<p>Weston College and <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/">UCW</a&gt; Degree Apprentice Aiden has been gaining valuable hands-on experience in IT and cyber security during his time with <a href="https://ascentflighttraining.com/">Ascent Flight Training.</a></p><p>Aiden joined Ascent’s IT team in September 2025 as a <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/digital-and-technology-solutions-bsc-hons… Security Apprentice</a>, completing his degree apprenticeship alongside his role at the organisation. Ascent provides training for <strong>RAF, Royal Navy</strong> and <strong>Army aircrew</strong> at six sites across the UK, with Aiden based at its Training Hub in Bristol.</p><p>Having originally considered going to university, Aiden decided to explore alternative routes into his chosen career and discovered apprenticeships through the government website. He was particularly interested in the opportunity to work in cyber security while gaining experience within an organisation working closely with the armed forces and major industry partners.</p><p>He said: <em>“I was really interested in the cyber security project that Ascent offered and interested in working with the armed forces. Additionally, I liked the fact that we are constantly working with large companies, such as Babcock and Lockheed Martin. This allows me to have so many different experiences from so many different people.”</em></p><p>Throughout his apprenticeship, Aiden has had the opportunity to get involved in a variety of projects across Ascent’s ICT and Cyber Security teams, allowing him to put the knowledge gained through his degree into practice.</p><p>One of his projects has involved improving IT knowledge and training resources across the business. This has included reviewing and updating internal documentation, training materials and learning platform content, testing links, checking information was accurate and working with colleagues to improve the user experience.</p><p>Through this work, Aiden has developed his documentation, problem-solving and stakeholder communication skills, while helping to create a more effective learning experience for employees across Ascent.</p><p>Alongside his ICT responsibilities, Aiden has also supported a range of cyber security initiatives. These have included investigating security alerts, assisting with vulnerability management, reviewing user access permissions and helping to promote cyber security awareness among colleagues.</p><p>These opportunities have helped Aiden strengthen his understanding of cyber security operations and risk management, while giving him the chance to apply his degree learning in a real-world environment.</p><p>For Aiden, one of the biggest benefits of an apprenticeship is being able to combine academic study with practical experience. He said: <em>“Learning and working inside industry can provide skills and experiences not found elsewhere.</em></p><p><em>“The benefits are that you gain real-world experience with the same accreditation as a university degree. You can meet and work with people who have vast experiences and are experts in their field and you can learn physical skills, not found in a classroom.”</em></p><p>Aiden spends one day a week at Weston College alongside his full-time role at Ascent, giving him the opportunity to develop academically while continuing to build his professional experience.</p><p>Since joining Ascent, Aiden has continued to grow in confidence and capability, becoming an increasingly valued member of the IT team.</p><p>Ascent’s Head of IT, Edward Anderson, said: <em>“Aiden has become a fully integrated and valued member of the team during his first year at Ascent. His confidence has grown considerably, and he now makes a meaningful contribution across the business, bringing fresh thinking, innovative ideas and practical support, particularly through the use of AI-driven automation.</em></p><p><em>“It has been a pleasure to see his development and the positive impact he continues to make.”</em></p><p>Aiden’s manager, IT Operations Manager, Ed Morgan, said: <em>“By investing in apprenticeships, Ascent aims to build a strong learning culture that promotes mentorship and leadership development. It will support community and open opportunities to people from varied backgrounds, and strengthens our reputation as an employer that attracts high quality talent and partners, while helping close the Digital divide.</em></p><p><em>“Setting up and managing an apprenticeship requires some upfront planning and ongoing guidance, but once the structure is in place it becomes a manageable part of daily operations, as the apprentice grows in capability and contributes more to the team. Anything that has value requires effort, we spend half a day per week in support as minimum.”</em></p><p>For Aiden, his apprenticeship is providing a strong foundation for his future career, with plans to continue developing his skills across IT, cyber security and AI.</p><p>His experience highlights the opportunities available through degree apprenticeships at Weston College, combining higher-level study with valuable industry experience and the chance to develop skills within a real working environment.</p>

<p>I’m Salka, a Marketing Executive at <a href="https://mindful-education.co.uk/">Mindful Education</a> and alumni of Weston College, and below is my career journey so far!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>My Career Journey so Far</strong></p><p>Since completing my <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/employers/taking-apprentice/marketing-assistan… 3 Marketing apprenticeship</a> through Weston College and <a href="https://mindful-education.co.uk/">Mindful Education</a>, my career journey has gone from strength to strength. Upon completing my studies and achieving a distinction, I was offered a permanent role at <a href="https://mindful-education.co.uk/">Mindful Education</a>, where I have now been working for three and a half years.</p><p>Since then, I have continued to develop both personally and professionally. The range of responsibilities I deal with has increased exponentially, meaning my skill set is more varied and allows me to take on any task with confidence. I have also since completed a <strong>Level 4 Marketing Executive apprenticeship,</strong> which enabled me to progress from <strong>Marketing Assistant</strong> to <strong>Marketing Executive.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>What I Gained from Being an Apprentice</strong></p><p>I think the confidence I have gained through my apprenticeships has been one of the biggest benefits. I have become more comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone, taking on new challenges and trusting my own ideas and abilities.</p><p>My apprenticeship also gave me valuable practical experience of working in a professional marketing environment. I developed skills in communication, organisation, teamwork and time management, while learning how to manage real responsibilities and deadlines.</p><p>These experiences have had a big impact on my career because they have given me a strong foundation to continue developing and progressing within marketing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Roles and Responsibilities of my Apprenticeships</strong></p><p>The Level 4 apprenticeship was definitely a step up and helped to embed the knowledge that I had gained in my Level 3 apprenticeship. It also added another layer of depth and complexity to some of the theories and frameworks that I studied, which gave me a healthy challenge.</p><p>Similarly to Level 3, I had a project for my End-Point Assessment (EPA), so I had another valuable opportunity to plan and deliver a large project on my own.</p><p>I also had more opportunities to interact with my fellow cohorts and have teamworking experiences with other apprentices. This allowed me to build my team skills and understand a lot of the content more easily, as I had a sounding board to bounce ideas off and could share my ideas and work through tough topics together as a team.</p><p>My role at Mindful Education has developed as the scope and variety of tasks I handle has increased, and I feel that I am now responsible for much more within the team.</p><p>Some of my responsibilities include writing and posting social media posts, blogs and creating email campaigns to go out to our key audiences. I’ve also become involved in more internal and external events, helping with the planning and delivery of them by liaising with event organisers, couriers and other members of the team.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Challenges Along the Way</strong></p><p>One of the main challenges during my Level 4 apprenticeship was balancing work and studies and meeting the requirements of both commitments. Often, I would find myself having to meet work deadlines, apprenticeship deadlines and stay on top of all my responsibilities.</p><p>To overcome this, I would use my study days to list my main responsibilities and get through as much as I could. For any tasks left over, I would section out my time after work, spending at least an hour after work throughout the week to complete them and ensure I met my deadlines.</p><p>I also found myself studying the material and seeing that it was a lot to take in, so I would make myself summary documents that sectioned off each of the key topics into bullet points. This allowed me to memorise and absorb information more effectively.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Biggest Achievements</strong></p><p>The achievements I am most proud of are getting distinctions for each of my apprenticeships. Each apprenticeship I completed was over a year in duration, so a lot of time, hard work and effort had been poured into my studies, not to mention preparing for the EPA and doing it twice.</p><p>I am also very proud of making it to the <a href="https://multiculturalapprenticeshipawards.co.uk/shortlist-2024/">Multic… Apprenticeship Awards</a> in 2024 and being <strong>Highly Commended</strong> under the <strong>Creative, Media &amp; Marketing</strong> category. This marked a significant moment in my career and was recognition of all my hard work over the last year and a half.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Advice to Future Apprentices</strong></p><p>One piece of advice I would give to aspiring apprentices is to not be shy about asking questions. Don’t feel out of place just because you don’t know everything. At the end of the day, it’s a learning experience and the organisation that has hired you is well aware of the requirements and responsibilities of recruiting an apprentice.</p><p>You’re not supposed to know everything; the whole point of an apprenticeship is to learn on the job! So don’t be scared about doing an apprenticeship just because it’s something out of your comfort zone. It may seem daunting, but it is incredibly rewarding.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Future Steps</strong></p><p>Now that I’ve completed both apprenticeships, I want to continue working in my role as a Marketing Executive and would like to do so for the future. I want to develop myself in this new role and take more leadership in various projects.</p><p>In the future, I can see myself taking on a senior marketing role and eventually also managing and guiding an apprentice. I can also see myself doing a Level 6 apprenticeship and progressing myself further in my career.</p>

<p>A group of adult students recently hosted a fashion fundraiser in Weston-super-Mare, bringing together the local community for an evening of style, entertainment, and charitable giving.</p><p>The event, organised by a focus group consisting of Lauren, Seonagh, Julie, and Tash as part of their pre-employment course, successfully raised funds for <a href="https://westonhospicecare.org.uk/"><strong>Weston Hospicecare</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://www.mndassociation.org/"><strong>Motor Neurone Disease Association</strong></a><strong>, </strong>and <a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/"><strong>Alzheimer’s Society</strong></a><strong>.</strong> It showcased how education, creativity, and community spirit can come together to make a meaningful impact.</p><p>The focus group have worked on this project since last December, and the project has encouraged them to develop their skills for the workplace. The group also recently won the ‘Making a Difference’ award at our Student Conference, showing the impact they have had on their own personal development as well as the community.</p><p>The North Somerset Scrapstore played a key role in supporting a successful steampunk-themed fundraising fashion show, providing many of the materials used to create the outfits. The fashion show raised money for three charities: the Alzheimer's Society, Weston Hospicecare, and the MND Association. Funds were generated through online ticket sales, tickets sold on the door, a raffle and auction, the sale of donated clothing, and photography sales from the event. Initial estimates suggest that approximately £750 was raised for each charity, with final figures to be confirmed.</p><p>Many of the outfits featured in the show were donated, altered, or created by the team themselves using reclaimed materials. Hair and makeup were provided free of charge by a volunteer, helping to keep costs low and maximise fundraising efforts.</p><p>The event was held at the Borough Arms and featured entertainment from two local singers, Angela and Annie. Models were recruited from across Weston-super-Mare through local Facebook groups, resulting in a diverse range of participants of different ages and body types. Promotion was supported by local media, with the Weston Mercury helping to publicise the event to a wider audience. Photography was provided by an external photographer who volunteered through a connection with one of the students.</p><p>Organising the event presented several challenges, including marketing, securing support from local businesses, arranging a venue, and coordinating a group with differing schedules. Despite these obstacles, the team successfully delivered the event and reflected on lessons learned, discussing how they might improve future events.</p><p>The fundraiser formed part of the students’ coursework, offering valuable real-world experience in event management and community engagement – key components of their current studies. Thanks to strong attendance and generous donations, the event made a meaningful contribution to all three charities.</p><p>Juliette Weaver, Lecturer in Pre-Employment, said:<em> <span data-teams="true">"When people work together with passion and purpose, amazing things happen. This group proved that by creating a charity fashion show that brought their community together and made a positive impact."</span></em></p><p>Take a look at our pre-employment courses <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/employment-support">here.</a>…;