News and events

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.