Weston College’s annual CareersFest returned this week, transforming the Winter Gardens Pavilion into a vibrant hub of opportunity and inspiration.

Designed to spark ambition and help learners explore their future options, the event brought together an extensive mix of pathways from apprenticeships and university routes to specialised training and employer-led careers.

This year’s CareersFest welcomed over 1,000 Weston College learners, alongside more than 26 employers, 12 Higher Education providers, and a range of Weston College support teams.

The venue was filled with energy as exhibitors shared insights with learners, and answered questions that they had. Well-known organisations such as Airbus, Avon and Somerset Police, Babcock, Handelsbanken, and the Royal Navy were among those engaging with learners.

Universities were also out in force, including Royal Holloway, University of London, the University of Bath, University of Plymouth, the University of South Wales and UWE Bristol, offering guidance for those considering higher education.

Anna Holton, Head of Careers and Employability at Weston College, reflected on the impact of the event: “CareersFest gives our learners the chance to truly see what their futures could look like. The conversations they have here can spark ideas, build confidence, and open doors.

“At Weston College we champion ‘careers, not courses,’ and events like this help bring that philosophy to life. We’re delighted with the enthusiasm from both exhibitors and learners this year, and we're excited to see how these interactions shape their next steps.”

The Careers and Employability Team is on hand to provide ongoing support. Learners can get in touch at cet@weston.ac.uk or visit the team’s webpage for more information.

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At our Careers Fest, students had the chance to chat to big name employers and universities about their future!✨

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Degree Apprentice Jack Lewis has been crowned the Association of Colleges (AoC) Apprentice of the Year at the annual AoC Conference and Exhibition, an event that celebrates exceptional students from colleges across England.

The national awards recognise individuals who have excelled academically while making significant contributions to their colleges, workplaces, and communities. As always, the competition was fierce, with a high volume of outstanding applications from across the country.

Jack is currently studying at University Centre Weston (UCW), following in the footsteps of UCW alumnus Kam Stevens, who previously won the Higher Education Student of the Year award at the AoC Awards in 2023.

A Level 6 Manufacturing Engineering degree apprentice working at Singer Instruments, Jack distinguished himself through the substantial real-world impact he has had on the organisation.

He introduced advanced 3D-printing technologies that transformed manufacturing processes, reduced environmental impact, and significantly cut production costs. His redesign of microscope components not only removed the need for hazardous chloroform but also reduced the unit cost from £24 to just 17 pence, dramatically improving both safety and efficiency.

Jack, said: "I’m incredibly proud to have been named Apprentice of the Year. It’s an amazing feeling to see the work I’m so passionate about recognised at a national level. I want to say a huge thank-you to the engineering and apprenticeship teams at Weston College and UCW for their support and belief in me throughout my journey. I’m also grateful to everyone at Singer Instruments for giving me the opportunity to learn, innovate, and make a real impact."

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, added:

“We are delighted for Jack – his outstanding work truly deserves this recognition. Jack has set a new benchmark for what apprenticeships can achieve. Starting as a BTEC placement student, he returned as Singer Instruments’ first Level 6 engineering apprentice and has since driven transformative innovation.

“Congratulations, Jack. We look forward to seeing your career continue to thrive.”

If you would like to follow in Jack’s footsteps, you can discover our apprenticeships here.

Learners across all Weston College campuses recently took part in a series of impactful workshops delivered by St Giles Trust in partnership with the local authority Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) as part of the Home Office delivery plan. Focusing on the realities of county lines, knife crime, and youth exploitation, the sessions aimed to equip students with the knowledge, confidence, and practical strategies needed to make safe and informed decisions about their futures.

Weston College work closely with the VRP, who delivered this session both to educate learners and to gather their feedback on what is needed to improve violence reduction in North Somerset. St Giles Trust led the initial talk, which was followed by a workshop by VRP who gave helpful tips and guidance including the ability for people to report concerns about violence and knife crime anonymously on the “Fearless” website.

Drawing from real-life experiences, St Giles opened the talk with an honest dialogue about the dangers young people may face, and the tactics used by organised crime groups. By sharing personal stories and frontline insights, they helped learners understand how individuals can be groomed into criminal activity, often without recognising the warning signs until it is too late.

A key part of the workshop broke down the four stages of the grooming process:

1. Targeting - identifying vulnerable young people or those perceived as easy to influence.
2. Friendship Forming - building trust through attention, gifts, or offers of support.
3. Loving Relationship - creating a sense of loyalty, obligation, or emotional dependence.
4. Abusive Relationship - introducing threats, coercion, and control to force involvement in illegal activity.

Through this structure, learners gained a clear understanding of how gangs manipulate and exploit young people, often blurring the lines between friendship, favour, and criminal expectation.

The sessions also demystified what county lines means, highlighting how drugs are transported and sold across regions, the hierarchy of involvement, and the perspective of those involved in dealing. Emphasis was placed on the harsh realities and long-term consequences of participation, countering the myth that county lines activity offers quick or easy money. St Giles Trust stressed the concept of “short-term gain, long-term pain”, showing how short-lived rewards are far outweighed by the physical, legal, and emotional risks.

Learners were guided through practical strategies for conflict resolution, helping them recognise safer ways to navigate difficult situations without resorting to violence or carrying a weapon. The St Giles team reinforced that there are always alternatives to retaliation, and that seeking support from college staff, trusted adults, or specialist services can be a proactive step towards staying safe.

Each session concluded with practical advice and guidance, empowering students to identify exploitation, protect themselves and their peers, and access help if they are worried about themselves or someone else.

The workshops were well received across the college, contributing to Weston College’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding, awareness, and student wellbeing.