Creating brighter futures

University Centre Weston (UCW) is thrilled to announce its success in securing £272,000 from the Office for Students' (OfS) £40 million degree apprenticeship fund launched in September 2023. As part of the wave 1 funding, UCW stands among the fifty-one colleges and universities that have been awarded a share of a £12 million funding pot to expand degree apprenticeships. 

Today the OfS has unveiled the names of ten colleges and 41 universities that demonstrated the capability to deliver projects aimed at increasing starts and enhancing the diversity of their degree apprentice recruits. The allocated funding is expected to be utilised by the end of July 2024. 

UCW will allocate its funding towards expanding four of its degree apprenticeships, addressing critical skills needs in the workforce. The supported apprenticeships include Digital User Experience Professional, Project Manager, Registered Nurse, and Digital and Technology Solutions Professional. 

John Blake, Director for Fair Access, and Participation at the OfS, expressed his satisfaction, stating, "We set universities and colleges a challenge to deliver an extensive range of degree apprenticeships that students from all backgrounds could access. They responded with a wide range of innovative and ambitious bids." 

The OfS launched the fund to increase the number of providers delivering degree apprenticeships, expanding overall numbers, and improving diversity within the higher education sector. The fund specifically aims to support projects targeting students least likely to access higher education. 

This development aligns with evidence from organisations such as the Sutton Trust, which found that degree apprenticeships were more socially exclusive than traditional university courses. Skills Minister Robert Halfon expressed his delight, stating, "I am delighted that the institutions awarded a portion of this £40 million will not only be expanding the number of degree apprenticeships offered but have also demonstrated their commitment to boosting access and participation and prioritising equality of opportunity." 

UCW remains committed to contributing to the growth of capacity and capability within the Higher Education sector, addressing present and future skills needs through its innovative degree apprenticeship programs. 

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.

Former Weston College student Beth Cottle has been named Somerset County FA Young Volunteer of the Year! This remarkable achievement recognizes Beth's outstanding contribution to coaching young talents within the community. 

Beth is a volunteer at the Uphill Juniors, an under 14s Football Club in Weston formed in 2021. To win this exciting award, she used skills and experience gained from her course in Sports Coaching and Performance at Weston College. Beth has been coaching the budding talents of Uphill Juniors with unwavering enthusiasm. The award not only acknowledges her technical expertise in the sport but also highlights her exceptional ability to inspire young people. 

Beth's journey from a Weston College student to a distinguished youth coach exemplifies the transformative power of passion and dedication. As she continues to make a lasting impact on the next generation of athletes, Beth stands as an inspiring figure, motivating others to follow their dreams and contribute to the community through the love of sports. 

Congratulations Beth, we here at Weston College wish you all the best! 

To find out more about sport courses at Weston College, click here. To find out more about sports coaching courses click here.

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.

Twisted Web, a leading website design agency, recently collaborated with our digital course learners as part of the Digital Career Excellence Hub at the College. This innovative partnership provided a unique opportunity for students to engage in real-world projects tailored by Twisted Web, drawing inspiration from the agency's recent accomplishments. Through collaborative group work, learners tackled live project briefs that enhanced their skills.

Learners worked in groups to complete live project briefs, which were created by Twisted Web, and based on projects that they had completed recently.

Alan Burnell, Adult Curriculum Coordinator for Computing and Digital Technologies at Weston College, said: “It was great to welcome Twisted Web to the college, to work closely with our computing and digital learners.

"Working with Twisted Web is a game-changer for our students. They tackled real-world tasks brilliantly, growing in knowledge, skills, and confidence. This collaboration between education and industry is really important at Weston College, and we look forward to working closely with them in the future.”

Ross Gudge from Twisted Web, added: “It’s been our pleasure to work with the Weston College computing faculty and being able to engage with the students on their various courses.

“The response from all learners was really positive, and we were impressed with their work as well as their attitude, and ability to take on board constructive feedback and identify opportunities to improve - it is a good sign for the future.

“We saw real talent across each of the different groups that we worked with, and we are confident that they will have successful careers after they have completed their course.”

The College is committed to fostering connections between industry and education, and proudly hosts fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs. This initiative underscores our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By seamlessly integrating practical experiences into the academic journey, we empower learners to acquire essential skills, knowledge, and professional networks, positioning them for success in their chosen fields.

A big thank you to Twisted Web for supporting our learners!

If you would like to find out more about our Digital courses, please click here.

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.