information.

Find out more

  • building 46,000+ Businesses
  • image 630,000+ Employee jobs
  • £30,000 Average wage per annum
Mayoral Priorities

Metro Mayor's focus

Welcome to Skills Connect.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has significant jobs and training support for local people, with a value of £60 million.

We’re helping over 10,000 people of all ages in our region every year and Skills Connect aims to help an extra 3,000 to upskill, progress in work and find new opportunities.

I am proud to offer this single regional jobs, careers, and training support service so everyone can easily explore and access support.

Get curious, discover your options, and find some help to change the future of your career for the better.

Learn more about the Mayor's priorities

Metro Mayor Dan Norris is stood next to a young man at a welding course holding a hammer and the man is wearing a visor on his head. Dan is wearing an orange glove and they are both wearing boiler suits.

Partnerships

Local authority partners

image
image
image