Last month, two of our Level 2 Beauty Therapy students acted as models during a Squad UK International Pressure Showcase at Weston College, giving them an excellent first-hand opportunity to work with Squad UK members and learn from them.  

During the day, Squad UK had a limited amount of time to complete a range of beauty treatments, from full-body clay masks to facials and massages. These treatments were completed on two of our Level 2 Beauty Therapy students, Eve and Aimee, teaching them crucial skills in time management, remaining calm under pressure, and professionally applying these treatments to clients. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn through experience and prepare them for a career in the Beauty Therapy industry. 

Squad UK for Beauty Therapy consists of top-performing young professionals and students selected to represent the UK in international competitions like WorldSkills. These individuals undergo intensive training like the Time-Pressure Challenge where they practice advanced treatments, including skincare, make-up, and nail artistry to compete at the highest level. 

Two members of Squad UK were in attendance as judges, Chloe and Maddie, who are former Beauty Therapy students at Weston College and have completed in WorldSkills competitions. Chloe Williams competed in 2018 and became a regional finalist before competing again in 2019 and being selected to be a part of Squad UK. Maddie Hulbert competed in 2024 and was also a regional finalist before competing again in 2025 and placing 3rd in the national final and being selected to become a Squad UK member with the aim of going to Japan. Maddie is still new to Squad UK and was learning the international marking scheme through shadow judging alongside Chloe and Hayley, the current WorldSkills training manager. 

This was a great opportunity for our current students to engage with former students and see the potential progression for them, giving them a broader understanding of the pathways following their course that they may not have previously considered. Maddie and Chloe are a fantastic reflection of what students can achieve when they work hard and take part in enriching activities and competitions like WorldSkills. 

At Weston College, our learners are encouraged to participate in competitions to further their skills, meet likeminded individuals, and connect with industry professionals. This also improves their confidence, communication, and organisational skills which can be transferred to their future careers in the beauty therapy industry. 

Well done to Eve and Aimee for being professional models throughout the challenge where they gained valuable, first-hand experience from Squad UK members.  

This challenge forms part of the Beauty Therapy Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career. 

Earlier this month, our Uniformed Protective Services students took part in an emergency response simulation to provide them with invaluable, hands-on experience and prepare them for a future career in the emergency and protective services industry.  

This event was a fantastic collaboration opportunity across Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW), with our Protective Services students acting as the respondents, and the HE UAL Level 4 Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students turning a handful of Protective Services students into gruesome casualties, using fake blood and prosthetics to create realistic wounds and simulate a potential real-world scenario. 

During this simulation, the casualties were given a general back story to answer any questions the responders may have so they are able to investigate the two events being simulated: a gas explosion and a fatal bike collision as a result of a knife crime incident. Students remained in character and took their responsibilities seriously, asking effective questions and reacting appropriately to the information provided.  

This simulation event was a fantastic way for students to experience a real-world emergency scenario in a safe environment and get a glimpse into the questions to ask, the potential responses and discomfort of the casualties and how to approach them, and the challenges respondents must overcome. 

This event was also a great experience for the HE Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics students, giving them the opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge and follow a brief to create designs that would match a specific injury. Not only this, they also got to the opportunity to see how their work transformed the event and made it more realistic and believable, seeing the impact that makeup and prosthetics can have to bring a set to life. 

Students approached their roles as respondents with professionalism and empathy, engaging casualties patiently and compassionately. This not only strengthened their communication skills but also enhanced their leadership and problem-solving abilities. Working collaboratively, they gathered critical information about the situation and effectively applied their classroom knowledge to determine appropriate next steps. 

Nicola Stent, Lecturer in Protective Services, said, “It was amazing to see how stuck-in the students got with this event, asking appropriate questions and treating it with respect and seriousness as they would in their future careers within the Protective Services industry. This was a great way to prepare them for the fast-paced and high-pressure scenarios that they may face in the future. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to the Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics team for bringing the vision to life, creating such realistic and detailed wounds that reflected a real-life emergency scenario.” 

A huge well done to all the students and staff involved in this event, the collaboration is a reflection of the hands-on and high-quality approach to teaching that students experience throughout their course. 

This simulation event forms part of the Protective Services Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

Progress to the next level in Criminology and Public Services! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career. 

Last month, our A Level Art and A Level Fashion students took a trip to London to enrich themselves in famous exhibitions, with Fashion students visiting Arches London Bridge exhibition space to see the Gianni Versace Retrospective exhibition, and the Art students visiting the Tate Modern Museum.  

During the visit, the Fashion students browsed the Versace exhibition which blended history, culture, and iconic designs, showcasing over 450 rare and original vintage pieces, many never-before displayed in the UK. Featuring elegant ensembles worn by Princess Diana and bold statements modelled by Kate Moss, to stage outfits styled for Elton John, this exhibition combines fashion with pop culture.  

Gianni Versace redefined fashion, creating bold designs that celebrated culture, individuality, and personal expression, challenging norms and building relationships between people and their clothes. This exhibition allowed our students to engage with his designs and immerse themselves in his choices, inspiring them to think creatively and create fashion with meaning and purpose.  

Not only this, the Art students also browsed the Tate Modern where they got the chance to explore modern and contemporary art from across the world, from paintings and photography, to sculptures and large-scale installations. This was a great opportunity for students to explore displays from world-renowned artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, and experience a wide variety of styles, expressions, and interpretations of art. This inspired our students to express their creativity in a range of ways, trialling mediums and different expressions to further their skills and development.

This enriching trip was an excellent opportunity for our students to explore new techniques and approaches to art and fashion, broadening their interpretations and creativity to design not just attractive designs, but also creations with depth, meaning, and symbolism.   

Nicola Stent, Lecturer in Textiles at Weston College, said, “I was so impressed with the attitudes of the students for embracing and making the most out of each piece of work on display. They took the time to read the background for each exhibit in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the meaning and decisions behind the designer’s work.  Students were excited and inspired after experiencing the wide range of designs and I’m excited to see how this trip will reflect in their upcoming work!”  

A huge well done to the students for engaging and interacting with the exhibitions so professionally.  

This curriculum trip forms part of the Sixth Form Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

Progress to the next level in Art and Design! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here! 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.