An innovative Weston College-led partnership has secured the go-ahead for a plan to help unemployed people in the West of England find employment.

The project, entitled ‘West of England Works’, is part of the Building Better Opportunities programme and involves a range of voluntary and community organisations based in Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset.

£6 million of funding has been awarded to the partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, and it is hoped that West of England Works will support at least 1537 young people and adults into gaining employment through a community-based support programme.

Dr Paul Phillips OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “This partnership will bring unique and innovative opportunities to people in the region, and will support those furthest from the labour market to move towards, or secure, sustainable employment or training.

“Partnership and working with local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations has been key to the development of West of England Works and the success of this bid.

“This could not have been achieved without the West of England Civil Society Partnership, which works with local organisations that support people in communities across the area, breaking down barriers and working across boundaries.”

The partnership was launched on the 8th of December 2016 at a meeting of key stakeholders in Weston College’s Conference Centre.

With the looming UCAS deadline (15th January) many students are confused and wondering what is best to do…

If you’re still undecided on where to go or what to study, check out this short guide to picking the best university and course for you.

What courses are you passionate about?

If you find a course that you’re interested in then it will make your time at university fly by. If you love the course then those all-nighters in the library will not feel quite so bad and your grades will be represented by the extra work you put in.

Read the course details

It would be a bit of a pain if you turn up at university and one of your modules isn’t right for you. Make sure you check (and double check) the course details to find the course best suited to you and your future aspirations.

Employment routes

The job market is very competitive, searching for a university with a good reputation when it comes to getting graduates into work should certainly be a strong consideration. Some universities include work experience as part of their course and you can even get a year’s internship in industry which will help you stand out from the crowd when applying for your first graduate position.

Do you want to stay at home?

If you like your home comforts then you certainly would not be alone in not wanting to move to halls. Many students live at home and commute to university, so if you think you’re not ready to leave just yet - look at your options close to home. After your first year you might then feel ready to flee the nest, and you can choose exactly who you’re going to live with. We have a fantastic university centre on our doorstep, which delivers a range of high-quality degrees in partnership with Bath Spa and the University of the West of England in Bristol.

Do you want to leave home?

If you’re the opposite and can’t wait to leave then it is worth considering the distance. You might surprise yourself when you move away and want to visit home more regularly than you originally planned so it’s worth considering transport options. After all a four hour train journey is a bit far to get your washing done.

Money

Becoming a student is not cheap, you will receive a student loan but it is worth researching the cost of living in the area your top choice universities are based. Some areas of the country are very expensive and being able to afford to live has to be a top consideration as you will be there for at least three years.  

Go with your gut

Finally, it is definitely worth going with your gut. You are most likely getting told to go different places by different people and these might not be universities that you would normally consider. It is best to go with what you feel personally is best and suits you, and this should make settling in a lot easier.

Don’t stress too much about this deadline, there is always the opportunity to go through clearing if necessary once you have received your grades. If you need any guidance on your application then contact UCAS lead Hamish Gilpin on hamish.gilpin@weston.ac.uk, or call on 01934 422742. 

Weston College has revealed the winners of its National Careers Week CV Competition.

Students from across the College were encouraged to put their CV writing skills to use during the College's 'How employable are you?' competitions, which saw prizes worth £50 up for grabs.

The CVs were judged by a panel which included members of the College's human resources department and recruiters at Bristol Airport. 

The triumphant winners were Scott Aldridge and Esme Taylor, and prizes were also awarded to runners up Alexandra Elliott, Samuel Folland, Amy Evans and Jordan Marsh.

Finalists received individual feedback from our recruitment specialists, and every student who entered the competition was given advice to improve their CV from the College's progression team.

Click here to see our CV writing advice.