<p>A common misconception about apprenticeships is that they are aimed at school-leavers making their first entrance into the world of work, typically in a technical or engineering role.</p><p>Despite the majority of apprentices being 16–18-year-olds, it is increasingly common to see people in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties and beyond going down the apprenticeship route in pursuit of a career change, in almost every industry.</p><p>Andy Dolman, a firefighter at Avon Fire and Rescue, was previously working for himself doing property maintenance. Despite running a successful business, Andy had always harboured ambitions to join the fire and rescue service and was “trying for years” to land a full-time firefighter position.</p><p>Firefighters can sometimes serve up to 20-30 years in the service, and so full-time openings can be scarce. Undeterred, Andy applied to become an on-call firefighter and was successful in landing the part-time role at Avon Fire and Rescue.</p><p>Having got a taste of life in fire and rescue on-call, an opportunity arose in April 2022 for Andy to take on our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships/protective-se… 3 Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship</a>, putting him on course to make it his full-time career.</p><p>The 2-year apprenticeship combined on the job learning responding to incidents in Bristol with 8 hours of study per week at our Knightstone Campus.</p><p>Andy said, <em><strong>“The blend of classroom-based learning and on-the job training was ideal grounding for the rigours of the job. On the job I learnt a lot about dealing with different scenarios and how to use equipment on the fire appliance and got hands on running the station and maintaining all of our equipment,”</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>"During our basic training, we developed a strong foundation in the statutory responsibilities of a firefighter, ensuring compliance with legal and procedural requirements.”</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>“We also honed essential interpersonal skills, such as identifying individuals in need of additional support and making appropriate referrals to partner agencies, reinforcing our role in safeguarding, community fire safety and resilience."</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>“Whilst undoubtedly a fantastic opportunity, life as an apprentice firefighter can be tough. You are put through your paces, and it is a balancing act coping with the physical demands of the role and keeping on top of your studies.”</strong></em></p><p>Despite finishing his apprenticeship year ago, Andy remains eager to develop and learn.</p><p><em><strong>“I really enjoy working for Avon Fire and Rescue Service. There is always lots to do but everyone who works here is helpful and there is always opportunity for development.”</strong></em></p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/apprenticeships/protective-se… out more about our Operational Firefighter Apprenticeship here!</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">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&nbsp;</strong><a style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(16, 108, 177);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-weight:500;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration:none;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank"><strong style="background-color:transparent;border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;font-size:18px;margin:0px;outline:0px;padding:0px;vertical-align:baseline;">here</strong></a><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-width:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(97, 97, 97);font-family:&quot;Hco Gotham&quot;, &quot;Open Sans&quot;, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:18px;font-style:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;letter-spacing:normal;margin:0px;orphans:2;outline:0px;padding:0px;text-align:start;text-decoration-color:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:normal;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;">. 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.</strong></p>

<p><strong>We recently spoke with a previous adult learner of ours, Nichole, who underwent our ‘Training the Trainer’ course, to find out how the course has helped her in her current role.</strong></p><p>Hi, I’m Nichole, a Senior Projects Officer at <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>. Over a year ago, I did the 2 day ‘Training the Trainer’ course at Weston College, which was encouraged to me by my employer, <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council (NSC)</a>, as part of their commitment to staff development.</p><p>At <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>, my role combines technical expertise, change management, and project management, and I am tasked with training colleagues in a variety of subjects. As someone accustomed to wearing many hats, I felt that I needed a solid foundation to help me develop and deliver effective training sessions. Weston College’s ‘Training the Trainer’ course offered the perfect opportunity to hone these skills.</p><p>One of the key benefits of the ‘Training the Trainer’ course is the emphasis on building confidence in presenting to groups. I was initially feeling slightly apprehensive about presenting - a very common fear in the workplace! However, the course helped me to realise that the fear of presenting is often much greater than the actual experience; it is never as scary as you originally might think. The course provided a supportive and safe environment that allowed me to practice new skills and step outside of my comfort zone.</p><p>One aspect of this course that stood out for me was the guidance of Megan, the course leader. Megan’s approach to teaching helped me to not only understand the mechanics of creating a training program but also see the importance of establishing clear objectives and purpose. I walked out with a much greater understanding of how to create a purpose for the course I had to design in my current role – and this clarity has been crucial for me as I have moved forward in my responsibilities. Megan leads by example and has a lasting impact on those who she teaches!</p><p>Taking part in ‘Training the Trainer’ has significantly helped with my development of a training program that I have rolled out across <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>. Drawing on the templates and techniques I learned, I have created training sessions tailored to my colleagues’ needs. These sessions have been uploaded into the council’s corporate training platform, and I now serve as an instructor. Over the past six months, I have delivered both live and recorded sessions, supported by weekly communications. This combination of formats has earned me a reputation for being not only knowledgeable but also genuinely helpful to my colleagues.</p><p>Looking back nearly a year after completing the course, I can say that the skills I gained from ‘Training the Trainer’ have allowed me to create something meaningful for my organisation, as I continue to expand my training program with additional modules. The course was not only helpful for myself, but also for many of my colleagues at <a href="https://n-somerset.gov.uk/">North Somerset Council</a>, as there were a large number of us who participated and have benefited from doing so.</p><p>I would recommend for anyone who delivers training in their workplace to take a short course to further expand your skills and knowledge, as this increase in your own confidence will help you to make a lasting impact across your organisation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults"><strong>To look through our available adult courses, click here.</strong></a></p>

<p>Last night, our Adult Barbering learners were joined by Nek’s Barbershop, one of our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hubs (CEH)</a> partners, for a hands-on Barbering Masterclass.</p><p>Nek, the owner of Nek’s Barbershop based on Worle High Street, is a former Weston College learner who has had a successful career within the barbering industry. Nek brought along his colleague Dan, another former Weston College learner, and they both shared practical tips and business advice, giving our learners valuable insights to help them get started in the barbering industry.</p><p>The Barbering Masterclass included Nek demonstrating a skin fade and mullet on two live models, with support from his colleague, Dan. This hands-on session gave learners the chance to see these techniques performed in a professional setting while receiving clear, step-by-step guidance from Nek and Dan throughout the demonstration.</p><p>Ex learner, Dan, was excellent at giving advice on how to approach the barbering industry after finishing college. His main tip for the learners was to be willing to continue learning after college finishes. He explained that you are always learning new techniques, and that it took him about a year after finishing his qualification to feel confident on the shop floor. So be patient! Dan also gave advice on industry experts to follow on social media, as a way of learning new techniques and staying up to date with barbering trends.</p><p>Nek's tips for the learners included reaching out to barber shops for a job now, as the best thing the learners can do to progress is to be around other barbers who they can learn from, and to not go out alone at first. Nek explained that it took him years to build his clientele, so do not expect too much overnight. He advised the learners to not be hard on themselves if a cut takes longer than expected – it's better to perfect your skill rather than rush! Nek also spoke to the learners about brands he likes to work with, and which tools he enjoys working with.</p><p>Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors, said, <em>“Our </em><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs"><em>CEH</em></a><em&gt; partners play a vital role in giving our learners practical, real-world industry experiences that help them take their first steps in their careers. Nek’s Barbershop is a fantastic example of this, inspiring our adult barbering learners to start building industry connections, as well as giving realistic and helpful advice.”</em></p><p>The learners thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and they reported back that they thought both Nek and Dan were very knowledgeable, and that they enjoyed the insight into the barbering industry from someone who is hands-on and successful. Overall, it was an inspiring evening for everyone!</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/hair-and-barbe… find out more about our adult barbering courses, click here.</a></p>