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Graduates in cap and gowns

We have a world-leading talent pool

With a higher-than-average employment rate, the region is one of the most desirable places to live in the UK. We continue to attract talent from London, with 150 people per week re-locating to the West of England (Office of National Statistics).

Home to 1.1 million, with over 91 languages spoken, Bristol & Bath boasts over 46,000 businesses.

We have a global-first approach and a reputation for innovation, and our region contributes £40 billion to the UK economy. Businesses can maximise their potential, grow and develop by investing in Bristol & Bath.

From established to emerging sectors, our business ecosystem can help your business thrive. Our range of sectors include aerospace and advanced engineering to Fintech, creative and digital.

We're top of the class

  • graduates icon 28,000 graduates a year
  • Success icon 4 world class universities
  • Student icon 100,000 undergrads & postgrads in the region
  • Pound sign £100m business & skills investment
  • Icon of stairs going up Bath ranked one of the top 10 FE colleges in England
  • Icon of a building 400 primary & secondary schools

We have a strong talent pipeline

Our region has a highly-skilled workforce, with 28,000 under graduates and post graduates from our four top universities joining the talent pool each year. UWE Bristol ranked joint second in England for student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2020). The University of Bristol is developing a new £300 million innovation and enterprise campus. A further 14,000 students graduate each year from the six universities within a one-hour journey of Bristol & Bath.

  • Bath Spa University is one of the greenest universities in the UK (Uswitch Green Universities Report 2022).
  • University of Bath named University of the Year 2023, and in the top 5 in the UK for student satisfaction (86.6%). Ranked 5th best university in the UK (Complete University Guide 2024).
  • University of Bristol ranked #55 Globally and #9 UK (QS World University Rankings 2023). 7th for UK graduate employability with alumni being amongst the highest paid graduates in the UK.
  • University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol ranked joint second in England for student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2020). Circa 76% of UWE research is ranked ‘internationally excellent’ or ‘world leading’.
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Man with VR googles on

Bath Spa University

Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries (CCCI) is a strategic research centre focusing on interdisciplinary research that engages arts, culture, humanities, science, and technology. CCCI is a strategic research centre, drawing together academics and practitioners, both within Bath Spa University, as well as facing outward, engaging our city, our region, and our world. Since its inception, CCCI has been awarded three large-scale multi-partner research grants.

Microchip technology

University of Bath

The University of Bath is home to many centres of excellence. The university specialises in Institute of Coding; Centre for Autonomous Robotics; Centre for Space, Atmospheric and Oceanic Science; Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies; Advanced Design & Manufacturing Culture; Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.

Bath Univeristy Image credit: IDPS, University of Bath

Fuelling the next generation of creative talent

Our region is committed to investing in apprenticeships and skills development to ensure that our home-grown talent can contribute to our vibrant business economy.

  • Skills Connect provides an online directory of skills, training and workforce development support available to help your business thrive.
  • Training providers such as TechTalent Academy are committed to teaching practical skills. All of their cohorts to date are from under-represented groups.
  • The iO Academy is a 16-week, full-time, full-stack coding bootcamp with a 100% graduation rate, equipping our residents with the tools and skills they need to join the workforce. Boomsatsuma offers a range of college and degree courses in creative fields. By creating learning opportunities in gaming, post-production, sports media, VFX and VR, the region is focussing on the future.

We're here to support you

As part of Invest Bristol & Bath’s bespoke offering, we support businesses in accessing the right talent. Through trusted partnerships with our local universities, colleges, schools and training providers, businesses can develop a future talent pipeline in order to thrive.

Our team will support businesses with salary benchmarking and jobs boards to attract the right talent.

What we offer

Surfer at the Wave Image credit: The Wave Quality of life
Commuters at a train station Transport connectivity
Graphic showing digital connectivity Digital connectivity
Morph Image credit: Aardman Animations Creative & media