We’ve all heard of work experience and apprenticeships.

But where do traineeships fit in with these employment-focused schemes?

Basically, a traineeship is a training programme that features work experience and often acts as a stepping stone to an apprenticeship. Trainees often require English and maths qualifications, relevant training, or the experience required to gain their dream apprenticeship. A traineeship bridges the gap and is a great CV builder.

Traineeships are for 16 to 24-year-olds and are a fantastic way for young, motivated individuals to show employers that they are an ideal candidate.

We have seen many students progress rapidly from traineeships to apprenticeships with big firms such as GKN and Rolls Royce. This wouldn’t have been possible if they hadn’t completed their traineeship first.

Businesses can also reap a number of benefits from offering traineeships. Here are six:

• Traineeships allow you to select the best apprenticeship candidates for your business

• Trainees often become loyal employees

• Traineeships are fully funded by the government

• It is a cost effective method of recruiting new talent

• You can train a learner with the specific skills that your company is looking for

• Your current employees can gain experience managing trainees.

We often find that once a trainee has completed their programme, they are offered an apprenticeship by the same organisation. This shows the importance of taking a chance on someone whose CV doesn’t necessarily stand out.

Recruiting someone with the right attitude and motivation can be hard, but by offering a traineeship you can find the right character for your company.

You can find out more about traineeships, by clicking here. 

Career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) have grown significantly in recent years. We recently had the opportunity to talk with Weston College governor, Mr Chris Carter, who recently attended ‘The Big Bang’ interactive STEM fair at the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare. As part of Love Our Colleges week we asked Mr Carter how the College is inspiring future generations and how it has responded to industry demands within STEM sectors.

What did you think of The Big Bang fair? Do you think it inspired young people to consider STEM careers?

I thought The Big Bang was an excellent example of showing students of various ages and skills just how wide and interesting the field of STEM education actually is. The name STEM stands for science, engineering, technology and mathematics, all of which were represented under one roof in an enthusiastic and obviously, judging by the reactions I saw, intensely interesting way. The variety of opportunities Weston College offered for the students to get ‘hands on’ was impressive and the Winter Gardens lent itself admirably to the event. I would be very surprised if this event did not inspire a significant number of potential careers.

Why do you think a career in STEM would be exciting to pursue?

The question should be why would it NOT be exciting?! The fields covered by STEM are representative of so many of the developing and necessary aspects of modern life. They can provide opportunities to build careers in vital and interesting areas ranging from engineering to life sciences via astronomy, soil science, aeronautics and marine engineering communications. These and countless other directions are examples where the core subjects can be expanded and developed as varied career paths open up.

The College also offers workshops for primary school classes. Why do you think this is important?

I have always believed that the earlier you start in education, the better chance young pupils have at gaining a balanced but gentle introduction to a wide variety of life skills as part of their development. If an interest is born at an early stage then there is so much more opportunity, either to nurture it further as the child’s education progresses, or just to include it in that child’s general educational skill set.

What makes Weston College stand out when it comes to providing STEM education?

Firstly, I would say the superb facilities offered across the various College campus sites and the dedicated and expert tuition from the highly skilled and motivated College staff. What also makes the College stand out is the much-prized ‘student experience’, which I think is second to none alongside the care and dedication to the learners which is the core of Weston College’s offer. Overall, it is simply a combination of all of these which apply not only to the teaching of STEM subjects but across the whole range of courses. We, as Governors, are extremely proud of the superb success rates for which Weston College is renowned but equally of the personal achievements of our learners on their journey.

Why do you think STEM has become such a large focus in the South West?

You only have to look at the type of employment opportunities in the South West to see why STEM has such a large part to play. The core STEM subjects touch on all of our lives, and on a daily basis. We use telephones, we drive cars and we eat the produce from our farms. All of these aspects are equipped with the products of technology which are powered by the energy produced by the ‘appliance of science’.

What are the long-term benefits to investing in STEM?

We are faced with global warming and an ever-increasing population. It does not take a genius to see that we need to sustain the development of all aspects of STEM education to meet the challenges of the future. Investment in further education is one of the best investments any Government can make. That’s why we all need to get behind the Association of Colleges campaign. ‘Love our Colleges’ sees FE providers working collaboratively to raise awareness and strive for a better future. Without the appropriate funding, the development and investment required to adapt to the needs of each industry cannot happen. This is essential in today’s world of work and just one of the reasons why the government need to invest in the next generation.

Have you wondered what it’s like to be a computing student? Meet Jake, an applied computing student.

Jake joined Weston College when he enrolled on the IT Practitioners Diploma, Level 3 course. This course improves your knowledge and practical skills in a range of IT areas including, IT systems, social media in business, data modelling, information management and website development. You find out how computer systems work and learn to utilise different applications. The assignments are based on workplace situations, so you get a real insight to the careers available in IT and what it is like to work in the industry.

Jake then progressed to the Applied Computing FDSc at University Centre Weston (UCW). This popular foundation degree emphasises the practical application of computing principles and development of IT skills.

The course also provides the core knowledge in software design, systems analysis and web technologies required to either progress to further study or gain employment in an it role. It covers:

• Computing applications
• Software design and development
• System analysis and databases
• Web technologies and platforms
• Computing project management
• Digital devices implementation and usability
• Object-orientated software design and development
• Service support tools and techniques
• Work experience.

As part of the work experience module, Jake has been working with the Shrubbery Hotel in Ilminster to produce a website and help improve their digital presence. His brief included:

• An interactive website
• The ability to view the rooms
• The ability to place a booking
• An events page
• A section looking at the local area.

Jake said: “It was a great real-life experience. I had to meet with the client to discuss their requirements and then make suggestions as to the best way to achieve their objectives.”

The project took approximately six weeks to complete.

Jake added: “Weston College and UCW have given me the knowledge and skill set to take up a strong career on computing.”

Jake’s next step is the BSc top-up year at UCW. He then plans to find a graduate job in website or software development.

Jake offered this advice for future students of Weston College or UCW:
“Space out your assignments and start them early. There is a great atmosphere amongst the lecturers and students and if you have a question about an assignment it’s always easy to get hold of a lecturer.”

shrubberyhotel.com

Universities and colleges have set themselves challenging new targets to make further and faster progress on fair access to Higher Education. The new targets, agreed with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA), form part of the 183 access agreements approved today, and will help meet a Government ambition to double the rate of students from disadvantaged backgrounds entering Higher Education.

Professor Les Ebdon, Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, said:

“The access agreements I have approved today show that universities and colleges are setting stretching and ambitious targets to attract students from disadvantaged areas and then support them through their studies. Our work with universities and colleges has really borne fruit over the last decade. There are now greater rates of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Higher Education than ever before – but we know that talent is still being lost. Too many people who have the talent to excel are not given full opportunity to demonstrate their ability. Eroding the stubborn link between your background as a child and your life chances as an adult is a long-term project. But I am confident that this set of agreements can – and will – make a real and lasting difference for many years to come.

“I am enormously heartened to see the significant level of ambition in this set of access agreements. By making progress towards their own fair access challenges, universities and colleges will contribute to the Government’s national fair access goals. The Prime Minister and Minister for Universities have set a goal to double the rates of students from disadvantaged backgrounds by 2020, and these agreements send a clear message that universities are ready to do the hard work to make this target a reality.

“The work and ambition universities and colleges have committed to today will transform lives. The outreach work universities have planned will open the door to higher education for people who might otherwise have thought it was not for them. The people that universities work with now will go on to be the doctors, business leaders and engineers of the future.”

Each university and college with an access agreement sets their own targets depending on their own individual circumstances. These targets are then subject to OFFA’s approval. Among the targets universities and colleges have set for their 2016-17 access agreements are:

- All institutions have set a target on the make-up of their student body

- Around three quarters of institutions set a target to improve the rates of students continuing with their studies, while around 15 per cent set a specific target to help ensure that their students were well prepared for life after graduation.

- Many targets also focus on particular groups of disadvantaged students. For example:

- Over a fifth of institutions set targets designed to help care leavers access higher education and succeed in their studies

- Approximately forty per cent of institutions set targets around specific ethnic groups. This includes a range of targets to reduce attainment gaps between different groups of students

- Around a third of institutions set targets relating to disabled students.

In total, universities and colleges predict that they will invest £750.8 million in steady state through their 2016-17 access agreements. This consists of:

- £149.3 million on access activities. This includes long-term sustained outreach work, which identifies learners at an early stage, and helps to raise aspirations and attainment
- £148.0 million on work to support students through their studies – for example through tailored induction programmes for particular groups of students
- £54.6 million on progression activities, to ensure that students are well prepared for life after graduation
- £399.0 million on financial support, including bursaries, fee waivers and hardship funds.

Professor Ebdon continued:

“Our discussions and negotiations with universities and colleges have led to improved targets at 94 institutions. These new targets are evidence-led, strategic and deliverable, and I look forward to working with universities and colleges to make further, faster progress.”

For more information on the College's HE provision, click here.

Weston College's Access Agreement for 2016/17 has been approved by OFFA and outlines the measures the college will take to widen access to HE. Click here to download a PDF for more information.

Weston College and the University of the West of England have announced that they are to create an Institute of Professional Education.

The move comes after the College strengthened its ties with UWE Bristol last November, when it was announced that the College had earned university centre status with the institution.

The idea behind creating the Institute is to provide learners and employers with a single organisation from which they can address all of their current and future educational and skills needs. The organisation will also provide learners with clear routes of progression between Further and Higher Education.

Dr Paul Phillips OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College, said: “I sit on numerous boards in terms of looking at the development of education in the region, and there’s one common theme that emerges: meeting the skills needs of businesses and employers.

“I don’t believe there’s an institution in existence that can meet all of an employer’s requirements on its own because when it comes to meeting skills needs, you have to take a bit of Further Education, a bit of Higher Education and all the constituent parts of the two and combining them into an overarching learning concept dedicated to directly responding to the skills needs and working as a partnership to address them.”

Dr Phillips went on to say that the partnership has the potential to be extended to include other institutions in the near future.

Professor Steve West, Vice Chancellor of the University of the West of England, said: “The future is about us developing and equipping young people with the right skills, knowledge and attributes to be able to enter the workplace and make a positive contribution to society.

“I’m delighted that we have now developed a relationship with Weston College that builds pathways to allow us to ensure that we build the skills and qualifications at all levels that will lead directly to jobs.

“The technical and professional education taught at Weston College will lead into degree level education delivered by UWE Bristol. Together we’ll be able to provide fantastic opportunities for young people to get the jobs that they need, and that we desperately need them to get.”

The partnership in the medium term will focus heavily on apprenticeship development within the region with clear progression routes from intermediate through to degree apprenticeships being established in most key technical and professional disciplines. 

Students taking English GCSEs at Weston College have smashed national benchmarks with exceptionally high pass rates.

Of the 23 students who took their GCSE English exam before Christmas, 20 achieved a grade C or above, putting the pass rate at 87% – miles ahead of the 27% national benchmark.

The students were a combination of new learners to the College and returning learners, who have previously failed to obtain the C grade required to progress to further education.

These results are a huge cause for celebration, and go to show how Weston College supports its learners to achieve.

Kelly O’Connor, Subject Area Manager for GCSE English, said: “These results just go to show how hard work really can pay off.

“I’m immensely proud of my students and am confident that they have paved their way to successful futures.”

Weston College offers several options to support learners who have previously not taken GCSE English, or haven’t achieved a C grade.

Weston College’s Hair and Beauty students have had a busy weekend at a charity event in Weston-super-Mare and an opera production in Bath.

On Saturday, 30 learners from the College’s Hair and Beauty Centre gave up their afternoon and evening to do all hair and makeup at the Weston Hospicecare Strictly Fun Dancing event. They spent a long afternoon at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, doing hair and makeup for 24 contestants at an event that raised £18,000 for the charity. 

Meanwhile, a team of 16 FdA Hair, Beauty and Prosthetics Production students were collaborating with Bath Spa learners. They completed hair and makeup for an opera production of Cosi fan Tutti at the Michael Tippett Centre in Bath. 

The project collaborating with Bath Spa Production learners has been a week long, evening commitment for the College’s FdA learners, who all spent their evenings working on the project. 

Sandra Bull, Area Manager of Hair, Beauty, Hospitality and Catering at Weston College, said: “It has been a really busy weekend for our learners and staff, six of whom also gave up their Saturday to support our learners. 

“We’re incredibly proud of the commitment and dedication all of our learners show, whether they are the Hair and Beauty Centre team or our FdA learners. Not only have these events really helped them develop their skills, but they’ve also been given an opportunity to get involved with the community and help a fantastic local charity.”  
 

Selected from thousands of nominations, Weston College’s Charmaine Hale-Lynch and the Welfare and Pastoral Support Services Team are two of just 65 winners who will be celebrated today on 22nd June - ‘Thank A Teacher Day’, as the national Teaching Awards marks its 20th year of celebrating excellence in education.  Celebrations will take place in schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland as the prestigious Silver Pearson Teaching Awards trophies are presented to outstanding teachers, teaching assistants, head teachers and lecturers.

The Pearson Teaching Awards are an annual celebration of exceptional teachers, founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact an inspirational teacher can have on the lives of the young people they teach.

Charmaine and the Welfare and Pastoral Support Services Team will now join fellow Silver Award winners, along with 3 Scottish Education Award winners and 3 winners of the Professional Teaching Awards Cymru, at the 20th UK Ceremony of the Pearson Teaching Awards, a glittering ceremony held in central London on 21st October.  There they will find out which of them has won one of just 12 Gold Plato Awards, the UK’s “Oscars for Teachers”.

Charmaine Hale-Lynch, winner of the Silver ‘FE Lecturer of the Year’ Teaching Award said: “I feel very honoured to receive such an award and overwhelmed by the support from the staff and everyone who took part in the process and helped in this achievement”. 

Also collecting their award for Silver ‘FE Team of the Year’ Teaching Award, Benjamin Cocks and Mandy Lee of the Student Welfare and Pastoral Support Services Team said this of their award: “We’re incredibly proud to receive this award which recognises the hard work and dedication of our team. We’re extremely grateful to have such wonderful learners, who provide the inspiration for everything that we do”. 

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Weston College Principal and Chief Executive of the Weston College Group, has commended the consistently high standard of teaching and support staff at Weston College.

He said: “This award shows Weston College staff always go above and beyond for the wellbeing of our learners. They work incredibly hard to support every learner across the College and make sure they are achieving the very best they can. 

“We are proud to be one of the top performing colleges in the country, and our continued successes are a promise that all existing and future learners will get the very best standard of education at Weston College.”

The October ceremony, titled “Britain’s Classroom Heroes”, will be filmed and broadcast by the BBC as a showcase of excellence in education.  Previous award presenters have included former prime ministers David Cameron and Tony Blair, acting legends Jenny Agutter, Alison Steadman and Sheila Hancock and sports and TV personalities including Shirley Ballas, Helen Glover, Brendan Cole and Nadiya Hussain.   

On this special, celebratory day, the Teaching Awards is encouraging members of the public to say “thank you” to a teacher who has made a difference in their lives.  Simply go to http://www.teachingawards.com/card, fill in a form online including a personal message and the teacher will receive a Thank You card in the post for free. 

Michael Morpurgo, celebrated author and former Children’s laureate, and President of the Teaching Awards Trust, said: “The best we can do is to pass on to children all that we know and love and mean every word. I think above all else, a teacher should be a friend, and that’s not an easy thing to do when there are 35 children out there. With these awards we are shining a light on these inspirational individuals whose efforts and commitment so often go uncelebrated.”

Rod Bristow, President of Pearson UK, said: "A huge congratulations to all those receiving a silver trophy today.  They should feel extremely proud of their achievements and join an inspirational group of Teaching Award winners from the past two decades.  It’s an honour for Pearson to support these Awards each year - it’s so vital to recognise and celebrate those in the teaching profession, for their commitment to education and for the impact they have on young people's lives.“

The list of winners will be published on the Teaching Awards website at 5pm on Friday 22nd June.

Weston College students are set to wow family audiences with a pantomime performance of Aladdin this December.

Performing and Production Arts students will stage the classic tale at Weston’s Blakehay Theatre on December 5th and 6th.

Both shows start at 7pm and tickets, priced at £10, are available from Blakehay’s box office or online at www.blakehaytheatre.co.uk

The students will also be putting on separate performances for school children during the day and touring local schools the following week.

There’s fun for all the family in this traditional, family panto. It’s packed full of song, dance, mayhem and magic, as Aladdin tangles with evil Jafar and tries to save his love Princess Jasmine.

The students’ annual panto will be performed from an original script by College Performing Arts Technician Peter Tyler, with additional material provided by fellow staff members Andy Collyer and Keith and Ben Simmons.