Last month, our Year 2 Uniformed Protective Services (UPS) learners were privileged to receive an incredibly impactful guest lecture from Firefighter Richard Welch, who served as Lambeth Borough Commander during the Grenfell Tower fire.

As part of their course, learners are required to evaluate emergency response strategies, making Richard’s first-hand insights into operational decision-making and crisis management invaluable to their studies.

Our UPS learners often aspire to join the armed forces or emergency services, pursuing careers as Police Officers, Firefighters, or within the Royal Army or Royal Navy. These are highly disciplined and community-focused professions, and opportunities to learn directly from experienced professionals help our students understand the realities, responsibilities, and human impact of protective service careers.

Richard began by outlining his impressive career journey. Having joined the London Fire Brigade in 1996, he progressed through a range of operational and leadership roles across the capital before becoming the Assistant Chief Fire Officer for Service Delivery Support at Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

During his lecture, Richard reflected on his role on the night of 14 June 2017, when he led the response as Borough Commander to the Grenfell Tower fire. He described the procedures and protocols followed, the scale of the operation, the efforts to rescue residents, and the devastating speed with which the fire spread through the building.

This visit was particularly emotional and thought-provoking. Having spoken at the college previously, Richard tailored this talk to include more in-depth context about responding to major emergencies, focusing on the techniques and strategies used during high-pressure incidents and how to manage the emotional and mental health challenges that can follow.

He shared deeply personal reflections on what it was like to make difficult, life-saving decisions under extreme pressure, offering candid advice on how emergency responders can care for their own wellbeing while supporting others in times of crisis.

Nicola Stent, one of our Uniformed Protective Services Lecturer, expressed her appreciation for Richard’s honesty and the students’ professionalism, saying, “Richard’s first-hand accounts were incredibly powerful and moving and the learners engaged with maturity and genuine curiosity. His reflections on Grenfell Tower and his advice on resilience and emotional wellbeing offered invaluable lessons for the students. It is these honest insights and advice that make guest lectures so important for students personal and professional development.”

Learners left the lecture inspired, with a clearer understanding of what it takes to serve their communities with resilience and compassion. Many commented on how the session made their career ambitions feel achievable and meaningful, providing them with guidance on how to succeed and thrive in the face of future challenges.

A big thank you to Richard Welch for sharing his first-hand experiences, professional expertise, and personal reflections — offering our learners a profound lesson in leadership, courage, and humanity within the protective services.

This guest lecture forms part of the Protective Services Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Public Services! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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.

Welcome to the October Edition of the Careers and Employability Team Blog! 

It’s been a busy and exciting month here at Weston College, with UCAS applications in full swing as learners take the next big step toward their futures. We’ve also proudly celebrated T Level Week, recognising the achievements of our learners and the value these qualifications bring to their career journeys.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for our annual Careersfest event on 18th November! This is a fantastic opportunity for learners to connect directly with employers and universities, ask questions, and gather insights to help shape their career decisions. 

As always, our team is here to support every learner—whether you're exploring career options, preparing for university, or looking to boost your employability skills. 

If you’d like to get in touch with us, please don’t hesitate to email cet@weston.ac.uk. 

Supporting Your Young Person with Their UCAS Application 

As we move through the autumn term, UCAS applications are a key focus for many of our learners who are planning their next steps into higher education. To help guide and support this process, we’ve put together some important information to help you support your young person. If you have any questions or would like further support, please get in touch using uni.help@weston.ac.uk 

UCAS Drop-In Sessions 

We’re running weekly UCAS drop-in sessions where learners can get one-to-one support with their applications: 

· Knightstone Campus – Every Monday lunchtime in the Library

· Loxton Campus – Every Tuesday lunchtime in the Library

Internal Deadline 

To ensure applications are submitted on time and with the best possible quality, our internal UCAS deadline is 14th November. Meeting this deadline allows us to review applications and provide feedback before they are sent to UCAS.  

🎉 Celebrating T Levels Week 2025! 

From 13th to 17th October, we proudly joined the nationwide celebration of T Levels Week 2025, spotlighting the incredible achievements of our learners and the transformative impact of industry placements. 

Throughout the week, we: 

• Celebrated learner success stories from their industry placements, showcasing the skills and confidence they’ve gained. 

• Prepared future learners for their upcoming placements with tailored workshops, employer engagement sessions, and practical guidance. 

   

• Engaged with employers and partners to strengthen placement opportunities and highlight the value of T Level learners in the workplace. 

   

• Shared inspiring stories on social media using the hashtags #TLevelsWeek and #TLevelHero, to raise awareness of all the amazing opportunities on offer. 

T Levels continue to bridge the gap between education and employment, offering students a unique blend of classroom learning and real-world experience. We’re proud to be part of this journey and to support the next generation of skilled professionals. 

Here’s to our learners, educators, and industry partners - thank you for making T Levels Week 2025 a success!  

Key Dates: 

12th November - Pathways to Success Open Evening 

14th November - Internal UCAS deadline 

18th November - Careersfest 

14th January - Equal Opportunities UCAS application deadline  

Get in touch with the Careers and Employability Team, by clicking here. 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have completed the first half term, and what an inspiring start it has been.

We’d like to share some highlights with you, showcasing what has already taken place, as well as some exciting opportunities still to come.

Welcome Days

At the start of term, each CEH area hosted three days of activities designed to help first-year students feel at home, form new friendships, and get to know their learning environment and study tools.

Our College Executive Team also delivered Welcome Talks across all our campuses. These sessions gave students the chance to meet senior leaders, hear about the expectations for the year ahead, and learn about key college policies and procedures.

Faculties across all campuses organised activities that blended fun with learning. For instance, Animal Management students visited Puxton Park, where they toured facilities, met animals, enjoyed a game of crazy golf, tried water rafting, and even hopped on a tractor ride.

These Welcome Days are about much more than orientation, they help ease the transition into college life, boost confidence, and build strong peer connections. At Weston College, we know that starting college can feel daunting, and we are committed to making the experience welcoming, engaging, and memorable for every learner. 

Read the full story here.

Personal Development at Weston

This term, learners have been introduced to our STEPS personal development curriculum, which focuses on:

• Building Future Skills
• Exploring and debating Topical Points
• Getting involved in college Engagement activities
• Experiencing Progression opportunities with industry links
• Strengthening Self-management

So far, students have been developing empathy, completing digital modules on emotional intelligence, and reflecting on the value of Respect; in college, in the community, and in their future industries.

They have also completed important safeguarding and Prevent training, ensuring they know how to keep themselves safe and how to raise a safeguarding concern if needed.

Before the October half term, learners will move on to explore healthy relationships and equality, developing a deeper understanding of these essential life themes.

Freshers Fayre

This year’s Freshers Fayre was focussed around adventure, and it was a great opportunity for first year students to discover more about the Students’ Union, as well as opportunities available to them as Weston College students.

During the event, we had a range of employers in attendance, from sport organisations such as Pure Gym, Bristol City Robins Foundation, and Hutton Moor Leisure Centre, to food businesses such as Nando’s and Miss Millies. We also had activity centres such as All Stars and Laser Quest promote their businesses and provide discount codes for the students. On top of this, there were a range of charities and local organisations such as Weston Hospicecare, Talk Club, SWEDA, NACOA and many more to promote the work they do in the community and encourage the students to help and volunteer where possible. 

The Turing Scheme: Opening Global Opportunities

We are delighted to share that Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) have been awarded £216,305.08 through the UK Government’s Turing Scheme, creating transformative international experiences for learners this year.

This funding will support placements in Canada, the USA, Indonesia, and Thailand, offering students the chance to immerse themselves in new cultures, gain invaluable industry experience, and develop global citizenship skills.

Highlights include:

• Hudson’s Hope/Vancouver, Canada – Inclusive Practice learners will volunteer and gain work experience in a supportive community.
• New York, USA – Creative and Health Industries learners will benefit from workshops, networking, and hands-on industry engagement.
• Bali, Indonesia – Students will join sustainability and global citizenship projects. Cost to learners: just £150.
• Chiang Mai, Thailand – A second sustainability and citizenship placement. Cost to learners: just £150.
• New York, USA (UCW) – Performing Arts students will continue developing professional links with the world-renowned Broadway Dance Centre.

Sporting Success

Our Weston College Under-19 Football Academy is off to a fantastic start in the National Youth Alliance. The team is currently unbeaten in four games and sits proudly in second place in the league.

We are also thrilled to announce that two current academy learners have already made their debuts for Weston Football Club’s first team, who compete in the National League South, an outstanding achievement!

CareersFest

We’re delighted to announce the return of CareersFest, Weston College’s annual Careers Fair, taking place at the Winter Gardens on 18th November. This flagship event provides learners with the opportunity to connect with a wide range of organisations offering opportunities both during their studies and upon completion of their programmes.

In previous years, over 55 organisations from diverse industries have participated, including local and national universities, gap year providers, and support services.

In addition to meeting exhibitors, attendees can speak with support staff, access a variety of online resources, and take part in competitions.

The Careers and Employability Team will begin promoting the event after half term during tutorials. Learners will be able to book time slots to attend through their tutors. This event is exclusively for Weston College learners.

For further information about the event, or for guidance on supporting your young person with their next steps, please contact the Careers and Employability Team at cet@weston.ac.uk.

Celebrating 180 Years of Weston College

2025 marks Weston College’s 180th anniversary, a milestone that reflects nearly two centuries of empowering individuals, transforming lives, and serving our community through education.

To celebrate, we’re inviting current and former students, staff, and community members to share their stories, photos, and memories. Whether it’s a career milestone, a lifelong friendship, or a family tradition of studying here, we’d love to hear from you.

Stories can be submitted through a dedicated online form available on our website, and will help capture the incredible journey of Weston College through the years.

Find out more, by clicking here.