From returning to education later in life to building a successful self-employed career, Florence’s journey shows how determination and the right support can shape a fulfilling future. Now working at Blond Salon, she has turned her passion into a flexible and rewarding career. 

Florence first studied Level 2 Hairdressing at 14, before returning at 27 to complete her Level 3 qualification. Experiencing college as both a teenager and an adult gave her a new perspective. “I’m a firm believer that you get out what you put in,” she says. “This time, I made sure I took every opportunity and really focused on my work.” 

A key part of her learning came from working with real clients in salon sessions. “Being able to practise on actual clients was the best way for me to learn and build confidence,” she explains. Florence also credits her tutor, Nicola Smith, for creating a supportive environment and encouraging her to push herself further. “She never made us feel silly if we didn’t know something, and she’s the reason I entered competitions when I didn’t believe in myself.” 

Those competitions became an unexpected highlight. “I never thought I’d do something like that, but it really helped me grow in confidence, and winning was a huge boost.” 

With a clear goal to become self-employed, Florence approached her studies with purpose. After completing her course, she left her retail job to work in a salon while building her own client base. Today, she enjoys a career that fits around her life. “I genuinely enjoy going to work. I get to spend my days with amazing clients and still have that balance with my family.” 

Florence believes the industry is full of opportunities and encourages others to stay open-minded. “Say yes to opportunities, even if they don’t seem relevant at the time. The people you meet and the experience you gain will always help you in the future.” 

Her advice to aspiring stylists is to think about their goals and find the right environment to grow. “Find a salon that matches your values and will help you learn. If it’s not helping you grow, don’t be afraid to move on.” 

Reflecting on her journey, she adds, “I’d tell my younger self to take more risks and not worry about other people. College is such a short time, so make the most of it.” 

For anyone considering the course, Florence sees it as the perfect starting point. “College gives you the foundation - but in this industry, you should never stop learning.” 

If you're interested in finding out more about our Hair and Barbering courses, click here.

Last week, Level 2 Brickwork learner, Izzy Tanner, competed in the Guild of Bricklayers competition at New College Swindon, demonstrating an excellent level of skill and professionalism.

The Guild of Bricklayers aims to promote and uphold the highest standards of craftsmanship in brickwork. The Guild annually organises Junior and Senior regional heats through the UK’s Construction college network, with the support of industry partnerships. These competitions bring together bricklaying professionals from all over the UK to further develop their skills and confidence.

During the competition, Izzy encountered some challenges, identifying an issue with her build in which she made the difficult decision to take her wall down completely and start again from scratch as opposed to trying to patch and adjust to rescue the build. This display of problem-solving showed the high-quality that Izzy maintains throughout her work, knowing that a quick fix wouldn’t meet the benchmark standard that her work reflects.

By the end of the competition, Izzy had rebuilt two-thirds of her wall to a much higher standard, taking the time to be precise and careful, with a strong focus on quality. She displayed the importance of finishing properly as opposed to finishing first, and that the integrity of her work was more valuable than completing a job that didn’t meet her standard of work.

Although Izzy didn’t place, she displayed an excellent amount of resilience, confidence, and professional judgement, working well under pressure and producing a high-quality build even in the face of adversities. Her attention to detail and determination stood out in the competition, showing the importance of not just who wins, but how students approach the task with accuracy and thought.

Competitions like this are a fantastic opportunity for students to meet likeminded individuals and build on constructive feedback from industry professionals, making their work even stronger and preparing them for a career in bricklaying. We encourage as many of our students as possible to take part in enriching competitions like this to develop their confidence, expose them to industry standards, and provide them with networking opportunities.

Izzy reflected on her work following the competition, saying, “I’m so pleased I started again. I feel a lot better about the work I’ve done, and proud that in college I may have had to walk away, but today I didn’t."

Richard Hanney, Head of Construction at Weston College, said, “Izzy has overcome several barriers on her journey, but this was another moment worth celebrating, not just for the outcome, but for the character she displayed. It is important that our students develop not only the skills and precision required to succeed in the industry, but also build the qualities and attributes that will set them apart from others and reflect their enthusiasm for their work, and it was great to see Izzy embody that.”

A huge well done to Izzy and to the Construction team who have worked with her and supported her journey!

This competition forms part of the Construction 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. 

Progress to the next level in Construction! At University Centre Weston (UCW) 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. 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.

Earlier this month, a wide range of students took a trip to New York City to visit the iconic tourist attractions and experience the sights of one of the most famous cities in the world. This trip was largely funded by the Turing Scheme and allowed students from Performing Arts, Hair and Media Makeup, Sport, Music, and A Levels to explore New York for two weeks for an affordable rate.

The Turing Scheme is the UK’s global programme for studying and working abroad, enabling students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to gain the confidence, skills, and international experience that employers value. Weston College has been fortunate enough to secure over £216,000 in Turing Scheme funding to transform student experience and create unforgettable memories.

During the trip, our students visited iconic tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Top of the Rock, Brooklyn Bridge, Madison Square Garden, Central Park, and Times Square, exploring the areas and enjoying the sights that the city offered.

On top of this, some students took part in workshops such as a Broadway Dance Centre class and a Stage Combat workshop, as well as others using their free time to attend a football match, Broadway shows such as Six the Musical, The Great Gatsby, and Death Becomes Her. They even received backstage tours of Radio City Music Hall and experienced the harrowing 9/11 Memorial Museum which had a last impact on the students.

Outside of the activities and sights, students had lots of free time for shopping and trying new foods, with corndogs being a new favourite. Not only this, they also saw many celebrities entering the Devil Wears Parada 2 Premier, and even met Daniel Radcliffe after his show and took a selfie with him, a definite highlight of the trip!

Students adapted well to New York and quickly became used to the fast-paced atmosphere, navigating their way around, and the general feel of such a huge city. They faced some challenges through the trip, however everyone showed fantastic resilience, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as developing their independence, confidence, and trust in themselves and others.

This trip created unforgettable memories accessible to everyone, as well as introduced students to their peers across different curriculum areas, building lasting friendships with people they may not have had the opportunity to meet.

Joe Miller, Performing Arts lecturer at Weston College and supervisor of the trip, added, “This trip was a fantastic opportunity for our students to immerse themselves in a vibrant city with many different cultures. The group were such a pleasure to travel with, they were appreciative, mature, and happy to try new things, and they really pushed themselves out of their comfort zones. It was great to see every learner grow across the two weeks and I’d like to say a huge thank you to the staff who accompanied me on this trip, your support was invaluable and made the experience far more seamless and enjoyable!”

As a college, we’d also like to say a huge thank you to the Turing Scheme for making this experience possible and enabling our students to go on fantastic trips like this to enrich their future careers.

Thank you to Joe Miller, Lucy Cruse, Heather Boucher, and Hannah Prior for supervising the students on this trip and ensuring they made lasting memories!

This trip forms part of the Performing Arts, Hair and Media Makeup, Sport, Music, and A Levels Careers Excellence Hubs. 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. 

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.