Welcome to the Weston College Careers & Employability Team Monthly Blog!

Last month was a busy one, highlighted by our very first Parent Information Evening focused on post-18 options. We were thrilled with its success and look forward to planning more events to support you and your young person's career journey- be sure to check out our main article for all the details. 

We're also excited to welcome Zoe to the team! Zoe joins us as our Higher Education Careers and Employability Coordinator, and we’re thrilled to have her on board. 

"Hello there, my name is Zoe and I am the new Higher Education Careers & Employability Co-ordinator, based within University Centre Weston's HEART office in the Winter Gardens. I am here to help with career planning, long-term career goals and job hunting as you navigate your way through Higher Education and into employment as a graduate. Recognising, developing and talking about your education and employment skills is a vital tool in getting the types of jobs you want, so if you are a UCW student, look out for my messages and taught careers sessions. If you'd like 1-2-1 careers support, feel free to drop me a line via Teams. My working days are Monday - Thursday."

If you would like to get in touch with the Careers and Employability Team please contact cet@weston.ac.uk

On the 30th of April we hosted our revamped Parent Information Evening. The format involved a careers fair style marketplace for learners and parents/guardians to engage in meaningful conversations with employers and learn about university, apprenticeships, employment and gap years. This was combined with bespoke presentations targeting post 18 routes for learners. 

We had hundreds of people attend, making for an incredible atmosphere and promoting purposeful conversations allowing learners and parents/guardians to feel more confident in exploring options beyond level 3.

Regional T Level Student of the Year – Lloyds Bank 

Congratulations to Callum, one of our talented T Level Digital learners, who has been recognised as the Regional Student of the Year by Lloyds Bank! This well-deserved achievement reflects his outstanding effort and engagement during his industry placement at the Bristol branch. You can read more about his journey here. We wish Callum the very best of luck as he now goes forward as a nominee for the National Student of the Year!

CV Competition Winners Announced! 

The Careers Team is excited to announce the winners of our STEPS Month CV Competition. Congratulations to Sian, our Level 2 winner, and Robin, our Level 3 winner! Both submitted outstanding and professional CVs that impressed the judges. As a reward for their efforts, they have each won an Amazon gift card. Well done!

Wishing them the best of luck for the summer ahead!

• UCAS Offer Deadline - Thursday 5th June 2025 (Learners must respond to their offers from universities or it will be automatically deleted).  
• University Centre Weston Open Day - Saturday 7th June 2025 
• Summer Show - 7th June 2025
• UCAS Extra Closes - Thursday 4th July 2025 
• UCAS Clearing Opens - Friday 5th July 2025 
• A Level and T Level Results Day - Thursday 14th August 2025 
• UCAS applications are open and learners can submit - Tuesday 2nd September 2025 (For learners who will be starting University in September 2026)  

Get in touch with the Careers and Employability Team, by clicking here. 

This month, Animal Management students at Puxton Park Campus have been immersing themselves in an important conservation project as part of their Wildlife and Conservation module. The focus of this project has been on increasing biodiversity and supporting local bird populations through the construction and monitoring of birdhouses, specifically designed for sparrows and owls. 

The project involves creating and painting nest boxes, which are scheduled to be installed around the campus in the coming weeks. These birdhouses aim to encourage on-site breeding, offering safe and suitable habitats for local bird species and contributing to a healthier, more resilient ecosystem. 

This hands-on initiative provides a vital learning opportunity for learners. Students are not only enhancing their understanding of animal behaviour and habitat requirements, but also gaining real-world skills in conservation techniques. By actively participating in improving wildlife habitats, they are learning the long-term importance of habitat preservation and the role it plays in maintaining ecological balance. 

With habitat loss continuing to pose a significant threat to global wildlife, projects like this are essential. They prepare the next generation of Animal Management professionals to understand and prevent the threats facing the natural world. Through this work, students are encouraged and empowered to become proactive in the community, allowing them to make meaningful contributions to conservation efforts now and in the future. 

Well done to all the students who took part in this project, it really will have positive impacts! 

If you are interested in applying to one of our Animal Management courses, click here. 

Earlier this week, a very special event took place within the 16–18 ESOL programme, as our courageous students ran their very own version of Dragon's Den.

The project began last term, initiated by the dedicated ESOL staff as part of an employment-focused programme covering a wide range of workplace-related topics.

Students explored local businesses, examined various workplace roles, and learned about CV writing and job interviews. For their formative assessment, they worked collaboratively in groups to generate innovative business ideas, allowing their creativity to shine. These ideas were then presented to a panel, which included John Robertson, David Crew (Managing Director of Somerset Chamber of Commerce), and Mir Sadat, an Afghan refugee and founder of Noor Creatives - a business dedicated to illuminating ideas and inspiring growth.

Alexia Sporidis, Head of ESOL, said, “I cannot express the pride I felt in our learners, as they stood in front of their peers, and an external panel and presented their ideas. They had created logos, included the structure of the business and the rationale for their innovative ideas.

“The winners received tablets, with thanks to funding from the Virtual Schools here in North Somerset, and the runners up will receive awards at the end of the academic year. In my mind, EVERYONE was a winner, the ideas were great, the presentations were high calibre, and the teamwork was outstanding. Thank you to everyone who supported this ambitious project.”