Empowering regional talent through flexible learning
At UWE Bristol, we believe that real change begins with people – those who are ready to learn, grow, and lead. The Skills Pathway Programme was created to do just that: to equip professionals across the West of England with the tools and confidence to shape a more sustainable future.
Supporting employees from SMEs across Construction & Built Environment, Legal Services, and Engineering & Manufacturing, the programme offered four flexible pathways: Collaborative Working, Digital & Intelligent Technologies, Leadership, and Sustainability. Each pathway combined modular e-learning with live workshops, supported by optional mentoring and a dedicated Learner Engagement Lead who ensured personalised guidance throughout.
With a strong focus on inclusion, we welcomed participants from underrepresented groups, especially women and individuals from global majority backgrounds in technical sectors. Nearly 100 professionals took part, gaining access to UWE’s facilities and expert support from academics and industry partners.
The Sustainability Pathway – particularly its retrofit modules – saw the greatest uptake, reflecting growing demand for practical skills aligned with the region’s sustainability goals. Notably, 82% of participants came from construction, manufacturing, and engineering, highlighting the programme’s relevance to regional industry.
Graduates earned a UWE Certificate and Digital Badge, marking a meaningful step in their professional journey – and a collective stride toward a more sustainable future.
Reflections on the impact of the Skills Pathway Programme
Hannah Ranby, Project Lead for the Skills Pathway Programme, shared insights into her experience overseeing the project and its lasting impact.
“The programme exceeded all targets set by our funder and achieved unexpected levels of individual and business impact. This very tangible success demonstrates that there is a real appetite for stackable, modular training from people working in the region that meets both their individual development needs and provides the specific skills their organisation needs to grow.
Uniquely, this programme provided a high level of one-to-one support for each participant, ensuring that their pathway through the programme was fit-for-purpose and that they were set up to succeed. I’m in no doubt that taking this very tailored approach to the content and structure of the programme, and ensuring that it was accessible for working people, by blending online learning and in-person workshops, contributed to the impact that the programme has had.
Working on such a successful programme and hearing first-hand from our participants the direct impact it has had on them and their organisation is hugely rewarding for the whole project team. We have learnt so much through this project that we are now taking forward to our other funded skills programmes to ensure continuous improvement, high levels of participant satisfaction and effective use of the funding we continue to secure.”
Tania Geta, a qualified architect, was looking for a course that would suit her company’s project portfolio, generate new opportunities, and provide her with a qualification and the skillset to run retrofit projects.
“Through the programme, I have increased my knowledge in the areas of sustainability and retrofit. I gained valuable insights through discussions with my mentor and self-reflection using the Growth Action Plan. These conversations provided a deeper understanding of key topics and helped me apply new perspectives to my professional development. The programme also encouraged a more structured approach to goal setting and career progression, which will continue to benefit me moving forward.”
Usman Yaqub was drawn to the structured nature of the course and was looking to address understandings of PAS 2035 and retrofit in general and how these could be practically applied into the workplace.
“We have delved into PAS 2035 and a range of detailed areas on retrofit in general that has proved very useful to take into the working environment. I believe that this will enhance the way in which we work and ultimately lead to an enhancement in service for society as a whole.”
What’s next?
We’re now delivering a series of new highly subsidised Skills Bootcamps at UWE Bristol, designed for SMEs and employees in larger organisations looking to deepen expertise and upskill in key areas around sustainability and manufacturing.
- Urban Greening for a Biodiverse West of England Skills Bootcamp
- Digital Built Environment: Fabrication and Manufacturing Skills Bootcamp
- Scaling Green Business: SME Growth Skills Bootcamp
Explore our Skills Bootcamps and secure your place.
The Skills Pathway Programme was funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority through the Mayoral Priority Skills Fund (MPSF). The MPSF was part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
📌 RISE connection: The Skills Pathway Programme exemplifies Skills that empower by highlighting how tailored, inclusive learning pathways equip professionals with practical, future-focused skills – empowering individuals and industries to lead sustainable change across the West of England. It also contributes to Enriching culture, place and community and Securing a green, resilient future, two of our four RISE beacons.