Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Centre has been selected to host the regional stage of the WorldSkills event for the second year running.

Around 80 students from across the South West will visit the College on Tuesday 18th June to put their hair and beauty skills to the test.

WorldSkills is a prestigious international competition designed to create excitement and passion for learning in young people. Competitors take part in regional and national events before progressing to the international finals.

Experts design the industry-specific competitions, which help equip apprentices and students with the skills UK businesses need to compete globally.

Sandra Bull, the College’s Lead for Hair, Beauty, Barbering, Hospitality and Catering, said: “Each year colleges apply to host these prestigious competitions, so it speaks volumes for the quality of our hair and beauty facilities that the regional event is returning here.

“The Hair and Beauty Salons were refurbished recently, which makes it the perfect setting for the competition.

“As well as hosting the event, we’re also proud to have four learners – Ella Aston, Zoe Clark, Chloe Williams and Emily Spence – competing for a place in the national finals. We wish them the best of luck!”

The day will include competitions in hairdressing, beauty therapy, beauty therapy practice, creative media make-up, commercial make up and nail techniques.

The four College competitors have been putting in hours in addition to their College timetable to train for the event. Local employers have also helped them prepare by providing feedback and coaching. They secured their regional places after submitting photographic entries.

Winners of the regional heats are announced in September and the national finals take place in mid-November. The UK finals involve 1,000 young people aged 18–24 competing in 40 skills areas, from mobile robotics and graphic design, to carpentry and catering.

Prison learners were given the opportunity to showcase their talents at Weston College’s annual Creative Arts Summer Festival.

The festival, which enabled students from across the College creative arts faculty to exhibit their work, took place from June 11th to 20th and attracted rave reviews.

Work was produced by students studying media production, graphic design, photography, contemporary arts, as well as art and design.

It was also a unique opportunity for the College learners in prisons across the South West and South East, who provided poetry, oil paintings, pencil drawings ceramics and sculptures. Weston College delivers education in 19 prisons across the country.

Hundreds of people from across the region attend the festival each year, including those working and studying in the creative arts industries. Referring to the prison learners’ work, one visitor said: “There is a real depth and substance in the work. As a graphic designer and artist it is apparent to me that art has an ability to expose the truth in everybody without judgement.

“They are clearly very talented individuals who have become lost in society through mistakes made through peer pressure and a lack of positive role models.”

Weston College’s Prison Education provision will continue to showcase the many talents of learners within the prison network. The aim is to support the successful rehabilitation, resettlement and employment of offenders when they are released.

Click here to read more about the Prison Education provision recently winning a £17m prison learning contract…

Weston Bay learners have been renovating the 1st North Worle Scout Hut over the last three weeks, painting, decorating and clearing the gardens.

To fund this they have been fundraising through a summer fete and a bag packing session at Asda. The learners then went and bought all the paints and gardening tools needed.

Weston Bay learners will be hosting the grand opening this Thursday (27th June) from 4-5.30pm at the North Worle Scout Hut. There will be some food, drink and speeches from the learners. Please come along and show your support.