News and events

As part of its ongoing commitment to inclusion and wellbeing, Weston College has officially signed the College of Sanctuary Pledge, reinforcing its vision to be a place of welcome, understanding and opportunity for all.  

The pledge builds on the College’s 5Cs Trauma-Informed Approach for a Compassionate College; Connect, Care, Consistent, Challenge, Celebrate. This framework is a whole college approach that embeds these core principles into every aspect of college life. This holistic strategy fosters a culture of psychological safety, promoting positive behaviours, emotional wellbeing, and a supportive environment where everyone, especially those who have experienced adversity or displacement, can thrive. 

Signing the College of Sanctuary Pledge is a natural next step in this work and strengthens the College’s commitment to championing sanctuary seekers and ESOL learners across its campuses. 

As part of the national City of Sanctuary movement, the College of Sanctuary initiative recognises and supports further education institutions that foster a culture of welcome and understanding for those fleeing violence, persecution, and hardship. By signing the pledge, Weston College commits to going above and beyond to support sanctuary seekers in achieving their educational and personal goals. 

“This pledge is more than a promise, it’s a reflection of our values,” said Chloe Wilde, Director - Social Justice and Student Support at Weston College. “We are dedicated to breaking down barriers to education, championing inclusivity, and ensuring that every learner, no matter their background, feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.” 

Through a range of ESOL courses, community engagement activities, and targeted support services, Weston College has long been a beacon of opportunity for sanctuary seekers. The College’s inclusive approach ensures that learners from all backgrounds receive the tailored support they need to thrive both academically and personally. 

 By signing the pledge, Weston College also commits to: 

1. Promoting understanding and awareness of sanctuary issues across the College community 
2. Sharing good practice and learning with other colleges and stakeholders 
3. Developing and expanding outreach and partnership work with local refugee and asylum organisations 
4. Embedding sanctuary values into college policies, staff development, and curriculum content 

By signing the pledge, Weston College is taking another meaningful step toward becoming a recognised College of Sanctuary, reflecting its commitment to using education as a force for positive change and a way to create a more inclusive, supportive community for everyone. 

 To learn more about Weston College’s ESOL programmes, please visit -  PRE EMPLOYMENT COMMUNITY ESOL COURSES | Weston College

Welcome to the August 2025 edition of our Careers and Employability blog!

This month, we’re focusing on sharing useful resources to support our learners as they plan their next steps. Whether you’re preparing for further study, looking to gain work experience, or exploring future career opportunities, our team has put together a range of helpful tools and guidance to get you started.

We’ll be highlighting:

· Career planning resources – to help you map out your goals and explore your options.

· Employability support – from CV and interview tips to building essential workplace skills.

If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at cet@weston.ac.uk. A member of the team will be more than happy to help.

Welcome Natasha!

We’re excited to welcome the newest member of our team, Natasha!

Natasha has joined us as our new Careers and Employability Administration Officer, and she’ll be playing a key role in supporting both the team and our learners. With her excellent organisational skills and friendly approach, Natasha will be helping to make sure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes – from coordinating resources to ensuring learners get the right information at the right time.

We’re thrilled to have Natasha on board and excited to integrate her into our team!

UCW Careers and Employability update

University Centre Weston's careers service is continuing to prepare for the year ahead - bespoke course-specific resources and taught careers sessions are being developed with student's needs front of mind. The UCW Careers Coaching webpage has been updated to include information about the support available to students and apprentices - visit Careers Coaching - University Centre Weston to find out what's on offer for its students studying at Higher Education level.

Careers and Employability resources to support you!

As you plan your next steps, this month’s edition we wanted to share our most popular resources to guide, inspire, and support you along the way. If you would like to ask the team a question please contact us at cet@weston.ac.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.

General Careers Support:

The Careerpilot website is a one-stop, impartial careers platform designed to help 11–19 year olds explore and plan their future education and career pathways.

The Somerset Careers Hub is here to help you explore your options and feel confident about your next steps after school or college. 

AllAboutSchoolLeavers.co.uk is a UK-based platform designed to help students explore their options after school. Whether you're interested in apprenticeships, school leaver programmes, sponsored degrees, or going straight into work, this site has everything you need to make informed decisions.

CV Creation: 

Canva has hundreds of free CV templates for you to choose and edit to produce professional looking CV’s.

Careers and Employability Team - Access CV guidance, careers support and get in contact with us.

Apprenticeships:

The Amazing Apprenticeships website is a UK-based platform dedicated to promoting apprenticeships and technical education. It serves as a comprehensive resource hub for students, parents, teachers, and employers. There are free webinars to watch and gain more insight into apprenticeships with some of the biggest companies globally. 

The UCAS Apprenticeship page is an official service for searching and applying for apprenticeships in England. All vacancies on this webpage is pulled directly from Find an apprenticeship - GOV.UK

Podcasts: 

Squiggly Careers is a podcast that explores many different avenues, challenges and questions when it comes to your career journey.

Employment/ Self-Employment: 

The King's Trust webpage offers information for different industries, guidance on how to set up a business and information on how to apply for financial support to help make your business successful.

Congratulations on receiving your GCSE and FE results!

We're really looking forward to welcoming our new students to Weston College this year. For those already studying with us, we're equally excited to see you back on campus and continuing your journey with us.

• UCAS applications are open and learners can submit - Tuesday 2nd September 2025 (For learners who will be starting University in September 2026).

   

• 'Whats Next?' - Career Showcase for school leavers - 24th September 2025.

Get in touch with the Careers and Employability Team, by clicking here. 

Weston College is delighted to celebrate the achievements of the pilot cohort of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) staff who have successfully completed the Higher Development Award. This milestone highlights the dedication, growth, and professional development of the Trust’s administrative and clerical colleagues.

The Higher Development Award is designed to empower a vital staff group, equipping participants with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to thrive in their careers.

Feedback from the cohort has been overwhelmingly positive:

“The programme gave me the confidence to speak up in meetings and recognise that my voice matters – I’m not ‘just’ an administrator.”

“I now feel empowered to volunteer for new initiatives, like A3 Thinking, and contribute beyond my usual role.”

“I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the difference between equality and equity – and why both matter in the workplace.”

“This experience helped me realise that I play a vital and relevant role in the NHS – I’m more than just an administrator.”

This inspiring programme was brought to life by a range of guest speakers from across UHBW who showcased the breadth of their professions.

Recognising and uplifting the voices of those who work behind the scenes is a core focus of the programme. Weston College and UHBW are proud to celebrate the achievements of this pilot cohort and are already looking forward to welcoming Cohort 2 soon.