A Career in Construction Education: What to Expect!

Whether you’re considering a break from labour-heavy worksites, or you want to make an impact on the future of your industry, the opportunities for tradespeople in lecturing are impressive! What can you expect from lecturing in construction?

What Does a Lecturer Do?

A Further Education lecturer is responsible for teaching coursework and theory to students aged 16 and older. Putting your construction experience to work, you’ll guide students through intermediate to advanced skills and build up their knowledge of the industry.

What Do Construction Courses Involve?

The duration of a construction apprenticeship (and by extension your time with students) can vary between 1-4 years depending on the level of qualification you have and teach:

Level 1 (up to 1 year) construction courses cover a variety of information, from materials to measurements. Transitioning into more complex topics such as loadbearing, construction stages and Health and Safety rules. Students will likely attend your college once a week.

Level 2 (up to 1 year) construction courses start to specialise in specific trades (e.g., bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry). Students will need to develop a portfolio of work and learn about career progression in the industry.

Level 3 (up to 4 years) construction courses cover high-level skills, introducing students to the requirements of Supervisor and Management roles. You will educate students on building codes/regulations and designing blueprints.

By the end of each course, you’ll have prepared your students with essential experience in construction that they can apply throughout their careers.

However, it’s worth noting that many courses vary based on the specialisms they cater to. It’s important to review the initial job description thoroughly something our construction consultants are always on hand to help you with.

What Are the Benefits of Lecturing?

Less Labour Intensive:

You’ve put in the work, now’s the chance to teach what you’ve learnt. The struggle of a hard day’s labour and getting your hands dirty is part of the fun for some tradespeople, but if you’re one of the 40% of construction and engineering lecturers being over 50, sometimes you just want to sit down and have the next generation learn from you.

Comfortable Classrooms:

Although lecturing will have you spend less time on worksites, you’ll be trading it for a comfortable classroom you can call your own. Surrounded by students looking to learn from you, enjoy working indoors during the colder months (or the British summer), and have a consistent commute!

Teacher Pension:

We’re often told that the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) is a stand-out perk to a career in education. A significant public sector pension, this scheme often sees an employer contribution of up to 28.6%. This offers a stable and secure income in retirement, with both you and your employer contributing toward your pension.

Generous Holiday:

As classroom-based educators, you’ll enjoy around 12 to 14 weeks of holiday per year, and can plan your vacations around the term time. Tradespeople who transition into lecturing often find this extra time to rest is helpful for restoring your physical health after years of labour. The extra holiday will also give you time to pursue personal hobbies. 

Do You Want to Become a Lecturer?

Our consultants specialise in helping construction tradespeople transition to lecturing. Are you ready to take on the demand for your skills as an educator?

You can make the first step by calling us at 0117 334 3777.