<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last week, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</u></a> and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a> students delivered an immersive 1920s-themed murder mystery dinner, combining a three-course meal with live performances throughout the evening. The event was a fantastic cross-college collaboration: our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… 3 Hair and Makeup</u></a> students styled the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</u></a> students, while <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/graphic-design-ba-hons/"><u>BA (Hons) Graphic Design</u></a> students from <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>University Centre Weston (UCW)</u></a> designed promotional materials to support the event.&nbsp;</p><p>This initiative brought together multiple curriculum areas from Weston College and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/"><u>UCW</u></a&gt;, creating a high-quality public event that showcased the wide variety of student talent across a range of disciplines. It was a great example of how collaborative working can elevate both the learning experience and the final production.&nbsp;</p><p>Our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a> students designed and prepared an elaborate three-course menu, offering both meat and vegetarian options to accommodate a variety of dietary requirements. While students regularly host weekly dinner services to gain invaluable hands-on experience with real customers, this event presented a new challenge by delivering a fully immersive themed evening in partnership with other departments. This required adaptability, teamwork, and resilience, enabling students to develop their problem-solving skills and confidence in a dynamic, live-event setting.&nbsp;</p><p>For our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</u></a> students, the evening offered the opportunity to work beyond the traditional stage environment and perform within an interactive dining space. They engaged directly with guests, performing between tables and creating an authentic 1920s atmosphere while remaining mindful of the operational flow of the dinner service. This experience broadened their understanding of performance in non-traditional settings and provided valuable insight into alternative career pathways within the industry.&nbsp;</p><p>Collaborating across departments strengthened students’ communication and teamwork skills, encouraging them to step outside their comfort zones and build connections with peers from other subject areas. Through this process, they gained a deeper appreciation of the integral role that each discipline plays in delivering a successful live event.&nbsp;</p><p>The evening was met with outstanding feedback from attendees, who praised both the professionalism of the performances and the exceptional quality of the food. Most importantly, the event connected our students with the local community, providing meaningful real-world experience and reinforcing the standards expected within industry settings.&nbsp;</p><p>Experiences such as this encourage creativity, adaptability, and resilience which are essential qualities for future careers. By participating in ambitious, collaborative projects, our students continue to build the practical skills, confidence, and professional awareness needed to succeed in their chosen industries.&nbsp;</p><p>A huge well done to all the students who took part in this collaborative project, it was a fantastic display of professionalism and talent.&nbsp;</p><p>This collaborative project formed part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</u></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… and Catering</u></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… and Makeup</u></a>, and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/graphic-design-ba-hons/"><u>Graphic Design</u></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;</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 was delighted to welcome the <strong>National Youth Theatre</strong> to deliver its <strong>IGNITE Your Creativity</strong> programme, a series of fully funded, industry-led workshops designed to inspire and engage students from across a wide range of creative and technical curriculum areas. Delivered in partnership with and supported by <strong>Netflix</strong>, the programme provided learners with practical, hands-on experiences that introduced them to the wide range of creative and technical roles within film, television, theatre and related industries.&nbsp;</p><p>Taking place over a two-week period, the workshops enabled students to work closely with industry professionals, gaining first-hand insight into how creative projects are developed and delivered in professional environments. Learners explored a variety of roles and responsibilities, from performance and production to technical and behind-the-scenes careers, while developing confidence, teamwork skills and a greater understanding of working on professional film and theatre sets.&nbsp;</p><p>The programme engaged students from <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</u></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… Hair and Makeup</u></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… and Design</u></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Levels</u></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/send/… Work</u></a> and Creative Media Extension learners with <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/cours…;, and the King’s Trust cohort. Sessions were carefully tailored to meet the needs of each group, ensuring that all participants were able to access meaningful, relevant and inclusive learning experiences, regardless of background or career stage.&nbsp;</p><p>Students were introduced to a wide range of creative disciplines, including acting and performance, directing and assistant directing, producing, research, camera and sound, podcast and audio production, screenwriting and vertical drama. Learners studying fashion, hair and makeup explored costume design, fabrication, set and prop creation, hair, wigs and special effects makeup for productions. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/cours…; learners and those preparing for employment benefitted from accessible delivery, clear progression routes and increased confidence in exploring creative career pathways.&nbsp;</p><p>The practical, short-format sessions had a positive impact on student engagement, motivation and attendance. Fully funded delivery, bursaries and adaptable approaches helped remove barriers to participation, reinforcing the college’s commitment to inclusive education. The programme also strengthened progression by highlighting routes into mentoring, showreel development, industry networks and further specialist training.&nbsp;</p><p>Students who participated in the workshops have been offered to take part in a fully funded, one-week National Youth Theatre course taking place during February Half Term at the <strong>Blakehay Theatre</strong>, Weston-super-Mare. This intensive programme will enable learners to collaboratively create a short film for use in CVs and showreels, while receiving mentoring and guidance from more than ten industry professionals. Students will gain hands-on technical experience across key production areas, including sound, camera, lighting, make-up and design, alongside the opportunity to take part in industry visits that deepen their understanding of professional creative environments.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This was a fantastic opportunity for our students to work with high-profile employers and gain experience that will enhance their portfolio. It is also a great networking opportunity, giving students the chance to continue to work with the National Youth Theatre in the future and gain hands-on experience in a range of potential career paths.&nbsp;</p><p>Ethan Shi, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Level Media</u></a> Lecturer, added, "Breaking into the creative industries, such as Film and TV, can be challenging. It takes confidence. It takes skills. It takes passion. But even more so, opportunities. When employers and industry speakers step into the classroom, they will demonstrate and support learners by turning their imagination and career prospects into real pathways. They show not just what it takes to gain a foothold, but also demonstrate the diverse roles and potential that can be achieved through the right guidance, access, and progression."&nbsp;</p><p>Lynsey McKinstry, Strategic Business Partnership Manager at Weston College, said, “We are so grateful to the National Youth Theatre for delivering these workshops to our students. It is employer engagement like that is invaluable for our students personal and professional development. Hearing directly from industry professionals helped bring careers in the Creative industry to life and showed learners the wide range of roles available within production. These opportunities allow students from all pathways to build confidence, understand employer expectations and see how their skills can translate into real employment.”&nbsp;</p><p>A huge thank you to the team at the National Youth Theatre who took the time to visit our students and deliver these impactful workshops.&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>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last month, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… and Barbering</a> Careers Excellence Hub (CEH) signed a new partnership with <strong>White&amp;Co</strong> hair salon in Bristol. This is an excellent opportunity for students to work with industry professionals, learn new techniques and gain real-world experience through workshops.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>White&amp;Co </strong>founder, Rachel White, is an award-winning L'Oréal Colour blonde specialist and the owner of White&amp;Co hair salon in Bristol, known for its luxury colour services and for being a blonde and balayage expert. Rachel has several years of professional experience in the industry, gaining qualifications and awards before finally opening her own luxury salon, White&amp;Co, in 2025.</p><p>Prior to the partnership, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… 3 Hairdressing</a> students took part in a photoshoot session where our students were given a brief, having to put half of the model’s hair up and use their own homemade ornamentation within their designs. They came up with inspiration and created mood boards of their ideas before executing them on their models, showcasing a range of techniques and designs that they had learnt.</p><p>Students created headdresses using customised hairbands, felt flowers, and cushions with gems and a veil. These innovative creations gave our students the chance to build skills and techniques in a different form of <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…;, giving them flexibility and creativity when styling their model’s hair. This was a great way for students to explore new pathways and learn different techniques from industry professionals.&nbsp;</p><p>Following this, students then took part in a photoshoot of their styles, using professional lighting settings and Rachel’s guidance to create a real-world photoshoot for the students to experience and learn from. This experience was a fantastic opportunity for&nbsp;</p><p>Rachel White, owner of Whitecoat hair salon in Bristol, said:</p><p>“This collaboration with Weston College means a lot to me as my own career in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; began with college training. Being able to support students at such a formative stage feels very personal and rewarding, and allows me to share real industry experience while giving back to the pathway that shaped my career.”</p><p>“My advice to aspiring hairdressing students would be to try everything!&nbsp; When I first started my career, I didn’t enjoy colouring at all and thought I would go on to become a session stylist. Although I still love styling hair, I’m now a colour specialist and all my success within the industry has come from a path I never expected to take. You just don't know unless you try, that thing you’re scared of might just be your making!”</p><p>“Thank you to Weston College for giving me the opportunity to be part of such an exciting project. I’m looking forward to what’s to come and to working closely with the students.”</p><p>A huge thank you to Rachel for delivering an insightful workshop and becoming an industry partner to help shape the future generation of hairdressers!</p><p>This partnership forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-… and Barbering</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;</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>