Creating brighter futures

We have been working with Weston College since 2020 to create apprenticeship opportunities for local people to enter our organisation.

We have been so impressed, as apprenticeships have really helped us to further develop the business and create an energetic culture which has the desire and ability to perform whilst having fun.

Our most recent success story, Isaac, is a great example of how an apprenticeship can be beneficial for both a business and the apprentice. Isaac joined Brightside straight from secondary school and has developed into a highly motivated professional with a clear career path ahead with myBrightside.

When asked about the apprenticeship Isaac said: “I have really enjoyed working at myBrightside for the past year and enjoy coming to work! We have a great service which I strongly believe in a great team and some even better customers! I have been really impressed with the support from Weston College, and in particular my tutor Hannah, who has really helped me on my journey so far, as she is always available if I need support with college or even my day-to-day work. I’m very looking forward to the future working for myBrightside.”

Apprenticeships have made a remarkable difference to myBrightside and it is fantastic to see young adults with enthusiasm and the right attitude progress through and take on more responsibilities.

Weston College have been an excellent partner and have made the whole process easy and enjoyable. We thoroughly recommend working with their team!

Robbie McGregor, Director, myBrightside

Earlier this year Weston College launched Constructing Lives Together in partnership with construction firm, Willmott Dixon, to support local adults in entering the construction industry and it is proving to be successful.

The exciting new initiative is something which is really benefiting the community. Not only are local people gaining the training required to enter the industry through short and sharp courses delivered onsite, but local construction firms are able to access a brand-new stream of employees – a well needed boost for construction employers, with the well reported skills shortages within the sector.

The initiative which is supporting people across the South West is being funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The free courses provide candidates with:

• Re-employment skills
• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) certificates across a range of disciplines 
• Health and Safety in a Construction Environment Level 1 
• Work experience

One employer that has utilised the support of Constructing Lives Together, is Weston based Apache Construction. Director, Ryan Hedges, commented: “During the pandemic we lost some key workers, and we recognised that there was a gap in the market for reliable and like-minded staff. We got in touch with Weston College, who have supported us since we launched, and decided to get involved with the Constructing Lives Together programme.

“The programme has been fantastic for us. We have hired three people full-time in the last three months, all coming through the programme. Each recruit has been a real breath of fresh air for the organisation and are really supporting us with filling our skills gaps.

“It has offered us the opportunity to interview people practically, and has opened a brand-new talent pool, with our recruits hitting the ground running!”

Find out more about Constructing Lives Together, and how it can support you by clicking here.

Hear from each of the three successful Apache Construction recruits, in the video below.

We really feel accountancy is a great career path for a huge range of people, but many won’t give it the time of day!

Read our top ten reasons why being an accountant could be the perfect aspiration for you:

1. A Job That Is In-Demand: Accountants are a highly in-demand job, so you could walk straight into a job after gaining the relevant qualifications. As technology revolutionises, more jobs will be created than destroyed.

2. Job Security: There will therefore be job security in the field, meaning you won’t have to worry about losing and finding a new job. This could be because…

3. Everyone Needs An Accountant! There is a huge variety of sectors and industries you can work in as an accountant, including entertainment, business, STEM, and many other fields

4. Be Your Own Boss: Alternatively, you could decide to set up your own accountancy business, and be your own boss, spend the days doing what you love, off your own accord.

5. Love To Travel? Accountancy even includes the chance to travel! The opportunities will be endless when you’re fully qualified!

6. Accountancy Is Great For Any Age! From starting training at 16-18, or gaining your qualifications as an adult, we offer the course for you! 16-18s will benefit hugely from the Accountancy T Level, with industry placements throughout, and meeting employers and providers to help prepare you for the world of work. Alternatively, 16-18s could choose to learn in the workplace on an Apprenticeship, giving the opportunity to earn a wage while learning.

Adult courses are a great option for over 19s, with a choice of 6 courses in accounting so you can choose the perfect level for you, all including the opportunity to gain valuable workplace skills.

7. Varied Responsibilities: Accountants have many different responsibilities, not just crunching numbers, so your days will be varied and you can guarantee you won’t get bored on the job! Roles may involve dealing with important financial reports, create solutions to financial issues, help organisations run smoothly, and how to effectively manage their money.

8. Development Of Skills: You will also acquire and develop great personal skills that can be transferred to other contexts outside the workplace, and can be carried with you for life – these can include good communication, solid advisory and guidance skills.

9. Financial Benefits: Alongside great skills for both in and out the workplace, accountancy also has huge financial benefits. According to the 2019 Accounting and Finance Salary Guide compiled by Robert Half, accountants with one to three years of experience can earn between $51,500 (£43,516) and $96,500 (£81,541) annually. Those with five or more years of experience can earn as much as $129,250 (£109,214) per year.

10. Make A Real Difference: Accountants are huge assets to businesses and are extremely helpful when monitoring important aspects of businesses, including cash flow and taxes. Your work will be highly valued, and you’ll be a crucial member of the team.

Check out our different accountancy courses (T Levels and Adult Courses) if this is the perfect role for you!