Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Weston-super-Mare today (13th April) to open Weston College’s South West Skills Campus.

The South West Skills Campus, based at the former Bushacre Business Park on Locking Road, was purchased by the College in 2010 and has undergone a multimillion pound renovation to transform it into a facility for computing, engineering, technology, motor vehicles, and construction.

During the visit, The Princess Royal met key members of College leadership team including Dr Paul Phillips CBE, the College’s Principal and Chief Executive, as well as local dignitaries including the Mayor of Weston and the Chief Executive of North Somerset Council.

Her Royal Highness then went on a tour of the facilities, watched College students working in the engineering workshops, and met apprentices from GKN Aerospace and Rolls Royce, two large companies that have moved their engineering training to Weston College since it opened its engineering centre in 2015.

In the College’s computer numerical control workshop, The Princess Royal turned on an engraving machine that created a commemorative brass plaque, which was presented to Her Royal Highness at the end of the visit.

Following this, The Princess Royal was then invited to try a virtual reality device, before unveiling a plaque to open the campus, signing the visitors’ book and being presented with a Bristol Blue Glass Jug.

Before leaving, Her Royal Highness was given a posy by Herons’ Moor Academy pupil, 11 year old Libby Swinney.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “I am very proud to see where Weston College is today, and how the College has been an influence in the regeneration of Weston-super-Mare through the creation of inspiring facilities and the provision of excellent teaching and learning.

“I am honoured to celebrate the opening of the South West Skills Campus with The Princess Royal, who opened our Loxton campus a few years ago. It was interesting to hear her thoughts on the growth of the College since her last visit, and her thoughts on the importance of increasing the opportunities for women in the fields of science and engineering – something the College itself has been passionately working towards for a number of years.”

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.”

Coming to College can be a daunting experience. There will be lots of new faces and this could be the first time you’ve been split up from your friends since primary school. This short guide will hopefully make everything seem a little bit easier...

Talk!

On your first day you will find that lots of people will be in the same boat as you, so you will not be the only nervous one. Although most of our students have friends from school that come to the College, they might all be in different classes - or even different campuses! When you start your course don’t be afraid to talk to people. Your class mates will appreciate you making the first move and this can be a quicker way of getting to know the people that you’ll be spending the next two years with.

Set a goal

Challenge yourself to talk to a new person every day, whether this be at the bus stop, in your class, or in the library. The more people you chat to the more likely it is that you’ll find someone with similar interests, and make friends. By talking and hanging out with different people, you’ll get to meet their friends as well and this will be a great way to expand your social group.

Get to know people outside of class

When your class finishes see if anyone wants to hang out in the canteen, or go to one of the College's cafes for a Starbucks or Costa. This can be a great way of getting to know each other in a more relaxed environment, and also means you won’t be hanging around on your own while you wait for your next class. If you take the initiative by asking your class mates then you can build connections and you’ll soon make friends.

Join a club

There are lots of sports teams and clubs which you can join when you come to Weston College, and this can be an effective way of meeting like-minded people. You will already have something in common and if you don’t bond with the people on your course, then this can be another great way of meeting new people.

Be yourself

You'll be studying alongside people with the same interests and ambitions of you, so just be yourself and you'll naturally bond with the people on your course. Don't forget - if you ever want to talk to someone at the College or need help settling in - our expert welfare and pastoral support teams are on hand to help!