Creating local employment and skills opportunities through development

Our Approach

Bristol City Council requires all major planning applications to include an Employment and Skills Plan (ESP) for the construction phase of the development.  This ensures that developments contribute to local employment, skills development and the broader social value of the city, while also supporting the construction industry in addressing its future workforce needs. Additionally, if the End User Phase is expected to generate significant employment opportunities, a separate ESP may be required for that stage.

The Building Bristol team is here to help you navigate the process and support you to deliver on your commitments. See further info under Employment and Skills Plans for more details on what is required, or please get in contact with us at buildingbristol@bristol.gov.uk.

Bristol is booming!  There are many major developments in the pipeline and now is the perfect time to work in partnership with Building Bristol to support local people into jobs, skills and training opportunities and develop your own workforce.

Apprenticeship students posing outside building with hi-vis vests and helmets on
Apprenticeship students posing outside building with hi-vis vests and helmets on

What is an Employment and Skills Plan?

An Employment and Skills Plan (ESP) is a document that outlines a developer’s commitment to providing employment, training and skills opportunities to local people during the course of a development project.

For all major planning applications in the city, the requirement for an ESP will be conditioned via the planning decision. The completed plan must be approved by the Building Bristol team before the planning condition can be discharged.

The ESP will be guided by specific targets designed to achieve the following 3 outcomes:

  • Provide meaningful work experience placements for local residents
  • Create new job opportunities, including entry-level roles, apprenticeships and graduate positions
  • Deliver high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) activities

Targets will be set according to specific benchmarks linked to the construction value of the development. Details of these benchmarks can be found in our template.

ESP’s must include a clear delivery plan that explains how each target will be achieved. This should detail the specific commitments of the main contractor, how responsibilities will be shared across the supply chain and what services and organisations you will engage with.

A schedule of planned commitments must also be included. This schedule will form the basis for monitoring progress throughout the project. Developers are required to submit quarterly monitoring reports, and the Building Bristol team will be on hand to provide support throughout the process.

Please contact Building Bristol for a template Employment & Skills Plan.

Developers/Applicants will be required to pay a Local Labour and Training Plan Fee which will be secured through a Section 106 Agreement or Unilateral Undertaking. This fee will be calculated in accordance with the contribution schedule detailed within the guidance document.

Request guidance and ESP template

*A major development a) 10 or more residential dwellings; b) more than 1,000 square metres Gross Internal Area of non-residential floorspace).

What is Building Bristol?

Building Bristol, a Bristol City Council initiative, is the primary point of contact for support in meeting the requirements of your Employment and Skills Plan (ESP). We offer tailored  guidance to help developers and contractors prepare their ESPs and connect with local  organisations, education settings, talent pipelines and employment networks.

Our team works within Bristol City Council Employment, Skills and Lifelong Learning Team (ESL) and runs a range of initiatives and programmes designed to create opportunities for local  residents and support inclusive growth across the city. We are always keen to involve more contractors and partners in this work.

Building Bristol can:

  • Provide you with regular updates on school engagement activities, careers events, and work experience requests
  • Promote your employment and skills activities across our networks
  • Connect you with local training providers, post-16 education institutions, local DWP and other relevant support services
  • Advertise your vacancies within our employment support networks
  • Help you recruit locally and access targeted employment and skills support for priority groups
  • Link you with other services in the ESL team such as On Site Bristol – Construction Apprenticeships,  Bristol WORKS, Post-16 Teams and Employment Support
Business coworkers discussing new ideas and brainstorming on laptop sitting on staircase office.
Business coworkers discussing new ideas and brainstorming on laptop sitting on staircase office

Contact us

Email: buildingbristol@bristol.gov.uk