Construction

CONSTRUCTION COURSES FOR 16-19 YEAR OLDS

The South West’s construction industry annual recruitment requirement of 2.6% per year, is the strongest across the UK and means an extra 32,000 new workers are needed between the end of 2020 and 2025.

Our outstanding range of courses are taught by experienced professionals in high-quality facilities, and provide qualifications that are recognised across the industry.

Use this page to discover your perfect career and associated course options - Vocational qualifications (full-time in the campus workshops) or Apprenticeships in the workplace.

As a Weston College student you will become part of our exciting new Construction Career Excellence Hub. Your study programme will have lots of career boosting benefits, all with the aim of giving you the opportunity to become career ready! This includes unrivalled exposure to employers, enhanced work experience, employer visits and more...
Our Construction Career Excellence Hub endorsers include:

Find out more

Job Roles in the West of England Currently Include:

WHAT OUR PARTNERS SAY...

We’re delighted to be involved with the Construction Career Excellence Hub. It gives learners the chance to hear from and speak to industry professionals and hear what it is really like to have a career within the construction industry. They can see the breadth of careers our industry has to offer.

Danielle Haskings

Social Value Manager, Wilmott Dixon

The Construction Career Excellence Hub presents an exciting opportunity for us to invest in local talent and develop learners who could become the future leaders in our business.
Weston College is the perfect location for people to develop their construction skills, and we are thrilled to play a role in your development and offer further assistance on your journey into our industry.

David Bowdley

Operations Director, Galliford Try

OUR CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS

Industry Facts

A career in construction can involve all kinds of settings and skills. It could range from working on building sites for new builds, to renovations, to creating beautifully crafted furniture. Led by experienced professionals, with great links with local employers to help launch your career, our courses are designed to give you the skills that will prepare you for employment.

Over 53,000 construction companies in the South West

Electrical professionals can earn up to £45,000 a year

Over 11,000 building projects across the South West

Over 2.7 million employees in the construction industry in the UK

Facilities

The South West Skills Campus offers state-of-the-art training facilities dedicated to construction training.

Facilities

The South West Skills Campus offers state-of-the-art training facilities dedicated to construction training.
These include:

Large, well-equipped training workshops for each trade area.
Excellent links with national and local employers to enrich your training.
Industry-standard materials testing lab.
Excellent array of tools and equipment, ranging from power tools to digital surveying equipment.
Carpentry woodworking machine shop, with industry approved machinery.
Suites of computers with 3D software such as AutoCad.

Renewable technologies such as biomass and ground- source heat pumps.
Outdoor working arena.
Fast, free and secure WiFi connection.
Specialised software packages for individual subjects.
A well-resourced library including e-resources and laptop loan service.
Access to a large number of high specification PCs, laptops, and digital hardware.

LATEST NEWS

8 May 2025

Gracie and her lecturer, Andy, standing next to her final installation

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</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.<drupal-entity alt=""Gracie standing between two SPARKS Professionals holding two large cheques"" 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="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> 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.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.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.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.”<drupal-entity alt=""Gracie using a screwdriver to secure her electrical installation at the competition"" 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="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> 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 SPARKS Female Skills Winner 2025, but she also got a range of tools and goodies and a fantastic cash prize to put towards her future.The SPARKS Female Skills Competition 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.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.”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."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!"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!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>.If you are interested in apprenticeship opportunities, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships?utm_source=ma… here</a>.

Gracie Donaghy wins SPARKS Female Skills Competition 2025!

30 Apr 2025

Construction students with high vis' and hard hats on listening to professionals on site

A group of Year 2 <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank">BTEC Civil Engineering</a> learners recently visited Beard Construction Ltd’s site at the Bristol Zoo Project in North Bristol. The visit was part of the national “Open Doors” initiative, organised by Build UK, which offers students and members of the public a chance to explore live construction sites and discover the diverse career opportunities within the industry. The event was arranged by Bev Parfitt, the Social Value Co-Ordinator at Beard Construction.The visit began with a Health and Safety briefing at the site offices, followed by an overview of the £9.2 million project, delivered by Beard’s site management team. The project involves the construction of a new Central African Forest habitat at the Bristol Zoo Project, which will bring together critically endangered Western lowland gorillas and endangered cherry-crowned mangabeys for the first time in a UK zoo.Learners were then taken on a guided tour of the site, where they observed key stages of the construction process. Highlights included the installation of pre-cast concrete retaining walls, steel frame installation, and roof construction. The group also took note of the foundation construction methods as these closely aligned with topics currently being covered in their coursework.<drupal-entity alt=""A learner being shown the levelling of concrete walls"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fe02ed4-334c-4448-a1fd-eab1dc3ae4eb" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Students also witnessed the lifting and placement of a concrete unit, learning how these elements are installed with precision to ensure they meet the required tolerances and remain level. This gave them valuable insight into the practical application of engineering principles.The students also loved seeing some of the zoo’s animals, including red pandas and giraffes, observing the construction activity.<drupal-entity alt=""A red panda poking through trees"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8c1cdb4a-d784-4c8b-829f-ababf80c5fa4" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> <drupal-entity alt=""A giraffe poking between 2 trees"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2fb41cfa-045e-49a2-bc53-0aa21d8fffc2" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> The project is expected to be completed by late summer 2025 and handed over to the client. Daniel Comerford, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank">Construction</a> Professions Lecturer at Weston College, commented, “The learners and staff found the visit very interesting and exciting. It was inspiring to see such a complex construction project being carried out to such a high standard. It was also a great opportunity for students to connect their classroom learning with real-world construction practice.”A big thank you to the Beard Construction site team for their time and insight. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and provide learners with more hands-on experiences in the construction industry.<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Construction courses, click here.</a> 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 <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank">here</a>. 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.

Civil Engineering Students Explore the Bristol Zoo Construction Project

23 Apr 2025

Protective Services students before their 26 mile stretcher relay race

This year’s Raising and Giving Week (RAG Week) at Weston College was a great example of collaboration across all subject areas. With the theme of ‘Flower Power’, the college came together to raise money for two incredible local charities: Weston Hospicecare and The Grand Appeal.  Weston Hospicecare offers vital palliative care for individuals with life-limiting illnesses and provides essential emotional support for their families. The Grand Appeal supports Bristol Children’s Hospital, helping to deliver life-saving care for sick children and their loved ones. The funds raised throughout RAG Week were split evenly between these two amazing charities.  Throughout the week, students and staff took part in a wide variety of fundraising events, ranging from raffles and bake sales, to more active sessions such as sponsored walks, races and football matches. This week takes place every year across the country and is a fantastic way for all students to get involved and take part in fun activities before exam season begins.  Outside of the activities, many people took the flower power theme seriously, with departments such as <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; target="_blank">Health and Social Care</a> and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; target="_blank">Performing Arts</a> dressed up in bright colours and 70s-style clothes. Not only this, the reception team and some support staff created a ‘Westonbury Festival’ theme, wearing some amazing flower power outfits which ended up winning them best dressed!  <drupal-entity alt=""Support staff wearing flower power-themed outfits"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32f7f0cc-ce9c-4f7a-bdff-ab15e794d087" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Another popular RAG Week tradition is a college-wide raffle which featured a range of popular prizes, including day passes and tickets to local attractions such as spas, cinemas, and activity centres. Many departments also organised bake sales across each campus as these are always popular and delicious.  Across the week, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote…; target="_blank">Protective Services</a> hosted two major events: a flower-themed two-hour Zumbathon open to all, and a five-hour stretcher relay along the seafront, covering 26 miles. These activities were a great way for students to have fun with friends as well as enjoy some exercise for two amazing causes.  <drupal-entity alt=""Students dancing at a 2-hour zumbathon event"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="edbc41cd-fd11-40b0-8e0b-ddcc9ef9dd8c" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Other departments also got involved, with <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa…; target="_blank">Early Years</a> students running a Craft and Wellbeing morning, offering slime-making and loom band activities, while ESOL students provided lanyard name cards written in various languages. <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; target="_blank">Media</a> students hosted a pyjama and movie marathon afternoon, and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/cours…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/cours…; target="_blank">FIP</a> students got involved by running “tutor torture” activities, getting the chance to pie their lecturers in the face.   <drupal-entity alt=""ESOL students writing names in their language"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1b12f7dc-d5ce-443d-9600-632e73274474" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…; target="_blank">Digital</a> students hosted Esports tournaments in games such as Fortnite, Overwatch, Valorant, and Marvel Rivals. They also raffled a high-end gaming monitor generously donated by MSI UK where they raised an amazing £555 from this raffle alone.  <drupal-entity alt=""Esports students playing in tournaments"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ce7b9e90-c172-4146-bc19-46da721d0064" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> On top of this, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank">Construction</a> students contributed by building eight wooden benches. Five were donated to care homes, where students also spent time chatting with residents and sharing biscuits. The remaining three were sold in a silent auction for staff.  Sports-related fundraising included football matches and gym challenges, and the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/motor…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/motor…; target="_blank">Motor Vehicle</a> department added some competition with a Gran Turismo racing challenge using their driving rig, where participants completed a sighting lap and a timed lap.  Overall, the week brought together students and staff from every campus of the college, with each subject area contributing in its own way, helping to create a fun, inclusive, and impactful week. In total, RAG Week raised £5112 for Weston Hospicecare and The Grand Appeal.  Thank you to everyone who helped organise, get involved, or donate. This support made the week possible and allowed us to raise the amount we did!  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 <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank">here</a>. 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.