News and events

Last month, our Travel & Tourism and Business students took a trip to Copenhagen to experience the culture and visit a range of tourist attractions, gaining a deeper understanding of the impact these have on the economy, as well as the operations behind these successful organisations.

During the trip, students had an excellent blend of free time and structured activities, visiting attractions such as Tivoli Gardens, the second-oldest theme park in the world with a variety of rides, gardens, and high-quality food options. This was a fun-filled and historically rich experience, giving students the chance to create memories whilst considering what makes this amusement park so successful.

Additionally, students and staff took part in a walking tour of Copenhagen, visiting iconic sights across the city, as well as a tasting session of the honey and drinks made in Copenhagen. Following this, the group went on a river boat tour where they explored the city further around the canals, seeing the beautiful landscapes and hearing about the rich history of the city.

On top of this, they explored Nyhavn which is known for its 17th-century waterfront and brightly coloured buildings. Students had lots of free time here, visiting various restaurants and many shops, immersing themselves in this popular tourist destination. During their free time, some students even visited museums to make the most out of the trip and immerse themselves further in the culture.

This trip was an excellent way for students to make lasting memories with peers and explore a new city, with some of the students never having flown and experiencing many things for the first time. It gave them the confidence and independence of navigating a new city, whilst providing students with practical lessons in global tourism and successful business management. This will prepare them for future careers in the Business and Tourism industry, as well as enrich them in new cultures and experiences before they finish their course.

Copenhagen is also known for its sustainability, being a global leader in green energy with the aim of becoming a carbon-neutral city. This forward-thinking environment and its strong emphasis on green practices is an excellent example to our students, allowing them to observe how successful companies and tourism systems operate within a sustainable framework.

Ben Melhuish, Head of Business and Tourism at Weston College, added, “This trip was a fantastic experience for our learners to not only gain lasting memories with their friends, but also apply their classroom knowledge to a real-world setting full of popular tourist destinations and thriving international businesses. Taking 40 students on an international trip is never without its challenges, however our students presented themselves with respect and maturity, making it a pleasure to organise trips like this and watch them experience many new things.”

A huge thank you to the chaperones on the trip, Ben Melhuish, Hannah Forrest, Claudia Jagger, and James Lockyer, for making this trip possible!

@westoncollege

Copenhagen Best Bits and Bloopers - watch till the end! 😭

♬ original sound - WestonCollege

This curriculum trip forms part of the Business and Tourism Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Business! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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.

Last month, Weston College proudly hosted the Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT) South West Regional Competition at the Winter Gardens, welcoming talented students from across the South West and Wales. The event provided an exciting platform for aspiring professionals to showcase their skills, creativity, and technical expertise in a competitive, real-world environment.

Our FE Hair and Barbering, Beauty Therapy, and Make-up and Prosthetics students, alongside UCW HE Makeup, Wigs and Special Effects BA (Hons) students, took part in a wide range of categories. From body painting, theatrical ageing, and face painting to cut and blow-dries, facials, and hairstyling, the competition challenged students to apply their practical knowledge under time pressure while maintaining high professional standards.

We are delighted that 14 of our students have progressed to the AHT National Finals in Blackpool on 11th May, where they will compete against top students from across the UK.

Taking part in competitions like this plays a vital role in our students’ development. Working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment helps to build confidence, resilience, and adaptability which are essential qualities for careers in the hair and beauty industry, where working with clients often requires quick thinking and professionalism.

The experience also enables students to refine their technical skills and push their creative boundaries. Constructive feedback from industry professionals gives them valuable insight into current standards and expectations, helping them to elevate their work and continue improving.

In addition, the competition provides invaluable networking opportunities. Students are able to connect with peers who share similar ambitions, as well as industry experts, allowing them to exchange ideas, gain inspiration, and build relationships that may support their future careers.

Competing in a respected event such as the AHT also strengthens students’ professional portfolios. It demonstrates their ability to perform at a high level in a competitive setting and provides credible, industry-recognised experience that will stand out to future employers.

It was also great to see former Beauty Therapy student and training WorldSkills judge, Maddie Hulbert, on the judging panel. Her fantastic progression and achievements act as a role model for our students, showing them what can be achieved with hard work and perseverance.

Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors at Weston College, added, “Seeing our students apply their classroom knowledge to a professional competition and do so calmly and maturely was fantastic to see. It reflects how far they have come since they began their course, and I am so proud to see what they have achieved. I would also like to say a huge thank you to the FE and HE Hair, Beauty, and Media Makeup team who have worked tirelessly with our students. These fantastic results are also a reflection of the hard work you’ve committed to our students.”

A huge thank you to VTCT and the judges for their time, expertise and invaluable feedback that will inevitably elevate the learner experience.

We wish all of our finalists the best of luck as they prepare to represent Weston College on a national stage in Blackpool.

This competition forms part of the Hair and Beauty Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

Progress to the next level in Hair, Makeup and Special Effects! At University Centre Weston (UCW) our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. Click here!

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.

Recently, our Construction learners delivered several high-quality flowerbeds to Weston Hospital for their Sanctuary Garden as part of the students’ Growth & Grace Community Action Project, creating a space that patients and staff can visit filled with plants and flowers that have been grown on site. 

This was a fantastic initiative led by the Construction trades, getting all students involved to build 11 high-quality planters and a potting table. Students also created a wooden crate and supplied a variety of seeds and bulbs, bags of soil, gardening tools, and watering cans to provide the hospital with everything they need to begin growing their sanctuary garden. 

Each of the Construction trades worked hard to create the planters using recycled materials, learning new skills and gaining a better understanding of the importance of community engagement. From Plumbing, Electrical and Plastering, to Bricklaying and Carpentry, our students worked together to design, build, and treat the planters. Not only this, students also explored the role of the hospital, the importance of community, and how their skills can positively impact others within their Personal Development sessions. 

Students and staff then delivered the planters to the hospital, setting them in place as directed and treating the wood again before filling them with soil ready to be used. They also attached a wire trellis above the larger planter to allow for the plants to grow and flourish. This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to see the space that they had created and meet the staff who will help to maintain the area, allowing them to experience the impact that their work has had on the community and give them a sense of pride in their work. 

Richard Hanney, Head of Construction Trades at Weston College, said, “The standard of work and attitude from our learners has been outstanding. They have delivered on their promise, and more importantly, they have represented the very best of what young people can bring to their community. The Growth & Grace is not a one-off project, it’s the start of a long-term partnership with Weston General Hospital and the Chaplaincy team, supporting the incredible work they do.” 

One of our Bricklaying students, Izzy, added what this project has meant to her, saying, “It was lovely to deliver these planters to the hospital and make somewhere that can often be quite a sad environment a little bit brighter. I’ve found myself visiting family at Weston Hospital, so it feels good to come for something happy and do something nice for the community and the patients.” 

A huge well done to the students who got involved with this initiative, your hard work made this project a success!  

This Community Engagement Project forms part of the Construction Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys.  

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.