This morning at DoubleTree by Hilton - Cadbury House, we hosted the Future of our Region employer conference, which was a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to come together and discuss how we can address local skills gaps, attract new talent, and shape the future of work within our region.

The conference started with a talk from our Chief Finance Officer, Janet Stephens, who discussed the Future of Skills, and the key trends and challenges businesses are facing, including recruitment difficulties and retention issues. This was followed by a talk on how Weston College can help address these problems through training solutions, collaborative working, forward thinking and place-based solutions.

Jane Murch, on behalf of MP Dan Aldridge, provided some thought-provoking insights into business growth in Weston-super-Mare and how we can tackle the issue of local skills gaps.

One part of the conference featured an employer panel which consisted of Airbus, Occuteach, The Bristol Port Company and Cadbury House, as well as Greta, a T Level industry placement student from Occuteach, Daniel a Degree Apprentice from Airbus, and Nick a Leadership and Management ILM learner. The panel impressed everyone in the room through their engaging insights into how their apprentices and industry placement students have made positive and impactful changes to not only their business, but also to the student’s lives. Everyone was especially impressed by the learner’s insights on the panel – all of which spoke very confidently and showcased their passion through some excellent answers to the questions asked.

Degree Apprentice Daniel spoke of his passion for changing any negative perceptions on apprenticeships and showcasing apprenticeships to school students to make them aware of their benefits. Greta urged employers to get on board with taking on industry placement students, as she has gained personal and professional growth through her time at Occuteach.

Pat Jones, principal of the Weston College Group, quoted: "The Future of our Region event was a tremendous success, bringing together a diverse group of business leaders and professionals to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our local economy. The insights shared and connections made during the event have laid the groundwork for new partnerships that will drive innovation, collaboration, and growth. It was inspiring to see the collective commitment to addressing skills gaps, and shaping a more inclusive and resilient workforce. Together, we have taken a significant step towards securing a brighter future for our region."

As an additional touch, everyone in attendance of the conference left with a plant to symbolise growth, which were very popular!

Thank you to all employers who came along to the Future of our Region conference.

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. 

Weston College is delighted to announce its achievement of the prestigious Investors in Diversity Silver Award, granted by the National Centre for Diversity.

This award represents an important milestone in the College's ongoing commitment to creating brighter futures and fostering a truly inclusive and respectful environment for its learners, staff, and the wider community.

The Silver Award recognises organisations that demonstrate excellence in promoting Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (FREDIE) within the workplace. With this award, the National Centre for Diversity acknowledges Weston College's efforts to uphold these values, confirming that the College’s workplace culture, policies, and practices provide a benchmark for other organisations.

Weston College continues to make progress in equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), supported by an effective EDI Committee and staff networks driving initiatives for an inclusive environment and comprehensive FREDIE training and leadership commitment have fostered positive cultural changes.

The accreditation process also showed that the College provides strong support for diverse student groups and mental health initiatives, with staff praising training and resources. As a Disability Confident Level 2 Employer, Weston College remains committed to embedding FREDIE principles and strengthening trust across our college community.

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “Receiving the Investors in Diversity Silver Award is a testament to our dedication to fostering an inclusive environment.

“This accolade reflects the commitment of our entire college community to creating a place where all are valued and have the opportunity to thrive. We are incredibly proud, yet aware that there is always more we can do. This award drives us to continue enhancing our approach to inclusion and engagement.”

The Investors in Diversity accreditation is valid for two years, a period during which Weston College aims to build on this recognition by further strengthening its inclusive policies and expanding support systems across the College.

The National Centre for Diversity commended Weston College's unwavering dedication to creating a supportive, engaging, and fair environment. Aneesah Khan, Operations Manager at National Centre for Diversity, said: “We congratulate Weston College, their staff, and stakeholders on successfully achieving the Investors in Diversity Silver Award following their assessment.

“This accomplishment reflects a significant commitment to workplace inclusivity.”

If you would like to work for Weston College, you can find our latest vacancies, by clicking here.

Recently, our second year Level 3 Travel and Tourism learners took a trip to the Mendip Activity Centre to provide a more hands-on and immersive learning experience for the students. 

This trip coincided perfectly with one of their recent modules, Managing Accommodation, as it gave the learners insight into a local attraction that offers various on-site accommodation such as a campsite and lodges. 

Throughout the day, students were able to explore the facilities that the Mendip Activity Centre had to offer, but also learn how they make their accommodation inclusive to all guests and how they run the business as a whole. 

Mendip Activity Centre works with many schools and education groups, as well as the public, to provide outdoor education and activities, from skiing and snowboarding, to archery and orienteering. The business has so much to offer and has gradually developed and expanded over time to form the multi-activity centre with on-site accommodation that they are today. 

George Coombe, the head of business and growth at Mendip Activity Centre, talked to the learners about the business, explaining everything from their development as a business and marketing strategies, to their available activities and accommodation. He then took the students on a tour of the centre so they could see the facilities first-hand and answer any questions they had throughout the day. 

Hannah Carstensen, one of our Business and Tourism lecturers at Weston College, said, “George was able to give an insight into the accommodation sector of Travel and Tourism which closely links to what we have been covering within class. Learners were able to see how a local business manages multiple different accommodation services and how they meet the needs of their guests.” 

Learners then had a game of frisbee golf that the Mendip Activity Centre offers as an activity which they enjoyed thoroughly and was a great way to end the day. 

Overall, this trip provided our learners with real-life experience and gave them a comprehensive understanding of the industry's core principles, including customer service, destination knowledge, and the importance of sustainable tourism practices that the business developed overtime.   

Thank you to George Combes and the Mendip Activity Centre for having us and educating our learners on how they run a successful, local business. 

If you’re interested in applying to one of our Travel and Tourism courses in September, click here.