Weston College is officially a Further AND Higher Education establishment following a successful bid to the Government.

The move towards offering more degrees at the College ties in with North Somerset Council’s strategy for the regeneration of Weston-super-Mare and will lead to an eventual aim of having a ‘University Centre’ in the town.

Although Weston College already offers degrees, its new status means it will be able to expand its provision significantly, leading to many more new jobs for the town and surrounding area.

Welcoming the news, Dr Paul Phillips, Weston College Principal and Chief Executive, said the College’s new status tied in with the continuing development of its South West Skills Campus (SWSC) on Locking Road, extensions to Loxton Campus on Locking Road, the development of the North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College at Junction 21and improvements at its Knightstone Campus.

He said: “The time was right to go for this bid, particularly when the town of Weston-super-Mare will be seeing major regeneration in the very near future in the form of Junction 21 and the Dolphin Square development. I am jointly working through the Local Enterprise Partnership and North Somerset Council so that the idea of regeneration in Weston-super-Mare leans towards a ‘town centre urbanisation project’ with HE a major feature of this.”

Mike Jackson, Chief Executive of North Somerset Council, said: “This is excellent news for North Somerset, and Weston-super-Mare in particular. We work very closely with the College and I am delighted that their bid to Government has been successful. Weston College already plays an extremely important role in Weston-super-Mare’s economy. As we look to the future, Higher Education should play a significant role in delivering development and investment in the town centre, which is a priority for the council.”

HE provision at Weston College has grown rapidly, with around 800 students now on HE courses with partners Bath Spa University and the University of the West of England. It is hoped that a new centre may easily double this number in the next few years.

Weston College’s aspirations tie in with a speech made recently by Universities Minister David Willetts, who said that HE provision should focus on economic ‘cold spots’.

The minister said that he hoped the removal of controls on student numbers from next year would result in more campuses being set up. He added: “There are no barriers to setting up a higher education campus. If this is your town’s dream we want you to pursue it.”

Former international rugby player Lee Byrne visited Weston College to talk about his career and answer questions from the College’s sports academy students.

The rugby star was shown the College’s sports facilities, including its new 3G artificial grass pitch located on the former site of Grove Park’s tennis courts.

Lee told the students about his career, which included working as captain for Newport Gwent Dragons, playing for Wales in the Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008, and as full-back for the Lions in South Africa in 2009.

During the Q&A, Lee said that he left school at a young age as he was not receiving support for his dyslexia, before commenting that he “would have loved to have come to a college like Weston,” which was awarded a Beacon Award in 2012 for its training programmes for learning support staff.

Sam Bate, 17, from Bridgwater, said: “It was a different experience to a normal guest lecture, Lee’s a big name in rugby and gave us a great insight into professional sport.”

Paul Taylor, Weston College’s Sports Development and Performance Manager, said: “This session has offered invaluable information to our students about training techniques and what it takes to be a professional sportsperson.”

“These insights will be useful to our learners, both in lessons and throughout their future sporting careers.”

With the gender pay gap hitting headlines on a constant basis we take a look at why it’s not just men who make good engineers…

Across the UK there is a skills shortage of engineers, which is why we’re investing millions of pounds into creating courses to provide trained engineers that meet the country’s future needs.

This shortage means that engineers are paid well and there are a variety of engineering specialisms that you could pursue. On the flip side, the lack of women in the engineering industry not only contributes to the gender pay gap but also deprives us of a considerable amount of talented individuals that could make a huge difference.

In the UK, only 20% of people enrolled on degree-level engineering programmes such as our new Higher Level Apprenticeship are women, which is a shame because girls possess the same ability to be successful in this field as boys!

On the whole, girls tend to do better at GCSE and A Level, and in the crucial STEM fields, girls do just as well as boys. Year after year, we see young women matching or even outclassing their male peers in maths and science exams – both fundamental technical skills for an engineer.

More and more, the engineering industry is crying out for engineers who not only have proficient technical capability, but are also good communicators who work effectively in teams and can explain their work to key stakeholders. Other crucial skills include a strong, analytical mind and attention to detail. All of these are things that women excel in.

Liz Griffiths, Weston College’s Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, told us about the route that took her into a successful career in engineering. She said: “When I left school I was unsure about the career path that I wanted to pursue.

“I knew that my favourite subjects were maths and physics, so I wanted to find an occupation that related to those subjects.

“I was lucky enough to attend a seminar on women in engineering and was immediately interested in the exciting and varied career options that are available in the engineering industry, so I started to investigate the different kinds of apprenticeships that were available.

“The most important piece of advice I would give to girls that are considering getting into engineering is that it’s a very diverse and well-paid career and there is bound to be a pathway that interests you.

“If you’re unsure, it’s worth going to college open days to see what different types of engineering courses and apprenticeships are available.”

Weston College welcomed a top Bristol chef into its Grove Training Restaurant to teach Level 3 students all about what it takes to cook good food.

Istvan Ulmann, Head Chef at Berwick Lodge in Bristol, lead the Professional Cookery students in an advanced session focusing on meat and offal.

Using topside beef, the students were challenged with creating the classic dish of beef olives with a modern twist, keeping up with the rosette standards at Berwick Lodge.

The students learnt about butchering and portioning, rolling, tenderising, mincing and tying, braising, searing, and a huge range of other skills in their morning session.

The results saw the students successfully make the beef olive filled with mushroom stuffing, served with sage gnocchi, glazed carrots and a beef jus.

This opportunity was part of a chefs' forum partnership aimed at introducing Weston College students to high calibre chefs.

Click here to find out more about the College's Hospitality and Event Management courses...

Twenty six Weston College and University Centre Weston Animal Management, Business Management and Travel and Tourism students returned from the trip of a lifetime to San Francisco earlier this month.

The trip saw the students have incredible experiences such as visiting the headquarters of Facebook, Google, and Apple, walking the Golden Gate Bridge and visiting the infamous Alcatraz prison. The fun didn’t stop there, they got to attend the Academy of Science, the Aquarium, the Zoo and The Walt Disney Family Museum.

Lecturer Olivia Hill said: “The trip contained some amazing opportunities for students that they may not have got to experience in the UK.

"Visiting headquarters of leading tech firms was a real plus for business students, while the animal students had a fantastic learning experience at the Academy of sciences.

"For Travel and tourism students, Alcatraz provided them with a great example of how a top tourist attraction can run.”

Josie Skuse, Travel and Tourism student, said: “The trip was fantastic, we were able to see and do so many things.

"It was so interesting to experience the culture of San Francisco and learn about the importance of historical events that happened in the area. Alcatraz was an experience I will never forget.

"Seeing iconic locations and visiting the headquarters of internet giants such as Google and Facebook was great to see. We visited Japanese Tea Gardens, Pier 39 and the academy of science, which was fascinating.

"The whole trip was very enjoyable and well run with a great community of student and teachers to travel with.”

Worried about enrolment? There’s no need to be. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and to ask any questions about college.

Enrolment is the last thing to do before starting your course in September. You will receive your college student lanyard, bus pass (if one is needed) and student planner ready for the first day of term. If you’re starting your second year, you’ll have to re-enrol through the same process as before.

You should have received a letter explaining about enrolment, including a date, time and place for yours. If you can’t make this slot, don’t panic – you may be able to rearrange or enrol during the first few induction days at college.

When you turn up to enrol, a member of college staff will take you around, explain what to do and be on hand to answer any questions. You will need to bring a form of ID and your parental consent slip to enter your details into the college system and to register as a college student.

Enrolment is also an opportunity to purchase an optional bus pass to allow you to make use of the public bus services around Weston and beyond.

For some students, enrolment day will also be an opportunity to apply for a bursary (if eligible) and have specific learning assessments to determine whether additional help will be needed for things such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia etc.

Lastly, you will have a photo taken for your student lanyard and our online systems – so remember to smile!

Here are a list of things to remember for enrolment:

• A form of ID (e.g. Passport, Driving Licence, Birth Certificate)
• Parental Consent Form
• GCSE Results
• Money for a Bus Pass (optional)

Happy enrolling!

Only businesses with an annual wage bill of £3 million pay into the levy

It is widely believed that all businesses pay into the apprenticeship levy, but this isn’t the case. Only employers that have an annual wage bill of more than £3 million pay into the apprenticeship levy. Organisations that meet this criteria must pay 0.5% of their wage bill into the levy, and this can only be retrieved by investing in apprenticeships.

For every £1 that a levy-paying organisation invests in an apprentice, the government adds 10p. If you don’t pay into the levy, the government will fund 90% of apprenticeship training costs!

Even business that don’t hire an apprentices are paying into the levy

Some businesses believe that you only pay into the levy if you hire an apprentice. But that’s not true. ALL BUSINESSES with a wage bill over £3 million pay into the levy.

So, by choosing not to train an apprentice, many businesses missing put on a share of the pot they’ve contributed to.

The levy can be used to train all employees - regardless of age

The levy doesn’t have to be used to train school leavers or new recruits. It can go towards the training of existing staff – regardless of age.

The levy can be used to provide members of staff with industry-specific or transferable skills, like team leading. Apprenticeships also cover a range of levels, including degree level. This is an effective way of developing existing staff and strengthening your work force.

The levy gives businesses more control over their apprenticeship programme

Another misconception is that businesses have less control over apprenticeships that are funded by the levy. That’s not true. In fact, the levy has actually made it easier for employers to choose bespoke packages that meet the needs of their business.

If you’re confused about the levy, or not sure how it can be used to benefit your business, get in touch with our Training Solutions team.

You can email apprenticeships@weston.ac.uk or call 01934 411 594.

Alternatively, you can find out more on the team’s webpage.

There have rarely been more employment opportunities in the UK construction industry than there are at present.

Companies are crying out for a new generation of qualified workers due to a skills shortage driven by new infrastructure projects, the government’s plans to build 300,000 homes a year, digitalisation of the industry and a rate of retirement that’s outstripping recruitment.

The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has reported that the industry will need to find 157,000 new recruits by 2021.

This skills shortage brings with it a host of opportunities, including great employment prospects, job security and an exciting and varied career.

Weston College is at the forefront of this drive to create the next generation of skilled workers. Our South West Skills Campus, based at Locking Road in Weston-super-Mare is a hub for younger learners entering the industry, with courses such as: bricklaying, site carpentry and general construction skills, among others.

This year we will also be opening our Construction Training Centre, which expands on the existing construction training facilities by offering training and qualifications in three areas where the skills gap is at its widest – scaffolding, plant operations and groundworks. This Centre is based just off the M5 at Weston-super-Mare. For more details on training in these areas, please click here.

So, now you know there are a host of relevant courses on your doorstep, here are some more reasons to choose a career in the construction industry.

Employment opportunities

Around 157,000 new construction jobs are expected to be created over the next four years, as new projects are announced and a generation of workers retires.

The government has pledged to build 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s, which in itself, presents huge opportunities for aspiring construction workers.

Plus, the government has committed to an additional 3,000,000 apprenticeship ‘starts’ across all industries in England by 2020, with a substantial proportion of the opportunities likely to be within the construction sector.

This demand for workers also means that the sector boasts strong job security.

Job satisfaction

Few careers are as rewarding as those in the construction industry.

The satisfaction of seeing your work develop in front of your eyes is one of the most fulfilling aspects of working in construction. You can watch a building transform and grow into the finished product, knowing you have made an important and lasting contribution to the landscape.

Competitive pay

The construction industry is highly competitive, meaning that the salaries are, too. Most technical trainee roles can start on £25,000 a year, while more experienced technical workers can earn £48,000 and above. Trades roles also pay well, generally, with higher skilled workers earning from £15-£25 per hour.

Variety and choice

The construction industry is extremely varied and offers something for everyone – from carpenters, plasterers, plumbers and bricklayers, to engineers, surveyors and project managers. What’s more, no two jobs are the same or in the same location. This means you can work in a huge variety of projects during your career, and will have the opportunity to work across the country and, possibly, abroad.

You’re always being challenged – physically and mentally – and required to find solutions for new problems.

Progression opportunities

The wide variety of roles and projects brings many opportunities to progress. Construction is also viewed as a very meritocratic industry where hard work pays off – after all, many company CEOs started out at the bottom. And, unlike other sectors, construction workers are frequently presented with opportunities to gain new skills and move into different roles.

Innovation rewarded

The construction industry is constantly evolving, as client expectations grow, projects become more complex, and technology improves. Companies continuously need to find more innovative ways to design, build and deliver, which creates opportunities for new employees with fresh ideas and methods.

For more information on our construction courses, please click here.

Hi, I’m Josh, and I recently won Bronze in the national BTEC Awards’ IT and Computing Student of the Year.

When I started the BTEC IT course, I was at a low point, having had an unsuccessful year of A Levels in my secondary school. I decided to change over to this course, as I have always been passionate about IT and it is a subject that I perform strongly in. It also allows me to make things happen and create solutions and make processes more efficient.

The BTEC course suited my learning style to a tee, as it doesn’t just teach you theory, it is very practical. This enabled me to gain a better understanding of subject areas such as Networks, Software Development and Security. I also developed my communication skills through units such as Project Management and Effective Communication – which is something that has helped me both academically and personally.

During my first year of the course, I completed over 50 hours of work experience at PureComms – a local Telecommunications firm. I highly enjoyed this experience as it gave me an understanding of the industry, and also opened my eyes to potential future career paths.

I have now completed my course, and chosen to go on and complete an apprenticeship to develop my industry knowledge. I have been fortunate enough to receive two exciting job offers from well-known brands within the industry – one in software development and the other in cyber security.

I really enjoyed this course and appreciate that Weston Colleges recognises my efforts by including me in the prospectus, on banners, and use my quotes across social media and the website. I am also a role model for people with disabilities, as I haven’t let my cerebral palsy hold me back. I have worked hard and my success proves this.

I would highly recommend this course if you are practical learner and love all things technology.

Josh Callicott

Tech Weston

With digital skills being fundamental to economic growth and recovery, Weston College continues to engage with and listen to employers ensuring we understand the support businesses need to thrive, whether it’s upskilling the existing workforce or accessing future talent. We have been working with leaders across the tech industry to evolve our offer to ensure Weston College is the training destination for tech talent.

We’ve developed and streamlined our website to make is easier for employers to understand and access the wealth of learning opportunities and expertise available. Discover the newly created TECH WESTON web page, and see the range of bespoke training, online courses, skill-specific bootcamps, apprenticeship programmes to industry placements: www.weston.ac.uk/techweston