<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{1e8b9452-d5c9-4b44-b12e-4464f0e453f0}{155}" paraid="837433930" xml:lang="EN-GB">Weston College and University Centre Weston alumni Jack Kimmins is proving his amazing talents in computing as he is selected for the finals of the WorldSkills national&nbsp;competition.&nbsp;</p>

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<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{3e894158-dc2d-47b1-ad8f-696acda90106}{212}" paraid="333486024" xml:lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://www.worldskillsuk.org/">WorldSkills&nbsp;UK</a>&nbsp;is an&nbsp;independent charity&nbsp;that&nbsp;works&nbsp;with employers, education and governments,&nbsp;supporting&nbsp;young people across the&nbsp;world&nbsp;via competitions-based training, testing their ability to achieve world-class standards in the biennial ‘skills&nbsp;olympics’.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{57e2f1d7-18cc-4ac5-bcc2-25d6a27d09bb}{76}" paraid="1320591153" xml:lang="EN-GB">Over 3,000 people registered to take part in the UK-wide competitions in March &nbsp;2021 and Jack is one of 400 who made it into the finals,&nbsp;which is&nbsp;split into 64 disciplines.</p>

<p>Jack is competing in the Web Design category which is to take place in Weston-super-Mare, hosted by Weston College.</p>

<p>Talking about the selection process, Jack commented: "To get into the finals, I first had to make it into the semi-finals, which involved creating a suitable website design that met a predefined client's brief. Then, to qualify for the national finals, I had to build a website using HTML and CSS that met specific requirements and that was based upon a website wireframe design."</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a3f7ba3c-a6a6-4e68-b420-848930eec348}{144}" paraid="977226024" xml:lang="EN-GB">The College will host the prestigious&nbsp;WorldSkills&nbsp;UK National Web Design Competition&nbsp;from&nbsp;Wednesday 17^th&nbsp;November – Friday 19^th&nbsp;November, with the winners being crowned at a ceremony hosted by TV presenter Steph McGovern from her Packed Lunch studio on Friday 26 November.&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a918904d-3de7-4241-a373-3eb573130dcf}{186}" paraid="736473802" xml:lang="EN-GB">This exciting announcement is just one of the fantastic&nbsp;career&nbsp;enhancing opportunities&nbsp;available at the college, through the&nbsp;newly launched&nbsp;<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwesto…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Career Excellence Hubs.</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a918904d-3de7-4241-a373-3eb573130dcf}{189}" paraid="1159169574" xml:lang="EN-GB">At the College each subject area forms&nbsp;its&nbsp;own specific Career Excellence Hub, endorsed by relevant sector employers which&nbsp;help to create a study programme with lots of career boosting benefits, WorldSkills competing opportunities is one of these.</p>

<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a918904d-3de7-4241-a373-3eb573130dcf}{189}" paraid="1159169574" xml:lang="EN-GB">Jack continued:&nbsp;"The support that I have been provided throughout my journey with WorldSkills has been excellent. I have attended every meeting and practice session available to me, which has enabled me to focus on the distinct details of the competition.</p>

<p>"I'm very proud that I have made it this far in the competition and to represent my university in the national finals.</p>

<p>"This opportunity has enabled me to expand my knowledge and practical abilities with web development. It is also given me more self-trust in my abilities, as it being a competition, the nature of it requires you to have a degree of confidence in your skills to be successful in it."</p>

<p>We wish Jack the very best of luck with the finals and continuing to succeed with his Masters degree. A <em>very</em> bright future ahead!</p>

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<p><a href="www.weston.ac.uk/computing">Click here to read more about our Computing and IT department, including the Career Excellence Hubs</a></p>

<p><a href="https://weston.ac.uk/news/congratulations-our-worldskills-uk-national-f… here to read more about our other WorldSkills Finalists</a></p>

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<p lang="EN-GB" paraeid="{a3f7ba3c-a6a6-4e68-b420-848930eec348}{144}" paraid="977226024" xml:lang="EN-GB">&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this academic year, Weston College launched the first ever Digital T Level, one of just 15 Further Education Colleges in the UK offering the course.</p>

<p>As part of the T Level, learners complete a minimum of 45 days with a relevant employer carrying out their Industry Placement to really hone what they learn in the classroom.</p>

<p>Almost a year into the course, and learners are having a positive impact on local employers, helping to enhance their digital visibility, whether that be through websites or social media, at a time when it is more important than ever.</p>

<p>Following the huge success, Weston College has decided to launch a new T Level transition programme, with the aim of supporting learners to get ready for the Digital T Level. This has caught the attention of local employers, who recognise the importance of the course, and the potential that it can bring for their organisation; by building a pool of new talent, gaining support from an additional pair of hands, who can bring fresh ideas and provide them with the opportunity to mould a learner into a future employee.</p>

<p>Leading digital companies: Bath Property Maintenance, Minotaur Software, One Big Circle, Sense IT and Synoptix, have all pledged their support for the new T Level transition programme, which will see them offer learners work experience, as well as give guest talks to the learners who are preparing to complete the T Level programme.</p>

<p>Emily Kent, Director at Intelligent Video specialists One Big Circle based in Bristol commented: “We have been really impressed with the work of T Level students, hearing fantastic reviews from local businesses, and we wanted to support learners on their T Level journey, and prepare them for our industry where the skills they have developed will be in great demand in the years to come".</p>

<p>Rob Barnett, HR Manager at Synoptix, said: “We have been working with Weston College for a few years now, and they have provided us with some fantastic young talent, who have thrived in a business setting. Our endorsement of this programme further cements our support not only for the college, but for young people across the region and to allow them a route into our industry.”</p>

<p>Bruce Reed, Director at Sense IT, added: “Industry Placements offer the opportunity to meet keen and eager potential employees, that can be developed into future leaders of your business. We are delighted to support this new initiative, as we know from experience that the College develops learners of a high standard, who we can help further grow their talents.”</p>

<p>Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “I am so proud of our T Level learners, having heard about their success from local businesses, and how grateful local employers were for their support.</p>

<p>“The transition programme will allow more learners to enter this route, and working with these fantastic local employers will provide learners with the vital experience they need to enhance their skills. We are looking forward to working in partnership with these leading tech sector employers, to develop career pathways for our learners.”</p>

<p>You can find out more about the T Level transition programme, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…;