Throughout this term, Weston College have hosted a series of Employer Advisory Boards and Industry Forums across a wide range of sectors. These events play a vital role in ensuring the College’s curriculum remains closely aligned with current and emerging industry needs, helping learners develop the skills, behaviours and knowledge required to succeed in the workplace.

By bringing employers directly into curriculum conversations, the College strengthens partnerships, improves learner journeys, and ensures teaching reflects real-world expectations. From engineering and aerospace to creative industries, health, SEND, and hospitality, each advisory board provided valuable insight that will directly influence curriculum development and future collaboration.

SME Engineering Employer Advisory Board

SME engineering employers from across the region came together at Weston College’s South West Skills Campus for a productive forum focused on strengthening employer relationships and enhancing communication. Discussions centred on improving the learner journey, understanding regional skills needs, and identifying ways employers and the College can work more closely together to support future engineers. The session reinforced the importance of employer input in shaping technical provision that meets local and national demand.

Aerospace, Defence and Manufacturing Forum

Weston College hosted its Autumn Aerospace, Defence and Manufacturing Forum at GKN Aerospace, welcoming key partners including Babcock International Group, the UK Ministry of Defence, Airbus and others. The forum explored the technical skills currently embedded within the curriculum, while also highlighting the growing importance of inclusion, professional behaviours and personal development. Employers shared valuable perspectives on future workforce needs, helping to shape a curriculum that prepares learners for both the technical and cultural expectations of the sector.

Creative Conversations Forum

At Loxton Campus, the Creative Conversations forum brought together employers from creative industries to review and reflect on the current curriculum. Employers shared highly insightful feedback, discussed their ongoing projects, and explored exciting opportunities for learners to gain real-world experience. The session encouraged open dialogue around emerging creative practices and how learners can be better prepared to enter the sector.

Media, Games, Animation and Photography Advisory Board

Weston College welcomed employers from the Media, Games, Animation and Photography sectors to St George’s Hall in Bristol for a focused advisory board, delivered in partnership with the Business West LSIP team. Eight industry representatives joined the collaborative session to discuss creative pathways and workforce needs.

The College opened the event with an overview of its curriculum offer, learner development programmes and future-facing initiatives, before facilitating sector-led discussions on emerging skills, inclusion, industry expectations and opportunities for deeper collaboration. Employers emphasised the importance of core employability skills, professional behaviours, strong portfolios and real-world project experience. The forum reinforced a shared commitment to supporting young people into meaningful creative careers and identified future partnership opportunities aligned to WECA’s Growth Strategy for creative industries.

SEND Employment Forum - In Partnership with North Somerset Council

Weston College also hosted a SEND Employment Forum in partnership with North Somerset Council, focusing on how employers can open doors, transform lives and strengthen their workforce through diversity and inclusion. Discussions explored practical ways to support SEND learners into employment, highlighting the benefits of inclusive recruitment for both individuals and organisations. Plans are now in place for a larger face-to-face forum in Spring 2026 which will also celebrate learner progression.

Digital, Hairdressing, and Hospitality & Catering Employer Advisory Boards

The College proudly hosted three Employer Advisory Boards in one day, bringing together representatives from the Digital, Hairdressing, and Hospitality & Catering industries. These sessions provided valuable insight into sector-specific trends, technologies and skill requirements, ensuring each curriculum area continues to evolve in line with industry needs.

A special highlight of the day was the Hospitality and Catering Advisory Board, where Year 1 learners prepared and served a delicious Caesar salad, showcasing their skills and professionalism while engaging directly with employers.

Health and Social Care Advisory Board

On 12th December 2025, Weston College welcomed key regional health and social care partners to the Health Advisory Board held at the Healthy Active Living Centre. Attendees included representatives from South West Ambulance, Access Your Care, UHBW/Weston Clinical Learning and Development, and AWP Mental Health Trust.

The Board held open and honest discussions around current sector pressures, including staffing challenges, workforce resilience and the importance of strong co-production between education and employers. Partners also provided valuable feedback on broader employability skills such as professional boundaries, accurate record-keeping, and effective communication. The forum explored future workforce developments, including new community-focused roles and apprenticeship pathways.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration, ensuring Weston College learners enter health and social care careers confident, capable and prepared. The next Health and Social Care Advisory Board will take place in 2026, building on the strong foundations established during this term.

Construction Professionals Employer Forum

By bringing together key employer partners from across the construction sector, including Galliford Try, Octavius, Beard Construction, Alun Griffiths, Morgan Sindall, and Tilbury Douglas, faculty teams were keen to share updates on curriculum developments, apprenticeship routes for 2026 onwards, and bootcamp opportunities. The college is keen to ensure that all learners work alongside employers to gain current and future industry needs. Employers and college representatives are working collaboratively to review how programmes are preparing learners for the realities of the construction workforce.

A central theme of the discussion was Weston College’s skills focus for all learners, emphasising the importance of developing both technical competence and wider employability skills. Partners explored how learners can continue to grow their skills in and outside of the classroom, working closely with employers through placements, live projects, and enrichment activities.

The Board also celebrated the outstanding contribution of employer partners over the past year. Construction employers have been exceptional in their support, providing high-quality placements, meaningful enrichment opportunities, and valuable insight that continues to strengthen curriculum alignment with industry expectations.

Education and Early Years; Counselling

Working closely with North Somerset Council’s Early Years and Children’s Services; the college has worked collaboratively with both teams to support the local community. After the success of the college’s first Sentipensante Project, more stay and play sessions are now being organised and led by early years students for the children's centres. A new baby sensory class has also been developed for local parents and carers and takes place college community room.

Plans are in place to support young people and adults into early years and teaching careers through joint discovery days at the college and through the local job centre networks to showcase pathways into educational careers. Counselling students are also now offering listening services at various children’s centres to support the local community. Due to the nature of education and counselling support, curriculum feedback is arranged through 1-2-1 feedback sessions consistently throughout the year.

Sports Education Employer Forum

This forum will be taking place early 2026.

We would like to thank all employers who attended our employer advisory boards this term, your contribution has been greatly appreciated and will help to shape our curriculum in the best way possible for our current and future learners.

If you are interested in taking part in any future employer forum's, please fill out the form below -