Shape My City

Shape My City

Apply now to be part of our award-winning Talent Accelerator Programme 

The Next Generation

Successful cities, towns, high streets & green spaces are shaped by the citizens of tomorrow.

Diversity in design means a diversity of experience, perspective & creativity. Shape My City is an award-winning talent accelerator programme for 15-18 year olds that seeks to change the future workforce across the built environment.

  • 1% of all British Architects are black 
  • 12.37% of all Engineers are women in the UK 
  • 5.1% of Directors and Senior Managers in Construction are BAME
  • 83% of Directors, and 95% of Senior Directors in the Private Planning Sector are men* 

Shape My City gives talented young people opportunities they might not otherwise have. Female students, those from BAME backgrounds & under-represented socio-economic groups are particularly encouraged to take part.  

*references for stats are below


TALENT ACCELERATOR
YEAR PROGRAMME: OCT 2025 – JULY 2026


Shape My City is a year long programme of monthly workshops for teenagers aged 15-18 who are interested in the Built Environment. Each workshop covers a different discipline and is run by a leading firm working in that field. Past participants have followed a wide range of study and career routes.

Applications are now live.

“Shape My City has changed my life & I am grateful for the doors it has helped open.”

Cai Burton, Shape My City graduate

Partner with us on Shape My City


Take transformative action to nurture the success of diverse talent in Bristol. Design West is looking for design, engineering and architecture organisations to join us in delivering Shape My City, inspiring young people and setting them up for successful careers in the built environment sector.

Help us change the future of the workforce and make a real difference in the lives of young people in our city.

  • Deliver on your corporate & social responsibility (CSR) through this award-winning programme  
  • Play a leading role in inspiring & encouraging diverse young people to join the sector
  • Inspire & develop your staff with opportunities to lead creative workshops & collaborate with young people  
  • Additional opportunities for staff CPD (e.g. join us for the year-end live build)  

Support the next generation of place makers

Find out more and become a Partner


To find out more about the programme, its benefits for both students and companies, and how to go about sponsoring a Shape My City cohort, please fill out the contact form below.

Partner with us to help inspire

Reference


1% of all British architects are black.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/jun/25/architects-elsie-owusu-and-shawn-adams-above-the-glass-ceiling-is-a-concrete-ceiling

12.37% of all engineers are women in the UK.
https://www.wes.org.uk/content/wesstatistics

5.1% of directors and senior managers in construction are BAME
https://www.constructionmanagermagazine.com/figures-reveal-under-representation-of-bame-managers-in-construction/

83% of directors, and 95% of senior directors in the private planning sector are Men
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/media/4325/women-and-planning.pdf