Two graduates from the BA (Hons) Graphic Design, run in partnership with Bath Spa University, have taken up graduate designer roles with Dyson.

Amelia Hurrell and Laura Hughes both graduated with First Class Honours in 2013 and had been working as freelance designers as well as taking up intern positions - Amelia at Sky Creative, having won the New Designers Sky Award 2013, and Laura at Proctor and Stevenson, a prestigious web design company.

Thanks to the strong reputation of the College’s degree provision in Graphic Design, Victoria Norcross, Programme Co-ordinator for FdA and BA (Hons) Graphic Design, was contacted by Ben Tappenden, Creative Head of Graphics and Packaging at Dyson and asked to recommend some graduates for the role of Junior Designer. Amelia and Laura were both successful at interview.

Ben said: “The candidates from Weston College were strong in interview and had encouraging portfolios. Laura and Amelia are competent and exciting graduate designers with a good sense of fun, enthusiasm, confidence, professionalism and ambition in abundance.”

Victoria said: "The achievements of these students are testament to the excellent work-based opportunities they had whilst studying at Weston College. It's great to see them being so highly regarded and working in high-profile companies so soon after graduating."

Amelia said: “The BA (Hons) in Graphic Design degree at Weston College was the perfect springboard for me. It provided the necessary skills and experience - through work placements and communication with local design agencies - to be successful at interview and secure a graduate job with Dyson. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Dyson so far, having been involved in a wide range of projects that have allowed me to exercise the skills I learnt at the College, and I can’t wait to see what challenges await me in the future.”

Laura said: “Studying at Weston College equipped me with skills and real world experience to give me the best possible start to my career. If I hadn’t been to Weston I doubt I could have gained my position at Dyson. Since starting in my role I have been involved in a wide range of really interesting projects and been through a great graduate induction programme. It’s amazing to work for such a big company that is so well respected and always at the cutting edge of design." 

POLITICIANS from Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset visited Weston College to help students to understand how immigration affects modern politics.

Conservative MP for Weston-super-Mare, John Penrose, and UKIP politician Ian Kealey, who stood as UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for North Somerset in the 2015 General Election, visited the College on Friday 6th May.

The two politicians visited students on the social science diploma of the Access to Higher Education course, a course which provides adults with the qualifications and academic skills to progress to university.

The visit tied in with the students’ last assignment, contemporary political issues, where they are required to take part in a debate on immigration.

The two-hour debate covered a range of topics relating to immigration, including the economy, healthcare, cultural values, refugees, freedom of movement, border controls and more.

Mr Penrose said: “I was impressed by the depth of understanding on an extremely difficult and emotionally-charged issue and by the good natured style of the debate – perhaps a few MPs in Westminster could learn a bit if they were with me today.”

Sarah Rees, a qualified lawyer who lectures in Law and Social Policy at the College, said: “This was a great opportunity for students studying politics to hear first-hand from active members of parliament about a subject close to many people’s hearts.

“We are grateful to Mr Penrose and Mr Kealey for their contribution.”

Mr Kealey said: “I thought the students seemed well-informed about the topic and the issue of immigration, its economic impacts and how it affects services.”

For part two of our hair and beauty special, Sandra Bull, Weston College’s Hair and Beauty Curriculum Manager (who has over 25 years’ experience in the hairdressing industry), answers some of the most frequently asked hairdressing questions…

Click here to read part one of our hair and beauty special!

How often should I shampoo my hair?

This depends on your hair type and personal preferences. Your hair can actually clean itself, however your hair naturally dehydrates during the day from wind, pollution and sunlight, so washing it regularly is important to maintain its health.

It’s important to make sure you wash your hair with a shampoo made for your hair type, and always double wash.

Oily hair should be washed daily and dry hair should be washed a maximum of three times per week using a smaller amount of shampoo. If you’re a brunette or have curly hair you can wash it every two to three days.

How can I make my hair feel soft?

First of all, brush your hair before and after showering to get rid of any knots or tangles. Brushing before helps you to shampoo and condition your hair. When you’re in the shower, use shampoo and conditioner that matches your hair type. When shampooing, soak your hair and use lukewarm water. A good tip is to use half the amount of shampoo you usually use but wash your hair twice.

Turn the water’s heat down when conditioning and comb the conditioner evenly through your hair. To ensure the conditioner isn’t washed out, turn the shower off while doing this. Rinse the conditioner out of your hair with cold water as this seals the cuticle and gives your hair a good shine.

Don’t blow dry as this can damage and dry out your hair. Instead, use a towel to pat it dry.

How can I find out more about hairdressing?

Weston College offers a range of hair and barbering courses from introductory level right up to salon management at Level 4. These courses can give you practical experience with real clients and enable you to learn from industry professionals.