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Extension of free career support scheme
An additional £3.6m will go towards extending a scheme designed to help people and businesses develop the skills needed to support economic recovery.
Future Bright provides coaching and one-to-one advice for those seeking work or firms that have been affected by the impact of the pandemic.
Following a successful pilot, the programme, which is run by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and has already helped more 2,000 people, is due to be extended.
A couple who successfully turned their love of graffiti into a business are now seeking to become a social enterprise to invest back into the community after growing their venture with help from Future Bright advisers.
Former teachers Rob Wheeler and Sophie Higgins Wheeler founded Graft in 2012, offering street art workshops and custom-designed murals. They found out about Future Bright through St Paul’s Learning Centre and worked with a career coach to develop an action plan to improve their business processes and marketing.
Rob says: “We knew some of the changes we wanted to make to the business but didn’t have the funds or connections to make it happen.
“The changes we’ve put in place have given us extra time, improved our skills and our branding, and brought in new business.”
Jewellery maker and tutor Kim Thomson has adapted her business in response to the pandemic – photo courtesy of WECA
Kim Thomson has worked as a jewellery maker and tutor for 17 years and sent up her own teaching studio in Mangotsfield a few years ago. The coronavirus pandemic hit her work and earnings hard and social distancing made running face-to-face tuition challenging.
She found out about Future Bright online and has now developed virtual courses that she can run while face-to-face tuition is off limits.
“My entire experience with Future Bright was friendly, supportive and non-judgmental,” says the business owner.
“My career coach, Chris took, the time to listen and asked questions to make sure he understood my aims and barriers. Chris and Future Bright were flexible, accessible and responsive throughout the coaching journey.”
The Future Bright pilot scheme was funded by the Department of Work and Pensions and delivered by WECA in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire Councils.
It has been expanded to those who are 18 and over and people learning below the real living wage in a bid to target support where it is needed most.
West of England mayor Tim Bowles says: “Helping our residents get the skills they need to keep and find well-paid jobs is at the heart of our plan to secure the region’s economic recovery.
“Future Bright is giving residents in the West of England the confidence to adapt, learn new skills and seize new opportunities during the pandemic and is helping them develop the skills that our businesses need for jobs now and in the future.”
Read more: Providing career support for Bristol people during pandemic
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