Weston College learner, James Morris, has been named the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) South West Apprentice of the Year.

James, who started his Level 3 Civil Engineering apprenticeship with Alun Griffiths in September 2018, picked up his award at CECA’s Annual Members’ South West Lunch in Torquay.

He was one of only four winners at the awards presentation, which celebrates rising stars in the civil engineering industry.

James was recognised for his attitude and dedication to the job, gaining particular praise for his willingness to learn and take on new challenges.

As well as his apprenticeship duties, James stands out for being an active member of Community Engagement Initiatives and at CECA and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) events.

South West Operations Director at Alun Griffiths, Simon Dunn, said: “We are really proud of James, and he thoroughly deserves this recognition.

“His passion is clear to see and, since joining Alun Griffiths, he has impressed all of his colleagues with his hard work, and how quickly he picks new skills up.

“He is also committed to encouraging others into the industry, often doing this in his own time, which is very commendable.

“At only 18, his approach, manners and respect for others are beyond his age. We know that we can always rely on James, and he is the perfect apprenticeship role model.”

James was delighted with his award, and said: “To be recognised for all of my hard work feels very rewarding.

“My apprenticeship has allowed me to develop new skills, and start my career in an industry that I am passionate about, with a fantastic employer – Alun Griffiths.

“I have honestly loved every moment of my apprenticeship so far, and can’t wait to continue my studies this year.”

If you would like to follow in James’ footsteps and become an apprentice, click here.

Last year, four Media Production students were given an exciting brief from Aerospace Bristol – to create a short video to be played in the museum’s exhibition.

This live project brief saw four students gain valuable experience, as they put their theory to the test and ran a project from start to finish.

As part of this project, students carried out research on the engineering industry, planned video content and organised interviews. They also worked closely with Weston College engineering students, to get a taste of what the industry entails.

One student that worked on the project is Chloe Bailey. She said: “I believe that every single member of the team worked to their strengths, which is what pulled us through to the screening day and finishing off the project. We were proud of the final outcome and look forward to seeing it at the exhibition.”

Chloe was joined on the project by her classmates Kate Busby, John Davies and Kraig Taylor-Bryant.

Amy Seadon, Learning and Community Engagement Manager at Aerospace Bristol, said: “The team did a fantastic job.

“They listened carefully to the brief and produced a wonderful short film which truly brought out and showcased the enthusiasm of the engineering students. We hope that seeing it will inspire more young people to explore a career in engineering.”

The video, which showcased the world of engineering – including what it is like to study engineering in the 21st century – premiered last December and is now on display for Aerospace Bristol visitors to see.

The project was carried out as part of the Media Production Level 3 ‘Client Brief’ unit, which is designed to give our students real-life experience of working with a client.

You can find out more information on our Media Production courses, here.

Skills Support for the Unemployed (SSU) has helped Nicola find a new job after she was made redundant by Thomas Cook, after 20 years’ service.

The SSU programme is delivered by Weston College on behalf of Dimensions Training Solutions (DTS), which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

SSU aims to upskill unemployed people and fast-track them to employment or further training.

Ahead of starting a new job, Nicola described how SSU has helped her.

“Following my redundancy with Thomas Cook, I was unemployed for three months,” she said.

“My friend recommended that I get in touch with Weston College, and I haven’t looked back.

“Through Skills Support for the Unemployed, I managed to complete three courses; IT Entry Level, IT Level 1 and AAT Bookkeeping.

“Not only did I develop skills, I also grew in confidence, which is so critical when you’re looking for a job. I particularly enjoyed the interview preparation with my ‘job coach – I found this so valuable in getting me a job.

“If you are unemployed, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Weston College. They will support you in every aspect of finding a job.

“I am really excited about starting my new job as a customer relations advisor.”

Find out more about SSU, by clicking here.