<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last month, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; students received an insightful guest lecture from <strong>Border Force</strong> members, Darren and Andy, giving learners a deeper understanding into the potential careers within Border Force and the possible progression routes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Border Force is a law enforcement command that is responsible for protecting the United Kingdom’s borders, operating at airports, seaports, international rail terminals, and postal hubs to control the movement of people and goods entering or leaving the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Darren and Andy began by outlining their own career journeys, progression, and personal experiences within Border Force. They also explained the training and application process, offering students valuable guidance for those interested in pursuing this pathway. This gave our students invaluable insight regarding where to start when considering a career in Border Force and the key attributes they look for in their candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>During the guest lecture, they also covered key areas of Border Force operations, including their work at airports and ports, detecting passport fraud, managing immigration processes, and enforcing CITES regulations to prevent the illegal trade of endangered species. Learners were able to ask questions during the session, even having the opportunity to check a suitcase for illegal items. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Border Force giving guest lecture to students&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b5af6255-13c7-41c6-9f95-559ea2b77172" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">This hands-on session was an excellent opportunity for students to network with industry professionals, as well as put their knowledge into practice. Border Force is an imperative aspect of ensuring the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> industry runs smoothly and safely and, in turn, encourages socio-economic growth. Learning about careers within Border Force opens up more opportunities for our students and broadens their potential pathways following their course.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Students can also apply the invaluable tips and advice that Border Force provided regarding the application process to any career in the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; industry, allowing them to excel in their future careers.</p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Hannah Forrest, Curriculum Co-ordinator in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a>, added, “Guest lectures like this provide our students with a great mix of guidance and hands-on experience to broaden the potential careers in the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> industry for them ahead of completing their course. Border Force makes up a large part of ensuring a smooth and seamless travel experience for people and businesses, therefore learning more about the important role they play brings the careers to life for our students.”</p><p>A huge thank you to Andy and Darren for coming in and sharing your extensive background with our students!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This guest lecture forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… &amp; Tourism</u></a> 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. &nbsp;</p><p><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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last month, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> students were tasked with designing and creating an event for the <strong>Winter Gardens Ballroom</strong> to host, teaching them valuable lessons in event planning and the logistics behind organising them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The students were split into four groups and had 1 week to come up with an idea that would sell tickets and appeal to a target audience. During this week, students brainstormed ideas, did market research, created cost breakdowns, contacted employers, and came up with promotional materials and designs to promote their event. They then created an in-depth presentation to share with the Winter Gardens Management team who picked the best and most plausible event to run on May 8th.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The events designed by our students included Bougie Bingo; a black-tie bingo event, Paint and Sip; cocktails and a paint along, Film and Fork night; dinner matching the theme of the movie, and a Murder-Mystery evening. These events were all innovative and well-researched, displaying a high level of creativity and thought within the design processes. Some groups even contacted various employers for quotes to start considering ticket prices which would produce a potential profit.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>After consideration, the <strong>Winter Gardens</strong> staff chose the Paint and Sip event to conduct on May 8th, deciding it seemed the most plausible to plan in a short amount of time and is already a popular event. It also requires fewer outgoings which means the ticket prices can be more affordable to the public and, in turn, will draw up a larger crowd.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The winning group have now begun planning the event, organising a budget with the Winter Gardens and booking the required external activities such as food, entertainment and decorations. The remaining groups will help assist and serve throughout the event to reduce costs whilst giving them crucial hands-on experience around the of running an event.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This collaboration between Weston College and the Winter Gardens is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn from professionals and plan a real-life event for an organisation. It provides them with excellent insight into the potential challenges that students may need to overcome when planning an event, the importance of marketing to promote an event, and the factors to consider in order to create a seamless experience for the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By giving our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> students the responsibility to plan and deliver an event within a set budget gave them invaluable real-world experience which will develop their practical skills in project management, budgeting, marketing, teamwork, and problem-solving while learning to operate within industry standards and expectations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Not only this, collaborating with professionals enhances their communication and employability skills, and managing a live event for paying members of the public gives them a sense of accountability, resilience, leadership, and confidence. Overall, this experience is a fantastic opportunity which will provide them with vital employability skills and give them realistic industry insight and a strong sense of achievement.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>A huge well done to all the students who were involved, everyone’s ideas were professional and well-thought out and would certainly appeal to a wide target audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This project management opportunity forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> 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. &nbsp;</p><p><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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last week, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> students welcomed global aviation services provider, <strong>Swissport</strong>, for an engaging and informative session which explored career pathways within the aviation industry.&nbsp;</p><p>The visit gave students valuable insight into the wide range of responsibilities involved in airport operations and highlighted the many career opportunities available within aviation following their course. Swissport representative, Joe Watkins, shared his own career journey, offering students a realistic and inspiring perspective on professional development within the sector.&nbsp;</p><p>Swissport provides essential ground handling and airport services for airlines worldwide, managing everything from passenger check-in, gate support and baggage handling to aircraft ramp services, fuelling, cabin cleaning, de-icing and cargo warehouse operations. They play a crucial role in supporting efficient airline operations and delivering a high-quality passenger experience from landing to take-off.&nbsp;</p><p>With many of our students considering <strong>Bristol Airport</strong> as a future place of work, Swissport presented itself as an excellent route into aviation. With a strong presence at Bristol Airport and operations across major airports around the world, Swissport offers both local and global career opportunities.&nbsp;</p><p>During the session, Swissport covered a wide range of topics, including pathways into aviation, introductions to their teams and services, and the variety of roles available at Bristol Airport. Joe also outlined the application process and shared real-life success stories from within the company.&nbsp;</p><p>For students interested in progressing within their role, Joe outlined the learning and development opportunities, clear progression routes and long-term career growth. Students were shown how employees can progress from entry-level roles through to professional positions, supervision and management.&nbsp;</p><p>The session concluded with an overview of what Swissport looks for in candidates, highlighting the importance of both personal qualities and professional skills. This was a great opportunity for students to understand the desired attributes that companies look for during an application process, giving them insight of what to expect and how to best approach an interview.&nbsp;</p><p>This visit provided an excellent opportunity for students to gain first-hand insight into the aviation industry, broaden their career horizons and better understand the pathways available to them within a global organisation such as Swissport.&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you to Joe and the team at Swissport for sharing their invaluable insight and experiences with our students.&nbsp;</p><p>This guest lecture forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> 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. &nbsp;</p><p><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 </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…;. 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>&nbsp;</p>