This July staff across Weston College campuses took part in our first annual Wellbeing and Community Day, which involved each department of the College participating in a fun activity to boost their wellbeing and help connect with each other, and it was a great success!  

This initiative underscores the College’s deep commitment to the wellbeing of our staff, recognising that a supportive and healthy environment is crucial for both personal and work-related success. 

Staff had the freedom to choose their own team activities and these included BBQ’s, bowling, pottery painting, rounders, escape rooms, mini golf, grooming animals at Puxton Park, board games, drawing, ceramics and floristry, and the most popular activity of the day... Bakes Offs!  

One standout activity which our Construction and Civil Engineering staff team underwent was ‘Project Tractor’ - which consisted of restoring and painting Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s beloved tractor! The restoration process included an industrial power wash, extensive sanding, painting, and safety enhancements like securing the seat and stabilising the bonnet. Additionally, a new dashboard with a speedometer was installed. The project was an exciting task for the team, and the tractor, named "Gilbert," now stands as a centrepiece for the zoo's 25th anniversary celebrations. Richard Hanney, Head of Construction Trades said: 

“We continually seek meaningful opportunities that unite our team, showcasing their skills and passion. This project enabled us to give back and make a significant impact. We eagerly anticipate our next collaboration, particularly with our Careers Excellence Hub partner, Noah's Ark Zoo." 

Lynsey McKinstry from our Business Growth Team said: "A day of giving back for well-being - stepping away from the office and supporting Puxton Park with their small animals (and we had some cuties!) a big thank you to the lovely team at Puxton (Mac and Wilson) and for organising Georgina Thorne. We’ve had a brilliant day, cleaning, grooming, supporting and learning…what a great team of staff and lovely to meet the visitors."

 

Sandra Bull, Assistant Principal of Creative, Health Industries and Leisure, said: "A great day of collaboration, meeting new friends, finding your inner artist and creative florist along with a BBQ lunch and a delicious bake off! Even the sun was shining- what a selection of talent!! So looking forward to working with this lovely lot this coming year."

 

HR Manager, Laura Holcombe said: "Weston College held a Staff Well -being day yesterday, and the HR team decided to go pottery painting!"

 

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career. 

 

Hi, my name is Kitty and I have recently completed the Level 3 Fashion, Business & Retail UAL Extended Diploma! 

Throughout my childhood I was always interested in fashion design and loved dressing up. My mum taught me how to sew at a young age which sparked my interest as I loved to create new and unique things that I could show my family. I then discovered the fashion course at Weston College online and was excited to be able to pursue a course which I had genuine interest in!

The best part of this course is the support I have had from my teachers as well as the huge array of facilities. Anything that I have wanted to experiment with, whether that is fashion based or pottery/print etc, there is always a helpful tutor ready to support me.

Learning how to make my own patterns has been fascinating, it has taken a lot of resilience but when you get the pattern right the feeling of accomplishment is amazing.

The facilities are incredible, we have access to so many amazing tools that we are free to use from industrial sewing machines to an incredible print room. These facilities really helped me to boost my work and create interesting outcomes.

The amount of support we have at the college is fantastic and is something which took me by surprise! The summer show at the end of each year is an incredible way to showcase what we have created. It’s really lovely to be able to show your friends and family what you have been working on throughout the year.

I would highly recommend the fashion course! A lot of hard work and dedication needs to go into your work to get good results, however it is all worth it in the end.

Below is some of the work I created during my time on the course. Thank you for reading!

Weston College has announced that David Crew, the Head of Business Growth & Employer Partnerships, will be joining the Somerset Chamber of Commerce as Managing Director starting in September. David has been a vital part of Weston College Group since 2016, playing a crucial role in driving the College’s growth and strengthening its industry connections. His efforts have significantly contributed to the College’s recent ‘Strong’ rating in regional skills by Ofsted.

The Somerset Chamber of Commerce, a key employer representative body in the region established in 1995 and accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce, will welcome David as Managing Director. The Chamber represents members who employ a 15,000-strong workforce, reinforcing its importance in the regional business landscape. Weston College, as a Business Partner for the Somerset Chamber, will continue to collaborate closely with David and regional skills partners through initiatives like the Local Skills Improvement Plans.

Reflecting on his tenure at Weston College Group, David Crew said,

“Weston College is an incredible organisation, and since joining in 2016, I’ve been fortunate to witness colleagues deliver its mission of ‘creating brighter futures’ every day. It’s a truly inspiring College that changes lives. I’ve enjoyed seeing the culture of integrating employers into the curriculum through its Careers Excellence Hubs and the College being at the forefront of skills training with T Levels, Skills Bootcamps, and Apprenticeships. Over 1,000 businesses now work closely with the College to access its training and inspire its learners. I’d like to thank all my colleagues and the committed employers who support the College. I look forward to continuing to champion the further education and skills sector, which I believe is the beating heart of our regional skills ecosystem.”

Jacqui Ford, Interim Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, expressed her gratitude for David’s contributions, stating,

“David joins the Somerset Chamber with our best wishes and thanks for his contribution to the College and its work with employers through his leadership of the Business Growth team. As we look forward to a new academic year, the College is in an incredibly strong position, and the solid links with employer partners are a key factor in our success. We look forward to continuing to work with David in his new role at the Somerset Chamber of Commerce, a key regional partner of the College.”

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

My name is Gary, and I recently completed the adult Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations.

May I start by saying; having been one of the eldest students on the course I found the thought of undertaking this course a little daunting. It has been a very long time since I was expected to study and undertake exams, assessments etc. From the first classroom session it was clear that the teaching staff were very good in their professional fields, their teaching techniques were second to none, they took time to explain lessons and more importantly actively encouraged questions, regardless of if it seemed daft or not. They would take time to deliver the question in a simpler form and patiently explain the outcome, making the whole process pleasurable (believe it or not).

The teaching staff would encourage a positive attitude when it came to undertaking essential exams to progress the course to the next stage. Those who were a little unfortunate to miss out on a pass would be offered additional help and reassured that the exam would be passed. They were very sympathetic and supportive if someone did not make the grade at that particular time, and the course candidates were actively encouraged to work together and help each other, which was very refreshing to see.

Again, Lee’s, Andy’s, and Mark’s knowledge in practical sessions greatly helped to get to the result, a pass on the course. No matter how many times things needed to be explained or demonstrated they would be patient and approach various ways to explain and demonstrate the task being undertaken. Their knowledge of electrical principles was outstanding and made the course even more enjoyable.

In my opinion they are an asset to Weston College, and with tutors of this calibre I can only see Weston College going very far in the education world. The commitment these staff have to get their students through the course is again outstanding, despite the long hours put in to deliver the course while teaching daytime students.

My name is Richard Perks, and I am a professional chef living in Canada with my family!

I started my career at Weston College, completing the NVQ1-2 Professional Catering course from 2001-2003, which helped me lay the foundation of cooking basics. I had an interest in catering from a young age as my father and grandmother are both very good cooks, and I enjoyed cooking with them as a child. I made the decision to study at Weston College as I wanted to develop this passion into a career, and I knew Weston would give me the best opportunity to turn my dream into a reality. Furthermore, I knew Weston would have the best catering department in the local area, including top-of-the-range facilities and incredible teachers.

Through the course at Weston College, I was lucky enough to travel to Italy for work experience. My time in Italy went so well that I was asked to stay and continue the work I was doing for Massimo Spigaroli, who was known as the ‘Italian Salami King’. Through my work for Massimo, I attended an Italian university and studied traditional Italian cuisine. Just before graduating from this university, I was sent to a Michelin starred restaurant for work experience. After graduation I went on to work for Corrado Azensa (the pastry chef featured in season 4, episode 2 of ‘Chef’s Table Pastry’ on Netflix).

After living in Sicily and working for Corrado for a year and a half, I moved to Hong Kong for 6 months to work at an Italian restaurant. I enjoyed Hong Kong; it was certainly different than living in Sicily. After a short stint in Hong Kong, I moved back to Italy for a few more years under Massimo in Parma.

I then returned to the UK and lived and worked in London for a Michelin restaurant as well as working under Head Chef Malcolm Campbell for a short period. Malcolm Campbell is now a top chef in Canada and a good family friend of ours.

I then moved to Australia, and I was Senior Sous Chef in one of a top 10 restaurant in Western Australia. I then met my wife and moved to Canada after 7 years in Perth. Since I've been in Canada, I have worked at Pinestone Golf Club as a job during the pandemic. From there I moved out to Nova Scotia to work at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs, which are both in the top 10 public golf courses in the whole of North America.

From there, I have taken an Executive Chef role in a very good private school, just outside of Toronto. We serve a Marche-Style service to 1000 people a day. From homemade lasagne and pizza all the way to sushi bars. The change of pace is due to being a father to two very young children and looking for the right work-life balance. Since being at the school I have reached the Canadian Chefs Cup final two years running; I came 5th in my first year and last year I placed 3rd. I will be running again this year, hoping to place 1st.

My favourite part of working as a chef is the opportunity it provides to travel the world and experience so many different cultures and foods. If I had decided to enter into a different industry, I would not have had the incredible experiences I’ve had!

I have had so many highlights in my career and I could never pick just one, but a favourite from recent years has been competing in the Canada Chefs Cup. In my personal life though, raising my two children and being the best father I can be, is the most important part.

In recent times, a memorable success has been winning the International World Catering Championships, where I won Gold for Canada.

I originally came third in the Aramark's Canadian Chef's cup in April 2023, which I was very pleased with. Later in the year Adrian Salalac (the winner) contacted me to be his sous chef for team Canada. I was honoured to and we spent the last 4/5 months practicing and preparing for the finals.

We were up against 9 other teams, the champs of South America, Chile, UK, Czech Republic, China, South Korea, Germany, Belgium and Spain.

The final went over 2 days. The first day you had to prepare your written menu and collect all your ingredients you would need from the mystery store and common pantry. Then cold prep your menu within 2 hours. The following day we had 3 hours to prepare 3 courses for 4 people, the starter had to be vegan. <>The mystery store had local proteins and produce from Canada. Things like elk shoulder, whole duck, whole pickerel (a fish), scallops, cod, wild boar belly, honeycomb, rhubarb, birch syrup, local mushrooms, lentils and local pulses.

The teams were all very strong and approached the challenge differently. It was so much fun networking with chefs from around the world.

Here is a recap video of the final!

My start at Weston College really set the precedent for the rest of my career; being able to travel abroad for work experience in my first two years of studying inspired me to continue travelling the world and resulted in my extremely successful career so far. I can’t wait to see where it takes me next!

Find out about our Catering & Hospitality courses, here!

We are excited to announce that three students from Weston College have made it to the WorldSkills National Finals, a huge achievement in their education and careers!  

WorldSkills is a technical skills competition that enables young people to showcase their skills to the highest standard. The event features several stages – regional, national and international – and around 50 skills areas. These include beauty therapy, web design, hairdressing, cookery, electrical installation plus plumbing and heating. WorldSkills UK aims to improve the prestige of apprenticeships and technical education and inspire more young people to consider these as career routes. 

The Weston College students heading to the National Finals are: 

• Amber Hinton in Foundation Skills Health and Social Care 
• Jack Stevens in Foundation Skills Horticulture 
• Aiden Pocknell in Welding 

As these students get ready for the next stage of the competition, they serve as an inspiration to their peers and future generations. The finals in Manchester this November will be an exciting event, showcasing the best of technical skills in the UK. 

If you're interested in getting involved with WorldSkills, click here to find out more. Speak to your tutor and find out what opportunities are available to you.  

My name is Jodine, and I study Business, Management and Leadership as a T Level at Weston College!

During my industry placement as part of my T Level at Sytner Mercedes-Benz in Weston-super-Mare, I experienced nothing but excellence. From the moment I stepped through the door, I was warmly welcomed into the Mercedes family.

This placement not only allowed me to delve into the intricacies of the automotive industry but also provided me with a profound self-discovery journey. As I shadowed various individuals within the sales and service team, I gained invaluable insights into each role and its responsibilities, enabling me to define my future career aspirations, which ultimately led to me getting an amazing job opportunity and joining the team.

The managers consistently cultivate an environment where individuals feel esteemed and acknowledged, demonstrating a commitment to approachability and supportiveness. Mercedes-Benz is a community where you seamlessly become part of the family.

The real gems of this experience were the people. They are not just colleagues; they are treasures who are always ready to lend a helping hand, brighten your day, and ensure you feel like an integral part of the family. In retrospect, the people I encountered at Sytner Mercedes-Benz were the defining factor in making my industry placement truly exceptional.

I have cultivated a diverse skill set integral to the field of business management. My experiences have honed my commercial awareness, refined my communication skills, bolstered my self-confidence, and heightened my emotional intelligence.

I have demonstrated initiative, excelled in information retention, and showcased problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and analytical prowess. Moreover, my resilience and adaptability have been tested and proven, complemented by strong social skills, adept teamwork, and proficient listening capabilities. This comprehensive skill set positions me as a valuable asset in the realm of business management.

My placement at Mercedes-Benz has proven to be instrumental in enhancing my academic pursuits in business management. Applying theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, I have honed my communication skills, cultivated a nuanced understanding of customer service and complaint resolution, and observed first-hand the dynamics of managerial and team meetings.

Additionally, the experience has been invaluable in advancing my IT proficiency, providing exposure to sales and aftersales processes, fostering teamwork strategies, and refining problem-solving methodologies. I have been able to see how managers put the methods, tools, and skills I have learned in my business management course into practice with the employees. The challenges encountered during the placement have fortified my resilience, contributing to a comprehensive and enriched learning journey that seamlessly complements my academic curriculum.

Following the completion of this industry placement, I am thrilled to have been offered employment at Sytner Mercedes-Benz! I am excited to start my career, and would recommend taking the Business, Management and Leadership T Level because the work experience element of the course can open many doors.

Thank you for reading!

Sytner Mercedes-Benz Weston-super-Mare:

“Since starting Jodine has been brilliant, engaged, welcoming to customers and we have already had comments from customers on how helpful she is”

“Jodine has been excellent and her presentation that she presented to the management team was exceptional, well thought out and she used the time she had here to record a huge amount of information whilst working in each department. This led to a really good understanding of how our business operated”

Weston College and The Bristol Port Company have proudly won an award at the inaugural PSS Awards, at Stamford Bridge in London, celebrating their collaboration in modernising Bristol Port’s induction process.

This accolade marks a significant milestone in their joint efforts to enhance employee engagement through cutting-edge technology and interactive learning.

Bristol Port sought to move beyond the outdated methods of standard induction videos and basic multiple-choice questions, aiming for an engaging, interactive, and technologically advanced experience.

Their goal was to create an induction process that went beyond a tick-box exercise to truly immerse new employees.

The collaboration was rooted in the shared ethos of curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to innovation. Together, they developed a state-of-the-art induction programme featuring:

• Bespoke Content: Tailored to meet the unique needs of Bristol Port
• Interactivity and Innovative Design: Engaging new employees through dynamic elements
• 360-Degree Footage: Providing an immersive experience of the port environment
• Trackable Data and Digital Certification: Ensuring progress is monitored and certified digitally.

Since its implementation, the new induction process has been a huge success. New employees gain a deeper understanding of the company from day one, allowing them to transition to specialised training swiftly and effectively.

Louise Pratten, Head of Digital Education at Weston College, said: “We are so proud of the work that we have completed with The Bristol Port Company, and the fact it has been recognised on a national scale shows how impactful this has been and will be moving forward.

“Through this innovative partnership, we have set a new standard for employee engagement and training, demonstrating how strategic alliances can drive meaningful change and achieve remarkable success.”

If you would like to collaborate with Weston College, you can contact employers@weston.ac.uk

If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College here. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

On Thursday 10th of July, we held another successful ‘Takeover Day’ at the Weston Job Centre Plus. Thanks to the hard work put in the event went very well, drawing an impressive 282 customers.

Tutors and support staff across a wide range of faculties were available to have personalised one-on-one conversations with attendees, offering tailored career advice and guidance on the steps needed to achieve their professional goals, as well as information on the courses available at Weston College to help make these goals a reality.

The feedback from the Job Centre Plus customers has been overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees expressed how beneficial they found the day, praising the valuable advice and guidance they received. The additional services, such as haircuts and nail treatments, were also a huge hit, adding a special touch that made the event even more enjoyable and memorable.

The strength of our partnership with Job Centre Plus and DWP was evident throughout the day. This collaboration is the cornerstone of our ability to organise events like these, which have a profound and positive impact on our customers. By working together, we can continue to put on events which provide comprehensive support that addresses various needs, making a real difference to people’s lives.

Over the next week, our course advisors will be collaborating closely with Job Centre Plus customers who have expressed interest in our courses. They will assist these customers with their enrolment forms, ensuring they have everything necessary to embark on their new journey towards employment and personal development.

In November, we will be hosting another 'Weston College Takeover Day' at the Weston Job Centre Plus. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!