Creating brighter futures

Hi, I’m Lola, and I am a Senior Maternity Support Worker Apprentice (the senior healthcare support worker apprenticeship on the maternity pathway). This is my first professional role in the NHS, as I previously completed Innovate and UHBW Traineeship courses at Weston College which helped me develop soft skills to start in this role.

Some of my roles and responsibilities within my apprenticeship include: 

• maternal and neonatal observations 
• catheter and cannula removal/care
• heel pick blood sample on neonates 
• breastfeeding/feeding support 
• escorting patients to various hospitals and appointments 

The list could go on and on!

I’d say my favourite part of the job is the relationships you build with the patients. When you can just give somebody that listening ear and offer that emotional support, especially postnatally at 3am when it’s needed most. It’s those little moments where you can make someone’s experience just that bit better.

Some of the main skills I have learned during my apprenticeship so far are interpersonal skills and communication skills when speaking to colleagues and patients. I have also learned technical skills within the role such as observations, taking out cannulas and catheters (very satisfying to take out), and showing empathy when working with exhausted mothers.

The traineeship I completed helped me by giving me exposure to the world of the NHS through the 6-week placement in St Michael’s Hospital, which helped me to see what was needed to be successful in this industry. I also underwent dedicated sessions to develop employability skills which helped me get the apprenticeship, as well as sessions ran by industry experts regarding health care and UHBW specifically. At the 2024 Business Awards, I won the Health, Sport & Community Partnership Award - watch my video from this below!

My tutor (Laura Trace) provided support every step of the way, with every concern I had, and helped me believe I was able to do it. My assessor (Jenny Gamlin) provided me with experience backed advice and guidance due to her own work history in the field and her knowledge of the apprenticeship itself in preparation for my transition into the apprenticeship.

I have 16 months left of my L3 SHCSW apprenticeship. Once completed, I want to move onto a degree midwifery apprenticeship programme with the view of becoming a fully qualified midwife.

To anyone who is interested in pursuing this career, I would say there will be rough patches that are exhausting and emotionally draining (a big struggle within healthcare), so just make sure you speak up and ask for support, and you’ll come out of the other side. I would also like to give a special thanks to Gareth Brock (who I started at Weston with in innovate) who I was too scared to talk to in the beginning, but has been extremely supportive, as well as Laura Trace (TRA tutor) for listening to all of my anxiety induced ramblings, and Jenny Gamlin (my assessor) who now listens to my healthcare/NHS struggles. In other words, I wouldn’t and couldn’t have done it without them!

We are excited to announce our new Future Talent Business Partnership with RHL Activities Ltd!

RHL Activities are excited to support our students at Weston College with work experience at events, covering writing, photography and media work. They will also be providing us with guest lectures from their Company Director (Gareth Hockey) and possible work experience opportunities at RHL Activities covering departments that are involved in their events.

Gareth Hockey, Director of RHL Activities said, “Our goal is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the events industry - showcasing the diverse roles that contribute to successful events and equipping them with the knowledge and experience needed to launch their careers in this dynamic field.”

RHL Activities Ltd, a multi-award-winning leader in off-road motorsport, is focusing on making the Weston Beach Race bigger than ever in recent year. The Weston Beach Race hit new heights in 2024, reaching over 2 million people across race weekend. The event has earned multiple accolades, including Sporting Event of the Year at the NOEA Awards and recognition for its impact on tourism from 2018 – 2024.

With a team of industry experts, RHL remains committed to pushing off-road motorsport forward, attending key events like in the industry and providing experiences for Students wanting to work in the events industry.

We are looking forward to working with RHL Activities and providing our learners with further new opportunities!

To find out about becoming a Future Talent Business Partner of Weston College, click here.

On Thursday 6th March, Weston College celebrated the incredible achievements of over 30 students and staff at its annual Celebration of Success event. The event was hosted at the Winter Gardens Pavilion and recognised the dedication and outstanding achievements of students and staff from all ages and disciplines. 

The students were nominated by college staff and the winners were selected by a panel, including the College's Principal, Deputy Principal, Chief Operating Officer and the Governing Body.   

As part of the evening, guests were treated to a delicious 3-course meal, prepared by Level 3 Hospitality and Catering students and served by our Level 2 Hospitality and Catering students. 

With the prestigious ceremony underway, one-by-one, the winning students were announced and took to the stage with resounding applause from family, friends, and special guests. They were presented with their award by Principal and Chief Executive, Pat Jones and Mayor John Crockford-Hawley. 

With huge thanks to our sponsors Mindful Education, Pace Agency and Image Sign. 

Liam Brooks, Health and Social Care Student of the Year said: 

“Winning this award means a lot to me – it really puts into perspective that I did do my part, and I worked hard enough to get where I am today. I’ve never had an award like this before and it’s nice to know that doing this hard work gives you this kind of reward and allowing me to achieve my dream job I've wanted my whole life!” 

Animal Management Student of the Year, Elin Brant said: 

“This award means everything! It shows how much effort I put into my college work, and I really loved the course I studied. I’m very proud of myself. I never thought I could accomplish what I achieved and getting this award really means so much to me.” 

The evening continued with awards to recognise Business, Travel and Tourism learners who took part in the Weston Hospicecare Business Enterprise Challenge. This challenge saw local business mentors advising and investing in the young entrepreneurs to set up a business venture and generate profits that were then donated to Weston Hospicecare. The College presented Weston Hospicecare with a cheque for an amazing £7289.00, all of which was raised by the learners during this incredible challenge.  

In addition to celebrating the achievements of our learners, this year’s Celebration of Success also shone a spotlight on the dedicated staff who go above and beyond to support and inspire our students. Two prestigious awards—FE Unsung Hero of the Year and FE Lecturer of the Year—were presented to honour the exceptional contributions of our teaching and support staff. 

The FE Unsung Hero of the Year award acknowledges the non-teaching and support staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes to create a positive and enriching learning environment. Meanwhile, the FE Lecturer of the Year award recognises teaching staff who have made a profound impact on students through their inspirational teaching, guidance, and unwavering support. With over 100 nominations received from students and colleagues, our Governing Body carefully selected the following staff members for these prestigious honours: 

FE Unsung Hero of the Year 

Winner: John McGurrell – Knightstone Campus Security 

Finalist: Helen Mann – Support Worker, Extension Studies 

Finalist: Danielle Gohin – Science Technician 

FE Lecturer of the Year 

Winner: Ben Hobbs – FE Curriculum Co-Ordinator, Computing 

Finalist: Jonny Bayliss – Lecturer in Hospitality and Catering 

Finalist: Steve Harris – Lecturer in Plastering 

Pat Jones, Principal and Chief Executive, Weston College said: "The Celebration of Success is a true highlight of the year, showcasing the extraordinary talent, dedication, and resilience of our FE students and staff. Each winner has demonstrated remarkable commitment to their learning and professional growth, and it is a privilege to recognise their achievements. At Weston College, we are proud to foster an environment where individuals can thrive and make a real impact in their communities. Congratulations to all our winners—you are an inspiration to us all." 

A massive congratulations to all our winners! Take a look at our 2025 winners here: 

THE ARTS 

Art, Graphics and Fashion Student of the Year – Kitty-Anne Williams 

Performance and Production Student of the Year – Keitha Bright 

BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC PATHWAYS 

A Levels Student of the Year - Hanna Bondarenko 

Access to HE Student of the Year - Daniel Cook 

Business and Tourism Student of the Year – Sophia Murphy 

CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING 

Automotive Student of the Year - Lewis Wollas 

Construction Professions, Trades and Services Student of the Year - Ewan Maynard 

Engineering and Green Skills Student of the Year - Madison Spencer 

DIGITAL AND CREATIVE 

Creative and Digital Student of the Year – Jasmine Voisey 

Digital, Computing and IT Student of the Year - Freddie Mushing 

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND CAREER READINESS 

Bootcamp Student of the Year - Daniel Avram 

English Progress Award - Oliwier Steffen 

ESOL Progress Award - Saifoulaye Diallo 

Excellence in Progress Award – Amber Hinton 

Maths Progress Award - Jess Williams 

Pre-employment Student of the Year – Danny Morris 

HEALTH AND SPORT 

Counselling Student of the Year – Carley-Jayne Giddings 

Health and Social Care Student of the Year – Liam Brooks 

Sports Students Student of the Year – Phebe Thomas 

Sports Academy Student of the Year – Louis Singfield 

SERVICE INDUSTRIES 

Animal Management Student of the Year - Elin Brant 

Early Years and Education Student of the Year - Lara Dudley 

Hair, Barbering and Beauty Student of the Year - Pasquale Dimaggio 

Hospitality and Catering Student of the Year - Hayden Read 

Protective Services Student of the Year - Lily Duffy 

OVERALL WINNERS 

16-19 Student of the Year – Hanna Bondarenko 

Adult Student of the Year – Pasquale Dimaggio