Last week, our Hospitality and Catering students demonstrated outstanding professionalism and talent as they catered for more than 150 guests at the annual Celebration of Success (COS) Awards in the Winter Gardens. This prestigious event recognises the achievements of nominated students, celebrating their hard work in front of friends, family, and lecturers in a formal and inspiring setting.

The evening offered an invaluable opportunity for our students to experience the demands of a high-pressure, real-world kitchen environment. Tasked with preparing and serving a full two-course meal, the students worked seamlessly as a team to deliver exceptional food to every attendee.

The menu featured a roast turkey dinner, complete with roast potatoes, pork stuffing, roasted carrots and parsnips, red cabbage, and brussels sprouts. For dessert, guests enjoyed an elegant vanilla cheesecake with a berry coulis, which received glowing praise from attendees and staff. They also created vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives, ensuring to cater to all needs.

Beyond showcasing their culinary abilities, the event served as a powerful learning experience. Students developed crucial professional skills including time management, organisation, teamwork, and leadership—ensuring every task was completed efficiently and to a high standard. Working under real-world pressure reinforced their ability to remain composed and professional, particularly while serving guests during the event.

This hands-on experience also strengthened their confidence and provided a clearer insight into the expectations of the hospitality industry. Many students expressed how valuable it was to engage directly with clients, gaining transferable skills that will benefit them in future catering and hospitality careers.

The positive feedback received on the night was a testament to their dedication. Guests were highly complimentary of both the dishes, and the students were rightly proud of their achievements.

A huge well done to all Hospitality and Catering students for delivering delicious food and exceptional service at such an important event. Their hard work ensured the evening was a memorable success for everyone involved.

This opportunity forms part of the Hospitality and Catering 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. 

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.

To celebrate the festive season and the approaching Christmas holidays, our Travel & Tourism and Business students took a trip to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland in London.

This event is a seasonal tourist destination that attracts over 2.5 million people each year and employs over 5,000 people to work the event. It is a great example of temporary tourism for our students and gives them the opportunity to experience the operations first hand.

Students enjoyed the attractions and the food throughout Winter Wonderland before heading to Oxford Street and exploring the wide range of shops for a few hours.

Winter Wonderland is a 6-week event with over 150 rides and attractions for the public to enjoy, generating millions of pounds in annual revenue for the London economy which they reinvest back into maintaining the Royal Parks across London. This was an excellent way for students to see how large-scale businesses operate and the impact these events can have on the London tourism industry.

It was also great for students to see how important accessibility is to events, ensuring everyone is welcome and can enjoy their experience with ease. They also have many sustainability initiatives that they incorporate into the event to reduce waste and energy, as well as working closely with the local community to ensure the event has a positive impact and supports local businesses.

This trip allowed our students to apply their knowledge of operational management to a temporary but popular business, giving them the opportunity to think critically about the impact these events can have on the tourism industry and local economy.

A big thank you to the supervising staff for ensuring the students had an enjoyable and educational trip.

This curriculum trip forms part of the Travel & Tourism and Business 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 Business! 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.

On Thursday 4th December, Weston College came together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of more than 30 learners at its annual Celebration of Success event. Hosted at the historic Winter Gardens Pavilion, the evening highlighted the dedication, progress, and exceptional accomplishments of students and staff from a diverse range of ages and subject areas.

Nominations were submitted by college staff, with the final winners chosen by a panel comprising the College’s Principal, Deputy Principal and Chief Operating Officer.

Guests enjoyed a festive two-course Christmas meal, created by our talented Level 3 Hospitality and Catering students and professionally served by those on the Level 2 programme.

As the ceremony unfolded, each award recipient was welcomed to the stage to warm applause from friends, family members, and invited guests. Presenting the awards were Principal and Chief Executive Pat Jones, Weston-super-Mare Mayor Martin Williams, and Brigadier Nigel Beacom.

In addition to honouring students from across Weston College’s provision areas, this year’s event introduced a brand-new accolade: the Alumni Impact Laureate. Launched as part of the College Group’s 180th-anniversary celebrations, the award recognises former learners who are making a significant impact in their field. The inaugural honour was presented to former Weston College student James McGuinness, who now works as a Label Relations Manager at YouTube.

With heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors: Pace Agency and Image Sign.

Students in attendance were thrilled to be recognised. Toby Gibbs said: “I feel very, very proud of myself. I can’t explain how much this means.” 

Evie Littlewood added: “All of my hard work last year has paid off - I am so proud.” 

Yulia Dmytrenko commented: “It is an amazing feeling; I feel like I am with my family.” 

Alex Howard said: “I implore people who are on the edge to take that extra step - it makes you feel hungry, it makes you want more and makes you wonder where your ceiling really is.”

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said:

“The Celebration of Success remains one of the standout moments of our year, showcasing the incredible talent, commitment and resilience demonstrated by our FE students. Every winner has shown exceptional dedication to their learning and personal development, and it is a privilege to commend their achievements.

“We were also thrilled to spotlight our first Alumni Impact Laureate, James McGuinness, whose journey from the classroom to working with major artists including Ed Sheeran, offers a powerful reminder of what is possible through further education.”

“At Weston College, we are committed to nurturing an environment where every individual can excel and create meaningful change within their communities. Congratulations to all our winners you continue to inspire us.”

The evening’s winners were:

Inclusive Practice

• Extension Studies Student of the Year - Thomas Barnes
• Pathways Student of the Year - Caitlin Edgerley
• Preparation for Life Student of the Year - Lucy Browning
• Re-Engage Student of the Year - Kiera Paul

The Arts

• Art, Graphics and Fashion Student of the Year – Evie Aylott
• Performance and Production Student of the Year – Dan Fogg

Business & Academic Pathways

• A Levels Student of the Year – Tasneem Mohamed
• Access to HE Student of the Year – Alex Howard
• Accounting Student of the Year – Debbie Delap
• Business and Tourism Student of the Year – Ellie Starling

Construction & Engineering

• Automotive and Engineering and Green Skills Student of the Year – Jessica Kellow
• Construction Professions, Trades and Services Student of the Year – Toby Gibbs

Computing and Creative Media

• Creative and Digital Student of the Year – Olivia Gray
• Computing and IT Student of the Year - Callum Kavanagh

Essential Skills

• English Progress Award – Isobel Tanner
• ESOL Progress Award – Yuliia Dmytrenko
• Maths Progress Award – Esther A. Larsen

Health & Sport

• Counselling Student of the Year – Caroline Gower
• Health and Social Care Student of the Year – Aidan Badman
• Sports Student of the Year – Jessie Hall
• Sports Academy Student of the Year – Joshua Oliver

Service Industries

• Animal Management Student of the Year – Evie Littlewood-Hillsdon
• Education and Early Years Student of the Year – Ewa Bowman
• Hair, Barbering and Beauty Student of the Year – Megan Hedges
• Hospitality and Catering Student of the Year – Lily Long
• Protective Services Student of the Year – Jay Weall

Special Recognition Awards

• Aiden Hunt
• Shay Da Silva-Williams
• Mohammedamin Issaq
• Morgan Lade
• Toby Moger

Principals Gold Awards

• Social Action Award - Biscuit and Benches
• Alumni Impact Laureate - James McGuinness
• 16-19 Student of the Year - Toby Gibbs
• Adult Student of the Year - Ewa Bowman