Last month, two of our talented Level 3 Media learners, Leo and Jake, and two of our amazing Level 3 Photography learners, Harrison and Ethan, showcased their skills at the World Combat Arts Ring Warrior competition in Bristol. This exciting event gave the students a chance to capture the intense action through photography and videography, providing invaluable real-world experience in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment. 

The learners attended a pre-briefing led by event organisers where were given a walkthrough of the arena, informed about restricted areas, and briefed on the expectations for their behaviour and professionalism. Mel Edmonds, one of our media lecturers who accompanied the learners, emphasised the importance of this opportunity to understand industry standards and working in a professional environment. 

"The students were absolutely brilliant, respectful, and professional," said Mel. 

The competition featured a thrilling mix of kickboxing and boxing matches. The students were positioned so close to the action that they experienced the raw intensity of the sport. Despite the chaotic environment, they maintained their focus, regularly checking their footage and equipment to ensure everything was intact and accounted for. 

The learners worked seamlessly as a team, constantly supporting and checking in on one another. They also had the chance to collaborate with Alex Romanov, a professional photographer based in Swindon, further enriching their learning experience. 

Their professionalism didn’t go unnoticed. The event organisers were so impressed that they asked the students to leave their contact details for future opportunities. The learners made it a point to thank everyone for the chance to participate, shaking hands with key stakeholders and leaving a lasting impression. 

The students documented the event with both photos and videos, capturing the raw emotions and energy of the matches. The photos told a vivid story of the day, reflecting the highs and lows of the fighters' journeys.

Mel’s connections with the event organisers made this a safe and constructive space for the students to learn and grow over the past two and a half years, ensuring they gain hands-on experience in real-world environments and network with industries early on.  

“This was a fantastic opportunity for the learners to meet clients, network, understand expectations, and practice professionalism while working in a team,” Mel added. 

The students’ enthusiasm, punctuality, and dedication were evident throughout the event. Their efforts not only enhanced their portfolios but also opened doors to future opportunities in the industry. The experience underscored the importance of practical learning and the value of forging industry connections. 

David Clatworthy from World Combat Arts was extremely impressed with our learners efforts, saying “Huge congratulations to the Weston College media students attending their 5th Ring Warrior. What a thoroughly impressive ringside team!

The team’s commitment, purpose, talent, positivity and enthusiasm was great to see. Please pass on my gratitude and best wishes to Jake, Ethan, Leo and Harrison for all their sterling work. As a result, we have some fantastic shots thanks to their incredible hard work.”

As we continue to nurture the next generation of media and photography professionals, events like these highlight our commitment to bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. 

We’d like to say a big thank you to World Combat Arts for giving our students the opportunity to further their knowledge and put their skills into practice. 

If you’re interested in joining one of our Media or Photography courses next September, click here. 

The Young Enterprise (YE) Company Programme provides learners with an incredible opportunity to experience what it’s like to run their own business. Our Sixth Form learners competed at the Bristol area level, with the potential to advance to national and even European finals.  

During this, students take on the challenge of entrepreneurship, working together to create, market, and sell innovative products. This year, our sixth-form learners participated with two dynamic teams: Cycled Up and Reglow Glasswork. 

Young Enterprise is open to all our A Level learners, not just the Business cohort, to give students the chance to develop their problem-solving, initiative, and creative thinking skills. This provides them with great real-world experience that they can take to any future business or career. 

The YE Company Programme encourages students to think like business owners. Each team invests their own money as shareholders to fund their ventures. By investing £20 per shareholder, the teams started with £80-£100. Both groups supplemented their funds with bake sales at college, giving them a stronger financial footing to begin their entrepreneurial journeys. 

This year, the learners showcased and sold their products at Bristol’s Cabot Circus Christmas market, with the two teams showcasing their creativity and resilience. Cycled Up presented “paint-your-own-reindeer kits,” complete with paint pots and brushes, and woollen pom-pom snowmen. Reglow Glasswork offered room scents crafted from recycled glass bottles, a pivot from their original idea of making candles, which were no longer allowed under YE’s updated insurance policies. #

Both teams were very successful, with Cycled Up raising £70 in revenue and winning two awards: Best Sales and Promotion and Best Community Engagement. Their paint-your-own-reindeer kits proved to be especially popular. Meanwhile, the Reglow Glasswork earned £95 in revenue and showcased remarkable adaptability, turning a setback into an opportunity by transforming unused candle wax into room scents. 

YE is not a competition simply to make as much money as possible, as all the teams are at different stages and have different levels of resources. They're all selling different products with different prices, so at this stage, learners’ products are scored on various things like customer service. In the final, a big part of the judging is the journey and how much they've learned, rather than how well everyone did right out of the gate. 

Both teams faced product-related hurdles but demonstrated ingenuity and flexibility to overcome them. Cycled Up had to abandon their initial plan of selling custom wooden coasters due to stock delays, pivoting to their highly successful reindeer kits. Similarly, Reglow Glasswork adapted to the competition’s updated regulations by repurposing their candle materials into room scents, avoiding sunk costs and making the best of their resources. 

These challenges taught the learners valuable lessons in problem-solving, adaptability, and creative thinking—essential skills for any entrepreneur. 

While the trade fair was a success, it was only the beginning. Both teams plan to reinvest their earnings into their businesses, preparing for future trade fairs in March and the Bristol Finals in May. The learners are taking their experiences and applying them to refine their strategies, improve their marketing, and enhance their products. 

Meeting competitors from other schools at the trade fair gave our learners a glimpse of what it will take to excel in the competition. They are now more motivated than ever to step up their game and secure a spot in the national finals. 

The event was not only a financial success but also a valuable learning experience. Both teams gained insights into effective sales techniques and customer engagement, building confidence for future endeavours. For Cycled Up, the surprise of winning two awards was a highlight, while Reglow Glasswork’s ability to adapt under pressure showcased their resilience. 

The Young Enterprise programme continues to provide an enriching platform for learners to develop entrepreneurial skills, teamwork, and a competitive spirit. As the competition progresses, both teams are determined to use their experiences to rise to new challenges and achieve even greater success. 

If you are interested in joining our Sixth Form next September, click here. 

Recently, a group of our year 1 Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level learners took to Birmingham to visit the UK Construction Week event at the National Exhibition Centre. 

This event is the UK’s largest built environment trade show, where construction professionals can explore the latest innovations, gain insights from across the industry and network with their peers, with over three leading brands being displayed. 

Learners were shown a variety of different products and materials, including electric diggers, fireproof materials, turnstiles, health and safety equipment and much more. This allowed the students to get a feel for everything, discover the international exhibitors’ products, and meet lots of new people. 

On top of this, there were also several gifts and freebies available from many of the stalls, including items like pens, pads, bags, tool kits, t-shirts, hats and caps, as well as a selection of sweets and chocolates which kept the excitement going throughout the day! 

All the learners actively engaged with everyone, talking to stall holders and asking questions regarding their products. The stall holders explained their exhibitions in detail to the students and were very impressed with our learners and the intuitive questions and incites they had.  

Daniel Comerford, a Construction lecturer at Weston College, said, “All of the learners on the trip had a great time at the show and enjoyed talking to all the different companies that were exhibiting.  

This improved their communication skills but also taught them about new and emerging products and technologies within the UK Construction Industry.” 

This day acted as a good introduction for their Construction T Level as it gave them a better understanding of not only the different available pathways they could enter, but also the existing companies and opportunities that they could experience both during their time at college and after. It also allowed the students to get to know each other better and work with peers that they may not have previously had the chance to get to know. 

Overall, the learners learnt a lot about new products and emerging technologies. They also got the chance to improve their professional skills by communicating with industry professionals and network with them for possible opportunities in the future. 

If you’re interested in applying to our Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning T Level in September, click here.