Last week, our Animal Management students took part in mock interviews with employers to provide them with valuable insight into the application process for a full-time job following college.

With employers such as the RSPCA, a local Dog Groomer, a Zookeeper, a Conservation Ranger, and a Vet Assistant, this broad range of employers prepared our students for a variety of pathways, giving them the chance to ask questions, experience a professional interview setting, and gain an understanding of the criteria and qualities employers typically look for when recruiting.

During the interviews, students came prepared with their CVs, researched into the background of the organisation, and sat down with an employer to simulate a real-life interview. This not only prepared them for future careers, but it also gave them a fantastic networking opportunity, connecting with industry professionals and learning invaluable insight from people in the industry.

Mock interviews are a fantastic way for students to build their confidence and gain an understanding of the potential questions employers could ask when applying to full-time roles in the future. It reduces anxiety, boosts confidence, and refines their communication skills through personalised and constructive feedback from professionals within a safe environment.

The feedback from the employers was fantastic, with the RSPCA Animal Care Supervisor, Verity Carley, sharing how impressed she was with all the students, saying, “The interviews with the students went really well! I could tell that the students had been preparing themselves, with many of them having researched the RSPCA by giving me quotes and statistics. I could feel the passion and enthusiasm that they had for the RSPCA which was amazing. Mock interviews like this are very valuable for the students as it is very scary going into an interview having never done one, so the fact they have this practice and our feedback for them to know what they did well and what to improve on is fantastic.”

Chris D’Agorne, former Conservation Ranger and current Animal Science lecturer at Weston College, said, “When I left my A Levels, I didn’t have a clue about going into the working world, and even when I left university, I still wasn’t trained in interview techniques or knew what was expected of me during that process, so for these students to be receiving these skills and practical experience of sitting down in a real interview scenario so early in their career is invaluable for their professional development.”

Also, receiving comments regarding the impressive hands-on experience our students have already received in the industry has increased their confidence and given them a deeper understanding of how their course has prepared them for a range of pathways in the Animal Management industry.

A huge thank you to the employers and industry professionals for taking the time to interview our students, share your insight, and provide detailed feedback for each learner so they can apply this to future interviews.

This mock interview scenario forms part of the Animal Management 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 Animal Management! 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 Travel and Tourism and Business students received an insightful guest lecture from Border Force members, Darren and Andy, giving learners a deeper understanding into the potential careers within Border Force and the possible progression routes.  

Border Force is a law enforcement command that is responsible for protecting the United Kingdom’s borders, operating at airports, seaports, international rail terminals, and postal hubs to control the movement of people and goods entering or leaving the country.  

Darren and Andy began by outlining their own career journeys, progression, and personal experiences within Border Force. They also explained the training and application process, offering students valuable guidance for those interested in pursuing this pathway. This gave our students invaluable insight regarding where to start when considering a career in Border Force and the key attributes they look for in their candidates.   

During the guest lecture, they also covered key areas of Border Force operations, including their work at airports and ports, detecting passport fraud, managing immigration processes, and enforcing CITES regulations to prevent the illegal trade of endangered species. Learners were able to ask questions during the session, even having the opportunity to check a suitcase for illegal items.   

This hands-on session was an excellent opportunity for students to network with industry professionals, as well as put their knowledge into practice. Border Force is an imperative aspect of ensuring the Travel and Tourism industry runs smoothly and safely and, in turn, encourages socio-economic growth. Learning about careers within Border Force opens up more opportunities for our students and broadens their potential pathways following their course.  

Students can also apply the invaluable tips and advice that Border Force provided regarding the application process to any career in the Travel industry, allowing them to excel in their future careers.

Hannah Forrest, Curriculum Co-ordinator in Travel and Tourism, added, “Guest lectures like this provide our students with a great mix of guidance and hands-on experience to broaden the potential careers in the Travel and Tourism industry for them ahead of completing their course. Border Force makes up a large part of ensuring a smooth and seamless travel experience for people and businesses, therefore learning more about the important role they play brings the careers to life for our students.”

A huge thank you to Andy and Darren for coming in and sharing your extensive background with our students!  

This guest lecture forms part of the Travel & Tourism 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. 

Last month, our Creative and Digital Media students had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles, California, for a 5-day trip to see the sights and visit valuable production studios in Hollywood.

This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of our students, allowing them to travel across the world and visit some of the most famous production companies in the world. This gave them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-life set and enrich their passion for all aspects of Media, Production and Communications.

During the trip, students stayed in the Glendale area, a central but safe location, just minutes from downtown Los Angeles. This gave our students the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the culture, creativity and energy of LA.

Students began the trip with a tour around Paramount Studios where they met industry professionals and got a behind-the-scenes look into set operations and the various jobs required to make a production run smoothly. This is invaluable to their future careers in the fast-paced Media industry, giving them the opportunity to witness the logistics and broad range of roles available. They then visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame where they saw the plaques and walked in the footsteps of the most famous actors in Hollywood history.

On the second day, the group took a tour of another huge movie production company, Warner Bros. Studio, where they were able to compare the inner workings of the organisation and the many aspects it requires to make it so successful. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to gain first-hand insight into how film and television productions are developed, produced, and distributed in comparison to other large production companies, whilst also developing technical skills, understanding industry roles, and becoming more aware of potential career pathways. This was followed by a trip to Venice Beach where students could explore the sights and unwind after a busy couple of days in the studios.

On the third day, students took a trip to Disneyland Resort California, spending the entire day enjoying the rides and meeting the characters. This was a fun and memorable activity that bonded the students and celebrated one of the biggest movie producers in history.

The trip ended with the students having some free time for shopping before heading to the Griffith Observatory where they got a panoramic view of the Hollywood Sign, the LA basin, and the Pacific Ocean – they even got a glimpse of Ryan Gosling! This was a fantastic attraction that is free-of-charge to the public, and is a popular film location, making it a fascinating landmark to our students who aspire to work in production.

This trip was a fantastic opportunity to not only develop their professional backgrounds, but also increase their independence, confidence, and communication skills, by navigating new environments, collaborating with peers, and engaging with industry professionals.

Additionally, exposure to the global media landscape enhances cultural awareness and broadens perspectives, helping students better understand international audiences and representation, as well as expectations within the industry. Overall, this visit enriched our students’ academic learning, supported coursework with real examples, and contributed to both their personal growth and career readiness.

Gine Hele, Head of Media, Photography, and Game & Animation, co-ordinated the trip, adding, “Our students were outstanding ambassadors for the college throughout the entire experience, being punctual, polite, enthusiastic and engaged with everyone we met. Their professionalism and attitude made the trip a huge success and a real credit to the college.”

Two of our students who attended the trip shared the impact this trip had on them, with Alby saying, “The LA trip didn’t just help me academically, but it also helped me make friends for life. I had never been on a school trip before, and after this one, I don’t feel like another one would ever compare. The teachers were incredible and let us have the independence to enjoy and learn all we could about the film industry. This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit film studios and sets and experience LA life. I want to go back already!”

Isaac said, “LA was one of the best experiences of my life. The memories made will be ones that last forever. I’m so glad I went on the trip as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Paramount and Warner Bros. Studio tours, Disneyland, Griffith Observatory – it was such a brilliant week and thank you to everyone who organised it.”

A huge well done to all the students in attendance, you displayed yourself maturely and professionally, and a huge thank you to the lecturers who helped to organise and chaperone the trip, it wouldn’t have been possible without their commitment to their students.

This curriculum trip forms part of the Creative and Digital Media 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, Film, Game and Graphic 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.