News and events
We aim to keep you up-to-date with the very latest Weston College news and events. Take a look below at what's going on at the College!
Got news you want to share with us? Email marketing@weston.ac.uk
Latest events at Weston College
Latest news and developments at Weston College
We LOVE hearing about the amazing journeys to success from our past students.
We recently caught up with Level 3 Health and Social Care alumni Josh Bell, who has had an incredible journey so far.
Since being at Weston College, Josh previously worked in Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) & Sleep Service at Bristol Royal Hospital For Children. Now studying for his degree, Josh is now working for University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) as a Nursing Assistant and Healthcare Assistant in Portsmouth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
As well as gaining this fantastic wealth of knowledge and experience from these roles, Josh also received an NHS Parliamentary Award and was named “The NHS Rising Star”, South West Regional Champion!
Ahead of their clinical placements, Josh recently visited the Health and Active Living Skills Centre to teach current Level 2 & 3 learners about Sepsis as a volunteer for UK charity: Sepsis Trust.
Josh commented: “Sepsis (also known as blood poisoning) is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Having an understanding of Sepsis and its symptoms is paramount when spotting the first signs which can lead to early detection, intervention and treatment. Asking the question ‘Just Ask Could It Be Sepsis?’ does save lives and getting that message out there in the community is essential.”
The class covered the signs and symptoms and treatment of Sepsis, practiced clinical skills, including taking Manual Blood Pressures and completed a NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2).
Guest lectures such as this are one of the career-boosting benefits that stem from the college’s newly formed Health and Social Care Career Excellence Hub. These innovative subject specific hubs allow for students at Weston College to have access to exclusive opportunities. Endorsed by industry, such as UHBW, this enables for better integration with the sector to make sure class content is relative and opens doors for learners so they leave college with more than just a qualification.
Josh continued: “I was delighted at the welcome I had back into the college, and I was very impressed with a particular I class I taught! Sarah-Jane, who was my previous Health & Social Care Lecturer, was great and I am so pleased that the students are still learning Health and Social Care as it’s one of the best careers to be part of!
I thought the new facilities were fantastic. It's great to see that current students have an area to study and practice clinical skills which can highly relate to a clinical environment within a hospital or an acute setting, which is paramount for essential clinical learning!”
Josh is currently studying a Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) Degree Course at the University of Portsmouth.
“I am loving my Paramedic Science BSc (Hons) Degree Course at the University, I have always been inspired to work in the NHS, but especially to become a Paramedic. The best part of the course so far is our clinical placements where we are based in an Ambulance Station and working with Paramedics out on the road to get experience and learning on the job!”
Moving forward, Josh is hoping to go on to do a Critical Care Masters degree in the future, aiming to one day work for the Air Ambulance or specialising in Critical / Acute Care.
On Saturday 11th June 2022, he will be taking part in the Great North Swim to raise funds for The UK’s Sepsis Trust. The Great North Swim is the largest open water swimming event in the UK. Held in the stunning surroundings of Lake Windermere, England's largest lake at 10.5 miles long (17km), stretching from Ambleside in the North to Newby Bridge in the South. Click here to learn more.
We'd like to say a huge thank-you to Josh for returning to the College to pass on his knowledge - An incredibly bright future ahead for this young professional!
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The government campaign urging employers to ‘’join the skills revolution’ has launched, aiming to help businesses gear up for economic recovery by skilling up their workforce. The campaign highlights the range of support and funding available for businesses wanting to boost their workforce capabilities, including apprenticeships, traineeships and T Levels.
The campaign highlights the range of training and employment schemes available to businesses to help them gear up for economic recovery. Apprenticeships, traineeships and T Levels can help businesses grow by skilling up their employees, driving better results and helping to retain their workforce. Training and employment schemes can help fill skills gaps by developing the [green/digital/STEM] skills that a business needs to succeed.
To mark the launch of the campaign, new research has been released which shows a huge appetite for developing new work skills amongst the working public with:
86% of employees in architecture, engineering and building industries stating they want to upskill this yea
80% of employees in manufacturing and utilities stating they want to upskill this year
86% of employees in IT and telecoms stating they want to upskill this year
81% of employees in healthcare stating they want to upskill this year
However, one in three felt held back by a lack of time (35%) and a lack of confidence (32%), while 29% said they did not know where to start.
The ‘Join the Skills Revolution’ campaign will help employers take advantage of the desire in the working public to upskill by providing easy access to skills opportunities to help drive better performance. Many training and employment schemes can be for any age, a new employee or a current employee looking to retrain.
Last week Weston College celebrated National Apprenticeship Week in style, with lots of activity taking place across the whole week.
We caught up with current apprentices, such as Georgia, who shared about her experiences via a blog (click here to read it): “My apprenticeship has provided me with so many opportunities, and it has really helped me to develop a number of key skills, which will benefit me in my career.”
We also delved deeper into two exciting apprenticeships that we offer; the Operational Fire Fighter Apprenticeship with Avon Fire and Rescue (click here to read the full article) and the Maritime Leadership and Development Apprenticeship (click here to read the full article).
Steve Baker, Car Trade Manager at The Bristol Port Company completed the Maritime Leadership and Development Apprenticeship, and said: “This opportunity has really elevated my career. I started the course in 2020 and it was one of the best decisions I have made.
“I am now utilising the skills I gained through the programme on a daily basis to lead a team of 63 people to successfully deliver targets.”
We also saw apprentices takeover our socials, with Maisy from Visit Somerset giving us great insight to what life is like as an apprentice.
There was much to celebrate too, with Level 3 Motor Vehicle apprentice Luke Merchant winning an award from the Institute of Motors Industry (IMI) (click here to read the full article). Luke said: "Working for Mercedes has been great so far. I am really enjoying getting to know all their systems and processes.
“Winning the silver medal at WorldSkills and my time at Weston College has helped me massively. I'm now more confident in myself and always trying my best to develop and grow my skills."
The week was rounded off with an extremely popular Apprenticeship Open Evening. With 23 employers in attendance, the event was busy from start to finish, with over 150 people discovering their future career path.
Head of Apprenticeships and Traineeships, Tracie Leahy, said: “National Apprenticeship Week has been another success!
“We love giving our learners a platform to share their experiences, and we are so proud of all of the apprentices who continue to not only impress us, but also their employers on a daily basis.
“One of the major highlights of the week was the Apprenticeship Open Evening. It was great to meet so many people that are considering an apprenticeship, and also to give them the chance to meet employers in the local area that are recruiting their future talent.
“We have had more than 100 people apply for an apprenticeship during National Apprenticeship Week, which is absolutely brilliant, as we seek to build the future.”
Find out more about apprenticeships, here.
