University Centre Weston (UCW) students approve of how the institution delivers higher education, according to the results of this year’s National Student Survey.

Students awarded UCW a score of 88 per cent in the category of ‘overall satisfaction’; above the average of 86 per cent for all of the university-level education providers in Britain.

The figure represents the third year in a row that UCW, which delivers its degrees in partnership with Bath Spa University and UWE Bristol, has improved its score in this key benchmark.

UCW is also in the top 25 per cent of higher education institutions in Britain for its ratings in the categories of ‘assessment and feedback’, ‘academic support’ and ‘personal development’.

Its Applied Computing, Business with Management, Early Years, Music Production and Musical Theatre foundation degrees received overall satisfaction scores of 100 per cent.

UCW student Becca Arlington, pictured, said: “I am not surprised that University Centre Weston's National Student Survey results are so high as I have loved my time here and have seen UCW go from strength to strength.
“The ethos of constant enhancement has been evident throughout my three years of study, and I am certainly very proud to have been a part of this phase of growth at UCW.” 

More than 300,000 final-year UK undergraduates responded to this year’s National Student Survey, which is conducted by independent research company Ipsos MORI.

UCW still has a limited number of places available on its more than 35 foundation and top-up degrees starting this September.

In the past, apprenticeships have been shunned in favour of other academic routes such as A Levels and university…

Now they are being recognised as a competitive alternative to traditional classroom-based study. They offer students the chance to enter into an industry, achieve nationally-recognised qualifications, and at the same time earn a wage and gain relevant work experience.

Weston College works with over 1,400 employers in the Bristol area to deliver 70 different apprenticeships, so we’re very familiar with the reasons why people choose to become an apprentice over other methods of studying.

Here are some of the top reasons our current apprentices give for choosing apprenticeships…

It can work out cheaper for the same qualifications

Many people are choosing apprenticeships because they offer great value for money compared to classroom-based study. With the new higher-level apprenticeships, you can even study a for a degree at the same time as gaining relevant work experience and earning a wage. Most of the time, an apprenticeship is paid for by the Government or the employer, however if this isn’t the case there are generous incentives such as the Advanced Learner Loan you can take advantage of.

You get more choice with the things you learn

Apprenticeships give people a lot of choice when it comes to choosing the skills they are taught, and apprenticeship training providers like Weston College will match prospective apprentices with relevant employers to ensure that they will enter in an industry they’re interested in and are appropriate for them. Our apprentices are offered career advice and support from our experienced commercial recruitment team to maximise our apprentices’ chances of success.

Apprenticeships lead to jobs most of the time

A major benefit of an apprenticeship over classroom-based study is the fact you’ll go straight into employment and gain highly-relevant work experience. Entering straight into the industry allows you to establish yourself within a business and gain the sector-specific skills employers are looking for. As a result of this, 90% of our apprentices are offered permanent positions at the end of their course.

It can still lead to uni and career progression

Once you’ve finished your apprenticeship and gained employment, you’ll have the option of progressing onto further study, an apprenticeship at a higher level, or specialising in an area of your industry. A lot of our apprenticeship subjects are taught at a variety of levels, so you may be able to study with us right up to degree-level.

All the benefits of being a student and having a job

So, apprenticeships enable people to achieve nationally-recognised qualifications, earn a wage, and gain skills – but there are many other benefits too… As well as benefitting from being an employee of your company, you’ll be able to enjoy access to the facilities your apprentice training provider offers. Weston College’s apprentices benefit from students’ union membership, NUS cards, a subsidised bus pass, access to our award-winning facilities and sports academies, and support and guidance from our dedicated teams.

Weston College welcomed a top Bristol chef into its Grove Training Restaurant to teach Level 3 students all about what it takes to cook good food.

Istvan Ulmann, Head Chef at Berwick Lodge in Bristol, lead the Professional Cookery students in an advanced session focusing on meat and offal.

Using topside beef, the students were challenged with creating the classic dish of beef olives with a modern twist, keeping up with the rosette standards at Berwick Lodge.

The students learnt about butchering and portioning, rolling, tenderising, mincing and tying, braising, searing, and a huge range of other skills in their morning session.

The results saw the students successfully make the beef olive filled with mushroom stuffing, served with sage gnocchi, glazed carrots and a beef jus.

This opportunity was part of a chefs' forum partnership aimed at introducing Weston College students to high calibre chefs.

Click here to find out more about the College's Hospitality and Event Management courses...