Over the last year, Weston College students have been given the opportunity to work with some great businesses on live project briefs.

These ‘real-life’ assignments have included creating videos and working on websites.

Students have worked particularly closely with Visit Somerset, who produce a website promoting Somerset as a tourism destination. Here, John Turner, CEO of Visit Somerset, explains more about the students’ work and the partnership with the College.

The working relationship that Visit Somerset has with Weston College is possibly one of the most progressive and dynamic that we currently have within the county.

Both organisations are working closely to ensure that we are not only empowering businesses through combined social mobility and digital strategy, but – just as importantly – empowering and giving opportunity to the next generation. Students are gaining vital vocational skills, which will help them attain the confidence and employability skills they need for their future careers.

Weston College students are helping support three key facets of Visit Somerset strategy:

• Helping with disability awareness through our social inclusivity strategy, which involves ‘signing’ for film developments, supporting our conferences and updating members on the latest disability awareness opportunities and courses.

• Digital students have been creating new websites for our SME members, whilst also providing ongoing maintenance. This will allow the £500 million accommodation industry in Somerset to finally get the vital support it needs to compete against online travel agents. With the support of Weston College students, we are already making considerable improvements to help empower and train SMEs so they can create sustainable futures for themselves. And, at the same time, we’re giving students the opportunity to experience key client relationships and build their all-important interpersonal skills.

• Students have also enjoyed helping shape the new Visit Somerset official county website, creating video content to help market the important meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry and our accommodation sector. They’ve also created image-led, content-rich videography to help market the county’s overall beauty.

At 18 months old, this relationship is still only in its infancy. However, we have already achieved so much together. Both organisations and their teams and, most importantly, the students, should be deeply proud of their efforts and their incredible abilities. One thing I always remind students of is that the only barriers to your success are those that appear in your mind.

If you would like to offer a live project brief to our students, you can pledge here.

It’s an exciting time for Weston College Sport.

As well as developing the new Health and Active Living Skills Centre, the College has joined forces with Coachmakers – a Bristol-based organisation that delivers training for the sport, active leisure, health and well-being sectors.

Coachmakers was formed in 2009 in response to a growing interest in sports coaching education. There was demand for an education-based provision that catered, through the power of sport, for young people who could not otherwise engage with traditional education.

Ten years later, the organisation continues to thrive, winning prestigious awards such as the Bristol Apprenticeship Training Provider of the year (2013). Their aim, to train 1,000 coaches between 2017 and 2022, has also been given a boost after joining with Weston College in November 2018.

Liz Barker, Coachmakers Director, said: “We have worked closely with Weston College over the last few years, sub-contracting in various areas. I had always found the College to be professional, knowledgeable and open to supporting new and exciting ventures.

“Therefore, the move to be part of the College was a welcome one for myself and my team – to not only continue the great work to date, but to explore new avenues and see how the platform of sport can support and complement the existing College provision.

“Coachmakers offers far more than just an apprenticeship or a full-time programme. You can expect the utmost standards from experienced and qualified working coaches. Our ability to create sustainable progression is what sets us apart from our competitors.”

Jess, who studied the Level 2 Coaching NVQ, added: “I decided to join Coachmakers as I have a passion for sport and love working with children.

“This was the perfect course for me – learning to be a sports coach and delivering fun and engaging sports sessions to children. I also loved the mix of theory and practical delivery. The support I received led me to gaining a Level 3 apprenticeship in a school for my second year.”

Coachmakers offers two full-time programmes of study as well as two apprenticeships related to sports coaching and activity leadership. Their programmes are delivered in South Bristol, Portishead/Weston and Truro (Cornwall). Their apprenticeships take place in the workplace.

Click here to read more about the courses on offer and how to contact Liz and the rest of the team.

Further education (FE) colleges are an essential cog in the education ‘machine’ in England.

As Principal of Weston College, you might say I’m biased.

But I’d argue that’s given me extensive, first-hand experience of how colleges help people of all ages and backgrounds make the most of their talents and ambitions.

You don’t need to look very far to see the impact Weston College is having on people across the region; from our successful traineeship programme to the thriving sixth form. We mustn’t forget the impact of apprenticeships, and pre-employment – who both support learners of varying ages and truly change lives.

And these are only the direct benefits. If you consider the role colleges play and the influence they have in the wider communities, it’s clear they are driving social mobility and boosting local and regional economies.

This week we welcomed Visit Somerset CEO John Turner to deliver a talk to stakeholders, and he shared how our students are making change happen and to quote John: “we have seen a direct impact on our economy through partnering with Weston College.”

What a fantastic reference, and how amazing are these learners performing to have such an impact! To put it bluntly, colleges matter – to their students, staff and local communities.

However, it’s no exaggeration to say their futures are in jeopardy due to the extensive and continued funding cuts affecting the sector.

For too long the vital work of colleges has been overlooked and underfunded.

The total college income in England has fallen by £1 billion since the start of the decade, which represents a funding cut of around 30%.

This drop in funding has led to:

• Fewer hours of teaching and support for young people
• Course closures
• A reduction in the number of learning opportunities for adults
• The value of staff pay falling by over 25% since 2009
• Job losses and recruitment problems
• College teachers earning £7,000 less on average than school teachers.

The situation is completely unsustainable and we need action now.

Fortunately that action is materialising in the form of the ‘Love our Colleges’ campaign, which is uniting the sector in pursuit of one overarching goal – appropriate funding of further education.

This includes:

• Increasing the 16-19 funding rate by 5% a year for the next five years, and extending the pupil premium to cover post-16 students
• Fully funding a National Retraining Scheme to support Level 3 to 5 skills
• Introducing a lifetime learning entitlement to fund skills training for all adults who have not previously achieved a level 3 qualification.

As well as making the case for extra government funding and fair pay in FE, ‘Love our Colleges’ is also highlighting the great work that goes on in colleges, and the brilliant staff that make it all possible.

Throughout the week we have shared stories for our learners and staff across social media and it makes me proud to read these daily quotes – we really are creating brighter futures.

If you are yet to see these quotes, I would suggest taking a look and see why we advocate fairer funding and love our college.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE,

Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College