At Weston College, we feel it is important for students to meet industry professionals and get a taste for industry life. We invite businesses in, to talk to our learners and inspire the next generation.

One business that visited last year, is Bristol and Cardiff based marketing agency, Cre8ion. We asked their CEO Darrell Irwin, a few questions about his business, and the importance of engaging with tomorrow’s workforce.

Who are Cre8ion and what do you offer?

At Cre8ion we have developed a brand automation product called Genesis Brands. This cutting edge approach to branding is helping start-ups get a head start. Removing the cost of time and talent using a branding agency would entail the user answers questions and the system generates brands, both in a cloud for you to download and useable assets to get your message out there!

Why did you decide to inspire students through a guest lecture?

We believe tomorrow’s generation will help us innovate for the needs of tomorrow. Apple have been doing this for years and businesses that ‘get it’ secure legacy.

You can teach theory but by using this product we could help them build a brand using that theory and have the ability to execute their brand in minutes not days.

We are committed to helping students and entrepreneurs punch above their weight without spending thousands.

Were there any specific highlights you had whilst working with Weston College learners?

That 60 students built 60 great brands in minutes and were amazed that they could bring an idea to life so quickly.

How has your automation system helped develop Weston College learners?

A practical understanding with brand and practical application made for a great workshop with applied knowledge.

Essentially, they students had access to 25 years of knowledge online!

They made design choices quickly while getting a clear idea of what mission, vision and values actually are.

What advice would you give to a business considering running sessions with Weston College learners?

We’d advise other employers to make use of this great opportunity – we got to expose our business to the future generation. My tips would be make sure that students have a clear outcome and gain knowledge that can be applied to their own personal career journey.

You can check out Cre8ion’s Genesis brand here.

If you are interested in delivering a guest lecture, or joining our business network, please fill in the form below.

Nine College students so impressed local developer MLDUK on work experience that they have been kept on until August. Then, some of the Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE) Apprentices may be offered full-time positions working with the Weston-based company.

College Construction Curriculum Lead Shaun Canniford said: “MLDUK are doing maintenance work at the College and offered students some work experience. In August, they will be reviewed and some could be offered permanent positions.

“We try to embed work experience as part of their training. This is a fantastic opportunity and shows that MLDUK wants to invest in their commitment to the College."

MLDUK spokesman James Lloyd-Jones added: “We were delighted to support the College and impressed by the calibre of both the students and expertise offered to them by staff. We look forward to working with the College more closely in the future.”

The College’s popular multi-skilled maintenance course provides a taste of many different disciplines including plastering, tiling, decorating, plumbing and carpentry.

The CECE has won a ‘National Training Award’ for the South West of England and is part of a £10 million South West Skills Campus project at Weston College. As part of this, a £300,000 three-bed completely sustainable detached eco-home is being built for hands-on experience in sustainability.

There is also a £3 million refurbishment of the Hub building – an employment skills centre to aid people back into work. A further £6 million has been spent on the Business Enterprise Centre, £1.5 million on a new Automotive centre together with a £770,000 multi-sports surface.

The CECE delivers training in a wide range of construction occupations including plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry, trowel trades, painting, decorating, plastering, property maintenance, as well as renewable energy courses and Apprenticeships. There are specialist workshops for training electricians, bespoke brickwork and carpentry workshops, along with online learning. The CECE is also a test centre for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and health and safety card.

There is a 100 per cent success rate for Level 2 qualifications with around 70 per cent of CECE students finding work in industry, while others enhance their DIY skills.

POLITICIANS from Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset visited Weston College to help students to understand how immigration affects modern politics.

Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare, John Penrose, and UKIP politician Ian Kealey, who stood as UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for North Somerset in the 2015 General Election, visited the College on Friday 6th May.

The two politicians visited students on the social science diploma of the Access to Higher Education course, a course which provides adults with the qualifications and academic skills to progress to university.

The visit tied in with the students’ last assignment, contemporary political issues, where they are required to take part in a debate on immigration.

The two-hour debate covered a range of topics relating to immigration, including the economy, healthcare, cultural values, refugees, freedom of movement, border controls and more.

Mr Penrose said: “I was impressed by the depth of understanding on an extremely difficult and emotionally-charged issue and by the good natured style of the debate – perhaps a few MPs in Westminster could learn a bit if they were with me today.”

Sarah Rees, a qualified lawyer who lectures in Law and Social Policy at the College, said: “This was a great opportunity for students studying politics to hear first-hand from active members of parliament about a subject close to many people’s hearts.

“We are grateful to Mr Penrose and Mr Kealey for their contribution.”

Mr Kealey said: “I thought the students seemed well-informed about the topic and the issue of immigration, its economic impacts and how it affects services.”