The funding enabled the acquisition of an 8–10-person life raft, a vital investment that enhances safety training for future travel and tourism professionals.

This practical exercise, held at Clydebank Leisure Centre, allowed students to experience realistic emergency scenarios in a controlled environment. From teamwork to safety drills, participants demonstrated their skills by successfully working together to get all five members safely aboard the life raft. The exercise, full of laughter and camaraderie, also served as an excellent team-building opportunity.

Craig Anderson, Travel & Tourism Lecturer shared his enthusiasm, "It’s great to see students from both campuses putting theory into practice.

As a fully trained member of cabin crew, it’s really enjoyable to bring some of my industry experience into practical exercises.

The students also expressed their excitement and appreciation for the training:

Jame Reid, a 35-year-old student from the Paisley campus, commented,

I 100% recommend taking part in this training. It was really enjoyable, and it was great to put into practice what we studied in our senior cabin crew class.

Becca Baird, a 17-year-old student from the Clydebank campus, added,

The wet drill training was very informative and helped everyone better understand the safest way to handle dangerous situations in the water.

The funding from the Hays Travel Foundation represents a significant step forward in preparing students for careers in travel and tourism, equipping them with essential safety and emergency preparedness skills. West College Scotland extends its gratitude to Hays Travel Foundation for their generosity and to Clydebank Leisure Centre for providing the facilities to make the event a success.