Dean Renphrey, Further Education expert and Marketing Director at Eteach explains how tradespeople can help take teaching forward
The UK education sector is experiencing many challenges, from potential strike action to rising energy bills to recruitment and retention struggles and skills shortages. This is putting the next generation at an increasing disadvantage as they face widening attainment gaps, larger class sizes and a lack of specialist teachers to educate them. It is clear action is needed, both from the government and the wider sector, to help address these challenges.
The newest government priorities, under current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, demonstrate a greater focus on promoting and supporting Further Education (FE). Moreover, in the wider context of conversations around establishing technical colleges to rival Russell Group universities and an Education Secretary who herself qualified via an apprenticeship, the value of technical education is gaining recognition and being prioritised amongst decision makers.
However, whilst encouraging additional people to pursue FE routes is positive, more is needed to overcome barriers such as recruitment struggles in order to ensure effective and accessible vocational training for all. From there, the sector can establish a pipeline of qualified professionals to fill the growing skills gaps seen across many industries.
Therefore, there is an increasing need for creative and flexible solutions. At Eteach, we are a recruitment solutions company that is dedicated to providing the best value, highest quality, most relevant, innovative and technologically advanced recruitment solutions to schools, colleges, teachers and lecturers. We have long recognised the value that FE educators bring to not just their own sector but the economy as a whole, helping to train skilled workers to fill vacancies in vital industries.
Our FE Jobs board was launched to be part of the solution, helping to welcome industry experts into the classroom to share their up-to-date and hands-on experience and knowledge, inspiring the next generation of tradespeople.
Alongside full-time career options, Eteach believes one solution to recruitment and retention issues is a re-imagination of our ideas about teaching. A blended career which allows tradespeople to diversify their careers by taking up part-time opportunities to share their expertise alongside their day-to-day job could be key to addressing both recruitment issues and creating skilled workers for the future.
Whilst a career in education may not have been something many tradespeople have previously considered; a blended career presents the possibility of a new challenge whilst remaining working in the sector they are passionate about. Through gaining teaching qualifications and working with FE colleges, tradespeople gain the opportunity to share their knowledge, skills and passion for construction with young people. It also is a chance to diversify income during an ever-changing geopolitical and economic climate.
Many people who have pursued blended careers that combine working within a technical profession and teaching find they have a better work-life balance, potentially extra paid leave, and new opportunities to work locally. It also introduces variety into their work life whilst helping to shape the next generation.
Through our many years working within the industry, we have seen first-hand the success of individuals who have opted to pursue a blended career and helped give young people the best start in their own career. It has also brought a new lease on life to many of the tradespeople we have worked with, enabling them to both give back and bring about a new dynamic in their own work lives. We believe sharing skills is key to tackling the skill gaps within the industry and would encourage anyone interested to get involved.
For further information on Eteach and how you can get involved in teaching the next generation of tradespeople visit https://www.eteach.com/
