Creating brighter futures

North Somerset Council are backing a Weston College programme designed to help local businesses address skill shortages and foster regional growth. Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), this initiative focuses on supporting employee development and providing training solutions for businesses of all sizes.

The programme offers consultations with businesses, including on-site visits, when necessary, to identify specific training needs. Once these needs are assessed, businesses gain access to various flexible training options, such as connecting employees to existing resources, developing custom courses, or receiving funding for specific training programs.

Anna Carey, Head of Adult Education Projects, emphasised: "We’re focused on delivering real, practical support. Whether through fully funded Mental Health First Aid courses or electric vehicle training for technicians, we’re here to assist. We also have funds available for training costs that don’t typically receive funding."

Many businesses have already benefited from the programme, with access to specialised customer service training, intensive bootcamp-style courses, and individualised employee support across diverse sectors. So far, Weston College have supported businesses in expanding their knowledge in areas such as Interactive Customer Services, Hidden Disabilities, Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Mental Health First Aid. Coming up, this programme will be touching on Manual Handling – Moving of People, Emergency First Aid at Work, and more on Mental Health First Aid.

Councillor Catherine Gibbons, Deputy Leader of North Somerset Council and Executive Member for Children’s Services, Families, and Lifelong Learning, noted: “This programme offers a valuable opportunity for businesses to access tailored training solutions that meet specific needs. By prioritising upskilling, we’re working toward a more resilient future for North Somerset.”

Councillor Mark Canniford, Executive Member for Placemaking and Economy at North Somerset Council, added: "This initiative goes beyond just closing skills gaps – it’s about equipping our businesses and workforce for the future. Through investing in employee training, we’re ensuring North Somerset remains competitive."

Funding is available until March 2025. For more information on how your business can benefit, email employers@weston.ac.uk to arrange a consultation.

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. 

WorldSkills is a fantastic competition that aims to improve the skills and development of young people across the world.  

It encourages our students to step outside their comfort zone and go against a range of different people to improve their confidence and ability and be a part of something they may have not previously considered. 

At Weston College, we encourage all our learners to apply for WorldSkills in order to compete in something they are passionate about, and this year, three of our students have passed the application process and made it to the National Finals of WorldSkills in November 2024 – Aidan, Amber and Jack.  

Aidan will be competing in the Welding category where he will show off his skills against the other finalists. He is currently completing a Level 3 Plate Welding Apprenticeship where he spends 16 hours a week preparing for WorldSkills. This preparation ties in well with his course but the welds he has been practising are more complex than those he needs to complete his course.  

Aidan says, “the facilities at Weston College are excellent! They supply me with everything I need to succeed and the welders they use are the same as the ones I’ll be using at WorldSkills. 

The staff are always there to keep me motivated for WorldSkills and my lecturer is very supportive and will always try his best to help me when I’m stuck. 

I hope I’m able to do well in the WorldSkills final so I can represent the college and my workplace.” 

Amber will be competing in the Foundation Skills Health and Social Care category, an area which was the closest to childcare and allows her to widen her knowledge base and learn more about different life skills.

She is currently on her 2nd year of the ‘Into Work’ course which allows her to prepare for work in a supported environment. Amber balances her studies with her WorldSkills preparations by having one call a week to practice for WorldSkills, discussing what the assessments will entail, and how she can prepare for it herself. After Weston College, Amber wants to work in Childcare with SEND students. 

WorldSkills has already helped Amber gain a better understanding of Health and Safety, quality of care, and preparing her for work. The competition will be testing her on risk assessments, how to deal with certain scenarios, and her main exam will be role playing a phone call as a care worker to ensure that she can communicate effectively and ask the appropriate questions. 

Amber is excited to be competing in WorldSkills and said, “the staff have been really supportive, whatever I need they’re on hand to help me.” 

Jack will be competing in the Foundation Skills Horticulture category, allowing him to deepen his love for gardening and prove his skills against others.  

Similarly to Amber, Jack completed the ‘Into Work’ course at Weston College and found his passion for gardening when he worked at both The Garden on South West Skills Campus, and at Butcombe Farm.  

He completed his work experience at Red Chilli Kitchen where he made chilli sauces and sold them to raise money for charity. Jack worked so hard that he secured a job at the end and now works at Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm charity doing gardening. 

Jack balances his work with WorldSkills, ensuring he practices at least one day a week to prepare himself. He has found the staff at Weston College to be helpful in readying him and making sure he is fully aware of what to expect going into WorldSkills. 

Jack says, “I am feeling a bit nervous because I don’t want to mess anything up, but I know that I will give it my all no matter what the result is”. 

Good luck to all three of you in WorldSkills! 

Photo: courtesy of WorldSkills International

Weston College is thrilled to announce its selection for an exclusive trial of WestonBot, an innovative AI tool designed to enhance student support services. The college has been chosen by Jisc, the UK’s leading education and technology not-for-profit, to participate in this pioneering project, aimed at transforming the way students access welfare, library, and academic resources.

WestonBot will provide 24/7 support, offering answers to a wide range of student queries related to course materials, college services, and more. Accessible via the MyWeston App, WestonBot is designed to ensure that students can access reliable assistance whenever they need it.

What is WestonBot?

WestonBot is an intelligent virtual assistant designed to provide real-time support to students across a range of areas:

Welfare Support: Whether students need information about mental health resources, self-help tips or help with worries and concerns, WestonBot is here to guide them toward the right support.

Library Assistance: WestonBot makes it easier than ever for students to find textbooks, access research materials, or get help with referencing.

Academic Services: From time management strategies and exam preparation support, WestonBot can help students stay on track with their studies and access key academic resources.

Being part of the Jisc trial puts Weston College at the forefront of digital innovation in education, ensuring that we offer our students cutting-edge tools to support their academic journey. WestonBot will allow students to access information quickly, without the need to wait for office hours or support queues, ensuring their concerns are addressed promptly and efficiently.

“We understand that students’ schedules and study needs are increasingly diverse, and WestonBot is here to meet them,” said Chloe Wilde, Weston College’s Head of Student Support Services. “By providing on-demand support and helping students navigate their academic journey, WestonBot complements our commitment to fostering a student-centred learning environment.”

WestonBot not only assists with immediate questions but also intelligently escalates complex enquiries to the relevant college department, ensuring a smooth handover to human support when needed. 

Weston College is proud to introduce WestonBot as a valuable resource to its learning community, underscoring the college’s dedication to embracing innovative solutions that empower students and enhance their academic experience.