1. Do apprentices get paid?

All apprentices get paid! Currently, the National Minimum Wage is £4.15 per hour, but this is being increased to £4.30 in April 2021.

If you are 19 or over and have completed the first year of your apprenticeship, you will be entitled to the minimum wage for your age.

Most businesses will pay more than minimum wage as they want to attract the best candidates, some apprentices earn over £10,000 per year!

2. Where does the qualification lead?

Becoming an apprentice unlocks many opportunities. Once you’ve completed your apprenticeship you can:

• Continue on to the next level apprenticeship e.g. if you complete a Level 2 you can progress to Level 3
• Apply to university
• Work full-time, either for the business you studied your apprenticeship with or you could apply for a new job
• Apply for a promotion

3. What’s expected of apprentices?

You will be entering the world of work and with this comes expectations. Don’t panic, you will be told what’s expected of you when you start and we can help you prepare. Each apprenticeship and business is different, but the main things to consider are; arriving on time, adhering to the dress code and following sickness/holiday procedures.

Apprentices aren’t just there to make cups of tea! – You will find yourself being immersed a variety of different tasks and the more enthusiastic and eager to learn you are, the more responsibility you may be given.

4. Do apprentices get holiday pay?

Apprentices receive at least 20 days paid holiday each year, plus bank holidays, although some businesses may offer more.

5. Do apprentices get taxed?

Yes, apprentices earning over £11,000 per year will be taxed as per the standard government regulations.

6. When do apprenticeships start?

Most apprenticeships can start at any time throughout the year but some may need to start at certain times in the academic year to fit in with class timetables. 

7. Do I have to pay?

No, your employer will pay for your qualification and pay your wage. 

8. Will I have to go to college?

Some apprenticeships can be completed entirely at your workplace and an assessor will come out to visit you and set you new tasks. Apprenticeships with a technical element such as; plastering, hairdressing and engineering will involve regular days at college to perfect your practical skills.

9. Can I get help with my application?

Weston College has a specialist support network for apprentices. We can meet with you to discuss your ambitions and help match you to the perfect role. We can even help you write your CV and provide support in preparation for your interview.

10. How do I start?

You can view all of our apprenticeship vacancies here. If you want to speak to our team for further support please contact us using the details below.

Fake news is a term used to describe any news item that presents false information as facts in an attempt to make you believe a certain thing or react in a certain way. It is most often associated with politics, after coming to prominence during the 2016 American election.

Sometimes legitimate news outlets can get things wrong, but the difference between this and fake news is that fake news deliberately tries to mislead or provoke a reaction in the reader. If you’re a social media user, chances are you’ve read a fake news story without even knowing it. Here are some ways you can spot whether a news story is fake…

Check the website

Not all news sites are legitimate, and if you don’t recognise the website or haven’t heard of the publication before, then you should give the article extra scrutiny. Check the URL to make sure that you are reading from a trusted site, as some fake news sites use similar (but not identical) URLs to mainstream news organisations.

If the news is on social media in the form of a Facebook post or tweet which doesn't have evidence to back itself up, treat it with extra caution. In one month in 2018, over 45,000 Facebook posts were identified as fake news, spread by automated accounts to cause confusion and propaganda. Even if the Facebook post contains a video or an image, it is fairly simple to misrepresent the situation or even doctor the image to suit the post's political purpose. Always check out where the post comes from. It is usually easy to determine whether the news is reliable or not by looking at other posts from the account. If one of your friends shares news that you think is fake, point it out!

Is there a sensational headline?

Many fake news sites earn money by getting you to click on headlines, others know that most people who see the article on social media will only read the headline, and use a sensational headline to prompt the reader to share the article to a wider audience. If the article has an outrageous title, or a wild claim that makes you want to click to read more, look beyond the first few lines and try to find the evidence behind the claim. Remember, if it an outrageous claim that seems too outlandish to be true - it probably isn't.

Is it editorial?

Editorial is a type of news commentary that many legitimate news sources publish, but the key is to remember that it is a person’s opinion and might not take into account evidence which conflicts with their views. Similarly, if the article you’re reading is written like a news report but has opinions in it which aren’t quotes, then the article is probably biased. All respected news sources present news in an unbiased form and allow the reader to make up their own minds on an issue.

Examine the content

Many news organisations, real or fake, attempt to be the first to ‘break’ a news story in order to remain relevant in a highly-competitive market. If the article you’re reading seems rushed, has spelling mistakes, has an incorrect date, or anonymous sources, bear in mind that this news article might not have had time for all of the facts to be checked. Poor spelling, grammar and vocabulary on older articles may indicate that the item you are reading comes from an unreliable news outlet.

Where does the news come from?

Most news articles will have a ‘source’ for their information. Sometimes this source is named but other times the source is anonymous. Naming a source is a good indication that the news is real, as the person is willing to go on record and put their reputation at stake to break the news; however bear in mind that fake news sites often lie about their sources. To find out whether an article is properly sourced, check the named source’s social media for similar commentary and look to see if other news outlets are reporting on the same comments.

There are many legitimate reasons why sources choose to remain anonymous, so you don’t have to immediately discredit sources without a name - but bear in mind that without more information the source could be anyone.

Our hospitality and catering department is always busy in the Grove Training Kitchen and Restaurant on the second floor of the Knightstone Campus. Whether they’re making treats to sell around the College, or serving the public in the evening, they are always learning and improving their skills.

We’re taking a look back at the best guest chefs and experiences they’ve had over the last term…

Making canapés and serving front of house at Berwick Lodge

Our students were given a fantastic opportunity at the start of the year to serve front of house at an event at Berwick Lodge, and make canapés with head chef, Istvan Ulmann. They had a fantastic day, making a variety of dishes for a BBQ event and afternoon tea, and Istvan later returned to the College to deliver a guest session in our Grove Restaurant. Read the full story here.

Weston Wok from the College’s atrium

Back in February, a few of our Level 3 students decided to run their own Weston Wok lunch business from the Knightstone Campus atrium! They cooked lunch for paying members of the public, staff and students, fresh in front of them.

A vegetarian chef came for a visit

Elisabeth Guillén, Head Chef at The Gloucester Old Spot in Bristol, came in to lead a class of our Level 3 students. She taught them about traditional Spanish recipes with a vegetarian focus, creating some fantastic dishes and showing the diverse flavours you can create, even without meat! You can read the full story here.

Serving a party of 40 guests in the Grove Restaurant

The College recently held a special celebration for winning the Queen’s Anniversary Prize, so our hospitality and catering students worked hard throughout the day to make a three-course meal for all 40 VIPs. Everyone was thoroughly impressed with the food and all their hard work.

Working at the Cheltenham Festival

22 of our students attended the Cheltenham Festival to serve thousands of visitors over the week. They encountered a few famous faces while working in the Gold Cup Restaurant, Paddock Restaurant and The Sizzling Jack prepping food and serving front of house.

Find out more

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in hospitality and catering, we offer a range of courses and apprenticeships that can help you on your way! 

Click here to find out more...

Staff at Weston College who were awarded Silver in the 2018 Pearson Teaching Awards were invited to the House of Commons for Tea to celebrate their achievements.

Lecturer Charmaine Hale-Lynch, who teaches Travel and Tourism at the College, along with Mandy Lee, Student Welfare & Pastoral Support Services Manager, and Ben Cocks, Assistant Director, all attended the event in the House of Commons.

Charmaine and the Welfare and Pastoral Services Team were selected from thousands of nominations nationwide back in June, and were two of just 65 winners in the 2018 Pearson Teaching Awards.

They were invited to an exclusive, one in a lifetime opportunity to have tea at the House of Commons ahead of a glittering ceremony broadcast live on the BBC later this year, where just 12 winners (one from each category) will be selected to win the prestigious Gold Plato.

The Pearson teaching awards are run annually, and schools and FE colleges are invited to nominate members of staff and teams within their organisation who they think are worthy of recognition for the fantastic work they do daily. There is then an in-depth selection process, involving judging visits to the schools, to identify ground-breaking teachers and teams.

Ben Cocks, Assistant Director at Weston College, said: “Seeing both Charmaine and the Welfare and Pastoral Support Services win a Silver Teaching Award, and being part of that, has been an amazing experience and given me a real sense of pride and delight.

“I have seen first-hand how hard the staff within the department work. What they do is truly inspirational and for them as individuals and as a team, winning the award has given them the recognition they not only deserve, but also the confidence and reassurance that what they do to support our learners and the wider community is valued, having a real impact and changing lives.

“It is our learners who inspire the staff and make it worthwhile and this award is to them as much as it is to the staff.”

As you may already know, Weston College has just been shortlisted for six national awards.

These are among the most prestigious honours available in the further education (FE) sector. So, to be in the running for six, is a huge achievement.

The Principal, Individual staff, College initiatives, and the College, as a whole, are all finalists in various categories.

But what are the awards all about? Why is it such an achievement? Who’s been shortlisted, and for what?

Let us explain.

What are the awards?

We’ve been shortlisted in four categories of the 2019 Tes FE Awards. (Tes was formerly known as the Times Educational Supplement, by the way).

In Tes’s words, the awards “recognise the most outstanding individuals and institutions that the FE sector has to offer, and those shortlisted are the cream of the crop.”

Put simply, they are the ‘Oscars’ of the FE world.

We’re also finalists in two Association of Colleges’ (AoC) Beacon Awards.

Now in its 24th year, the Beacon Awards showcase best practice and innovation in colleges. As Carole Stott MBE, Chair of the AoC Charitable Trust, explains: “The Beacon Awards were created to highlight the great work that goes on in colleges every day.”

The awards cover achievements in the academic year 2017-18.

Are these separate awards?

Yes and no.

The Tes and Beacon awards are judged independently but they have teamed up to release the shortlists and will hold a joint ceremony to announce the winners.

This ‘gala awards evening’ will take place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London on Friday, 22nd March, 2019. It promises to be a spectacular event with more than 800 guests expected to attend, including government ministers and many of the great and good from the education sector.

Why is it such a major achievement for the College?

Firstly, these are all national awards, so every college, member of staff and special initiative was eligible for at least one category.

Then, to be finalists in so many categories is exceptional. For instance, there are only 11 Tes categories and we’re shortlisted in four. Likewise, we’re shortlisted in two of the eight Beacon Award categories.

There are eight finalists for each Tes Award, and either three or four in the AoC Award categories.

Who’s been shortlisted, and for which awards?

These are our finalists in the Tes Awards:

Dr Paul Phillips CBE – FE Leader of the Year

Our Principal, Dr Paul Phillips CBE, is a finalist in this category, which recognises exceptional leadership in FE in the UK.

Dr Phillips has led from the front as the College has enjoyed another hugely successful year. Among the highlights were the College winning the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education. This is one of the College’s most impressive achievements since it embarked on its 16-year transformation under the leadership of Dr Phillips in 2001.

Claire Knapp – FE Teacher of the Year

Claire is a lecturer in motor vehicles at the College.

This award rewards the individual whose passion, knowledge and skill have inspired students to success and who have made a major contribution to educational life. It is open to anyone working as a teacher, tutor or lecturer in the FE sector. All finalists have had an excellent impact on learners’ progress, attainment and growth, and brought positive change beyond learners.

Weston College – FE College of the Year

It’s a major honour to even be shortlisted for this award, which “rewards colleges whose imagination and passion have led to stellar provision in all areas”.

This has been another exceptional year for the College. As well as success in the apprenticeships (90% offered permanent positions after completion) and pre-employment (60% of Job Centre Plus referrals transitioning into employment within 6 months), we won two Beacon Awards last year and won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize – one of only two FE colleges in the country awarded this prestigious honour.

Sensory Learning Base – Specialist Provider of the Year

‘The Sensory Learning Base’ is a purpose-built, safe, self-contained, specialist facility at Weston College’s Knightstone Campus for learners with Profound and Complex Learning Disabilities (PCLD).

This award recognises specialist providers whose imagination and passion have led to stellar provision and support for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and those with specific learning requirements. Award finalists have been shown to provide high-quality curriculum with excellent student outcomes, reflected in strong recruitment and success rates.

Here are our finalists for the AoC Awards:

College-wide mental health initiative – Mental Health and Wellbeing Award

This College initiative was developed to enhance the mental health, wellbeing and welfare of its learners, staff and community. It involves the College’s Welfare and Pastoral, Inclusive Practice/Mental Health, Sport and Public Services and HR teams.

The award celebrates the important work colleges are doing to support the mental health and wellbeing of their learners and staff.

College initiative to meet address skills shortages in the engineering sector – Engagement with Employers Award

This recognises the College’s transformational approach to delivering responsive provision that meets the skills priorities for the engineering and advanced engineering sector. It’s a joint initiative involving the College’s Business Growth, Employer Engagement, Higher Education and Faculty of Engineering teams.

Wish us good luck for March 2019 when the winner for each category will be announced!

The innovative training course launched last year but already boasts numerous success stories. Students have completed apprenticeships at high profile restaurants across Bristol and the South West, as well as being nominated for prestigious awards.

One of those success stories is Elliott, who aims to become a Michelin-starred chef and believes the apprenticeship has set him on the path to achieving it.

He said: “I decided to join Weston College as food and cooking has always been my passion.

“My godmother is a really good cook and she has been an inspiration to me. When I was younger we used to cook together, so I knew I wanted to be a chef from a very young age.”

“When I saw the apprenticeship advertised with weekly masterclasses taught by local Michelin-starred chefs, it really grabbed my attention,” Elliott said.

“The masterclasses, which teach a diverse range of techniques, have exceeded my expectations. A great example is one we had from a local fishmonger - an area I lacked experience in.

“We were shown how to gut and fillet a salmon and several mackerel. It didn’t stop there as the masterclasses go into real depth. We were also shown how to trim and pin bone, as well being taught about different types of cuts and cooking techniques.”

Thanks to Weston College, Elliott has gained an apprenticeship at Puro restaurant in Clevedon.

“The whole process of getting an apprenticeship was very easy,” he said. “I have received great support from Weston College. My college assessors actually come to me as well which saves me travelling to Weston. I really enjoy my apprenticeship and the team give me expert training.

“My long-term ambition is to gain Rosettes (a cooking accreditation award) and also to become a Michelin starred chef in the future. College has also helped me to get the ball rolling on this. Through the programme I have been taught key skills in a range of areas which include butchery, fish mongering and desserts which I have been able to perfect during my apprenticeship.”

Elliott points out that the apprenticeship doesn’t only teach students to cook – it also helps them in many other aspects of their career.

He said: “I have received a large amount of support from the College. Not only are my college tutors at every practical session, but they offer great support on the theory too which has really developed my knowledge, they have also supported me with my functional skills (English, maths and ICT). This would have been a real struggle for me without their help.”

You can see our current vacancies, by clicking here. 

Performing Arts learners brought the curtain down on their final projects by putting on two fantastic theatrical performances. Learners surpassed expectations as they performed ‘The Wonderful World of Dissocia’ and ‘Made in Dagenham’ (the musical), displaying outstanding acting abilities throughout.

Here, cast members reflect on the performances and explain why they enjoy studying performing arts.

DISSOCIA

Ben, previously from Backwell School

Performing Arts (Acting Pathway)

The Wonderful World of Dissocia in just three words? Captivating, intriguing and wild. The word ‘Dissocia’ comes from ‘dissociative disorder’, which is a mental health issue that the protagonist, Lisa Jones, suffers with. This is hinted at throughout the first act but finally revealed in the final act.

Lauren Easterby, previously from Priory School

Performing Arts (Acting Pathway)

The lead role of Lisa was really challenging and without Fiona and the rest of the lecturers, I think I would have struggled and perhaps given up. But I kept going thanks to her support. The hardest bit for me was to be able to convey the things she goes through correctly, because it’s all based around a mental disorder. Not experiencing that yourself, makes it really hard to capture how that feels and express that to an audience in the appropriate way. To prepare for it I had help with research and did exercises and workshops to get myself into that headspace, and also get myself out, which is also really important.

Paul, previously from Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College

Performing Arts (Acting Pathway)

My favourite thing about performing arts is definitely the creativity and the imagination it allows you to use. There’s a lot of freedom within it and you get to take on other people’s stories. Learning or creating something new that you didn’t know was there is absolutely amazing! I played Ticket, Dr Clark and two other roles, one of which included puppeteering. Ticket stood out for me and I did so much research around him, I even made up my own backstory, which was crazy. I loved to see the creativity – it was insane!

Stephanie, previously from Gordano School

Performing Arts (Acting Pathway)

The final moment on stage for Dissocia was a really proud moment. As this is my second year, it was my final major project and it just felt like a brilliant way to express all of my emotions on stage. From a very young age I did a lot of dancing and was eager to perform in front of people. I remember wanting to perform a limbo dance on stage when I was on holiday at three years old. Since then I’ve always wanted to be on stage.

Fiona Philp, Performing Arts Lecturer and Director for The Wonderful World of Dissocia added: “I’ve been really impressed with the learners’ maturity as the play covers themes that are challenging, topical and tough.

“They all stepped out of their comfort zones and were really willing to experiment and explore new ways of thinking. This flexibility is highly commendable alongside their levels of commitment and professionalism.”

MADE IN DEGENHAM

Ben, previously from Worle School

Performing Arts (Acting Pathway)

Made in Dagenham is based on the true story of how women finally got equal pay to men, or at least how that journey began. It focuses on a housewife and her journey achieving equality at Ford factory car development service. In the 1950s there were very little rights for women so it’s important to raise awareness and remind people how far we’ve come. As much fun as a play is, I would always choose to do a musical. The singing and choreography just adds so much more. It rises it up and hits you a lot more which is why I love musical theatre.

Holly, previously from Broadoak Mathematics and Computing College

Performing Arts (Acting Pathway)

There was an overwhelming feeling of pride and passion during the final performance. I can’t really explain the feeling – it’s very euphoric. You put all of that work in and it just pays off in that moment. Performing arts is unique. There’s nothing better than the feeling of finishing your favourite number or completing a dance you never thought you’d be able to do. Compared to the start of the course, I feel like my confidence has quadrupled! With the lecturers pushing you, you can do anything. I never thought I would be able to play a lead, but I did.

Joe Miller, Dance Lecturer and Made in Dagenham choreographer, said: “The process began just 11 weeks ago. The learners developed their singing abilities and projection as well as overcoming hurdles like learning accents, as the musical is set in Essex. They also worked on all the set changes themselves and came together as a company as there was no back stage help.

“After weeks of rehearsal the students, who range in ages and levels, produced an amazing show to a very high standard. I’m very proud and couldn’t be happier with the musical.”

Lisa Frost, Performing Arts Lecturer and Made in Dagenham director, added: “It was an amazing process. Some of our learners are first years and have never done anything like this. Over a short period of time, there was a lot of great collaboration between different levels and ages within the cast. They guided and supported each other, gave feedback and worked together to achieve a massive journey of development.”

As part of the Creative Arts Summer Showcase, the Performing Arts cast will be accompanied by UCW degree learners in an end-of-year stage performance of “Sorry For The Inconvenience - We Are Trying To Change The World” on Wednesday 19th June, 7:30pm at the Playhouse Theatre in Weston-super-Mare. Click here to get your tickets.

Every year, around 14,000 military personnel leave the forces.

Many will have worked ‘hands-on’, operating in challenging, high-pressured settings that demand teamwork, leadership and project management skills.

When you consider these qualities are also in great demand within the construction industry, it suggests a natural fit for many ex-servicemen and women, who often struggle to find suitable employment when they leave the forces.

The case is even more compelling when you consider that, by 2021, the construction sector will need to find 157,000 new recruits to keep pace with demand – according to The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB).

But while logic is undeniable, comparatively few military personnel make the transition to a construction career. One of the main reasons is that not enough is being done to ex-servicemen aware of the opportunities available.

The construction sector offers huge choice in terms of the roles and career paths available – particularly to those who already possess the fundamental qualities required.

This particularly applies to the Somerset and Bristol area, which will be home to a number of nationally significant developments over the next decade.

Currently, over 26,000 people are employed in the building and construction trades in the West of England – and this figure is set to rise by 14% by 2020.

The biggest growth will be in the plumbing and electrical installation sectors, which will see a big boost due to projects such as Hinkley Point C and the electrification of the main train lines between London and Bristol.

And Weston College is in a prime position to enable former military personnel to adapt the abilities they’ve honed in the forces, fill these skills gaps and start on the path to a rewarding and successful career in construction.

Firstly, our facilities are second to none.

In April we opened our state-of-the-art Construction Training Centre – a purpose-built facility that provides specialist training in plant operations, groundworks, scaffolding, forklifting and logistics.

We also boast the South West Skills Campus. This is a high-technology centre with classrooms, workshops and labs that offer industry-standard equipment to give you the hands-on experience you’ll need to progress into the industry.

And our construction-related courses provide the perfect opportunity for ex-servicemen to re-train, with clearly defined career paths and progression routes, whatever your level of knowledge and experience.

As well as those offered at the Construction Training Centre, programmes range from bricklaying and DIY to construction in the built environment, engineering and carpentry – at a variety of levels.

The College also offer the industry-standard health and training courses that everyone working on a construction site needs – including the H&S Awareness and CSCS Labourer Card.

We have outstanding links with construction businesses throughout the region and beyond, which gives you a head-start in the employment market once you’ve finished your training.

And we understand how daunting it can be to take your career in a different direction. That’s why our outstanding staff are always on hand to give you the support, advice and guidance you need to make an informed decision about course and career path that suits you.

One of our former students, Kevin, chose to retrain as a plasterer after leaving the army and being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. He says the support and guidance of staff helped turn his life around and allowed him to start his own plastering business, which also raises money for injured army personnel.

Kevin said: “I’d always struggled academically and suffered a number of problems after leaving the army, so it was a huge achievement for me to gain this qualification. Weston College has helped me move on and I can’t thank the staff enough.”

You can take a closer look at our courses and facilities on the construction section of our website, or the dedicated Construction Training Centre site. You can also apply for any of our construction courses straight away through these websites.

If you have any questions, call 01934 411 411 or drop us a message.

We always love to hear about the fantastic accomplishments our alumni achieve.

Art & Design learners were recently visited by ex-students who are now studying arts at prestigious universities.

All three of these ex students studied the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design and visited current students to inform them first hand about the benefits of staying on and completing this unique course. Scroll down to read what they had to say!