On 10th September, Tracie Leahy, Head of Apprenticeships, and Lynsey McKinstry, Strategic Business Partnerships Manager, attended the launch of the Somerset Business Awards 2026 at Hestercombe House. University Centre Weston is proud to sponsor the Apprentice of the Year Award once again, a category which last year was won by one of our outstanding UCW apprentices who is now also recognised on the national stage.

The awards organised annually by a key strategic partner to the college, Somerset Chamber of Commerce; celebrates the success and innovation of businesses, charities, and individuals across the county. University Centre Weston is pleased to be sponsoring the Apprentice of the Year category, and this award reflects our continued commitment to supporting skills, talent, and future workforce development in our region.

Entries are now open, and we look forward to seeing how this prestigious award can continue to showcase the incredible journeys and achievements of apprentices across the region!

We are pleased to formally announce that today, 23/9/25, Weston College has had its Financial Notice to Improve (FNTI) officially withdrawn by the Department for Education (DfE).

As reported, Weston College received a FNTI in Summer 2024 having uncovered and reported to authorities, failures of governance which included high remuneration packages to the retired ex-principal, and failure to disclose such details of senior pay as required through the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (EFSA) college accounts direction.

Working proactively with the FE Commissioner and Department for Education (DfE), the College was able to quickly meet the recommendations of the FNTI report. We are pleased to announce that following a visit in Summer 2025 by the FE Commissioner and their team, the DfE has withdrawn the FNTI, and the College is therefore no longer in intervention.

Interim Chair of Governors Tim Jackson said: “As a result of the investigation and in response to the verbal recommendations by the Further Education Commissioner’s Office in June 2024, later formalised in the report publication in April 2025, significant changes were approved by the board and implemented in Summer 2024 and subsequent months to recruit significant numbers of new members, strengthen governance, improve oversight and due diligence. These changes have been repeatedly monitored by the new board and shared with the FE Commissioner team and the ESFA at the regular intervention case meetings and has led to the outcome announced today.”

“In the last 16 months as Interim Chair, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that the College has on young people, adults and employers within North Somerset and the wider region. The College has much practice which is amongst the best in the country. I am thrilled that the College has had its notice to improve withdrawn and I would like to thank colleagues who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome and who have prioritised the integrity and interests of the whole community of the College and the governance of all college activities in line with the Nolan principles of standards in public life.”

“The staff here at the College are exceptional and under the leadership of the new Executive Team and a, completely new governing body and Governance Professional, the College will now be able to focus solely on its roadmap to becoming extraordinary for our learners, employers and our wider community. Competent, transparent and strong governance is the best assurance for any public institution (colleges or other) in avoiding anything like this in future. We hope that all colleges use the lessons of our past to validate their own governance arrangements and organisational controls.”

Principal and CEO, Pat Jones added: “The investigation and subsequent FNTI has been traumatic for colleagues, and this announcement is a significant step in the journey of putting this behind us. On behalf of all within the College, I extend my sincere gratitude to our valued stakeholders, partners, and wider community for their unwavering support during this period.”

“As a college looking to the future, we collectively do so with a renewed sense of responsibility and pride in what we do. This college provides exceptional learning opportunities and produces learners who are highly motivated and who can learn in real-world, aspirational environments. We have forged highly effective partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders that enables us to clearly meet local needs and have a positive impact within the local community and region. We have had a fantastic start to the new academic year with some exceptional success stories already. As we move forward into an exciting phase of our journey, we will continue to prioritise our staff through a new set of organisational values, and a new curriculum strategy that puts inclusion at its core and powerfully tackles the social, economic and geographical challenges within our community.”

In light of the Government’s recently published Defence Industrial Strategy, Weston College is sharing an update on its ongoing work to support high-quality, education-led technical training in advanced engineering and aerospace-related disciplines across the West of England.

From September 2026, Weston College is on track to welcome its first cohorts of engineering learners at the Aerospace Skills Academy at Filton. This marks an important step in strengthening access to advanced technical education and developing skills that are transferable across aerospace, security, infrastructure and wider engineering sectors, including defence technology.

This work builds on the College’s established mission to deliver inclusive, future-focused education that responds to national skills priorities while supporting informed learner choice and ethical awareness.

The Aerospace Skills Academy

The West of England has a strong track record in advanced engineering and manufacturing. Continued investment in technical education is essential to ensure learners are equipped with the skills needed to work in complex, highly regulated and rapidly evolving technological environments.

As digitalisation, net zero ambitions and cross-sector technology transfer reshape engineering roles, partners from education, industry and regional governance have come together to explore how training provision can evolve to meet these challenges responsibly.

Inspired by a recent visit from the CEO of Skills England and aligned with the UK’s Industrial Strategy and Local Growth Plan, Weston College is working alongside regional employers and anchor organisations — including Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN — and partners such as the West of England Combined Authority, the National Composites Centre and Business West to shape the vision for an Aerospace Skills Academy.

The Academy is intended to be education-led and skills-focused, supporting learners to develop advanced capabilities in areas such as systems engineering, digital manufacturing, and sustainable technologies. Programmes will emphasise transferable skills, critical thinking and an understanding of the ethical considerations associated with working in sectors that include defence and security applications.

A dedicated Steering Group is currently exploring the scope, location and funding model for the Academy. Given the cross-sector relevance of the skills involved, a range of funding sources is expected. As the project develops, partners and stakeholders will be invited to contribute insight and support to help ensure the Academy delivers long-term benefit for learners, the region and the wider economy.