Routes into community influence

This project was carried out by a team of Community Researchers in Lawrence Hill, Bristol between May-August 2021, with support from Wellspring Settlement’s Economic Resilience and Community Inclusion teams and researchers from the University of Bristol. The project was funded by the UKRI QR Strategic Priorities Fund, administered by the University of Bristol.

The research found a significant number of respondents who did not understand how the UK job market works; felt recruitment often excluded them; and self-excluded themselves from opportunities – due to a perception that there is too much competition and employers do not recognise their transferable skills. Frustration was expressed at a perceived lack of transferability of overseas qualifications to the UK workplace, and that current training offers were not sufficiently sector-based, with in-work experience difficult to obtain.