Who are you, what are you studying, and how did you find the internship?

My name is Sisir, and I study Biomedical Science at the University of Warwick. I am about to enter my third year.

I found the Bristol City Leap (BCL) internship on LinkedIn while looking for an opportunity to experience a different industry. I knew very little about the energy sector, but that was part of the appeal. I wanted to find out whether I could take the analytical skills I had developed through my degree and apply them somewhere completely unfamiliar.

The placement was originally planned for six weeks and was later extended to eight. By that point, there were pieces of work I wanted to see through properly, and I was enjoying the opportunity to keep contributing to the team.

What were you originally hired to do?

I joined BCL to support the Bright Green Homes scheme, mainly by helping the team identify and reach households that might be eligible for funded home energy improvements.

The starting point was a very broad housing dataset covering property type, tenure, Energy Performance Certificate ratings and location. The difficult part was not finding possible directions in the data. It was narrowing them down to a few ideas that might actually be useful. I developed a method for identifying concentrations of potentially eligible homes and comparing them with streets where residents had already received retrofit improvements. From this, I produced maps, a ranked list of areas and recommendations that the team could use to focus its outreach.

I also designed Bright Green Homes flyers and contributed to a Meta advert. The materials changed substantially, including the layout, colour scheme, messaging and call to action. The aim was to make the next step as clear as possible while recognising that residents may naturally have questions about eligibility, disruption and how a fully funded offer works.

BCL’s Customer Operations Manager managed this work and kept bringing me back to the resident experience. Her questions made me think beyond whether a flyer was accurate or visually tidy and ask whether somebody seeing the programme for the first time would feel reassured enough to respond. That changed how I approached both the analysis and the communications.

What other projects did you work on?

My role became broader quite quickly. Much of the internship involved getting oriented, asking questions and then trying to produce something that another person could genuinely use.

I worked with BCL’s Social Value Coordinator on a social value proposal linked to a local hospital. I looked at the green spaces already available around the buildings and explored how clean air and opportunities for exercise could support the proposal. This was one of the places where my Biomedical Science background connected directly with the work, because it encouraged me to think about the environment from the perspective of patients, visitors and staff.

Before the internship, “social value” was a phrase I only partly understood. Working on the proposal made it more concrete. I began to see that an environmental project can be judged not only by what it installs or saves, but also by whether it makes a place healthier, more accessible or more useful to the people around it.

I also supported early-stage work exploring solar PV and battery storage for blocks of flats and other complex housing types. I helped draft an initial project document and analysed housing data on walk-up blocks to identify areas that might justify further investigation. I found this stage of project development interesting because the answer was rarely obvious. The work was about reducing a large field of possibilities into a more credible starting point, while recognising that technical, financial and delivery questions would still need to be worked through.

For the local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, I combined GIS mapping, data analysis and research to support the identification of priority areas for public charging infrastructure.

Elsewhere, I built Power BI and Smartsheet dashboards, updated Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund materials, worked on resident communications and supported internal digital tools. The variety was one of the strengths of the internship. I could be working through an Excel dataset one day and trying to make sense of a new mapping or dashboard tool the next.

Most of the software I used, including GIS, Power BI, Smartsheet and Power Apps, was new to me. Learning through live work helped me understand why outputs need to be practical and useful, not just technically complete. By the end of the placement, I was less worried by the feeling of not knowing where to start. I had become more confident that I could ask the right questions, learn what I needed and improve the work as I went.

What did you learn about Bristol City Leap?

Before the internship, I associated decarbonisation mainly with technology and funding. I left with a more complicated picture. Technology matters, but so do trust, communication, project development and the practical details of delivery.

Bright Green Homes was the clearest example. I initially assumed that fully funded improvements would naturally attract overwhelming interest. In practice, residents may still be uncertain about whether they are eligible, what the work will involve and whether the offer can be trusted. That showed me that a worthwhile programme does not communicate itself. The route from first hearing about it to deciding to participate has to feel clear and manageable.

I also learnt that projects contributing to the same decarbonisation goal can require very different ways of thinking. Targeting a household grant, developing an idea for apartment blocks and planning public charging infrastructure involve different people, data and constraints. There is no single formula that can simply be applied to every project.

The most useful lesson was that analysis only matters when it connects to a real decision. A map can look polished, and a dashboard can contain the right figures, but neither is useful unless someone understands what to do with it. That is something I will carry back into my degree and future work.

What was the working environment like?

The team was supportive from the beginning, but what I appreciated most was that support did not mean being given every answer. I was trusted to try things for myself, make changes and return with something that could be discussed and improved.

BCL’s Social Value Coordinator was my main point of contact and gave me the confidence to explore work beyond my original brief while remaining someone I could approach when I needed direction. BCL’s Customer Operations Manager taught me to view the Bright Green Homes scheme through the resident journey and to think seriously about clarity and trust. One of BCL’s Project Manager encouraged me to look beyond the immediate task and connect individual pieces of work with the wider purpose of a project. BCL’s Senior Communications Coordinator sharpened my attention to branding and detail, particularly the difference between information being technically correct and being effective for its intended audience.

One of my favourite examples of the team culture was delivering Bright Green Homes flyers door to door with BCL’s Social Value Coordinator. It was not something she needed to do herself, but she was willing to get involved. As the placement progressed, moments like that made me feel less like an intern observing from the edge and more like part of the work.

What advice would you give another student?

Do not think of yourself as “just the intern”, but do not feel that you need to prove yourself by pretending to know everything either. Ask questions, learn who can help with different problems and be willing to show unfinished work early enough for feedback to improve it.

I would also ask what a piece of work will be used for, not only how to complete it. Understanding the person or decision at the other end of a spreadsheet, map or flyer makes it much easier to produce something useful. Being unfamiliar with an industry does not mean your perspective has no value, but it does mean you need to listen carefully and stay open to having your assumptions corrected.

Any final thoughts?

I arrived at Bristol City Leap expecting to analyse housing data for one programme. Eight weeks later, I had contributed to work across retrofit, renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure, social value and digital tools. I did not leave as an expert in all of those areas, and that is not really what the internship was about.

The internship did not give me a definite answer about what I want to do after university. It gave me something more realistic and, for now, more useful: confidence that I can enter an unfamiliar industry, admit what I do not know, learn quickly and still contribute something worthwhile.

The post My Internship at Bristol City Leap appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

Beginning in the summer, the trial will test a ‘cross pavement gully’ solution. These are narrow channels installed in the pavement that allow a charging cable to run safely from a home charge point to an EV parked on the street. The household would need to cover the cost of installing the channel, but the council would license the work on the pavement and organise them.

The aim is to understand whether this approach can make home charging possible without creating trip hazards, obstructing the pavement, or impacting other pavement users.

This trial has been designed to understand how this type of solution could work safely, conveniently, and fairly in Bristol, and to develop a process for any future use of this technology. As this is a controlled trial, residents cannot ask private companies to install these channels, and it does not include a reserved parking space on the public highway.

Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “With transport making up around 34 per cent of the average Bristol resident’s carbon footprint, and private car use a big part of that, we need to give people more realistic ways to switch to low emission vehicles. “For many households, not having a driveway makes home charging difficult or unsafe. This trial will help us work with residents who are interested in helping us to understand whether cross-pavement solutions can work well for Bristol and the process for how it could be rolled out. This is all part of our ambition to become carbon-neutral and climate-resilient as a city.”

Residents interested in taking part in the trial can submit an expression of interest at Cross-Pavement Gully Charging Trial – Expression of Interest – Bristol City Leap.

The trial will run from August 2026 to June 2027, with gully solutions being installed in batches.

Monitoring and evaluation will feed into a report that will help shape the council’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy.

The project is being delivered by Ameresco as part of the Bristol City Leap partnership, with the trial being run by Bristol City Council.

It follows on from the news that Bristol’s EV charging boosted by 150 new on-street charge points – Bristol City Leap.

The post Applications open for cross-pavement gully EV charging trial appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

The new on-street EV charging points have been installed at the base of upgraded lampposts at sites selected in areas of Bristol where there are low numbers of driveways, to give people without off-street parking access to charging points for their electric vehicles.

Once the charger is installed, it will be available for public use with simple instructions next to the charge point. Detailed instructions on how to use it and the price will be clearly displayed on the Fuuse app, which also includes the locations of the EV charge points.

The lampposts were upgraded last year in preparation for the chargers, which allows the charger installation process to be quick and straightforward, and is usually completed within a few hours.

Works are being delivered in partnership with Ameresco and Bristol City Leap, supporting Bristol’s wider commitment to clean energy, reduced emissions, and improved access to EV charging for residents.

Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “The new lamppost chargers are part of Bristol’s ongoing ambition to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and make it easier for residents to switch to low-emission vehicles. Through the Bristol City Leap partnership with Ameresco, the city is investing in accessible, reliable on-street charging to help support these long term goals.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Green electric buses are already making a difference across the West, cutting pollution and improving journeys – with more on the way. Our new Transport Vision sets out the direction of travel for our region, including increasing the number of chargers to support the growing number of other electric vehicles. These 150 new charging points through lampposts are a useful step forward for people in Bristol as we work together to deliver our wider transport ambitions, with almost £500,000 more funding already secured to enable all of our councils to enhance charging facilities.”

The lamppost chargers are designed to fit into the street environment while providing convenient access for residents, especially those without off-street parking.

The chargers being installed are slow CityEV 3.4kW chargers, designed for overnight use. The new chargers complement the existing network of council and privately owned chargers, which provide fast and rapid charging.

The project is funded by The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Green Recovery Fund and Office For Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) on-street residential charge point scheme (ORCS).

The post Bristol’s EV charging boosted by 150 new on-street charge points appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

A Deep Dive into Data Analysis

From day one, James embraced the opportunity to work on our Revive (a regional network of electric vehicle charge points located in the West of England, including Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset) electric vehicle charger asset register. “During my time at Bristol City Leap, I particularly enjoyed working on the Revive asset register, analysing datasets and comparing them with mapping sites to identify issues,” he shared. This analytical project allowed him to enhance his skills in data interpretation while addressing real-world challenges.

James also contributed to the development of a marketing plan, which he found eye-opening. “Developing the marketing plan gave me the chance to explore a different side of the business and think more strategically,” he noted. This experience was crucial in helping him establish a foundation for strategic thinking in marketing.

Engaging with the Community

Understanding the community’s needs was another vital aspect of James’ internship. He appreciated the opportunity to gain insights into the city’s dynamics through area profiling. “It gave me a new perspective on the city and allowed me to work with stakeholder information,” he explained. James’s research for the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund not only expanded his understanding of the energy sector but also showcased the positive impact that Bristol City Leap is making in the community.

A Welcoming Work Environment

James found our workplace culture to be incredibly supportive. “I felt well supported by colleagues at Bristol City Leap throughout my placement,” he remarked. Through networking events like those hosted by Bristol 24/7, he was able to connect with professionals early on, which helped him integrate seamlessly into our team. The approachability of his colleagues and the atmosphere fostered open communication and collaboration. “Informal conversations helped me feel part of the team, and colleagues trusted me to contribute to their projects,” he stated.

Overcoming Challenges

Every internship comes with its own set of challenges, and James faced the reality of balancing multiple tasks. “The most challenging part of my placement was balancing different tasks at times, although the office support made it manageable,” he acknowledged. Despite the demanding nature of the workload, he found it rewarding and even reflected on the difficulties faced in writing for this blog. “I found it hard to find anything that I didn’t enjoy,” he remarked, highlighting how supported he felt throughout the experience.

Building Essential Skills

During his placement, James enhanced several vital professional skills. “I developed a much stronger understanding of how Excel is used in real-world business tasks and how powerful it can be for managing information,” he explained. This newfound knowledge about spreadsheets became a crucial takeaway, exemplifying the practical skills he gained. Additionally, James improved his communication capabilities and learned effective time management techniques, focusing on delivering quality work within deadlines.

A Positive Impact

Finally, James expressed his appreciation for the overall experience at Bristol City Leap. “From the first day, I was kept busy in a good way; it became a place where I could get real work done without feeling stressed,” he reflected. Small touches, such as fresh fruit on Monday mornings, contributed to the inviting atmosphere and made coming into the office a pleasure.

“It was an amazing experience. I’m leaving feeling much more confident in my skills and with a stronger appreciation for the real work Bristol City Leap is doing across the city,” he concluded.

James’ journey with us was truly inspiring, and we’re incredibly proud of the progress he made during his internship. As he moves forward in his academic and professional career, we’re confident that the skills and experiences he gained will serve him well.

What’s Next for James?

But it doesn’t end there. In recognition of his skills and aptitude, at the end of his internship, James was offered a fixed-term full-time position with Bristol City Leap. James’ placement was a two-day-a-week setup up but he is now a full-time member of the team working Monday to Friday until the end of August. Allowing him to continue to gain experience and expand his role until the start of his third year at university. He will be focused on supporting the team in delivering some of our retrofit projects as well as supporting engagement activities for the rollout of local renewables in our communities.

We are pleased to say that James is another internship success story at Bristol City Leap and is a true testament to the importance of providing young people with real workplace experience that allows them gain skills whilst contributing to delivering city-scale decarbonisation through our partnership.

The post Celebrating James’ Internship Journey at Bristol City Leap and its Unexpected Ending appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

By the end of the first five years, the partnership is expected to exceed the £424 million of low carbon delivery set out in the Bristol City Leap bid, significantly increasing the level of decarbonisation for Bristol through our projects. The refreshed Business Plan emphasises a robust pipeline of decarbonisation projects aimed at transforming the council’s corporate estate, social housing, and vehicle fleet while expanding the Bristol heat network and building renewable generation capacity. Through strategic partnerships with local organisations, commercial organisations, and vibrant communities, the partnership is delivering on significant initiatives that not only tackle decarbonisation but also generate meaningful social value, aligning perfectly with Bristol’s sustainability objectives.

Throughout the past year, Bristol has seen monumental progress, with £51 million of projects already contracted as part of Bristol City Leap. We have delivered £31 million in energy efficiency measures for social housing as part of efforts to enhance the comfort and safety of over 28,000 properties across the city. We have also welcomed 10 new buildings to the Bristol heat network, connecting new developments to resilient heating systems that can support the city’s transition to low-carbon heat sources.

Mark Apsey MBE, Senior Vice President at Ameresco, said: “The collaborative efforts demonstrated in this partnership reflect our collective commitment to lead Bristol in climate action. We are addressing the urgent need to decarbonise and prioritising the creation of jobs and support for local communities, with an impressive £15 million in social value generated through our projects to date.”

“As we continue to navigate challenges posed by rising energy costs and the impact on households, our work continues to support the most vulnerable. Our initiatives, including a £10 million investment in energy efficiency measures for homeowners at risk of fuel poverty, directly address helps improve lives. Additionally, our social housing retrofitting program is significantly improving energy efficiency across Bristol’s housing stock.”

The annual update highlights Bristol City Leap’s growing role in becoming a blueprint for other cities and regions striving for similar decarbonisation goals. The innovative approaches undertaken by Bristol City Leap continue to gain national attention, paving the way for a future where public and private sectors unite to revolutionise energy systems in urban areas.

Councillor Martin Fodor, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, said: “It’s exciting to see the growing pipeline of essential projects to switch to clean, low carbon energy and help reduce energy waste and pollution in the city. We are also seeing the flow of private capital into new initiatives, which is so vital to scale up climate action.

“Another important initiative under the partnership’s banner is the Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund, established to provide important grant and loan funding to community organisations to enable a new wave of community-led energy projects across the city.”

Bristol City Leap works with partners in business and community sectors across the city and continues to urge individuals and organisations to come together for the collective goal of making Bristol a shining example of how to energise a sustainable world.

Click here to read the 2025/26 business plan in full.

The post Bristol City Leap Marks Two Years of Progress with Updated Decarbonisation Plans appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

Bristol City Leap project has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Award of Distinction for Public-Private Collaboration in Cities by the Global Partnership for Local Investment, an initiative of the World Economic Forum in collaboration with UN-Habitat. This accolade recognises the groundbreaking efforts of Bristol City Leap in addressing the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and meet ambitious climate targets through an innovative public-private partnership.

Bristol City Leap is a pioneering, twenty-year joint venture between Bristol City Council, Ameresco, and Vattenfall Heat UK. The initiative focuses on achieving city-scale decarbonisation by installing low carbon energy infrastructure, primarily funded and delivered by the private sector. The goal is for the joint venture to attract £1 billion in investments over the partnership’s duration, with at least £424 million committed by 2027. The commitment to Bristol City Leap has continued across political administrations with cross-party support.

“Bristol City Leap exemplifies how cities can leverage innovative public-private partnerships to drive sustainable urban transformation,” said Jeff Merritt, Head of Urban Transformation at the World Economic Forum. “This award recognises Bristol’s leadership in demonstrating that collaboration at scale is key to addressing global climate challenges while delivering tangible benefits to local communities.”

Key outcomes:

• EV Charging Network: £18 million investment in the city’s EV charging network over the first five years.
• Council Operational Buildings: £2.5 million projects in council operational buildings for Building Management Systems, energy-efficient chillers, and LED lighting, with a further £10 million of projects in advanced development to commence within the next 12 months.
• Schools: Installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and air-source heat pumps in schools to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Social Housing Stock: £57 million investment in the city’s social housing stock by 2029, including £16 million for refurbishing nine blocks of flats and a £7.8 million window replacement program to improve energy efficiency.
• Heat Network Expansion: Expansion of the city’s heat network by Vattenfall, expected to supply low carbon heat to the equivalent of 12,000 homes over the next five years.
• Large-Scale Renewable Development: An £83 million program of large-scale renewable development, much of which will take place on council-owned land.

Collectively, these initiatives are projected to result in an impressive reduction of approximately 140,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and the installation of 182 MW of clean, renewable energy over the five years.

This substantial impact not only contributes to Bristol’s ambitious climate goals but also sets a benchmark for other cities aiming to achieve similar environmental milestones. By harnessing the power of innovative technologies and sustainable practices, Bristol City Leap is paving the way for a greener, more resilient future.

“This award is a testament to the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change,” said Mark Apsey MBE, Senior Vice President at Ameresco. “By creating a long-term place-based partnership between Bristol City Council and Ameresco we are attracting investment in energy projects to take action toward decarbonisation. This approach is unlocking significant social value by creating good local jobs, improving local infrastructure and providing support for local communities. We are keen to see this world first model replicated rapidly in other cities and places to accelerate mitigation action on climate change.”

“The Bristol City Leap partnership is a pioneering collaboration that demonstrates the value of combining the best of the public and private sectors to deliver real change for our city,” said Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council. “Through working together, we are bringing to Bristol a number of the interventions required to move towards a more sustainable, energy resilient city. This approach is also creating new jobs in an emerging green energy sector and has the power to unlock tremendous amounts of social benefits for communities across the city. This award demonstrates that we’re on the right track and we look forward to continuing to work as a partnership to achieve our ambitious goals.”

The project emphasises social value, with local economic benefits estimated at £61.5 million in social value, £55 million in contracts with the local supply chain, and over 1,000 local jobs, work placements, and apprenticeships. A £1.5 million Community Energy Fund has been established, with the first awards to community groups being made, and the delivery of £4 million energy efficiency measures for the city’s most vulnerable households is helping to tackle fuel poverty.

Looking ahead, Ameresco is developing relationships with many interested UK and international cities to share the lessons from Bristol and set up new outcome based public-private partnerships.

The post Bristol City Leap Wins 2024 Award of Distinction for Public-Private Collaboration in Cities appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

About Bristol City Leap 

Bristol City Leap is a world-first initiative, a transformative, city-scale approach to decarbonisation. Through a twenty-year joint venture partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco, and Vattenfall Heat UK, we aim to invest over £1 billion into Bristol’s energy system. Our mission is to significantly boost the amount of renewable energy and decarbonised heat powering the city, creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for everyone. 

Over the next five years, we plan to deliver £424 million in large infrastructure projects, including large scale wind and solar, expanding Bristol’s award-winning Heat Network, installing solar panels and low-carbon heating systems in schools, and making social housing more energy-efficient. Our initiative is designed with social value at its core, with the potential to generate at least £61.5 million in social value for the city, create over 1,000 new jobs and apprenticeships, and establish a £1.5 million Community Energy Fund. 

A Week of Learning and Growth 

The work experience week offered our students a hands-on opportunity to explore the world of energy and sustainability. Throughout the week, the students participated in a variety of activities designed to broaden their understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector. 

One of the highlights for the students was the Heat Network Building activity, where students used straws and ping pong balls to simulate the creation of an energy-efficient heat network. Maryam reflected, “I enjoyed everything really, but if I were to pick out one specific thing, it’d probably be the talks and sessions on the heat network because it certainly has broadened my knowledge on what heat networks are, which I clearly didn’t know till I came on the placement.” Matin also appreciated this activity, saying, “I also enjoyed making things when we were working on the heat network building activity.“ 

The students also had the chance to visit several key sites, including Sparks in Broadmead and the Energy Centre in Castle Park. These visits were eye-opening experiences that helped them connect the theoretical aspects of decarbonisation to real-world applications. Adama found this hands-on approach particularly engaging, stating, “I enjoyed going out into the city and looking around for specific things like the Retrofitting and EVI. I prefer more hands-on tasks so being able to get up and walk around was something that I really did enjoy. I also loved the poster design task because we were able to present them, and I was able to show everyone my public speaking abilities as well as my presentation skills.“ 

For Fiyinfoluwa, the opportunity to learn about energy and heat systems was particularly valuable, as it introduced him to a new field of knowledge. He shared, “I found the opportunity to learn about energy and heat systems to be highly valuable, as it is a field with which I was previously unfamiliar, and that is something I’ll say I enjoyed the most throughout this week.” He also found the poster design and event planning sessions engaging, despite initially struggling with unfamiliar software like Canva. “The task I’ll say I found the most challenging was utilising the Canva software effectively for our poster design which was to create awareness. Prior to the sessions, I had almost no experience using them, but over the sessions, I was guided and learnt how to use them” he said. 

Reflections on the Experience

The students left Bristol City Leap with a deeper understanding of the energy sector and how it intersects with broader societal goals. Matin reflected on how the experience influenced his thoughts on his future career, noting, “It helped me think about how my future degree and skills can be implemented in such a field, and it made me realise that I don’t quite enjoy being in an office space and I would rather have a more hands-on approach to a working environment.“ 

While Adama is still unsure if a career in energy is in her future, she was inspired by Bristol City Leap’s commitment to community impact. “Although I’m unsure if I’d work at a company that does work on energy and the environment, it is something that has really made me realise I want to be in a career that helps people. Seeing the way you as a company want to help the community has truly inspired me to go out and do more, even if it’s not necessarily the same work that you guys do” she said. 

Maryam, who studies Geography, found the placement aligned with her interest in climate change and appreciated the opportunity to work in a sector that shares her passion for the environment. “As a student that studies Geography, I’m quite keen on climate change, and I think that Bristol City Leap clearly cares about it too by doing some captivating work, so I MIGHT look into doing something environment-related in the future” she explained. 

Although Fiyinfoluwa’s aspirations lie in cyber security, the experience at Bristol City Leap gave him the confidence to consider a career in a sector focused on sustainability. “Now I feel more confident in getting a career in cyber security in this kind of sector” he noted. 

A Lasting Impact

Beyond the technical knowledge gained, the students also developed important soft skills during their time with us. Adama and Maryam both noted improvements in their communication and teamwork abilities. Maryam shared, “Normally, I don’t like working with other people and prefer working alone, but tasks involved teaming up with the other students, and I’d say that I coped quite well, which I normally wouldn’t do. I spoke quite a bit, so my communication has improved.” Adama also reflected on her growth, saying, “I’ve definitely developed my confidence and ability to talk and project my thoughts and emotions throughout my time here. I know now more than ever how I would be able to talk in formal meetings.“ 

The students’ positive feedback underscores the importance of initiatives like this. As Adama expressed, “Bristol City Leap’s hospitality and kindness towards both me and the other students doing the work experience has been absolutely amazing. There is not a single person in this company who has acted in a certain way to make me or anyone else feel uncomfortable and this really makes me glad. Your work ethic is insanely good, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that has been given. I would undeniably recommend this work experience to anyone, especially those who are interested in making an impact on our community.“ 

Maryam echoed this sentiment, stating, “Overall, it was an amazing experience. I feel really privileged to be able to do work experience, coming from a different country where work experience isn’t even a thing, and to be able to do a placement at such a company, it’s just great.” Fiyinfoluwa added, “It was a pleasant week, and I gained lots of knowledge in fields I didn’t know about before.“ 

Conclusion

Hosting these talented students through the Bristol Future Talent Partnership has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved. It has reaffirmed our commitment to providing young people with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration they need to contribute to a sustainable future. As we continue our work towards decarbonising Bristol, we look forward to offering more opportunities for the next generation to get involved and make a difference. 

By investing in the leaders of tomorrow, we are not only helping to create a more sustainable city but also fostering a more inclusive and equitable community. At Bristol City Leap, we believe that the journey to a carbon-neutral Bristol is one that should be shared by everyone, and we are proud to play a role in shaping the future of our city. 

To discover more about students who have engaged with Bristol City Leap, click here.

The post Empowering the Next Generation – Bristol City Leap’s Commitment to Future Talent appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

Bristol Future Talent Partnership is a collaboration of leading organisations who share the vision of making Bristol the fairest and most racially equal place to study and work in the UK. Their mission is to end the longstanding multiple inequalities and underrepresentation faced by people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds in the city, particularly in education and employment. Their approach is to work with young people to raise aspirations, remove barriers and provide talent with opportunity.

Activities that you enjoyed the most

Sana: Participating in the Health & Safety logo design session.
Vijay: Engaging in the Health & Safety logo design session, visiting the Energy Centre in Castle Park, and attending the CV and interview skills workshops.
Zachary: Exploring the Energy Centre in Castle Park, participating in the retrofit and EVI task, and engaging in the Health & Safety logo design session.

Highlights of the Experience

Sana: “I liked talking about the health and safety things.”
Vijay: “I found the Heat Network the most interesting… It was fun to understand how it helps save energy.”
Zachary: “I enjoyed the energy centre in the castle park the most because I wanted to know more about heat and energy systems.”

Influence on Future Career Aspirations

Vijay: “Yes, it has shown me that I prefer Environmental Engineering.”
Zachary: “It has allowed me to gain more of an interest in heat and energy systems.”

Valuable Skills and Knowledge Gained

Sana: “I became a bit better at talking in groups I’m not familiar with.”
Vijay: “The CV and interview workshop will help me apply for universities and future jobs.”
Zachary: “The ability to think outside of the box related to heat and energy.”

Final Thoughts

Vijay: “It was very fun, thank you for running it.”
Zachary: “Just enjoyed my time being here. Overall, a good work experience and would highly recommend”

Bristol City Leap is committed to delivering a minimum of £61.5m of social value to the city over our first five years including over 1,000 new jobs, apprenticeships and work placements. The experience of Sana, Vijay, and Zachary at Bristol City Leap underscores the importance of providing hands-on learning opportunities for young individuals interested in sustainability and decarbonisation. In the weeks following the work placement, one of the students, Zachary, was accepted into the Arcadis degree apprenticeship. He attributed his success to his experience at Bristol City Leap, stating, ‘Without the experience, I wouldn’t have been accepted’. We are proud to have played a part in shaping their understanding and igniting their passion for creating a cleaner, better future. Here’s to inspiring more young minds and growing the next generation of  leadership for Bristol!

To discover more about students who have engaged with Bristol City Leap, click here.

The post A Week’s Experience at Bristol City Leap: Insights from Sana, Vijay, and Zachary appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

The plan, which covers the period from 2024 to 2029, includes a path towards attracting over £100 million of expected additional delivery in the city from the initial projections made in 2023.

Progress to date

Since launching in January 2023, Bristol City Leap has laid strong foundations, creating a substantial pipeline of decarbonisation projects and working with key local organisations, commercial partners and communities – all the while generating major social value for the city. This includes major progress on some of the first projects to come forward in the past year:

• Solar panels, heat pumps and insulation upgrades have been delivered to over 200 low-income households in Bristol through the Bright Green Homes
• Expansions and new building connections for the Bristol Heat Network, operated by Vattenfall Heat UK. The network now serves commercial and residential buildings with enough heat to supply the equivalent of more than 5000 homes. Further connection agreements are signed, and once connected will provide enough heat to supply the equivalent of more than 1000 homes.
• A new Air Source Heat Pump installed at Blaise Primary School replacing gas boilers.
• Proposals for three new large-scale solar power and wind power sites in Avonmouth.

Five-year business plan

But that is only the very beginning – investment goals set out in the new business plan would represent an exponential transformation in Bristol. Over the next five years, Bristol City Leap plans to deliver a major infrastructure roll-out across the council’s corporate estate and social housing, further develop the Bristol Heat Network, operated by Vattenfall Heat UK, and deliver a range of large-scale renewables projects.

Infrastructure roll-out: Bristol City Leap plans to deliver city-wide EV charging points, a social housing retrofit project including 167 homes and nine tower blocks, clean energy sources for schools across Bristol, and energy efficiency measures on the council’s corporate estate.

Heat network: In the coming months, Bristol City Leap will continue to develop the Bristol Heat Network, adding connections to local businesses and buildings in several areas across the city. From 2026, the construction of the strategic heat main, a key element of Bristol’s heat network, is expected to enable exponential roll-out of low-carbon heating to businesses and communities.

Renewables projects: Bristol City Leap recently submitted proposals for three possible sites in the Avonmouth area suitable for hosting solar and wind energy projects. The chosen locations are being evaluated by Bristol City Council. Once initial viability has been established, local people will be invited to share their views.

The partnership is also exploring the availability and viability of further sites suitable for clean energy projects with Bristol City Council and with other public sector, commercial, and industrial organisations in Bristol and the West of England.

By 2028, this activity combined is expected to see the partnership deploy nearly 200MW of low carbon energy generation infrastructure, enough to power around 70,000 homes, whilst reducing Bristol’s total carbon emissions by approximately 140,000 tonnes.

Social value

Bristol City Leap is an initiative with social value at its heart. In the last year over £6.5 million of social value has been delivered in Bristol, creating over 100 jobs and work placements in the Bristol area, bolstering the local supply chain where every employee is paid at least the Real Living Wage and launching a £1.5 million Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund. This social value delivery is 55% above the target set for the partnership’s first year of operation and includes:

• £3 million spent with local suppliers to support the local economy.
• Over 50 weeks of work placements and work experience.
• Contributions of over 350 volunteer hours working to improve local communities.

Mark Apsey MBE, Senior Vice President for Ameresco UK and Managing Director for Bristol City Leap commented: “Bristol City Leap is a world first, game changing approach to decarbonisation that could provide a scalable and replicable model for other cities to follow.

“City-scale long-term partnerships present us with an unparalleled opportunity to develop place-based energy solutions that help accelerated the transition to net zero whilst contributing significantly to society through local job creation, education, warmer homes and much needed funding to support our communities.  We are proud to be part of this initiative and look forward to working with everyone in Bristol to shape this green transformation with people, businesses and communities across the city. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response received during our first year.”

Marvin Rees OBE, the Mayor of Bristol, said: “Bristol City Leap is going from strength-to-strength, adding to the £100 million decarbonisation investment already made by our administration before securing this world-first partnership. This is a big deal for Bristol. Bristol City Leap will help attract almost three-quarters of a billion pounds in investments into our city by 2029 – to create 1,000 new jobs and to eliminate around 150,000 tonnes of emissions.

“And Bristol City Leap is a big deal for Bristolians. In its first year, Bristol City Leap has delivered £4 million worth of energy efficiency measures for low-income households in our city – helping people cut their bills during the continuing national cost of living crisis. On top of that, Bristol City Leap is now inspiring other places, with government support, to look at our model for using clean energy to help build a city where nobody is left behind.”

A summary of the business plan can be found via the Bristol City Leap website here: Bristol City Leap’s 2024/25 Business Plan Summary

The post Trailblazing decarbonisation programme outlines updated £750m plan for clean energy in Bristol appeared first on Bristol City Leap.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the experiences of two interns, Maryan, and Tanaka, who became part of the Bristol City Leap team through the Green Skill program at the University of the West of England (UWE).

Maryan, a Marketing/Legal Intern, embarked on a 6-week adventure with Bristol City Leap. Let’s explore what drew her to this unique opportunity. Maryan’s attraction to Bristol City Leap stems from its status as a relatively new organisation. It presented a chance to face fresh challenges, shoulder more responsibility, and experience a steep learning curve.

Championing Sustainability

“Bristol City Leap’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, coupled with initiatives like Bright Green Homes and the expansion of Bristol’s heat networks, struck a chord with Maryan’s passion for a greener future.”

A Game-Changing Collaboration

“The partnership between Bristol City Council, Ameresco and Vattenfall positions Bristol City Leap as a trailblazer. It provides a distinctive platform for interns to make a substantial impact.”

Tanaka, an Electric Vehicle (EV) Project Intern, embarked on a 4-week journey to explore the renewable energy sector. Here’s what fuelled his decision to join Bristol City Leap.

Academic Spark

“My construction-focused degree and participation in the Green Skills Programme at UWE ignited my interest in renewable energy. Bristol City Leap offered the perfect canvas to apply this knowledge and delve deeper into the sector.”

Passion for Sustainability

“My dedication to environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change aligns seamlessly with Bristol City Leap’s mission.”

Maryan and Tanaka were pleasantly surprised that their internships exceeded their initial expectations. Maryan gained hands-on experience, taking charge of tasks that enriched her technical skills. Tanaka had the opportunity to analyse the performance of EV charging points, gaining valuable insights into the generation and utilisation of green energy.

These internships proved to be significant catalysts for personal and professional growth. Maryan honed her time management, communication, and teamwork skills, while Tanaka added essential IT skills, including Power BI data analysis, to his toolbox.

Moreover, both interns expressed how their time at Bristol City Leap influenced their future career aspirations. Maryan found her path in the green sector, while Tanaka uncovered numerous opportunities within the renewable energy field.

Maryan encourages future interns to embrace curiosity, explore various sectors, and seize ownership of their internships to extract the maximum benefit from the experience. Tanaka wholeheartedly recommends Bristol City Leap as an exceptional platform for developing expertise in renewable energy.

Bristol City Leap’s innovative approach to decarbonisation serves as a beacon for global efforts in combating climate change. Projects such as providing green energy for EVs, and district heating networks underline Bristol City Leap’s substantial impact and capacity to inspire other entities to follow suit.

Maryan and Tanaka’s internship experiences at Bristol City Leap exemplify the potential for both personal and professional growth in the field of sustainability. If you’re passionate about environmental sustainability and the just transition, an internship with Bristol City Leap could help you to get on a path towards changing the world for the better.

Bristol City Leap doesn’t just lead in sustainable energy; it also nurtures a welcoming and motivating work environment. Both Maryan and Tanaka said they felt supported and valued throughout their internships, making their experiences all the more fulfilling. We thank them for choosing our organisation as a place to learn and grow their skills, as well as the brilliant contributions they’ve made to our projects.

If you are interested in an internship or placement at Bristol City Leap you can reach us on our contact page; tell us what interests you about Bristol City Leap and what you hope you get from working with us.

The post Exploring Green Futures: Internship Experiences at Bristol City Leap appeared first on Bristol City Leap.