Stress affects everyone, particularly in the build up to exams, job interviews and when pressure mounts at work.

At Weston College, our expert Welfare Team is on hand to help you if you are worried about your stress levels or other mental health issues.

Here are some of the top tips our Welfare Team give to combat stress…

Start a diary

Writing about your day will help you to identify things that make you feel stressed. You’ll probably be surprised to find that a pattern soon emerges; and this may be linked to time pressure, personality clashes, inappropriate demands or simply trying to do too many things at once. Keeping a diary will help you to blow off steam in a productive way.

Talk to someone

Talk through your diary with a good friend or someone at College - even the act of discussing things often makes you feel better. The College’s Welfare Team is on hand to help our students and offers impartial advice to ease the problems that you’ve discovered.

Learn how to relax

Practise deep-breathing techniques. Breathe in while counting to five; hold your breath for five seconds then breathe out slowly. Repeat this 10 times when feeling stressed, concentrating on nothing but your breathing. You can relax your neck muscles by keeping your shoulders level and trying to touch each shoulder with your ear.

Take time out

For five minutes every hour try to chill out and think of nothing but your perfect situation. This could be a dream holiday, ideal partner or simply thinking about doing nothing at all. You will be surprised at how effectively this can lower stress levels.

Exercise regularly

You do not have to be a gym freak to get the stress-beating benefits of exercise. Even 20 minutes of brisk walking three times a week will help to reduce stress as well as promoting restful sleep.

Plan breaks in your day

The aim here is to allow time for the unexpected. Get up 15 minutes earlier than you think you need to and prepare for the day without rushing. Even better, get things ready the night before. Try to have 20 minutes in which you can do whatever you want, even if it is simply sitting doing nothing.

Things to avoid

Smoking and drinking alcohol may appear to help you deal with the effects of stress in the short term, but in the long run they both lead to more tension and anxiety, and can easily lead to dependence. When smokers say that smoking helps them relax, it is because it alleviates the effects of their smoking addiction.

Weston College's Business Awards is an annual event that recognises our business partners and their apprentices. Here are five things that happen almost every year that we can't wait to experience at this year's awards dinner...

The guest speaker

At the Business Awards we always get an inspirational or motivational guest speaker (like Penny at our 2017 awards). The speakers come from a variety of industries, but usually they are a household name. They'll be present throughout the evening, so you should get to meet them and have a chat if you'd like!

Great food

Food is a pivotal part of the whole evening, and we always aim to please with a delicious three-course meal. This year, the professional catering team at Lasseter's at the Winter Gardens, under the direction of Head Chef David Newman, will be cooking up a storm...

Big prizes

Each year, the winner of the coveted Principal's Award for Overall Apprentice of the Year receives a cheque to reward them for all of their hard work.

A beautifully decorated venue

We pull out all the stops to make sure the night is memorable - and that includes plenty of decorations to create a special atmosphere. In the past we've added special touches like confetti cannons (see above) and smoke machines...

The awards...

Winning businesses and apprentices get to take home a Weston College business award to celebrate all of their achievements!

Make a nomination!

Want to enter Weston College's 2018 Business Awards? Submitting a nomination is free and easy. You could nominate your employer, your apprentice, or even yourself for an award! Need more persuading before you enter? Click here to read why you should think about nominating your apprentice...

Ready to nominate?

Click here to nominate an apprentice.

Click here to nominate a business.

Students from Weston College’s hospitality and catering department have attended their first industry event, preparing food and serving front of house at Thornbury Castle.

Level 1 and 2 hospitality and catering students were invited to a Chef’s Forum event at the hotel, where they made canapés with Head Chef Andy Chan at a sparkling wine reception.

Andy said: “The learners were a credit to the industry. They were so keen to learn, and it’s wonderful to get people like them in the kitchen and see the future of catering. They have all been really great!”

The event saw a huge range of chefs and suppliers from across the Bristol area attend, giving the students a chance to network while getting first-hand event experience.

They also got the chance to watch a number of demonstrations, including butchery, herbs and spices, and demos from the Thornbury Castle chefs themselves.

Sandra Bull, Area Manager of Hair, Beauty, Hospitality and Catering, said: “It was the first event experience for many of our Level 1 students, and they were thrilled to get the opportunity and experience a real working environment. It really helped them to get a feel for the industry and learn about potential future career paths.

“We’re so proud of all of our students for their efforts, and extremely grateful to everyone in the industry who continue to coach and inspire the next generation!”

Art and Design courses are exciting opportunities to let your creativity flow. If you’re undecided on whether or not to study an art course, here are our top 4 reasons as to why you should.

Learn a range of techniques

Our courses cover a wide selection of skills, such as painting, drawing, ceramics and photography. We will teach you new techniques, and develop your existing skills.

College facilities

Weston College has excellent facilities, we are always looking to improve the learner environment to ensure you are supported throughout your learning. We have purpose built art studios based at our Loxton Campus which will provide you with all the resources needed to develop.

Top class lecturers

Our lecturers have industry experience, and they will teach you the relevant skills needed for when you complete the course. It’s not just us that think our lecturers are great, they were also rated as outstanding by Ofsted.

Future opportunities

The industry is expected to grow 5.3% in the build up to 2024, which will provide you with more job opportunities. Art and Design covers an array of exciting occupations, from illustration to teaching, there are lots of opportunities for you. There is also the potential to earn huge sums of money, whilst working in a job you love.

If you would like more information on our Art and Design courses click here.

Offsite Solutions, the UK’s leading bathroom pod manufacturer, in partnership with Weston College has launched an apprenticeship scheme to attract new talent into offsite manufacturing.

Offsite Solutions is an important employer in the South West and recently won the Manufacturer of the Year Award at the Business Leader Awards. The company was also a finalist in the Made in the UK Awards in the Manufacturer of the Year category.

Working with its training partner Weston College, the company is looking to employ up to six apprentices who will train to be plumbers, electricians and bathroom fitters at its bathroom pod factory in Highbridge, Somerset.

The company will also be giving up to 10 existing production staff the opportunity to join a new apprenticeship scheme for team leadership and to train as electricians and plumbers. This will give them additional skills and valuable career progression.

Commenting on the new scheme, Steve Dancer, Factory Manager at Offsite Solutions, said, “Apprentices are constantly learning new techniques and bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm into a business which they pass onto their colleagues. This approach fits really well into our commitment to encouraging innovation through offsite manufacturing, to help reinforce our position as the UK’s market leader in factory-built bathrooms.”

“Our aim is for the apprenticeship scheme to provide us with a pool of talented individuals who will benefit from first-hand experience within our manufacturing operations and gain relevant qualifications to help their personal development and maximise their potential. The quality of our workforce is fundamental to the long-term success of our business and our trainees will play a vital role in ensuring we continue to achieve our ambitious plans for growth.”

Ian Porter, Associate Business Development Officer at Weston College, said, “Apprenticeships deliver for businesses, individuals and the economy. They enable young people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed and for businesses, this is a productive and effective way for them to grow their own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce.”

Vacancies are coming soon! Sign up to our Apprenticeship Vacancy Mailing list here, to be the first to hear on available vacancies. 

The manager of a coffee shop and café run as a joint venture between Weston College and Leyhill Prison has won a surprise award.

Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop is based next to the Gloucestershire prison, and is open to the public.

It employs people who are in custody as part of a Weston College social enterprise which has been created to provide opportunities for those in custody.

Kaye Thomas received the special award in recognition of her work with the prison ‘residents’ and the quality service the shop provides.

It was presented by Charles Martell, the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, who visits the shop on his regular visits to Leyhill.

“It was a wonderful surprise,” said Kaye.

“Ray Johnson, the prison governor, called me into a room to, apparently, talk about buying some new blinds for the shop.

“I was then presented with the award by Charles Martell. The High Sheriff of Somerset and the future High Sheriff of Gloucestershire had come as well. There were a few tears in my eyes I don’t mind admitting.”

The award recognises Kaye’s efforts in developing the social, communication and employability skills of the employees, who are all residents of the prison.

“It’s a very rewarding job,” said Kaye.

“As well as barista and catering training, we provide work experience and help residents develop the broader skills they’ll need to secure jobs on release.

“Everyone who works in the shop has to hand in a CV and is interviewed – just like any job.

“It’s great when former employees get back in touch to say how well they’re doing and how we helped them.”

The shop is run in partnership with HMP Leyhill by Releasing New Potential – a Community Interest Company operated by Weston College – which helps people lead crime-free lives.

Gerry Shattock, Releasing New Potential’s Social Enterprise Manager, said: “Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop is a commercial venture. That means everything has to be up to a very high standard –the quality of food, drink and service – or customers won’t come back.

“This not only provides residents with the practical knowledge they need in order to work in a hospitality environment, but also broader operational skills that can be applied in many other sectors.”

Leyhill Grounds Coffee Shop is clearly proving a big hit with customers. It’s currently the top-ranked coffee and tea shop in the Gloucester area on Trip Advisor, and second in the list of ‘places to eat’.

As well as running Releasing New Potential, Weston College provides education in prisons across the South West of England, including Leyhill. Curricula are designed to engage offenders in learning and help them find employment when they are released. The Weston College team delivers a wide range of courses in the prisons, including catering, English, maths, customer service, art, plastering, carpentry, and bricklaying.

Digital technology is advancing rapidly – at a rate that threatens to leave behind millions of people in the UK.

According to a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, around 12% of the population will lack basic digital literacy within a decade.

And this doesn’t only apply to the ‘older’ generation. Research also suggests that even the most digitally confident young people are being taken by surprise at the evolving skill-set required in an increasingly digital world.

In short, more needs to be done to equip the next generation with the digital knowledge and know-how they need to succeed.

At Weston College, providing learners with the most up-to-date digital skills and resources is among our highest priorities.

That’s why it was such a huge achievement and honour that we recently became one of 14 providers in the UK to be awarded ‘Microsoft Showcase College’ status.

As a Showcase College, we’ll benefit from billions of pounds of research and knowledge, as well as Microsoft’s support in the personalising student education. This includes the use of one-to-one devices, Office 365 Education, Office Mix, OneNote, Skype, Minecraft and more.

Microsoft will share ideas to enhance staff development, student employability and innovation, and provide the College with opportunities to host Microsoft-branded educational events.

Every PC user in the world has Microsoft tools, and every job that young people apply for will require them to use Word, PowerPoint and Excel. That’s why embedding these systems – as well as digital skills and capabilities – into our teaching is so vital.

We also get the opportunity to share ideas with other Showcase Colleges around the world – all striving to improve teaching and learning, raise the engagement and attainment of students, and to boost regional economies.

This places us within an exclusive global community, recognised for educational transformation, creativity and collaboration, and a willingness to promote a growth mind-set among staff and students.

It’s a deeply held belief of mine that everyone should have an equal opportunity to learn, regardless of background or ability. And, by providing students with the latest technology, we’re able to reduce barriers to learning – for example, dyslexia, hearing and impairments, physical disabilities, and financial and geographical barriers.

The accreditation also enables the College to run a range of courses to equip students and staff with the latest Microsoft certification and provide access to online resources that target skill and knowledge gaps. These courses are:

• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification
• Microsoft Office Specialist Expert Certification
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Certification
• Microsoft Certified Educator – specifically for teachers.

As a College, we’re constantly striving to push the boundaries in terms of what our students can achieve. This puts the onus on us to provide the very best resources and technology, and gaining Microsoft accreditation is another example of how we’re achieving this.

As Anthony Salcito, Vice-President of Worldwide Education at Microsoft, said: “Microsoft Showcase Schools and Colleges are shining examples of those applying purpose-driven innovation in a variety of ways to build connection, motivate students and to create community in and out of college.

“They are truly transforming learning and providing more personalised education to students, empowering them to achieve more.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE

Two Weston College beauty therapy learners are on their way to the UK final of a prestigious international competition.

Zoe Clarke (Beauty Therapy Level 2) and Chloe Williams (Beauty Therapy Level 3) showcased their skills to fight off competition from around 80 students in the South West heat of the WorldSkills beauty therapist event. They are among just eight students to reach the national final, which takes place in November.

WorldSkills is a prestigious international competition designed to create excitement and passion for learning in young people. Around 5,500 young people compete in various regional and national events for a place in the British squad for the international finals.

It is the largest competition of its type in the world, with apprentices and students, aged between 18 and 24 competing in 46 skill areas, including beauty therapy, robotics, graphic design, carpentry, catering and mechanics. Experts design the industry-specific competitions, which help equip apprentices and students with the skills UK businesses need to compete globally.

Both learners had 1 hour 40 minutes to perform four treatments. Chloe had to perform a back massage, mini-facial, evening make-up with lashes and French varnish. Zoe performed a tint, mini-facial, day make-up and French manicure.

Zoe said: “The amazing hands-on training I’ve received at Weston College has really boosted my confidence and knowledge, and helped me to this great achievement.”

Jenna Ratcliffe, Beauty and Sports Therapy lecturer, said: “Zoe and Chloe had to put in an additional six hours per week on top of their College timetable. This hard work enabled them to hone their technical skills, analyse each element and ensure excellence.”

Chloe said: “Going into competition is the best decision I have made. I love every minute of training and competition days and have come to realise that I really can do anything if I put my mind to it.”

The learners’ employers – Rookery Manor and Elements Hair and Beauty – also played an important role in their success. They helped Zoe and Chloe prepare by providing coaching and practice time in the spa/salon, this assisted in reducing their commercial timings to meet the competition brief.

Sandra Bull, College Lead for Hair, Beauty, Barbering, Hospitality and Catering, said: “The robust assessment processes helped Zoe and Chloe develop their confidence. They were also filmed and photographed throughout each practice so they could critique their own performance. We are extremely proud of them both – they have worked extremely hard.”

The pair will now compete in November’s two-day national final for a place in the UK WorldSkills squad.

For more details on the beauty courses at Weston College visit - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beauty-and-complementary-therapies

Weston College has been inspired by their recent win of the prestigious Employer of the Year at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards. The College who are the 9th largest Further and Higher Education College in the country, have decided to commemorate winning by launching their national ‘Fresh Start’ business awareness campaign to encourage a sea of change to kick start ‘socially inclusive’ recruitment in the UK.

The idea is a simple one based around businesses pledging to be more open minded when considering CV’s in order to discover untapped talent from wider disadvantaged groups in society, who might be struggling to get a second chance at career employment.

Employers can sign up to the support the campaign using the following link: www.weston.ac.uk/fresh-start-campaign they will receive the ‘Proud to be a Fresh Start Employer’ logo which can be used to promote their support on their own website – thereby giving confidence to job applicants to know that their CV will be viewed with an open mind and looked at holistically.

The College’s Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips CBE was inspired to create the campaign after winning such a prestigious award, he said; “We all know talented people who have struggled to return to employment after various life events whether this is someone who has been ill or cared for children or elderly relatives with a gap in their CV, or people who have recovered from episodes of mental ill health/addiction, or suffered stigma due to homelessness/existing prison, as well as disabled people or those struggling to transition from the armed services.

“If we can encourage more employers to display the ‘Proud to be a Fresh Start Employer’ logo, it will give hope and confidence to many job applicants out there, that there are a number of employers who have pledged to be that little bit more open minded when a CV arrives in their offices. In essence the ‘Fresh Start’ pledge and campaign is about opening doors and having honest conversations rather than closing opportunities and overlooking talent.”

Weston College is aiming to get 100 employers to sign the pledge by this time next year, as part of its wider strategy to increase social mobility, and to help businesses create inclusive and more diverse workplaces. All employers are encouraged to take the pledge and download and promote the logo, as a sign that they are a socially inclusive recruiter.