Skills Shop

The opening of the Bristol Skills Shop is planned for April 2009 and it will be based at Cabot Circus.

This new facility will provide a walk in, one-stop centre for skills: acting as a focal point for businesses and individuals who require advice, guidance and training.

Initially the Shop will focus on skills related to retail, leisure and hospitality, travel and tourism and passenger transport.

Products and services that will be offered include:

• Careers and pre-employment advice and guidance
• Pre-employment training
• Support in identifying training needs for employers in Cabot Circus and the wider Bristol area
• A recruitment support service
• Customised training for large and small businesses
• Support for business start up and growth
• Support for the Train to Gain brokerage
The Shop will not function in isolation but will act as a focus for the activities of its partners and will link with other similar initiatives across
the South West (such as developments in Bath and Weston).

It is hoped that it will become an integral part of the relevant National Skills Academies Network, starting with the National Skills Academy for Retail.

A Board of Trustees will be created made up of representatives from the three key funding partners:

• Bristol Alliance
• West at Work
• City of Bristol College

together with:

• Sector Skills Council representation
• Employer representation.