This week, Great Western Railway delivered an engaging guest lecture for our Travel and Tourism learners, offering valuable insight into the wide range of career opportunities available within their organisation and how students can begin their journey into the industry.

The session was designed to give learners a well-rounded understanding of GWR as both a transport provider and an employer. GWR employees spoke in depth about their apprenticeship programmes, with particular focus on customer service and engineering pathways. They outlined what each scheme involves, the skills and qualities they look for in applicants, and how these programmes support long-term career development. Students also gained practical advice on navigating the application process, including tips on standing out as a candidate, followed by an interactive Q&A session that allowed them to ask questions and explore their interests further.

In addition to entry routes, GWR highlighted the strong potential for career progression within the company, emphasising that apprenticeships can lead to long-term, rewarding careers. They also shared some of the benefits available to employees, such as free or discounted rail travel and access to gym memberships, helping students understand the wider advantages of working in the industry.

To provide further context, the speakers introduced the scale and impact of GWR’s operations. Learners were interested to hear that the company serves over 80 million passengers each year and operates across approximately 1,360 miles of track, connecting communities and supporting regional economies. They also explored the extensive network of routes covered by GWR, reinforcing the organisation’s importance within the UK’s transport infrastructure.

While many roles are associated with trains and stations, GWR demonstrated the breadth of opportunities available behind the scenes. These include roles in finance, sales and marketing, performance analysis, property services, and business assurance - highlighting that there are career paths to suit a wide range of skills and interests.

Overall, the lecture provided a valuable opportunity for our learners to gain first-hand insight into the travel and tourism industry, helping them to better understand their options and feel more confident about their future career choices. 

Thank you to Great Western Railway for delivering such an insightful and inspiring session, and for supporting our students as they explore their next steps.

Weston College are delighted to announce that Jet2 have signed as its newest Careers Excellence Hub partner for Weston College’s Travel and Tourism Faculty.

This milestone is a testament to the strength of the partnership and a shared commitment to inspiring, nurturing and igniting learners into the travel and airline industry, with a clear pathway to employment opportunities connected to Bristol Airport.

Through this collaboration, Jet2 colleagues have already delivered high-impact employer engagement for our learners, including informative industry guest talks, offering real insight into careers within aviation and travel and mock interviews, supporting learners to build confidence, professionalism and employability skills.

These experiences ensure learners gain first-hand knowledge of employer expectations, helping them move seamlessly from education into industry.

Read more about Jet2’s engagement with our learners:

• Jet2 informative guest talk
• Jet2 mock interviews with students

Our Travel and Tourism provision continues to work closely with employers to ensure curriculum reflect current industry standards, emerging skills, and real career pathways. We are proud to work alongside Jet2 to shape future talent, strengthen the regional workforce, and create meaningful routes into the aviation and travel sector.

Lynsey McKinstry, Strategic Partnership Manager, CEH, “Our partnership with Jet2 brings learning to life for our Travel and Tourism students. From guest talks to mock interviews, these industry-led experiences give learners invaluable insight into employer expectations and real career pathways, helping them to build confidence and move successfully from education into employment.” 

We look forward to working alongside Jet2 and supporting their ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of industry professionals.

Two of Weston College’s Construction Professions students are gaining invaluable real-world experience through their involvement in the project to restore Birnbeck Pier in Weston-super-Mare. Through our strong partnership with North Somerset Council and leading industry contractors, these learners have secured exciting opportunities to contribute to this landmark scheme as part of their 315-hour industry placement.

Students studying the T-Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction benefit from a blend of classroom learning and practical, on-site experience. At Birnbeck Pier, this includes guided technical site walks and the chance to engage directly with experienced construction professionals, helping to bring their studies to life.

Following a competitive selection process, two of our students were chosen to undertake extended placements with the council’s appointed contractors. These placements form a core part of the T-Level qualification, and are essential in equipping learners with the technical knowledge and industry experience needed to launch successful careers in construction.

One of our students, Fin, joined the project in mid-December after being appointed by Bristol-based contractors Smith and Brenson, who are delivering the landside phase of the development. Over the past four months, Fin has become an integral part of the on-site team, gaining experience in both site operations and project coordination.

Our second student, Ashton, recently began their placement with Mackley, a specialist civil engineering contractor leading the restoration of the Grade II* listed pier structure. This work offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a complex marine and heritage project of national significance.

Finton said: “I’ve learnt a great deal since starting my placement. The hands-on work I’ve done has been very helpful as it’s given me a strong understanding of the project and the challenges that come with it. Working in the site office and joining project meetings has been especially beneficial for my college course as it’s allowed me to see the different roles people take on within projects and how they contribute to the overall outcome. This is also helping me to develop a clearer understanding of what I might like to do in my future career and the different options available to me."

Ashton said: “I’m gaining real hands-on experience alongside classroom learning, which makes everything feel more relevant and exciting. It’s helped me build confidence in my skills and given me a clear path towards a future career in the industry. Considering how important the pier is historically, it’s great to be playing a small role in its restoration. It closed before I was born, so I’m looking forward to being able to access it for the first time once work is complete.”

Daniel Comerford, Lecturer in Construction Professions, said: “We are extremely grateful to North Somerset Council and their contractors - Smith and Brenson, and Mackley - in allowing two of our learners the opportunity to work on the Birnbeck Pier project. This will allow them to put into practice the skills that we teach them in college, to a real-life, complex project, which in turn will increase their learning and understanding of the complexities of the construction industry.”

We are incredibly grateful to North Somerset Council and their contractors, Smith and Brenson and Mackley, for their ongoing support in providing these placements. Collaborations like this are key to creating meaningful career pathways for our students and supporting the development of the next generation of construction professionals.