<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">This month’s featured trailblazer is Jasmine Jaji, a former engineering student and winner of the 2022 Engineering Student of the Year award. Her journey is nothing short of inspiring, particularly as a female figure in STEM. Now pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of South Wales, Jasmine shares her experiences at Weston College and how her path was shaped.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>After moving to the area, Jasmine discovered Weston College through positive recommendations. Keen to explore the facilities, she attended an Open Evening and was impressed by the personal tour of the engineering department. “I found that Weston College had the best courses available for engineering, as well as brilliant facilities like the fabrication rooms,” she recalls.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>During her time at Weston College, Jasmine developed both soft and technical skills, including machining and fabrication. She received hands-on training in operating lathes, mills, and CNC machines, as well as welding and hand-fitting techniques. The College’s state-of-the-art resources also allowed her to refine her skills in SolidWorks, a computer-aided design software. “I had the opportunity to improve my SolidWorks proficiency and even had my own designs 3D printed on campus!” she shares.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Like many students, Jasmine was uncertain about her next steps. However, with the support of her tutor and regular one-on-one guidance, she gained clarity on her career options. “My tutor was a huge support, helping me explore different career paths through weekly meetings and check-ins,” she explains.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>One of Jasmine’s favourite aspects of her studies was the fabrication workshop, where she enjoyed the hands-on experience of operating lathes independently. “There’s something rewarding about turning a length of steel into a tool like a plumb bob or a drill-and-tap gauge,” she says. She also appreciated the trust and respect fostered between students and lecturers in the workshop environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Struggling to engage with traditional classroom-based learning after her GCSEs, Jasmine found Weston College’s hands-on teaching approach to be a perfect fit. “I knew engineering at Weston College would involve practical learning, and I hoped it would reignite my love for education,” she explains. Her passion for engineering deepened as she gained new skills and spent generous time in workshops.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Jasmine successfully completed her Level 2 and 3 Engineering Diplomas at Weston College, followed by a foundation year in Mechanical Engineering at the University of South Wales. She has since progressed to a bachelor's degree and impressed engineers at IrvinGQ, a company specialising in certified parachutes and aerial safety solutions. In the summer of 2024, she secured a placement there, gaining invaluable industry experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Following her placement, Jasmine received outstanding exam results and was offered a place in the integrated master’s degree program. Now in her first year of an MEng in Mechanical Engineering, she is set to graduate in 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Reflecting on her journey, Jasmine is proud of how far she has come—from a Year 2 Engineering student at Weston College to a master’s degree candidate. “I would recommend Weston College, especially the engineering campus, to students who prefer hands-on learning and a creative approach to education,” she says. She also praises the College’s outstanding STEM facilities, stating, “They are the best I have come across.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Jasmine expresses gratitude to the staff at Weston College for their encouragement and support. As a woman in engineering, she found inspiration in female representation in the field, which motivated her to achieve remarkable milestones in her career.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><span data-teams="true"><strong>If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College </strong></span><a class="fui-Link ___1q1shib f2hkw1w f3rmtva f1ewtqcl fyind8e f1k6fduh f1w7gpdv fk6fouc fjoy568 figsok6 f1s184ao f1mk8lai fnbmjn9 f1o700av f13mvf36 f1cmlufx f9n3di6 f1ids18y f1tx3yz7 f1deo86v f1eh06m1 f1iescvh fhgqx19 f1olyrje f1p93eir f1nev41a f1h8hb77 f1lqvz6u f10aw75t fsle3fq f17ae5zn" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-…; aria-label="Link here" id="menur100" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&amp;utm_medium=main-… data-teams="true"><strong>here</strong></span></a><span data-teams="true"><strong>. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.</strong></span></p>

<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>