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.

If you’re struggling to park in the designated student car park at your campus, please remember to park respectfully and legally - we know the last thing you want is to get a parking ticket, get clamped or even have your car towed. 

Here’s some simple advice for parking offsite… 

Look out for road markings and signs 

Let’s start with the obvious – don’t park on double yellows! This is the most common reason for parking fines around Weston, and you could get a pretty hefty fine.  

If there is a single yellow line on the road, this means that restrictions apply. Look for a nearby signpost that will tell you when you can park or who can park on the lines. 

Don’t park on crossings or the zigzag lines that are near crossings, as this makes it dangerous for people crossing the road and could lead to points on your licence. 

If there are parking bays, make sure that you’ve read the appropriate restrictions – they could be reserved for residents, disabled people, or charges could apply. 

Remember: even if the lines are worn, parking restrictions still apply.  

Check your parking position 

Even if there are no road markings, you can still get a fine for parking badly.

Parking with your wheels on the pavement could lead to a fine, and often restricts access for people in wheelchairs or with mobility problems, and could also lead to your car being damaged as pedestrians brush past it. 

Similarly, parking too far away from the curb (over 48cm or 19”) could lead to a fine. Parking too close to road junctions or on bends could lead to your car being driven into, so it is best to avoid these places. 

Remember that if any part of your car overhangs a restricted zone (e.g. a double yellow line) you can technically be given a ticket. 

Respect dropped curbs 

Dropped curbs often appear at the ends of driveways or at road junctions to allow people to cross the road. Even if you can’t think of an obvious reason for the curb to drop, you can still be fined for parking on one, or even have your car clamped or towed. 

If in doubt… 

If you’re not sure that you’ve parked correctly find somewhere else to park! It’s not worth risking a parking fine (which can be as much as £70) just to avoid paying a couple of pounds to park in a registered car park… 

Alternatively, you could always travel into College with an alternative method of transport – each campus has plenty of cycle racks and we offer a great value bus pass. 

As part of your learning experience at Weston College you'll have access to the full Microsoft Office 365 online dashboard.

Simply use your College login (given to you during enrolment) to access a range of features...

Help and advice for using Microsoft Office 365 apps and software is available through the LibraryPlus service at each of our main campuses.

You can book a one-to-one session with a LibraryPlus learning technologist to help you get the most from Office 365.