Skills Connect Network FAQs

Skills Connect Network (formerly the Ways2Work network run by Bristol City Council) is a network that connects people working in employment support with information and resources which will help them deliver support to the (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset). The network is run as part of the Skills Connect project, coordinated by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.

The network comprises of:

• weekly email updates, sharing information on support, courses & training, events and opportunities which may be of interest to the participants you are working with.
• Quarterly networking events – focused on information sharing and current hot topics.

The focus of the network is to spread news and information about courses, training, and support that you offer, to help residents to move into, closer to, or progress in employment.

Skills Connect is your ‘one stop shop’ for information about training, career support, and related events in the West of England, making it simpler for residents to access employment support and training.

Visit the Skills Connect directory and events page for all up to date employment support, training opportunities and employment events in the West of England for individuals, partners, and employers.

Employment or training related provisions or events can be listed for free on the Skills Connect platform. Please complete this form to list training/employment provisions or this form to submit events.

Please note we reserve the right to decline submissions if they do not meet the strategic aims of Skills Connect; however in the event that this occurs we will notify you of the reason.

You’re welcome to join the network if you offer employment support to residents of the West of England (Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset). We also welcome those offering support, training, upskilling and employment opportunities to join and share their opportunities.

As a member of the network, you will receive one email a week from the network providing collated information on new provisions, upcoming events & opportunities, sharing information which helps provide support to our residents and giving members the opportunity to share news about their services.

As a member of the network, you will be invited to regular network meetings. These meetings will be thematic, with members invited to share relevant updates, learning, and best practice. Network members will be invited to share ideas and themes for the network to explore.  The meetings will also provide you with the opportunity to connect and share information and ideas with network members.

The Skills Connect Network builds upon the former Ways2Work Network to bring together physical and virtual resources and events that support residents to progress within employment or move closer to employment.

These resources must be available to those based in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and therefore be offered within a West of England location or virtually.

We will use our discretion regarding which resources, opportunities and events are suitable for sharing with the Skills Connect Network. however in the event that this occurs we will notify you of the reason.

We ask that all resources, opportunities and events are emailed to us at skillsconnectnetwork@westofengland-ca.gov.uk by close of business on Wednesday. We aim to send out the weekly email network by the close of business on Friday.

Please use details provided within the listing or contact the relevant organisation directly to ask for more information or refer customers/participants to provision.

If you’ve noticed an issue or error with the Skills Connect Network, please get in touch to let us know by emailing skillsconnectnetwork@westofengland-ca.gov.uk

If you have any other questions or feedback, please get in touch by emailing skillsconnectnetwork@westofengland-ca.gov.uk