We are very proud to announce that one of our exceptional hairdressing apprentices has demonstrated extraordinary talent and skill by winning first place at the Blackpool AHT (Association of Hairdressers and Therapists) national Bridal Hair Styling finals. Competing against 24 other talented candidates, our apprentice's impeccable skills and creativity stood out, earning them the top spot in this prestigious competition. 

The victory at the Blackpool AHT competition highlights the high level of expertise and dedication within our hair and beauty apprenticeship programme. The winning apprentice impressed the judges with a stunning and intricate bridal hair design that exemplified elegance and sophistication, qualities essential for bridal styling. 

"We are incredibly proud of Ellie for this outstanding achievement," said Jenna Ratcliffe, Divisional Lead of Service Sector Industries at Weston College. "Securing first place in a national competition is a testament to Ellie’s hard work, creativity, and the high-quality training she has received at her salon, SmartEst73 and at Weston College. This collaboration is a testament to how important it is to collaborate with local employers to train the next generation of hairdressers." 

The Blackpool AHT competition is renowned for its high standards and the exceptional level of skill exhibited by participants. Winning first place against such a competitive field is a significant honour and underscores the dedication and passion of our apprentice. 

This success forms part of the Hair and Beauty Careers Excellence Hub. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.    

To see more about our Hair and Beauty courses, click here. 

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 here. 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. 

This National Numeracy Day at Weston College we are continuing our commitment to empowering adult learners and employers across the UK with essential numeracy skills!

National Numeracy Day serves as a reminder of the importance of numerical proficiency in everyday life and career progression. Multiply courses, funded by the government and delivered by local communities, offer a unique learning opportunity for adults aged 19 or over to build their numeracy skills. 

From basic maths taught through fun classes like cooking, gardening and woodwork to more advanced classes, the courses are designed to meet diverse needs and empower learners to navigate numerical challenges confidently. For employers, investing in the numeracy skills of their workforce is key to driving business growth and enhancing productivity. 

From basic numeracy training to advanced financial literacy, the courses are designed to align with business objectives and foster a culture of continuous learning. On National Numeracy Day, adults across the UK are encouraged to invest in their numeracy skills, while employers are urged to prioritise the development of their workforce’s maths competencies. 

By getting involved in the Multiply programme, individuals and businesses alike can unlock new potential and confidence!
 

“Being dyslexic, I always struggled with numbers. Luckily, the Multiply course allowed me to learn essential maths skills through fun classes. For instance I enrolled on a Multiply cooking course where I created new recipes and using maths to weigh out the correct ingredient measurements. Similarly, the joinery course taught me practical maths skills too, and I'm finding that my dyslexic challenges around numbers aren't as daunting anymore. I'm now adding numbers quicker and feeling more confident.”

Find out more about the Multiply Courses we have on offer below:

Cost Of Living And IT Skills

If the Cost-of-Living crisis in the UK is encouraging you to upskill, this course will give you skills in maths and IT required for all types of real-life scenarios. Find out more here - Cost of Living and IT Skills - Multiply 

Multiply ESOL

If you are currently learning English as a second or other language, this course will help you to further build your knowledge by improving your maths skills. Find out more here - ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) - Multiply.

Artificial intelligence has many weird and wonderful functions within our society and in workforces, making many jobs easier and revolutionising the way we work.

With the continual growth of AI, many professions hinge on uniquely human traits such as creativity, empathy, ethical judgment, and complex problem-solving.

We thought we would delve deeper into the careers which won’t be replaced by AI, and how you can start your journey into these careers with Weston College.

Creative arts:

While AI can generate music, write articles, and create visual art, it lacks the human touch that infuses these creations with genuine emotion and originality.

Human artists draw upon personal experiences, cultural contexts, and emotional depths that AI simply cannot replicate.

Creative works are often valued not just for their technical quality but for their ability to stir up emotions and provoke thought – something that requires a deeply human perspective.

We offer many courses which can get either get you started in the industry, or allow you to progress your career with new skills, whether that be through our courses for16–19-year-olds, or for adults.

Some of the available courses that we offer, include: Art, Design, Graphics and Fashion | Weston College | Creative and Digital Media | Weston College and Performing and Production Arts | Weston College. 

Education:

Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but also about inspiring, mentoring, and engaging students.

While AI can offer personalised learning experiences, the role of a teacher as a motivator and guide remains crucial.

Educators adapt to the diverse needs of their students, foster critical thinking, and create a supportive learning environment—elements that go beyond AI’s capabilities.

At Weston College, we can support you in starting a career in education through our Early Years Course: Education and Early Years | Weston College.

Social workers:

Social workers play a vital role in supporting individuals and communities through challenging circumstances.

Their work involves advocacy, crisis intervention, and providing emotional support, all of which require a high degree of empathy, ethical judgment, and interpersonal skills.

While AI can assist with data management and administrative tasks, the core of social work relies on human connection and compassion.

We offer several routes into this profession, some of our courses which are currently available include: Health and Social Care | Weston College, Adult Care Worker, Apprenticeship | Weston College Healthcare Support Worker, Senior Healthcare Support Worker, Apprenticeship | Weston College, or NHS Health & Care Somerset SWAP | Weston College. 

Mental health professionals:

The field of mental health requires a profound understanding of human emotions, behaviour, and relationships.

AI can provide tools for therapy, such as chatbots for basic mental health support, but it cannot replicate the deep empathy and human connection provided by psychologists and counsellors.

The therapeutic relationship, built on trust and understanding, is fundamental to effective mental health care and cannot be fully replaced by machines.

To kickstart a career in mental health, Weston College offer level 3 Counselling | Weston College and level 1 Introduction to Counselling | Weston College.

Environment, agriculture, and conservation:

While AI can greatly enhance efficiency and provide valuable data-driven insights in the fields of environment, agriculture, and conservation, it cannot replace the essential human elements required in these careers.

The complex problem-solving, ethical judgment, interpersonal skills, hands-on experience, creativity, and long-term vision that humans bring to these roles are irreplaceable.

Start your career with our Animal Management | Weston College course, or apply to our UCW Animal Conservation, Behaviour and Welfare, BSc (Hons) - University Centre Weston (ucw.ac.uk), and Animal, Environment and Biological Studies - University Centre Weston (ucw.ac.uk) courses.