<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">This week, Level 2 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; students visited <strong>the Avon Fire and Rescue</strong> Fire Station, providing them with invaluable real-world insight into fire safety, emergency response, and the critical role that firefighters play in protecting the community.</p><p>As aspiring <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…;, there was an emphasis on Health and Safety, with students learning how to respond effectively to electrical fires, the correct protocols to follow in an emergency, and how to call for help. This knowledge is directly transferable to their future careers, reinforcing the importance of safe working practices and responsible behaviour on site.</p><p>During the visit, students were also given a tour of the fire station, where firefighters explained their roles and responsibilities, shift patterns, involvement within the community, and the benefits and challenges of the profession. This provided learners with a realistic understanding of emergency service careers and the importance of teamwork, resilience, and quick decision-making under pressure.</p><p>Students were introduced to specialist emergency vehicles such as fire engines and a hovercraft, broadening their awareness of the wide range of situations firefighters respond to. Not only this, students took part in practical demonstrations and activities to gain first-hand experience of essential operational procedures.</p><p>The students also observed and practised how firefighters access a fire hydrant to obtain a larger water supply during an incident. Working in teams, they repeated the process in a timed challenge, developing communication, problem-solving skills, and confidence under pressure. Firefighters further demonstrated the use of different stretchers, with students experiencing both patient and responder roles, enhancing their understanding of casualty care and safety.</p><p>During their visit, a memorable event occurred when all fire engines were called out to an emergency, leaving the station largely empty. Upon their return, students assisted by helping to clean one of the fire engines, giving them a unique insight into the realities of fire service life and reinforcing values such as responsibility, respect, and teamwork.</p><p>This visit deepened their understanding of the serious consequences of electrical hazards, encouraged swift and appropriate action in emergency situations, and strengthened their awareness of how their future profession intersects with public safety.</p><p>Overall, the experience was an excellent opportunity, providing students with practical knowledge, increased confidence, and a stronger sense of professional responsibility skills and attributes that will support them throughout their careers in the electrical industry and beyond.</p><p>A huge thank you to the firefighters at Avon Fire and Rescue for welcoming our students and sharing your journey and knowledge.</p><p>This curriculum trip 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/"… and Construction</a>! 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>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Weston College hosted the <strong>South West Regional </strong><a href="https://www.hip-magazine.co.uk/"><strong>HIP</strong></a><strong&gt; &amp; </strong><a href="https://www.sparks-magazine.co.uk/"><strong>SPARKS</strong></a><strong&…; Competition</strong> again for the second year in a row at our South West Skills Campus yesterday, welcoming students, apprentices and lecturers from colleges across the South West of England. Students who win their regional heat will then compete for a chance to become the Learner of the Year Winner in the national Grand Final.</p><p>Weston College put forward two students, Level 3 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; apprentice, Marcus, for the SPARKS competition, and Level 3 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; apprentice, Will, for the HIP competition. Both learners worked extremely hard to prepare themselves for this competition, working tirelessly with lecturers to ensure they covered a range of challenging installations to equip them with an in-depth skillset.</p><p><strong>Marcus won the SPARKS South West Regional heat competition yesterday, securing him a place in the national Grand Final taking place in May.</strong> He displayed a high-level of accuracy and skills throughout the competition which secured him the top spot amongst his competitors. Will also worked hard throughout the HIP competition, displaying professionalism and dedication to his installation, unfortunately he did not manage to place in this year’s regional heat.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Marcus and lecturer, Lee, standing smiling in the practice workshop&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bc8d52d5-1d07-49b4-8f5e-32455ab245c4" 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><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Will and lecturer, Chris, standing smiling in the practice workshop&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="050e20d1-9557-4b1c-b4eb-9bc584704c9b" 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>The HIP &amp; SPARKS Competition encourages <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; students from across the country to compete, with one student being chosen from each participating college to represent them in each competition in hopes of becoming the 2026 Learner of the Year. The HIP competition consists of <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; and heating students from across the UK, whilst the SPARKS competition consists of <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; learners from across the UK.</p><p>During the competition, students had to complete a live practical installation, being given a strict brief and time limit that they must adhere to. Judging is then carried out by expert Technical Teams to ensure the students have followed the brief, test how well it works, the precision and accuracy of the installation, and the neatness of their work. A winner and a runner-up are then chosen from each regional heat to compete in the Grand Final and become the 2026 Learner of the Year in both competitions.</p><p>Lee Baker, lecturer in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…;, and Chris Simpson, lecturer in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…;, have worked hard to ensure both students feel prepared during the competition.&nbsp;</p><p>These competitions are an excellent way for students to increase their confidence and skills, meet likeminded students in the same trade from across the country, network with industry professionals, and win huge prizes if they place in the regional or Grand Final.</p><p>Marcus, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; apprentice and the SPARKS South West Regional Heat winner, said: “I thought it went well but I was surprised when I won. I thought I had a good chance as I did some prep work in college and a lot of the work in the install I do on site but I didn’t think I’d win. I feel like everyone who gets the chance to do this competition should definitely give it a go as it’s great experience and you never know if you’ll win!”</p><p>Lee Baker, Lecturer in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; at Weston College, shared how proud he was of Marcus, saying: “Marcus has worked exceptionally hard throughout his apprenticeship, and since being chosen to represent the college in the SPARKS competition, he has been pushing himself to his limits, making sure all installations are millimetre perfect. I couldn’t be prouder of what he has achieved and I look forward to seeing him compete in the final in May and show the extent of his skills.”</p><p>This competition 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/"… and Construction</a>! 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 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>