News

West College and UWS will cultivate vibrant, sustainable tertiary education provision across the West of Scotland, ensuring regional skills needs are addressed as well as collaboration on education and innovation activities that will grow both institutions. Both organisations will seek to engage further with key regional stakeholders ─ including Renfrewshire Councill, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland ─ to ensure their collaborative work aligns with ongoing regional development plans. In addition, the agreement will see both West College and UWS consider joint facilities and service developments as well as collaborating on staff development, learning and delivery.

Francesca Brennan, Scottish Labour’s candidate for the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, was joined by Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson, on a visit to West College Scotland’s Greenock Campus on Monday morning to hear about the college’s ambitious new strategy.

The initiative builds on the success of the Greater Manchester Innovation Literacy Programme which develops apprentice confidence, collaboration and communication skills, and empowers them with practical tools and techniques in a short course accredited by OCN London and mapped to the new Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Skills Framework.

The interactive event gave students the chance to step into the world of hospitality and travel through a series of engaging, hands-on workshops designed to spark curiosity and build confidence in industry-focused skills.

Studying HNC Politics at our Greenock campus not only provides students with a well-rounded knowledge of the subject, but also allows them to network with significant political figures.

182 students, 4 visiting colleges, 11 local companies and multiple West College Scotland staff made up the numbers at our recent Suppliers Event, which took place on Wednesday 10 September.

West College Scotland is proud to announce the continued success of its Tools of the Trade initiative, a programme supporting vocational hospitality students across its campuses in Paisley, Greenock, and Clydebank.

West College Scotland is delighted to announce that it has once again received generous support from the John Mather Trust, with a total funding award of £14,000 for the 2024/25 academic year. This support has enabled 92 students across all three campuses—Paisley, Clydebank and Greenock—to receive essential tools and equipment, helping them take the next step towards successful careers in their chosen industries.

Celebrating Local Literature, Emerging Talent, and the Art of Book Design. West College Scotland, in collaboration with independent bookseller Abbey Books, is proud to announce the success of the first-ever Annual Abbey Books & West College Scotland Book Jacket Design Competition — a creative partnership that saw students from NC and HNC Graphic Design & Animation courses showcase their skills on a live, client-led project.

As the Provost of Renfrewshire, Lorraine Cameron’s calendar can’t have many gaps. Despite this, Lorraine was delighted to be invited along to West College Scotland’s HND Photography showcase, held on Tuesday 10 May at West’s Paisley campus.

The Beacon Arts Centre came alive on Wednesday 4 June as students from West College Scotland’s NC, HNC, and HND Dance programmes took to the stage for Dance Fusion, a spectacular end-of-year performance celebrating a year of dedication, growth, and artistic excellence.

Last week learners from local secondary schools successfully completed their Foundation Apprenticeship in Construction Skills programme at West College Scotland, presenting their final project to industry representatives.

West College Scotland is delighted to be working in partnership with HPD Plumbing Supplies, providing invaluable real-world experience to its Pre-Apprentice Plumbing students.

West College Scotland’s Science Quality Enhancement Lecturer Suzanne Thompson was honoured to attend the prestigious Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in London earlier this month. Nominated by the Scottish Government, Suzanne was recognised for her outstanding contributions to education and skills development in Scotland and across the UK.

Our HNC Fashion Makeup students from the Paisley campus took centre stage this week as they showcased their creative talents in a dazzling final Graded Unit event.

West College Scotland, in partnership with the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation, is proud to highlight the success of an ongoing collaboration that continues to deliver real benefits to students, staff, and the wider Renfrewshire community.

Carpentry and Joinery Apprentice, Finn MacArthur, 22, from Arran, was recently named as one of the 10 finalists in the prestigious Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2025 competition, standing out among more than 2,000 applicants from across the UK and Northern Ireland.

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As the academic year draws to a close, our talented students from Dance, Drama, and Music are ready to take the stage and share the incredible work they’ve been creating throughout the year.

Two talented Hospitality students from West College Scotland have done the College proud by reaching the finals of the prestigious Unox Cookery Competition, held on 3rd April at the Unox headquarters in Venice, Italy.