Employers
Help Shape Bristol’s Future Workforce
Bristol Works connects employers with secondary schools across the city to provide meaningful experiences of work for young people aged 11–16. By sharing your expertise, opening your workplace, or offering work experience opportunities, your organisation can play a vital role in helping young people understand the world of work and realise their potential.
Why Get Involved
Employers play a crucial role in helping young people develop confidence, understand career opportunities, and gain insight into the workplace.
PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
Bristol Works prioritises learners facing the greatest barriers to opportunity. Employer engagement helps ensure more young people can access meaningful career experiences and develop the confidence to pursue their ambitions.
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
By working with local schools, your organisation can help broaden horizons for young people and ensure they are aware of the opportunities available within the city.
BUILD YOUR FUTURE TALENT PIPELINE
Engage early with young people across Bristol and help inspire the next generation of skilled professionals. Early engagement helps organisations connect with future talent and strengthen long-term recruitment pathways.
Through Bristol Works, your organisation can make a meaningful contribution while also gaining valuable benefits.
The Employer Pledge
The Bristol Works Employer Pledge is a commitment by organisations to support young people aged 11–16 by providing meaningful engagement with the world of work.
By making a pledge, employers commit to helping students gain real-world insight into careers and workplaces through activities such as employer talks, workplace visits, and work experience placements.
WHAT COUNTS AS A PLEDGE
Flexible Levels of Commitment
Employers can engage in ways that suit their capacity and expertise. Some organisations may choose to deliver occasional talks or workshops, while others may provide regular activities or structured work experience placements.
The Bristol Works team supports employers throughout the process, providing guidance, coordination, and resources to ensure activities are meaningful and well organised.
Examples of Engagement Activities
Employers can support young people through a wide range of activities designed to give students practical insight into careers and the workplace.
These experiences give students valuable opportunities to ask questions, explore careers, and develop confidence about their future pathways.
Employers typically engage with us to offer one of the three options
School Sessions and Workshops
Share your career journey, introduce students to your industry in interactive sessions, set real-work challenges and activities, and provide insight into the skills needed for different roles.
Work Experience Placements
Provide structured work experience opportunities for Year 10 students, helping them gain practical insight into the day-to-day realities of working within your sector.
Workplace Visits
Invite students to visit your organisation and experience a real working environment. These visits often include workplace tours, staff introductions, and practical activities.
Have new ideas of how you would like to engage with students?
We can work with you to create bespoke delivery.
Benefits of Getting Involved
Joining the Bristol Works Employer Pledge offers significant benefits for organisations as well as young people.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to supporting young people and contributing to the local community.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
Employer engagement with education contributes to social impact goals and responsible business practices.
Future Talent Pipeline
Engaging with students early helps organisations connect with diverse young talent and develop future recruitment pathways.
Community Visibility
Participation strengthens your organisation’s reputation within the local community and highlights your commitment to supporting young people.
Staff Development
Employee volunteers benefit from professional development opportunities through mentoring, presenting, and engaging with young people.
Here's what employers have to say
‘WORKS has really helped us to reach our target groups.’
‘WORKS are very efficient and helped us do this with minimal fuss. Everything was well organised.’
Sam Wimpenny
Connected Earth
University of Bristol
‘Great kids, super well organised from Bristol WORKS, thank you for looking after me so well.’
Emily Doherty
Channel 4Schools
‘Really enjoyed the session. Thank you Bristol WORKS.’
Esther Lawton
Waterman Aspen
‘Very enjoyable, great experience for the students, would love to continue working with Bristol WORKS.’
Ian Lomas
Alun Griffiths
‘Well run events with excellent communication.’
Grant Millar
RED construction
Our Partners
Bristol Works collaborates with organisations from a wide range of sectors across the city, from major employers to smaller local businesses. These partners play an essential role in supporting young people through career insights, work experience placements, and employer-led learning activities.
Together, these employers are helping build a stronger future workforce for Bristol.
Ready to Make a Difference
Every employer has something valuable to offer. Whether you deliver a careers talk, host a workplace visit, or offer work experience placements, your involvement can help young people better understand the world of work and the opportunities available to them.
By joining the Bristol Works Employer Pledge, your organisation becomes part of a city-wide effort to raise aspirations, build confidence, and support young people as they prepare for their future careers.
