Bristol expands growing tech scene

Bristol based start-up Missionly are launching their innovative student and graduate recruitment platform this month

This unique platform will provide businesses with the opportunity to connect with and recruit students and graduates in a host of exciting and powerful new ways.

The start-up are part of the growing tech scene in the Bristol and Bath region, and are located within a cluster of high tech and digital businesses in the new business incubation centre at Engine Shed, next to Temple Meads railway station. 

The founders of Missionly, Chris Dalley, Will Duddell and Denis Sellu, are all UWE students themselves and identified the problem that students are finding it harder than ever to get the sort of relevant opportunities they want in the workplace whilst they were studying at university.

Missionly aim to bring a fresh spin to recruitment, providing employers with deep insights into prospective students they may be considering employing. Businesses are able to specifically target the most relevant students for the opportunities they have within their company based on skills, university courses or work experiences. 

Since soft launching in February, Missionly have already attracted over 50 local businesses and looks set to continue building on that success with this month’s launch, which coincides with the start of the academic year and return of the millions of students that will form the bulk of the user base for the platform. 

Harry Gee from Agilic LTD has been using Missionly since its introduction to Bristol in February. He said: “I recruited a student using Missionly to manage my company’s marketing endeavours and I found it to be an exceptional experience. John, the student I recruited, has now progressed to become a vital part of my team as we look to grow throughout the UK.” 

It’s not only businesses that are supporting the start-up. Students from across the South West are already using Missionly to enhance their career path. One particular case has seen a student progress to become the marketing director of a firm within six months of being recruited using the site.

Will Duddell one of Missionly’s co-founders, said: “Having worked with many local businesses who are feeling the benefits of being able to access students and graduates for their workforce, we hope Missionly will be a welcome addition to a much maligned industry. 

“Our platform will give businesses the opportunity to source talented students without it costing them an arm and leg. Our platform gives employers the tools to make hiring decisions that only they know best as opposed to allowing recruitment agencies to make less informed and often expensive recommendations.”

The graduates behind Missionly have already been recognised for their efforts so far, being awarded the UWE Entrepreneurs of the Year 2014 award and also being invited to be part of the WebStart Bristol Accelerator Programme. Missionly are showing all the signs of being another one of the surge of successful tech and digital companies coming out of the South West in recent years.