Weston College named Technical Excellence College for Advanced Manufacturing

Image courtesy Weston College

Pat Jones, Principal and CEO at Weston College Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to have been recognised as a Technical Excellence College for Advanced Manufacturing. It reflects the quality and scale of our provision, the strength of our employer partnerships, and our commitment to delivering the higher technical skills which industry needs.

“We created an original partnership group with stakeholders, committed to delivering future skills and economic growth, collectively providing valuable input and support to this work. I would like to personally thank our partners, Airbus, Rolls Royce, GKN Aerospace, NCC, West of England Combined Authority and Business West. It is through your continued partnership that we can develop training that is truly industry led, with cutting-edge facilities and prepare our learners for high value careers in advanced manufacturing.”

This recognition also builds on Weston College’s ambitious plans for expansion, including the £2.6 million Aerospace Skills Academy on Airbus’s Filton site, opening this September. This facility will significantly increase the College’s training capacity and give learners access to advanced manufacturing environments, that directly support the needs of leading aerospace and advanced manufacturing employers.

The 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges across the UK, backed by £175 million of government investment, will provide around 65,000 learners with access to training for high-demand roles across advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and digital technologies. This comes at a crucial time, with an estimated 600,000 additional workers needed in these sectors by 2030.

For Weston College and the wider West of England region, this recognition represents a significant step forward in aligning education with industry demand and supporting economic growth while creating clear, high-quality pathways into skilled employment.

Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “People across the West will, like me, be delighted that Weston College will become a Technical Excellence College for advanced manufacturing. The case was strong: over the last decade, our regional economy has created over 100,000 new jobs – including the most job growth in key industries of any region. This shows that when we work together, the West Country is being heard by government.

“Advanced manufacturing is part of the West’s history, as the region that gave flight to Concorde; part of our present, with the sector employing over 18,000 people locally and generating billions of pounds for the national economy; and part of our future, through the investment that will come with hosting one of just four Technical Excellence Colleges of its kind. Further innovation will ensure that the sector stays competitive for years to come.

“The £2.6 million Aerospace Skills Academy set to open in Filton this September will be a key part of Weston College Group’s expanded offer, adding to the industry-leading innovation being pioneered at places like Airbus, BAE, GKN, NCC, and Rolls-Royce. It will mean that 40% more people get the opportunity to develop their skills in world-class facilities, equipped for some of the new jobs being created here in the country’s fastest growing regional economy.”

Cllr Catherine Gibbons, North Somerset Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, families, skills and lifelong learning, said: “We are delighted that Weston College has been selected as a Technical Excellence College for Advanced Manufacturing – one of only four nationally in this sector. This recognition highlights the College’s strong industry partnerships and its commitment to investing in high quality, future focused skills provision. Initiatives such as the £2.6 million Aerospace Skills Academy at Airbus Filton will give young people and students in North Somerset direct access to world class training, hands on experience and a clear pathway into high value careers. This designation will support social mobility and ensure local talent can build rewarding futures within our area, while also strengthening our economy and advanced manufacturing sector.

“Ultimately, this is about raising aspirations and showing every young person in our community that they don’t have to look elsewhere to succeed – they can build a rewarding, fulfilling career right here at home.”

Strategically located to meet regional demand, Weston College’s TEC status will help drive productivity, innovation and opportunity across the South West. It also supports the government’s ambition for two-thirds of young people to be engaged in higher-level learning by the age of 25, while reinforcing the importance of high-quality technical education as an equal and valuable route alongside university.

This latest announcement builds on the first wave of Technical Excellence Colleges launched in August 2025, which saw £100 million invested in improving facilities, teaching and employer collaboration nationwide. Together, these investments signal a long-term commitment to developing the skilled workforce Britain needs to compete globally.

As a Technical Excellence College, Weston College will continue delivering industry-aligned education, empowering learners, supporting employers and strengthening the future of advanced manufacturing both regionally and nationally.