Rebecca is currently completing her Digital and Technical Solutions course, as an apprentice, and has recently competed in the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Championships.

The MOS Championship is an extension of the MOS certification programme, launched in 2010 to assess learner’s knowledge to prepare them for university and the workplace. The championship welcomes students from all over the world to compete head-to-head to win the title of MOS Champion.

Rebecca had previously completed the Excel course on the programme, so was familiar with MOS, and heard Weston College were running and had beat the MOS Course Week challenge but hadn’t heard of the full Championship at the time.

Completing the week challenge was motivation for Rebecca to then complete the Word Associate Course on the 23rd May, and whilst doing this, selected the option to enter the championship if she scored high enough on the associate course, not thinking she would ever reach the next stage. The associate course was to be carried out online, so Rebecca finished the projects, each of which containing 5-7 individual tasks to showcase her advanced skills on Word, and scored high enough on the course to be entered into the championship!

The final took place on the 15th June, and Rebecca completed the hour long exam in just 20 minutes! The exam ended up being slightly easier than she was expecting, but she believed this was due to rigorous revision of practice exams and questions on the lead up and on the day.

Overall, out of 30 competitors, Rebecca placed in sixth, with a score of 95%!

Rebecca commented: “If you’re reading this and thinking of entering next year, practice as much as you can; LinkedIn learning have a huge range of courses that are really helpful for practicing and have loads of training material.”

She continued: “The whole experience has been wonderful, and I never thought I’d get the chance to compete in a competition like this. I’m thrilled with my final score, and the skills I’ve gained from partaking are highly valuable; I’ll carry them with me all throughout my apprenticeship and future career.”

Congratulations, Rebecca!

“Our NHS and social care staff have showed us time and again – throughout the pandemic and beyond – what it means to work with compassion and dedication to transform lives.” 

- Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay 

The opportunities in the Healthcare profession are almost entirely endless, and here at Weston College we think pursuing a career in Health is a great choice! 

Read on to find out our top 5 reasons why. 

1. Job Satisfaction: Making a difference 

9 times out of 10 the biggest lure to a career in Health is the immense impact you have on people’s lives on a daily basis. 

As our new Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay explains, working in the health sector means having the ability to positively impact and transform the lives of those in your care. Whether working as a Nurse, Midwife, Paramedic or Home Carer your role is infinitely significant to every single patient who’s path you cross; YOU can make a difference. 

Often your role will encompass even more than that too, with opportunities to interact and provide support for the patient’s family members and loved ones.  

You may be thinking ‘how does this apply to roles that aren’t patient-facing?’ Remember, every role in the Health industry has a monumental impact on a patient’s life and wellbeing. For example, chefs and cleaners are integral to creating a healthy and happy environment to ensure the patient’s comfort and state of mind is at optimum. Every role is important in healthcare!  

2. A Growing Industry 

The NHS is one of the biggest employers in Europe - employing just over 1.4 million people for a wide range of roles including Laboratory Technicians, Senior Healthcare Support Workers and  Nursing Associates. No matter what level or area of interest, there is a role for you!  

Health Secretary, Steve Barclay, says “this government is investing more than ever before in our NHS and care services to beat the COVID-19 backlogs, recruit 50,000 more nurses, reform social care and ensure patients across the country can access the care they need.” The rapid growth and work abundancy in this sector means you will always be in high demand, so you can enjoy excellent job security! 

Click the links above to find out more about these roles and the opportunities available in Health at Weston College. 

Alternatively, take a look at our T level, BTEC Extended diploma and degree-level pathways into the health industry to find the right fit for you! 

3. Working with People 

If you’re someone that excels in social environments, Health is a perfect industry for you – with teamwork being one of the most integral parts of the job. Working in the Health sector means being part of a huge, intertwining community with care and support at its core and positivity flowing throughout! 

4. Pays and Benefits 

The Healthcare profession offers a variety of perks. According to NHS pay and benefits the NHS has one of the most generous pension schemes on offer and as an NHS employee, you’ll have unique access to a health service discounts scheme too. 

Alternatively, you may decide to work for a private healthcare provider – many of which generously offer free life insurance, health screenings and training as part of their employment packages.  

In addition to this, you can also enjoy the benefit of a flexible work schedule and generous holiday allowance for most roles. 

5. You can Live Anywhere  

Finally, another reason pursuing a career in Health is a great choice, this profession allows you to live and work anywhere! Interested in travel or living abroad? Working in health means they’ll always be a job for you no matter where you go! 

If these 5 reasons left you feeling excited about your future in Health, find out more about all of pathways available at Weston College here! 

To find out about Higher Education opportunities in health at UCW click here. 

I have always been very passionate about a career in hairdressing, and my goal was always to become my own boss, to give me more flexibility, control, and motivation.

I started my journey over 20 years ago, as a student at Weston College, where I completed a Level 2 and 3, in Hairdressing and Barbering.

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at college, as it gave me the knowledge and the practical skills, to allow me to realise my dream and get to where I am today – owning my own salon, Creations by Gina.

Something which really benefited me when starting out, was gaining practical work experience. Now that I am a business owner, I support young people who are taking their first steps into this exciting industry.

Through doing this I have seen people develop their skills further, and it has brought other key benefits too, such as:

• Improved confidence
• Understanding of the job role
• Working as a team
• Enhanced communication skills
• Time management

It also offers learners the opportunity to gain experience in additional areas, such as working on reception and dealing with other brands – which is crucial in the industry.

I have found that offering these placements has also really benefited my business too. It allows me to meet people that are the future of the industry and assist in their development, which is fantastic for finding future recruits.

Weston College have supported me throughout my whole journey, and I look forward to sharing my experiences and knowledge with more learners in the coming years.

Gina, Owner of Creations by Gina

We have been working with Weston College since 2020 to create apprenticeship opportunities for local people to enter our organisation.

We have been so impressed, as apprenticeships have really helped us to further develop the business and create an energetic culture which has the desire and ability to perform whilst having fun.

Our most recent success story, Isaac, is a great example of how an apprenticeship can be beneficial for both a business and the apprentice. Isaac joined Brightside straight from secondary school and has developed into a highly motivated professional with a clear career path ahead with myBrightside.

When asked about the apprenticeship Isaac said: “I have really enjoyed working at myBrightside for the past year and enjoy coming to work! We have a great service which I strongly believe in a great team and some even better customers! I have been really impressed with the support from Weston College, and in particular my tutor Hannah, who has really helped me on my journey so far, as she is always available if I need support with college or even my day-to-day work. I’m very looking forward to the future working for myBrightside.”

Apprenticeships have made a remarkable difference to myBrightside and it is fantastic to see young adults with enthusiasm and the right attitude progress through and take on more responsibilities.

Weston College have been an excellent partner and have made the whole process easy and enjoyable. We thoroughly recommend working with their team!

Robbie McGregor, Director, myBrightside

Earlier this year Weston College launched Constructing Lives Together in partnership with construction firm, Willmott Dixon, to support local adults in entering the construction industry and it is proving to be successful.

The exciting new initiative is something which is really benefiting the community. Not only are local people gaining the training required to enter the industry through short and sharp courses delivered onsite, but local construction firms are able to access a brand-new stream of employees – a well needed boost for construction employers, with the well reported skills shortages within the sector.

The initiative which is supporting people across the South West is being funded by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The free courses provide candidates with:

• Re-employment skills
• Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) certificates across a range of disciplines 
• Health and Safety in a Construction Environment Level 1 
• Work experience

One employer that has utilised the support of Constructing Lives Together, is Weston based Apache Construction. Director, Ryan Hedges, commented: “During the pandemic we lost some key workers, and we recognised that there was a gap in the market for reliable and like-minded staff. We got in touch with Weston College, who have supported us since we launched, and decided to get involved with the Constructing Lives Together programme.

“The programme has been fantastic for us. We have hired three people full-time in the last three months, all coming through the programme. Each recruit has been a real breath of fresh air for the organisation and are really supporting us with filling our skills gaps.

“It has offered us the opportunity to interview people practically, and has opened a brand-new talent pool, with our recruits hitting the ground running!”

Find out more about Constructing Lives Together, and how it can support you by clicking here.

Hear from each of the three successful Apache Construction recruits, in the video below.

We really feel accountancy is a great career path for a huge range of people, but many won’t give it the time of day!

Read our top ten reasons why being an accountant could be the perfect aspiration for you:

1. A Job That Is In-Demand: Accountants are a highly in-demand job, so you could walk straight into a job after gaining the relevant qualifications. As technology revolutionises, more jobs will be created than destroyed.

2. Job Security: There will therefore be job security in the field, meaning you won’t have to worry about losing and finding a new job. This could be because…

3. Everyone Needs An Accountant! There is a huge variety of sectors and industries you can work in as an accountant, including entertainment, business, STEM, and many other fields

4. Be Your Own Boss: Alternatively, you could decide to set up your own accountancy business, and be your own boss, spend the days doing what you love, off your own accord.

5. Love To Travel? Accountancy even includes the chance to travel! The opportunities will be endless when you’re fully qualified!

6. Accountancy Is Great For Any Age! From starting training at 16-18, or gaining your qualifications as an adult, we offer the course for you! 16-18s will benefit hugely from the Accountancy T Level, with industry placements throughout, and meeting employers and providers to help prepare you for the world of work. Alternatively, 16-18s could choose to learn in the workplace on an Apprenticeship, giving the opportunity to earn a wage while learning.

Adult courses are a great option for over 19s, with a choice of 6 courses in accounting so you can choose the perfect level for you, all including the opportunity to gain valuable workplace skills.

7. Varied Responsibilities: Accountants have many different responsibilities, not just crunching numbers, so your days will be varied and you can guarantee you won’t get bored on the job! Roles may involve dealing with important financial reports, create solutions to financial issues, help organisations run smoothly, and how to effectively manage their money.

8. Development Of Skills: You will also acquire and develop great personal skills that can be transferred to other contexts outside the workplace, and can be carried with you for life – these can include good communication, solid advisory and guidance skills.

9. Financial Benefits: Alongside great skills for both in and out the workplace, accountancy also has huge financial benefits. According to the 2019 Accounting and Finance Salary Guide compiled by Robert Half, accountants with one to three years of experience can earn between $51,500 (£43,516) and $96,500 (£81,541) annually. Those with five or more years of experience can earn as much as $129,250 (£109,214) per year.

10. Make A Real Difference: Accountants are huge assets to businesses and are extremely helpful when monitoring important aspects of businesses, including cash flow and taxes. Your work will be highly valued, and you’ll be a crucial member of the team.

Check out our different accountancy courses (T Levels and Adult Courses) if this is the perfect role for you!

Hi! My name is Shell and I am currently on my final placement on the Acute Medical Unit as part of my degree in Nursing. The AMU is a medical assessment ward where patients are continually admitted and discharged, making it a highly complex and fast paced environment.

I began my journey in this field by completing an Access to Nursing and Midwifery course with Weston College, which incorporated both Biology and Psychology. My caring nature and desire to help others was what led me to look into career options in the care sector, as I knew I would want to develop skills in the area and gain the confidence to start a nursing degree.

While the Access course was intense and required total dedication, it was a fantastic starting point for my degree and placements, and was the best decision I’ve ever made. It gave me the tools I needed to research and compose assignments, and provided a comprehensive understanding of the main body systems which was invaluable throughout my nursing degree. I have now secured a full-time job in the AMU, and I start in September!

Day to day, you’ll find me carrying out medication records, fulfilling instructions from the doctors, for example carrying out blood tests, ensuring documentation is up to scratch, and most importantly, providing support and reassurance to all my patients and their families.

The Access course gave me a head start on developing skills which could help me with these tasks, including management skills and prioritising academic and personal development. Furthermore, it gave me the confidence that I can do anything I put my mind to.

My advice for those interested in completing an Access course would be to absorb all the knowledge and take advantage of all the support and benefits available. Also, have faith that you will make it through, no matter how challenging it is!

           - Shell

Weston College allows anyone of any age and skill to break into the field that will help them achieve their goals. If you're interested in our access to Higher Education courses, click here.

Shell described college as “the hardest but best year of her life”, and has truly impacted her future, allowing her to gain experience in a field she is truly passionate about, with the hopes of carrying this on full time. We wish Shell the best of luck with her university results and her new job starting in September.

On Thursday 7th July, Year 11s from schools across the region visited Weston College to take part in their first "Welcome Day".

The popular day is attended by school leavers who have applied and accepted their place on a course at Weston College. Across every campus the future learners of 2022 met their classmates for the first time, got to know the staff even more and took part in workshops to introduce them to college life before enrolling in September.

We hope everyone had a fantastic time! We can't wait to welcome you back to start your further education adventure in September.