Our motto ‘Creating Brighter Futures’ is clearly evident within our sporting provision.

As well as boasting fantastic facilities – including the brand-new Health and Active Living Centre (HALC) – our outstanding courses form a range of progression pathways, which have resulted in four former students being employed in our sport faculty.

We sat down with Matt, Dan, Liam and Sarah (pictured left to right) and asked them about their experiences and how the College has developed over the years.

We cannot wait to continue to build on our existing success and create brighter futures for more young people. Click here for more information on Sport courses. 

It’s fitting that Weston College has the honour of sponsoring the Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing category at this year’s Bristol Law Society Awards.

As well as supporting a vital organisation in the local legal sector, this also gives us the opportunity highlight a range of subjects that resonate closely with the College’s values and priorities.

In recent years we’ve worked extremely hard to take our law-related provision to the next level and, in doing so, support local employers that operate in the legal industry.

We created the Law and Professional Services Academy following a multi-million-pound redevelopment to of the Winter Gardens Pavilion on Weston seafront.

It features a library, new computer equipment, technology-enhanced ‘pods’ for group study, a café, classrooms and social spaces, and we’ve also been able to maintain the traditional elements of design, which make the Winter Gardens so iconic.

This bright and spacious facility offers training across law and other professional services, and provides students with a large and diverse range of training.

We’ve worked closely with hundreds of employers across the region to create specialised and professional courses that offer clear progression routes.

As well as giving students clearly defined routes into the industry, the academy enables business to access cost-effective training courses and apprenticeships that will help them develop their workforce.

Employers have the opportunity to train their staff from Level 1 to university-level and can also work with us to create bespoke courses that meet their specific business needs.

Our courses range from the Law A Level and Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship through to the CILEx Law and Practice Diploma at Level 3 and Level 6.

The sponsorship of this award also enables us to highlight another area in which we’re leading the way – that of wellbeing and mental health.

We recently devised an organisation-wide initiative to enhance the mental health, wellbeing and welfare of our learners, staff and the sider community, and ensure they have the emotional resilience to meet the increasing demands of 21st century life.

The programme consists of a framework of ‘body and mind’ initiatives, including free mindfulness, meditation, dance and yoga sessions.

It also involves forging strong partnerships with the local authority, charities and clubs; hosting a series of sports, healthy eating and wellbeing sessions; and tackling issues such as low self-esteem, low confidence and smoking cessation.

This pioneering initiative received national recognition this year, by winning an Association of Colleges Beacon Award, with judges highlighting our commitment to creating an ethos that puts mental health, wellbeing and welfare at the forefront of its investment.

Aside from this programme, we’re proud to hold both the ‘Gold’ and ‘Champion’ Investors in People accreditation, which also recognise the College’s proactive approach to the mental health, wellbeing and welfare services of its staff. The College also offers staff free Mental Health First Aid training and provide a counselling service.

This issue of health and wellbeing was also central to the development of our Health and Active Skills Centre, which opened in September. As well as tackling the current skills shortage in the sector, this impressive facility also addresses longer-term issues that affect our health service and the health of the local population.

Like the finalists in this category of the Law Society’s Awards, we recognise that the most successful and robust organisations are diverse and inclusive. It’s in the fabric of the College that everyone has the right to be treated fairly and without discrimination, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, circumstances or background.

The finalists in this category – Barcan+Kirby, DAC Beachcroft and RPC – have all embraced these values wholeheartedly and any one of them will be a worthy winner on the night of October 24th.

I’m very much looking forward to the event and wish all three companies the very best of luck. To find out more about Weston College’s range of law courses and facilities, visit the Law and Professional Services Academy page of our website.

Weston College is celebrating its status as market leader in the delivery of apprenticeships by organising two events to mark National Apprenticeship Week (March 9-16)

In the last year the College has seen a 300 per cent growth in employer work placements, which has resulted in lots of vacancies as young people look for alternatives in a tough job market. Employers have also found them to be a very useful way of training 'on-the-job', with 90 per cent of Weston College apprentices being offered a permanent position.

Mid-March marks the start of a national annual drive to promote apprenticeships. From March 9-16 Weston-super-Mare's Sovereign Centre will be hosting a Weston College 'pop-up shop', in which visitors are able to learn more about apprenticeships from expert staff, who will be on hand to give out any information and advice they require.

Also on offer in the shop are a range of free activities related to apprenticeships including wall-building, nail art and manicures, hairstyling, life-saving and learning how to estimate property values.

On Wednesday March 13, between 6-8pm, the College is hosting an Apprenticeship Information Evening at Knightstone Campus (BS23 2AL). Parents, potential apprentices and businesses are all welcome to attend this free event, which is a vital source of information.

Weston College is the biggest facilitator of apprenticeship programmes in the region and its Training Solutions, based at the South West Skills Campus on Locking Road, was set up to provide businesses with relevant and flexible training programmes.

The College has seen a 77 per cent growth in apprenticeship applications, with more than 20 new apprenticeship job vacancies each month.

Helen Booker, Apprenticeship Manager at Training Solutions, said: “The College offers a very wide programme of apprenticeships to people aged 16 and over, with more than 50 different areas to choose from. Naturally, school-leavers are very well represented in this area but apprenticeships can be taken up by anyone, especially adults looking for a new career via a training programme, and also offer a route to degree level study.”

The College's Apprenticeship programme can be studied at Levels 2, 3 4 and 5 and learners can progress through these levels while continuing to work in their chosen career. Apprentices develop the majority of their skills in the workplace, working alongside experienced and skilled staff.

Bobby Turner, 22, from Weston, undertook a Business Administration Apprenticeship at Weston College and has recently begun a new role with the procurement team at Lloyds Banking Group.

He said: “I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone as there are some great job opportunities available. They are tailored to your particular role and the experience teaches you what’s involved in working in a business environment.”

Nine College students so impressed local developer MLDUK on work experience that they have been kept on until August. Then, some of the Construction and Engineering Centre of Excellence (CECE) Apprentices may be offered full-time positions working with the Weston-based company.

College Construction Curriculum Lead Shaun Canniford said: “MLDUK are doing maintenance work at the College and offered students some work experience. In August, they will be reviewed and some could be offered permanent positions.

“We try to embed work experience as part of their training. This is a fantastic opportunity and shows that MLDUK wants to invest in their commitment to the College."

MLDUK spokesman James Lloyd-Jones added: “We were delighted to support the College and impressed by the calibre of both the students and expertise offered to them by staff. We look forward to working with the College more closely in the future.”

The College’s popular multi-skilled maintenance course provides a taste of many different disciplines including plastering, tiling, decorating, plumbing and carpentry.

The CECE has won a ‘National Training Award’ for the South West of England and is part of a £10 million South West Skills Campus project at Weston College. As part of this, a £300,000 three-bed completely sustainable detached eco-home is being built for hands-on experience in sustainability.

There is also a £3 million refurbishment of the Hub building – an employment skills centre to aid people back into work. A further £6 million has been spent on the Business Enterprise Centre, £1.5 million on a new Automotive centre together with a £770,000 multi-sports surface.

The CECE delivers training in a wide range of construction occupations including plumbing, electrical installation, carpentry, trowel trades, painting, decorating, plastering, property maintenance, as well as renewable energy courses and Apprenticeships. There are specialist workshops for training electricians, bespoke brickwork and carpentry workshops, along with online learning. The CECE is also a test centre for the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and health and safety card.

There is a 100 per cent success rate for Level 2 qualifications with around 70 per cent of CECE students finding work in industry, while others enhance their DIY skills.

Professional make-up artist Jennifer Lenard took a break from working on the set of the upcoming period drama Fanny Lye Deliver'd to guest lecture at Weston College on Tuesday (29th March).

Jennifer, who specialises in airbrushing, wig making and prosthetics, began her career working on TV productions such as Last of the Summer Wine, Dalziel and Pascoe, and Dancing on Ice, and her recent credits include The Office, Doctor Who, Pride and Prejudice, and Star Trek.

She came to Weston College to demonstrate a variety of airbrushing techniques to the College’s Hair and Media, and Level 2 Beauty students. She transformed College student Jessica Rees, age 17, into a geisha – complete with kimono – and answered question about working in the professional make-up industry.

Sandra Bull, Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Curriculum Manager, said: “Jennifer is a BAFTA award winning hair and media make-up artist with extensive industry experience and so it was a huge pleasure to have her here working with our students.

“Having influential demonstrations and instruction from key industry professionals is a great way to raise student aspirations and for them to see how exciting the hair and beauty industry is to be working within.” 

Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Centre is available to the public and offers a range of hair and beauty treatments at competitive prices. All treatments are performed to a very high standard by trainees under the supervision of experienced, qualified staff.

For more information or to book an appointment, contact the Hair and Beauty Centre at hair&beauty@weston.ac.uk. 

A Royal Marine who lost his leg helping a crashed motorist on the M3 visited Weston College to give an inspirational speech to sports and public services students.

Lee Spencer, 47, came across the car accident and began helping the injured driver and passengers using first aid training he had learned during his 24 years in the army.

Suddenly, another car crashed into the vehicle, sending the car’s engine and gearbox flying across the motorway lanes towards him. The impact severed his right leg and dislocated his left.

He used the training he learned as a Royal Marine to instruct a bystander to tie a tourniquet around his wounded leg and got the bystander’s daughter to stop the bleeding by standing on his femoral artery.

He told the students about the impact the accident had on his life, and how he was inspired to help change other people’s lives by raising money through a variety of sponsored walks, marathons and even rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

He gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records for being part of the first disabled crew to sail the Atlantic raising awareness for Row2Recovery.

Rebecca Ranson, Weston College Section Area Manager for Sports and Public Services, said: “This was a fantastic and inspiring opportunity for the students to find out about life in the army, how to act in an emergency situation, and how the training they're undertaking can help in real-life scenarios.”

Local pork belly and crackling, Cheddar mash with Thatcher’s cider sauce; seared Brixham scallops with squid ink risotto and pea shoots – these are just a couple of the dishes invented by David Newman for Lasseter’s at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, which opened in September...

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“Great food is important to me,” he tells us as we sit in The Florentine Bistro, another new addition to the Winter Gardens complex.

“Good food makes people happy, and the key to good food in my opinion is making the dining experience special. A big part of this is the food, but there are other aspects that make a meal great.

“At Lasseter’s, we want the food to be accompanied with natural and memorable service, great views of Weston’s bay, and we want the food to tell a story. Another important factor is ensuring value for money.”

David grew up in the Weston-Super-Mare area and has fond memories of visiting the Winter Gardens as a child. It was at a young age that David developed a keen interest in food, inspired by his dad, a former RAF chef who has cooked for royalty.

At the age of 15, having completed work experience in a professional kitchen, David started working part-time jobs around his school work as a kitchen porter at Cabot and preparing vegetables at a local Hewish farm. As the years went by he completed an apprenticeship at the Summerhouse in Worle, then gained more experience at the Woolpack.

His first major job was sous chef at Mendip Spring Golf Club, and from here he went on to become a head chef at The Exchange in Bridgwater, where he cooked for high profile clients such as the BBC, and gained a mention in The Times.

After this he went from strength to strength, becoming catering manager at Bristol Water’s head office before returning to the kitchen as head chef at the Friends Life Centre in Bristol. Some highlights of his career around this time were cooking at places like Ascot Racecourse and the Olympics at the Olympic Park, London.

Most recently, he has been working as head chef for catering giant Chartwells at Millfield Senior School in Street, Somerset. At this exclusive school, David worked with top chefs Nick Dorber, Dean Parsons and Chartwells’ executive chef Andrew Walker. These chefs shared David’s love of food and inspired him to take on the opportunity at Lasseter’s at the Winter Gardens.

The restaurant itself follows a 1920s-inspired theme with a modern twist. The Winter Gardens’ iconic columns are painted with luxurious hues of navy and gold, and the bar is adorned with vintage mirrors and blue tiles. The split level layout means that diners at Lasseter’s get to admire the stunning views along the seafront, and there are plans to use the sheltered outdoor seating area on the seafront for barbeques and outdoor catering in the summer months.

The restaurant’s name is a nod to Dr Paul Lasseter Phillips CBE, Weston College’s Principal and Chief Executive, whose leadership of the College since 2001 has been the driving force behind its recent success, and has enabled it to purchase and restore this iconic seafront venue. This recognition is continued in some of the restaurant’s dishes, in particular the Dr 57 cocktail, one of Lasseter’s signature drinks.

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At the Honeytree Day Nursery we invest in apprenticeships as we believe that apprentices are practitioners of the future. We like to train apprentices and support them in gaining their qualification. We do this as we recognise that at times it is difficult for young people to gain the experience required to follow their career aspirations. All we ask for in return is hard work and a commitment to follow our ethos and values.

Apprentices allow us the opportunity to ‘home-grow’ our practitioners and as such we employ 98% of apprentices once they have completed their course. There are clear progression routes for our apprentices and this is evident in one of our Deputy Managers who started off as an apprentice within our business. I myself completed my Level 3 full time at college and if I was to turn back time I would have completed my qualification through an apprenticeship as the benefits are clear, both for apprentices but also employers. A very big benefit of completing an apprenticeship is the fact that you are getting paid as you learn, and you get to know what it's like to work in the industry. Employers see it as the ideal way to form their perfect employee, which is why so many apprentices are offered jobs at the end of their course. Apprentices are also entitled to paid holidays and other benefits.

The things that employers look for in an apprentice are quite simple. We look for people willing to work hard and commit to enhancing the lives of children. We work very closely with Weston College and we know at what stage each of our apprentices are at. This allows us to give support in the workplace.

Another benefit is that our apprentices work with a range of different ages ranging from 6 months to 5 years and in some of our nurseries the children are older as we offer holiday club. This means the apprentices receive a wide range of knowledge and understanding for different age children that may be in their care.

Jay Sparkle,

Lead Manager,

The Honeytree Day Nursery

Weston College took home a Bristol Life Award last week for its services to education in the Bristol area.

The Bristol Life Awards are in their second year now, and celebrate the best businesses in Bristol, Bath and the wider region. As an expanding college group, delivering a variety of training from fulltime study and apprenticeships to teaching in prisons, Weston College has become a strong educational force across the West. 

Beating off competition from education providers including ASDAN, Claremont School and Boomsatsuma, Weston College was recognised for its work with leading employers, and for its success rates which consistently surpass national benchmarks.

Judges for the awards included some big names in Bristol business and education, such as Jane Roscoe, Executive Dean at UWE Bristol, and Anna Starkey, Creative Director at We The Curious. 
The judges were impressed by the College’s continued investment into the regional economy, the way it supported young people and adults into gaining employment, and how it provides “positive outcomes for some of the most disadvantaged people in society”.

Calling the College “incredible,” the judges said that Weston College is “having great effect on higher education in the South West.”

Current student, Lorna Davey, met Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Weston College’s Principal and Chief Executive, to accept the award on behalf of the student body. Lorna studied Media Production at Level 3 before progressing to a Foundation Degree in Film and Media Arts Production at the College’s university centre. 

She said: “I can definitely see why the College has won this award – they provide so much for students not just locally but across the area and beyond.

“Throughout my time with Weston College, I’ve progressed more than I thought I ever would. They offer amazing support and progression opportunities, and put a lot of time and effort into helping their students. Having studied here, I’d never go anywhere else.”

Dr Paul Phillips CBE said: “We are thrilled to be recognised for our contribution to the region. We strive to support all of our students, no matter where they are or what they are studying, and this award is a testament to the hard work of our tutors and staff who continue to go above and beyond.

“We are most proud of our students, who continually exceed expectations with our support and help us prove that we really are the best in the West of England!” 

Weston College is currently the only Ofsted ‘outstanding’ college in the region and was recently awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education and two Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards for widening participation in education and inclusive practice.