Employer conference: Shaping future talent through meaningful work experience

Led by the West of England Careers Hub

The West of England is one of the UK's fastest-growing regions, with a highly skilled workforce and strong employment growth across key sectors. As our economy evolves, it is more important than ever that young people can access the opportunities, skills and connections they need to succeed.

Join employers from across the region to celebrate progress, share best practice and explore ways to widen access to high-quality work experience. Together, we can raise aspirations, support social mobility and connect young people to opportunities across our dynamic regional economy.

As an employer, you will learn how to:

• Champion high-quality work experience
• Strengthen collaboration between employers and education
• Increase access to inclusive opportunities
• Support regional skills and employment ambitions

Keynote speakers to be announced soon.

Please note: To ensure places are available to as many employers as possible, we are initially limiting registrations to two delegates per employer organisation. If you would like to bring additional colleagues, please email sven.rees@westofengland-ca.gov.uk, and we will review availability closer to the event.

Agenda

9.30am: Arrival, registration, networking and West of England Combined Authority marketplace.
Explore a range of programmes and support available through the West of England Combined Authority while networking with fellow delegates over refreshments.

10.15am: Welcome and keynote speakers 

11.35am: Workshop 1 (50 mins session) 

12.30pm: Lunch

1.15pm: Workshop 2 (50 mins session) 

2.10pm: Workshop 3 (50 mins session) 

3.05pm: Closing speeches and reflection on outcomes 

3.30pm: Finish

Select three of the following workshops at checkout - we will try our best to accommodate your choices:

Workshop 1: Designing meaningful work experience

Explore what meaningful work experience looks like in practice and how to design opportunities that go beyond observation, to deliver genuine learning, skills development and career insight. Discover how the equalex framework can be used to structure impactful experiences around clear learning outcomes, meaningful employer interactions, workplace challenges, reflection and feedback.

Workshop 2: Building a more strategic approach to education engagement

Learn how using the Employer Standards can strengthen engagement with schools and colleges and create more strategic, impactful education partnerships. Discover how the Standards can help organisations identify strengths, prioritise actions and deliver more consistent engagement, including meaningful work experience opportunities and stronger partnerships with schools and colleges.

Workshop 3: Creating opportunities, changing lives and building future talent

Find out how employers can support young people facing additional barriers to education, employment and training through meaningful work experience, mentoring and careers activities. Learn how engagement with young people from Alternative Provision (AP) settings, which provide education for learners whose needs cannot be fully met in mainstream schools, can raise aspirations, build confidence and skills, deliver social value, and support a more diverse future talent pipeline.

Workshop 4: Trauma training (led by 16-25 Independent People)

Develop your understanding of trauma and how difficult or distressing life experiences can affect a young person’s behaviour, confidence, relationships and wellbeing. Explore the principles of trauma-informed practice and provide practical strategies to help employers create supportive, inclusive and positive experiences for young people.

Workshop 5: Beyond work experience - Practical support to turn early engagement into lasting employment

The West of England has set an ambitious goal to become the UK's first NEET Zero region. In this workshop, consider how sustained employer engagement with young people can build a talent pipeline for entry level roles, and explore how this can help young people build confidence, develop employability skills and access clearer pathways into education, training and employment.

Workshop 6: What will students actually do?

Discover practical, adaptable work experience activities that can be used across different sectors and workplace settings. Focusing on moving beyond observation and passive shadowing, the session will provide ideas and tools to help you create meaningful experiences that develop skills, build confidence, offer genuine insight into the workplace, and deliver value for both young people and employers.

The conference will be held at the Aztec Hotel & Spa, offering excellent facilities and a welcoming environment for learning, networking and collaboration. Free parking, lunch and refreshments are included for all attendees.