Weston College toasted the outstanding success of learners and employer partners at its annual Business Awards on Thursday (June 20).

Winners from a range of categories were presented with awards at the Oscars-style event at the Winter Gardens.

Guests – including students, employers and local dignitaries – enjoyed a three-course dinner and heard an inspirational keynote talk from Nick Elston, one of the country’s most renowned speakers on the subjects of anxiety, mental health and well-being.

Principal and CEO of Weston College Group, Dr Paul Phillips, who hosted the awards, said: “This year we received a record number of nominations and, while this made judging an unenviable task, it highlights the wealth of talent among our learners and the level of dedication and expertise within our employer network.

“It was fantastic to celebrate the many successes of our work-based learners, who show outstanding commitment to their programmes. They are truly a credit to the College and their employers.

“This year’s event is also notable as it fell between the opening of two significant new training facilities – the Construction Training Centre and Health and Active Living Centre. These state-of-the-art resources will provide huge benefits for learners, businesses and the community as a whole.”

It was an evening to remember for Thatchers Cider apprentice Molly O’Flaherty, 17 who was named Overall Learner of the Year and Professional Services Apprentice of the Year. Molly, who is completing a Customer Services Apprenticeship, was singled out for her maturity, work-ethic and passion to learn.

Molly said: “I am delighted to have won this award, as it shows how far I have come over such a short period of time with Thatchers.

“The support I have received from Weston College and Thatchers has been excellent, and I can’t wait to continue my development with such a great employer.”

Thatchers Cider made it a ‘quadruple’ celebration by picking up the Overall Employer and New Apprentice Employer of the Year awards.

Emma Cox, Training and Development Manager at Thatchers Cider, said: “At Thatchers we are committed to supporting young people and providing them with an opportunity to develop their skills.

“Being recognised for this award is testament to the hard work that we have put in, the dedication of the learners and the support we have received from Weston College in creating a bespoke programme to suit our business needs.”

The National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCO) was recognised as Industry Placement Employer of the year. Sophie Lewis, Managing Director at NCO, commented: “The Industry Placement programme has had a really positive impact on NCO. As a charity we have benefitted from additional capacity and fresh perspectives through our placement who immediately became a fantastic addition to our team.

“We are thrilled to win this award and look forward to engaging with the programme further in the future.”

Business Award winners list:

Employer awards

• Small Employer of the Year – Ridgeway House
• Medium Employer of the Year – YMCA Barley Wood Day Nursery
• Large Employer of the Year – SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK
• New Apprentice Employer of the Year – Thatchers Cider
• Industry Placement Employer of the Year – National Children's Orchestras of Great Britain
• Work Experience Employer of the Year – Visit Somerset
• Traineeship Employer of the Year – University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
• Pre-employment Employer of the Year – OCS Group
• Disability Confident Employer of the Year – Weston Museum
• Inspiring Future Talent Employer of the Year – OnPoint Barbers
• Commercial Training Employer of the Year – Kings Heavy Haulage of Bristol)
• Overall Employer of the Year – Thatchers Cider

Learners awards

• Construction Apprentice of the Year – Patrick Hollritt, of John Mansfield Electrical
• Digital Apprentice of the Year – Sean Haberfield, of Osborne Clarke
• Early Years and Education Apprentice of the Year – Charlotte Redstone, of King Alfred School
• Engineering and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year – Matthew Vicarage, of Ipeco Composites
• Hair and Beauty Apprentice of the Year – George Sheppard, of OnPoint Barbers
• Hospitality and Food Industry Apprentice of the Year – Chris Barry, of St Monica Trust
• Industry Placement Learner of the Year – Olivia Farley of Green Pastures Veterinary Centre
• Leadership Apprentice of the Year – Mark Cordy, of Bradbury House
• Professional Services Apprentice of the Year – Molly O'Flaherty, of Thatchers Cider
• SEND Learner into Employment Student of the Year – Jack Tiley, of Lasseter's restaurant
• Sport, Health, Lab Tech and Social Care Apprentice of the Year – Rebecca Twinney of Royal United Hospital, Bath
• Traineeship Learner of the Year – Holly Griffiths, of Ready Steady Go Nursery
• Transport and Logistics Learner of the Year – Harrison King, of Kings Heavy Haulage
• Overall Learner of the Year – Molly O'Flaherty, of Thatchers Cider

Did you know that we offer pre-employment training to people that don’t have qualifications, and may not have any experience?

We asked our Referral Advisor for the Pre-employment team, Emma Crandon, some questions to give a better understanding on what they offer.

Where are you based?

I am based at Weston College’s South West Skills Campus, but I also visit the Weston-super-Mare Job Centre every Tuesday, Clevedon Job Centre every other Thursday, and hold sessions at the local food bank as well.

What support do you offer?

We offer a wide range of courses, and they are free to people that are unemployed, receiving benefits, or in a job earning less than £16,009.50 per year. These courses are beneficial in many ways; you can upskill, build confidence, open up employment opportunities and most importantly – become more employable.

How can people access this support?

The support we offer, is very easy to access. Job coaches are aware of our courses, and they can always refer you to a course that will benefit you. I also visit the Job Centres, so feel free to come and say hello or book an appointment and we can chat about ways to support you.

If you would like to get in touch, you can call me on 07580857699 or email me, emma.crandon@weston.ac.uk.

Why should people get in touch and ask for support?

If you are unemployed and looking for work, we can help you to gain qualifications and the confidence needed to find a job. We try and run our sessions during school time, and we also offer one to one support.

What has been your highlight of the job?

When you see people that have been out of work for years, their confidence is usually really low and they feel like they are unemployable. Helping these people gain skills, confidence and progress into jobs, is a specific highlight of my job.

Is there anything that you would like to add?

If you are interested in any of our courses please get in touch with me, and I will be happy to help.

You can find out more about our pre-employment courses, by clicking here. 

The Schools Minister, David Laws, has praised Weston College's 'high quality' education and provision for pupils with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) during a visit this week (Wednesday).

Mr Laws, the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil, met College leaders at the Knightstone Campus before travelling to Weston Bay, the College's bespoke facility for learners on the autism spectrum.

There, he chatted with students and staff and toured the facilities, which include accommodation designed to help students with the transition from home to university.

Dr Paul Phillips, Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, welcomed Mr Laws and introduced him to Jacqui Ford, Assistant Principal (Strategic Partnership and Curriculum Development) who is responsible for LDD provision.

Mr Laws was shown a film giving an introduction to Weston College and its campuses, before heading down the seafront to the Weston Bay facility.

He asked students about accommodation, transport, course provision and how they have been supported by Weston College.

Josie Ewers, who is studying for a BA Honours degree in Art and Professional Studies, told Mr Laws she came to the Weston Bay facility for a trial period of two weeks.

“I ended up staying for three months,” she said. “I found the staff to be very nice and helpful right from day one.”

After the visit Mr Laws praised the College. He said: “I've been really impressed by the fantastic range of provision at Weston College, and it just shows what a College at its very best can achieve.

“It's pleasing to see so many initiatives being pioneered here, particularly those in regard to Special Educational Needs. From what I've seen, it's obviously having a big impact and the support for such students is excellent.

“The Government's educational aim for FE is about creating very high quality provision for 16-18-year-olds. We are also encouraging young people to continue to Higher Education in their home town without compromising on quality. In these two areas, Weston College is definitely ticking the right boxes.”

Dr Paul Phillips OBE, Principal and Chief Executive Weston College said: “The meeting with David Laws MP provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of the whole College but in part to report concerns both locally and regionally with regards to the method for supporting young people and adults who have Learning Difficulties and Disabilities. 

“The response from David Laws was highly analytical and he has promised to look into this matter which is vital for teaching and learning across the South West.  As Principal of the College I was impressed by both the dedication and lines of enquiry put forward by the minister.”