On Tuesday 15 July, UWE Bristol’s Inspire Sustainability Team partnered with Ambition Lawrence Weston to deliver the Future Ambition Fair – a community event designed to connect local residents with employment, training, and support opportunities.
Held at Ambition Lawrence Weston’s community hub, the fair brought together a wide range of local organisations offering advice on jobs, apprenticeships, further education and green career pathways. The event aimed to create a welcoming, practical space for people of all ages and backgrounds to explore their next steps.
Practical Help in a Friendly Setting
Attendees had the opportunity to speak directly with stallholders from local colleges, employers, and support organisations, as well as access free, hands-on support including:
- CV writing and interview preparation
- Free professional LinkedIn portraits
- Information about local training and job opportunities
- Family-friendly activities and free food throughout the day
The fair also welcomed a group of Year 10 students from St Bede’s Catholic College, who engaged with stallholders and took part in career conversations as part of their wider career development learning.
Participating organisations included Bristol City Council – Employment, Skills and Learning, Babbasa, Severnnet, Bristol Energy Network, Youth Environmental Service (YES), The Green Register, Bristol Waste, Wheels to Work, and others. UWE Bristol’s own Degree Apprenticeships and School of Health and Social Wellbeing teams were also present to share information on pathways into healthcare and work-based learning.
Strengthening Local Collaboration
Stallholders and attendees alike emphasised the value of personal conversations and being able to explore opportunities in a supportive environment. Many of the organisations involved highlighted the importance of showing up in community spaces, especially where access to careers support and higher education can be limited.
UWE Bristol’s Inspire Sustainability Team, which leads projects focused on inclusive, community-led climate action and sustainable futures, organised the event as part of its work to connect green and healthy futures with real-world skills and employment pathways.
“We’re really pleased with how the event came together,” said Laura Fogg-Rogers, who leads on UWE Bristol’s Inspire Sustainability Team. “It was about creating a space where people could explore ideas without pressure – and where support felt genuinely accessible.”
Ambition Lawrence Weston, a long-standing community-led regeneration organisation, played a key role in shaping and promoting the event locally.
Looking Ahead
The Future Ambition Fair follows a successful similar event held in St Pauls earlier this year, and forms part of a growing programme of community-based career events co-organised by UWE Bristol and neighbourhood partners.
Plans are now in development for future events that build on these partnerships and continue to support residents in discovering new pathways into meaningful, sustainable work.