<p>A group of Year 1 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu… Design, Surveying, and Planning for Construction</u></a> learners recently welcomed two guest speakers, Sam Lillywhite and Katie Corbett, from the Bristol-based construction company, <strong>Bray &amp; Slaughter</strong>.&nbsp;</p><p>Sam Lillywhite, a Construction Management Apprentice, delivered an engaging and insightful presentation about his journey in the construction industry. He spoke about his path from leaving school to securing his current role at <strong>Bray &amp; Slaughter</strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Along the way, Sam faced setbacks, including losing his job after his previous employer went into administration at the end of last year. However, through perseverance, professional connections, and determination, he was able to secure a new position with Bray &amp; Slaughter within just four weeks.&nbsp;</p><p>Sam also shared details about his current role on a regeneration project for <strong>North Somerset Council</strong>, located on the High Street in Weston-super-Mare. He described what a typical day looks like on site, offering students a clear picture of a career in construction management.&nbsp;</p><p>Following Sam’s presentation, Katie Corbett introduced herself and her role as the Social Value, Equality, Diversity; Inclusion (ED&amp;I) Manager at <strong>Bray &amp; Slaughter</strong>. She explained how her position was created in response to recent updates in the Government Procurement Act, which now requires public sector construction projects to incorporate more social value. This includes collaborating with local colleges and promoting apprenticeships.&nbsp;</p><p>The session concluded with a Q&amp;A, giving learners the opportunity to ask thoughtful and relevant questions, not only about the construction industry, but also about starting a professional career and adapting to unfamiliar roles. The students demonstrated maturity and curiosity, particularly in asking how to navigate uncertainty in new professional environments.&nbsp;</p><p>Daniel Comerford, one of our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… Professions</u></a> lecturers, reflected on the event, adding, “this presentation gave learners an amazing, first-hand insight into construction management from a young professional still early in his career. Sam and Katie offered honest, personal experiences and highlighted the importance of resilience when facing setbacks, something that can be difficult for young adults to fully grasp. Hearing it from peers closer to their age made it much more impactful.”&nbsp;</p><p>Thank you to both Sam and Katie for taking the time to come and talk to our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…; learners and share their experiences. We look forward to collaborating with <strong>Bray &amp; Slaughter</strong> again in the future.&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/const…; 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>We recently welcomed students from <strong>Electrical, Plastering, Carpentry</strong>, and <strong>Creative Arts</strong> to our <strong>Creative Construction Skills Summit </strong>at the Winter Gardens - each subject area bringing energy, creativity, and a real sense of purpose.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity data-align="right" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0eb167e4-04c7-4ec1-9ea1-e5a0955b7c8e" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_285x285&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>The student’s challenge was to design a piece of public art that also generates sustainable energy, which encouraged conversation about the links between the Creative and Construction industries – which many students may not have previously considered! From floating solar designs to kinetic sculptures, their ideas were not only imaginative but genuinely inspiring.</p><p>A huge thank you to <a href="https://www.slx.co.uk/">SLX Events</a> and the brilliant Casey Howells, who shared an impactful message about the value of core skills, kindness, and seeing the world through different lenses - an approach that opens doors across all industries.</p><p>Special thanks to the incredible <strong>Adz Khan</strong>, whose talk on<strong> responsibility</strong>, <strong>action, networking, </strong>and <strong>self-belief</strong> lit up the room. His message was clear: work experience isn’t just a tick-box, it’s a powerful opportunity to grow and shape your future.</p><p>We’re also grateful to our amazing staff, especially the Weston College support teams, School Liaison, and Personal Development teams - your dedication made this event a success.</p><p>Richard Hanney, Head of Construction, said: <em><strong>"We look forward to continuing our work with Adz and others who help inspire our students. If we can share even a bit of that insight and energy, we’re moving in the right direction. Here’s to more spaces where creativity meets community, skills meet opportunity, and kindness drives innovation!"</strong></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>To find out more about our construction courses,</strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; click here.&nbsp;</strong></a></p><p><strong>To find out more about our creative courses,</strong><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds-creat…; click here.</strong></a></p>

<p>Weston College learner, Gracie Donaghy, recently won the <a href="https://www.sparks-magazine.co.uk/sparks-female-skills-competition-2025… Female Skills Competition 2025</strong></a>! This intense competition challenges participants to complete a live electrical installation from start to finish, testing their knowledge, accuracy, and time management under pressure.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Gracie standing between two SPARKS Professionals holding two large cheques&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1cd8ad7-51af-4a30-b662-07f3f3cd63bf" 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>Gracie is currently in her third year of an <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships/electrical-co… Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation Apprenticeship</a> with Wessex Water. This apprenticeship has allowed her to develop skills in installing and testing cabling systems, containment, and a range of electrical components.</p><p>Gracie secured her place in the final of the competition after impressing the judges during the South Regional Heats and achieving first-place. Her precision and skill were demonstrated throughout both competitions, gaining recognition from her peers and competitors as well as the judges for her excellent accuracy, time-management and attention to detail.</p><p>Having taken part in the competition last year, Gracie came into this year’s event with a clear goal to beat her previous performance. She dedicated time to practicing installations that she felt less confident with, including lighting circuits and unfamiliar wiring setups.</p><p>After winning the South Regional Heats and securing her place in the final, Gracie added, “During the competition, I felt very nervous as I wanted to do well and demonstrate my best work. After the competition, I felt very proud of the work I had completed. I performed better than I did last year and that was my main aim.”</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Gracie using a screwdriver to secure her electrical installation at the competition&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="113e8e26-ea84-4d56-9acb-7dba27e8c741" 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>Not only did Gracie show massive improvements from last year’s competition, but she also did herself and Weston College extremely proud. Gracie was stunned when she not only received the amazing title of <strong>SPARKS Female Skills Winner 2025</strong>, but she also got a range of tools and goodies and a fantastic cash prize to put towards her future.</p><p>The <strong>SPARKS Female Skills Competition</strong> is a great way for young females from all over the country to show their skills and compete with likeminded individuals. Competitions like these encourage future generations to take up trades courses and break down stereotypes in largely male-dominated subject areas.</p><p>Gracie also highlighted the fantastic benefits to the competition, saying, “it gives you a chance to meet others going through the same journey, and to push yourself to see what you can achieve under time constraints.”</p><p>Andy Fisher, one of our Electrotechnical Lecturers, has worked closely with Gracie throughout her time at Weston College, saying "Gracie is an exceptional student who works extremely hard in every task she completes. Her place in the final reflects the quality of work she produces. She is always millimetre perfect and very tidy with her installations and has always been such a pleasure to teach.</p><p>"As a lecturer, it’s an amazing competition to get the chance to attend with them and you can tell it means a lot to them too. Not only this, it’s also a phenomenal thing to put on their CV and Gracie has gone above and beyond with her achievement!"</p><p>Well done to all of the students who took part, and a massive well done to Gracie for this fantastic achievement and for representing the college with an amazing display of professionalism and maturity throughout both competitions!</p><p>If you would like to find out more about our Electrical Installation courses, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan… here</a>.</p><p>If you are interested in apprenticeship opportunities, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships?utm_source=ma… here</a>.</p>