This July staff across Weston College campuses took part in our first annual Wellbeing and Community Day, which involved each department of the College participating in a fun activity to boost their wellbeing and help connect with each other, and it was a great success!  

This initiative underscores the College’s deep commitment to the wellbeing of our staff, recognising that a supportive and healthy environment is crucial for both personal and work-related success. 

Staff had the freedom to choose their own team activities and these included BBQ’s, bowling, pottery painting, rounders, escape rooms, mini golf, grooming animals at Puxton Park, board games, drawing, ceramics and floristry, and the most popular activity of the day... Bakes Offs!  

One standout activity which our Construction and Civil Engineering staff team underwent was ‘Project Tractor’ - which consisted of restoring and painting Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s beloved tractor! The restoration process included an industrial power wash, extensive sanding, painting, and safety enhancements like securing the seat and stabilising the bonnet. Additionally, a new dashboard with a speedometer was installed. The project was an exciting task for the team, and the tractor, named "Gilbert," now stands as a centrepiece for the zoo's 25th anniversary celebrations. Richard Hanney, Head of Construction Trades said: 

“We continually seek meaningful opportunities that unite our team, showcasing their skills and passion. This project enabled us to give back and make a significant impact. We eagerly anticipate our next collaboration, particularly with our Careers Excellence Hub partner, Noah's Ark Zoo." 

Lynsey McKinstry from our Business Growth Team said: "A day of giving back for well-being - stepping away from the office and supporting Puxton Park with their small animals (and we had some cuties!) a big thank you to the lovely team at Puxton (Mac and Wilson) and for organising Georgina Thorne. We’ve had a brilliant day, cleaning, grooming, supporting and learning…what a great team of staff and lovely to meet the visitors."

 

Sandra Bull, Assistant Principal of Creative, Health Industries and Leisure, said: "A great day of collaboration, meeting new friends, finding your inner artist and creative florist along with a BBQ lunch and a delicious bake off! Even the sun was shining- what a selection of talent!! So looking forward to working with this lovely lot this coming year."

 

HR Manager, Laura Holcombe said: "Weston College held a Staff Well -being day yesterday, and the HR team decided to go pottery painting!"

 

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. 

 

Hi, my name is Kitty and I have recently completed the Level 3 Fashion, Business & Retail UAL Extended Diploma! 

Throughout my childhood I was always interested in fashion design and loved dressing up. My mum taught me how to sew at a young age which sparked my interest as I loved to create new and unique things that I could show my family. I then discovered the fashion course at Weston College online and was excited to be able to pursue a course which I had genuine interest in!

The best part of this course is the support I have had from my teachers as well as the huge array of facilities. Anything that I have wanted to experiment with, whether that is fashion based or pottery/print etc, there is always a helpful tutor ready to support me.

Learning how to make my own patterns has been fascinating, it has taken a lot of resilience but when you get the pattern right the feeling of accomplishment is amazing.

The facilities are incredible, we have access to so many amazing tools that we are free to use from industrial sewing machines to an incredible print room. These facilities really helped me to boost my work and create interesting outcomes.

The amount of support we have at the college is fantastic and is something which took me by surprise! The summer show at the end of each year is an incredible way to showcase what we have created. It’s really lovely to be able to show your friends and family what you have been working on throughout the year.

I would highly recommend the fashion course! A lot of hard work and dedication needs to go into your work to get good results, however it is all worth it in the end.

Below is some of the work I created during my time on the course. Thank you for reading!

Weston College has announced that David Crew, the Head of Business Growth & Employer Partnerships, will be joining the Somerset Chamber of Commerce as Managing Director starting in September. David has been a vital part of Weston College Group since 2016, playing a crucial role in driving the College’s growth and strengthening its industry connections. His efforts have significantly contributed to the College’s recent ‘Strong’ rating in regional skills by Ofsted.

The Somerset Chamber of Commerce, a key employer representative body in the region established in 1995 and accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce, will welcome David as Managing Director. The Chamber represents members who employ a 15,000-strong workforce, reinforcing its importance in the regional business landscape. Weston College, as a Business Partner for the Somerset Chamber, will continue to collaborate closely with David and regional skills partners through initiatives like the Local Skills Improvement Plans.

Reflecting on his tenure at Weston College Group, David Crew said,

“Weston College is an incredible organisation, and since joining in 2016, I’ve been fortunate to witness colleagues deliver its mission of ‘creating brighter futures’ every day. It’s a truly inspiring College that changes lives. I’ve enjoyed seeing the culture of integrating employers into the curriculum through its Careers Excellence Hubs and the College being at the forefront of skills training with T Levels, Skills Bootcamps, and Apprenticeships. Over 1,000 businesses now work closely with the College to access its training and inspire its learners. I’d like to thank all my colleagues and the committed employers who support the College. I look forward to continuing to champion the further education and skills sector, which I believe is the beating heart of our regional skills ecosystem.”

Jacqui Ford, Interim Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, expressed her gratitude for David’s contributions, stating,

“David joins the Somerset Chamber with our best wishes and thanks for his contribution to the College and its work with employers through his leadership of the Business Growth team. As we look forward to a new academic year, the College is in an incredibly strong position, and the solid links with employer partners are a key factor in our success. We look forward to continuing to work with David in his new role at the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, a key regional partner of the College.”

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.