To mark Black History Month, we were pleased to welcome staff, learners and special guests to The Lauriston Hotel to discuss the importance of community, identity and belonging.

The event, organised by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Manager, Jason Selormey, explored this year’s theme, Honouring Our Communities: Past, Present and Future.

A panel discussion brought together three speakers to share their experiences and reflect on the challenges of finding a sense of belonging.

On the panel, we welcomed back former Weston College learner Tobi Orolu, who is now studying for a marketing degree at university; Louise Hill-Davis, a former Weston College health lecturer and an inclusion and neurodivergence advocate and speaker; and prominent UK civil rights activist Mor Dioum.

Also attending the event and supporting staff and learner discussions was Ian Noah, Community Leader and Chair of Race Equality North Somerset.

The discussion explored experiences of racism, the importance of feeling accepted within a community, and how people’s backgrounds and experiences can shape their sense of identity.

Throughout the event, attendees were invited to share their own insights, including who has helped them feel a sense of belonging, which communities have shaped their lives, and how Weston College can continue to strengthen inclusion.

The session finished with a Community Tree activity, where participants reflected on the people and communities they wished to honour and made personal commitments to promoting inclusion and understanding.

Thank you to our panellists and attendees for sharing their experiences and contributing to these powerful discussions.

My name is Sophie, and I am the Skills & Employment Business Partner at Bristol Airport, where I oversee work experience, apprenticeships, the Take Off employability programme, careers talks and careers fairs. I also build partnerships with schools, colleges and other organisations to create opportunities for people to develop their skills, gain experience and progress into employment or further education.

When I left school, I honestly wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I wasn’t particularly academic and struggled with exams and traditional classroom learning, so I decided to enrol on a traineeship at Weston College to develop practical skills, gain workplace experience and explore my options.

After completing the classroom-based element of the traineeship, I moved on to a work experience placement in business administration. This helped me realise that the skills I was developing could be applied across a wide range of careers, which led me to pursue a Business Administration apprenticeship at Weston College.

I chose Business Administration because it offered transferable skills that would be useful in lots of different roles, even if I didn’t yet know exactly what career I wanted to pursue.

My experience at Weston College was really positive because it gave me the opportunity to learn in a way that suited me. Combining classroom learning with practical experience and time in the workplace helped me discover what I was good at, rather than feeling that I needed to have my future planned out already.

Completing my apprenticeship and passing my End-Point Assessment gave me the confidence to take the next step in my career.

After completing my apprenticeship, I stayed at Weston College and applied for a Support Worker role, helping young people who were in a similar position to where I had been. Many were unsure about their next steps or were not currently in education, employment or training.

I provided one-to-one advice, guidance and support to help them move into education or employment. It was incredibly rewarding to use my own experiences to show them that not knowing what you want to do at 16 or 18 doesn't mean you can't go on to have a successful career.

Even now, I still meet people who tell me that I helped them, which is something I'm incredibly proud of.

I continued to develop my career at Weston College, working across two contracts to support both young people and adults before moving into the apprenticeship team as a Recruitment Advisor.

One of my main responsibilities was recruiting for the traineeship programme, which was particularly special because it was where my own career journey had started. Having once been a learner on the programme, I was now helping other people access the same opportunities that had helped me.

After several years at Weston College, I decided I wanted to move into management. I joined a private training company as an Operations Manager, overseeing three contracts across the South West and Sussex, as well as a team of eight staff. The role focused on supporting people into employment through short adult courses and gave me valuable experience in leadership and operational management.

After around a year and a half, I moved into my current role at Bristol Airport as the Skills & Employment Business Partner.

Looking back, my career has developed through taking opportunities as they came along, rather than following one fixed plan. Each role has helped me build new skills and experience, opening the door to the next stage of my career.

Weston College gave me the foundations I needed for my career. My Business Administration apprenticeship was particularly valuable because it helped me develop transferable skills in organisation, communication, planning and administration, which I still use every day.

It also taught me how to work in a professional environment and gave me practical workplace experience, allowing me to apply what I had learned rather than relying solely on theory.

Most importantly, Weston College gave me confidence. When I first started, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and didn't necessarily feel that I was good at education. My experience showed me that there are different ways to learn and that you don't need to have your entire career mapped out from the beginning. That is something I continue to take with me in my work today, particularly when supporting people who are unsure about their future.

One of the biggest highlights of my career has been seeing the impact of the opportunities I've helped create for others.

At Bristol Airport, I love seeing apprentices develop throughout their programmes and watching work experience students go on to secure employment. It's particularly rewarding when someone starts with very little idea of what they want to do and discovers a career path they hadn't previously considered.

My role has also given me some amazing experiences, including the opportunity to visit the airport's control tower and see areas that most people never get to experience.

The thing I enjoy most about my current role, though, is the people. No two days are the same, and I get to work with colleagues across the airport, as well as schools, colleges, training providers and other organisations.

I really enjoy the variety, whether I'm working on apprenticeships, supporting our work experience programme or meeting with a college to discuss future opportunities. Everyone at the airport is incredibly helpful and willing to support one another. It genuinely feels like one big family, which makes it a great place to work.

Ultimately, helping people access opportunities that can change the direction of their careers is what I find most rewarding. It's something that has been a constant throughout my working life, from my time supporting young people at Weston College to the work I do at Bristol Airport today.

My biggest piece of advice is simple: don't worry if you don't know what you want to do.

I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left school and, if I'm completely honest, I still don't have one specific career that I've always wanted to pursue!

Instead, I'd recommend choosing something that gives you transferable skills. That's why Business Administration worked so well for me. I didn't know where it would take me, but the skills I developed have been useful throughout my entire career.

I'd also really recommend considering an apprenticeship. You can earn while you learn, gain practical experience and develop skills in a real working environment that you might not gain through classroom learning alone.

Most importantly, don't feel like you have to have your whole future figured out. Take opportunities, learn from them and don't be afraid to change direction. Your first step doesn't have to determine where you end up.

If you ever need support or would simply like to have a chat, my door is always open!

Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) were successfully approved funding for all requested Turing Scheme trips for this academic year, creating life-changing international opportunities for learners across Further and Higher Education.

The UK Government’s Turing Scheme is a fantastic programme which offers funding to education providers to provide learners with career-building opportunities and international experiences that will enhance their education and enrich them in different cultures.

The funding will provide 135 learners with the opportunity to attend one of our 7 trips visiting 5 countries spanning across 3 continents, supporting placements this academic year in Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, and the USA. These trips give students the chance to immerse themselves in new cultures, develop global citizenship skills, and gain hands-on industry experience.

This year’s trips include:

• FE Animal Management to South Africa
• FE Construction to France
• FE Protective Services to Indonesia
• FE Student Engagement to Spain
• FE Supported Employment to Canada
• HE Animal Management to South Africa
• HE Performing/Production Arts to USA

This is a fantastic opportunity provided by the Turing Scheme for all our students at Weston College and UCW, giving them the chance to explore different cultures worldwide and create lifelong memories for a subsidised price to make these opportunities more accessible for all students and reduce economic boundaries.

A huge thank you to the Turing Scheme for enabling these experiences and giving our students unforgettable memories that will shape their college experience.

These trips form part of our 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.