UCW Environmental Health Practitioner degree apprentice Wesley is celebrating an incredible four years of study, culminating in two major awards at the UCW Awards.
Wesley particularly enjoyed the practical elements of his course. Reflecting on his favourite moments, he said: “I had always wanted to be a food inspector, and standing there being tested on my knowledge, it was at that point that I felt like I was becoming one.”
His studies have also reinforced his belief in the importance of working collaboratively across different professions. His favourite moment from the past year was working with three colleagues on a Risk Management Poster presentation, where he valued the different professional and personal perspectives each member of the group brought to the project.
Wesley is a strong advocate for the opportunities available through studying Environmental Health, highlighting the wide range of career paths that the qualification can open up. “I have always said that studying to become an Environmental Health Practitioner opens so many doors for many different career paths, and I would encourage anybody thinking about doing this to go for it,” he said.
He particularly enjoyed the Health, Safety and Risk element of the course, describing the two years of training in the subject as “the most rewarding” because of its relevance across every sector. He also highlighted the degree’s accreditation by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health as an important benefit for students looking towards their future careers.
Wesley’s hard work was recognised at the UCW Awards, where he was named Professional Services Student of the Year before going on to receive the prestigious West of England Institute of Technology Student of the Year Award!
This year’s UCW Awards were especially significant as they coincide with the celebration of 10 years of UCW. Over the past decade, we have empowered thousands of learners to achieve their ambitions, building a vibrant community where talent, determination and opportunity thrive. As we mark this milestone, the awards provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate not only a decade of higher education excellence, but also the outstanding achievements, resilience and success of the students who continue to shape UCW’s story and inspire its future.
“Being recognised in this way for my work was a real personal achievement,” he said, adding that one of his favourite parts of the evening was being able to sit with his lecturers “and just have a normal conversation and feel like a colleague.”
Wesley also praised the support he received throughout his studies, highlighting lecturers Dr Minakshi Bhattacharjee, Nahum Kidan, Beatrice Payne and Nathaniel Smith, as well as Mardi McLay for helping him develop his academic skills.
Reflecting on his time at UCW, Wesley said: “I have really enjoyed my time at UCW.” He added that he would recommend UCW to anyone considering studying, describing the support he received from staff across the university centre as “super helpful from day one”.
If you want to find out more about Wesley’s course, click here!
