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Graduate careers in Bristol

Bristol is booming. To say that you would never be short of things to do and that the city provides copious activities for all tastes just doesn't convey how exciting Bristol is. Overflowing with festivals, gigs and other events all year round, Bristol's bars are quirky and individual and its shops are often exclusive to the city.

What with the city being so much fun, the idea of getting a job may seem irritating but, unfortunately, you can't be a student forever. However, you can still pretend to be one. Life after graduation is exciting and Bristol is a great place to experience this; work is available in nearly every field and you can still hang out like a student at the weekends but with more money than during your university years.

Bristol's proximity to coast, countryside and the city of Bath, as well as its excellent education and employment has made it a highly desirable location to live in. Connections to London are very easy although this is not an ideal journey to make on a daily basis. There are also numerous smaller towns in the area that offer employment opportunities, but as Bristol remains the employment centre of the region, there are plenty of excuses to make your move to the city.

In and around Bristol | Drink at... | Dance at... | Eat at... | Shop at... | The cost of living in Bristol | Getting work in the Bristol area

In and around Bristol

Trying something completely new is an ideal way to meet people and add some spice to your new graduate life, especially if you are experiencing university-sports-and-societies withdrawal symptoms. In Bristol, being active and adventurous is a way of life. Activity centres for climbing, skiing, water sports and many more are dotted around the area. Likewise, Bristol has opportunities for trekking, mountain-biking, horse-riding, golf, skydiving and even off-road driving if you fancy it.

Each year Bristol hosts the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. Hundreds of unusually shaped hot air balloons are launched into the sky over four days of festival fun. The Harbour Festival is also held annually, providing summer entertainment for all ages. For more information about what's on, The Venue is Bristol's entertainment bible - buy it in newsagents or read it online.

As with most cities and towns, Bristol has a buzzing network of bars and clubs. It goes much further than the usual though. Nights out are notoriously wild although if you crave something more relaxed you can still find a more refined and modest experience. It all depends on where you head to, so here is a tiny selection to inspire you.

Drink at...

  • Cadbury House: Popular with students and locals, this legendary little pub has a cosy, comfortable atmosphere and is tucked away on the Montpelier hillside.
  • The Berkeley: A lively Wetherspoons in Clifton that is popular with students because of the cheap prices and large TV screens.
  • Robin Hood: This animated pub can get crowded due to its popularity with both students and professionals alike.

Dance at...

  • Lizard Lounge: Often described as the club you know you shouldn't like but you do, the party music and drink promotions here make it a good cheesy night out.
  • Evolution: Somewhere to go for anything but a cheesy night out. It is a large venue with great student offers so you are guaranteed a lively crowd.
  • Castros: The place to go for all-nighters and some varied and popular DJ acts. A very unique little club in Portland square.

Eat at...

  • Clifton Sausage: Head over to Clifton Sausage, not just for sausages but for all sorts of local and national dishes, and good old British grub - yummy.
  • Tequila Mix: A party venue with the menu to match. Tequila is plentiful, as is the tangy food and the regulars and staff are full of life for a fantastic evening.
  • Café Retro: Every type of all-day fry up is available here for supreme hangover relief.

Shop at...

  • Broadmead: The resident mall in the city centre with all the high-street names you could possibly want.
  • West End: Slightly more expensive but even if all you can do is window shop it's still worth visiting this collection of antique, jewellery and specialist designer shops.
  • Eastside: Home to the Asian and Caribbean influences of Bristol, the global feel to this district is great for some continental shopping.

The cost of living in Bristol

The usual equation applies - with so many great things going on, Bristol isn't cheap. This doesn't mean that the city is completely inaccessible for graduates but it is something to be aware of when planning your move to the area. Many graduates choose to live at home for a while after university to pay off debts and plan their route into the big wide world. It's the perfect way to save for a deposit (if your room hasn't been made into a study) and well worth considering if you want to move to somewhere like Bristol.

However, for those of us who don't want to move back with the parents after three or four years of blissful freedom, there are plenty of ways to find suitable accommodation in Bristol. Unless you are particularly flush, sharing will probably be the only option for a few years so here are some pointers for making the move:

  • There are many websites for finding properties that are available to rent. These include: www.accommodationforstudents.com and www.homesforstudents.co.uk.
  • For the best deals check out adverts in local newsagents and shops as individual rooms are often advertised this way.
  • Certain parts of Bristol are safer than others so check this out when thinking about insurance and personal security. Accidentally moving to the local ghetto may prove worrying to say the least. www.accommodationforstudents.com offers a great break down of student surveys saying what it's like to live in various areas of Bristol.

Getting work in the Bristol area

Getting employment in the Bristol area can be daunting but Bristol University www.bristol.ac.uk and UWE www.uwe.ac.uk both advertise vacancies in the local area so they are well worth a look.

As well as the usual career opportunities in areas such as recruitment and IT, Bristol hosts a surprising amount of media-related work. There are also many sales and marketing roles to fill. The Bristol economy relies in part on the aerospace industry so you could consider looking into employment in this area if your qualifications are relevant, or you could try participating in the annual sales and marketing race for the Balloon Fiesta.

Below is listed a brief suggestion of some of the graduate recruiters that are accessible from Bristol. (Please note that these companies may not be currently recruiting. Their names have been provided as a guideline to the type of work available and areas to look in.)

  • Orange: (technical, marketing, finance, customer services, HR and retail, Bradley Stoke, Bristol)
  • Meridian Business Support: (HR, sales and marketing, Temple Black, Bristol)
  • Institute of Physics Publishing: (media, science, research and development, Temple Black, Bristol)
  • Clifton Hotels: (hospitality, leisure and tourism, management, sales and marketing, Clifton, Bristol)
  • Broadcom: (engineering and exploration, Bristol)
  • Hoodless Brennan and Partners: (finance, sales and marketing, Colston Avenue, Bristol)
  • Progressive Computer Recruitment: (sales and marketing, Bristol)
  • Rambourne: (sales and marketing, Almondsbury, Bristol)
  • Contract & Construction Consultants: (law, Clifton, Bristol)
  • Bluewire Technologies: (IT, Clifton, Bristol)
  • Clifton Asset Management: (administration, finance, sales and marketing, Ham green, Bristol)
  • Netcraft: (IT, Bath, 25 minute drive)
  • Explorer Dome: (science, media, teaching and educational support, Clifton, Bristol)

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