Talent and Skills

The region is home to the top performing Further Education and a growing Higher Education provider in the West of England. In 2017, Weston College and the University Centre Weston (UCW)  achieved a Gold award, placing it among the top 20 per cent of university and college higher education providers in the country. In 2019, the A Level pass rate at the college was 99%. The college has and continues to make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Weston-Super-Mare Town Centre and the wider area.

Within an hour’s drive you can reach over 10 University Campuses and a handful more Colleges, providing the full range of provision to meet your needs. This makes North Somerset a business destination of choice for accessing skills and talent. North Somerset Economic Development team can provide impartial skills advice, guidance and recruitment support, free of charge. Contact the Employment and Skills team at business@n-somerset.gov.uk. Alternatively, Skills West (delivered by Business West) is an EU funded programme which can also provide fully funded business support.

Workforce profiles

Employers in the North Somerset area benefit from its proximity to Bristol and its location in the wider West of England.

The West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has put together a series of Labour Market Intelligence reports, which offer an overview of the sub-regional skills base in twelve key and growth sectors.  These bring local employment data to life and offer a good introduction to employers considering the North Somerset area as a business location.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have jointly designed and published a regional Employment and Skills Strategy which sets out the high level skills priorities for the region, the summary, evidence based and the overarching Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) for West of England can be found here – https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/employment-skills-plan/.

Our sector pages also give an overview of the businesses already based here and the sector networks available (both locally and nearby in Bristol) to help employers tap into the local talent pool.

Access to People

North Somerset is home to an expanding student population, thanks to growth at Weston College and UCW, our geographical location and transport links to other key university towns and cities. All education providers are keen to forge links with businesses to give their students the best learning experience possible.  Businesses in return benefit from fresh ideas and the opportunity to build lasting relationships with talented people.

Weston College and UCW Business Training team can link businesses up with suitable student led programmes and can provide a brokerage service to support with employment.  ASPECT, Weston College Careers team, provide timely advice and guidance to students throughout their studies. The college is always keen to further develop relationships with businesses across all sectors by developing tailored programmes to meet individual requirements.

Apprenticeships

Local providers work with over 2000 employers to deliver over 90 different apprenticeships across a wide range of sectors and skill levels.

Employing an apprentice is a great way to develop future talent within your organisation.

Apprenticeships are jobs with extra benefits. Your new and existing employees can achieve nationally-recognised qualifications, earn a wage, and gain skills at the same time. Apprenticeships offer clear career paths, with a direct route into employment. Training can start at Level 2 and go all the way up to degree-level. 90% of our apprentices are offered permanent positions at the end of their course.

They are personalised approach to learning. Local providers can match appropriate apprentices and offer you the support you need to be a successful apprentice. Our apprentice recruitment team has commercial recruitment experience to make sure you’re offered the right career advice and guidance.