On September 30th, our Engineering Apprentices attended a Sustainability Conference in the Winter Gardens Ballroom where they received guest lectures from a range of employers and industry professionals regarding their approach to sustainability in the workplace and how they are incorporating it into their systems.  

The day was kickstarted with guest speaker, Olivia Whittle, a Project Officer at Celtic Sea Power. She discussed the company’s work to develop a strong and sustainable workforce for the Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) sector in the Celtic Sea. This helps to deliver offshore renewable energy at scale, and support upgrades to ports, grid and infrastructure. This gave our learners a deeper understanding into sustainable, offshore renewable energy and the impacts this has on the environment.  

This was followed by guest speaker, Clare Hennessey, the Planning and Sustainability Director at Bristol Airport. During her lecture, she discussed the sustainability progression of Bristol Airport in upcoming years, with the new refurbishment and plan for the future, making Bristol Airport one of the leading sustainable airports in the UK. Clare also discussed how Bristol Airport has completed the first successful UK airport trial for the ground-breaking airside hydrogen refuelling trial, led by easyJet. This is a plan to create zero emission aviation and eventually introduce hydrogen-powered aircraft.  

Following this was guest speaker, Matt Whale, the Framework Manager at Octavius Infrastructure Ltd, to discuss the leading transport solutions provider and how they enforce sustainability goals within their work. Their organisation ensures efficient transport networks by keeping trains running smoothly and traffic moving on the roads. They discussed their plans to make transport more sustainable by aiming for net zero carbon emissions, more efficient use of resources, as well as their goals for biodiversity net gain.  

After lunch, learners were given a hands-on task to create a bridge with the other students on their tables. They were given a project brief and specifications to follow which they were later marked on. They were asked to create a powered bridge which opened to allow for goods and services to pass through, with other criteria to follow to ensure it was practical for the location. They also had to create a comprehensive and annotated diagram of their designs, show clear calculations based on the figures provided in the specification, and provide a project plan which identified the team roles and responsibilities.  

Students had a range of materials to choose from to create their design, and once they had decided on a design, they collaboratively worked to execute their ideas. Their work was marked on how well they followed the project brief, if their drawings of their designs were detailed, labelled with materials, and explained how they would be manufactured. They were also marked on their calculations to ensure their designs were feasible, as well as how sustainable their products would be by providing innovative solutions. There were 80 points available in total for each team to achieve.  

All groups created innovative designs which closely reflected the brief using the materials available. They all came up with strong sustainability ideas and themes within their designs by considering the impactful solutions that the employers had discussed in their guest talks earlier in the event. 

This project was an excellent way for a range of different apprentices to work together to create a design that followed strict criteria, an excellent reflection of what many of them will be required to do when working with clients and employers. It gave them great experience to think practically and come up with innovative ideas as well as consider alternative solutions for the same conclusion. It is projects like this that prepare our students for the industry and allow them to meet like-minded individuals who will have different ideas and broaden each other's problem-solving skills.  

This event was an excellent opportunity for students to hear about the different sustainable approaches that large organisations are taking to ensure a greener future and improved systems. As the future generation of engineers, it is important for them to learn ways to adapt and develop new structures and approaches to keep moving forward. They also learnt more about the possible career pathways available depending on their interests, so they have a better understanding of their options after their apprenticeships.   

Thank you to Celtic Sea Power, Bristol Airport, and Octavius for taking the time to visit our students and discuss the sustainable approaches you are taking to improve your organisations.  

This event forms part of the Engineering & Green Skills 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.  

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