START YOUR CAREER IN THE DIGITAL AND HIGH-TECH SECTOR WITH A PART-TIME ADULT COURSE
Nothing is impossible ... everything is possible!
The Digital and High-tech industry is growing at a quick pace, with lots of exciting opportunities to work with the latest technology available in the area. See what part-time courses for adult you can start today!
Meet Georgina who shares her experience with us ...
Careers in digital and high-tech
Here are just a few examples of job titles that have been advertised in the South West region within the last year.
- IT Specialist Managers
- IT Project and Programme Managers
- IT Business Analysts, Architects and Systems Designers
- Programmers and Software Development Professionals
- Web Design and Development Professionals
- Electrical and Electronics Technicians
- IT Operations Technicians
- IT User Support Technicians
- Metal Working Production and Maintenance Fitters
- Telecommunications Engineers
Available Computing and Digital Technologies courses
Coding student Szabina has been working full-time for over 10 years and has been considering retraining for a while.
“I had no previous coding experience, and this course is giving me a great insight into coding and the IT sector as a whole. As well as the fundamentals of coding, including python, we have also learnt a lot about project management which will be useful when I make the step into a new career. The teachers have been amazing and very supportive, I’m excited about what this will lead to. “If you are thinking of retraining, I would recommend it, it’s been a great experience. Don’t be scared, have the courage, believe in yourself and give it a go!”.
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
Coding Practices
Esports, BTEC Level 3
LATEST NEWS
<p>On Thursday 10th of July, we held another successful ‘Takeover Day’ at the Weston Job Centre Plus. Thanks to the hard work put in the event went very well, drawing an impressive 282 customers.</p><p>Tutors and support staff across a wide range of faculties were available to have personalised one-on-one conversations with attendees, offering tailored career advice and guidance on the steps needed to achieve their professional goals, as well as information on the courses available at Weston College to help make these goals a reality.</p><p>The feedback from the Job Centre Plus customers has been overwhelmingly positive. Many attendees expressed how beneficial they found the day, praising the valuable advice and guidance they received. The additional services, such as haircuts and nail treatments, were also a huge hit, adding a special touch that made the event even more enjoyable and memorable.</p><p>The strength of our partnership with Job Centre Plus and DWP was evident throughout the day. This collaboration is the cornerstone of our ability to organise events like these, which have a profound and positive impact on our customers. By working together, we can continue to put on events which provide comprehensive support that addresses various needs, making a real difference to people’s lives.</p><p><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak" dir="ltr">Over the next week, our course advisors will be collaborating closely with Job Centre Plus customers who have expressed interest in our courses. They will assist these customers with their enrolment forms, ensuring they have everything necessary to embark on their new journey towards employment and personal development.</span></p><p>In November, we will be hosting another 'Weston College Takeover Day' at the Weston Job Centre Plus. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!</p><p> </p><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/image009_2.png" data-entity-uuid="41ee0191-54c7-4bf4-9bd5-b9d04a44e4e5" data-entity-type="file" width="1317" height="735">
<p>Last year, Weston College started offering local people the opportunity to become coders, through the Coding Skills Bootcamp, which is part of the Government’s Skills for Life initiative.</p>
<p>People from across the South West have taken the course, which gives learners the opportunity to learn Python, as well as developing the required industry skillset and expertise, to help IT organisations automate their infrastructure.</p>
<p>The Bootcamp is open to individuals looking to upskill or develop new skills to change careers, but also to employers who want to invest in their staff through this 12-week development opportunity.</p>
<p>Priya recently completed the Bootcamp at the Bristol Training Institute, and said: “I was looking to change my career, and having already had a background in digital, I wanted to explore coding and this was the perfect opportunity.</p>
<p>“I have developed a range of skills, which are really useful to me, but also in demand from employers; such as software coding in python and data handling.”</p>
<p>The course which lasts 12-weeks, is delivered over one day, and one evening, per week. It is delivered in two locations, with learners having the option to study in Bristol or Weston-super-Mare.</p>
<p>Priya added: “Having the opportunity to study in Bristol was really beneficial to me, as the Bristol Training Institute is in central Bristol and easy to get to. The facilities were also great and I was really impresses with the teachers – they were extremely helpful.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/computing-and-… you would be interested in studying a Coding Bootcamp, or if you would like more information, click here.</a></p>
<p paraeid="{29895f9a-e38b-4c50-a41f-55d714360e13}{244}" paraid="1813203013">Are you interested in pursuing a career in Software Development? Read our top tips on how you can get started today! </p>
<p paraeid="{29895f9a-e38b-4c50-a41f-55d714360e13}{250}" paraid="728997367"><strong>What does a Software Developer do? </strong></p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{1}" paraid="1097543939">Software Developers are an essential part of our ever-expanding digital world, but what do they actually do? Well, the simplest answer is, a lot! Software Developers’ work is vast and diverse. That film you watched on Netflix last night? The tweet you just sent from your phone? The new video game you cannot wait to play? All of that is thanks to Software Developers! </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{21}" paraid="1956950506">Software Developers use their specialist programming skills to design, develop and test new software. This could be for a variety of areas - from online shopping retailers like ASOS, to social media platforms like <a href="https://twitter.com/westoncollege?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eser…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@westoncollege?is_from_webapp=1&sender_devic…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">TikTok</a>. The job of a Software Developer is to ensure the user’s experience always reaches optimum levels by creating code, fixing bugs and continuously assessing the software to make improvements and adaptations. </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{47}" paraid="221516850">Average Software Developer salary: £24K - £70K (According to <a href="https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/software-developer&…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Gov.uk</a>) </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{58}" paraid="1231131503">Software Developer jobs: </p>
<ul role="list">
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{66}" paraid="1197772058">Applications Developer </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{73}" paraid="728276009">Web Designer </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{80}" paraid="861960613">Game Developer </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{80}" paraid="861960613">Software Engineer </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{94}" paraid="643415099">Does this sound like your kind of job? Read on to find out how to get there! </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{100}" paraid="87897007"><strong>The Best Place to Start </strong></p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{106}" paraid="1534588590">To begin your journey towards a career in Software Development, find a course that will start from the beginning and support you to learn and hone the skills you need. Our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">T Level in Digital: Production, Design and Development</a> or <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/computing-and-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Software Development Technician Apprenticeship</a> would be great places to start! A lot of jobs in the industry also require degree level education to access those higher progression routes. Luckily, there are a number of relevant courses available here in Weston-super-Mare through <a href="http://www.ucw.ac.uk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">University Centre Weston</a> (UCW): <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/applied-computing-bsc-hons/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BSc (Hons) Applied Computing</a> and <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/ux-degree-apprenticeship/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Digital User Experience (UX) Degree Apprenticeship.</a> </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{162}" paraid="843162280">The BSc (Hons) Applied computing programme is a full-time 3 year degree that is delivered in partnership with the <a href="https://www.weiot.ac.uk/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">West of England Institute of Technology</a> – designed to collaboratively tackle skill shortages by providing relevant courses that directly link to industry demands. </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{177}" paraid="2105758196"><strong>Decide on Your Goals </strong></p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{183}" paraid="802696426">Before you embark on your Software Development journey, have a think about where you see yourself in 3-5 years time. Do you want to work for an education provider or a game development company? Would you prefer to work in an office or remotely? Maybe you see yourself working freelance or for an agency? </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{196}" paraid="1881933695">Deciding what you want out of your career will help you navigate your training. Perhaps you need to think about a specific area you should develop your skills in. For example, if you want to pursue a career in a marketing, do you need to grow your understanding of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-general-data-pr…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">GDPR</a> and how information is properly stored? </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{225}" paraid="354514992">Once you have a clear idea of where you want to go, you can streamline and personalise your training or studies to better suit your goals. </p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{238}" paraid="2088080556"><strong>Learn the Language </strong></p>
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{244}" paraid="890641243">One of the most crucial ingredients in becoming a Software Developer is learning a programming language! For a successful career in this industry, you will need a good core understanding of one or more of the following: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://dev.java/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Java</a> - is a programming language that works across a multitude of platforms including Android and the internet – primarily used for developing server-side applications. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.python.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Python</a> – Generally considered the simplest and easiest to learn, Python is an excellent place to start if you’re new to the world of programming! <br />
<br />
C/C++ - Used for a wide range of programming including software engineering, data structures, game programming, developing browsers, operating systems and applications. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scala-lang.org/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Scala</a> – Developed as a 'new and improved’ version of Java, Scala is an object-oriented language used for functional programming and strong static systems. </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{34}" paraid="569291957"><strong>Find Your Niche </strong></p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{40}" paraid="618617865">While you study and improve your skills in the art of developing software, start to consider what you, as a Software Developer, want your niche to be. A niche is essentially a specialism – something that you’re great at, that will make employers and clients want YOU. </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{60}" paraid="561003717">Maybe you want to progress into a career in web design, so gaining a fully comprehensive flare in <a href="https://wordpress.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wordpress</a> or other content management systems (CMS) like <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Squarespace</a> or <a href="https://www.wix.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wix</a> would be great for your portfolio! </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{88}" paraid="782770494">Here are some more examples of areas you might find your niche: </p>
<ul role="list">
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Calibri" data-leveltext="-" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Calibri","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"-","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="5" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{94}" paraid="1894416510">App Design/Development </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Calibri" data-leveltext="-" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Calibri","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"-","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="5" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{101}" paraid="724889038">Data Science </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Calibri" data-leveltext="-" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Calibri","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"-","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="5" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{108}" paraid="851549104">Cybersecurity </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{115}" paraid="28082540"><strong>Produce Your Portfolio </strong></p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{125}" paraid="1151863649">Make sure you’re collating everything you create into a portfolio! Think of your portfolio as an extension of your CV, something that will let you say, “I am an incredible Software Developer, and this is why!” </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{145}" paraid="2069266814">As you progress and develop, start to refine and curate your portfolio to reflect your absolute best work – ensuring that work is in-line with the Software Development jobs you want to apply for. </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{174}" paraid="177885938">What should my portfolio include? </p>
<ul role="list">
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="8" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{180}" paraid="515763748">Name and contact information </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="8" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{187}" paraid="182654323">Link to your CV </p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559684":-2,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" data-listid="8" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{187}" paraid="182654323">Examples of your highest quality work </p>
</li>
</ul>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{201}" paraid="193738234"> </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{205}" paraid="1766085696">If you stick to these top tips, along with committing time and effort into your studies, you’ll be a Software Developer before you know it! </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{218}" paraid="821929881">To explore our options in Computing and Digital Technologies <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/compu…; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">click here</a>. </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{229}" paraid="2058768490">To find out more about UCW’s Higher Education opportunities in Software Development, <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/subject/computing-and-digital-technologies/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">click here</a>. </p>
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{240}" paraid="1674936585"> </p>
