About Us
Bristol Future Talent Partnership is a collaboration of leading organisations who share the vision of making Bristol the fairest and most racially equal place to study and work in the UK.
Young people in Bristol face some of the highest levels of inequality and racial discrimination in the UK - particularly in education and employment. We work with young people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds aged 14 to 21 to remove barriers, raise aspirations and provide talent with opportunity by providing high quality work experience opportunities with our partner organisations.
Enabling the development of intergenerational, professional relationships, Bristol Future Talent Partnership benefits not only Bristol’s youth but also those organisations open to diverse perspectives and new talents.
Our Programme
Research has shown that over a quarter of young people think that guaranteed work experience is one of the most important interventions to help them into good employment. (Youth Futures Foundation Discrimination and work: breaking down the barriers faced by ethnically minoritised young people 2024)
Created in collaboration with students, businesses and educational establishments, our work experience programme is designed to be transformational from the outset. It not only meets the educational requirements placed onto students but also fosters those skills needed for them to succeed in their future careers.
Our placements have been selected to give students an insight into careers across a diverse range of organisations. We provide advice on apprenticeships, direct or graduate entry schemes and offer career skills workshops and networking opportunities. Transportation to and from the placement, as well as lunch, is always provided ensuring that there is no barrier to any student taking part.
We want the students to continue to benefit from the programme after it's completion. In that spirit, we offer group mentoring and students also receive a subscription to our student newsletter, which highlights opportunities across our partner organisations.
The Case for Change
Bristol is a great city. It’s the UK’s only European Green Capital, has been voted one of the greenest cities in the country and the Sunday Times named it one of the best places to live in the South West.
However, not everyone in the city experiences it so positively.
Black and ethnic minorities in Bristol face the 7th worst levels of multiple inequalities in England and Wales - across education, employment, health and housing
Bristol is in the bottom quartile for employment inequality for Black and ethnic minorities, with Black people also experiencing the 3rd highest level of educational inequality
Bristolians from a Black African background are five times more likely to be unemployed than if they were white
Tackling racial inequality is, of course, the right thing to do. But with 22% of the city’s population from a Black or minority ethnic background, there is a strong economic argument for doing so too.
Figures from Bristol: a city divided? Ethnic Minority disadvantage in Educational and Employment. Centre on Dynamics of Ethnicity. Runnymede Report.
Our partners
‘I’ve started to become more organised, confident in who I am and found a new found respect for myself. I’ve learnt so much about the working world.’
— Student at Yeo Valley’s Careers Insight Week