Bristol Airport supports future local talent at Weston College

The partnership means local college students will benefit from industry insights, work placements, guest lecturers and networking opportunities in addition to collaboration on industry-relevant projects.

Bristol Airport provides the largest number of jobs in the area, with some 5,800 people employed on-site by over 50 companies and 70% of staff living within a 20-mile radius and nearly 1,000 in Weston-super-Mare.

Cherie Marchant, People Director at Bristol Airport, said:

“We’re hugely proud to partner with Weston College and create opportunities for people across our local community through a range of pathways into employment and career development. We’re looking forward to supporting work experience, T Level placements, internships, taster days and career engagement activities.

“Helping local people to access opportunities, build experience and progress into meaningful employment is something we’re very keen to support and is at the heart of what we do. It’s wonderful to see people take their first steps into the world of work, develop their skills and see their careers really take off as they grow.”

There are currently 15 apprentices from Weston College taking part in the Airport’s apprenticeship programmes, including existing employees using apprenticeships to develop and upskill. The Career Excellence Hub will provide an opportunity to strengthen these links further and give more local students insight into the range of career opportunities ranging from operational to customer facing.

Weston College is renowned for developing talent and helping to create brighter futures and careers, not just courses, through its Career Excellence Hubs. The hubs mean there is a commitment from the Airport to co-design training, create a genuinely inspirational learning experience, offer essential skills training that is relevant to their business and the wider industry and support skill development even after the course has finished.

Lynsey McKinstry, Strategic Business Partnerships Manager at Weston College, said:

"Bristol Airport is helping us bring careers to life by giving learners access to industry insight, real-world experiences, and a clearer understanding of the wide range of opportunities available within aviation, travel and beyond.

"Students are also able to take advantage of easy transport to the Airport which is removing significant barriers to employment. Working together, opportunities for work experience, T Level placements, learner focused employer-led activities, wider recruitment opportunities and direct engagement, has ensured all learners, from all backgrounds; are developing the skills, confidence and connections they need for their future.

"This is exactly what our Careers Excellence Hub model is designed to achieve; moving beyond courses alone and working alongside employers to create careers-focused learning that responds to the existing or future needs of industry.”

Present apprenticeship opportunities include engineering and management with Weston College, but the Airport also offers apprenticeships in procurement, project controls and motor transport, all providing routes into the aviation industry as well as opportunities for existing employees to develop and progress their careers.

The Airport hosts regular careers fairs and also offers work experience, T Level placements, internships, taster days, careers engagement and its bespoke Take Off programme, supporting people at different stages of their journey into employment and helping local people gain the skills, experience and industry insight needed to build a career. More information can be found on the Airport’s career page.

Bristol Airport is the only UK airport to offer free bus travel to employees, supporting more sustainable commuting and reducing road traffic, this includes the A3 Flyer to and from Weston-super-Mare via Worle, Congresbury and Cleeve, benefitting students studying at Weston College, who live locally.