In partnership with Avon Fire and Rescue, our second Ignite Programme has been a success – a three-week dynamic, hands-on course designed to boost confidence and equip our learners for their next steps, whether that be entering employment, pursuing further training, or focusing on personal development.

Throughout the three-week programme, learners engaged in various activities including:

• Team building 
• Building self confidence 
• Goal setting 
• Communication skills 
• Visits to fire stations 
• Outdoor activities 
• Health and wellbeing 
• Cooking skills 
• Interview skills 
• Presentation skills

The learners made significant progress during the programme and worked together incredibly to achieve all tasks they were given.

On the last day of Ignite, the learners showcased their skills in a live demonstration for an audience, where they were tasked with building a water dam that would be used to release water from a hosepipe. Following the demonstration, the learners took to the stage to present their journey over the past few weeks. They shared what they had learned, the challenges they faced, and the impact the experience had on them. Each individual spoke with confidence and professionalism, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.

To conclude the event, the learners were awarded certificates by the Mayor in recognition of their successful completion of the programme!

Following the programme, learners had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one sessions with a tutor to discuss their next steps and explore how to achieve their goals. The Ignite programme was immensely rewarding for both the learners who participated and the team who helped bring it to life!

Mike Hudson, Director of Adult Recruitment, expressed his pride in the collaborative effort behind Ignite:

"I am incredibly proud of how Weston College, DWP, and Avon Fire & Rescue Service have come together to design and deliver Ignite. Our goal was to create a course that not only boosts self-confidence but also encourages teamwork and personal growth. We wanted something truly impactful, and what better way to achieve that than by partnering with Avon Fire & Rescue Service? Their involvement has added an exciting, hands-on dimension to learning, striking the perfect balance between physical activities and theoretical knowledge to keep learners engaged and motivated."

Reflecting on the programme’s success, Mike recalled a standout moment:

"On the first day, I stepped into the classroom to find a quiet, reserved group of learners who barely spoke to each other. Fast forward to their presentation day at the fire station, and the transformation was remarkable, laughter filled the room, and one learner was even dressed in full firefighter gear! It was a truly rewarding sight and exactly what we set out to achieve. By the end of the course, learners had grown in confidence, stepped out of their comfort zones, and were ready to take their next steps toward employment or further education."

The Ignite course exemplifies the power of collaboration in supporting the community, demonstrating how education, public services, and employment initiatives can come together to create lasting impact.

A huge thank you to all Weston College staff involved, and to Avon Fire and Rescue for partnering with us to make this incredible opportunity possible!

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 are delighted to announce our achievement of the Investors in Diversity Silver Award, granted by the National Centre for Diversity! Alongside this, we have also been ranked 11th place in the UK’s Top 100 Inclusive Employers.

A huge factor in how we have achieved this is by encouraging and embedding the FREDIE principles across the college (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement). This Silver Award recognises organisations which demonstrate excellence in promoting FREDIE within the workplace. With this award, we as a college are recognised by the National Centre for Diversity to uphold their values confirming the colleges workplace culture, policies and practices provide a benchmark for other organisations.

Our EDI vision has progressed and so have our aspirations, making this recognition of our EDI journey and of our efforts extremely fulfilling. This is only the beginning, as we progress further and further to achieve our ambitions of true inclusivity, diversity and equitable place to learn and work. This is supported by our effective EDI committee and staff networks which drive initiatives for inclusion and comprehensive FREDIE training to foster positive cultural changes. The accreditation process also shows the college provides strong support for diverse student groups and mental health initiatives, as a disability confident level 2 employer, Weston Collee remains committed to embedding FREDIE principles and strengthening trust across our college community.

Our work was continued through our hosting of an Equity Exchange Conference with the Association of Colleges (AoC) on Thursday, January 23rd, where we shared our EDI journey with other colleges to maintain momentum and focus on this ever-important work. This work underpinned what we as a college stood for: welcoming everyone, creating opportunities for all, and celebrating our uniqueness. This silver award was an important milestone in the college’s commitment to creating brighter futures and fostering a truly inclusive and respectful environment.

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive 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 there is always more we can do. Being placed 11th encourages and drives us to continue enhancing our approach to inclusion and engagement.”

This 11th placement is valid for a 2-year period which we aim to build further by strengthening the inclusive policies that drive it.

Operations Manager Aneesah Khan at the 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 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. 

This February Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) were delighted to welcome the Lord-Lieutenant for Somerset, Mohammed Saddiq and Denis Burn MBE, the Deputy Lieutenant. The Lord-Lieutenant acts as His Majesty's representative in Somerset. As a champion of the community, they support charity work and volunteering while upholding the interests of the Crown.

After arriving at Weston College’s Knightstone Campus, the Lord-Lieutenant and his Deputy saw students who raised money for the Weston Hospice Enterprise Project. This project challenged our business learners to create products that could be sold to raise money for Weston Hospice. This project raised £7289.87 for the charity. The students showed off their business acumen and the products that they were selling.  

After this, the Lord-Lieutenant and his Deputy visited the Inclusive Practice department to discuss the support that students with Autism receive at the College’s Weston Bay, our residential training facility. This facility allows students to get used to living away from home by managing household tasks like cooking, washing, ironing and cleaning, in addition to developing their social skills.

The visit then moved to UCW to see the impressive digital provision. The Lord-Lieutenant and his Deputy met with students on the Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship who explained how they are gaining skills which are needed by employers. As a part of this, the Lord-Lieutenant and his Deputy visited a practical session in the Networking and Cyber Lab. This enabled them to see how apprentices bring theory into practice using state-of-the-art equipment.