It’s not every day that you get to witness the beginning of a band’s journey to greatness. Before performing on stages at Glastonbury, signing record labels and selling out arenas, The Like-Minded are busy honing their craft and completing assignments! 

The four-piece indie band from Weston-super-Mare is comprised of Weston College Music Performance and Production students Harlee (vocals and rhythm), Mikey (lead guitar), Ewan (bass guitar) and Toby (drums). 

They are currently taking the local scene by storm, performing in Weston, Bristol and the surrounding areas. The band also regularly gets featured on various radio stations. Harlee tells us: “Our tutor Oz had got us played on radio stations like Apple Radio, Wave radio and Weston Wave Radio.” When asked what it felt like to hear The Like-Minded on the radio, he went on to say “I think it really hit us when we uploaded our songs to the BBC Upload and got them played enough to the point where we are a regular name to them now.” 

The band were also recently invited into the BBC Radio Bristol studio to play a live session and be interviewed by presenter, Adam Crowther, about their newest EP “Clean Up On Aisle Me.” something, they told us, was “a truly crazy moment” - a moment that will no doubt become a key milestone in the groups’ ever-blossoming career. 

Harlee, Ewan and Toby are Weston-locals, meeting at Priory Community School before consolidating the band at Weston College with the addition of Mikey, who went to Hans Price Academy. Their course, Music Performance and Production, is all about developing performance techniques and improving song writing, as well as encouraging learners to diversify skills and providing the opportunity to record in professional recording studios and perform in live music venues. 

The Like-Minded talk about performing being their favourite thing to do. Harlee says: “Things have been going better than we assumed they would, we have played two small festivals and have been able to record and release our first EP. We hope to get a lot more gigs down as performing is what we really love doing.” He goes on to talk more about the opportunities their course and tutors have provided, saying: “We all agree that our tutor Oz has given us so many great opportunities that have pushed our name out there, all because he believes in us and thinks that we have something to share.” 

We caught up with Oz, Music Instructor and Technician, who the band accredit so much of their success to. He told us: “As learners, they (The Like-Minded) demonstrate a focused and professional attitude. They have listened, learnt, retained and applied gained knowledge that is constantly creating opportunities. I am very proud of them all and will continue to support their efforts.” 

Finally, when asked what the future of The Like-Minded looks like, the group said: “We believe that, for as long as the public enjoys having us, and we're happy to do it, we will continue to write, record, and play live until we're all old men.”  

We’re so proud of Harlee, Ewan, Toby and Mikey’s work ethic and success, and we can’t wait to see where they go next! 

To find out more about Music Performance and Production, click here. 

Recently our A Level Media learners welcomed an industry professional to deliver an exciting guest lecture about experience in the film industry and setting up a media business. 

Like the current A Level Media students, Sheikh Shahnawaz (Nawaz) started in the industry by studying A Level Media at his local college in Birmingham. Since then, he has built a vast portfolio of industry networks and experiences, including directing his first feature film "Bluff" (available on Amazon Prime to stream). Recently he has started his own social media & video agency called "Ozel Creative", aiming to provide film production and marketing services all around the UK. 

Nawaz was able to host sessions to both Year 1 and Year 2 students. He motivated Year 1 students by sharing his past projects/experiences in the creative industries and providing valuable advice on what it takes to complete a successful film production for distribution. For Year 2s, he differentiated by focusing on potential opportunities upon completing A Levels, including employment or further education. Whether freelancing or overseeing his own media business, he emphasised the importance of exploring every opportunity and connection in the industry. The students also worked in pairs/groups to discuss a unique idea for a new media business to pitch Nawaz for funding. The interactive sessions really raised their confidence and ability to adapt to new challenges. 

Nawaz said: "It was my pleasure to talk to the students, I really enjoyed being able to share my experiences and hopefully made an impact on some of them to choose media as a career.". 

Ethan, Sixth Form Media Lecturer, added: "I asked the students to think of the bigger picture, beyond A Levels, on their futures and passions in media. Think of the potential employment roles and opportunities in the creative industries. Don't be afraid to try and experiment by coming up with new ideas and working at them. They can really become the next generation of media producers and content creators!" 

Overall, the students really valued Nawaz's talk on contemporary media practice, and they gained a lot which could benefit their upcoming coursework production and future industry employment. 

To find out more about A Level Media, click here. 

Learners from our Business Career Excellence Hub have raised an incredible £5,170 for Weston Hospicecare, through the Business Enterprise Challenge.

Now in it’s second year, the Business Enterprise Challenge sees Business students split into18 groups, and tasked with raising money for Weston Hospicecare. Each group are given a Business Mentor, as well as a £50 donation for a start-up budget. The challenge is to turn their £50 into the most profit, with all proceeds going to the charity.

Each group of learners have created their business plan, which includes sourcing products, developing their pricing strategy, coming up with a marketing plan and then selling their product or service.

The groups ran their businesses from October to January, and included companies that created ‘Christmas Treat Baubles’ for pets, sustainable eco-friendly biodegradable ‘Self Care Packages’ and an events management business.

Dean of Faculty for Professional Studies Access to HE & Animal Science at Weston College, Helen George, said: “We are so proud of what our learners have achieved as part of this challenge. Over the course of the challenge, we have seen learners grow in confidence, increase their understanding of running a business and build vital skills that will support them throughout their future careers.

Most importantly learners have raised a lot of money for Weston Hospicecare, which has been the driving force behind the success we have seen to date.

Thank you to our Business Mentors who have provided such valuable advice, guidance and feedback to the learners. We really appreciate their support.”

Each group of learners presented their experiences to a judging panel, as well as sharing how much they raised, which resulted in four award winning groups:

• Fundraisers Achievement Award – Isabelle, Abi, Elena, Lauren, Inga, Lloyd, and Wiktor
• Best Presentation Award – Nicole, Ella, Olivia, Milly, Eva, and Amanda
• Product Innovation Award – Paige, Martyna, and Eloise
• Employer Engagement/Networking Award – Thomas, Charlotte, Grace, Harry, Reg, and Daniel
• Overall Winners Award – Jodine, Melwin, Harry, Samuel, Maddison, and Denver.

Philppa Haynes, Founder of Insight 101 Brand Strategy Consultant, and mentor to our overall winners, said: “I’ve always been impressed by the commitment of Weston College to its students. The Enterprise Challenge Awards, sponsored by Weston Hospicecare, is yet another feather in their cap. As a mentor for the winning team which raised over £1000, I’m so proud of the students. Guts, determination and a little bit of flair were very much key to their success.”

Ben Whitwell, Creative Director Benji Graphics, and also a mentor, said “This was a really great project to be involved with, not only did it raise a fantastic amount for Weston Hospicecare, but it gave us a chance to work with really passionate and enthusiastic students from Weston College. It was really rewarding seeing their project through from planning through to sales and great to see them rewarded for all their efforts. I’ll be back next year, and I’m coming back to win with my team!

If you would like to find out more about studying a business course at Weston College, click here.

At Weston College we love working with employers who are just as passionate about creating opportunities for our future workforce, as we are!

One company that we work closely with, through our Public Services Career Excellence Hub, is the Royal Air Force (RAF).

We asked Jacqueline from the RAF a few questions, about the work we do together:

Who are you and what do you do for a job?

I’m Jacqueline, and I work in the Royal Air Force Careers Engagement Team.

We engage with educational establishments, key influencers and opinion formers to attract and recruit people into the Royal Air Force through face to face and virtual engagement throughout the UK by various means.

How do you work with Weston College?

We invite learners that study a Public Services course to visit RAF Brize Norton to look at life and meet service personnel in their working environments. We run this trip twice a year for Weston, to people at different stages of their course, to showcase Station lifestyle and careers. RAF Brize Norton is home to over 8,400 Service Personnel as well as 1200 civil servants and contractors making it our largest station.

I also deliver virtual careers insight events to learners too, which allows learners to hear about specific RAF Careers, the pros and cons, challenges of service life and contract, giving them the opportunity to ask any questions.

We find that learners from Weston College are always really engaged, and that the staff are always really supportive of their learners and careers within the RAF.

What impact has this had on your organisation?

We have had several learners join us as a direct result of our virtual and face to face engagement, which has been really fantastic for us.

A big thank you to Jacqueline from the Royal Air Force for speaking to us about the work we do together and how it is impacting them and our students.

If you are interested in a career in Public Services, you can see our available courses, by clicking here.

Carpentry is an exciting trade, which is in high demand! It is a very skilled trade, with carpenters using natural materials (wood/timber) to cut, shape and install wooden structures, fittings and furniture.

In the UK there are more than 5,000 organisations who recruit carpenters, with an estimated turnover of nearly £4 billion.

With so much demand, you might be wondering how to become a carpenter? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

There are several different routes you can take to become a carpenter or joiner. You might be someone that is looking to earn while they learn, and the good news is, you can do this through an apprenticeship. Or you might be someone that wants to complete a course to learn some skills before entering the carpentry – whether this be full-time or part-time with evening courses.

Let’s look at the options in a little bit more detail.

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a fantastic way of entering the industry, and can be a great way to get your foot in the door with a local organisation that is looking to grow and develop their workforce.

Apprenticeships are open to anyone over the age of 16, so you could be a school leaver, or someone that wants to turn their passion into a career. As an apprentice you will be employed by the company, and complete training at college – you will be expected to work at least 30 hours a week, with the rest of your hours being training.

You can complete apprenticeships at a number of Levels, depending on your experience and skill level. At Weston College, we offer several different carpentry apprenticeships, click the course below to find out more:

• Carpentry and Joinery Level 2 – 14 months
• Site Carpentry Level 2 – 14 months
• Carpentry and Joinery Level 3 – 12 months
• Site Carpentry Level 3 – 12 months

Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you can either further your development by studying the next level, or go into full-time work.

Before you work on a construction site, you will need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

College Courses

If you would prefer to study at College, there are a range of options available, from full-time courses to shorter part-time courses.

We offer courses for Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3, which all aim to develop your skills and prepare you for life as a carpenter.

On our full-time courses you will be part of our Construction Career Excellence Hub, which means that you will get unrivalled access to employers, with opportunities for work experience, master classes and hearing from industry insiders. Our construction courses are all endorsed by organisations from industry.

We also offer FREE adult courses in Carpentry, which allow you to sharpen your skills and are a great opportunity to change careers.

If you'd like to find out more about a career in carpentry, come along to one of our open evenings and chat to the team, they will be more than happy to help!

Last week our Sixth Form learners got the opportunity to meet their Career Ready mentors. 

Career Ready is a programme delivered by the social mobility charity, Career Ready, that is at the heart of a network of educators and employers who believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to kickstart a rewarding future!

The workshop was hugely successful, with mentors from businesses like Thatchers, Abatec, Turner & Townsend, Epic Beers limited, Otho UK, and Westcotts in attendance.

Emma Cox, from Thatchers said "Through our nationally recognised Young Talent Programme, Thatchers regularly engage with the Careers Excellence Hubs at Weston College to engage and inspire students. We really enjoyed the session at the Sixth Form and look forward to future activities."

Mentors delivered interesting talks on their companies and what they do, as well as engaging in 1-1 sessions with their learner mentees to offer advice and guidance on how they can progress post-college.

Richard, from Abatec Recruitment told us “It was a pleasure to have been invited to the Career Ready icebreaker and I am looking forward to working with our allocated student over the duration of the course.”

10 of our Sixth Form learners are currently signed up to the programme, with plans to expand to more areas across college like Computer Science and SEND.

Learners had this to say:

"I found it very useful. The group environment when first meeting our mentors was very good as it eased some nervousness. It was well organised and I really enjoyed it as I got to learn the next steps with my mentor."

"My first meeting with my mentor went really well and she was easy to talk to. I hope to be clearer about my career aspirations by the end of the programme."

Career Ready is a fantastic opportunity for our Further Education learners to really invest into their futures and make proactive steps to achieve their hopes and aspirations for their careers!

Thank you to all of the wonderful mentors that attended!

To find out more about the Career Ready Programme, click here.

To find out more about A Levels, click here.

Weston College’s Construction Career Excellence Hub launched BACE Talks this week, which went down very successfully with learners.

The idea, which took inspiration from the very popular online series, TED Talks, allows learners to hear from industry professionals, who share their story and give top tips for the industry.

The first event was headlined by Pete Greene, the Deputy Branch Manager at Bradfords Building Supplies. He shared his personal story, which really connected with the learners, and inspired them.

Richard Hanney, the Subject Area Manager for Construction Trades at Weston College, said: “BACE Talks are a fantastic new initiative, which is bringing our Career Excellence Hub to life.

“We work with a range of fantastic employers, who all have so much knowledge and experience to share with our learners, and we are looking forward to creating this platform which will benefit all involved.

“The team have worked on a fantastic setting for BACE Talks as well, which combines the industry we’re working in with the type of backdrop you would expect to see in a TED Talk.

“We have some excellent guest speakers lined up for the rest of the term, and I know that the learners are just as excited as I am, for what is going to be shared.”

If you’re interested in starting a career in construction, you can find out about our courses for 16-19 year olds by clicking here.

Or, if you’re an adult looking to either gain some new skills or change career, please click here.

Ready to apply for your chosen course?

Follow along with our step-by-step demonstration of how you can apply on the Weston College website today!

Head to www.weston.ac.uk/courses. From here, make your way to the subject area that interests you most and then the course you'd like to apply for. Click Apply to add it to your basket. Once you've added all the potential programmes you'd like to apply for, you'll then be able to "check out" and complete the form.

Want to know more? - Contact our School Liaison Team at 01934 411411 or schoolteam@weston.ac.uk

Your Route into Semi-Professional Football...

At Weston College we understand the importance of creating pathways for our athletes, to support progression. Therefore we have developed a partnerships with Weston-super-Mare AFC which can enable players in our Football Academy to progress into semi-professional football.

Weston-super-Mare AFC are working in partnership with Weston College to provide players aged U16-U19s, a joint Academic and Footballing Pathway (click here to visit the official academy website).

Weston-super-Mare AFC, in partnership with Weston College and University Centre Weston, are hosting a Performance Day for all players aged U16s to U18s. Offering players the opportunity to join a Semi-Professional environment, in the Southern Premier League, combined with a fantastic Academic Foundation to build on their journey for a future role in sport. 

Scroll down for more information and to register!