A Weston College Commis Chef Apprentice, Daniel, has been crowned apprentice of the year - beating competition from across the South West.

Daniel joined us on the Level 2 Commis Chef apprenticeship which covers preparing dishes using fresh and raw ingredients cooking meat, fish and poultry dishes, and other culinary skills such as making soups and sauces, either in specialist, ethnic or fine dining restaurants. The programme includes four days with an employer and one day at the College.

We asked Daniel about his experience of the apprenticeship “I would definitely recommend it, it’s a good experience and it’s great to earn money whilst learning your trade. It also shows you can put your knowledge into practical use having done it already. Giulio Ellis, owner of Guilio's Italian Kitchen, was very supportive, he helped source brilliant ingredients to work and experiment with, which I couldn't have accessed myself. I love being in the workplace, it’s been like having a second family and the masterclasses on my course are brilliant.”

Gemma Zaire, owner of Guilio's Italian Kitchen, recalled when Daniel began working at Giulio's, she said: "Daniel came to work with us a year ago when we first opened Giulio’s and we saw something special in him. We asked him if he would like the opportunity to be an apprentice to learn to be a chef, he jumped at the chance. At first, Daniel needed a lot of guidance and help but within a matter of months he has become one of our most valued members of staff."

“Daniel has taken to the catering industry like a duck to water. When speaking with his employer they have nothing but great things to say about his positive attitude, his attention to detail and his ability to work well under pressure. At Guilio's Italian Kitchen, the busier it gets during service, the more they rely on Daniel's cool head.As his assessor, I always find we end up talking about recipes, and different styles of food, what cookbooks we're reading and different chefs or restaurants we're interested in. Daniel is about to turn 18, but he speaks like someone who has been working in the industry for many years who is always keen to try something new and challenge himself, said Grant Spenser, Assessor, Weston College.

Daniel was put forward for the award and was crowned Outstanding Apprentice of the Year in Hospitality, Travel and Customer Service in the contest hosted by both Bristol and Bath Live on 2nd December 2020.

Sandra Bull, Dean of Faculty, Weston College said: “We are very proud of Daniel and pleased that his achievements have been recognised nationally.

“If someone is thinking about a career where they can be creative, have fun, but work hard, then catering is definitely a sector where that can happen.

“There are lots of young people out there just like Daniel, all they need is an opportunity, someone to give them a chance and support them to be their best. The relationship that the College has with an employer like Guilio's Italian Kitchen is a good example of the success that a young person can have when they are given the right support. The pandemic has hit the hospitality and catering industry, but our apprentices are still learning and the employers are temporarily adapting their business models to succeed. It’s an exciting time and we look forward to a time when we can once again sit in and enjoy dinning out.”

Join us on a hospitality and catering course:

• Courses for 16-19 years olds
• Adult courses
• Find an open event

Weston College Motor Vehicle Apprentice, Luke Merchant, has been recognised as one of the top learners for his trade in the UK as he was awarded the silver medal at this year's WorldSkills UK finals.

WorldSkills UK is an independent charity that works with employers, education and governments, supporting young people across the world via competitions-based training, testing their ability to achieve world-class standards in the biennial ‘skills Olympics’.

Over 3,000 learners registered to take part in the UK-wide competitions in March 2021 and Jack was just one of four hundred who made it into the finals, which was split into 64 disciplines. 

After a challenging selections process Luke, who studies an Advanced Apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle with Carbase, was selected for the Automotive Technology WorldSkills finals that took place at Cardiff & Vale College.

For the finals, competitors had to complete six tasks all relating to auto mechanics including engine mechanical faults, engine electrical faults, body electrical faults, chassis faults & 4 wheel alignment, braking system faults and gearbox faults.

Luke commented: "It feels great and is good to know that my hard work has paid off. WorldSkills was a great experience. It was good to push myself and working under the pressure of the competition has helped developed my confidence and timekeeping skills.

"It was good to go and meet minded apprentices too, and overall an experience I won’t forget."

After the challenging finals were completed, the winners were announced at a virtual ceremony hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern from her Channel 4 “Packed Lunch” studio on Friday 26 November. It was here that Luke was announced as the national runner up. 

Chris Priest, Lecturer in Motor Vehicle, added: Luke did brilliantly and really showed that the training we provide at the Automotive Training Centre are up there, competing with the best of the UK.

Luke continued: "It has been really enjoyable studying for my apprenticeship at Weston College, with tutors that care and take the time to answer questions. The workshop and classroom time was divided well and Steve Powell really helped."

Weston College’s involvement with WorldSkills is just one of the exclusive opportunities available to learners through the newly launched Career Excellence Hubs.  

At the College each subject area forms its own specific Career Excellence Hub, endorsed by relevant sector employers which help to create a study programme with lots of career boosting benefits, including WorldSkills competing opportunities. 

With national recognition now on his CV, Luke is progressing to work as a Vehicle Technician with Mercedes.

Congratulations and best of luck Luke!

Click here to learn more about our full-time courses and apprenticeships in Motor Vehicle

Click here to view out current apprenticeship vacancies

Click here to learn more about WorldSkills

Weston College is a UK finalist for creating outstanding results for students with SEND Weston College has been announced as a finalist for the Association of College’s Beacon Awards - Inclusive Learning Leadership Award supported by the National Centre of Diversity.

The College has been recognised for its transformational approach to creating outstanding progression results for students with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), and creating an ethos which celebrates inclusive practice which has driven the College’s mission, strategic plan and ambitions for all its students, regardless of their starting point in life.

Since 2001, the College has completely transformed its ethos, to create a culture change from being an ‘FE provider with pockets of inclusion’ to a ‘fully inclusive organisation delivering FE’.

The organisational wide change to empower students from all backgrounds to achieve, has been driven by its Principal, Dr Paul Phillips who has created a visible and highly celebrated culture of inclusion with an ‘person centred’ approach to progression.

The whole college approach to ‘inclusive practice’ has ensured that SEND students achieve comparable outcomes to those who do not – leading to the College being recognised as one of three UK National SEND Centres of Excellence.

Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, commented: “It’s been quite a journey, if we rewind to 1981, the College had just eight learners with additional needs.

"Today, we are proud to have 1,316 SEND students, 511 of those with high needs undertaking a wide range of FE/HE courses, apprenticeships, and supported internships with 33% into employment, which compares to just. 6% nationally.”

"The aspirational place that inclusive practice holds within the College’s strategic plan, was even more evident in lockdown, with the Inclusive Practice team, having co-designed the College’s EdTech strategy – seeing its aspiration for ‘digital inclusion’ realised with 91% SEND pandemic attendance as a result of the hugely successful #MyVirtualCollege roll out.”

The Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year.

This award supported by the National Centre of Diversity and AoC seeks to celebrate outstanding examples of colleges who champion and practice inclusive leadership and demonstrate the values of respectfulness, inclusion and a sense of belonging.

Those who demonstrate innovative and excellent teaching and learning in one or more subject areas to enable students to develop excellent knowledge of inclusion- (FREDIE) fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion and engagement.

David Hughes, Chief Executive of the Association of Colleges said: “This award showcases how colleges are centering inclusion in everything they do.

"Colleges are inspirational because inclusive teaching and leadership filters down to every area of college life and students have the opportunity to develop these behaviours. Colleges whose mission and vision reflects the society they serve is hugely important and gives students and staff a sense of belonging.”

The AoC Beacon Awards finalists were announced at the AoC FE Summit on Tuesday 17 November. Winners will be announced in Spring 2021.