Talent & skills

We have a world-leading talent pool

The West of England offers a highly skilled workforce and a robust talent pipeline. With a population of 1.1 million and more than 91 languages spoken, it is home to over 46,000 businesses and is a thriving centre of innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing £40 billion to the UK economy. From aerospace and advanced engineering to fintech, creative industries, and digital technology, our diverse ecosystem supports businesses of all sizes.

By investing in Bristol & Bath, you can tap into a world-class talent pool, access cutting-edge research, and benefit from a supportive business environment.

Image credit: University of Bath

Fuelling the next generation

Our region has a highly-skilled workforce, with 28,000 graduates from our four top universities joining the talent pool each year. Within an hour’s reach, there are over 155,000 additional students enrolled across eight more universities.

Bath Spa University: One of the greenest in the UK and ranked as a top Gold Tier university (Uswitch Green Universities Report 2022).
University of Bath: Named University of the Year 2023, and 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) with a £300M innovation campus in the works.
University of the West of England (UWE): High student satisfaction with 91% of graduates finding employment or further study after 15 months (Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Strong talent pipeline

The West of England 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.
Growth Hub gives guidance on apprenticeships, HR essentials, and more, offering tailored advice for SMEs.
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.

Tap into a skilled workforce to drive your business growth

As part of the region’s Mayoral Combined Authority, we are uniquely positioned to assist businesses in identifying and accessing government-supported skills programmes. These initiatives help address skills gaps, support workforce development, and enhance business growth.

We collaborate closely with the region's universities, enabling a wide range of productive partnerships. Whether you're seeking graduate talent, internship programs, or academic collaborations, we have the connections to help you harness the expertise of our world-class institutions.