Teach Your Trade

Hear from our talented staff who have already made the exciting transition from industry to teaching, and discover how they’re using their real-world expertise to inspire the next generation at Gloucestershire College.

I got into teaching after my self-employed job as a roofer and property maintenance specialist. It got quiet around the times of COVID, so I began looking around for where I could use those skills to teach the next generation and I found my role here. If you’re at all apprehensive of getting into teaching, the support you’ll get from your colleagues here and the teaching staff is really terrific.

Alastair

Lecturer in Construction

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For me, it’s probably one of the best places I’ve worked. For a work/life balance, it’s the best I’ve had in a long time. I personally feel very supported. I’ve been here for four years now. If you’re new to teaching or you’ve never taught and you are thinking about it, you’ll be given a coach when you come here, you’ll do a Level 3 and then a Level 5 qualification, that’s also rewarding. I didn’t go to university, but I’ve had help to get through the qualifications here, and I enjoyed it

Joe

Lecturer and School Lead in Motor Vehicle

Previous to this, I had my own business for 15 years; I gave it up because I had an injury, so I went into teaching, and I’m still here twenty years later. When you’re on site, you’re freezing. I remember what it felt like, and then you come in here, and it’s warm, you get to teach a bunch of lads, the holidays are really good, the pension is off the hook. If you want to grow in a different direction, then teaching is definitely the way for you. You’ve had all that experience; now you have to pay it forward.

Joy

Lecturer in Carpentry

When you come for the interview, and they start telling you about what the job role encompasses, the teaching element is such a small part of it, there’s so much more that I didn’t even realise was a part of the job, it’s those things you’ve got to remember. I’ve had a lot of help from the teaching and learning, my mentor Kim has been brilliant, I can meet her whenever, so the support I’ve had has been really good.

Kristian

Associate Lecturer in Plumbing

Before coming here, I was out fitting boilers, bathrooms, work for my local council, so I’m literally just off the tools. You’re not just chucked in at the deep end. They had me shadowing for quite a while, which I preferred, and you then get to a point when you’ve shadowed that you want to have a go yourself because you want to build up rapport in the group, and the only way you can do that is to do it.

Craig

Associate Lecturer in Plumbing

For me the motivation was and still is completely about imparting my knowledge and skills to the next generation of construction workers. Making students aware of the many new opportunities that can and will arise from hard work, resilience and determination to succeed. In a nutshell, I can honestly say it has been the right career move for me and a great experience as a whole!

Matthew

Lecturer in Construction

Want to learn more about teaching?

Be Part Of Something Bigger

Here, every role contributes to the success of our students!

Watch the video to see how our staff are making real impact in the workplace that makes them proud.

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