Regional Mayor, Tim Bowles, and Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, Tim Warren, met some of the people benefiting from a new skills programme called Future Bright yesterday.
They heard how Future Bright is already making a real difference to people’s lives, boosting their skills and improving their career prospects.
Future Bright is run by the West of England Combined Authority working with Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils and helps those already in paid work and who are on in-work benefits, into secure, more meaningful and better-paid careers. Career progression coaches work with eligible individuals to help them improve their earning potential and income, by providing tailored personal and professional development.
Three Future Bright participants, along with their career progression coaches, met the Mayor and Cllr Warren at Bath’s Guildhall.
Sue Manning from Weston, Bath was one of the first to sign up to Future Bright. She cares for her two children with additional needs as well as working as a school dinner lady. She said:
“Having secured extra support for the children, I decided the time was right to start developing my career and so I signed up to Future Bright. I’ve been working with my Future Bright coach to identify potential jobs to match my interests and skills. I am going to enroll on a computer course to improve my IT skills and am now looking at doing some voluntary work to boost my confidence and my CV. My coach has really helped and I now feel I can achieve my goal to improve my career prospects and pay.”
Angela Madison, a self-employed dog-boarder from Midsomer Norton wanted to increase her income and grow her business. Working with her coach, she’s completed a Canine First Aid course and is now looking at enrolling on a dog behaviourist course. She said:
“The help I have been given has been unbelievable - honest and positive. My coach has given me the courage to push myself. I’m feeling so much more hopeful about my future and can’t thank Future Bright enough.”
Spenser Baines from Bath currently works 12 hours a week in a department store. Spenser said:
“When I was told about Future Bright I jumped at the chance to improve my prospects and increase my hours. My coach has helped me improve my CV and practice mock interviews. He’s updated me on current employment opportunities and given me career advice. My employer has also been very supportive and I’m really hopeful I’ll be able to secure a better future for myself.”
Regional Mayor, Tim Bowles said:
“It was great to meet some of the people benefiting from Future Bright and to hear how this project is providing help and support that’s really flexible and tailored to their specific needs. It’s clear that this new WECA project is already making a big difference and is helping participants achieve their potential and build on strengths they have but were previously unaware of. The work Angela, Sue and Spenser have been doing, with the help and support of their coaches, means they are on the right path to securing a better future for themselves and their families.”
Tim Warren, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council said:
“It’s inspiring to see first-hand how Future Bright is giving local people the practical support they need to get into better-paid careers – helping them to achieve their full potential. I’m looking forward to watching their career paths develop as we work closely with them, and employers, to help build a brighter future for our communities. I also welcome and encourage anyone else who is eligible for Future Bright to join us and reap the rewards.”
To find out more about Future Bright and how it could help you, visit www.futurebright.org.uk or email your local council:
Bath and North East Somerset: futurebright@bathnes.gov.uk
Bristol: futurebright@bristol.gov.uk
South Gloucestershire: future.bright@southglos.gov.uk