A Weston College apprentice is through to the finals of a prestigious skills competition after a stunning display of his catering-related work in London.

Max Bennett, a Level Three Supervisory and Leadership Apprentice , currently works at the Marco Pierre White Restaurant at the Doubletree at Hilton Cadbury House venue in Congresbury, North Somerset.

His hospitality skills and highly professional manner with the restaurant's customers made him an ideal candidate for the 'WorldSkills' event, the largest unique biannual competition in the world involving around 1,000 apprentices and students, aged 18 – 24 in 46 different skill areas.

Max, 18, from Clevedon, travelled to Westminster College in London for the regional finals, pitting his skills against fellow apprentices and students. He was asked to supervise in a professional restaurant setting, which included the serving of a flambéed banana dish as well as carving salmon, serving wine and interacting with the guests.

Max's skills and overall manner has now earned him a place in the WorldSkills UK final in Birmingham in November. If he wins that, he will be off to Rio De Janeiro next year as part of the UK squad.

Max said: “It was a real challenge and quite nerve-wracking. I know I made a couple of mistakes but I think the way I chatted with the customers got me through. I'm really looking forward to the next round and I'd love to be in the team that goes to Brazil.”

Max has worked at Doubletree at Hilton Cadbury House for 18 months. He said: “The staff and my managers have been really supportive, as have Weston College. They're all willing me on to get through the next round in Birmingham.”

Brian Howe, Weston College's Work Based Learning (WBL) Development Coordinator, said: “Max is a great guy and a real credit to his employers. His outstanding success at WorldSkills just proves what you can achieve if you put your mind to it, and at Weston College we'd love to recruit other potential apprentices who feel they could achieve the same.”

A new sensory learning base for students with Profound and Complex Learning Disabilities (PCLD) has been officially opened at Weston College.

The centre is the final part of a £1million investment that provides high quality facilities.

The new base opened its doors to students in September 2014 at the Knightstone Campus in Weston town centre, meaning students with PCLD no longer have to leave the local authority to receive specialist support.

Ben McConkey, the College’s strategic lead in inclusive practice, said: “In the past, students with PCLD may have had to leave the local authority when they finish school to access the specialist education and support they require.”

The Sensory Learning Base provides students with an individualised high quality multi-sensory programme.

Ben McConkey said: “Our programmes will help young people develop the skills to lead a more independent life, access their community and develop and maintain relationships with family and friends through a wide range of sensory experiences and holistic approaches.”

Weston College Principal and Chief Executive Dr Paul Phillips OBE described it as a ‘vital’ facility for the area.

He said: “It’s a far cry from when the College first opened its doors to a small group of teenagers with learning difficulties and disabilities back in 1981.

“We now have more than 1,000 learners receiving support on further education and higher education courses across all sites.

“This is a vital new facility for the local authority that will support some of the most vulnerable young people in our community and I look forward to welcoming new learners to the College.”

“The Sensory Learning base will work in collaboration external agencies to ensure every individual receives outstanding support and positive outcomes.” 

Weston College has set up an advice service for employers to help guide them through the new apprenticeship levy, due to be introduced in April 2017.

Last Friday (12th August) the government published proposals for a new funding model for apprenticeships and further details on the apprenticeship levy. The funding will support people of all ages to gain high-quality skills and experience and help employers to offer more training opportunities and build a skilled workforce.

The key points are:

• The start date for accessing the new funding system will be 1st May 2017
• The system applies to both levy and non-levy paying employers
• Starts prior to 1st May will be funded for the duration of the apprenticeship under current funding terms and conditions in place at start of programme
• Non-levy paying employers will not use the Digital Apprenticeship Service (DAS) until at least 2018
• 15 funding bands have been proposed, with the upper limit of these bands ranging from £1,500 to £27,000. All existing and new apprenticeship frameworks and standards will be placed within one of these funding bands
• Co-investment is a requirement of the new system for non-levy paying employers or employers who have used up their levy and it is proposed that employers co-invest 5 per cent of the costs, with government paying the remaining 95 per cent
• For employers with less than 50 employees it is proposed to waive the co-investment element if these employers take on a 16 to 18-year-old apprentice
• English and maths functional skills funding will not require an employer contribution nor will it be taken from levy paying employer’s accounts; it will continue to be paid directly to the provider
• Re-training – it is proposed that eligible learners will be able to undertake apprenticeships at a lower level than their current education level ‘to acquire substantive new skills’.

The levy was first introduced in the 2015 autumn statement and in response to a number of enquiries Weston College has set up a Levy Solution Service.

Liz Redwood, Executive Director of Apprenticeships and Commercial Strategy, said: “Weston College is able to support you through this process whether you are a levy paying employer or non-levy paying employer.

“We can help you begin to plan how to make the most of the new system, so please contact the Apprenticeships Team on 01934 411 594 or email us on business.enterprise.centre@weston.ac.uk to book a free advice and guidance session."