Last week, Music and Production students at Weston College took part in an inspiring Q&A session with musician and former student, Beth Rowley. During the session, Beth shared her journey into the music industry, reflected on the experiences that shaped her career, offered invaluable advice to students hoping to follow a similar path, and even performed a few songs with guitarist, Tom Kuras. 

Beth’s journey began at Weston College, where she initially studied Art and Design before discovering her passion for music and progressing onto one of the Music courses. Reflecting on her time at Weston College, Beth explained how pivotal those years were in shaping her future, allowing her to develop her creativity, build confidence, and connect with like-minded people who shared her interests. Her studies also helped her progress to the British and Irish Modern Music Institute (BIMM), an experience she credits with opening many doors within the industry. 

During the session, Beth discussed her musical influences and recalled her first major break while studying at BIMM, when she toured with Ronan Keating as a backing vocalist. She described this as a defining moment in her career, helping her recognise her value within the industry and giving her the confidence to pursue music professionally. Beth encouraged students to take advantage of every opportunity available to them, emphasising that experience and exposure are essential for career development. 

She also highlighted the importance of performing in smaller venues and building a community through live music. Beth encouraged students to attend open mic nights and use intimate performances as an opportunity to discover their stage presence, develop audience engagement skills, and refine their personal style. She explained that these smaller gigs are often where musicians build both confidence and a loyal fanbase. 

Drawing from her own experiences, Beth advised students to work on the areas they find most challenging, rather than focusing solely on their natural strengths. Developing a wider skillset, she explained, can make musicians more adaptable, independent, and versatile within the industry. 

Alongside the highlights of her career, Beth also spoke openly about the challenges she has faced. In particular, she discussed the growing role of social media within the music industry and the increasing pressure artists face to constantly self-promote their music and performances online. Beth reflected on how this shift can sometimes make the industry feel less personal, with greater emphasis placed on creating engaging content rather than focusing solely on the music itself. Her honesty gave students valuable insight into the realities of working within a modern creative industry and how quickly it can adapt. 

Beyond performance, Beth encouraged students to think about the business side of music. She stressed the importance of understanding industry-standard fees, setting boundaries with venues, and recognising personal value as an artist. For students beginning their careers, this advice offered an important reminder that confidence and professionalism are just as essential as talent. 

Comparing today’s Weston College facilities to those available during her time as a student, Beth praised the College’s updated equipment and industry-standard resources. She spoke enthusiastically about the opportunities now available to learners and even expressed interest in returning to collaborate and record with students in the future.  

This session allowed our students to ask insightful questions, listen to a fantastic live performance, and engage with a talented musician who was once in their shoes. Her openness provided students with an honest and relatable perspective, outlining the challenges, sharing her insight and guidance, whilst also discussing how she overcame self-doubt and navigated changes throughout her creative career. 

Beth finished the session with valuable advice, saying, “Your job has to be fun because life is too short to do something you don’t love everyday. Fortunately music has always been enjoyable for me, so I have no regrets. Music helps me get up in the morning. It provides an escape and that’s what you need from your career.” 

Oz, Head of Music and Production at Weston College, added, “It was fantastic to welcome Beth back to the College to share her invaluable insight with our current students. Seeing her successful career journey is hugely inspiring and demonstrates what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance. Hearing her honest reflections and industry experience gave students a genuine insight into what a career in music really looks like.”

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.