<p>On Friday 6th March, as part of <strong>Women in Construction Week</strong>, Weston College hosted a <strong>Women in Construction Roundtable</strong> at our South West Skills Campus in collaboration with the <a href="https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/"><strong>West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.</strong></a></p><p>The event brought together women from across the construction sector, including representatives from <a href="https://www.kier.co.uk/"><strong>Kier Group</strong></a><strong>, Alun Griffiths,</strong> <a href="https://kanegroup.co.uk/"><strong>Kane Group</strong></a><strong>, </strong><a href="https://www.gallifordtry.co.uk/"><strong>Galliford Try</strong></a> and <a href="https://www.tclarke.com/"><strong>TClark</strong></a><strong>,</strong&…; alongside Weston College’s own T Level learners, apprentices, and members of the college’s careers and apprenticeship teams.</p><p>The session began with a welcome and overview of the event, followed by roundtable introductions. Employers then shared short video clips showcasing their organisations and the opportunities available within their businesses, before offering reflections on their roles and career journeys.</p><p>This was followed by a discussion on career pathways within construction, exploring traditional and alternative routes into the industry, as well as advice for those at the start of their careers. The final part of the roundtable focused on the experiences of women working in construction, covering topics such as challenges faced, the value of support networks, the rewards of working in the sector, and opportunities for positive change.</p><p>The conversation sparked honest and inspiring reflections on career journeys, early exposure to careers in school, obstacles encountered along the way, and the successes that come with determination and perseverance. The event provided a fantastic opportunity to share experiences, celebrate progress, and highlight the importance of visibility and representation for women in the industry.</p><p>Events like this play a vital role in demonstrating that construction is a career open to everyone, offering a wide range of pathways and opportunities.</p><p>If you would like to get involved in future events like this, please contact <strong>employers@weston.ac.uk.</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Year 1 learners from the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve… in Design, Surveying, and Planning in Construction</a> course recently received an insightful guest lecture by two members of the <strong>IKO Group</strong>.&nbsp;</p><p>IKO Group is a manufacturing company that produces innovative roofing, waterproofing, insulation and infrastructure solutions, along with a fast-growing highway maintenance range for the construction industry. Their approach to sustainability is one of their core values, ensuring to reduce their carbon footprint whilst improving energy efficiency.&nbsp;</p><p>Emma Howard, Business Development Manager at IKO, and her colleague Louis, showcased the diverse range of materials produced at their three UK-based factories. The primary focus of the presentation was on the sustainability aspects of IKO's materials. They highlighted their commitment to delivering materials with minimal or no packaging.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Additionally, the speakers shared a case study involving the construction of a new Tesco store, where all off-cuts from the single-ply membrane were collected and returned to the manufacturing plant for recycling. Small samples of materials were then distributed among the learners, allowing them to examine the materials firsthand.&nbsp;</p><p>Daniel Comerford, a <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… Professions</a> lecturer at Weston College,&nbsp;said, “I am very grateful for Emma and Louis for taking the time to come into college. It is guest lectures like these that give our students invaluable insights into different areas of the construction industry, providing them with a more holistic understanding of their options after college. They also explained to the learners about the sustainability factors that need to be considered for the various materials that make up a construction project.”&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>A big thank you to Emma and Louis from the IKO Group for sharing their experiences and insight.&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>Progress to the next level in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses-by-subject/engineering-and-construction/"…;! At <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/">University Centre Weston (UCW)</a> our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/">Click here!</a>&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></p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Earlier this month, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve…, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level</u></strong></a> students were visited by <strong>Octavius Infrastructure</strong> to outline their current project on <strong>Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge </strong>starting this December.  &nbsp;</p><p>Ben Krawiec, Project Manager at Octavius, and Julie Jones, Stakeholder &amp; Social Value Manager at Octavius, visited our students to share their industry insight, discuss their journey into their roles, and outline the large local project that the Civil Engineering team are executing this year.  &nbsp;</p><p>Octavius Infrastructure is a civil engineering and transport company that ensures efficient transport networks by keeping trains running smoothly and traffic moving on the roads, often working with major clients such as <strong>Network Rail </strong>and <strong>National Highways</strong>. &nbsp;</p><p>Ben is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Construction Project Manager at Octavius who has worked on many bridge projects throughout his career. He explained to the students what Octavius do for the community, his role within the company, and how they are improving railway lines. He also discussed their current project to rebuild the Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge in Weston-super-Mare.  &nbsp;</p><p>Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge runs over the mainline railway connecting Bristol and the South West of England. It was built by the Ministry of Defence during the Second World War to provide easy access to the RAF’s aeroplane factory in Weston-super-Mare and remains an integral transport route for members of the public today. Due to the age of the bridge, it must now be replaced with a new structure that can withstand many more years of use in the future to ensure the bridge is not permanently closed. &nbsp;</p><p>This project is being funded by the <strong>Ministry of Defence</strong>, with <strong>Octavius Infrastructure</strong> acting as the Design and Build Project Contractors. To minimise the disruption, they have placed a temporary footbridge across the railway to allow for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the bridge whilst the work takes place. The bridge is due to be demolished over Christmas and work beginning in the New Year 2026.  &nbsp;</p><p>However, this project has not been without its technical challenges, the main problem having to build the bridge on soft ground conditions, making it difficult to create a structure that will withstand heavy vehicles and pressure over time. They have also faced challenges with the statutory undertakers and the available time frames due to working closely with rail interface to work around their timetables to minimise disruptions to rail travel. Additionally, they are under a high-pressure timeline to complete the project and have many spatial restrictions due to the surrounding companies and residential areas. &nbsp;</p><p>Ben added that this project has been a learning curve for his own professional development due to the residential closeness of the construction site. In previous projects, he is used to working in more secluded areas, therefore noise has not been an issue. However, due to Winterstoke Road Railway Bridge being surrounded by residential areas, they have had to consider a new approach to avoid disruption as much as possible. &nbsp;</p><p>Ben and Julie handed out blueprints to students to show them the project plans, explaining the processes and reasonings behind certain decisions and give them a better understanding of the thorough details and drafts behind a project. &nbsp;</p><p>This guest lecture provides our students with excellent insight into a career as a Civil Engineer, hearing about the projects they could complete, the challenges they will likely face, and the factors that must be considered throughout large projects like this. &nbsp;</p><p>A big thank you to Ben and Julie from Octavius Infrastructure for taking the time to visit our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve… Level Construction</u></a> students and explain the work you are doing within the community. &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>Progress to the next level in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses-by-subject/engineering-and-construction/"…;! At <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>University Centre Weston (UCW)</u></a> our students give us impressive feedback, with our latest National Student Survey results putting us above average in all nine areas! Find out more about our exceptional teaching, wellbeing services and learning resources by visiting our website. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>Click here!</u></a> &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>