<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">At just 19, Ellie is already building a career shaped by travel, people, and new experiences. A former student of Weston College, she now works as a customer care agent at Bristol Airport while also spending her summers working at a camp in the United States.&nbsp;</p><p>In her role at the airport, Ellie supports passengers requiring special assistance, guiding them through check-in, security, and boarding, as well as assisting arrivals through customs. “This service allows air travel to be accessible for everyone and reduces stress,” she explains. With airport terminals continuing to expand, services such as wheelchair assistance have become increasingly vital for many passengers.&nbsp;</p><p>Across the Atlantic, her summer role offers a completely different pace. As a gymnastics counsellor, Ellie also took responsibility for a group of fourteen 11–12-year-olds, sharing a cabin and guiding them through daily activities. “Every day is different,” she says, highlighting evening “cabin circle time” as a favourite moment, where campers reflect on their day over cookies. “By the end of summer, they felt like my little besties.”&nbsp;</p><p>Ellie credits her time studying <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</a> at Weston College for sparking her passion for the industry. Initially drawn by a love of travel, the course opened her eyes to a wide range of career paths. “I always wanted to be a flight attendant,” she says, “but I realised there’s so much more out there.”&nbsp;</p><p>Her college experience also helped build confidence and practical skills, particularly in communication and customer service. A standout moment was a business enterprise project supporting Weston Hospicecare, which gave students hands-on insight into running a business while raising money for a local cause.&nbsp;</p><p>After leaving college, Ellie spent five months backpacking across Southeast Asia and Australia - an experience that further shaped her outlook. She is now preparing to return to the U.S. for another summer at camp, with future plans including volunteering in Africa and completing a ski season.&nbsp;</p><p>Her current role at Bristol Airport also stems directly from a college opportunity. After undertaking work experience arranged through the careers and employability team, Ellie and her peers were offered part-time roles. “It was a great job to have while studying and will look amazing on my CV,” she says.&nbsp;</p><p>For current students feeling uncertain about their future, Ellie offers simple but reassuring advice: “Try not to stress. Travelling has taught me that no one really has everything planned out.”&nbsp;</p><p>Looking back, she would tell her younger self the same thing she reminds herself today: “Everything is going to work out in the end.”&nbsp;</p><p>Her final message to students is clear: make the most of your time. “Enjoy it and take it all in - because it’s only two years, and it will be over before you know it.”&nbsp;</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/trave… and Tourism</u></a> and <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/busin…; students received an insightful guest lecture from <strong>Border Force</strong> members, Darren and Andy, giving learners a deeper understanding into the potential careers within Border Force and the possible progression routes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Border Force is a law enforcement command that is responsible for protecting the United Kingdom’s borders, operating at airports, seaports, international rail terminals, and postal hubs to control the movement of people and goods entering or leaving the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Darren and Andy began by outlining their own career journeys, progression, and personal experiences within Border Force. They also explained the training and application process, offering students valuable guidance for those interested in pursuing this pathway. This gave our students invaluable insight regarding where to start when considering a career in Border Force and the key attributes they look for in their candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>During the guest lecture, they also covered key areas of Border Force operations, including their work at airports and ports, detecting passport fraud, managing immigration processes, and enforcing CITES regulations to prevent the illegal trade of endangered species. Learners were able to ask questions during the session, even having the opportunity to check a suitcase for illegal items. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Border Force giving guest lecture to students&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b5af6255-13c7-41c6-9f95-559ea2b77172" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">This hands-on session was an excellent opportunity for students to network with industry professionals, as well as put their knowledge into practice. Border Force is an imperative aspect of ensuring the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> industry runs smoothly and safely and, in turn, encourages socio-economic growth. Learning about careers within Border Force opens up more opportunities for our students and broadens their potential pathways following their course.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Students can also apply the invaluable tips and advice that Border Force provided regarding the application process to any career in the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave…; industry, allowing them to excel in their future careers.</p><p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Hannah Forrest, Curriculum Co-ordinator in <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a>, added, “Guest lectures like this provide our students with a great mix of guidance and hands-on experience to broaden the potential careers in the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and Tourism</u></a> industry for them ahead of completing their course. Border Force makes up a large part of ensuring a smooth and seamless travel experience for people and businesses, therefore learning more about the important role they play brings the careers to life for our students.”</p><p>A huge thank you to Andy and Darren for coming in and sharing your extensive background with our students!&nbsp;&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/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>

<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/trave… and Tourism</u></a> students were tasked with designing and creating an event for the <strong>Winter Gardens Ballroom</strong> to host, teaching them valuable lessons in event planning and the logistics behind organising them.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The students were split into four groups and had 1 week to come up with an idea that would sell tickets and appeal to a target audience. During this week, students brainstormed ideas, did market research, created cost breakdowns, contacted employers, and came up with promotional materials and designs to promote their event. They then created an in-depth presentation to share with the Winter Gardens Management team who picked the best and most plausible event to run on May 8th.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The events designed by our students included Bougie Bingo; a black-tie bingo event, Paint and Sip; cocktails and a paint along, Film and Fork night; dinner matching the theme of the movie, and a Murder-Mystery evening. These events were all innovative and well-researched, displaying a high level of creativity and thought within the design processes. Some groups even contacted various employers for quotes to start considering ticket prices which would produce a potential profit.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>After consideration, the <strong>Winter Gardens</strong> staff chose the Paint and Sip event to conduct on May 8th, deciding it seemed the most plausible to plan in a short amount of time and is already a popular event. It also requires fewer outgoings which means the ticket prices can be more affordable to the public and, in turn, will draw up a larger crowd.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The winning group have now begun planning the event, organising a budget with the Winter Gardens and booking the required external activities such as food, entertainment and decorations. The remaining groups will help assist and serve throughout the event to reduce costs whilst giving them crucial hands-on experience around the of running an event.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This collaboration between Weston College and the Winter Gardens is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn from professionals and plan a real-life event for an organisation. It provides them with excellent insight into the potential challenges that students may need to overcome when planning an event, the importance of marketing to promote an event, and the factors to consider in order to create a seamless experience for the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>By giving our <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 the responsibility to plan and deliver an event within a set budget gave them invaluable real-world experience which will develop their practical skills in project management, budgeting, marketing, teamwork, and problem-solving while learning to operate within industry standards and expectations.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Not only this, collaborating with professionals enhances their communication and employability skills, and managing a live event for paying members of the public gives them a sense of accountability, resilience, leadership, and confidence. Overall, this experience is a fantastic opportunity which will provide them with vital employability skills and give them realistic industry insight and a strong sense of achievement.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>A huge well done to all the students who were involved, everyone’s ideas were professional and well-thought out and would certainly appeal to a wide target audience.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>This project management opportunity forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/trave… and 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>