Weston College has become the first college to sign up to the national Ban the Box campaign.

Candidates with a criminal record can now apply for jobs at the College with the knowledge that they will be assessed on their ability to do the job before any convictions are fairly considered.

However, the same rules surrounding who can legally do certain jobs will still apply, and DBS checks will still take place before any member of staff is appointed. Anyone teaching learners or working alongside College staff will have been through the same rigorous legal checks as usual.

Applicants will however, be asked to declare any such record at the point of job offering, and will undergo DBS/legal checks as all with all other applicants. Only once they are successful in passing those will they be able to accept a position.

The campaign is spearheaded by Business in the Community, and currently more than 90 UK-wide employers are signed up, with the College being the latest. Other organisations include Boots, Barclays, Bristol City Council and Virgin Trains.

The initiative will mean that the College no longer asks about criminal convictions on job application forms, instead committing to considering an applicant’s skills, experience and ability first and foremost.

Having a job can reduce a person’s chance of reoffending by up to 50%, and by signing up to Ban the Box Weston College is creating a fair chance for ex-offenders to compete for jobs and helping to keep the community safer.  

Grace Mehanna, Business in the Community’s campaign director for employment and skills, said: “Two thirds of employers admit to discriminating against people with criminal records, but the employers we work with recognise the skills and loyalty this diverse group of people can bring to their roles. Removing the barrier of a tick box can make all the difference to someone deciding to apply to your company.”

The Ofsted “Outstanding” organisation has confirmed that “Weston College is committed to recruiting an inclusive workforce, reducing barriers to employment and offering opportunities to applicants with the talent, motivation and potential to succeed. The College is already proud to be changing lives by the delivery of high quality Offender Learning and we are delighted to have signed up to this new policy. We know from experience how important it is for people with a criminal record to know that they have a fair chance of gaining legitimate employment to support them and their families and contribute positively to society. As an employer, we pride ourselves on equal opportunities for everyone and this is another step we have taken to show people that it is their skills and ability to do the job that matters.”

For more information about the work the College undertakes with ex-offenders visit www.offenderlearning.co.uk or to find out about current job vacancies across the Weston College Group, visit www.weston.ac.uk/jobs

If you'd like to know more about the 'Ban the Box' initiative visit http://www.bitc.org.uk/banthebox

Weston College celebrated the successes and accomplishments of its students at a glamorous awards ceremony at the Winter Gardens Pavilion.

The annual ‘Celebration of Success’ recognises the students who have gone above and beyond in their studies, and have achieved results greater than their own expectations. Over 40 awards were presented during the ceremony.

Many of the students celebrated at the event previously had challenging experiences of education or personal struggles that they had to overcome to facilitate their success.

College staff nominated students who had gone beyond what was expected. A panel of the College’s governing body and leadership team, including its Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, then judged the nominations.

The award winners and their families were treated to a three-course meal, entertainment from University Centre Weston’s FDA and BA Musical Theatre and Professional and Commercial Dance students, followed by a presentation ceremony which saw winners take home certificates and prizes.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive said: “These awards seek to highlight the fantastic achievements of College students and learners from our link schools.

“Many of our students have inspiring stories and personal accomplishments, our Celebration of Success recognises the students who have gone the extra mile and far surpassed their expectations, and the expectations of their significant others.”

Following these awards there is then a winner of winners’ award, which this year went to the Adult Learner of the Year - Zoe Chamberlain.

Dr Phillips said: “Zoe is proof that it’s never too late to learn new skills and we are delighted that she has taken this journey with our support.

“Zoe was 30 year old single mum, with no GCSEs, and no work experience or knowledge of the care industry when she joined the College’s Alliance Care Academy. Her confidence grew massively during the course and she passed all the elements with flying colours and secured a job with Alliance Care. She now visits the Care Academy to tell new learners about her journey and is a big inspiration to others.”

The Weston College Celebration of Success 2019 was sponsored by Midas Group, Derek Quinn - Executive Director, presented the certificates and prizes on the night. Midas Group worked with the College to renovate and enhance the Winter Gardens Pavilion and also developed the new Construction Training Centre and Health and Active Living Skills Centre for Spring 2019. Other sponsors for the evening included, Skylight Properties (drinks reception sponsor); Pace (publication sponsor); Hayes Parsons, Honeyfield Property Services, Sedgemoor Publicity, T.O.C.S.LTD, The Royal Hotel and Zest Media.

Please find below some of our winners from this year’s Celebration of Success:

School Link Students of the Year: James Goodyear-Evans, Nathan Northey, James Young and Jayden Pilgrim

Charlotte Cooke - Foundation Learning Student of the Year

Jack Mayhew - Weston Bay Student of the Year

Charlotte Saunders - Access to Higher Education Student of the Year

Leah Richards - Animal and Equine Studies Student of the Year

William Smith - Business and Tourism Student of the Year

Gabriel Bell - Hospitality Student of the Year

Gemma Logan - Hairdressing and Beauty Student of the Year

Nicole Powers - Law Student of the Year

Luke Grice - Media and Music Student of the Year

Laura Sparrow - Performing Arts Student of the Year

Chloe Collier - Production Arts Student of the Year

Beth Norton - Early Years and Education Student of the Year

Caitlin Gardner - Health and Social Care Student of the Year

Georgia Ferdinando - Sport and Public Services Student of the Year

Cameron Bailey - Advance Engineering Student of the Year

Thomas Griffin - IT and Computing Student of the Year

Aryan Foroughi - Civil Engineering Student of the Year

Ryan Pullen - Construction Student of the Year

Oliver Bessant - Electrical and Plumbing Student of the Year

Alessandro Tessitore - Motor Vehicle Student of the Year

Zoe Chamberlain - Pre-employment Student of the Year

Michael Brooks - Work Experience Student of the Year

Zoe Chamberlain - Gold Award: Adult Learner of the Year

Sandra Bull - Tony Suner Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution (staff award)

Gopal Gomathinayagam - Significant Achievement in Teaching and Learning (staff award)

Having recently written about the precarious situation in which further education currently finds itself, it’s great to be able to discuss a far more positive subject.

Our newly built Construction Training Centre has been open a few months now and has, so far, been met with universal approval.

There’s a good chance you’ve already seen the centre as it’s visible as you enter Weston from junction 21 of the M5. But if not, let me tell you, it’s a hugely impressive sight – particularly the vast ‘hangar-style’ building, which is used for scaffolding training and warehouse-based activities, such as forklifting.

The centre also provides courses in plant operations, highways and groundworks, and large vehicle driver training.

As well as the purpose-built practical training areas, the centre boasts six classrooms (which ‘open out’ to form meeting rooms), an ICT suite, CSCS testing facility and canteen.

The centre was developed in response to the growing demand for a trained and skilled construction workforce in the region. With that in mind, the training has been developed with employers’ requirements in mind – namely to provide the skills business’s need, when they need them.

And we’re already seeing the benefit of this approach, with bookings for training – from employers and individuals – already exceeding expectations.

Not only that, we’ve been inundated with positive feedback on the facilities, and the quality and range of the training.

Among the reasons for the construction sector’s widening skills gap is the scarcity of specialist training facilities across the country. To illustrate the point, before our centre opened, there was nowhere in England to train scaffolding workers between Plymouth and Birmingham. Our centre – conveniently situated off the M5 – provides businesses and workers in the south west region with a purpose-built resource on their doorstep (comparatively).

This is particularly important given that the region will be home to a number of nationally significant developments over the next decade.

But as with any development of this nature, it wouldn’t be possible without the support and input of a range of partner organisations, including North Somerset Council and the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership.

Likewise, the project has benefitted from our long-running relationship with Midas Construction, who were commissioned to build the centre. They understand the College, our priorities and how to provide the learning environment that students and businesses need.

Another key partner in the development are scaffolding training and safety experts, Simian, who deliver CISRS scaffolding training and other related health and safety courses at the centre. Simian are world leaders in the sector and their expertise has enabled us to develop these outstanding facilities and offer sought-after courses.

Although it’s still early days for the centre, the signs are extremely promising – and that’s great news for students, employees, businesses and the wider construction industry.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE

Principal and CEO

You can take a closer look at our courses and facilities on the construction section of Weston College’s website, or the dedicated Construction Training Centre site. You can also apply for our construction courses and training straight through these websites.