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Employment In Our Area

Weston College plays an integral role in the skills agenda within the South West region. The College itself is part of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (North Somerset, BANES, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire), but with such a wide catchment area it is also a key contributor to the Heart of the South West partnership (Somerset and Devon).

The West of England is a great place to be located as the region competes on a global scale where highly skilled people work, where ideas flourish, and where businesses grow.

Key benefits include:

  • An economy worth over £38 billion a year.
  • A population of over 1.1 million.
  • One of the highest rates of employment in the country.
  • Over 45,000 businesses.
  • At the leading edge of innovation with world-class offers in design, culture, trade, shipping, engineering, aerospace, microelectronics, composites, robotics, green technologies, social enterprise, connectivity, and digital creativity.
  • 48% of workplace employees are managers, directors, and senior officials.
  • Jobs growth of over 51,000 in the last 5 years - projected to grow by over 17,000 in the next 5 years.
  • The top 5 employment sectors in the region are currently: Construction, Health, Education, Scientific Services and Professional Services.
  • Across Health and Social care, there are over 3,500 employers in the region with the Adult social care sector alone employing around 24,000 people.
  • The South West Aerospace Cluster is recognised as the UK’s most capable and diverse aerospace region. It’s home to all of the top 15 global aerospace companies with an estimated worth of over £7billion.
  • The top 5 hard skills sought by employers in the region when recruiting are: auditing/analyst, business development, accounting, software development and nursing.
  • The top soft skills demanded within job adverts in 2021 within the West of England were: communications, management, innovation, problem solving, leadership, customer service, panning, operations, and enthusiasm.

NORTH SOMERSET

A number of national and international companies are based here including:

  • GE Oil and Gas
  • Brabantia
  • Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology
  • UTC Aerospace Systems
  • Yeo Valley
  • Thatchers
  • Bristol Airport
  • The Bristol Port Company
  • Smurfit Kappa
  • QuEST Global Engineering Ltd

The top five industries that are currently recruiting in North Somerset are: digital communication and marketing, legal, healthcare, administration and business support and education

HINKLEY POINT

Hinkley Point C will create 25,000 employment and apprenticeship opportunities in a broad range of occupations and careers during its construction and operation. There will be jobs in construction, civil engineering, electrical installation, hospitality, catering, logistics, security, site services, support roles and others over the coming years, and it’s not just during construction. Hinkley Point C will have an expected workforce of 900 people to run the power station throughout its 60-year operation and is scheduled to start operating in 2027.

Early estimates suggest that Hinkley Point C could save the UK population £1bn in energy bills.

Source: EDFEnergy.com

BRISTOL AND SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE

There are currently over 400,000 people employed in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bristol is now the biggest financial services centre in the South West and one of the main financial hubs outside London. A new report has revealed that salaries in Bristol are 3% above the UK average. The top industries that are currently recruiting in Bristol are: legal, media, healthcare, professional services, high-tech and engineering

GREEN SKILLS

The West of England has set an ambitious goal for tackling climate change, committing to net zero carbon by 2030.

Green skills encompass the expertise that we need to develop and support a sustainable society. Low-carbon jobs currently represent less than 1% of all jobs (6,250 out of 7,000,000) in the West of England. However, the potential for green job creation is significant. For the region to meet net zero by 2030, more than 50,000 new jobs would be required.

  • 52% of projected additional low-carbon jobs will be in construction and installation.
  • 38% of low carbon jobs will be in operation and maintenance to support the transition to net zero. 
  • 10% of additional low carbon jobs will be manufacturing-based, building on the region’s strong capabilities in aerospace and engineering.

As a result, sustainability and green skills are now a fundamental part of all Weston College study programmes.

Source: westofengland-ca.gov.uk

Growth Sectors for Employment

WEST OF ENGLAND

  • Software and digital
  • Advanced aerospace and engineering
  • Professional services
  • Low carbon
  • Creative
  • High tech
  • Construction
  • Health

HEART OF THE SOUTH WEST

  • Agriculture industries
  • Advanced aerospace and engineering
  • Marine industries
  • Nuclear power

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Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.

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Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.