My name is Allan, and I recently completed a Plant Bootcamp at the Construction Training Centre (CTC), which has really helped open the doors to my next great opportunity. 

I gained access to the course through an organisation called ‘Positive People’ and thought it would be a good course for me to complete as I’d always preferred outside, hands-on work instead of working in an office environment, which I’d previously done for more than 20 years in the Transport industry.

I’d always liked the idea of getting involved in the building/construction industry, so I started by enrolling for a Dumper/Roller course. This course was short and enabled me to get a foot in the door within the industry. The staff at the Construction Training Centre were extremely helpful and approachable. My tutor, in particular, was insightful and inspiring.

Upon completion of the course, it took some searches to find employment due to my lack of experience, but I eventually was offered employment via an agency called ‘Options’, where I was working on the A39 in Minehead, building a new footpath/cycle path for four weeks.

Following this, after a short break and searches, I found work through another agency, ‘Harbon’. This time I was working in Wincanton on a biomass plant, as a dumper driver. This work is still ongoing, allowing me to receive a stable income.

After being fortunate enough to gain some experience in the industry, I would like to go back to the CTC to complete the 360 digger and telehandler courses - I feel they would give me a great advantage for my future career.

I would encourage those out there considering a course at the CTC to definitely give it a go – if you are not work shy and enjoy working in the elements, I would recommend looking at what opportunities are on offer in construction.

Thank you, Weston College, for the perfect introduction to the Construction industry!

Find out more about the CTC, here!

Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced industrial strike action that will affect GWR and CrossCountry rail services on Thursday 7 December - Potentially impacting trains to Weston-super-Mare on this day.

On Thursday 7 December, a reduced, revised timetable will operate across several train operators, including GWR. Many parts of the GWR network will have no service at all and trains that are running will only be operating for a limited period during the day.

On the days after strikes, services could also be affected by a limited number of short-notice cancellations and alterations.

Online journey planners are being updated and details are published below.

Click here to read the full update and details from GWR.

Level 3 Business BTEC students were treated to an exciting and educational experience as two professionals, Adi Day and Beth Patch from Purplex Marketing, stepped onto the campus to deliver a lively workshop. They brought creativity and industry insights to eager learners, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and curiosity. 

Purplex came in to give an insight into what B2B (business-to-business) marketing entails and added to the industry relevance of information being learned. The workshop aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, offering valuable perspectives on the ever-evolving landscape of marketing. 

The workshop was able to give learners a deeper understanding of business-to-business marketing, as well as giving them an insight into potential progression routes into the world of marketing. Purplex were also able to share costs of marketing with learners, making the workshop current and industry specific. The links between concepts covered in their course and the real world is imperative to help learners prepare for assessments. 

Learners were able to see real life progression into industry as Beth Patch was previously a learner on the Level 3 Business course, and now she is Senior Social Media Executive at Purplex! Rebekah Bond from Purplex who helped plan the workshop was a previous learner with Weston College as well.  

The workshop was an excellent way for learners to apply real world experience to their ‘Developing a Marketing Campaign’ module. Part of the controlled assessment for the unit involves learners developing a campaign for a given business case study. The workshop comprised of a case study based on one of Purplex’s customers, getting learners used to working with specific business cases. 

Business lecturer Dan Pratlett celebrated the workshop’s success saying: “Purplex coming in and speaking to our learners added some real depth to the information they receive on the course. The learners have a much better understanding of the marketing environment and are more motivated to succeed in this area. The insight that Purplex gave into business-to-business marketing will really help learners when it comes to their controlled assessment and their future learning.” 

This workshop forms part of the Business Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

A big thank you to Adi and Beth for coming in and delivering an effective workshop. A big thank you to Rebekah from Purplex as well for helping to organise the workshop. 

To find out more about Level 3 Business BTEC, click here.

Weston College students in the A Level Media class were treated to an enlightening guest lecture by Sheikh Shahnawaz (Nawaz), Managing Director and Co-founder of Ozel Creative. Nawaz, a seasoned professional in the creative industry, brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the eager students. While discussing Ozel Creative, he discussed the challenges and triumphs of creating a brand with a vast client base for marketing and social media.  

In addition to Nawaz managing Ozel Creative, he is also a freelance film director and producer. He has recently directed, written and produced a feature film “Bluff” which is available to stream on Amazon Prime. He has also directed and produced several other exciting projects.  

Nawaz sought to inspire the learners he was speaking to saying: “Don't underestimate your resources available as a student. Go out there and experiment with different forms of media on your devices. I always knew that I wanted to make stuff, so I started out by using handi-cams from college to film random videos.  

“You might want to approach different organisations and ask to make free content for them. You might want to apply for media work experiences based on your interests. You might want to go with your friends to film a passion project on your phone! That's how I started, with that little curiosity!”  

A Level Media lecturer Ethan Shi was delighted by the guest lecture saying: “It was really fantastic to see Nowaz giving key insights to the creative industries to my Y1 learners, sharing what it takes to succeed by working your way up from A-Level Media.  

“It's really important to explore every opportunity! The industry talk will motivate the learners to discover their passion and really want to pursue their key interest!" 

This guest speaker forms part of the Sixth Form Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields. 

The outsider knowledge and perspective will help the A Level Media class better understand their Advertising & Marketing module where they were analysing and evaluating a variety of print and audio-visual products by acknowledging how it's made, its purpose, industry context, and audience delivery. 

A huge thanks to Nawaz for inspiring our learners! 

To find out more about A Level Media click here, to find out more about all of our A Levels click here. 

On Wednesday 22nd November, teams from across Weston College took over the Weston Job Centre Plus, to showcase the opportunities and courses of all levels which are available to adults.  

From an idea that stemmed in the summer, which the Department for Work and Pensions supported, the initiative was able to turn into a rewarding and worthwhile event, helping adults progress towards employment. 

Tutors and support staff across a wide range of faculties including Pre-Employment, Part Time/Full Time Adult Courses, Traineeships, Apprenticeships, Access to HE, Bootcamps and ESOL were in attendance, offering advice on the best next steps to those who came along. 

The Job Centre welcomed over 300 people on the day, resulting in a fantastic number of sign-ups to courses of all levels, giving the opportunity for upskilling, retraining or beginning a new career. 

The Hair and Beauty department were offering free haircuts and manicures, and the Digital Education team bought along their VR headsets. The free activities created a welcoming and inclusive environment, and were a highly positive addition to the event.  

Mike Hudson, Strategic Lead – Recruitment Adult Studies, commented on the success of the event: “Here at Weston College, we understand the impact that upskilling and retraining can have on an individual's career. This is why we choose to run events such as these, making them as inclusive and accessible as possible to get advice and guidance to those who require it. 

“I’m thrilled with the success of the event and the positive feedback I have received since. It would not have been possible without the incredible team at the Job Centre, the DWP and, of course, the Weston College staff – it really goes to show what a bit of collaboration can achieve.” 

Click here to find out more about our adult courses.

Weston College's Foundation Learning Football Academy is making headlines, as they qualify to represent the South West at the AoC National Finals, taking place in April at Nottingham University.

Qualification was secured in a stunning 6-0 victory against Yeovil College, a testament to the team's dedication and collaborative spirit, with star of the match, Lucas Adams, showcasing his skills with an impressive hattrick.

Nick Chadwick, one of the team’s coaches, expressed pride in the players' hard work and commitment: “This journey to the National Finals is a testament to the incredible dedication and inclusive ethos of our team. Every player, contributes to our success, fostering a true sense of unity and sportsmanship.”

Joe Radcliffe, one of the other coaches echoed these thoughts, saying: “We have seen some amazing performances, with the team scoring lots of goals on route to the final. The team continue to impress us every match, and we’re looking forward to the finals in April.”

As they gear up for the National Finals at Nottingham University, the team is poised for another thrilling chapter in their remarkable journey.

A huge well done to the team, and good luck in the finals!

The College was delighted to host Loud Speaker for an engaging workshop titled 'The Game of Life.' This empowering session was specifically crafted to guide our students in cultivating resilience and confidence while elevating their aspirations. The workshop seamlessly integrated elements aimed at enhancing emotional intelligence and fostering the development of unique personal storytelling skills. Students from various disciplines, including Sport, Creative Arts, Animal Management, Education and Early Years, Business, Engineering, and Construction Careers Excellence Hubs, enthusiastically participated in this enlightening event. Loud Speaker's dynamic approach left a lasting impact on our students, equipping them with valuable life skills for the journey ahead.

The speakers were fantastic, delivering impactful and thoughtful workshops with high energy. A key element of Loud Speaker’s workshops involve developing young people’s ability to speak confidently in situations like an interview, a first date or on a stage. Loud Speaker say that “For the young people that we interact with, the future is a beautiful mystery. The only thing that’s certain is that they will have to source opportunities and convince people to take a shot on them.”

One of the speakers Richard gave us some inspiring words: “As much as we all love technology and social media, I feel like we’re losing that ability to look someone in the eye and use our voices confidently and competently.  

“I want to be able to go into colleges across the country, especially here at Weston College, to be able to give young people that skill and also make them feel confident that they can use their voices again in any walk of life that they choose to use it.”  

We spoke to our Head of Personal Development and Student Voice, Antonia Travers who said: “It was fantastic to have Loud Speaker come in and deliver exceptional workshops to our learners, for the second time. We had four facilitators deliver eight, three-hour sessions, over three campuses.  

“The workshops were highly energetic and motivational, they supported the development of learner's communication, resilience and inspired them to think about their futures and aim high. 

A huge thank you to Loud Speaker for coming in and inspiring our learners!  

This workshop forms part of the College’s Careers Excellence Hub programme; where we are committed to preparing learners for success in a rapidly evolving world and job market. These additional experiences for our students are designed to help our students gain valuable life skills and bridge the gap between education and a career.

Recently our ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners took part in an exciting exercise hosted by our LibraryPlus team. The class was given an immersive demonstration of the latest virtual reality (VR) technology, opening a gateway to a new dimension of learning. The students, many of whom had never experienced VR before, eagerly donned headsets to explore innovative tools that could one day revolutionise their educational journey. 

Weston College aims to integrate VR into its curriculum, recognising its potential to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. The initiative reflects our commitment to preparing students for the challenges of the modern workforce, where technology plays an increasingly vital role. The students enthusiastically embraced this cutting-edge technology. 

The VR experience was a hit with the ESOL learners. Student Mohammed said: “It was amazing! Very different, and a strange feeling but something very new.” Learner Tony particularly enjoyed the experience saying: “I really enjoyed it; it was super fun!”  

ESOL lecturer John said: “It was an amazing immersive experience. Students were able to explore with focus.” 

Weston College public services students were visited recently by Tony Wilson, a Physical Training Instructor at Bristol Prison for a guest lecture. During the lecture, Tony emphasised the importance of resilience and determination, highlighting the challenges he faced while pursuing his passion for physical training. He spoke passionately about his time at Bristol Prison, emphasising the role of physical fitness in inmate rehabilitation. 

We are particularly excited to have Tony join us, since he is actually a former Weston College student! Tony said: “The public service course equipped me with all the necessary skills and now I am excelling in my role as a [Physical Training Instructor] PTI.” 

Lecturer Nicola lauded the visit saying: “Tony came into college and enthused the current Public Services cohort with tales of his experiences and exploits in the Prison services.”    

Tony Wilson's return to Weston College not only showcased his success but also highlighted our commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals prepared for diverse career opportunities. The lecture left a lasting impression, motivating students to pursue their passions with determination and aim for a future filled with possibilities. 

This guest speaker forms part of the Public Services Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields. 

If you want to find out more about public services courses click here.