<p>My name is Rob, and I’m a Weston College adult learner alumnus. I studied a<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/motor-vehicle/…; Level 3 Diploma in Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair</a>. I decided to go to Weston College to complete my training as they offered a standalone Level 3 course in Mechanics, which suited me perfectly as I was already Level 2 qualified. The course was also only a year, which allowed me to get back into my mechanics career sooner.</p>

<p>Completing the course with Weston opened opportunities I otherwise wouldn’t have been offered, due to their close working relationships with companies. This was how I was able to begin networking with <a href="https://www.mercedes-benz.com/en/">Mercedes-Benz</a&gt;, which resulted in being offered a full-time position at the company prior to even completing the course.</p>

<p>Through attending Weston College, I was also given the chance to compete in the <a href="https://worldskills.org/">WorldSkills</a&gt; competition. The experience was mind-blowing to say the least! I didn't think much of it at first as I was focused on my primary goal of becoming fully qualified and getting a job in a main dealer garage. It was my tutor, Steve, who made me aware of the competition and suggested I apply for it. His support was invaluable and I really felt that he believed in me which gave me the confidence to apply. I thought "What's the worst that can happen?" and that, if anything, it might be a bit of fun.</p>

<p>I applied for WorldSkills in March 2022. I registered online and completed an online test during my normal college hours. The test itself was quite challenging, encompassing everything you should know on completion of the Level 3 course. I received my results the same day but didn't know I had made it into the top thirty until about a month later.</p>

<p>When the day of the semi-finals came, I felt prepared until I got there, and then the nerves kicked in! I found it quite difficult to overcome my nerves at first but having my tutor, Steve, cheering me on from the sidelines was a great support. The group of competitors were all really supportive of one another. I ended the day on a high, with the last task going really well which boosted my confidence. There was a short wait for the results and when they called my name for second place, I couldn't believe it. I was overjoyed with what I had achieved!</p>

<p>Since finishing at the college and becoming Level 3 qualified, I started working at Mercedes-Benz, and I’m currently working towards my maintenance technician qualification as well as an air conditioning qualification. I have also just been assigned my own apprentice to teach the trade to, who previously gained his Level 2 also at Weston. This involves providing guidance in different tasks and overseeing the work that he undertakes to enable him to progress to the next level.</p>

<p>The day-to-day involves working on cars which require prepping, ready to be sold. This requires me to conduct a thorough inspection of the vehicle, through which I identify and rectify any faults. Each day is varied, and no two days are ever the same. Additionally, I conduct services and inspections on customer cars. I couldn’t have reached where I am now without Weston College, and my tutor Steve, both of which provided invaluable support which gave me the confidence to progress in my career to my current stage and beyond!</p>

<p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults">Find out more about the Adult courses on offer, here!</a></p>

<p>The field of Designing, Surveying and Planning in the Construction industry is a broad one, but highly important to the development of societies. The stages that go into construction require huge amounts of time and dedication, but ultimately results in great success!</p>

<p>This field is a great path to go down, and an increase in the workforce in this profession would be highly beneficial to the field, but one that includes more equality and balance would be a massive step forward for the reputation of construction. Construction is often seen as a ‘male’ job, and we want to help show that anyone, regardless of gender, can have a successful career in construction.</p>

<p>So, we want to present 5 reasons why this could be the perfect career choice for you, and kickstart your path in Construction: Design, Surveying and Planning!</p>

<p>1.<strong> Important work!</strong> As previously mentioned, this line of work is highly important in supplying new homes and buildings for towns and cities as the demand increases, and pre-empting this demand with the planning aspect of the sector.</p>

<p>2. <strong>Keeping busy! </strong>This career choice will be demanding in terms of needing to be easily adaptable to picking up new skills, as it will likely be ever changing, and you’ll be expected to keep up with what’s expected of you. However, this will mean the job will not get boring, and you’ll always be kept busy!</p>

<p>3. <strong>Specialised qualifications to get you in the job!</strong> The courses, including <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…;, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… Levels</a> and<a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const…; transition programmes</a>, are offered to both <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/const… leavers</a> and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-adults/course-finder?… Weston College. These courses are specifically designed to prepare you for this career choice, with a great balance of academic college learning for the theory side, and workplace experience to provide you with practical knowledge.</p>

<p>4. <strong>Specialise in your strongest area! </strong>After selecting which course is best suited to you, and completing the course, you will be able to decide which aspect of the sector is best suited to your natural skillset, and which you could see being your future career. Opportunities in the industry could include civil engineering, technical surveyor, architect, building technician, building control officer, town planning assistant and geospatial technician, along with many more.</p>

<p>5. <strong>Financially beneficial!</strong> Some of the careers listed above have great starting salaries, with the opportunity to progress and gain more qualifications while you work, for example a <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/subject/engineering-and-construction/">degree with UCW</a>. The more skilled you become in your chosen sector, the more you will be financially rewarded! Construction Site Managers can earn, on average, £47,500!</p>

<p>Over <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/why-choose-us/our-work-employers">2,500 employers</a> who work with Weston College are looking to attract their future workforce and give our learners great opportunities to begin their careers. Work placements are often a great way to begin your career, so by studying courses with Weston College and undertaking work experience, we hope to make the process of securing a job smoother and easier!</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!&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{29895f9a-e38b-4c50-a41f-55d714360e13}{250}" paraid="728997367"><strong>What does a Software Developer do?&nbsp;</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!&nbsp;&nbsp;</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&amp;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.&nbsp;</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>)&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{58}" paraid="1231131503">Software Developer jobs:&nbsp;&nbsp;</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="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{66}" paraid="1197772058">Applications Developer&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{73}" paraid="728276009">Web Designer&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{80}" paraid="861960613">Game Developer&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="6" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{80}" paraid="861960613">Software Engineer&nbsp;</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!&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{100}" paraid="87897007"><strong>The Best Place to Start&nbsp;</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/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">University Centre Weston</a> (UCW): <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/applied-computing-bsc-hons/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">BSc (Hons) Applied Computing</a> and <a href="https://www.ucw.ac.uk/courses/ux-degree-apprenticeship/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Digital User Experience (UX) Degree Apprenticeship.</a>&nbsp;</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/&quot; 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.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{177}" paraid="2105758196"><strong>Decide on Your Goals&nbsp;</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?&nbsp;&nbsp;</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?&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{04f98b2e-2377-4cec-9ce1-a64a334218b4}{238}" paraid="2088080556"><strong>Learn the Language&nbsp;</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: &nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<a href="https://dev.java/&quot; 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.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<a href="https://www.python.org/&quot; 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!&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
C/C++ - Used for a wide range of programming including software engineering, data structures, game programming, developing browsers, operating systems and applications.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<a href="https://www.scala-lang.org/&quot; 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.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{34}" paraid="569291957"><strong>Find Your Niche&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;&nbsp;</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/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wordpress</a> or other content management systems (CMS) like <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Squarespace</a> or <a href="https://www.wix.com/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Wix</a> would be great for your portfolio!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{88}" paraid="782770494">Here are some more examples of areas you might find your niche:&nbsp;</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="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="5" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{94}" paraid="1894416510">App Design/Development&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Calibri" data-leveltext="-" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="5" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{101}" paraid="724889038">Data Science&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-font="Calibri" data-leveltext="-" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;-&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="5" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{108}" paraid="851549104">Cybersecurity&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ul>

<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{115}" paraid="28082540"><strong>Produce Your Portfolio&nbsp;&nbsp;</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!”&nbsp;&nbsp;</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.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{174}" paraid="177885938">What should my portfolio include?&nbsp;</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="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="8" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{180}" paraid="515763748">Name and contact information&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="8" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{187}" paraid="182654323">Link to your CV&nbsp;</p>
</li>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-level="1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-font="Symbol" data-leveltext="" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-listid="8" role="listitem">
<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{187}" paraid="182654323">Examples of your highest quality work&nbsp;</p>
</li>
</ul>

<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{201}" paraid="193738234">&nbsp;</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!&nbsp;</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>.&nbsp;</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/&quot; rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">click here</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p paraeid="{5d6b9ca8-c47f-402c-a14c-89d53f6ea3a5}{240}" paraid="1674936585">&nbsp;</p>