News and events

Weston College are delighted to announce that Somerset Football Association are joining the Sports & Fitness Careers Excellence Hub for the 2023/24 academic year. The College, which offers Sports & Fitness courses including BTEC Fitness and Sports Exercise Science, Apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications in Community Coaching, has award-winning Careers Excellence Hubs for each faculty subject area across the College with several industry partnerships in place. The purpose of Careers Excellence Hubs, which is part of the College’s ‘Making Careers Everybody’s Business' strategy, is for curriculum areas to work closely with employers to highlight the breadth of careers available, offer work placements, develop the skills of learners beyond the qualification they are studying, supporting their progression to higher education and employment.

Somerset FA are the not-for-profit body responsible for the development and governance of grassroots football in Somerset since 1885. They work closely with the national Football Association to ensure national strategies are implemented in our region, alongside a vital role in football administration and governance.

David Crew, Head of Business Growth & Employer Partnerships commented “Somerset FA share our passion for encouraging participation in sport at all levels, and we share a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to play football. Weston College, through our Careers Excellence Hubs, are building collaborative employer partnerships aligned to our curriculum areas, creating a high-quality learner experience at our College and learners ready to progress to employment and higher education when they complete their course. We’re looking forward to having Somerset FA part of our employer community.”

Jon Pike, Chief Executive of Somerset Football Association commented “Somerset FA are looking forward to working with Weston College to inspire and create opportunities for their students, partnering with their Sports & Fitness Careers Excellence Hub. As the governing body for football in the region commented to the development of grassroots football, we share Weston College’s passion for increasing participation in football and its approach to inclusivity, and we look forward to supporting the students by highlighting the breadth of careers in football.”

To view our sports courses click here. Employers looking to work with Weston College can email employers@weston.ac.uk

The NextGen Business Breakfast, held on Thursday 13th July at the prestigious Winter Gardens, was an astounding success, bringing together over 150 local businesses for a morning of insight and inspiration. Sponsored by Natwest, Business Leader, Business West, and Albert Goodman, the event showcased remarkable speakers and highlighted future opportunities for growth and collaboration.

The event kicked off with a captivating keynote speech by Andy Lewis MBE, a celebrated Paralympian. Andy shared his personal journey of triumph over challenges, serving as a shining example of determination and resilience for all attendees. His inspirational story left a lasting impact on the audience, reminding them of the power of overcoming obstacles and achieving greatness.

Lynsey McKinstry, representing Weston College delivered an impassioned talk on breaking down barriers to employment for young adults and learners with additional needs. She pledged a supported internship program that would pave the way for fulfilling employment opportunities, fostering inclusivity and equal opportunities within the local community.

Looking ahead, the NextGen Speaker Series continues with a focus on leading change. Launched at the event was stage 2 of the Government Funded Project Management Skills Bootcamp course which returns in October, offering 20 spaces (subject to eligibility and funding availability) for a 10-day immersive learning experience. Details regarding the course can be found here.

To secure a ticket for the NextGen event in October, interested parties are encouraged to email employers@weston.ac.uk and confirm their attendance, allowing them to be added to the exclusive guest list.

The upcoming October session will feature Dr. Zara Nanu MBE as the keynote speaker. Dr. Nanu is the CEO of Gapsquare, an award-winning organization dedicated to using AI and data analytics to address gender, ethnicity, disability, and pay inequity issues in the workplace. With her extensive expertise in building diverse and inclusive workplaces, Dr. Nanu has been at the forefront of empowering employers globally to create fair and equitable work environments.

Wez is a talented makeup artist and esteemed alumnus of Weston College. Graduating from his studies in Hair, Makeup & SFX for TV and Film in 2020, Wez has since achieved an outstanding career in the industry, making waves with his creativity and skills. Most notably, he recently appeared on season 5 of the hit TV show "Glow Up," where makeup professionals compete for the prestigious title of ‘Britain's Next Make-Up Star’. We recently caught up with Wez to discuss his journey, experiences, and advice for aspiring makeup artists. 

Reflecting on his experience on "Glow Up," Wez describes it as one of the most amazing experiences of his life. Competing with incredibly talented individuals from all over the UK pushed his creativity to new heights. While many people expected glam makeup from him, Wez seized the opportunity to showcase his versatility and explore different creative aspects. “Working under pressure was a constant challenge” Wez told us, “both in terms of the competition itself and the need to remain professional and positively represent myself to industry experts.” 

Wez went on to tell us "my time at Weston College definitely helped prepare me for what it’s like to work in this very competitive industry. My course and teachers taught me how to be professional when working on a client or a model. This knowledge allowed me to understand what I needed to have in my kit as a freelance MUA and how to keep it sanitised, organised and clean. It taught me about the anatomy of the face, colour theory, skin types, tones and textures, as well as how to apply prosthetics to a professional level. Not forgetting the most important thing of them all, time management. All of these skills translated heavily into the competition as these are the simple expectations of what it is to be a good makeup artist.”