Last week, Weston College hosted a Beauty Therapy WorldSkills International Pressure Test ahead of the upcoming WorldSkills Shanghai competition, welcoming competitors from Team UK, Northern Ireland, and Spain. The event provided a valuable opportunity for competitors to test themselves in a high-pressure but supported environment while offering staff and peers a unique insight into the different techniques, approaches and professional standards demonstrated across countries.

Over four days, competitors completed a series of Beauty Therapy practical assessments designed to replicate the intensity of the WorldSkills competitions. These included full body masks, hot stone massages, facials, leg and underarm waxing, lash lift and tint, brow lamination and tint, manicure and pedicure, and creative makeovers. Each task challenged participants to demonstrate exceptional technical ability, precision, organisation, adaptability and time management under strict competition conditions.

Experiences like these help raise the aspirations of our current learners, provide valuable insight into the opportunities available through skills competitions, and encourage them to pursue challenges like this which will enhance their abilities. They also strengthen links with industry and international partners, creating networking opportunities and reinforcing Weston College's reputation as a high-achieving Careers Excellence Hub.

Hosting competitions like these provide Weston College with a fantastic opportunity to welcome international competitors and raise the profile of our learners and the college. Not only this, students, staff, and competitors are able to observe industry-leading professionals in action, gaining first-hand exposure to the standards, techniques and professionalism expected at the highest level of the beauty industry.  

The treatments carried out during the Pressure Test were offered to Weston College staff, allowing competitors to perform on real clients in a realistic competition setting. Staff not only supported the competitors throughout the event but also experienced the exceptional standard of treatments being delivered, helping to create a realistic environment that closely reflected the requirements of an international competition.

Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Industries at Weston College, said, “Being able to host Pressure Tests like this and welcome international competitors is a fantastic opportunity for Weston College and provides excellent networking opportunities for our students. It highlights our high-quality facilities whilst demonstrating the standards of talent and support that our current learners receive when studying at Weston College. We encourage as many enrichment opportunities and experiences as possible to ensure our students have a wide skillset and are prepared for the expectations and careers available to them within the Beauty Therapy industry.”

Good luck to all the competitors competing in WorldSkills Shanghai next month!

This visit forms part of the Beauty Therapy Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

Last week, Weston College welcomed members of WorldSkills Health and Social Care Team UK for training preparation ahead of the WorldSkills Shanghai competition, taking place in September 2026. The training provided competitors with a valuable opportunity to practice and refine their skills in preparation for the global competition.

The WorldSkills Competition is an international event that brings together talented students and young professionals from across the world to compete in a range of vocational and technical skills. Competitors are challenged to demonstrate their knowledge, technical ability and professionalism to the highest possible standard.

As part of the WorldSkills Health and Social Care competition, contestants complete simulated real-world scenarios involving standardised patients, testing their abilities across six key competencies: communication, assessment, planning, implementation, education and improvement.

Using Weston College’s Health and Social Care simulation room, Team UK were able to replicate realistic care scenarios using high-quality equipment and simulation dummies as patients. This provided competitors with an authentic environment in which to practice their skills, while also showcasing Weston College’s outstanding facilities to external organisations and industry professionals.

Hosting a professional team such as WorldSkills Team UK provides Weston College with a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of the College and demonstrate the quality of its facilities and learning environments. It also gives our students and staff the chance to observe industry-leading professionals in action, providing first-hand insight into the standards, techniques and professionalism expected within the Health and Social Care sector.

Opportunities such as this strengthen Weston College’s links with industry and showcase how our facilities can support high-level professional training, while inspiring our learners to see the opportunities available to them within their chosen careers.

Good luck to all the competitors competing in WorldSkills Shanghai next month!

This visit forms part of the Health and Social Care Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Healthcare! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

This term, our Level 3 Computing students put their digital and creative skills into practice as part of a Social Media unit, working to a specification and framework provided by MSI, the international gaming company known for its high-performance products.

The partnership between Weston College’s Computing and Digital Careers Excellence Hub and MSI provides students with valuable opportunities to engage directly with the gaming and Digital industries. MSI regularly supports the College by sponsoring Esports competitions and enrichment sessions delivered by members of their team, giving students the chance to learn from industry professionals and gain insight into the skills and expectations needed to succeed in the sector.

As part of this partnership, MSI donated two MSI Forge GK600 TKL Wireless Keyboards, two MSI Versa 300 Elite Wireless Mice and two MSI Force GC300 Wireless Game Controllers. The products were used to recognise students’ achievements, rewarding outstanding performance and engagement throughout the unit, as well as providing potential prizes for charity fundraising activities.

Throughout the unit, students developed a social media campaign, with MSI acting as a stakeholder in the assignment. Students received guidance on the dos and don’ts of professional social media, the requirements for effective presentations and how to collaborate successfully with content creators. This provided a valuable opportunity to apply their learning to a realistic industry brief while receiving feedback and insight from an established organisation within the Digital sector.

Three Level 3 Computing students were recognised for their achievements. Ahmed was awarded an MSI controller for his exceptional hard work and performance throughout the unit. Joe received an MSI controller after achieving the highest levels of engagement, with one of his videos promoting the Esports Academy gaining more than 10,000 views. Harvey was awarded the grand prize of an MSI keyboard for producing the most creative and well-edited post, successfully incorporating promotional content for both MSI and Weston Esports Academy.

Opportunities such as this allow students to move beyond the classroom and experience the realities of working on a professional brief. By responding to the expectations of an international organisation, students develop not only their technical and creative abilities, but also key employability skills such as communication, collaboration, time management, problem-solving and responding to feedback.

Working directly with industry professionals also helps students build confidence in their abilities and understand how the skills they are developing can translate into future careers. Experiences like this enable learners to begin building professional networks, strengthen their portfolios and gain a better understanding of industry expectations, giving them a valuable advantage as they progress into further study, apprenticeships or employment within the digital sector.

A huge thank you to MSI for supporting our learners and facilitating their personal and professional progression with these high-value products.

This collaboration forms part of the Digital Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.

Progress to the next level in Computing and Digital! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.