Weston College’s annual CareersFest returned this week, transforming the Winter Gardens Pavilion into a vibrant hub of opportunity and inspiration.

Designed to spark ambition and help learners explore their future options, the event brought together an extensive mix of pathways from apprenticeships and university routes to specialised training and employer-led careers.

This year’s CareersFest welcomed over 1,000 Weston College learners, alongside more than 26 employers, 12 Higher Education providers, and a range of Weston College support teams.

The venue was filled with energy as exhibitors shared insights with learners, and answered questions that they had. Well-known organisations such as Airbus, Avon and Somerset Police, Babcock, Handelsbanken, and the Royal Navy were among those engaging with learners.

Universities were also out in force, including Royal Holloway, University of London, the University of Bath, University of Plymouth, the University of South Wales and UWE Bristol, offering guidance for those considering higher education.

Anna Holton, Head of Careers and Employability at Weston College, reflected on the impact of the event: “CareersFest gives our learners the chance to truly see what their futures could look like. The conversations they have here can spark ideas, build confidence, and open doors.

“At Weston College we champion ‘careers, not courses,’ and events like this help bring that philosophy to life. We’re delighted with the enthusiasm from both exhibitors and learners this year, and we're excited to see how these interactions shape their next steps.”

The Careers and Employability Team is on hand to provide ongoing support. Learners can get in touch at cet@weston.ac.uk or visit the team’s webpage for more information.

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At our Careers Fest, students had the chance to chat to big name employers and universities about their future!✨

♬ original sound - WestonCollege

Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) brought together leading engineering employers on Wednesday 19 November 2025, for a high-level Engineering Technical Advisory Board session, which was aimed at shaping the future of technical education across the region.

The event was hosted at GKN Aerospace, Bristol, and focused on strengthening collaboration between industry and education to ensure that training, curriculum design, and skills development continue to meet the needs of the local engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The session provided employers like Airbus, Babcock, GKN Aerospace, Ministry of Defence NCC, Rolls Royce and Safran with the opportunity to directly influence how the Weston College Group prepares the next generation of engineers and technicians. Discussions explored how businesses can help co-design future-focused curriculum pathways, support industry placements, and inspire learners to pursue rewarding careers within aerospace, defence, and wider engineering industries.

The Advisory Board is part of Weston College’s broader commitment to working together with employers to develop specialist training that reflects real-world challenges and emerging technologies. Insights gathered will also inform future programmes delivered through the College’s growing engineering portfolio, including its planned Aerospace Skills Academy.

By bringing together key partners, from major primes to SMEs across the supply chain the event created a shared space for discussing skills needs, innovation opportunities, and workforce challenges. Employers had the chance to highlight priority areas such as digitalisation, advanced manufacturing, sustainable engineering, and the evolving requirements of the aerospace and defence industries. 

Tracie Leahy, Weston College’s Assistant Principal - Apprenticeships & Skills said:

“Employer collaboration is vital to ensuring our engineering provision remains relevant, responsive, and future-ready. This event was designed to bring industry expertise to the forefront, enabling us to co-create training that truly supports economic growth, productivity, and long-term skills development across the region.”

Degree Apprentice Jack Lewis has been crowned the Association of Colleges (AoC) Apprentice of the Year at the annual AoC Conference and Exhibition, an event that celebrates exceptional students from colleges across England.

The national awards recognise individuals who have excelled academically while making significant contributions to their colleges, workplaces, and communities. As always, the competition was fierce, with a high volume of outstanding applications from across the country.

Jack is currently studying at University Centre Weston (UCW), following in the footsteps of UCW alumnus Kam Stevens, who previously won the Higher Education Student of the Year award at the AoC Awards in 2023.

A Level 6 Manufacturing Engineering degree apprentice working at Singer Instruments, Jack distinguished himself through the substantial real-world impact he has had on the organisation.

He introduced advanced 3D-printing technologies that transformed manufacturing processes, reduced environmental impact, and significantly cut production costs. His redesign of microscope components not only removed the need for hazardous chloroform but also reduced the unit cost from £24 to just 17 pence, dramatically improving both safety and efficiency.

Jack, said: "I’m incredibly proud to have been named Apprentice of the Year. It’s an amazing feeling to see the work I’m so passionate about recognised at a national level. I want to say a huge thank-you to the engineering and apprenticeship teams at Weston College and UCW for their support and belief in me throughout my journey. I’m also grateful to everyone at Singer Instruments for giving me the opportunity to learn, innovate, and make a real impact."

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, added:

“We are delighted for Jack – his outstanding work truly deserves this recognition. Jack has set a new benchmark for what apprenticeships can achieve. Starting as a BTEC placement student, he returned as Singer Instruments’ first Level 6 engineering apprentice and has since driven transformative innovation.

“Congratulations, Jack. We look forward to seeing your career continue to thrive.”

If you would like to follow in Jack’s footsteps, you can discover our apprenticeships here.