The role

The role will be a key member of the Widening Participation team, helping to ensure the University effectively delivers on our Access commitments as outlined in our Access and Participation Plan (APP). The Widening Participation team’s purpose is to increase access to the University for students from disadvantaged, minoritised or underrepresented backgrounds, engaging with social and structural barriers and supporting the diversification of our student community.

This is one of a team of Officers who deliver multiple projects, partnerships and initiatives to support a broad range of students and to increase applications and intake to the University. The role is varied and fast paced and involves working with a range of stakeholders across the team, the wider University, and in local and national schools and colleges. The role is ideal for someone with an agile and responsive mindset who is looking for a challenge within a supportive team and who is interested in working in strategically important areas of recruitment and Widening Participation (WP).

What will you be doing?

• You will lead on a range of widening participation projects and initiatives, supporting and recruiting post-16 students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds, with a particular focus on recruiting Black and Asian students to the University.
• Your remit may include leading an admissions-benefit project such as Next Step Bristol; leading our APP Student Advisory Group; coordinating communications as part of our Offer Holder Horizons email campaign; and supporting other projects such as The Destinations Conference and Insight Into Bristol.
• You will also work with target schools and colleges, with an emphasis on engaging students from underrepresented groups such as Global Majority audiences and students eligible for Free School Meals.
• Working collaboratively with a team of Widening Participation Recruitment Officers and Mature Student Recruitment Officers, you will monitor application and intake statistics and interpret this data to develop appropriate Widening Participation activities.
• There are also opportunities to gain experience in a range of strategic settings, including admissions processes and procedures, designing and delivering recruitment activity, data analysis, partnership development and relationship management.
• As we continue to deliver the University’s 2025/26 - 2028/29 APP, our WP strategy will evolve and different areas of focus may emerge requiring the postholder to work across different remits in a collaborative environment.