Business leaders, public sector representatives and community organisations gathered this morning for the launch of the Weston Business Breakfast, hosted by Somerset Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Weston College.

Held at the Winter Gardens, the event brought together businesses from across the region for a morning focused on networking, collaboration and shared opportunities for growth within the local economy.

On arrival, guests enjoyed informal networking over breakfast rolls, creating opportunities to connect with fellow professionals, build new relationships and strengthen links across the business community.

Following the networking session, attendees heard from a range of influential regional speakers, including:

• Daniel Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare
• Pat Jones, Principal & CEO of Weston College
• Mandy Bishop, CEO of North Somerset Council
• Nigel Beacom, Somerset Lieutenancy
• David Crew, Managing Director of Somerset Chamber of Commerce

The speakers discussed the importance of partnership working, investment, skills development and supporting businesses across Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset, highlighting the role collaboration plays in driving regional economic growth.

The event also featured exhibitors including Weston Hospicecare, Smith & Brenson, Circle Electrical, Weston College and North Somerset Council.

The Weston Business Breakfast was kindly sponsored by FW Capital, who provide flexible finance and investment funds to help SMEs grow across Northern England, the South West and Wales.

The success of the breakfast has already generated positive feedback, with hopes that the event will become a regular opportunity for businesses across Weston-super-Mare and Somerset to connect and collaborate.

Our Sport and Fitness students recently received a hands-on workshop with self-employed sports physiotherapist, Sam, who shared her expertise with the students as part of their current unit on their course, gaining a deeper understanding of how to deal with injuries.

During the workshop, students practised a range of sports massage techniques on each other, focusing on targeting specific muscle groups and areas of tension or discomfort. This hands-on experience enabled students to refine their practical skills, improve their confidence, and develop a greater understanding of how sports massage can support recovery, performance, and injury prevention. Students also benefited from receiving professional feedback throughout the session, helping them identify strengths and areas for improvement ahead of their upcoming practical exams.

The workshop gave students the opportunity to work in a realistic and professional environment while developing important communication, consultation, and client care skills. Learning from a self-employed practitioner also provided students with a valuable understanding of career pathways within the sport, exercise, and health industries, including the opportunities and responsibilities associated with self-employment.

The session provided students with valuable insight into current industry practices and expectations, allowing them to learn directly from someone with extensive real-world experience within the sports therapy and fitness industry. The experience helped students feel more prepared and exam-ready while further developing the practical and professional skills needed for future careers.

A huge thank you to Sam for sharing her invaluable insight and knowledge with our students to give them a practical understanding of the benefits of sport massage to athlete's development.

This workshop forms part of the Sport and Fitness Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

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 here. 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.

This week, one of our Electrical Apprentices, Marcus Pan, competed in the SPARKS Learner of the Year 2026 competition, working on an electrical build against other learners from across the UK. After winning the South West Regional competition in January, Marcus progressed to the final against 6 other regional winners and placed 2nd overall. A fantastic achievement and reflection of his hard work and dedication to his apprenticeship.

The SPARKS competition brings together individuals from across the UK to compete for the title of Learner of the Year award and showcase their talent amongst other students within the industry. This is a prestigious and well-known competition sponsored and endorsed by several industry professionals, making this a fantastic networking opportunity as well as providing various career-enhancing prizes to support our students’ professional development.

Marcus is a Level 3 Electrical Installation and Maintenance Apprentice with Holden Electrical, and is a hardworking and determined student who demonstrated an outstanding approach, attitude, and standard of work throughout the competition.

The finals were a demanding two-day installation involving multiple systems and components, all completed against strict industry criteria in a time-sensitive environment. Competitors were required to install, power up, test, and fault-find their work under pressure, demanding both technical excellence and resilience.

Not only was his result a reflection of his attention to detail, dedication, and precision, but it also displayed the fantastic support and teaching within our Electrical team at Weston College.

Marcus received multiple job offers as a result of his success, however, he remains focused on completing his apprenticeship and continuing his journey with Holden Electrical.

Marcus said, “The build was challenging as I’ve not done much metal work but overall it was good and I feel I timed it well. This competition has also given me connections to many people and companies which may be helpful in the future, but it has also built my confidence knowing that my standard of work is good enough to win such a huge achievement. Thank you to my lecturers who has supported and helped me throughout my time at college!”

Richard Hanney, Head of Construction at Weston College, added, “We are incredibly proud of Marcus for the professionalism, confidence, and skill he demonstrated throughout this competition. Competing in an unfamiliar environment alongside other highly talented students is never easy, yet Marcus remained composed and self-assured from start to finish. He applied his abilities with precision and professionalism, ultimately achieving an outstanding result.”

“Providing students with opportunities like this not only strengthens their confidence, but also gives them a valuable advantage within the industry. Experiences of this standard help students build meaningful professional networks, develop essential career skills, receive professional-standard tools and equipment that support their development, and enhance their portfolios by competing in such prestigious competitions.”

Well done to the competition winner, Samuel Stevely of HRUC Uxbridge, and all of the students who took part, and a massive well done to Marcus for this fantastic achievement and for representing the college with an amazing display of professionalism and maturity throughout both competitions!

This competition forms part of the Construction Careers Excellence Hub. Weston College's Career Excellence Hubs are designed to be the launching pad for our learners' careers. In a world where connections and relevant skills matter more than ever, these hubs offer a holistic approach that prepares learners to thrive in their chosen industries. With the support of these hubs, our learners are well-equipped to make a significant impact in their professional journeys. 

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 here. 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.