LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES
There is always so much going on across our various campuses and courses.
Stay up to date on our latest news here or check us out across social media.
A Weston College student has been selected for Wessex Water’s Young People’s panel, an enterprise which gives 16-18 year olds the opportunity to experience running a business.
Chris Hutchings, 17, who studies A Level Business Studies, Photography and English at Weston College’s Sixth Form Centre, has been attending meetings at Wessex Water as part of an initiative which enables young people to have a say in how the company is run.
Chris said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to benefit from hands on work which will supplement the theory I’ve learnt in class.
“So far it has been an excellent insight into businesses’ decision making processes, and will be good experience when I apply to university.”
At their first meeting last month, the panel met managers at the company and were taken on a tour of the company’s headquarters in Bath.
At the end of the day, the panel was set the task of creating a presentation about ideas to promote the company’s installation of water metres and improve its customer services.
Chris said: “My presentation will be about the creation of a mobile app that would allow people to monitor their water metre readings and automatically budget their water usage for them, to make sure they are saving money and aren’t wasting water.”
Claire Timmins, Business Studies Tutor at the College, said: “Weston College is all about providing students with the skills and experience they need to progress to work or university.
“This opportunity at Wessex Water is another example of or students benefitting from our strong links with employers across the South West.
“I am confident Chris will prove a credit to himself and the College during this placement.”
Stress affects everyone, particularly in the build up to exams, job interviews and when pressure mounts at work.
At Weston College, our expert Welfare Team is on hand to help you if you are worried about your stress levels or other mental health issues.
Here are some of the top tips our Welfare Team give to combat stress…
Start a diary
Writing about your day will help you to identify things that make you feel stressed. You’ll probably be surprised to find that a pattern soon emerges; and this may be linked to time pressure, personality clashes, inappropriate demands or simply trying to do too many things at once. Keeping a diary will help you to blow off steam in a productive way.
Talk to someone
Talk through your diary with a good friend or someone at College - even the act of discussing things often makes you feel better. The College’s Welfare Team is on hand to help our students and offers impartial advice to ease the problems that you’ve discovered.
Learn how to relax
Practise deep-breathing techniques. Breathe in while counting to five; hold your breath for five seconds then breathe out slowly. Repeat this 10 times when feeling stressed, concentrating on nothing but your breathing. You can relax your neck muscles by keeping your shoulders level and trying to touch each shoulder with your ear.
Take time out
For five minutes every hour try to chill out and think of nothing but your perfect situation. This could be a dream holiday, ideal partner or simply thinking about doing nothing at all. You will be surprised at how effectively this can lower stress levels.
Exercise regularly
You do not have to be a gym freak to get the stress-beating benefits of exercise. Even 20 minutes of brisk walking three times a week will help to reduce stress as well as promoting restful sleep.
Plan breaks in your day
The aim here is to allow time for the unexpected. Get up 15 minutes earlier than you think you need to and prepare for the day without rushing. Even better, get things ready the night before. Try to have 20 minutes in which you can do whatever you want, even if it is simply sitting doing nothing.
Things to avoid
Smoking and drinking alcohol may appear to help you deal with the effects of stress in the short term, but in the long run they both lead to more tension and anxiety, and can easily lead to dependence. When smokers say that smoking helps them relax, it is because it alleviates the effects of their smoking addiction.
Weston College's Business Awards is an annual event that recognises our business partners and their apprentices. Here are five things that happen almost every year that we can't wait to experience at this year's awards dinner...
The guest speaker
At the Business Awards we always get an inspirational or motivational guest speaker (like Penny at our 2017 awards). The speakers come from a variety of industries, but usually they are a household name. They'll be present throughout the evening, so you should get to meet them and have a chat if you'd like!
Great food
Food is a pivotal part of the whole evening, and we always aim to please with a delicious three-course meal. This year, the professional catering team at Lasseter's at the Winter Gardens, under the direction of Head Chef David Newman, will be cooking up a storm...
Big prizes
Each year, the winner of the coveted Principal's Award for Overall Apprentice of the Year receives a cheque to reward them for all of their hard work.
A beautifully decorated venue
We pull out all the stops to make sure the night is memorable - and that includes plenty of decorations to create a special atmosphere. In the past we've added special touches like confetti cannons (see above) and smoke machines...
The awards...
Winning businesses and apprentices get to take home a Weston College business award to celebrate all of their achievements!
Make a nomination!
Want to enter Weston College's 2018 Business Awards? Submitting a nomination is free and easy. You could nominate your employer, your apprentice, or even yourself for an award! Need more persuading before you enter? Click here to read why you should think about nominating your apprentice...
Ready to nominate?
Students from Weston College’s hospitality and catering department have attended their first industry event, preparing food and serving front of house at Thornbury Castle.
Level 1 and 2 hospitality and catering students were invited to a Chef’s Forum event at the hotel, where they made canapés with Head Chef Andy Chan at a sparkling wine reception.
Andy said: “The learners were a credit to the industry. They were so keen to learn, and it’s wonderful to get people like them in the kitchen and see the future of catering. They have all been really great!”
The event saw a huge range of chefs and suppliers from across the Bristol area attend, giving the students a chance to network while getting first-hand event experience.
They also got the chance to watch a number of demonstrations, including butchery, herbs and spices, and demos from the Thornbury Castle chefs themselves.
Sandra Bull, Area Manager of Hair, Beauty, Hospitality and Catering, said: “It was the first event experience for many of our Level 1 students, and they were thrilled to get the opportunity and experience a real working environment. It really helped them to get a feel for the industry and learn about potential future career paths.
“We’re so proud of all of our students for their efforts, and extremely grateful to everyone in the industry who continue to coach and inspire the next generation!”
Art and Design courses are exciting opportunities to let your creativity flow. If you’re undecided on whether or not to study an art course, here are our top 4 reasons as to why you should.
Learn a range of techniques
Our courses cover a wide selection of skills, such as painting, drawing, ceramics and photography. We will teach you new techniques, and develop your existing skills.
College facilities
Weston College has excellent facilities, we are always looking to improve the learner environment to ensure you are supported throughout your learning. We have purpose built art studios based at our Loxton Campus which will provide you with all the resources needed to develop.
Top class lecturers
Our lecturers have industry experience, and they will teach you the relevant skills needed for when you complete the course. It’s not just us that think our lecturers are great, they were also rated as outstanding by Ofsted.
Future opportunities
The industry is expected to grow 5.3% in the build up to 2024, which will provide you with more job opportunities. Art and Design covers an array of exciting occupations, from illustration to teaching, there are lots of opportunities for you. There is also the potential to earn huge sums of money, whilst working in a job you love.
If you would like more information on our Art and Design courses click here.
Weston College has finished joint-second in a table of every further education college in the UK.
The FE Week NICDEX rankings gives each college a mark out of ten in four categories – learner satisfaction, employer satisfaction, 16-to-18 positive progression and adults into employment. These are then added together to give an overall score.
Weston College was awarded 34 out of 40 – level with Newcastle and Stafford, and two behind PETROC.
The rankings were devised in 2016 by Nick Linford FE Week’s editor and a former director of performance at Lewisham College. They are based on satisfaction and progression criteria published by the Department for Education.
Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Weston College’s Principal and Chief Executive, said: “We’re delighted with this fantastic achievement, we always put our learners first.
“We work extremely hard to make sure our learners enjoy their time with us, developing themselves holistically and progressing to further/higher education or employment. We are continually building strong relationships with all of our employer partners and stakeholders to ensure we are creating relevant training and qualifications that lead to meaningful employment for our learners.
“To be ranked second in the country show we’re definitely doing something right!”
Nearly 30 Year 6 students from Ruishton Church of England Primary School recently spent a day at Weston College South West Skills Campus to get a taste of the construction, building services and engineering provision.
The primary school students took part in a range of engaging activities based on subjects that can be studied at South West Skills Campus on Locking Road. The learners ‘raised the roof’ by learning about how roofs are built and what makes them sturdy. Under the provision of our carpentry staff, the Year 6 students learnt how to safely use tools such as hammers and spirit levels.
Next up the enthusiastic groups got a taste ofcivil engineering and the vital role it plays worldwide. In this workshop they built boats using foil and tested their buoyancy by seeing how many marbles they could carry until they sank.
Last but not least, the group visited the motor vehicle department where they had a look around a fully operational workshop. Their newly learnt skills were put to the test as the students were tasked with replacing tyres on a car and checking the levels of the engine components.
Chris Kamin, Headteacher at Ruishton, commented “The whole day was a resounding success and a joy to be a part of. The College has great staff who showed real care and nurture towards our students. The professionalism and courtesy demonstrated was second to none. The experiences gained and knowledge shared will have a great impact on their future lives and earlier decisions”.
Steve Caldwell, head of faculty for Building, Automotive and Civil Engineering at the College added “It was amazing to see the next generation getting involved and showing such enthusiasm towards these hands on subjects. We look forward to hopefully seeing them again in the future!”
For more information on the courses available in these areas, please visit our website:
Carpentry - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/construction
Motor Vehicle - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/motor-vehicle
Engineering - https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engineering
With only 2 weeks to go until our annual business awards, we’re excited to be bringing you another employer award article.
Today we’ll be talking through our nominees for the Disability Confident Employer of the Year award.
Good luck to all that have been nominated! You can find out the winner of the award on 20th June. Stay updated by following our Facebook and Twitter pages or by following #BusinessAwards.
Amazing aromas filled the Bistro recently as Knightstone Campus staff enjoyed a selection of soup, rolls and hot drinks in aid of Weston-super-Mare Food Bank.
In order to attend 'The Hunger Lunch' midday treat, staff bought tickets in advance costing just £1.50.
Whilst digging in, staff also had the chance to speak to union officers as well as representatives from our numerous green initiatives. This included information on our staff electric bike and North Somerset Travel, showing staff how they might be able to alter their journey into work and reduce their carbon footprints!
Overall, £70 was raised for the Weston Food Bank along with a whole box full of food items was donated in the process.
A massive thank-you to staff welfare officer, Gill, for arranging the successful session as well as to all those who attended and donated generously.
Marketing and Communications
The marketing department is responsible for promoting Weston College to the public, by promoting the Colleges courses, achievements and events.
Our aims are to attract learners to study within the Weston College Group, build and grow the College’s brand and highlight its reputation, and promote the College Group’s success, student progression and outstanding support for our learners.
The marketing department manages the College’s websites and official social media accounts, runs advertising campaigns, creates press releases, and manages many of the College Group’s events, such as Graduation, the Celebration of Success and the Business Awards.
We produce a wide range of publications including our full-time, Higher Education and part-time prospectuses, course leaflets and posters, and other documents such as the College’s annual report, magazines and newsletters, course brochures and the student handbook.
Weston College is committed to providing accurate and timely information for local, regional and national media, and the general public.
The marketing team is available between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Fridays. You can get in touch with us by emailing marketing@weston.ac.uk.
All of our press releases are uploaded to the news section of our websites. News from the academies we sponsor, including the North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College, can be found on the news section of the Inspirational Futures Trust’s website. News pertaining to our Higher Education Provision can be found on www.ucw.ac.uk.
The marketing department produces most imagery and film in house, and keeps an extensive archive of the photographs it takes. If you would like a copy of an image featuring you or a member of your family, please contact us at photography@weston.ac.uk.
Our photos of graduation and many other events can be found on the College’s Facebook page. High quality images can be found on the College’s Flickr account.
Weston College is able to accommodate many requests to provide locations for film and photography. The College has a range of attractive, modern and adaptable facilities which can be viewed on our youtube channel.
We also are able to provide heritage facilities such as the Victorian Hans Price designed Conference Centre and, from September 2017, the 1927 Winter Gardens Pavilion.
For booking details, contact marketing@weston.ac.uk.
For enquiries about sponsoring key events such as Celebration of Success, Business Breakfast, Business Awards and Graduation, please contact the marketing team by email at marketing@weston.ac.uk.
