A Weston College student has beaten over 3,000 competitors to represent the South West at the National Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition to be held in Stafford in June.

Ben Vanstone, who is currently studying a Level 3 Electrical Installation course, competed against students and apprentices from across the region and came first in the regional competition, overcoming three previous rounds of competition prior to the regional final, winning an iPad in the process.

Ben will now go head-to-head against seven other students/apprentices from across the UK for a chance to be named National Electrical Apprentice of the Year 2016 and win a £2,000 prize.

The results will be announced at an awards ceremony for the finalists and their friends and families in June.

Ben said: “The College has been fantastic, supporting me and helping me every step of the way. I can’t thank the lecturers enough.

“I have learnt so much and have a great, well paid career ahead of me “.

Chris Simpson, Weston College’s Building Engineering Services and Environmental Technology Manager, said: “It is excellent to see the hard work, effort and commitment Ben has shown to his studies is reflected in this national achievement, both ourselves and his employer are really proud as it is such a prestigious accolade within the electrical industry “ 

The Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition is an annual contest organised by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting and the electrical self-assessment organisation, ELECSA.

The competition’s aim is to recognise the talents of the brightest electrical students in the UK.

As Weston College nears the half-way point in its Winter Gardens development, we take a look at how the project will have a lasting impact on Weston-super-Mare…

Brand new facilities for residents

Weston College has committed to ensuring that the historic portion of the building is available for community use, and is investing money into refurbishing and restoring this historic venue. The public will benefit from a ballroom enhanced with modern technology, a new bar and restaurant with improved catering facilities, as well a café which will open onto the Italian Gardens and fish pond area.

Investing in Weston

The development is seeing over £11 million being invested into the town centre, with Bristol-based contractors Midas Group employing people from the local area, and using supplies from local traders and merchants.

Changing demographics

Creating an educational facility in rear portion of the Winter Gardens means that the College is able to expand its provision and draw young people into the town centre. It will allow University Centre Weston to accept 250 more higher education students, create 35 more teaching positions, and inject an extra £2.75 million per year into the local economy.

Training for the future

Weston College has to react to skills shortages to make sure it’s delivering the qualifications that local employers require. The creation of a Law and Professional Services Academy means that people in Weston-super-Mare can get the skills they need to apply for jobs in Bristol’s booming financial and legal services industries.

Protecting an asset

The Winter Gardens Pavilion will be protected for future generations to enjoy and brought into the 21st century. Weston College will invest in the building, ensure it is maintained, and will transform it into a venue which meets the needs of the local community.

With the looming UCAS deadline (15th January) many students are confused and wondering what is best to do…

If you’re still undecided on where to go or what to study, check out this short guide to picking the best university and course for you.

What courses are you passionate about?

If you find a course that you’re interested in then it will make your time at university fly by. If you love the course then those all-nighters in the library will not feel quite so bad and your grades will be represented by the extra work you put in.

Read the course details

It would be a bit of a pain if you turn up at university and one of your modules isn’t right for you. Make sure you check (and double check) the course details to find the course best suited to you and your future aspirations.

Employment routes

The job market is very competitive, searching for a university with a good reputation when it comes to getting graduates into work should certainly be a strong consideration. Some universities include work experience as part of their course and you can even get a year’s internship in industry which will help you stand out from the crowd when applying for your first graduate position.

Do you want to stay at home?

If you like your home comforts then you certainly would not be alone in not wanting to move to halls. Many students live at home and commute to university, so if you think you’re not ready to leave just yet - look at your options close to home. After your first year you might then feel ready to flee the nest, and you can choose exactly who you’re going to live with. We have a fantastic university centre on our doorstep, which delivers a range of high-quality degrees in partnership with Bath Spa and the University of the West of England in Bristol.

Do you want to leave home?

If you’re the opposite and can’t wait to leave then it is worth considering the distance. You might surprise yourself when you move away and want to visit home more regularly than you originally planned so it’s worth considering transport options. After all a four hour train journey is a bit far to get your washing done.

Money

Becoming a student is not cheap, you will receive a student loan but it is worth researching the cost of living in the area your top choice universities are based. Some areas of the country are very expensive and being able to afford to live has to be a top consideration as you will be there for at least three years.  

Go with your gut

Finally, it is definitely worth going with your gut. You are most likely getting told to go different places by different people and these might not be universities that you would normally consider. It is best to go with what you feel personally is best and suits you, and this should make settling in a lot easier.

Don’t stress too much about this deadline, there is always the opportunity to go through clearing if necessary once you have received your grades. If you need any guidance on your application then contact UCAS lead Hamish Gilpin on hamish.gilpin@weston.ac.uk, or call on 01934 422742. 

A National Careers Service adviser is now available to provide you with one-to-one impartial careers advice and guidance at Weston College.

The National Careers Service provides free information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work opportunities. The service offers confidential and impartial advice, supported by qualified careers advisers.

The sessions are available for adults (aged 19+) and Jobcentre Plus customers aged 18 and over between 9am and 5pm on Mondays at the Knightstone Campus. You don't have to be enrolled on a Weston College course to have access to this service.

The careers adviser can support you with advice on careers, writing a CV and job hunting.

Weston College launched an Aspiring Managers Programme at Avon Fire and Rescue training centre in Bath last week (10th May 2018). The Aspiring Managers Programme was created in partnership with Avon Fire and Rescue following Weston College’s success in the tender process to deliver a Team Leading Level 3 Apprenticeship.

The programme will develop 22 Team Leaders from different departments within Avon Fire and Rescue, and is due to last 18 months. At the end of the programme the 22 learners will have gained greater management knowledge and also a Level 3 qualification.

Liz Marchant, Learning and Development Manager at Avon Fire and Rescue, said: “We are so pleased to have secured Weston College as a training provider for our new management programme. This will provide vital development for our first-line managers, across Operational, Control room and Support staff areas.

“It is an exciting time for us and we are proud to forge a partnership with the College both in recruitment of apprentices and developing our existing staff.”

Tracie Leahy, Head of Apprenticeship Sales and Recruitment at Weston College, added: “We are delighted to be working with Avon Fire and Rescue and building a partnership with them to deliver this Aspiring Managers Programme.

“We have worked together to produce a bespoke training programme that will inspire the next generation of leaders within Avon Fire and Rescue. We are excited for the programme to get underway and wish the learners the best of luck.”

A Weston College student overcame a number of professional artists to finish second in a prestigious live painting competition.

Cameron Gelder, 19, won his ‘heat’ and only narrowly missed out on winning the final of Art Battle Bristol at the city’s Marble Factory.

Cameron and fellow Weston College student Lewis Bateman, 17, were among 12 artists, including professionals, to compete in the event.

Each competitor was given 20 minutes to produce a work of art in front of an audience of 250. Spectators then vote on their favourite painting, with each work auctioned off at the end of the event.

Cameron and Lewis, who both study the Level 3 Art and Design course, made a big impression on the audience, which included their classmates and tutor, Nicola Stent.

“Cameron and Lewis did themselves and the College proud,” said Nicola.

“They engaged with the crowd and produced some excellent pieces of work under real pressure.

“Cameron really showed his ability to improvise, using his bank card to create an effect on his first painting!

“After finishing first in his heat, he was within five votes of winning the final.

“All three of the students’ pieces sold at the auction, with one of Cameron’s fetching £80.

“Their classmates got involved as well, and gave Cameron and Lewis lots of support.

“The event also provided the students with some great opportunities to network with professional painters, graffiti artists and architects.”

Cameron was pipped to first place by Jody Thomas, a Bristol-based professional graffiti artist who began painting with Banksy.

I have been part of St John Ambulance and air cadets for many years and I have achieved so much as an air cadet developing skills in many areas and gaining these qualifications along on the way

• Level's 1 & 2 & 3 First Aid (Including AED - Automated External Defibrillator)
• Leadership Level's 1 & 2
• Communication with the Deaf and Blind
• Prior Award (24 Different Qualifications in St John Ambulance - Bronze, Silver, Gold)
• Peer Education which has enabled me to teach my peers and other young people Basic Life Support.

As an air cadet I reached the rank of NCO (Non-Commissions Officer - Corporal) in my Worle Cadet Unit. I am now a St John Ambulance Adult in the Clevedon St John Ambulance Unit.

My volunteering work also involved fundraising for multiple different charities including The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), Lighthouse Charity and now The Grand Appeal (Bristol Children's Hospital).

I am currently the Development Worker for the Eagles Non-Profit Trust and the Team Leader for the brand new Eagles South West Project.

We run a project known as the Eagles South West Project which is part of the Eagles Non-Profit Trust. We have various Mini Projects including Charitable Fundraising which cover's the work of various charities including; The Grand Appeal - Bristol Children's Hospital - which I am very keen to support because I had Cardiac and Orthopaedic Surgery there. I work with an Orthopaedic Surgeon in the hospital studying Health and Social Care, Level 3 to go onto do Paramedic Science at University.

Within the project we work with various charitable organisations that support people that are homeless and in need within our local area of WSM and surrounding areas. This is known as The Eagles Homeless Outreach - we work with Winter Warmth, Feed the Homeless WSM and Bristol and Somewhere To Go, for which we are planning an Easter Homeless Donation to support them.

We then have a third and final Mini Project Category known as 'Company and Project Partnerships'. We are currently supporting the 'Plastic Pollution Action and Awareness Project'. We are working closely with the Project Manager to plan on how we can support them with events to help the environment including Litter Picks and Fundraising Events for their Project and running Awareness Campaigns.

Another mini project we are planning on running is a brand new idea that we are just setting up at the moment known as 'Donate For Defib (W-s-M) Project' and this will be fundraising for local Difibulators in the local area, so we are looking forward to starting that very soon.

Weston College is set to play a lead role in tackling the construction skills shortage by opening a multi-million pound training centre.

The Weston College Construction Training Centre, completed by Midas Construction, opens in May and aims to offer training in seven key areas of training – plant, health and safety, scaffolding, highway and groundworks, warehousing (e.g. forklift training) and apprenticeships.

The state-of-the-art training centre has been created in response to the growing demand for a trained and skills construction workforce in the region. The industry-specific training it provides has been designed with employers’ needs in mind, and will be available on request, rather than fitting into the traditional academic year.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group said: “The Construction Training Centre is a big step into commercial training and starts an exciting chapter for us.

“Over the last ten years, we’ve built strong relationships with employers to develop our apprenticeship provision. But we’ve recognised, more and more, the need to deliver training at the point of need – not only for school leavers during the academic year.

“The Construction Training Centre means employers can come to us at any time for short courses, top-up courses, and to up-skill staff who are taking on new roles.”

“This month we launched the new website – www.construction-training-centre.co.uk, which enables people to easily navigate between the seven key areas of training.

“It’s also designed to make it as quick and simple as possible to book and pay for the more basic training online. This includes non-practical, class based, one-day courses – for instance, Site Safety Plus, Health and Safety Awareness, and Driver CPC courses.” This training centre has been made possible through the efforts of Weston College in partnership with the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council.

The financial investment has been provided by the College match-funding a successful bid for £3.3m funding from the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.

Chair of the West of England LEP, Prof Steve West, said: “We’re really pleased to support the fantastic new Construction Training Centre at Weston College. This will help to equip our current and future construction workforce with the skills they need to drive forward the building of new homes, business premises and infrastructure as our region grows. It will also help them to secure better career prospects and make the most of the opportunities available right here in the West of England.”

West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles said: “Construction is a key contributor to our region’s growing economy. It’s clear that there are huge opportunities here and we need to continue to provide the right skills to sustain the industry. The West of England Combined Authority has committed to working with colleges, councils and businesses to help the construction industry fill the estimated 82,500 jobs that will be created by 2036. The new Construction Training Centre at Weston College is a great example how we are addressing that challenge. It will help prepare young people, apprentices and higher education students for successful careers in the construction sector.”

Derek Quinn, Executive director for Midas Construction, said: “We are delighted to have created a much-needed training centre which will benefit students and the wider construction industry for many years to come. Midas is passionate about supporting the training and development of our staff and the communities we work in so we are proud to help develop a highly skilled and highly-trained workforce for the future.”

Having recently written about the precarious situation in which further education currently finds itself, it’s great to be able to discuss a far more positive subject.

Our newly built Construction Training Centre has been open a few months now and has, so far, been met with universal approval.

There’s a good chance you’ve already seen the centre as it’s visible as you enter Weston from junction 21 of the M5. But if not, let me tell you, it’s a hugely impressive sight – particularly the vast ‘hangar-style’ building, which is used for scaffolding training and warehouse-based activities, such as forklifting.

The centre also provides courses in plant operations, highways and groundworks, and large vehicle driver training.

As well as the purpose-built practical training areas, the centre boasts six classrooms (which ‘open out’ to form meeting rooms), an ICT suite, CSCS testing facility and canteen.

The centre was developed in response to the growing demand for a trained and skilled construction workforce in the region. With that in mind, the training has been developed with employers’ requirements in mind – namely to provide the skills business’s need, when they need them.

And we’re already seeing the benefit of this approach, with bookings for training – from employers and individuals – already exceeding expectations.

Not only that, we’ve been inundated with positive feedback on the facilities, and the quality and range of the training.

Among the reasons for the construction sector’s widening skills gap is the scarcity of specialist training facilities across the country. To illustrate the point, before our centre opened, there was nowhere in England to train scaffolding workers between Plymouth and Birmingham. Our centre – conveniently situated off the M5 – provides businesses and workers in the south west region with a purpose-built resource on their doorstep (comparatively).

This is particularly important given that the region will be home to a number of nationally significant developments over the next decade.

But as with any development of this nature, it wouldn’t be possible without the support and input of a range of partner organisations, including North Somerset Council and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.

Likewise, the project has benefitted from our long-running relationship with Midas Construction, who were commissioned to build the centre. They understand the College, our priorities and how to provide the learning environment that students and businesses need.

Another key partner in the development are scaffolding training and safety experts, Simian, who deliver CISRS scaffolding training and other related health and safety courses at the centre. Simian are world leaders in the sector and their expertise has enabled us to develop these outstanding facilities and offer sought-after courses.

Although it’s still early days for the centre, the signs are extremely promising – and that’s great news for students, employees, businesses and the wider construction industry.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE

Principal and CEO

You can take a closer look at our courses and facilities on the construction section of Weston College’s website, or the dedicated Construction Training Centre site. You can also apply for our construction courses and training straight through these websites.