Hello everyone, my name is Callum Kavanagh, and I am studying the Digital Production Design and development T level (DPDD) at Weston College. I would love to share my experience of my industry placement at Lloyds Banking Group and how I managed to get to where I am.

My Journey at Weston College

Before joining the DPDD T Level with Weston College, I completed a level 2 course (due to not having the GCSE qualifications) as a progression route to get to the T Level. This helped to build my confidence and basic computing knowledge and even basic academic skills. With support from my Level 2 course, I then achieved a grade I was happy with and progressed with the necessary qualifications to the Digital Production Design and Development T Level.

Once I started the T Level I was quickly introduced to the hands-on working experience side of the T Level, with talks of employers and how we will be supported in finding them for the Industry Placement module of our course.

We got to experience a full process of interviews and questions from employers and those who got accepted by an employer could progress onto the industry placement with them. Our lecturer and careers advisors helped train us for these interviews and build our CVS and interview skills.

My Role at Lloyds Banking Group

During my placement at Lloyds Banking Group, I worked within a data team. I took part in Data Visualisation and Software Development; the work I was tasked with was part of a large-scale strategic project that had a real impact on the company. I was able to work alongside experts in the field, where I completed a solo project that I was tasked with by Lloyds Banking Group. This solo project was directly linked to a real-world project that the team was working on, and I was given the task of creating a program to help the teams efficiency. I later found out the program I made was used and built upon by another member of the team who I worked closely with and is now standard use within the team!

I managed to learn so much within the industry by working there, getting real experience truly is the best way to learn and grow as a developer. I learnt a variety of skills from programming to accessibility and data visualisation, the learning wasn’t only hard skills for the workplace but also key skills transferable to any situation and daily life. I learnt how to work effectively within a team environment and how to complete presentations to large scale audiences. I was able to complete a presentation about my project to over 100 other professionals during a team’s call and sharing my ideas within the company.

How I was Supported

Weston College and Lloyds Banking Group were both incredible at providing support within the industry placement. Lloyds Banking Group always had team members willing to mentor me and answer any questions I had about my own project or the company itself. Weston College maintained a strong line of communication while I was within Lloyds Banking Group, checking everything was going as planned and no changes needed to be made.

As someone who struggles with ADHD, I had worries about if I would be able to stay focused and complete this course. I worried how I would do within a working environment and how I could manage my problems. However, Weston College provided me with support throughout the placement, which was done primarily by a personal member of the ADHD support team at Weston College who I was able to speak to. This became a regular occurrence, and I now meet with him on a regular basis where I learn to manage my ADHD. I also received support from my tutors as they had an understanding of my situation and were always willing to speak with me if I ever had any problems.

Standout Moments

The main standout moment for me was being given the trust to take on a solo project and given time to be by myself and work on that project. Being included within the team and not just given some training made me feel important and wanted by the team. This made my working environment an enjoyable place to be and one I could thrive in.

Plans Following T Level Completion

After my Industry Placement with Lloyd’s Banking Group, I was able to show them my dedication and desire to work further with them. Because of this, I have been offered an apprenticeship with Lloyd’s Banking Group within the same team I worked with during my industry placement.

My advice to others considering the T Level is – DO IT! The T Level course is an incredible course for not only its level of educational standards, but also the opportunity to work within a company and get real experience, which is worth more than any number of textbooks could teach you. If you have the commitment to get your work done, then you will have so many opportunities with this course and even possibly get a direct link to a future employer like I did to Lloyds Banking Group.

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 month, a group of Business and Travel and Tourism students went on an exciting trip to New York City. They explored famous landmarks, experienced different cultures, and learned more about their studies in a real-world setting.  

The trip gave students a chance to see how a big city operates and to visit well-known places like the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Rockefeller Centre, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the High Line, and Central Park. Each stop gave them a better understanding of history, business, and tourism and, because they visited over Valentine’s Day, they witnessed 4 proposals which was definitely a highlight!  

Besides the main attractions, students also explored Ellis Island, Chinatown, Little Italy, and 5th Avenue. These areas gave them a glimpse into the different cultures that make up New York and allowed them to see parts of the city that are not always on the typical tourist route.  

Many students found the 9/11 Memorial and Museum particularly impactful as it was such a powerful experience and a massive part of history, being portrayed through exhibitions, personal stories, and artefacts. For our Travel learners, it put something they have read and learnt about in the classrooms into a real-world context and gave them a deeper understanding of how it affected travel and tourism, not only in America, but internationally.  

Lucille, a first-year Level 3 Travel and Tourism student, shared her experience: “The New York trip was so much fun, from seeing and exploring the landmarks of the city to meeting other learners in other classes who also went on the trip. I especially enjoyed seeing the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge while getting to try some classic New York experiences like riding in a yellow taxi and tasting amazing food.”  

Hannah Carstensen, one of our Travel and Tourism lecturers who organised the trip, added, “For both our Business and Travel and Tourism learners, this was an incredible opportunity to visit a premier destination for tourism which is home to countless corporations, financial institutions and business headquarters.”   

Beyond learning, the trip helped the learners create unforgettable memories and build friendships with students on different courses that they don’t always get chance to interact with. It was an incredible trip that allowed them to experience a city completely different to Weston-super-Mare.  

If you are interested in applying to one of our Business or Travel and Tourism courses, 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. 

Jet2 recently visited our Business and Travel and Tourism learners to deliver an insightful guest talk about careers in the aviation industry. The three members of Jet2 staff provided in-depth information on what it's like to work at Jet2, along with valuable advice and guidance on how students can begin applying and make a strong first impression.

The guest talk started out with each Jet2 staff member giving an introduction to themselves and their career journey at Jet2, as well as an overview of facts about Jet2 as a company. The learners were then quizzed on which airports in the country Jet2 are based at, testing the learner's memories of the airport 3-letter codes! The guest talk then covered the different types of roles which learners could apply for, including Cabin Crew, Luggage Handling, Passenger Service Agents, Customer Operations etc. This allowed the learners to open their eyes to the wide range of opportunities in aviation, as many had only previously considered Cabin Crew!

The learners were given key information about the benefits they receive if they work for Jet2, such as the hourly rate, discounts on holidays and flights, and they reiterated how working for Jet2 means there is always opportunity to move around different roles. The guest talk also highlighted what the learners can expect during their training at Jet2, such as when they would be required to take exams, the duration of the training, and the support they would be receiving around this time before starting their role.

When the students were asked whether they perform better with practical work compared to academic tasks, every learner raised their hand; Jet2 responded by highlighting that this is ideal for roles within their company, where hands-on experience plays a key role in professional development! The students had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback, leading to the decision that it would be beneficial for Jet2 to return to the college for a day of ‘Mock Interviews’. This will allow our learners to practice and prepare for their real interviews.

The guest lecture was extremely informative, and we would like to thank Jet2 for taking the time to come and speak to our learners.

To find out more about our Business courses, click here, and to find out more about our Travel and Tourism courses, click here.