<p>Today members of local council, ESFA, ETF, schools and nurseries, all joined Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College and the Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor James Clayton, who together, officially opened the new Education and Early Years facilities at Weston College.</p>

<p>This new hub will meet the growing demand from employers both locally and regionally to train staff of the future, preparing them ready to join a growing industry.</p>

<p>The Education and Early Years facilities have been developed in conjunction with the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/career-excellence-hubs">Career Excellence Hub</a> employers: Busy Buddies, Little Bears, DaisyChain, Mendip Green, YMCA and Storal Learning, who ensure not only that the course content includes insights of industry leaders, but also that the new facilities will be industry standard to give them real-life experience.</p>

<p>The grand opening included a tour of the brand new £600k Education and Early Years hub that includes:</p>

<ul>
<li>Community Room – to allow us to host stay and play and other community sessions.</li>
<li>Child and Healthcare Room – a multi-functional space for food prep and mid-session naps.</li>
<li>Primary School Room – an engaging environment full of multi-curricular activities.</li>
<li>Creative and Exploratory Atelier – a non-traditional learning environment to host messy-play, science activities and more.</li>
<li>Observation room – includes one-way mirrors so learners do not influence a child’s play.</li>
</ul>

<p>Sandra Bull, Dean of the Faculty said: “The new hub is really impressive, I’m so pleased it’s come to fruition. It’s really important for us that all learners get real-life experience to ensure they are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to get ahead in the modern jobs market.”</p>

<p>These new facilities are matched with an exciting portfolio of study programmes. For school leavers there will be full-time college-based courses, apprenticeships plus the new flagship T Level – the gold-standard in qualifications where learners can follow a college-based programme and gain sector experience through an industry placement. Plus, a range of options for adults for those who would like to upskill or re-train as an early years practitioner or teaching assistant.</p>

<p>Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive, Weston College added: “It was a privilege to officially open the new facilities today. This is just one element of a College-wide initiative to ensure we are making aspirational careers a reality for all our learners regardless of their starting point in life.”</p>

<p>The build is co-funded by T Level Capital funding, awarded by the Department for Education.</p>

<p>Find out more</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/educa… for school leavers starting in September</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/course-finder?… for adults starting in January</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/news-and-events/events">Next open event</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Weston College has been named as the Bristol and Bath Apprenticeship Provider of the Year for the third year in a row.</p>

<p>The awards were virtual this year, and were hosted by BBC personality, Ali Vowles. There were winners from across the region, as the hard work of apprentices, employers and training providers were recognised.</p>

<p>Weston College learners picked up prestigious awards too, with Harvey Castree (Outstanding Apprentice of the Year (Engineering, Manufacturing, Energy &amp; Electrical) and Danny Gould-Dyer (Outstanding Apprentice of the Year (Health, Wellbeing, Care &amp; Education) winning their categories.</p>

<p>The highlight of the evening was the Bristol &amp; Bath Apprentice of the Year award which went to Harvey, for his fantastic work with his employer, GKN Aerospace.</p>

<p>This is further success for the Weston College Apprenticeship Team, with Leadership and Management apprentice, Dan Green, recently winning the Gloucestershire Apprentice of the Year.</p>

<p>The College delivers a range of apprenticeships from Level 2 to degree-level and works with many high-profile employers in the Bristol and Bath area, including the Ministry of Defence and GKN Aerospace and Royal United Hospitals Bath.</p>

<p>Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “I am delighted that we have managed to win this award for the third year in a row, it really does showcase the amazing work that goes on in this College on a daily basis.</p>

<p>“Our team are once again bucking the national trend, creating new opportunities for our learners. Our apprentices are also having huge impacts on their businesses, and it is fantastic to see.</p>

<p>“I’m also delighted for our learners, as we had six apprentices make the finals, with both Harvey and Danny coming out victorious. Our learners show such a fantastic attitude to their studies and I am thrilled to see them performing so well in such a difficult period.”</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>An adult learner at Weston College has been recognised for the exemplary standard of his work on a HR management course.</p>

<p>Phil Davies, HR advisor, has now completed the Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management and won the CIPD Student of the Year Award 2019 (West of England Branch) at the CIPD People Management Awards. The awards celebrate and reward the outstanding achievements and contributions made by HR and Learning and Development professionals.</p>

<p>The 2019 winners were announced at a ceremony at the UWE Exhibition and Conference Centre.</p>

<p>Diane Steer, a Lecturer in HR at Weston College, said: “Phil was nominated for the award because his work was consistently of an exemplary standard. He is an outstanding learner who always contributed to class discussions and debates and was able to relate theory to his own practice. He is a credit to the HR profession.”</p>

<p>The College’s Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in Human Resource Management is a one-year course that’s studied one evening a week. It covers a range of units including developing professional practice; business issues and the context of HR; using information in HR; employment law; resourcing and talent planning; reward management.</p>

<p>Phil said: “I’m proud to have achieved a formal qualification that recognises and validates my years of practical HR experience. Many thanks to my employer for supporting and encouraging me and to my lecturers at Weston College who skilfully guided me in my studies."</p>

<p>Helen George, the College’s Dean of Professional Studies, said: “This is the second time a College Level 5 CIPD learner has won a CIPD Student of the Year Award. This is a real credit to both the excellent learners and staff here at Weston College. We are very proud of Phil and this his achievements.”</p>

<p><strong>Join us </strong></p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/business-and-management/human… 5 Intermediate Certificate in Human Resource Management </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/course-finder?… adult courses </a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/event/open-day-30th-november-0930am-1230pm">Fi… out about the next open event</a></li>
</ul>