Construction

CONSTRUCTION COURSES FOR 16-19 YEAR OLDS

The South West’s construction industry annual recruitment requirement of 2.6% per year, is the strongest across the UK and means an extra 32,000 new workers are needed between the end of 2020 and 2025.

Our outstanding range of courses are taught by experienced professionals in high-quality facilities, and provide qualifications that are recognised across the industry.

Use this page to discover your perfect career and associated course options - Vocational qualifications (full-time in the campus workshops) or Apprenticeships in the workplace.

As a Weston College student you will become part of our exciting new Construction Career Excellence Hub. Your study programme will have lots of career boosting benefits, all with the aim of giving you the opportunity to become career ready! This includes unrivalled exposure to employers, enhanced work experience, employer visits and more...
Our Construction Career Excellence Hub endorsers include:

Find out more

Job Roles in the West of England Currently Include:

WHAT OUR PARTNERS SAY...

We’re delighted to be involved with the Construction Career Excellence Hub. It gives learners the chance to hear from and speak to industry professionals and hear what it is really like to have a career within the construction industry. They can see the breadth of careers our industry has to offer.

Danielle Haskings

Social Value Manager, Wilmott Dixon

The Construction Career Excellence Hub presents an exciting opportunity for us to invest in local talent and develop learners who could become the future leaders in our business.
Weston College is the perfect location for people to develop their construction skills, and we are thrilled to play a role in your development and offer further assistance on your journey into our industry.

David Bowdley

Operations Director, Galliford Try

OUR CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS

Industry Facts

A career in construction can involve all kinds of settings and skills. It could range from working on building sites for new builds, to renovations, to creating beautifully crafted furniture. Led by experienced professionals, with great links with local employers to help launch your career, our courses are designed to give you the skills that will prepare you for employment.

Over 53,000 construction companies in the South West

Electrical professionals can earn up to £45,000 a year

Over 11,000 building projects across the South West

Over 2.7 million employees in the construction industry in the UK

Facilities

The South West Skills Campus offers state-of-the-art training facilities dedicated to construction training.

Facilities

The South West Skills Campus offers state-of-the-art training facilities dedicated to construction training.
These include:

Large, well-equipped training workshops for each trade area.
Excellent links with national and local employers to enrich your training.
Industry-standard materials testing lab.
Excellent array of tools and equipment, ranging from power tools to digital surveying equipment.
Carpentry woodworking machine shop, with industry approved machinery.
Suites of computers with 3D software such as AutoCad.

Renewable technologies such as biomass and ground- source heat pumps.
Outdoor working arena.
Fast, free and secure WiFi connection.
Specialised software packages for individual subjects.
A well-resourced library including e-resources and laptop loan service.
Access to a large number of high specification PCs, laptops, and digital hardware.

LATEST NEWS

20 Nov 2024

Construction T Level learners built a seat from pallets at Uncle Paul's Chilli Farm

The Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T Level learners have had another exciting day out, visiting Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm in Butcombe as part of their induction. Weston College have been proud partners of Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm for many years and have supported many of our students during this time. It is an amazing charity that supports and empowers socially disadvantaged people with learning difficulties, creating an immersive and safe environment where they can learn, build their confidence, and prepare for employment. By taking our Construction T Level learners here, it gives them a better understanding of some of our partner charities and how important it is to give back to society. During this trip, they took part in team-building activities and learnt new skills to help introduce them to the course. Before the main activity commenced, the students took a tour of the farm to familiarise themselves with the environment, exploring the crops and admiring the animals as they went. They were then tasked with a team building, survival activity that required them to light a fire from scratch and boil a ‘Kelly kettle’ full of water to make everyone a hot chocolate or coffee. <drupal-entity alt=""Learners pouring the water they boiled to make drinks for the class"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cf7c7bd1-60bf-4a1d-8d8a-8bddb09d28d1" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Once everyone was refreshed and hydrated, the students began working on their main task: repurposing donated pallets into furniture! Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm had received some wooden pallets as a donation but had no real use for them, so asked our year 1 Construction T Level students if they could design and create pieces of furniture in groups that could be used around the farm, reducing waste and improving sustainability. <drupal-entity alt=""Students building a seat out of wooden pallets at the Chilli Farm"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f04e0003-630e-412a-bff3-25e2073ae53a" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Both groups decided to repurpose the pallets into seats so they could be used around the farm by both learners and visitors. Once they had been made, the seats were painted green, ready to be used around the farm. But the fun didn’t stop there! Some learners also took part in the ‘Chilli Challenge’ where they got the chance to try a variety of Uncle Paul’s homegrown chillies, some of which proved to be very hot! <drupal-entity alt=""Learner Charles after eating a home-grown chilli"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1de16c8-cda4-4c37-bfb2-fbf803311ec1" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Daniel Comerford, one of our Construction lecturers at Weston College, said “everyone enjoyed the day very much. The leaners got to know each other better and worked together on the various projects, improving their communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills.” Overall, it was a very successful day that not only allowed the students to give back to the community, but also better familiarise themselves with their peers by working together to create furniture out of salvaged wood. <drupal-entity alt=""Learners smiling sat around the seat they built together"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="67db8dfb-de2d-4738-9092-6ba14ce94856" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> As a college, we’d like to give a huge thanks to Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm for accommodating our T Level learners and making the day so engaging. <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/surve…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to our Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning T Level in September, click here.</a>

Construction T Level Learners Visit Uncle Paul’s Chilli Farm

7 Nov 2024

Persimmon, Dan Aldridge and Councillors visit Weston College for brick donation

Recently, Persimmon Homes kindly donated our Construction Career Excellence Hub (CEH) students over 6 pallets of bricks to provide them with more opportunities and growth, improving their overall skills and confidence and supporting the next generation of <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; target="_blank">Bricklaying</a> learners.Persimmon Homes is a UK housebuilding company, dedicated to making houses more affordable than the average new build homes. They also support local communities and charities such as The Independent and Refuge in order to make a difference and improve the lives of others.In honour of this kind donation, three members of the Persimmon Homes team joined us at the South West Skills Campus, along with Dan Aldridge, the Labour MP for Weston-Super-Mare, and three other Councillors. They got the chance to meet our Bricklaying students, chat with them, and see how their brick donation was being used within the course.<drupal-entity alt=""Persimmon members, Dan Aldridge, and Councillors talking to our Weston College staff"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f62766a8-a1b5-4a03-95a2-15a4aa718e17" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/i-wan…; target="_blank">Bricklaying</a> students were able to practice with the brand-new bricks, making their work look more professional and giving them a better understanding of how a real-life project would end up.One student, Izzy, said, “I thought it was great to have new bricks in from Persimmon Homes and I’m sure everyone in bricklaying will appreciate it.”<drupal-entity alt=""Dan Aldridge talking to one of our students, Izzy, about her plans for the future"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91cdf168-02f9-43de-8b21-4be8b0db4ecd" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Another student, Ewan, said, “when I started using the new bricks, they were so easy to lay and look so nice after you’re finished with them, giving me more opportunities to build bigger and better things.“I would love to thank everybody that took part in donating those bricks! It was a big help to all the bricklaying learners at Weston College.”<drupal-entity alt=""Bricklaying students using the new bricks donated by Persimmon Homes"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="de621a0f-c09d-4c6f-af07-bbfef9e25ff3" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Not only have Persimmon Homes improved the skills of our learners, but they have also supported their development by taking on five apprentices: three in Brickwork and two in Carpentry. They also have existing apprentices from previous years that they continue to support and give them the experience they’ll need to move on to their desired career.The opportunities that Persimmon Homes has provided Weston College will allow us to continue to deliver high-quality teaching as well as producing well-rounded learners who have the confidence, experience and skills to excel, not only in the classroom, but also in their future roles.Weston College would like to say a massive thank you to Persimmon Homes for their generous donation, and to Dan Aldridge and the other Councillors in attendance for showing your support and taking the time to visit our learners.<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; target="_blank">If you are interested in applying for one of our Construction courses in September, click here.</a>

Persimmon Homes Donate Bricks To Our Construction Learners

21 Oct 2024

Our T Level learners work incredibly hard balancing their industry placements and classroom studies, but a few select students were nominated by their lecturers on Results Day for going above and beyond and exceeding expectations throughout their first year of their T Level. We caught up with one student, Katherine, regarding how she found her first year of Design, Surveying and Planning in Construction T Level, how she balanced her placement and studies, and what she enjoyed and found challenging. <drupal-entity alt=""Construction T Level learner Katherine"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2e989fde-f4fc-4def-8f0e-758d5bd68237" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> During her first year, Katherine learnt many important and transferrable skills in both her placement and in the classroom, including knowledge of legislations and regulations, science building technology and construction maths, design, how to use Revit, and the commercial side to construction. This broadens her knowledge and skillset and means she’s not limited to what she works on during her placement. Her industry placement for both first and second year is a company called VolkerLaser, where she works on the refurbishment of the Newport Transporter Bridge. Over the 2 years, Katherine will complete a total of 315 hours at her industry placement, with the remaining hours of the T Level spent in the classroom. Out of all the skills and knowledge she acquired during the classroom section of her first year, Katherine found the Science and Building Technology part the most interesting as she “liked being challenged by the calculations in science”. Overall, however, she found that getting hands-on experience from her industry placement was the most fulfilling and engaging part to the T Level. However, Katherine did find some areas more challenging than others, such as the core exams and the employer set projects as these were stressful and required a lot of revision. Not only this, she also found presenting difficult, however this task benefitted her as it allowed her to create a “slightly calmer looking exterior when presenting” and develop her confidence and public speaking skills. <drupal-entity alt=""Construction T Level classroom"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="124d6010-4cbb-48c7-a4b8-5b68551e5fe5" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> Any problems that Katherine faced, she felt comfortable enough to ask for help. “The staff last year were really encouraging and supportive, if I had a problem, they did their best to help”. She also found that they were very understanding of her commute from South Wales. Katherine’s lecturers also spoke very highly of her and her performance throughout her first year of her T Level, saying “Katherine has had an extremely brilliant first year at Weston College. She has always produced a high standard of work and has good attendance and time keeping, despite having to take two trains to get to college from South Wales.  Her attention to detail is of a very high standard and she is not afraid to ask questions if she doesn't understand something.” Many students wonder how to juggle the industry placement and their classroom studies, but Katherine found it a good balance, saying “it's been interesting to see how the classroom work begins to line up with some things I've learned on site”. You get the perfect blend of practical, hands-on experience that will prepare you for work after college but also the additional knowledge and information in the classroom that you may not get taught on the job. The facilities available at Weston College are also excellent for Katherine’s Construction T Level, “it's one of the factors that made my family and I decide that Weston College would be the best place for me to study construction”. When asked what she would say to someone considering a T Level, she said “I'd advise someone considering a T-Level to look into it carefully, make sure the course covers what you're interested in doing in the future.” Katherine also advised learners to make sure they consider their next steps before applying for a T Level because the curriculum is still fairly new to Further Education. Once Katherine completes her T Level, she hopes to go onto studying civil engineering either at university or in an apprenticeship. Good luck in your final year Katherine! <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/t-lev…; target="_blank">If you would like to study a T Level at Weston College in September, click here.</a>

Katherine's Construction T Level Results Day Nomination