Weston College is a quarter of the way through its ambitious 200 in 100 campaign, which seeks to promote apprenticeships to both businesses and potential apprentices.

After just 25 days the College has managed to attract 72 pledges meaning that it is well on track to achieve its target of 200 apprenticeship pledges in just 100 days. Among the businesses who have pledged are Alliance Homes Group, Restor8, Thatchers, Sidcot School and the NHS.

Another company who has pledged to take on apprentices is SACO, which has hired two Team Leading Level 3 apprentices.

Di Gwinnel, HR Business Partner for SACO said: “It is exciting to get involved with the 200 in 100 campaign and show our support for developing aspirational talented individuals. We have taken on two apprentices and the whole business is looking forward to helping them develop.

“Weston College has been extremely helpful and I would highly recommend getting in contact with them to support you with the whole apprenticeship process.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “Apprenticeships play an important role in developing highly skilled workforces for organisations and it is fantastic to see how many businesses are making use of our Training Solutions team to help develop young people and adults across the South West.

“We have seen more apprenticeship opportunities open up for our students across a range of sectors, which is very exciting for the College and our learners.”

You can keep an eye on the campaign’s progress across social media, with #200in100 being used on Twitter.

For more information and to pledge go to: www.weston.ac.uk/200in100. You can also email the apprenticeship team at enquiries@weston.ac.uk or call on 01934 411 594.    

Plumbers are sometimes stereotyped as people that just work on toilets and taps, however this isn't the case...

Plumbing can often be an exciting and varied job, where you meet a lot of people, work on a range of projects, and get a sense of satisfaction when you figure out how to fix the thing you've been tasked with mending.

It also takes plenty of creativity and ingenuity when it comes to designing and installing plumbing systems, and you can take pride in your work as you use your skills to solve problems and come up with solutions.

Read on to find out some more reasons why you should consider becoming a plumber...

Weston College has joined forces with Lloyds Banking Group to introduce real-world tech skills to a range of secondary school subjects.

The ReDiscover Project aims to help pupils aged 11-14 see the real-world potential of subjects they may be disengaged with.

The nationwide initiative, created by Lloyds Bank, goes beyond the ICT basics, and teaches skills such as vlogging, graphic design, music streaming and online money management.

Educational experts have developed lesson plans and supporting materials, which align with six traditional subjects – Business Studies, Maths, English, Media Studies, Graphics and Music.

On Wednesday 28th November 2018, Weston College will be host an interactive ReDiscover Project event, at the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare. At this event, Key Stage 3 learners will try out a range of subjects that have been given a specific digital focus.

Students will then get to put their learning and insight into practice, by building a specific business plan that will judged by industry experts.

Lloyds ‘Digital Champions’ and local business experts will also be on hand to offer guidance, advice and to share industry knowledge.

Ben Cocks, Assistant Director at Weston College, said: “This is an exciting project and we are delighted to be working on it with Lloyds Banking Group.

“Digital skills are becoming increasingly important to employers. The ReDiscover Project will present a great opportunity to encourage young people to engage with tech and see how they can use their digital talents to build a career.”

Stephen Noakes, Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for the South West, said: “Having access to the right skills is crucial for any business or organisation, which is why supporting the minds of tomorrow is so important, both locally and across the country.

“Our colleagues regularly host financial literacy and employability events for schools and colleges across the South West to support young people in their transition between education and the world of work. We believe that celebrating homegrown talent is the best way to tackle the skills gap and help both businesses and individuals prosper.”