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

Welcome to the Careers and Employability Blog. Each month, we’ll share the latest careers news, upcoming events, celebrations and important key dates. You can access our blog through the college website to stay up to date with everything careers and employability related.

Our team is here to support every learner, whether you are exploring career options, planning your next steps to university, or looking to develop your employability skills. As part of our Careers and Employability Programme, learners can access a range of support, including:

• Careers and Employability group tutorials
• One-to-one careers guidance appointments
• Careers drop-in sessions
• Employer engagement opportunities
• Participation in our annual CareersFest event

• Support with CV writing, applications, and interview preparation

   

Work Experience Support:

Work experience is a valuable part of a learner’s journey, helping them develop skills, confidence, and a greater understanding of the world of work. For many courses, learners are required to complete an element of work experience as part of their programme, providing them with the opportunity to apply their learning in a real workplace setting and gain experience valued by employers. 

Working closely with curriculum teams, we oversee and support this process, while encouraging learners to take ownership of securing and managing their own placement. We also encourage families to make use of their personal and professional networks, as many excellent opportunities are found through local contacts, friends, and family connections. 

A well-presented CV can open doors to these opportunities, and our Careers and Employability Team is available to help learners create professional CVs and prepare for a successful work experience journey.

To find out more about how the Careers Team can support your young person, please visit the Careers and Employability for Learners at Weston College page for further information and useful resources.

We are committed to helping every learner make informed decisions and successfully progress into further study, apprenticeships, or employment. If you’d like to get in touch with us, please don’t hesitate to email cet@weston.ac.uk or uni.help@weston.ac.uk for all UCAS queries.

UCAS Drop-In Sessions

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

• Loxton Campus: Tuesdays in the Library – 12:15-13:15
• South West Skills Campus: Wednesdays in the Library – 12:15-13:15
• Knightstone Campus: Thursdays in the Library – 12:15-13:15

Internal Deadline

To ensure applications are submitted on time and with the best possible quality, our internal UCAS deadlines are:

• 23rd October – Internal personal statement deadline
• 20th November – Internal application deadline

Official UCAS Deadline

Meeting this deadline allows us to review applications and provide feedback before they are sent to UCAS. The official general undergraduate application deadline for UCAS is:

• 13th January 2027, at 18:00

Weston College and Bristol Airport Launch New Travel and Tourism Careers Excellence Hub

Weston College and Bristol Airport have strengthened their long-standing partnership with the launch of a new Travel & Tourism Careers Excellence Hub, creating even more opportunities for students to develop the skills, confidence and industry experience needed to succeed in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors.

The new Hub has been designed to bring learning closer to the workplace, providing students with an immersive industry-inspired environment and direct access to employers, helping them understand the breadth of career opportunities available across one of the region's most important industries.

As part of the partnership, Bristol Airport has helped transform the College's Travel & Tourism facilities into an industry-inspired learning environment. Featuring airport-branded installations, authentic operational equipment and a space designed to reflect the passenger journey, the Hub provides students with a realistic introduction to the world of aviation. Planned future enhancements will further strengthen the experience, creating one of the most distinctive employer-led learning environments in the region.

Tom's Finance Experience Through an Industry Placement at Yugo

Tom Hart is studying the Business, Management and Leadership T Level at Weston College and completing his industry placement at Yugo, working alongside the finance team to support financial operations across Europe.

His responsibilities include processing invoices and payments, managing financial records and using systems such as Excel and NetSuite. Through his placement, Tom has developed valuable skills in accuracy, communication and teamwork, while gaining practical experience of working in finance.

With support from Yugo and Weston College, Tom has grown in confidence and developed a clearer understanding of his future career ambitions. His placement has helped him identify his interest in pursuing a career in finance and business, while giving him the skills and experience to take his next steps.  

• 19th November 2026- Open Evening
• 19th November 2026- Internal UCAS deadline
• 24th November 2026- Careersfest
• 13th January 2026- Equal Opportunities UCAS application deadline
• 4th February 2027- Apprenticeship Open Evening

Delivered in partnership with Avon Fire & Rescue Service and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), our Ignite Programme continues to make a positive impact, with all learners in the latest cohort successfully completing the programme and gaining the confidence to make their next steps, either in employment or further education.

The three-week programme supports unemployed young people aged 19–24 to recognise their potential, develop practical skills and explore opportunities in employment, education and further training.

With a strong focus on practical, hands-on learning, Ignite gives learners the opportunity to challenge themselves, try new experiences and build the confidence to take their next steps.

Throughout the programme, learners took part in a range of interactive activities, including:

• Fire station visits and activities with Avon Fire & Rescue
• Team challenges and problem-solving activities
• Confidence and resilience workshops
• Goal setting and planning their future
• Communication and presentation skills
• Health and wellbeing sessions
• CV writing, interview practice and employability workshops
• Outdoor activities

By combining community-based activities with employability and progression support, the programme helps learners identify their strengths, build positive relationships and feel better prepared to move into work, college or further training.

The progress made by the group was recognised by Ben Woolfson, Youth Intervention Lead at Avon Fire & Rescue Service, who said: “It is amazing to see the progress these young people have made in such a short amount of time, they should be very proud of themselves.”

The Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Owen James, was also impressed by the learners, praising how articulate and engaged they were. He highlighted the fantastic community support provided by Avon Fire & Rescue Service, alongside the employability guidance and progression support delivered by Weston College tutor Paul Haycraft.

The Ignite programme demonstrates the value of partnerships between education providers, public services and employment support organisations in helping young people overcome barriers, build confidence and access new opportunities.

By creating a supportive environment where learners can develop their skills through practical experiences, Ignite helps them recognise what they are capable of and take positive steps towards their future.

Weston College and Bristol Airport have strengthened their long-standing partnership with the launch of a new Travel & Tourism Careers Excellence Hub, creating even more opportunities for students to develop the skills, confidence and industry experience needed to succeed in the aviation, travel and tourism sectors.

The new Hub has been designed to bring learning closer to the workplace, providing students with an immersive industry-inspired environment and direct access to employers, helping them understand the breadth of career opportunities available across one of the region's most important industries.

As part of the partnership, Bristol Airport has helped transform the College's Travel & Tourism facilities into an industry-inspired learning environment. Featuring airport-branded installations, authentic operational equipment and a space designed to reflect the passenger journey, the Hub provides students with a realistic introduction to the world of aviation. Planned future enhancements will further strengthen the experience, creating one of the most distinctive employer-led learning environments in the region.

The launch reflects a shared commitment to developing local talent and creating clear pathways from education into employment. Through the partnership, students benefit from employer-led projects, industry visits, guest speakers, recruitment activities and real-world learning experiences that help prepare them for successful careers.

The partnership is already delivering exceptional outcomes for learners. Earlier this year, 16 Weston College Travel & Tourism students secured employment at Bristol Airport with Jet2, Swissport and easyJet progressing directly from education into careers within the aviation industry.

The Careers Excellence Hub model has also supported students through live recruitment opportunities. Earlier this year, four Travel & Tourism students were offered Customer Service Agent roles with Swissport following on-campus interviews with the global aviation services provider, demonstrating the tangible impact of employer engagement on learner success.

Alongside employment opportunities, Travel & Tourism students have benefited from a range of industry and international experiences, including visits to destinations such as New York, Paris and The Gambia, helping them develop the wider skills and confidence needed to thrive in a global industry.

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

"What makes our partnership with Bristol Airport so special is that it's about much more than a facility. It's about creating opportunities. Through their support, our learners can see first-hand the exciting career pathways available within aviation, travel and tourism, and understand the skills and qualities employers value most.

"We have already seen students progress into careers with organisations including easyJet, Jet2 and Swissport, and this new Careers Excellence Hub will help even more learners take that next step. Together with Bristol Airport, we're creating inspiring experiences that raise aspirations, build confidence and connect education directly with employment opportunities across our region."

Weston College students who complete their course and secure jobs at the airport can travel to and from work for free on the A3 Flyer Bus – a service funded by Bristol Airport. Over the years this has proved a huge incentive for local people in Weston to work at the Airport as often transport to work can be a barrier to employment.

Dave Lees, Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Airport, said:

“Through our long-term partnership with the College we have been able to work together to ensure local people are equipped with the skills and training needed to fulfil successful careers in travel and tourism – with many securing jobs at the Airport. It means we can retain local talent who might otherwise seek roles outside of the region.

“To further support the Careers Excellence Hub, we help facilitate visits and provide insight into jobs roles available, which really helps inspire students at Weston College.

“We’re delighted to have been able to support the new Travel & Tourism Careers Excellence Hub, which I am confident will strengthen connections between education, skills and career opportunities.”

The Travel & Tourism Careers Excellence Hub forms part of Weston College's wider commitment to delivering employer-led education, creating opportunities that transform lives and ensuring learners are equipped with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.

By building strong partnerships with employers and providing students with meaningful industry experiences, Weston College and Bristol Airport are helping local talent access local opportunities while supporting the continued growth of the South West's aviation, travel and tourism sectors.