The college works very closely with a huge range of businesses over North Somerset and there has been a strong link with Visit Somerset. As tourism remains the biggest employment sector for our coastal region, Visit Somerset have been hugely supportive of the college through engaging with many of our learners to provide work experience, apprenticeships, and even full-time employment. Maisy Hatcher, Social Media Manager, and Libby James, Digital Assistant, currently studying through Weston College on their Apprenticeship at Visit Somerset, took the opportunity to visit the college and gain further insight into the inner workings of education, and to collaborate with marketing to create content!

Toby Jones, Digital & Content Marketing Manager, and ex Weston College Apprentice took the opportunity to share his experience of the Visitor Economy through his role at Visit Somerset by delivering a industry led session with the current Travel and Tourism Students. The session covered sources of tourism for the region and invited conversation around looking at new ways to entice visitors to the region. Working in teams offered the opportunity for collaborative work with Toby.

It gave John Turner, CEO of Visit Somerset, the opportunity to pitch ideas to the students and challenge them to interview for work placement opportunities. Many businesses look for that extra pair of hands during the busiest periods and create a pipeline of potential employees. Visit Somerset will work with learners to introduce them to tourism businesses needing extra hands.

John commented, “Ensuring that we are giving the next generation every opportunity to succeed in this new world where everything is changing so fast, is core to Visit Somerset’s strategy. We believe that helping to empower students is crucial in their development, whilst giving them valuable vocational work experience. Business leaders have a duty to ensure either internally or externally they support younger cohorts all of which is hugely rewarding, whilst delivering better returns, morale, and customer service values”

Weston College’s mantra is ‘careers, not courses’ and working with John and the team on an exciting placement opportunity not only prepares them for working lives after college, but allow exploration of careers available post study. Gaining hands-on experience through industry placements can enhance success in the job market.

Maisy and Libby will be looking to get involved with the students, and sharing their experience of their apprenticeship, by setting up a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch for students. They will showcase the impact they have made at Visit Somerset through the three successful apprenticeships, and include how they are looking to support industry placements for 2023 and beyond.

"At Weston College, it is always a thrill to see Apprentices who are flourishing in their career journey, investing back and mentoring. It shows real growth and testament to the commitment to their apprenticeship" said Principal and CEO, Sir Paul Phillips. "We are thrilled that Visit Somerset will be able to offer and promote meaningful industry placement opportunities in the tourism sector, and we are confident that our students will thrive in these challenging and rewarding environments."

For more information about supporting an industry placement and what opportunities are available for your business through Weston College, please contact the Industry Placement team at workplacementteam@weston.ac.uk, or call 01934 411641.

Last month, some of our incredible staff (Hannah Carstensen, Business & Tourism Lecturer, Dan Pratlett, Business Lecturer, Tracy Taylor, Faculty Hub Coordinator, and James Lockyer, Apprentice Support Worker) took a group of 34 Business and Travel & Tourism learners to New York City!

The group visited the city for five days, managing to fit in as many activities as possible, including Liberty and Ellis Island, a Wall Street and Financial District Tour, Ground Zero and the 9/11 Museum, a boat tour, 5th Avenue, Central Park, High Line, and the Empire State Building.

The visit has been the faculty’s first international trip since the Coronavirus Pandemic, and Dan Pratlett commented that it was fantastic to see all the learners being able to experience this incredible opportunity.

The feedback from the learners who went on the trip has been nothing but positive, with one learner saying: “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, with everything included in the trip you’re getting far more than what you paid for. It’s great to socialise with new people and explore a new environment too!”

A year 3 UCW Business and Management learner said: “The trip was a perfect blend of tourism, heritage, and culture! The structure of the trip allowed flexibility around a set activity program allowing the chance to visit the must-sees with group benefits, whilst, letting us explore our own interests in NYC (mine was food and the Natural History Museum)! Basically, a very good trip!”

As well as fantastic comments from the learners, some parents also reached out to thank the teachers and the College for the trip: “I just wanted to thank you all so much. My daughter had an amazing time in New York. I hope they behaved! Memories that will last a lifetime!”

Another happy parent wrote: “We appreciate the amount of time and effort that goes into organising trips with young people. My daughter really enjoyed the trip, and we are very proud of her for taking part with such a mature attitude towards the whole experience.”

We are so proud to be able to offer incredible opportunities such as these to our learners. Click here if you would be interested in learning more about Business or Travel and Tourism courses.

It’s not every day that you get to witness the beginning of a band’s journey to greatness. Before performing on stages at Glastonbury, signing record labels and selling out arenas, The Like-Minded are busy honing their craft and completing assignments! 

The four-piece indie band from Weston-super-Mare is comprised of Weston College Music Performance and Production students Harlee (vocals and rhythm), Mikey (lead guitar), Ewan (bass guitar) and Toby (drums). 

They are currently taking the local scene by storm, performing in Weston, Bristol and the surrounding areas. The band also regularly gets featured on various radio stations. Harlee tells us: “Our tutor Oz had got us played on radio stations like Apple Radio, Wave radio and Weston Wave Radio.” When asked what it felt like to hear The Like-Minded on the radio, he went on to say “I think it really hit us when we uploaded our songs to the BBC Upload and got them played enough to the point where we are a regular name to them now.” 

The band were also recently invited into the BBC Radio Bristol studio to play a live session and be interviewed by presenter, Adam Crowther, about their newest EP “Clean Up On Aisle Me.” something, they told us, was “a truly crazy moment” - a moment that will no doubt become a key milestone in the groups’ ever-blossoming career. 

Harlee, Ewan and Toby are Weston-locals, meeting at Priory Community School before consolidating the band at Weston College with the addition of Mikey, who went to Hans Price Academy. Their course, Music Performance and Production, is all about developing performance techniques and improving song writing, as well as encouraging learners to diversify skills and providing the opportunity to record in professional recording studios and perform in live music venues. 

The Like-Minded talk about performing being their favourite thing to do. Harlee says: “Things have been going better than we assumed they would, we have played two small festivals and have been able to record and release our first EP. We hope to get a lot more gigs down as performing is what we really love doing.” He goes on to talk more about the opportunities their course and tutors have provided, saying: “We all agree that our tutor Oz has given us so many great opportunities that have pushed our name out there, all because he believes in us and thinks that we have something to share.” 

We caught up with Oz, Music Instructor and Technician, who the band accredit so much of their success to. He told us: “As learners, they (The Like-Minded) demonstrate a focused and professional attitude. They have listened, learnt, retained and applied gained knowledge that is constantly creating opportunities. I am very proud of them all and will continue to support their efforts.” 

Finally, when asked what the future of The Like-Minded looks like, the group said: “We believe that, for as long as the public enjoys having us, and we're happy to do it, we will continue to write, record, and play live until we're all old men.”  

We’re so proud of Harlee, Ewan, Toby and Mikey’s work ethic and success, and we can’t wait to see where they go next! 

To find out more about Music Performance and Production, click here.