On Wednesday 21st February, Weston College Foundation Learning Football Academy took part in the Somerset FA’s first Inclusive Futsal tournament with the aim to encourage more players and teams to take part in this exciting format of five-a-side football.

The F.A. is keen to harness the benefits of this game and introduce it to further the technical development of young players.

Futsal is a format of five-a-side football that is played indoors with a smaller, heavier ball. The game is played to pitch lines and hockey sized goals, which helps to encourage improved decision-making and technical skill for young players.

These attributes were displayed by the two Weston College Foundation Learning Football Academy teams in abundance, as they were both unbeaten and conceded only one goal each in their qualifiers.

As a result, they found themselves competing against each other in the final.

At the final whistle it was a 0 – 0 draw so it therefore went to a penalty shoot-out.

Weston College Team 1 was the eventual victors winning the shootout 7 – 6.

Nick Chadwick, Weston College's Assistant Coordinator for 14-16 Link, said: "These exceptional results are a real testament to the team’s commitment, dedication and teamwork they put into their training every Friday. A fantastic result all round."

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Scaffolding safety experts, Simian Risk, has recently partnered with Weston College to open their latest training centre.

Based at the South West Skills campus, the new centre will drastically increase the accessibility of expert scaffolding safety training to those living in and around the South West, where as previously they would have had to travel significant distances to access a training centre.

Established in 2005, Simian Risk has cemented their position within the scaffolding industry as experts in safety and best practice, helping scaffolding professionals to improve safety standards through training and consultancy services, thus reducing the risk of accidents when working at height.

The new centre will deliver CISRS ‘core’ courses which will include CISRS part one and two, as well as scaffolding apprenticeships.

Business Development Manager at Simian, Simon O’Donnell, stated, “We are very pleased to be offering high quality training over an increased geographical area in the excellent facilities that Weston College has. Our ability to hold training courses in this region means that more and more scaffolding professionals can access the appropriate training they need to work safely at height.”

Speaking of the partnership, Simian Risk Managing Director, Simon Hughes said: “These are exciting times for Simian and we’re delighted to be playing our part in upskilling the workers that operate in this area of the UK. Particularly as the need for skilled apprenticeships will be rising over the next few years as the government carries out a number of construction initiatives, we look forward to working with Weston College to ensure the next generation of scaffolding professionals is fully qualified to advance their careers in the industry.”

Steve Caldwell, Head of Faculty for Building, Automotive and Civil Engineering at Weston College, added: “Weston College has worked hard to identify a strategic partner for its new Construction Skills Centre which is due to open in Spring 2019. We are delighted to be working with Simon and the team at Simian who are nationally renowned as leaders in the field of CISRS accredited scaffolding training and assessment.

“With such a buoyant construction and civil engineering industry across the South West, Weston College will be ideally positioned to train future generations of construction specialist in the high demand areas such as scaffolding and plant operations.”