Creating brighter futures

Our adult learners from the Empower programme in the Faculty of Inclusive Practice have been tasked with an important project that will test their skills, creativity, and decision-making, giving them chance to follow a brief and consider different factors that may affect their final product. 

These learners are working with Griffiths Farrans JV and Bristol Airport to restore 4 picnic benches for Oatfield playground in Backwell. After lots of wear and tear, these benches have become old and damaged but are a community favourite in the playground. Rather than replacing them, our FIP students have been asked to refurbish them and salvage what they can to improve sustainability and reduce waste. 

Griffiths Farrans JV are building a new public transportation interchange hub and multi-storey car park at Bristol Airport, which intends to reduce congestion, increase convenience, and encourage more public transport.  

Our guest speakers from Griffiths and Farrans JV, Kate and Emily, came to excite our learners and get them involved, giving them the chance to help out a local community but also show them the increase in opportunities available in the future.   

This project is for the students to not only restore the pre-existing benches, but also to create one new bench that is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all weathers. It can be made from any materials, and the students have complete freedom, with all the required materials being funded by Griffiths Farrans JV. 

The students were thrilled by the possibilities, immediately discussing different designs and considering a variety of accessibility options for a wide range of wheelchairs. They began to explore the different materials that would be best suited for their design ideas as well as considering how many seats they wish to include. 

Once the learners decide on the design as a group, they will begin to put their plan in motion with the help of their lecturers and technicians to ensure everything is carried out safely. By giving the learners this task, it builds their confidence, allows them to put their ideas into practice, and develop important transferrable skills in a supported environment which they can take with them after college. 

A big thank you to Griffiths Farrans JV for giving our students this opportunity! We’re excited to see how it turns out.

Weston college is one of four SEND Centres for Excellence, click her to find out more.

Weston College is proud of its contribution to the newly published report, Good Career Guidance: The Next 10 Years, from the Gatsby Foundation. The report updates the globally recognised Gatsby Benchmarks for career guidance, offering a refreshed framework to meet the evolving demands of education and employment over the next decade.

The report, which has been shaped by nearly two years of research and sector-wide collaboration, includes Weston College as a case study. This recognition underscores the college’s commitment to integrating local labour market intelligence (LMI) into education and career guidance, ensuring learners are empowered with the tools and insights they need to succeed.

Ben Knocks, Vice Principal of Student Experience and Support at Weston College has played an advisory role in the development of the updated benchmarks. Reflecting on his involvement, Ben said:

"It has been an incredible privilege to represent Weston College and contribute to the development of such an important piece of work. The updated Gatsby Benchmarks reflect a shared commitment across the sector to ensuring young people receive world-class career guidance that equips them for the future. At Weston College, we have seen firsthand how embedding local labour market intelligence into every stage of a learner’s journey transforms aspirations and outcomes. This report highlights the power of collaboration in delivering meaningful change for young people."

A Case Study in Best Practice

The Gatsby report features Weston College as an exemplary institution, spotlighting its innovative approach to integrating labour market insights into both curriculum design and career guidance. Highlights include:

• Building strong employer relationships: Senior staff collaborate with local businesses and the combined authority to stay ahead of labour market trends.
• Informed curriculum and events: Labour market data (LMI) informs not just teaching, but also careers conventions and bespoke events for young people and their families.
• Seamless applicant journeys: LMI resources are provided to prospective students before enrolment, helping them make informed decisions about their futures.
• Empowering students through technology: Learners have access to an LMI platform throughout their studies, allowing them to explore sectors, job roles, and trends.

Gatsby Benchmarks - A Decade of Impact

Since their introduction, the Gatsby Benchmarks have become the gold standard for career guidance in education. The updated framework reflects changes in the world of work and education, incorporating new research and innovations from schools, colleges, and employers.

The report is further endorsed by a foreword from The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister for Skills, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the benchmarks:

"The Gatsby Benchmarks set a vital standard for career guidance, empowering young people to explore their potential and gain the skills they need. We are committed to strengthening this foundation and breaking down the barriers to opportunity."

Looking Ahead

As Weston College continues its mission to inspire and empower learners, we remain committed to setting an example of excellence in career guidance. The release of Good Career Guidance: The Next 10 Years marks a pivotal moment for the sector, ensuring that young people across the country are equipped with the tools to achieve their ambitions.

About the Gatsby Foundation

The Gatsby Foundation is a leading charitable organisation dedicated to driving innovation and improvement across education, science, and careers. Through its research and initiatives, Gatsby has transformed the landscape of career guidance in the UK and beyond. Find out more: www.gatsbybenchmarks.org.uk

In today’s business landscape, digital skills are not just an advantage—they’re essential. Yet, many businesses, particularly smaller ones, struggle to find or afford the right talent to optimise their digital presence. Degree apprenticeships are emerging as a powerful solution to bridge this gap, enabling companies to access fresh talent and develop in-house expertise without the high costs of hiring fully qualified professionals. Weston College’s Higher Education arm, University Centre Weston (UCW) now offers two innovative pathways: the Digital User Experience (UX) Degree Apprenticeship and the Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship, BSc (Hons), both of which provide accessible routes to high-level digital skills essential for your business.

What are these qualifications?

Digital User Experience (UX) Degree Apprenticeship Combines digital development with sociological, psychological and traditional design approaches to achieve your creative goals. This approach enables a member of your team to design, prototype, and build interactive user interfaces, data visualisations, responsive installations, and other user-focused experiences.

Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship, BSc (Hons) is a multidisciplinary programme designed to equip apprentices with a broad set of technical and analytical skills to support the digital transformation needs of businesses across industries. This degree covers core areas like data analytics, software engineering, cyber security, and Network Engineering, giving apprentices a robust foundation in technology solutions.

Dispelling a Common Myth: Degree Apprenticeships Are Not Just for Big Businesses

Many small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) mistakenly assume that degree apprenticeships are primarily for large corporations. However, SMEs can absolutely benefit from these programmes, gaining access to emerging talent that will enhance their digital strategies and support long-term growth. UCW’s apprenticeships start at a post-A Level (Level 3) stage and progress each year in complexity until reaching degree level (Level 6), enabling businesses to reap the benefits of an apprentice’s learning at every stage.

Why Digital Degree Apprenticeships Are Smart Investments for Your Business

These Apprenticeships allow your business to close the digital skills gap by building user-centred digital experiences tailored to your customers. With training in UX research, design, and usability, an apprentice can enhance your products’ and services’ appeal, contributing to stronger customer satisfaction and loyalty. Likewise, the Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship equips apprentices with practical experience in areas like software, cyber, data and network engineering enabling them to contribute to digital solutions that streamline business operations, increase productivity, and ensure resilient and responsive customer service, plus:

Affordable Access to High-Caliber Talent, for SMEs with limited budgets, both the UX and Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeships offer cost-effective ways to access high-calibre talent without the expense of hiring fully trained professionals. Government initiatives and apprenticeship levy funds can further reduce costs, making it easier for smaller companies to take advantage of this opportunity.

Create a Pathway for Emerging Talent, many A Level students aspire to degree apprenticeships, but the shortage of opportunities with employers limits their access. By hiring a degree apprentice, your company helps bridge this gap, offering young people the chance to earn a degree while gaining practical, career-relevant experience. This positions your business as a supporter of accessible education and professional development, which appeals to both potential employees and customers.

Invest in Long-Term Workforce Development, a degree apprenticeship not only provides immediate support but also prepares an apprentice for future growth within your company. Apprentices in both UX and Digital Technology Solutions develop strong loyalty to employers who support their growth, reducing turnover and creating a pipeline for future leaders. By training apprentices in specialised skills, you’re investing in a skilled, adaptable workforce capable of supporting your business’s digital strategy for years to come.

Flexible, On-the-Job Learning and Immediate Impact, with hands-on, workplace-focused training, degree apprenticeships ensure that your apprentice adds value from day one. Under the guidance of experienced professionals, apprentices in UX can immediately contribute to tasks like usability testing, developing user flows, and designing interfaces. Those in the Digital and Technology Solutions programme bring fresh perspectives to complex challenges in areas like software development, cybersecurity, and systems analysis.

Join the Movement—Help Us Bring More Degree Apprenticeships to SMEs

Degree apprenticeships are powerful tools for tackling the digital skills gap, yet many SMEs have yet to embrace this opportunity. By choosing to support degree apprenticeships, you’ll join a forward-thinking movement that enhances business capabilities, provides young people with opportunities, and brings essential skills into our local economy.

UCW is ready to support you in bringing on a UX Degree Apprentice this January or a Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice, BSc (Hons) in 2025. The return on investment goes beyond improved digital products; it’s a step toward building a resilient, adaptable, and skilled team ready to lead your business into the future.

To get started, contact me by emailing me at joe.smith@weston.ac.uk or calling on 01934 411 594.