Restoration work has now begun on the College’s historic Conference Centre as part of a major project to preserve one of the campus’s most distinctive buildings for future generations. 

Specialist stonemasons have been appointed to carefully restore the building’s external stonework using traditional methods appropriate for a Grade II listed property. The work will help protect the structure, improve its appearance and ensure the long-term preservation of an important part of the College’s and town’s heritage. 

Over time, areas of the stonework have been affected by weathering, discolouration and earlier repairs that are no longer in keeping with the original design. The restoration programme will clean the stonework, repair damaged sections and, where necessary, replace individual stones with carefully matched materials to maintain the building’s historic character. 

The project will also address areas where ageing metal fixings and water ingress have caused damage, helping to prevent further deterioration. Roofing repairs and protective measures will be completed alongside the stonework to ensure the building remains resilient in the years ahead. 

The Conference Centre is one of the College’s most recognisable buildings and reflects the architectural vision of Hans Fowler Price. The restoration works will not only safeguard the building but also celebrate its historic design and its continued place at the heart of the campus. 

The work is expected to continue over the coming weeks and has been carefully planned to ensure there is no disruption to day-to-day College activity.

This week, Great Western Railway delivered an engaging guest lecture for our Travel and Tourism learners, offering valuable insight into the wide range of career opportunities available within their organisation and how students can begin their journey into the industry.

The session was designed to give learners a well-rounded understanding of GWR as both a transport provider and an employer. GWR employees spoke in depth about their apprenticeship programmes, with particular focus on customer service and engineering pathways. They outlined what each scheme involves, the skills and qualities they look for in applicants, and how these programmes support long-term career development. Students also gained practical advice on navigating the application process, including tips on standing out as a candidate, followed by an interactive Q&A session that allowed them to ask questions and explore their interests further.

In addition to entry routes, GWR highlighted the strong potential for career progression within the company, emphasising that apprenticeships can lead to long-term, rewarding careers. They also shared some of the benefits available to employees, such as free or discounted rail travel and access to gym memberships, helping students understand the wider advantages of working in the industry.

To provide further context, the speakers introduced the scale and impact of GWR’s operations. Learners were interested to hear that the company serves over 80 million passengers each year and operates across approximately 1,360 miles of track, connecting communities and supporting regional economies. They also explored the extensive network of routes covered by GWR, reinforcing the organisation’s importance within the UK’s transport infrastructure.

While many roles are associated with trains and stations, GWR demonstrated the breadth of opportunities available behind the scenes. These include roles in finance, sales and marketing, performance analysis, property services, and business assurance - highlighting that there are career paths to suit a wide range of skills and interests.

Overall, the lecture provided a valuable opportunity for our learners to gain first-hand insight into the travel and tourism industry, helping them to better understand their options and feel more confident about their future career choices. 

Thank you to Great Western Railway for delivering such an insightful and inspiring session, and for supporting our students as they explore their next steps.

Weston College are delighted to announce that Jet2 have signed as its newest Careers Excellence Hub partner for Weston College’s Travel and Tourism Faculty.

This milestone is a testament to the strength of the partnership and a shared commitment to inspiring, nurturing and igniting learners into the travel and airline industry, with a clear pathway to employment opportunities connected to Bristol Airport.

Through this collaboration, Jet2 colleagues have already delivered high-impact employer engagement for our learners, including informative industry guest talks, offering real insight into careers within aviation and travel and mock interviews, supporting learners to build confidence, professionalism and employability skills.

These experiences ensure learners gain first-hand knowledge of employer expectations, helping them move seamlessly from education into industry.

Read more about Jet2’s engagement with our learners:

• Jet2 informative guest talk
• Jet2 mock interviews with students

Our Travel and Tourism provision continues to work closely with employers to ensure curriculum reflect current industry standards, emerging skills, and real career pathways. We are proud to work alongside Jet2 to shape future talent, strengthen the regional workforce, and create meaningful routes into the aviation and travel sector.

Lynsey McKinstry, Strategic Partnership Manager, CEH, “Our partnership with Jet2 brings learning to life for our Travel and Tourism students. From guest talks to mock interviews, these industry-led experiences give learners invaluable insight into employer expectations and real career pathways, helping them to build confidence and move successfully from education into employment.” 

We look forward to working alongside Jet2 and supporting their ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of industry professionals.