<p>The winners of the 2025 <a href="https://www.somersetbusinessawards.org.uk/">Somerset Business Awards</a> were announced recently, at the prestigious Winter Gardens Pavillion.</p><p>With nearly 400 people from across Somerset in attendance, winners from across industries were announced, including Weston College and University Centre Weston apprentice, Jack Lewis, working at Singer Instruments - who was named as Apprentice of the Year.</p><p>Jack who is studying the<a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/engineering-degree-apprenticeships/"&gt; Level 6 Manufacturing Engineering Degree Apprenticeship</a>, has been impressing throughout his apprenticeship; from streamlining production to improving the design for manufacturability of needle holders.</p><p>Jack’s work has resulted in a significant cost-saving for Singer Instruments, which has allowed them to improve production efficiency and contribute to the scalability of the product.</p><p>Tracie Leahy, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeship and Skills at Weston College, said: “We are so proud of Jack, he has shown that he is an incredible apprentice with some truly impressive achievements already – we can’t wait to follow his career as he continues to progress within the engineering sector.”</p><p>Jack, added: "Winning the Somerset Business Award was a great moment, and it’s been a fantastic journey throughout my apprenticeship. I’m grateful for all the support I’ve had along the way."</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin… you would like to follow in Jack’s footsteps, you find out more about our engineering courses, by clicking here.</a></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The Student Conference was a special celebration dedicated to the Student Executives and Student Representatives, recognising their hard work, dedication, and the positive changes they have helped put in motion throughout the year. It provided an opportunity for student representatives, key college leaders, and selected learners to come together, share ideas, give feedback, and help shape the future of the college.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The day began with a welcome talk from Pat Jones, Principal and CEO of Weston College, who expressed thanks to the students for their efforts and acknowledged the changes they had driven within the college. Pat highlighted the importance of student voice and the impact of their contributions.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Niya Thomas, the newly elected Students’ Union President, introduced herself next as well as the Student Executive team. She gave an overview of their individual roles and the dedication each member puts into their work. Niya's introduction was a reminder of every initiative the Students’ Union takes on.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The event then welcomed guest speaker Adz Khan, whose inspirational story captivated the audience. He shared his incredible journey, from being falsely convicted for a crime at just 16 years old under the Joint Enterprise law and spending 7 years in prison, to educating himself in prison and becoming a successful business owner and motivational speaker. His session, titled </span><em><span style="font-size:inherit;">My Kind of Criminal</span></em><span style="font-size:inherit;">, explored his hardships and the lessons he learned along the way.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Guest speaker, Adz Khan, talking to the students&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6d6caa4d-0c3b-46a9-9967-2c7ee64ec502" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Adz emphasised the importance of resilience, persistence, and staying positive, no matter the challenges faced. He spoke about his setbacks and how those experiences shaped his strength and character. “A setback is the setup for a comeback,” he told the students, encouraging them to view obstacles as opportunities.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Throughout his talk, Adz left students with powerful reminders about success and positivity, “B+ is not my blood group, neither is it my grade in maths. It’s my favourite quote – be positive.” He reminded everyone that where you start doesn’t determine where you’ll end up, and success comes from consistency, resetting, and never quitting.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Following the morning’s lectures, students enjoyed a buffet-style lunch made by the </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Level 2 Hospitality and Catering</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> learners, giving the Student Reps and Executives time to relax and connect with peers from different campuses.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The afternoon session began with a Student Values activity, where students reflected on what mattered most to them, ranking values to better understand what drives their decisions and ambitions.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Vice Principals Ben Knocks and Edd Brown then led the next part of the conference, introducing the ‘You Said, We Did’ campaign. This session focused on strengthening the learner voice by reviewing the changes already made based on student feedback and exploring how the system could improve further. Students were given the opportunity to share their views, helping ensure that their input continues to shape the college’s future.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Ben Knocks discussing learner voice&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9125c824-c4fc-46b8-ac8d-2b1462dd3bd4" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The conference ended on a celebratory note with various student awards presented, recognising exceptional efforts within the Students’ Union and the wider community. Whether through hard work, leadership, or going above and beyond, students were applauded for their impact and dedication.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Final thanks were given to the Student Engagement team, staff members, and most importantly, the students, for their commitment to their roles and the college. The Student Conference allowed students to connect, be inspired, and continue their journey of making a difference with the power of student voice.</span></p>

<p><a name="_Hlk195000405">Weston College&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</span></a><span> and&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; students have teamed up with <strong>Avon and Somerset Police</strong> to produce a powerful new short film to educate young people on bystander intervention in situations involving violence against women and girls (VAWG).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>Led by Adrian Harris, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> Lecturer at the College, the project brought together FE Performing Arts students from the Acting Pathway and Year 1 FE Media students. The collaborative piece, filmed in April following months of weekly planning sessions, seeks to raise awareness of how members of the public, particularly young people, can safely and effectively intervene in violent or abusive situations.<o:p></o:p></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Media students filming performing arts students working on a scene&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1517e4fc-6aea-4052-9dcd-b04b18ec6cb9" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p><o:p></o:p></p><p>Avon and Somerset Police delivered a briefing on the sensitive topic, sharing the project’s aims but offering students creative freedom. With professionalism and maturity, learners devised different approaches to intervention, enabling the Police to tailor the message to specific audiences and scenarios.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Rehearsals took place at Weston College’s Knightstone campus, with filming completed in the picturesque setting of Grove Park to lend authenticity and impact to the final production.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Adrian Harris, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> Lecturer, explained:<o:p></o:p></p><p><em><strong>“The students have been brilliant. After watching the short films by Avon and Somerset Police, they expressed what worked and what didn’t, whether the message was clear or not, and offered original ideas and points of view to make it relevant to the younger generation.”<o:p></o:p></strong></em></p><p><em><strong>“The film will be shown to secondary school students - to help them deal with issues they come across and to show the different ways that, instead of being bystanders, they can be active contributors and help prevent violence against women and girls.”</strong></em><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></p><p>This project forms part of the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; Careers Excellence Hubs. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.<span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p>Participating students described the project as both educational and empowering.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Brooke, a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> Acting Pathway student, shared:<o:p></o:p></p><p><em><strong>“I think it’s important for this type of film to be portrayed by young adults like us because relationships are so common in teens, and it’s critical to show that it’s not okay to display certain behaviours, and to get that message across early on because it could prevent serious situations from happening. It’s so important that young people learn about consent and respecting people’s boundaries.”</strong></em><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></p><p>Patrick, a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Theatre</a> student, added:<o:p></o:p></p><p><em><strong>“This project teaches people how to not be a bystander in a situation where you may see violence against women. If I was in a real-life violent situation, I might have struggled knowing how to intervene but now I’ve gained an understanding of the different ways I can get involved and help.”</strong></em><strong><o:p></o:p></strong></p><p>The project also offered invaluable professional development for students, many of whom were engaging in a professional filming environment for the first time. Working with a crew of directors, sound technicians, and photographers gave them real-world experience in following a brief, taking direction, and collaborating under pressure.<o:p></o:p></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Media students filming performing arts students working on a scene&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c3d79a3-68df-4ea4-a83e-456d137b4754" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p><o:p></o:p></p><p>This collaboration highlights the power of creative education in tackling real-world issues. By engaging with challenging topics like VAWG, our students are building professional skills and becoming advocates for positive change in their communities.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Thank you to Avon and Somerset Police for giving our students this fantastic opportunity!</p><p style="background-color:white;line-height:150%;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-top:12.0pt;"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>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&nbsp;</strong></span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"><strong>. 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.</strong></span></p>