Over the last year, Weston College students have been given the opportunity to work with some great businesses on live project briefs.

These ‘real-life’ assignments have included creating videos and working on websites.

Students have worked particularly closely with Visit Somerset, who produce a website promoting Somerset as a tourism destination. Here, John Turner, CEO of Visit Somerset, explains more about the students’ work and the partnership with the College.

The working relationship that Visit Somerset has with Weston College is possibly one of the most progressive and dynamic that we currently have within the county.

Both organisations are working closely to ensure that we are not only empowering businesses through combined social mobility and digital strategy, but – just as importantly – empowering and giving opportunity to the next generation. Students are gaining vital vocational skills, which will help them attain the confidence and employability skills they need for their future careers.

Weston College students are helping support three key facets of Visit Somerset strategy:

• Helping with disability awareness through our social inclusivity strategy, which involves ‘signing’ for film developments, supporting our conferences and updating members on the latest disability awareness opportunities and courses.

• Digital students have been creating new websites for our SME members, whilst also providing ongoing maintenance. This will allow the £500 million accommodation industry in Somerset to finally get the vital support it needs to compete against online travel agents. With the support of Weston College students, we are already making considerable improvements to help empower and train SMEs so they can create sustainable futures for themselves. And, at the same time, we’re giving students the opportunity to experience key client relationships and build their all-important interpersonal skills.

• Students have also enjoyed helping shape the new Visit Somerset official county website, creating video content to help market the important meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry and our accommodation sector. They’ve also created image-led, content-rich videography to help market the county’s overall beauty.

At 18 months old, this relationship is still only in its infancy. However, we have already achieved so much together. Both organisations and their teams and, most importantly, the students, should be deeply proud of their efforts and their incredible abilities. One thing I always remind students of is that the only barriers to your success are those that appear in your mind.

If you would like to offer a live project brief to our students, you can pledge here.

As part of National Careers Week, learners were given the opportunity to win Amazon vouchers by entering the CV Writing Competition. Learners submitted their CV's and were then judged by our careers advice team.

Many thanks to all that got involved and CONGRATULATIONS to our winners and runners-up.

The two winners (who received a £50 Amazon voucher) were:

• Ela R.
• Jemma G.

The two runner-ups (who received a £20 Amazon voucher) were:

• Harry B.
• Emily W.

Lisa and Jasmine from our careers team added:

"Thank you all for your entries. We enjoyed reading them and have provided feedback through your email. Keep an eye out for next year, where we hope the prizes will be even better!"

If any Weston College learner would like CV feedback or careers advice, please contact lisa.hall@weston.ac.uk or jasmine.morton@weston.ac.uk.

A film celebrating Weston-super-Mare’s entrepreneurial women was screened at Weston College’s Conference Centre today (April 25).

The project, sponsored by the College, is the brainchild of producer and interviewer Becky Walsh, a former Weston College student, and Justyna Steinkeller, an associate producer and graphic designer.

Becky studied a BTEC in Performing Arts at Weston College and progressed to The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama for her stage management training. She then spent 15 years in the West End working as a stage manager on shows such as West Side Story and Blood Brothers. She was also part of the lighting team for UK’s ‘Handover of Hong Kong’ to China in 1997.

She then spent time living across the globe, having gained a reputation both in the personal development field as a self-help author and as a TV and radio presenter, before returning to Weston to bring her knowledge back into the town.

Becky said: “The women interviewed for these documentaries come from various backgrounds but have one thing in common – they have brought inspiration and entrepreneurship to Weston in terms of creativity and care.

“Their stories are heart-warming and inspiring, and create a new chapter in Weston’s history.”

The film tells the stories of:

• Gill Bute, who fought off gangsters to build a company
• Amelia Eikli, who turned her life around after just one year living in the town
• Valerie Donegan, who has spent her life helping the people who have made the streets their home
• Sara Pacey, who organises entertainment events across the area
• Linda Chan, who was a high flyer in the corporate world until she started to lose her sight.

Linda’s luck changed after moving to Weston, when she joined an adult part-time art course at Weston College. She then progressed onto a Level 2 Art and Design Diploma at Weston College and, last year, graduated from UCW with a Contemporary Art and Professional Studies, FdA.

Linda is now an exhibiting artist and her life has been transformed.

Linda said: “I was overwhelmed by how inspirational the first class was and I have never looked back.”

Dr Paul Phillips, CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this event. Weston College is passionate about supporting the people of Weston and helping our community to grow.”

If you would like to join a full-time course, like Becky, visit our website.

If you are interested in a part-time adult course, like Linda, visit us at the Festival of Learning on Saturday 15th June 11am-3pm at the Winter Gardens and Italian Gardens.

There will be a live Q&A with the team at https://youtu.be/ZOX1CZi41zI