<p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Last month, Weston College proudly hosted the regional heats of the <strong>Association of Hairdressers and Therapists (AHT)</strong> <strong>Competition</strong>. As one of several heats held across the UK, the event welcomed Further and Higher Education students, adult learners, and apprentices from </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Hairdressing</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> and </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Makeup &amp; Prosthetics</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> courses across Weston, Bristol, and Bath to compete for a spot in the national finals.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The all-day event featured a wide range of competitions spread throughout the college, challenging students in both technical skill and creativity. From haircuts and styling to makeup and prosthetics, each category pushed learners to demonstrate their expertise while showcasing their artistic flair.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Hairdressing</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> competitions were exclusive to Further Education students and varied in difficulty. Tasks ranged from commercial and feminine blow-dries, and cut and finish challenges, to more complex categories like freestyle work on textured hair and fantasy hairdressing. Each competition gave learners the opportunity to work independently, competing against their peers from across the South West under time pressure in a professional setting.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Students giving the model a skin fade&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0b857d37-dab1-4404-9b9d-76b8a0475df9" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Student giving the hair mannequin a blow out&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8373e7c3-a07f-4c09-b6c5-5ad8c1cc4491" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Meanwhile, the </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Makeup &amp; Prosthetics</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> categories welcomed both FE and HE students, offering unique themes and complete creative freedom. Competitions included body painting, face painting, Editorial Vogue-inspired makeup, and Moulin Rouge designs. The diverse range of tasks allowed students to experiment with different techniques and media, creating original and innovative designs beyond the typical curriculum.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Student completing Moulin Rouge makeup on a model&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5dd3f3f4-b578-486c-806e-70f108e98c3f" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hospi…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Hospitality and Catering</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> students also played an important role in the event, providing a delicious buffet that was praised by visiting colleges and guests.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">After a day of impressive displays of talent and creativity, the results were counted, and a small awards ceremony was held. Out of 90 students competing from across the South West, 13 Weston College learners secured their place in the finals, which will be held in Blackpool this May.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Jenna Ratcliffe, Head of Service Sectors at Weston College and AHT Chair for the South West, highlighted the importance of competitions like this for students’ personal and professional development. She shared, “The AHT Competition helps to support our learners' careers, allowing them to meet like-minded people aspiring for the same career. It provides them with hands-on experience that enhances their skills and prepares them for the future.”&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">A huge thank you goes to <strong>VTCT </strong>for sponsoring and judging the competition,<strong> Stylebook Directory</strong> for their support, and all the AHT judges and industry specialists who dedicated their time and expertise to the day.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Congratulations to every student who took part in the competition, and best of luck to those heading to the finals.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">If you are interested in applying to one of our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Makeup &amp; Prosthetics</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> or </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank"><span style="color:#37797B;font-size:inherit;">Hairdressing &amp; Barbering</span></a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> courses, click here.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Last week, our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/beaut… 2 Beauty Therapy</u></a> students were treated to an inspiring and educational visit from Claire, a seasoned beauty professional representing <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.outbackorganics.co.uk/"><u>Outback Organics</u></a>. The session was a unique opportunity for students to gain firsthand knowledge from an expert whose career has spanned continents and specialities.&nbsp;</p><p>Claire’s extensive career journey captivated the students as she shared her experiences, which began in London, where she trained and worked before jetting on an exciting career aboard luxury cruise ships. Her expertise and passion took her around the globe, first to New Zealand and later to Australia, where she navigated the beauty industry as a product seller. Throughout her career, Claire has developed a wide range of skills, from nails and facials to body massages, and now specialises in waxing, eyebrow shaping, and permanent makeup.&nbsp;</p><p>Currently working with Outback Organics, Claire champions the company’s line of botanical skincare products. Outback Organics blend cutting-edge cosmetic ingredients with natural Australian extracts from the coastline, forests, and bushlands, making them a perfect fit for spas, salons, and beauty therapists, as well as individual users.&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Claire from Outback Organics giving the students an underarm wax demonstration&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4722d426-1ce2-4824-a04a-3d4cdf7b14ff" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_750x750&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>Focusing on underarm and leg waxing, she walked the students through the process step-by-step, covering everything from skin preparation and waxing techniques to essential after-care practices. These practical demonstrations provided students with a hands-on look at professional waxing techniques, along with insider tips and tricks to help them excel in their future careers.&nbsp;</p><p>Jenna, Head of Service Sectors, reflected on the visit, stating, “Claire's visit today was particularly inspiring for the students. Plenty of them are interested in pursuing a career in waxing, so having an experienced beauty therapist visit provided them an insight into what their career could look like. The students were impressed by Claire's expertise in the field, this goes to show how important industry involvement in their studies is!”&nbsp;</p><p>The visit from Claire and Outback Organics highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world industry experience, leaving a lasting impression on the students.&nbsp;</p><p>This partnership forms part of the <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/ceh-hair-and-beauty"><u>Hair and Beauty Careers Excellence Hub.</u></a> Weston College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>To find out about what courses we have to offer for Hair and Beauty, please <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/ceh-hair-and-beauty"><u>click here.</u></a>&nbsp;</p><p><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 here. 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>&nbsp;</p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Over Halloween, Puxton Park hosted their annual scare fest to haunt and spook the public. This year’s event, ‘Phobia’, was not only a great opening to the spooky season, but it also allowed students to practice their skills and develop their confidence.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Learners from <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank">Music</a>, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank">Hair and Media Makeup</a>, and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; target="_blank">Performing Arts</a> helped with the event, putting their knowledge into practice to make it even more fearful for the public.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Phobia featured multiple attractions tailored to create a thrilling and immersive horror experience, with different themed scare zones and interactive performances. There was also a VIP Tractor ride, live music, and food and drink available.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Some of the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank">Music</a> students performed in live bands, whilst others worked as stage crew, assisting with the full setup and takedown of equipment and managing the lighting and sound engineering. This ensured a seamless production and created a live show like no other, keeping their audience entertained whilst showing off their talent.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Music Students performing at Phobia&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a92a2826-9777-4124-a117-f53944514db0" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Oz Cahill, one of our Music lecturers, says, “events like Phobia are imperative to give young people that are interested in performance and events the opportunity to work with professionals from the industry and learn vital skills to enhance their future. They are also very valuable networking opportunities.”</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Our <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti…; target="_blank">Hair and Media Makeup</a> students also went above and beyond in creating a night to remember by ensuring that all the actors were scare-ready for the event, spending 2.5 hours each night applying makeup for 40+ actors.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">‘Phobia’ gave the UCW <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/hair-make-up-and-prosthetics-for-producti…; target="_blank">Hair and Media Makeup</a> students the chance to plan a project independently, considering budgets and time frames but also flex their creativity and have fun. It also gave Weston College students the chance to assist with the execution of the event, build up some work experience, and see first-hand what a university course in Hair and Media Makeup is all about.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Performing Arts student with clown makeup by the beauty students&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c9705e04-752a-49c1-b595-93e2a6f88b02" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Tara O’Hare, one of our Hair and Media Makeup lecturers, says, "I would like to say that the students work so hard in bringing this event to life!</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">They are professional and imaginative in their delivery of skills and techniques. They work to a pre-set budget (which isn’t always easy), and they work as a team to ensure everyone involved has a great experience.”</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">And finally, our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; target="_blank">Performing Arts</a> students gave outstanding performances, embodying their roles as scare actors in various roles in order to enhance the immersive, horror experience for the public.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">‘Phobia’ provided the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; target="_blank">Performing Arts</a> students the chance to practice high-intensity character work, improvisation skills, and guest interaction, improving their confidence and skills in a fun and expressive environment, whilst also giving them invaluable work experience.</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Performing Arts student dressed up as a priest to scare the public&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="188bdf7c-9ed4-4db8-bf38-7e4c91d2e94f" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Jade Hicks, the Head of Performance and Production at Weston College, says, “all learners had to problem solve, be solution focused and think quickly on the spot and adapt to various situations.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">The students were eager to apply their skills in a real-world setting and enjoyed the challenge of working within a themed, immersive environment.”</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">For our students, Phobia allows students to develop industry-based skills, put their knowledge into practice with the public, make networking connections, and it helps them to understand the expectations and requirements of their desired field of work. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">Well done to all the students who took part in the event, you were spook-tastic!</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">We’d also like to thank Puxton Park for providing us with opportunities for collaboration that will further enrich our students' education and professional readiness.</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;">If you are interested in joining our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank">Music</a>, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo…; target="_blank">Performing Arts</a>, or <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/hair-…; target="_blank">Hair and Media Makeup</a> CEH areas in September, click here.</p>