<p>Weston College is delighted to announce its shortlisting for The Engineer’s 2024 Collaborate to Innovate (C2I) Awards in the highly regarded STEM Initiative category.</p><p>This recognition highlights the College’s successful collaboration with local, national, and global employers to inspire the next generation of engineers and drive meaningful change in the engineering sector.</p><p>Now in its ninth year, the C2I Awards were established to spotlight exemplary engineering collaborations that address complex societal challenges and advance innovation.</p><p>Tracie Leahy, Assistant Principal for Apprenticeships &amp; Skills at Weston College, said: “We are honoured to be recognised for this prestigious award, which underscores the dedication and effort invested daily at Weston College to promote STEM education and engineering apprenticeships.</p><p>“We are immensely proud of the impactful work happening at the College, and the key partnerships we have with organisations within the industry, to drive change.</p><p>“I’d like to extend my best wishes to all the other nominees ahead of the award ceremony in February.”</p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin… you would like to study engineering at Weston College, please click here.</a></p><p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/employers?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=… you’re an employer looking to partner with the college, then please click here.</a></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">In order to provide greater opportunities for our learners, we are actively seeking to increase our number of Careers Excellence Hub Partnerships with fantastic employers. Our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; target="_blank">Engineering</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> CEH are doing just that by taking our learners up to Babcock in order to promote and develop a partnership between Weston College </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; target="_blank">Engineering</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> and Babcock for T Level Industry Placements.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Babcock is a globally leading engineering company which specialises in international defence, aerospace and security equipment and manufacturing. They ensure that the critical services of defence equipment are produced to be durable, affordable and available in order to create a safe and secure world. They also provide engineering support to naval, land, air, and nuclear operations, as well as frontline support, specialist training and asset management.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">To begin the day, our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; target="_blank">Engineering</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> learners got a tour of Babcock and its facilities to better understand how the company work and familiarise themselves with the environment. During the tour, the learners were then lucky enough to witness a simulated torpedo firing which they thoroughly enjoyed.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Not only this, the students also had the opportunity to engage in a series of tasks and activities throughout the day, the highlight being a virtual welding simulator. This was a computer-based tool that allowed the students to practice welding techniques in a virtual environment, without the need for actual equipment or materials. Three learners broke the record, achieving a score of 98/100 which highly impressed the Babcock staff and were awarded medals as recognition of their outstanding achievement.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Since visiting Babcock, the company have confirmed that they are keen to work out a finalised plan for hosting T Level industry placements and are fully onboard with supporting our learners achieve world leading industry skills. This future partnership will open up many amazing opportunities for our learners and is largely accredited to their hard work and the positive impression they made on Babcock during their visit.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">We’d like to thank Babcock for having our learners and making a lasting impact on their passion for engineering.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/engin…; target="_blank">If you are interested in applying to one of our Engineering courses in September, click here.</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []"><strong>Weston College</strong> is delighted to announce the signing of a Heads of Terms agreement with <strong>Airbus</strong>, marking a significant milestone in the creation of the <strong>'Manufacturing, Technology and Skills Centre</strong>' at <strong>Airbus</strong>’ Filton site. This pioneering collaboration aims to bolster the Aerospace and Defence talent pipelines in the region, strengthening the South West as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technological innovation.&nbsp;</p><p>The new Centre will serve as a focal point for education, training, and skills development, leveraging the expertise of both <strong>Weston College</strong> and <strong>Airbus</strong>, along with other hallmark employers in the region. The initiative is set to provide state-of-the-art training facilities and industry-aligned programmes, ensuring that the local workforce is equipped with the necessary skills to meet the evolving demands of the Aerospace and Defence sectors.&nbsp;</p><p>Alex Warner, Deputy Principal of <strong>Weston College</strong>, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "This partnership with Airbus represents a transformative opportunity for our students and the wider community. The <strong>Manufacturing, Technology and Skills Centre</strong> will not only enhance the skill set of our current workforce but also inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians, and innovators. We are proud to be at the forefront of this exciting venture with Airbus."&nbsp;</p><p>Simon Galpin, <strong>Airbus </strong>Head of Filton Site commented, “What a privilege to be partnering with Weston College and the West of England Institute of Technology to further enhance regional training for the Aerospace and High Value Engineering sectors in North Bristol. Supporting the growth of the UK’s aerospace and manufacturing industry is a key priority which will be achieved by drawing on our collective expertise.”&nbsp;</p><p>The Centre will offer a range of courses and apprenticeships, designed in consultation with industry experts to ensure they meet the needs of employers. This includes hands-on training with cutting-edge technology, providing students with real-world experience that is directly applicable to their future careers.&nbsp;</p><p>The Heads of Terms agreement sets the framework for the partnership. Weston College and Airbus have now moved even further forward by entering an 'Early Access Agreement'<strong> </strong>meaning that work will be starting on site in Filton this month, with the first intake of students anticipated in the following academic year.&nbsp;</p>