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News and events

We aim to keep you up-to-date with the very latest Weston College news and events. Take a look below at what's going on at the College!

Got news you want to share with us? Email marketing@weston.ac.uk

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One Message, Different Voices

Take a look at this powerful film made by the staff of Weston College to show how important it is for everyone from different backgrounds to be included. The film shares heartfelt stories and interviews with a diverse group of staff, showing how accepting different identities and backgrounds can make a big difference. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to think about their own biases and work towards making our community more welcoming to all. We invite everyone, regardless of their background, to join us and be a part of our journey toward a more inclusive future.

Halo workplace logo

Our workplace champions the right of staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black employees’ racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this workplace, we recognise and celebrate our colleagues’ identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect where hair texture and style have no bearing on an employee's ability to succeed.

weston college students

Weston College catering learners have had the opportunity to pick the brains of one of the world’s top chefs.

Marco Pierre White visited the College’s Grove Restaurant and Kitchen this week for a question and answer session with learners.

Marco was interviewed by Matthew, a Commis Chef Apprentice, and Josh, currently studying the Professional Cookery Award. Among a series of searching questions, they asked what it was like be a world-renowned chef, about his industry experience and for some top tips.

Matthew also asked Marco to name the strangest combination of food he has tasted.

“I’m a classicalist – I don’t like strange combos,” answered Marco. “I like salt and vinegar, cheese and onion – who wants salmon with liquorish?!

“In my opinion the more you do to food the more you take away from the food. I believe that, as chefs progress, dishes become simpler because they start to have confidence in themselves. So, have confidence in yourself.”

Marco shared an inspirational story about leaving Allerton High School in Leeds without any qualifications. After deciding to train as a chef, he began working in the kitchen at the Hotel St George in Harrogate, before moving to the Box Tree in Ilkley.

Arriving in London as an 19-year-old with “£7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes”, Marco began his classical training as a commis chef under Albert Roux and Michel Roux at Le Gavroche – one of the UK’s top restaurants.

Aged just 24, he and a business partner opened their own restaurant – Harveys – and, nine years later, he became the first British chef and, at the time, the youngest chef be awarded three Michelin stars.

During these years, Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal and a host of now well-known chefs all benefitted from his tutelage. These include Bryn Williams, Matt Tebbutt, Robert Reid, Thierry Busset, Jason Atherton and James Stocks.

Josh asked if Marco had any advice for those coming to the end of their course.

Marco said: “Trust people around you, work as a team and stay focussed. Take advantage of opportunities that are presented to you.

“You may have to make personal sacrifices to achieve your dream so don’t look back and have regrets. The more you work the quicker you learn; the more you invest, the more you will take back.

“Knowledge is key, so find a chef who can teach and inspire you.”

Matthew, who hopes to open his own restaurant one day, appreciated the opportunity to attend the inspirational event.

He said: “It was great to speak with Marco. It was interesting to hear his thoughts about the creation of dishes and his honesty about how tough the job can be. “It’s great that the college have the contacts to give us this opportunity and the guest chef masterclasses we benefit from as part of our course.”

If you’re interested in a front-of-house or chef course:

Marco Pierre White passes on top tips to catering learners
Weston College adult learner collects People Management Award

An adult learner at Weston College has been recognised for the exemplary standard of his work on a HR management course.

Phil Davies, HR advisor, has now completed the Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management and won the CIPD Student of the Year Award 2019 (West of England Branch) at the CIPD People Management Awards. The awards celebrate and reward the outstanding achievements and contributions made by HR and Learning and Development professionals.

The 2019 winners were announced at a ceremony at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Diane Steer, a Lecturer in HR at Weston College, said: “Phil was nominated for the award because his work was consistently of an exemplary standard. He is an outstanding learner who always contributed to class discussions and debates and was able to relate theory to his own practice. He is a credit to the HR profession.”

The College’s Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in Human Resource Management is a one-year course that’s studied one evening a week. It covers a range of units including developing professional practice; business issues and the context of HR; using information in HR; employment law; resourcing and talent planning; reward management.

Phil said: “I’m proud to have achieved a formal qualification that recognises and validates my years of practical HR experience. Many thanks to my employer for supporting and encouraging me and to my lecturers at Weston College who skilfully guided me in my studies."

Helen George, the College’s Dean of Professional Studies, said: “This is the second time a College Level 5 CIPD learner has won a CIPD Student of the Year Award. This is a real credit to both the excellent learners and staff here at Weston College. We are very proud of Phil and this his achievements.”

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Weston College adult learner collects People Management Award
weston college students

Update 20 November 2019

University Centre Weston (UCW) and Weston College graduate Henry Green has been named as the Association of Colleges (AoC) Higher Education Student of the Year runner-up. He was presented with a certificate to commemorate his success at the International Conference Centre, Birmingham, on Tuesday (19 November) evening.

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A Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) graduate is in the running to win the prestigious Association of Colleges (AoC) Higher Education Student of the Year Award.

Henry Green has made the final three for the prize, and will find out if he wins when the winner is announced during the annual AoC conference in mid-November.

Henry, from Burnham-on-Sea, completed the Level 2 Extended Certificate and Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Travel and Tourism at Weston College before progressing to a Foundation Degree in Tourism Management and Top-up Degree in Business Management with Sustainability at UCW.

The 22-year-old graduated this summer with an upper second class (2:1) honours degree having impressed his lecturers throughout his time at Weston College and UCW.

As well as being a dedicated and popular student, Henry was nominated for the award in recognition of his achievements whilst having a diagnosis of autism.

He took every opportunity to make the most out of his studies, including attending trips to the United States and Belgium and working as a student ambassador at open days and other events.

He also discussed how to support students on the autism spectrum during staff development sessions, and even took the time to speak to students on UCW’s Inclusive Practice Degree about how they too could develop their professional practice.

Henry also undertook a number of work placements as part of his studies, including at Weston’s Helicopter Museum, and has written articles about autism for a number of publications.

He said: “Weston College provided me with a positive and encouraging environment, this helped me to achieve all of the things that I did. The most important thing about my time at Weston College is that it gave me self-belief, I mostly struggled to mix with my peers and lacked confidence in my own abilities.

“I have been very lucky to be surrounded by the right people who have helped me along the way, and I hope achieving my degree encourages other people with disabilities that they can too.

“It hasn’t been an easy journey, so being considered for an award at the end of it is a welcome surprise.” Dr Paul Phillips CBE, the Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, added: “Henry is a humble young man who does not appreciate how inspiring he is to those around him.

“He won a UCW Faculty Student of the Year award last year and we will all be keeping our fingers crossed that he wins this AoC prize as well.

“He is a wonderful example of someone who has met the challenges of life head on and would be a very worthy winner.”

Henry’s shortlisting is the latest in a number of successes for Weston College at the AoC Awards, with the organisation having recently won prizes for its dedication to improving learner mental health and wellbeing and to recognise its commitment to supporting students with learning difficulties and disabilities.

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Weston College and UCW Graduate Named National Student of the Year Runner-Up