YES
Bristol.
Our flagship programme works with environmental organisations to create new entry-level employment in the West of England.
It’s an evolution of our approach, building on the successes and learnings from New to Nature.
The fundamentals haven’t changed: we empower environmental organisations to create fantastic, accessible, entry-level opportunities, and support young people from all backgrounds to thrive within them.
How it’s structured
The model for YES Bristol follows our core approach, explained in more detail here for young people and for employers. We’re using it to experiment, iterate, and refine our approach, so that we can be confident that it’s offering something genuinely useful and valuable for everyone taking part.
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Our focus will be on attracting young and diverse talent who can bring new energy, passion and perspectives to help power our green revolution.
While the roles are open to anyone, we especially want to prioritise supporting those young people who face additional barriers to participating in the environmental sector, including (but not limited to) those who are:
Ethnically diverse/from an ethnic minority community
Living with a disability
Economically disadvantaged
Geographically marginalised
Our offer to you:You’ll be able to discover and apply for roles through our website, safe in the knowledge that each opportunity has been vetted to make sure it is:
Truly entry-level, without any requirements for specific experience or education
Properly paid, at the real living wage
At a leading environmental organisation committed to supporting you to thrive
Before starting you’ll join us for a cohort-wide induction event to settle first-day nerves. Then, throughout the year, you’ll have access to an ongoing programme of support, including:
1-2-1 coaching from our dedicated youth coach
Peer-support networks with other trainees on in similar placements
A learning programme focused on the transferable skills you’ll need to make the most of your placement
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We’re looking to create roles that are on the frontline of the environmental movement, helping make a direct impact on the restoration of our natural environment and mitigation of human-led climate change.
They could be charities, public bodies, or for-profit organisations, working within our seven target sectors:
Nature recovery and urban greening
Food and Farming
Climate resilience
Low-carbon energy transition
Sustainable built environment
Green transport systems
Circular economy
Our offer to youWe’ll work with you to create accessible, entry-level placements for young people, helping you promote these opportunities and, where applicable, supporting with funding applications to ensure the role is financially viable.
Alongside the learning and support offered to trainees, you’ll be able to join a bespoke programme of capacity-building, designed to help you build a more inclusive, youth-focused workplace. This will include expert-facilitated peer-to-peer networks where you can plan and implement new strategies to support diverse young people into your teams.
Timeline
Spring
Autumn
Employer sign-ups
YES works across our local networks to identify and shape new opportunities at a variety of environmental employers. This includes supporting funding applications, helping frame the roles, and building buy-in within the organisation.
December - January
May - June
Employer learning programme
Employers join quarterly facilitated learning sessions to explore alongside peers how they might introduce more inclusive and equitable practices, from fairer hiring to supporting personal development once in the role.
February - April
(14 months)
July - August
(14 months)
Roles go-live
All roles go live as part of a joined up campaign over the entire month. These are promoted via our social channels, newsletter, and through local partner organisations, to maximise reach among the young people we’re looking to work with.
February
July
Interviewing and selection
Application forms are simple and straightforward, emphasising interest and skills over experience or connections. Employers are responsible for all interviewing and selection - they have access to our bespoke application review tool which helps remove unconscious biases, and every applicant should receive feedback for their application.
March - April
August - September
Trainee welcome day
Trainees all join the YES Collective in a single, in-person, welcome day in the centre of Bristol, where they’ll get to meet their peers, discover more about the year ahead, and set intentions for what they want to get from it.
May
October
Trainee learning programme
Trainees then meet in-person on a monthly basis, for a mixture of expert taught and peer-to-peer learning, all in-person in Bristol and the surrounding region.
June - March
November - August
Graduation
At the end of their year, we hold a graduation ceremony to celebrate what the trainees have achieved with their colleagues, family, and friends.
April
September
If this sounds like your kind of thing, let’s start a conversation!
If you’re a young person who wants to be the first to hear about new roles before they go anywhere else, and stay up to date on our programme, by joining our mailing list.
Or you can check out the latest opportunities for our YES Bristol programme here
If you’re an environmental employer who is thinking about their entry-level pathways, and would like to explore if they might be a fit for YES Bristol, then please email Jess directly to start a conversation.