<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 inspiring and informative guest lecture by Architect Irene de Miguel Lopez from <strong>AWW Architects</strong>, a leading architectural practice based in Bristol.</p><p><strong>AWW Architects</strong> operate from studios in Bristol, London, and Plymouth and are known for their collaborative, design-led approach that places people at the heart of every project. The practice prides itself on creating sustainable, inclusive, and meaningful architecture that improves how people live, work, and interact with their surroundings.</p><p>Irene delivered a talk titled “A Day in the Life of an Architect,” giving students a first-hand insight into the varied and dynamic nature of architectural work. She discussed her day-to-day responsibilities, which range from creating design drawings and attending client meetings, to visiting construction sites to monitor project progress.</p><p>To make the session more interactive, Irene brought along a selection of material samples that <strong>AWW Architects</strong> use when designing buildings. Students were able to handle these samples and explore how different materials influence the look, feel, and performance of a building.</p><p>Irene also explained that an architect’s role is incredibly diverse, involving the design of a wide range of environments including homes, workplaces, schools, sports facilities, and performance spaces. She highlighted that while the path to become a fully qualified architect can take up to seven years, the profession offers a rewarding and creative career for those passionate about designing and building future communities.</p><p>The talk made a clear impact, with many students expressing renewed enthusiasm for pursuing careers in architecture.</p><p>Daniel Comerford, Weston College <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… Professions</a> lecturer, said: “We’re extremely grateful to Irene for taking the time to visit our learners and share her experiences. Her talk offered invaluable insight into the profession and has clearly inspired the next generation of architects and designers in the construction industry.”</p><p>Guest lectures like this provide our students with a deeper understanding of alternative career paths that students can pursue following their <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve… Level</a>. It allowed them to ask questions to industry professionals, gave them clarity on the journey required to become an architect, and the benefits of pursuing this career. It allowed them to network with a professional, increased their confidence by reducing future ambiguity, and provided them with real-world insight as well as discussions of industry standards and values.</p><p>A big thank you to Irene for taking the time to visit our students and engage with them to ensure they were fully informed regarding their future opportunities.</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></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>Last Friday, Weston College proudly hosted a <strong>Construction Employer Breakfast,</strong> welcoming over 15 local employers from across the construction industry. The event served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships between education and industry, allowing employers to engage directly with our curriculum teams and Head of Construction, Richard Hanney, over a collaborative breakfast session.</p><p>The morning began with introductions and networking, followed by an overview of the College’s current construction programmes. Employers learned about our commitment to aligning course content with industry needs and the vital role that employer feedback plays in ensuring learners are not only work-ready but equipped with the future-facing skills that the sector demands.</p><p>Interactive polls, written feedback exercises, and guided tours of our teaching spaces encouraged open dialogue around the key competencies required in today’s construction roles. Employers shared their thoughts on the top ten skills they believe should be embedded into the curriculum, from technical abilities to softer, employability-focused traits such as teamwork and problem-solving.</p><p>Richard Hanney, Head of Construction, said, <em>"It was a fantastic morning, the level of engagement and input from employers was outstanding. Their feedback has really helped us shape our approach to programmes going forward. Furthermore, the offers of support, from masterclasses to site visits and beyond, were amazing. A huge thank you to all those who attended and continue to champion our learners and staff.”</em></p><p>This collaborative session helped forge meaningful partnerships and reinforced the importance of working together to develop a skilled, confident, and employable future workforce.</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… find out more about our construction provision at Weston College, click here.</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This event forms part of the<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; Construction </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;<br>&nbsp;</p>

<p>This <strong>National T Level Week, </strong>we want to share how industry placements not only benefit learners, but also hugely benefit businesses by allowing them to <strong>seamlessly integrate fresh, dynamic talent</strong> into their workforce.</p><p>We spoke to <a href="https://www.beardconstruction.co.uk/">Beard Construction</a> and <a href="https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/">UHBW</a&gt; to find out about their experiences of taking on industry placement learners.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.beardconstruction.co.uk/"><strong>BEARD CONSTRUCTION:</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>1. What is your name and your role at Beard Construction?</em></p><p>My name is Bev Parfitt, and I am the Social Value Co-ordinator at Beard Construction based in Bristol. Having been in education for 30 years I am happy to be the student lead at Beard ensuring that all students have a great experience whilst with us.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>2. For how long has Beard Construction been taking on industry placements for T Levels?</em></p><p>This is our second year of taking on T Level students and we are pleased to be working and supported by Weston College.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>3. What types of roles can our learners take on when they do their industry placement with Beard Construction?</em></p><p>Whilst with Beard the students will cover and shadow various trades and job roles. They will learn how to do a Health &amp; Safety check around the site with our H &amp; S team. They will learn about the job from the ground up and be involved in looking at drawings and having the extra value of working alongside the design team, the quantity surveyors and site managers.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>4. How does the industry placement prepare students for the working world?</em></p><p>Whilst being on site the students learn the importance of working as a team and understanding how different people work within the group. Time keeping and being able to communicate with their peers is key in the workplace and as the students grow in confidence you can see a real difference when they leave from when they arrived.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>5. How do industry placements benefit Beard Construction?</em></p><p>Industry placements are a low-risk, high return way for Beard Construction to attract future talent, strengthen its reputation, and infuse projects with fresh energy and ideas – all while contributing to the wider construction skills pipeline.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>6. Can you name any standout moments from our industry placement learners?</em></p><p>I love to see the students taking on board what they have learnt on site and then having the confidence to give a presentation to their class back at college. Listening to them use the right terminology and have full understanding of a particular area of study.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>7. Is there opportunity for our learners to progress onto apprenticeships or any other paid employment following the completion of their industry placement?</em></p><p>Yes, Beard Construction offers apprenticeships and is always looking for the students that stand out and impress them throughout their T Level and work experience time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>8. What would you say to employers who are considering taking on industry placement students?</em></p><p>Do it – Taking a T Level student isn’t just about helping the next generation – it’s a smart business move that supports growth, innovation and the construction industry’s future</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>9. Is there anything else you would like to add?</em></p><p>Having a T Level student on site enhances leadership coaching skills and demonstrates commitment to industry sustainability.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/"><strong>University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust:</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>What is your name and your role at UHBW?</em></p><p>Our names are Emma White and Denise Knight and we are part of the Practice Based Learning team. We support learners on various nursing programmes whilst they are on placement within the trust, along with supporting the clinical placement areas to provide positive placement experiences.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>For how long has UHBW been taking on industry placements for T Levels?</em></p><p>UHBW has been taking industry placements for T levels for 2 years.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>What types of roles can our learners take on when they do their industry placement with UHBW?</em></p><p>The learners take on a clinical health care support worker role where they work directly with Senior Health Care Support Workers to enhance their knowledge and practice their care certificate skills that they complete in college.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>How does the industry placement prepare students for the working world?</em></p><p>At UHBW we run a week long induction prior to the learners starting their placements. This involves talks from different professionals within different teams, such as the audiology, resuscitation and leadership teams. They have the opportunity to practice clinical skills within our simulation suite and reflect on the expectations and professional values required for an industry placement.</p><p>During the placement, learners are exposed to the organisation of the trust, a day-to-day running of a ward/clinical area and can meet and talk with patients and professionals about their healthcare experiences. Through this, they practice their communication, teamwork and professional skills which will help them prepare for the working world.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>How do industry placements benefit UHBW?</em></p><p>Industry placements are a great way for UHBW to showcase all the different roles within healthcare that young people can get involved in and give learners the opportunity to experience these. They bring a new set of skills and enthusiasm to UHBW and often go on to apply for our apprenticeship programmes.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Can you name any standout moments from our industry placement learners?</em></p><p>Last year UHBW was nominated for an Industry Placement Partnership Award by one of our learners. It was an honour to be nominated and observe how much the learner had thrived in their industry placement and how much they recommended UHBW for an industry placement.</p><p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YcWeaa24dFo?si=fxzzEKMYBoU7PPFC&quot; title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>Is there opportunity for our learners to progress onto apprenticeships or any other paid employment following the completion of their industry placement?</em></p><p>Yes there are options to apply for clinical apprenticeships such as our Student Nurse Associate programme or Healthcare Support Worker Apprenticeship that if a learner has enjoyed their placement and is interested in healthcare or paid employment.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><em>What would you say to employers who are considering taking on industry placement students?</em></p><p>I would say that it’s been a pleasure to play a role in helping the T level learners experience industry placements and witness them thrive within these placements and build valuable skills and relationships with staff.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/industry-placements?utm_source=main-menu&amp;u… find out more about taking on an industry placement learner, click here.</a></p>