What is an Instructor? A Quick Guide for Tradespeople Exploring a Career in Education

What is an Instructor? A Quick Guide for Tradespeople Exploring a Career in Education

If you're a tradesperson with years of hands-on experience, looking to pivot into an impactful new occupation, you could pass on your knowledge to the next generation as an Instructor. This is more than just a job title, it's a chance to shape the future of your industry, give back, and discover a rewarding new direction for your career.

Whether you’ve learnt the tools of the trade in Construction or Civil Engineering, your industry experience could be perfectly suited to a role as an Instructor. We’re shining a light on everything about the role, from the responsibilities and requirements to the benefits; let’s dive in:

What is an Instructor?

An Instructor trains students in practical, hands-on aspects of a trade – whether it's electrical installation, plumbing, carpentry, or other technical fields. While Lecturers may focus more on theory and classroom-based learning, Instructors bring real-world experience into workshops and labs.

This role is perfect for those who prefer a practical teaching approach and want to stay close to the tools while helping learners develop job-ready skills.

Responsibilities

Instructors typically focus on:

• Delivering practical sessions in college workshops or training centres
• Demonstrating techniques, tools, and safety procedures
• Assessing students' competence and progress
• Supporting learners to build confidence and skills
• Helping to prepare them for qualifications or work placements.

In this role you’re not just showing students what to do, you’ll be providing hands-on support where you’ll mentor, encourage and make a lasting impact on their future.

Benefits

Becoming an instructor gives you the chance to change students lives, to shape them into the skilled, next generation of tradespeople, and improve their futures doing so. Being an instructor is as every bit as rewarding as being a teacher, plus you’ll be strengthening the future of your trade by inspiring the next generation. Working as an instructor for colleges or training providers also provides financial security with dependable monthly pay and the benefit of a teacher pension scheme, where some employers contribute 28.6%. Less physically demanding than working on-site, but with the benefit of maintaining your sector skillset, it also provides a healthy work-life balance, with generous (paid) holiday which match your students, and structured, consistent hours to give you more time with your friends and family.

What Requirements Do You Need?

The qualifications and requirements can vary, but FE employers will look for the following:

- At least two years of proven experience in your trade; if you’ve worked on the tools and can share your know-how, you’re already halfway there

- A qualification in your trade that is equivalent to or higher than what your students will be studying.

- GCSEs (or equivalent) in Maths and English are usually required.

- Teaching certifications like a PGCE or Level 5 qualification in Education and Training are advantageous. But not to worry, a willingness to gain a qualification while on the job is often supported by colleges and institutions!

Interested?

If you’re already considering moving from trade to teaching, becoming an instructor is a way to keep your skills honed while you shape the future workforce of your industry. And you don’t have to make the change alone, our dedicated consultants are on hand to support you throughout the journey.

Whether you’re just curious, or ready to jump straight in, call us today on 0117 334 3777 and we can start making your career as an instructor a reality.