Step 1: Purchasing your bus pass

1. Go to the college website www.weston.ac.uk
2. Click on ‘Payments’ (at the top of the banner)
3. Click on ‘Bus Passes’
4. Scroll to the bottom, click on ‘Read More’
5. Select desired bus pass
6. Click ‘Add to Basket’
7. Click ‘Shopping Basket’
8. Click ‘Proceed to Checkout’
9. Log into existing account / Crete new user account
10. Enter ‘Student ID’
11. Click ‘Continue’
12. Select payment method
13. Enter payment and billing details
14. Continue through until payment complete

Step 2: Access your Student Email

1. Google search 'Office 365'
2. Select https://www.office.com/
3. Sign in with Weston College email and password (sent out with enrolment information)

You will receive an email confirming your bus pass purchase code to this email address.  Please note: it can take up to 24hrs offer enrolment for the email to come through.

Step 3: First Bus m-Tickets app

1. Download the First Bus m-Tickets app from the app store
2. Search for ‘Weston-super-Mare’ under region
3. Select ‘Buy Ticket’
4. Select ‘Student Travel’
5. Select the bus pass you have purchased a voucher code for. Please ignore the cost listed as this is the rate charged to the College, not the subsidised rate that the learner pays
6. Add the bus pass to your basket
7. Select pay now, where you will be asked to create an account
8. Enter voucher code purchased from the College

How to use your mTicket:

Your mTickets will appear as 'purchased' under 'My Ticket Wallet' in your App.

When you want to use it, choose the ticket you want (they are listed from oldest at the top to newest at the bottom) and select 'Activate now' – just to double check, you'll be asked to confirm that you want to activate this ticket.

When a ticket is 'Activated', the App will generate a moving image ticket on your phone's screen; this will stay active for the amount of time the ticket is valid for.

You need to show this to the driver when you get on the bus so they can check the ticket.

With £2.7 billion sitting unused in apprenticeship levy accounts, it’s clear many organisations aren’t taking advantage of the funding they’re entitled to.

Here are three simple ways that you can make the most of your levy:

1) Upskill existing staff

The apprenticeship levy is essentially a training fund, which doesn’t have to be used on new recruits. You can upskill existing members of staff – in areas such as leadership or management – to develop a stronger workforce.

2) Fill a skills gap

The apprenticeship levy can be an effective way of bringing fresh talent into your organisation, particularly if there is a specific skill that you need. Remember, apprenticeships aren’t just for school leavers – you can employ higher and degree-level apprentices, who will be capable of making an immediate impact on your business.

3) Share your levy

You can now share up to 10% of your levy with another company. A popular way of doing this is by sharing it with organisations in your supply chain.

If you would like advice on the apprenticeship levy, get in touch with our Training Solutions team.

You can email apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk or call 01934 411 594.

Alternatively, you can find out more on the team’s webpage.

A film celebrating Weston-super-Mare’s entrepreneurial women was screened at Weston College’s Conference Centre today (April 25).

The project, sponsored by the College, is the brainchild of producer and interviewer Becky Walsh, a former Weston College student, and Justyna Steinkeller, an associate producer and graphic designer.

Becky studied a BTEC in Performing Arts at Weston College and progressed to The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama for her stage management training. She then spent 15 years in the West End working as a stage manager on shows such as West Side Story and Blood Brothers. She was also part of the lighting team for UK’s ‘Handover of Hong Kong’ to China in 1997.

She then spent time living across the globe, having gained a reputation both in the personal development field as a self-help author and as a TV and radio presenter, before returning to Weston to bring her knowledge back into the town.

Becky said: “The women interviewed for these documentaries come from various backgrounds but have one thing in common – they have brought inspiration and entrepreneurship to Weston in terms of creativity and care.

“Their stories are heart-warming and inspiring, and create a new chapter in Weston’s history.”

The film tells the stories of:

• Gill Bute, who fought off gangsters to build a company
• Amelia Eikli, who turned her life around after just one year living in the town
• Valerie Donegan, who has spent her life helping the people who have made the streets their home
• Sara Pacey, who organises entertainment events across the area
• Linda Chan, who was a high flyer in the corporate world until she started to lose her sight.

Linda’s luck changed after moving to Weston, when she joined an adult part-time art course at Weston College. She then progressed onto a Level 2 Art and Design Diploma at Weston College and, last year, graduated from UCW with a Contemporary Art and Professional Studies, FdA.

Linda is now an exhibiting artist and her life has been transformed.

Linda said: “I was overwhelmed by how inspirational the first class was and I have never looked back.”

Dr Paul Phillips, CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this event. Weston College is passionate about supporting the people of Weston and helping our community to grow.”

If you would like to join a full-time course, like Becky, visit our website.

If you are interested in a part-time adult course, like Linda, visit us at the Festival of Learning on Saturday 15th June 11am-3pm at the Winter Gardens and Italian Gardens.

There will be a live Q&A with the team at https://youtu.be/ZOX1CZi41zI