What is the first thing you do if you want to find out about someone you don't know?

Chances are, you answered that question with ‘Google them’ or even ‘Facebook them’. Practically everyone has an account on one of the many social media networks out there, and search engines like Google can pull up vast amounts of information that people have shared online.

Everything you share on the internet should be treated as a permanent record of who you are as a person. Even if you delete pictures and posts they might have been screenshotted and shared by your friends, and could still be accessible using an internet archive search such as Wayback Machine. Many celebrities have paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to try to remove images from the internet to no avail.

A lot of employers will use the internet to find out about the kind of person they’re employing, and when you start working for a company many people will check out your Facebook profile to learn more about their new colleague.

Big companies use social media monitoring software to protect their reputation and can easily find posts which mention them; so if you’re going to talk about your employer online make sure that your privacy setting reflect the amount of information you want them to see!

Don’t let your social media profiles have a negative impact on your reputation and employability – follow our useful guidelines:

• Don’t share anything online that you would not be comfortable with everybody knowing
• Ensure your public photos are employer-friendly – they are often the first impression
• If you are unsure about a post, be cautious and don’t post it – or post it privately
• Be thoughtful and polite when commenting on a public page
• Don’t post confidential information about yourself or others
• Report anything you see that might result in someone causing harm to themselves or others
• Create a LinkedIn profile so that you can easily control your professional image.

Our ASPECT team is on hand for further guidance on social media and employability...

We've been invited to Buckingham Palace to pick up one of the most important educational prizes in the country: the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

The award is the latest of a string of successes that the College has seen in recent years since the appointment of Dr Paul Phillips CBE as Principal and Chief Executive.

What is a Queen’s Anniversary Prize?

The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education are awarded to leading colleges and universities every two years, and reward excellence, innovation and positive impact on the community. It is generally thought of as equivalent to an Honour but applied to an institution. It is a nation-wide award that is considered to be the most prestigious in the education sector. For further information on the Queen’s Anniversary Prize please visit www.royalanniversarytrust.org.uk

What did we win it for?

The Royal Anniversary Trust judges acknowledged our pioneering approach to outstanding inclusive practice. They recognised that Weston College’s dedicated special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision had delivered impact at a local, regional, national and international level. The College has been recognised for creating world class facilities delivering aspirational provision to over 1000 students requiring additional support. Continuous high performance has been driven by strong leadership from the very top, which has placed empowerment and personalisation at the heart of the College’s strategic plans.

Judges could see that our excellent delivery has allowed the sharing of best practice in order to improve outcomes for other disadvantaged groups including ex-offenders and the long term unemployed. They also recognised that the College’s award-winning provision showed how staff, learners and employers have worked together to “value people” and to create inclusive social mobility for all.

Why is inclusive practice important to us?

Our focus on inclusive practice is led by our Principal and Chief Executive, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, who believes that our students should be put first and that all of our students should be able to enjoy the same high-quality teaching, facilities and support regardless of their background and abilities. He was inspired by the 2001 White Paper titled “Valuing People – A New Strategy for Learning Disability in the 21st Century”.

What does this mean for our students with SEND?

Students at the College can expect to achieve results that are consistently above the national benchmark, with 97% of learners with SEND progressing into employment, further learning or higher education. They can also expect to study in purpose-built facilities that enable them to fulfil their full learning potential. They are taught and supported by highly-qualified specialist staff through personalised programmes of study, which are dynamically and innovatively based on an empowerment model which promotes independence rather than dependency. 

Hi! I’m Chris. I work in the Weston College Marketing department as an apprentice. I’m eighteen and I am loving my apprenticeship. For National Apprenticeship Week, I’m going to be talking about the exciting benefits of being an apprentice. 

I started my apprenticeship back in early September after successfully making it to interview and then completing the interview process. On the first day I was very nervous, I hadn’t worked in an office environment before but my mind was soon put to ease as everyone was really friendly and offered any help and support that I needed. It was exciting to meet my team and they are always there to give me any guidance I require which helped me to settle in quickly and make friends. 

One reason that I decided to become an apprentice was because I was excited by the opportunities that I could get within my company that I could use to kick-start my career. More and more companies are valuing real world experience and an apprenticeship is the perfect way to get this while still learning new skills and techniques through my College course. I was worried about the cost of university and so I began to look into alternatives. I found with apprenticeships that instead of paying to learn (and racking up a worrying debt) I could earn a salary and have my course paid for at the same time by getting an apprenticeship.

Some of the highlights of my apprenticeship so far have been the events that I have helped to organise. These are quite difficult to get right as you have to be very careful to not miss anything since often, quite a small problem can make a whole event go wrong! However, when the event is done it is very satisfying to know that I have done well. Some of the skills that I have learnt include professional writing, effective administration among many others. These skills have enabled me to become more involved in team activities. Professional writing has boosted my communication skills and administration has enabled me to help my team with fundamental aspects of marketing. Since I am hoping for a career in marketing, this is vital life experience that I can use to gain employment in the future.

I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who is looking to boost their chances for the future! They combine real world experience seamlessly with an excellent College course. I find that learning on your feet in a true work environment is the best way to gain practical experience that can then be applied in a business context. Some of the incredible experiences that I have gained include business fairs, planning my own events and I have many more planned for the future. Apprenticeships are a great way to get on the job ladder with a wide range of local and national companies pledging to hire. 
 

Deciding what to do and where to go after school can be a difficult decision to make, but at Weston College we offer so much variety that we have fantastic courses for everyone.

If you’re looking to pursue a media course, we are confident that we have the best options on offer for you, and we know that we are the best place to study media. Keep reading to find out why...

Weston College has held a series of MasterChef-style competitions in prisons across the south west.

Prison learners were taught a range of catering skills before putting them to the test and cooking a meal of their own. Prison governors then chose the winner after sampling the dishes.

The day-long courses were designed to inspire learners and encourage them to consider a career in catering when they are released.

The initiative was hailed a huge success by Weston College Training and Development Manager Brian Howe, who taught the courses with colleague Pedro Aparicio.

Brian said: “First, all the learners took part in a demonstration, which involved showing them how to cut poultry.

“They then produced a range of fantastic dishes using the skills they had learned – including Oriental, Asian and Caribbean-style chicken. Some even cooked their own naan and pitta bread from scratch. The standard was amazing.

“It was so rewarding to see the passion and skill on display – they took in absolutely everything they were shown.

“The idea was to show what a career in catering and hospitality could offer. I lost count how many said that’s what they wanted to do when they are released.”

The classes were organised by the Weston College - the school of food apprenticeship team chef apprenticeship team known as The School of Food – a new chef apprenticeship jointly delivered by Weston College. The School of Food is a unique training course, run by chefs for chefs and designed to tackle the local skills shortage. A new and exciting apprenticeship programme that launched in April 2018, training aspiring chefs. Among the School of Food’s latest intake is a learner recently released from HMP Leyhill, who was inspired by the prison MasterChef class.

Weston College provides education services to ten prisons across the South West of England – Leyhill, Eastwood Park, Bristol, Erlestoke, Guys Marsh, The Verne, Portland, Exeter, Channings Wood and Dartmoor.

The Weston College Offender Learning team delivers a wide range of training provision in South West prisons, including catering, English, maths, customer service, art, plastering, carpentry, plastering and bricklaying. Curriculums are designed to engage offenders in learning and help them gain the skills and qualifications required to find sustainable employment when they are released. Weston College is proud to work in partnership with and supporting the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to rehabilitate offenders and reduce re-offending.

Weston College is launching a campaign to create 600 new jobs and training opportunities in six months.

In a recent Somerset Chamber survey, 56% of employers stated that issues around education and skills were a concern for their business. This ambitious initiative will highlight the various ways that employers can engage with Weston College, raising awareness of the College’s comprehensive skills support offer.

There are many ways for employers to get involved, including taking on apprentices and offering work placements to Weston College students. Businesses that ‘pledge’ an opportunity will also reap a range of benefits to help them gain an edge over competitors. This drive follows hot on the heels of the College’s successful bid to create 200 apprenticeship vacancies in 100 days. That campaign exceeded targets, creating 100 apprenticeships in just 71 days, eventually placing 230 apprentices with employers throughout the south west.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, said: “One of the greatest challenges faced by the education sector, and society as a whole, is equipping people with the skills they need in an increasingly competitive and ever-changing world.

“The ‘600 in 6’ campaign takes up that challenge by seeking to inspire the future workforce, and supplementing learning programmes with relevant workplace skills and experience.

“This enterprising campaign is also about working with businesses to understand their training and recruitment needs and, ultimately, deliver genuine economic impact.

“Every opportunity ‘pledged’ by an employer will, potentially, change the life of a learner, and also bring a raft of benefits for their business and the region."

As well as providing apprenticeships and work experience, employers can get involved by giving guest lectures, upskilling their staff supporting inclusion in the workplace, accessing the College’s expanding and successful pre-employment programmes to find new recruits, accessing the award winning offender learning programme to employ ex-offenders, and provide students with ‘real-life’ projects to work on during their course.

By accessing skills support from Weston College, employers can utilise tailored training packages to invest in their workforce, reduce recruitment costs, improve staff retention and productivity, boost their profile, and access untapped pools of work-ready talent.

Businesses will also gain publicity through the campaign social media posts, dedicated webpages, media stories, videos and case studies, highlighting employers involved as businesses that invest in future talent.

The campaign runs from February 4 until the deadline on July 5.

If you would like to find out more about the ‘600 in 6’ campaign, or support the campaign, click here.

It’s an exciting time for Weston College Sport.

As well as developing the new Health and Active Living Skills Centre, the College has joined forces with Coachmakers – a Bristol-based organisation that delivers training for the sport, active leisure, health and well-being sectors.

Coachmakers was formed in 2009 in response to a growing interest in sports coaching education. There was demand for an education-based provision that catered, through the power of sport, for young people who could not otherwise engage with traditional education.

Ten years later, the organisation continues to thrive, winning prestigious awards such as the Bristol Apprenticeship Training Provider of the year (2013). Their aim, to train 1,000 coaches between 2017 and 2022, has also been given a boost after joining with Weston College in November 2018.

Liz Barker, Coachmakers Director, said: “We have worked closely with Weston College over the last few years, sub-contracting in various areas. I had always found the College to be professional, knowledgeable and open to supporting new and exciting ventures.

“Therefore, the move to be part of the College was a welcome one for myself and my team – to not only continue the great work to date, but to explore new avenues and see how the platform of sport can support and complement the existing College provision.

“Coachmakers offers far more than just an apprenticeship or a full-time programme. You can expect the utmost standards from experienced and qualified working coaches. Our ability to create sustainable progression is what sets us apart from our competitors.”

Jess, who studied the Level 2 Coaching NVQ, added: “I decided to join Coachmakers as I have a passion for sport and love working with children.

“This was the perfect course for me – learning to be a sports coach and delivering fun and engaging sports sessions to children. I also loved the mix of theory and practical delivery. The support I received led me to gaining a Level 3 apprenticeship in a school for my second year.”

Coachmakers offers two full-time programmes of study as well as two apprenticeships related to sports coaching and activity leadership. Their programmes are delivered in South Bristol, Portishead/Weston and Truro (Cornwall). Their apprenticeships take place in the workplace.

Click here to read more about the courses on offer and how to contact Liz and the rest of the team.

Skills Support for the Unemployed (SSU) has helped Nicola find a new job after she was made redundant by Thomas Cook, after 20 years’ service.

The SSU programme is delivered by Weston College on behalf of Dimensions Training Solutions (DTS), which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and managed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

SSU aims to upskill unemployed people and fast-track them to employment or further training.

Ahead of starting a new job, Nicola described how SSU has helped her.

“Following my redundancy with Thomas Cook, I was unemployed for three months,” she said.

“My friend recommended that I get in touch with Weston College, and I haven’t looked back.

“Through Skills Support for the Unemployed, I managed to complete three courses; IT Entry Level, IT Level 1 and AAT Bookkeeping.

“Not only did I develop skills, I also grew in confidence, which is so critical when you’re looking for a job. I particularly enjoyed the interview preparation with my ‘job coach – I found this so valuable in getting me a job.

“If you are unemployed, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Weston College. They will support you in every aspect of finding a job.

“I am really excited about starting my new job as a customer relations advisor.”

Find out more about SSU, by clicking here. 

Local Holiday Park Pontin’s Brean Sands has made a significant commitment to training their staff through their work with Training Solutions.

The park, based in Burnham-on-Sea, approached Training Solutions as they wanted to offer further training and qualifications to all their staff.

So far the park has had nine achievements in the NVQ Level 2 Food & Drink Service qualification and an impressive 22 achievements on the Level 2 EDI Certificate in Team Leading. They have also had achievements in Customer Service, NVQ Level 2 and 3, and the NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery.

Brian Howe, Training Manager at Pontin’s, said: “We have a great working relationship with Training Solutions; they are extremely professional and always help us achieve our goals.” He added: “Training Solutions has had a significant impact on our business; our teams have had a fantastic time working with them, our business has flourished and we now have a more positive and professional team.”

This NVQ level 2 Food and Drink Service is best suited to people who provide a table service of food and drink, and bar staff, who prefer to do a qualification directly related to their job. The qualification covers topics such as customer service, teamwork, health and safety, food service, and preparing drinks.

Ryan Edgell, aged 27, recently complete the NVQ Level 2 in Food and Drink Service. Ryan said: “Training with Training Solutions has been a very beneficial experience. The staff helped me throughout the qualification with a dedicated and supportive assessor as well as informative workshops which were flexible and tailored to my needs. Achieving my NVQ has enabled me to put my knowledge and skills into practice and has given me greater confidence in providing a quality service.”

Brian explained the key benefits of working with Training Solutions and said: “They are flexible to our needs and they offer support and advice which is both professional and personal to us and our teams. Our team members have all gained knowledge, experience and achieved great results – and some of them have even been promoted!”

He also encouraged other employers to contact Weston College and said: “I would recommend Training Solutions as they are achieve to high standards and work with you not against you - on time every time. They are team players who are professional, approachable and friendly.”

This NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery qualification is best suited to anybody who is a chef that prepares a wide range of dishes using numerous cooking methods from basic fresh ingredients. The course includes topics such as preparing fish, meat and poultry, maintaining food safety, effective teamwork and ordering stock.

Glen Simpson, aged 22, recently completed this course. The Catering Manager said: “My NVQ has really benefited the running of the kitchen and I am planning to offer the qualification to the rest of the team. As a manager, having an enthusiastic team who want to do well, are driven to achieve something for themselves, makes my job a lot easier.”

Alex Moore, Senior Work-Based Co-ordinator at Training Solutions, said: “Over the past two years we have developed a strong working relationship with Pontin’s and we’re delighted to see so many of their staff achieving. We’ve built a good level of communication and trust, and I am always keen to help them identify any training opportunities.”

Pontin’s are intending to work with Training Solutions next year and considering retail training, housekeeping, customer care and team leader courses again, combined with skills for life in numeracy and literacy.

Training Solutions offer a wide range of flexible, business-related training, development and consultancy services including NVQ qualifications, Professional Development Workshops and Coaching and Mentoring programs. The majority of these can be delivered in the workplace, reducing the disruption to the business while engaging in staff training.

Pontin’s employ over 180 people. They are part of the Pontin’s holiday company founded in 1946 which currently runs five holiday parks across the UK.

For further information please call Training Solutions on 01934 411594.