News and events

In February, Weston College in partnership with local project partners, including: North Somerset Council, The Food and Drink Forum and North Somerset Enterprise Agency, launched Accelerate - which is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.

Three months later, and with over 35 sessions already completed, Accelerate is having a really positive impact in the county.

The sessions are delivered by industry experts and trainers focussing on key themes, such as business planning, digital support, sustainability, green agenda, mental health and wellbeing.

The Head of UK Sales and Procurement, for Probo Medical, Dani Langson, has attended four sessions to date, and has found them hugely beneficial. North Somerset based Dani, said: “The sessions have been really informative, I have found those delivering them very knowledgeable as well, which has certainly helped me with my own personal development.

“As a National Sales Manager, remotely managing a team in a very busy industry, I struggle to find time for my own development. I am keen to be a good manager, leader and a positive influence to my team and the wider business – something which I feel that the Accelerate sessions have helped me to achieve.

“The sessions have been easy to sign up to, with a few simple clicks a digital invite was sent to my diary. The sessions I attended were only 2 hours long, making them easy to accommodate, but a lot of content was packed into this.

“Training and Upskilling is so important, no matter how long you have been in a position, business or industry. It is easy to fall into habits or set ways of working without realising. I cannot recommended the Accelerate Programme enough and only hope they continue to offer these sessions to the local community.”

Sessions are only running until the end of June. Click to hear avoid missing out, and to discover our full Accelerate offer.

Weston College has been announced as the national winner of the prestigious Jisc Award for Effective Use of Digital Technology in Further Education and The Careers and Enterprise Company for Innovation in Careers and Enterprise Award.

The Association of Colleges’ Beacon Awards celebrate the best and most innovative practice among UK colleges each year.

The Digital Technology award supported by Jisc celebrates an outstanding example of the use of technology designed to improve the student experience in a digital age. Weston College’s cloud-first EdTech strategy has empowered a forward-thinking organisation seeking to answer the post-pandemic question “what next?”.

Since 2016 the College has committed to integrating cloud technologies to enhance connectivity/flexibility and accessibility within teaching/learning and working. These technologies enabled the College to build learner-centric online communities and significantly improve the digital capabilities of staff and students. It also saw the College creating the UK’s first Virtual Classroom.

The second award supported by the Careers and Enterprise Company recognises, celebrates, and promotes examples of outstanding and innovative careers leadership and practice. The College was commended on its vision to mainstreaming careers excellence through a ‘whole college’ approach, to nurture talent for all learners regardless of their starting point in life.

Prior to COVID the College had already cemented a highly inclusive ‘careers not courses’ ethos through significant investment from the Principal, Dr Paul Phillips CBE in redesigning the careers programme, the creation of a highly expansive careers partnership model and by impressive CPD to create L6 Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) advisors. In lockdown, the work also benefited from significant career technology leadership such as becoming a Microsoft Showcase College and being able to flick the switch as the first FE College to offer remote MS Teams CEIAG, with timetables seamlessly moved across within 7 days of closure.

Weston College’s strategy also showed real careers agility in responding to the upskilling needs of the FE White Paper and in meeting the unprecedented student demand for careers exploration post lockdown - with the roll out of its dynamic Careers Excellence Hub model, where each faculty (14 in total) have signed its Careers Excellence Hub Charter – putting careers at the heart of its strategic plan by ‘making careers everyone’s business.’

The College’s Chair of Governor’s Andrew Leighton Price commented:

“To be recognised on such a national stage is a tremendous accolade for the College. As well as the two ‘wins’ we were also a finalist for The Edge Award for Excellence in Real World Learning, where the College was recognised for its transformational approach to making inclusive ‘real world’ learning a reality across the region using the College’s dynamic Institute of Technology model.

“Key to the College’s success has been the inspirational leadership from Dr Paul Phillips CBE, he has created a drive for entrepreneurship and ethos that puts the learner first in all that we do.”

Mark White, Chair of AoC’s Charitable Trust said: “The AoC Beacon Awards showcase exactly why colleges are so important to every community and why people value them. These awards recognise examples of excellent practical teaching and learning. The work of the winning college shows how important colleges are in providing students with the necessary skills for the real world.”

On May 12th Weston College will be hosting a Business Breakfast for regional employers and stakeholders, the event will reflect on actions being taken by the College, in response to the Government asking the education sector to bridge the skills gaps in order to progress the key national sustainability and social action agendas.

During the breakfast a number of speakers will illustrate activities relevant to the College, Careers and the Community, and discuss the College’s journey as an employer, as they put strategies in place to work towards Net Zero - adopting the College’s ethos of being green, lean and socially responsible.

Guests will also benefit from a perspective from keynote speaker, Chris Hines MBE Hon.D.Sc. Chris has been working and campaigning for the environment for 30 years and revels in inspiring positive change.

He was a co-founder and then Director of Surfers Against Sewage and then Sustainability Director at the Eden Project and was awarded an MBE for “services to the environment”.

Chris works on strategic planning, communications, leadership and embedding sustainability principles as part of a profitable business and strongly believes that business can be a force for good in a challenging world.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE commented: “Weston College are proud to be playing a key role in this agenda, working in partnership with North Somerset Council and other key organisations, on this important issue of progressing sustainability and social action for the region. This event will enable us to share our direction and work in partnership with our business community to make a difference. The College will also shortly be hosting a Sustainability Conference for its learners to bring together their thoughts and to share a direction for a greener, leaner and more socially responsible future.”