Creating brighter futures

At Weston College, we understand and emphasise the importance of planning your dream career, and helping you take all the steps needed to reach that goal.

Making connections with employers is a great way of securing plans for your future, so creating opportunities for learners to meet guest speakers from the industry is a highly valuable part of the courses, particularly the programmes endorsed by the Career Excellence Hub (CEH). When a course is endorsed by the CEH, it means the qualifications have been developed in conjunction with local and national employers, and they have a proven record of helping students gain relevant jobs.

Our Animal Management learners had a great introduction to employers from the industry, through an Animal Careers Fest, held at the Puxton Park campus. Throughout the day, multiple animal-related professionals met the learners to explain their journey to where they are now, answering questions and giving the inside scoop of how to succeed in the animal industry. Pete, from the Reptile Zone in Bristol, was one of the visitors, who bought along Ali G the alligator, and Frank the chameleon. Staff (and guinea pigs!) from Barnaby’s Bunny Barn also gave talks on their experience, as well as the RSPCA.

The learners fully utilised their time with each professional, asking in depth and detailed questions about how to follow in their footsteps. The professionals all explained their advice, following along the similar mantra of “know your stuff!”

Each learner even had the opportunity to hold and interact with Ali G the alligator, as featured in the photographs, which, though daunting, was the highlight of the day!

Click here if you’re interested in looking into animal management, and click here to find out more about the Career Excellence Hub.

Weston College’s Academy of Sport recognises the abilities and efforts of our top athletes and aims to support them to achieve their potential.

As a student at Weston College, you will have the opportunity to combine your academic studies with high-level sporting provision, which will allow you to fully immerse yourself as a student-athlete.

Weston College has joined forces with the St Monica Trust, to offer a brand-new bespoke traineeship which will support young people across North Somerset and Bristol wanting to enter the care industry.

This exciting new opportunity will offer young people a high-quality work experience placement, to provide them with a solid foundation for a career within the sector, through valuable experience and developing the key skills needed for employment in the sector.

The new traineeship will be delivered at The Chocolate Quarter in Keynsham, with the first cohort starting this October.

Weston College Group Principal and Chief Executive, Sir Paul Phillips, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with the St Monica Trust, on this really exciting traineeship programme.

“From experience, we know that traineeships are a fantastic platform for young people to gain apprenticeships or full-time employment.

“Learners that complete this programme will gain an Introduction to Care Certificate, as well training on key aspects, such as: equality and diversity, prevent and safeguarding, plus motivation, mindset and target setting.

Chief Executive of the St Monica Trust, David Williams, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Weston College in this traineeship that will provide a much-needed pathway for young people to enter the care sector. Caring for older people can be one of the most rewarding careers in the UK health care sector and we look forward to welcoming the trainees to The Chocolate Quarter in October.”

If you would like to apply for this traineeship, please contact: traineeships.enquiries@weston.ac.uk