Creating brighter futures

Weston College welcomed over 700 local people to the Winter Gardens, for their first open event of the year, What Next?

A key date in the calendar, ‘What Next?’ is one of the biggest events of the year, showcasing so many opportunities for year 11 students, and this year’s event did not disappoint.

Attendees had the opportunity to find out more about their potential career pathway; from meeting Weston College staff from all faculties, to speaking with a wide range of employers.

Some of the employers that attended the event included Bristol Airport, Thatchers, Lloyds Bank, the Royal Air Force, the Military of Defence and many, many more. They chatted to the students and parents about what they had to offer and discussed the opportunities and career prospects available to them in their line of work. 

One employer, Thatchers, offers great talent programmes and apprenticeships for students in multiple different areas to broaden their skillsets and encourage them to pursue their careers.

Thatchers Head of Talent Development, Stephen Penfold, said ‘Weston College has put on a fantastic, showcase event which gives us, as employers, the opportunity to speak to young people about how they develop their careers and inform them about our wonderful opportunities at Thatchers.

For young people, it gives them the chance to understand what direction they may want to take their careers in, but it also gives them the chance to speak to real people and really bond with businesses and colleges alike.

The world is growing and evolving and the opportunities for them have grown immensely over the last few years, so giving showcase events like ‘What Next?’ really gives them the chance to engage across all levels, talk to people, and think about opportunities, but also realise what they don’t want to do that they originally thought they did. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us, and for them.’

Not only did the event offer amazing employers, but also outlined each of the Weston College Careers Excellence Hubs to give students a better understanding of what the different courses have to offer. Whether you fancied Early Years, Creative Arts, Construction or Engineering, or any other course for that matter, there were a bunch of lecturers at each stall to provide you with all the information you need and answer any queries you may have had. 

If that wasn’t enough, there were even bookable Inspire Talks available for a more in-depth discussion about specific pathways such as A Levels, T Levels, Supported Internships (SEND), Apprenticeships and Traineeships, and Professional and Vocational courses. These talks outlined the key information regarding the chosen area, and also opened the floor to the participants by answering any questions at the end. These talks were extremely popular and helped students and parents gain a better understanding of what they can expect when they start college next September. 

Overall, ‘What Next?’ was an outstanding event filled with a range of interesting curriculum and professional opportunities for young adults to browse and discuss their future.  

Weston College’s next open event is taking place across all campuses on 9th October, you can book your place, by clicking here.

Weston College is delighted to announce the signing of a Heads of Terms agreement with Airbus, marking a significant milestone in the creation of the 'Manufacturing, Technology and Skills Centre' at Airbus’ Filton site. This pioneering collaboration aims to bolster the Aerospace and Defence talent pipelines in the region, strengthening the South West as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technological innovation. 

The new Centre will serve as a focal point for education, training, and skills development, leveraging the expertise of both Weston College and Airbus, along with other hallmark employers in the region. The initiative is set to provide state-of-the-art training facilities and industry-aligned programmes, ensuring that the local workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to meet the evolving demands of the Aerospace and Defence sectors. 

Alex Warner, Deputy Principal of Weston College, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "This partnership with Airbus represents a transformative opportunity for our students and the wider community. The Manufacturing, Technology and Skills Centre will not only enhance the skill set of our current workforce but also inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians, and innovators. We are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting venture with Airbus." 

Simon Galpin, Airbus Head of Filton Site commented, “What a privilege to be partnering with Weston College and the West of England Institute of Technology to further enhance regional training for the Aerospace and High Value Engineering sectors in North Bristol. Supporting the growth of the UK’s aerospace and manufacturing industry is a key priority which will be achieved by drawing on our collective expertise.” 

The Centre will offer a range of courses and apprenticeships, designed in consultation with industry experts to ensure they meet the needs of employers. This includes hands-on training with cutting-edge technology, providing students with real-world experience that is directly applicable to their future careers. 

The Heads of Terms agreement sets the framework for the partnership. Weston College and Airbus have now moved even further forward by entering an 'Early Access Agreement' meaning that work will be starting on site in Filton this month, with the first intake of students anticipated in the following academic year. 

Welcome to Thatchers Farm

Down on the family farm we are all slightly obsessed perfectionists, making cider with nothing but love. That’s why we don’t just grow 8 types of apple, we grow 458, and turning those juicy apples into a refreshing pint of cider is a craft we’ve have spent four generations perfecting.

As a family company, we’ve have been working in partnership with nature for 120-years. From planting new orchards using regenerative farming methods, to enhancing biodiversity with wildflower areas – or even building a 4m high, 5-star hotel for nature in an acre of wildlife haven, we’re committed to looking after the land around us.

Now, as we enter our fifth generation of cider makers, and with a business firmly rooted in nature and the environment, we’re constantly thinking about future generations. We know that if we want to be here in another 120 years, we need to take care of the environment and our people today.

Looking after the environment

We’ve planted over 158,000 trees since 2010 and will plant 13,000 more next year. We’ve added beehives to every orchard, and with help from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, we’ve made sure our orchards are bee friendly.

Every one of our ciders is made using 100% renewable electricity including power from the 3,500 solar panels on Myrtle Farm. Even the apple left over once the juice is squeezed is turned into green energy or used to feed local cows.

In the mill, new technology has just been installed which captures all the CO2 created in the fermentation process which is then used as bubbles in the cider.

We’re constantly reviewing our packaging too, from being the first to replace plastic rings with sustainably sourced card in 2016, to using lighter cans and saving the equivalent of a whopping 5.9m cans a year. We’ve even changed the way we wash our kegs and fruit, reusing and recycling water to save consumption, and have switched to electric forklifts and LED lights.

We’ve recently opened a new warehouse that is fully automated. That means work can happen in the dark and under one roof, delivering great efficiencies and power savings. It has also reduced vehicles movements.

The next generation

Planning for future sustainability doesn’t stop with the environment. We also need the right people with the right mindsets to ensure we’re here for another 120 years.

It’s why our apprenticeship programme is so important. It’s where we grow the future skills, talent and behaviours that we’ll need as we go forward.

Pairing with Weston College allows us to really focus on local, young talent. It means we can grow young careers alongside the business and the local economy. And as we move into the next generation, with Eleanor Thatcher recently releasing her first cider in Juicy Apple, our new apprentices will grow alongside her too.