<p>Hi, I’m Nick, and I am a Maintenance Controller in the Operational Engineering Department at <a href="https://www.bristolport.co.uk/">The Bristol Port Company</a>.</p><p>I joined <a href="https://www.bristolport.co.uk/">The Bristol Port Company</a> in 2015 as a mechanical engineer. I was employed primarily as a crane engineer but also maintained and repaired other kit such as conveyors, blenders and roller/hammer mills. After years of working as a production engineer on FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) production lines this was my first foray into heavy engineering, but I relished the new challenge.</p><p>After approximately 5 years as an engineer, I applied for the role of Maintenance Controller and was successful! I have now been in this role for over five years. My responsibilities now include managing a team of engineers, planning maintenance, sourcing spares, liaising with OEM (original equipment manufacturer) suppliers, issuing permits-to-work and writing risk assessments and method statements.</p><p>This was my first experience as a manager, so the head of Operational Engineering (my boss) told me about the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/leadership-and-management">ILM Leadership and Management apprenticeship</a>, then encouraged me to do it, as he felt it would be beneficial to me in my new role as a manager.</p><p>The apprenticeship has helped me in the workplace significantly. I am now better equipped to deal with all the trials and tribulations that are thrown at you as a manager. During my apprenticeship I learnt many new methods and was given proven models to use in my everyday life at work. These help me manage people, my time and my tasks more efficiently and enable me to be more emotionally intelligent when dealing with personnel issues.</p><p>An example of a standout moments from your apprenticeship was the outward-bound course in the Lake District. It was fun and challenging at the same time. Also, spending time with employees from other departments of the company really improved our working relationships. I was able to learn about effective leadership in a hands-on environment.</p><p>Weston College provided robust support throughout the apprenticeship. Before starting, they guided me through the enrolment process and outlined what to expect. During the program, I had access to a dedicated mentor, regular check-ins, and resources tailored to my role. After completing the apprenticeship, they continued to offer workshops and networking opportunities to ensure I stayed updated with best practices.</p><p>After my apprenticeship, transitioning fully into my Maintenance Controller role felt seamless. The knowledge and skills I had gained during the programme gave me confidence in managing my team, planning maintenance tasks, and handling supplier negotiations. I felt more prepared to take ownership of my responsibilities and lead effectively.</p><p>My time at Bristol Port has brought unexpected opportunities, such as being invited to participate in high-level strategic planning sessions. Additionally, I’ve had the chance to mentor newer engineers and apprentices.</p><p>Working at Bristol Port comes with several benefits, including job stability, opportunities for professional growth, and a supportive work culture. The company also provides competitive pay, training programmes, and access to resources that help in both personal and professional development.</p><p>My future aspirations are to continue learning, and to shadow the Head of Operational Engineering to enable me to effectively stand in for him in his absence. I also hope to play a more significant role in shaping long-term maintenance strategies and mentoring young engineers and apprentices at Bristol Port.</p><p>I would highly recommend doing a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/leadership-and-management">leadership apprenticeship</a>! The apprenticeship not only equips you with practical skills but also builds your confidence and emotional intelligence as a manager. It’s a worthwhile investment in your career and offers tools that can be applied immediately to improve your professional performance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs"><strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;background-color:transparent;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;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.</strong></a></p>

<p>An exciting new programme, ‘Ignite’ was launched for the first time this month, in partnership with Avon Fire and Rescue. This two-week dynamic, hands-on course was designed to boost confidence and equip our learners for their next steps, whether that be entering employment, pursuing further training, or focusing on personal development.</p><p>The learners engaged in various activities including:</p><ul><li><strong>Team building&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Building self confidence&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Goal setting&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Communication skills&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Visits to fire stations&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Outdoor activities&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Health and wellbeing</strong></li><li><strong>Cooking skills&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Interview skills&nbsp;</strong></li><li><strong>Presentation skills</strong></li></ul><p>The learners made significant progress during the programme and worked together incredibly to achieve all tasks they were given.</p><p>On the final day of the programme, the learners participated in a live demo in front of spectators, where they were asked to create a water dam which would then be used to spray water out of a hosepipe. After the live demo, the learners presented in front of the spectators, discussing what they had been up to for the last few weeks, what they had learnt, and how the experience impacted them. Each learner spoke clearly and professionally, leaving a strong impression on all spectators.</p><p>Finally, the learners were presented with certificates to congratulate them on completing the programme!</p><p>Following the programme, learners had the opportunity to engage in one-on-one sessions with a tutor to discuss their next steps and explore how to achieve their goals. The Ignite programme was immensely rewarding for both the learners who participated and the team who helped bring it to life!</p><p>A huge thank you to all Weston College staff involved, and to <a href="https://www.avonfire.gov.uk/">Avon Fire and Rescue</a> for partnering with us to make this incredible opportunity possible!</p>

<p>We’re thrilled to announce that Kirsty Woods, our Apprenticeship Strategic Accounts Manager, was nominated for an award in the 'Allies and Influence' category at the National Federation of Builders Top 100 Most Influential Women in Construction Awards! Nominated by a supportive (and secret!) employer, Kirsty's recognition places her among the top 100 women influencers in the industry.</p><p>This nomination recognises individuals who are actively championing Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity through their actions. Since joining Weston College in 2022, Kirsty has made a tremendous impact, leveraging her industry connections to enhance opportunities for our learners. Her favourite aspect of her role is organising key industry events and creating progression pathways that directly support our construction students.</p><p>Congratulations, Kirsty! We’re absolutely delighted to see your hard work and dedication being recognised and celebrated!</p><drupal-entity alt="Kirsty Woods Award" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7815a714-a51c-45e2-9acb-721e5b1b96c4" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_325x325&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" data-teams="true" dir="ltr"><strong>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 </strong></span><a class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; aria-label="Link here" id="menur3mi" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-… class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" data-teams="true" dir="ltr"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" data-teams="true" dir="ltr"><strong>. 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></span></p>