Weston College has won a contract to provide workplace training that meets the needs of individuals, employers and the region.

The College will deliver Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) and Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) programmes across the West of England until April 2021.

The contract was awarded by Serco, which operates SSW in partnership with a network of high-quality training providers.

SSW supports people who are 16 or over and either employed or self-employed. It provides small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with the skills required to grow their business.

The initiative is focused on training employees for the following sectors:

• Advanced engineering and aerospace
• Construction
• Creative and digital
• Distribution
• Health and life sciences
• High-tech
• Low carbon
• Professional and financial services
• Retail
• Rural and food economy
• Visitor economy.

Businesses that offer SSW to employees receive a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) to help identify the skills needed to help them grow and innovate. A flexible training packages is then developed, with training taking place in the classroom, workplace and online.

SSR is designed to support individuals affected by redundancy. It provides free training for employees facing redundancy or those that are redundant to help them gain new skills, rebuild their careers or even start their own business.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “We are delighted to deliver Skills Support for the Workforce, and Skills Support for Redundancy in the West of England.

“At Weston College, our mission is to create brighter futures creating brighter futures, and by offering this type of training to SMEs across the region, we will certainly be achieving that.”

SSW and SSR, are co-funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, and the European Social Fund.

Over 50 local children from nurseries, primary schools and childminders experienced a range of activities in Grove Park on Thursday (Art in the Park) and went home with a bag of their creations.

Learners from Level 1 to Level 3 Early Years courses planned and presented activities to encourage creativity in the outdoors.

“I started at college last month and this was our first big children’s activity. I really enjoyed it, it’s interesting to see how children use the same equipment and the differences in their creativity.” Grace, Level 3 BTEC Extended National Diploma in Children’s Play Learning and Development (previously from Hans Price Academy).

Gergana from Little Angels Weston said “We want to say a big thank you to all of you for inviting us to the Art event in the Grove Park today. All of the children and staff were so happy to join the event today! It was really well organised and all of us felt very welcome to come and join”

Karen, Early Years Subject Area Manager said “Thank you to the children and staff of Christchurch Primary School and Little Angels Weston. The children who attended the event were well-behaved and enthusiastic in joining in with all the activities. Also, a special thank you to Friends of Grove Park for their support today. Our local community is massively important to Early Years learners at Weston College. We want to get involved in making Weston the best place for children to grow and thrive.

Find out about the early years courses starting here in September at our open evening:

? Thursday 7 November 2019
⏰ 17:30 – 20:00
? Knightstone Campus
? www.weston.ac.uk/event/open-evening-7th-november

A Weston College Apprentice brewer saw his own bottled bitter served at Weston College ‘Oscars’ glittering awards evening attended by 300 people to honour apprentices and businesses. 

Dean Masters, 19, scooped Entrepreneur of the Year at the College's Excellence in Business Training Awards 2013 event on Thursday (June 13th) at the Winter Gardens. 

Dean, who works for Masters Brewery in Wellington, was also Highly Commended in the Hospitality Learner of the Year both for his creative skills and the way he has overhauled the independent brewery’s website.  
He said: “It’s fantastic to win the awards and see my specially brewed 4.3 per cent bitter served up. I’ve also made a Hawaiian Dwarf 7.5 per cent beer brewed with fresh mangoes plus a locally sourced mint and chocolate Imperial Stout.” 
The UK Apprentice of the Year, Emma Rogers, of Cheddar, also took Outstanding Achievement of the Year Award. 
The 20-year-old mum-of-one won Gold for Great Britain at WorldSkills competitions and recently opened her own beauty business in Wedmore.
She said: “I wasn’t expecting this and I really believe in the power of education. My aim is to become a role model and inspire other young people to go for their dreams.”
Employer of the Year was awarded to Broad Street Hair who also took Hair and Beauty Employer of the Year.

Director Wayne Hill who set up the company with sister, Tracy Taylor, has six branches in North Somerset and is set to expand.

Wayne said: “It’s fantastic to win the awards and I want to thank Academy Manager, Charlotte Leach, who deals with the Apprentices. Charlotte has a degree in physics and biology but decided to work for Broad Street because she loves teaching and hairdressing.

“We have 24 Apprentices and we work very closely with Weston College so it’s great to be recognised by them. “

John Kennedy took Achieving Above All the Odds Award.

The 45-year-old was addicted to drugs and alcohol since he was 14 and only learned to read and write when he was 29.

He has now been clean for eight years and supports people with addiction at Weston’s Broadway Lodge centre.

He said: “I am very happy with my life now. For so many years I just took, now I spend my time giving and it’s very rewarding.”

Alliance Homes took Construction Employer of the Year and Compliance Manager, Ian Carpenter said: “We have 12 Apprentices and I love to see young people gain the skills they need to be successful for the rest of their lives.”

Apprentice Amie Johnson won Sale of Residential Property Learner of the Year working for Heritage Estate Agents.

The 20-year-old has excelled in her job by selling more homes in Yatton and Clevedon than any of the other qualified employees.

She said: “I love my job and one day I’d like to run my own business, it’s fantastic to win this award.”

The evening was sponsored by Honeyfield Property Services and n-ergy. Judges included Department for Work and Pensions Partnership Manager, Tim Cowley and N-ergy Executive Director Tracy Jones. Students from the Wessex Academy of Performing Arts entertained guests before a three-course dinner.

Keynote speaker, Director of Skills for South West England Local Enterprise Partnership, Jane Middleton who said: “I am delighted to work with Weston College and this is one of the most successful Local Enterprise Partnerships in the UK.”

Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips OBE thanked everyone attending and said: “The last 12 months have proved exceptional for us despite the challenging economic climate.

“We place great emphasis on partnerships with businesses, funding agencies, North Somerset Council and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, partner schools and universities.”

A Level students at Weston College achieved a 99.8 per cent pass and 20 per cent of Higher Education students achieved a first class honours degree – way above the national average of 14 per cent.

There has been a 113 per cent growth in Apprentices as the College’s Business Enterprise Centre works with more than 1000 employers from Gloucestershire to Cornwall.

There are more than 50 apprenticeship programmes and over 90 per cent go on to become permanent employees.

Dr Phillips added: “Our motto is ‘Creating Brighter Futures. At Weston College the learner comes first. This is assisted by the tremendous partnerships we've made with business, and efforts of learners themselves.”

List of Business Awards 2013

Students:

Accountancy Learner of the Year: Yannis Aravadinos

Beauty Learner of the Year: Rebecca Morley

Business Learner of the Year: Cara Hiscox

Care Learner of the Year: Sarah Porter

Childcare Learner of the Year: Elizabeth Williams

Customer Service Learner of the Year: Nicola Durkin

Hair Learner of the Year: Bethany Miller

Hospitality and Catering Learner of the Year: Steven Newman

Sale of Residential Property Learner of the Year: Amie Johnston

Principal’s Awards:

Entrepreneur of the Year Dean Masters

Student who has made the biggest impact Chris Dixon

Achieving above all odds John Kennedy

Outstanding achievement of the Year to Emma Rogers

Opportunity North Somerset Award: Delyth Meredith-Jones

Business Awards:

Small Business Employer of the Year: Meiji Techno

Large Business Employer of the Year: Logistics company DHL

Care and Childcare Employer of the Year: Little Bears Day Nursery

Construction Employer of the Year: Alliance Homes

Hair and Beauty Employer of the Year: Broad Street Hair

Sales of Residential Property Employer of the Year: Michael Gould Property Agent

Hospitality Employer of the Year: The Golden Lion

Teaching Assistant Employer of the Year: Mead Vale Primary School

Principal’s Awards:

Individual’s Commitment to Training: Jenny Evans, Shared Lives, North Somerset Council

Business’ Commitment to Training: North Somerset Council

Employer of the Year: Broad Street Hair

If you would like to view the pictures from this evening's event, please view them here.