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? Contact 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

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

Future Bright: Free career coaching

Are you feeling stuck in your job? Feel like you need some support to help you get to the next step? Future Bright could offer you a personal career coach to help you develop and achieve your goals.

Whether you want to progress and increase your salary, boost your confidence, change career or even just improve your mindset, having someone in your corner to offer support and guidance can make a huge difference.

Future Bright is completely free, impartial and tailored towards you.

Join Future Bright

Future Bright logo

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.

Engineering & Automotive Half-Term Workshops

These one-day workshops are an excellent opportunity for year 9, 10 & 11 students to see the amazing facilities at Weston College, meet our expert staff, and find out more about the subjects on offer.

  • 9.30 am – 3 pm
  • South West Skills Campus Locking Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 8NL
  • Choose one subject for the whole day!

In year 11 and have already applied for a course? That’s absolutely no problem! Feel free to try out a different subject as you think about your choices. And if you’re in year 9 or 10 or haven’t applied yet, this is a perfect chance to check out several courses over a few days!

Engineering: Morning Session: Fabrication – Making a unique sheet metal bookmark from aluminium. Afternoon Session 2:Hydrogen Cars – Learning about and building a hydrogen car system

Automotive – During these sessions, students will be able to have a go and get hands-on experience with real engines and vehicles in one of our amazing workshops. Chat with staff and current learners to find out all you need to know about being a student with us in the future.

Please come dressed in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Steel-toe cap boots or sturdy footwear are essential – no trainers allowed. Don’t forget to bring lunch, drinks, and a pencil!

Category: Apprenticeships, Career Guidance, Getting into Work, Training & Upskilling

Organizer: Weston College

Address: South West Skills Campus Locking Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS22 8NL

North Somerset Date:20 Feb 2025 Time:9:30 am

Progress Together: How to cultivate a learning and evolving workforce

In a fast-changing world, adaptability and continuous learning are essential. How can your organisation foster a culture that embraces growth and innovation?

Join us for an inspiring event featuring organisations and individuals who’ve mastered these practices. Through real-world examples from local businesses, we’ll show how apprenticeships drive collaboration, innovation, and resilience.

What You’ll Gain:

  • Organisational Insights: Learn how apprenticeships create innovative work cultures, fostering growth and employee development.
  • Apprentice Stories: Hear how apprenticeships transform careers and boost employee value.
  • Actionable Strategies: Get practical tips for building a learning culture in your organisation through apprenticeships.
  • Networking: Connect with professionals, share ideas, and explore new opportunities.

Category: Apprenticeships, Training & Upskilling, Workforce Employee Development

Organizer: WTPN

Address: Rocketmakers 20 Manvers Street Bath BA1 1JW

Bath and North East Somerset Date:20 Feb 2025 Time:9:30 am

Progress Together: How to cultivate a learning and evolving workforce

In today’s rapidly changing world, the ability to learn and adapt is more important than ever. How can your organisation cultivate a culture of continuous growth and adaptability to keep up? Join us for an insightful event, hearing from organisations and individuals that have successfully implemented these practices.

With real-life examples from local businesses, we’ll show how apprenticeships, in particular, can transform organisations by encouraging collaboration, innovation, and a shared vision. We will highlight how this approach can improve employee adaptability, engagement, and retention, ultimately creating a more resilient organisation.

Session 9.30am – 12.00pm

This is a free workshop

Category: Apprenticeships, Training & Upskilling, Workforce Employee Development

Organizer: WTPN

Address: Rocketmakers 20 Manvers Street Bath BA1 1JW

Bath and North East Somerset Date:20 Feb 2025 Time:9:30 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