<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Last week, Weston College opened its doors to new and returning students as they embarked on the start of the new academic year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Over three days, each CEH area welcomed first-year students with a wide variety of activities designed to help them settle in, build friendships, and get familiar with both their learning environment and the tools they’ll be using throughout their studies.&nbsp;</p><p>The college executive team ran Welcome Talks across Knightstone, Loxton and South West Skills campus in order to introduce themselves to the students and outline the expectations for the upcoming year.&nbsp;Students were also shown the key college policies and procedures to ensure they are fully prepared for the year ahead.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Deputy Principals, Gary and Ben, outlining the expectations and policies at Weston College&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d7e8770a-f4a7-4a9a-8671-b4668ac51faf" 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>Across all campuses, faculties organised engaging activities that blended fun with learning. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/anima… Management</u></strong></a> students, for example, took a tour of Puxton Park facilities where they met the animals before participating in a game of crazy golf, water rafting, and a tractor ride across the park.&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; students took part in themed activities such as filling out passports and a mini-Sports Day, encouraging teamwork and collaboration. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… Years</u></strong></a> students explored their creativity through crafts, while <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… &amp; Design</u></strong></a> students designed and produced album covers and playing cards.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Some departments jumped straight into hands-on learning, with <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi… &amp; Catering</u></strong></a> and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; </strong>&amp;<strong> </strong><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut…; students getting involved with styling techniques and Ready Steady Cook, showcasing their practical skills and gaining a clearer picture of their courses.&nbsp;</p><p>In <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…;, students took on a range of exciting challenges including peer interviews, creating time-capsule messages for their future selves, tackling a TV sitcom project, and reimagining classic fairytales. These activities highlighted both the practical nature of the subject and the creative freedom it offers.&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/level… Form</u></strong></a> students took part in a scavenger hunt to explore their campus, while Photography students sharpened their technical skills by taking headshots of classmates. <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt… &amp; Social Care</u></strong></a> students worked with interactive simulation dummies and conducted lab-based solution testing, whilst <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; students jumped straight into energetic team-building activities, from basketball to a lively game of human battleships.&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… Arts</u></strong></a> created a welcoming atmosphere with fun icebreaker games such as team shuffle races, human rock-paper-scissors, and human snap—ensuring plenty of laughter and bonding.&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, departments including <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/motor…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… &amp; Animation</u></strong></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d… Design</u></strong></a>, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…;, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/prote… Services</u></strong></a> all ran engaging icebreaker and problem-solving activities that encouraged teamwork and introduced students to course-related challenges.&nbsp;</p><p>These Welcome Days not only ease the transition into college life but also build confidence and friendships from day one. At Weston College, we understand that starting college can feel daunting, which is why we’re committed to making the experience as engaging and enjoyable as possible for every learner.&nbsp;</p><p>After such a positive start, we can’t wait to see what our students go on to achieve throughout this academic year!&nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds"><u>If you would like to join us, it’s not too late to apply for this academic year. Click here to see our courses.</u></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Some of our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</a> learners secured fantastic placements this year, giving them the chance to gain experience with organisations such as <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.bristolport.co.uk/">Bristol Port Company</a> and with <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.tui.co.uk/">TUI</a&gt; Travel Agents.</p><p>At Bristol Port, eleven learners took part in a dynamic placement supporting the embarkation and disembarkation of cruise ship passengers. Working on shifts, the students assisted with security operations and provided visitor information services to passengers boarding the Ambition cruise ship, operated by Ambassador Cruises. As part of their experience, they also had the opportunity to tour the ship, offering a unique behind-the-scenes perspective of cruise operations.</p><p>The Bristol Port Company provided a comprehensive induction and training process to prepare learners for their roles. This experience proved to be a fantastic opportunity to develop key skills crucial to the cruise and wider tourism industries such as communication, cultural awareness, problem-solving, and professional conduct.</p><p>The Cruise Industry is a unit on the course, and this work experience provided learners with an inside look at the coordination between travel companies, cruise lines, port authorities and local tourism boards. Learners were able to see how they all work together and be a part of this. This is vital knowledge for a career in travel and tourism.</p><p>In addition, two learners undertook placements at the TUI Travel Agent branch in Weston-super-Mare. During their 37-hour placements, they shadowed experienced staff, sourced holiday deals, and created promotional signage for display outside the store. This hands-on experience offered valuable insight into a wide range of Travel and Tourism services, including holidays, package tours, cruises, destination weddings, and bespoke travel experiences.</p><p>Ben Melhuish, Head of <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; at Weston College, added, “Creating these links with local employers is imperative to the success for our learners on Travel and Tourism. Gaining real world experience in the operations of tourism in the local area helps us meet the skills needs of our employers, whilst also strengthening the transferable skills and employability of our learners when they finish their course. The learners have once again been a credit to their course and college and the feedback from has been extremely positive!”</p><p>Hannah Carstensen, lecturer in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; at Weston College, shared her thoughts on the placement, “Work experience like this is highly beneficial for our Travel and Tourism learners as it provides practical exposure to the industry. The learners were able to gain an insight into the different Travel and Tourism products and services. This will help improve employability and helps learners build professional connections and references for future roles within the industry.”</p><p>A big thank you to the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.bristolport.co.uk/">Bristol Port Company</a> and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.tui.co.uk/">TUI</a&gt; Weston-super-Mare for making this opportunity possible and providing an invaluable learning experience.</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… you’re interested in applying to one of our Travel &amp; Tourism courses, click here.</a></p>

<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">The Level 2 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> students recently took an informative day trip to <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/"><strong><u>Bristol Airport</u></strong></a>, gaining valuable first-hand insight into the inner workings of a major UK airport. &nbsp;</p><p>The group travelled from Weston-super-Mare to <strong>Bristol Airport</strong> via the Airport Flyer, an experience designed to give them a full understanding of the passenger journey from start to finish. Upon arrival, the students began their visit with a comprehensive tour of the airport’s main terminal, including an overview of the four main airlines operating out of Bristol: Jet2, TUI, EasyJet, and Ryanair. </p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">One of the Bristol Airport team, Harry Ellis, led the tour and provided a detailed discussion around the check-in process, the customer journey, and the importance of special assistance services. The group then explored the security area, where they learned about the new C4 scanners and the airport’s collaboration with a wide range of business partners.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Bristol Airport staff presenting information to students&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c5ea1742-2a77-4dbd-bdd9-23d665ab31db" 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>The visit continued behind the scenes at the exclusive staff-only areas of Aviation House and Lulsgate House. Harry delivered an engaging presentation covering the airport’s expansion plans, marketing strategies, and his own career progression, from valet parking to his current role as Corporate Affairs &amp; Community Engagement Officer. Georgia from the HR team also spoke to the learners about career opportunities, apprenticeships, and routes into the aviation and travel industry. &nbsp;</p><p>Students were also treated to a rare visit to the airport’s roof deck, where they watched various aircrafts take off and land. The experience was finished off with a close-up look at the airport’s fire station, hangars, helicopter unit, and private planes.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Ryanair flight taking off&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d922509b-67fe-4176-85c9-d7eed316f74c" 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>This unique experience gave learners a better understanding of the diverse roles and operations within a busy airport environment and the possible career paths available to them after their course. &nbsp;</p><p>A huge thank you to the Bristol Airport team for their time, hospitality, and for inspiring our future <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> professionals. &nbsp;</p><p><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… you are interested in applying to one of our Travel &amp; Tourism courses, click here.</u></a> &nbsp;</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/trave… &amp; Tourism</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>&nbsp;</p>