Careers in Further Education
You could turn your Skills and Experience into a Teaching Career in Further Education
Are you an industry professional looking to share your knowledge and inspire the next generation? Moving into a lecturing role within Further Education (FE) can be an incredibly rewarding career path, offering the chance to apply your practical experience in an impactful way.
Why Become an
FE Lecturer?
Further Education provides a unique opportunity to shape the future workforce. As an FE lecturer, you’ll be teaching students from a range of backgrounds, often in vocational subjects directly related to your area of expertise. Your real-world experience is invaluable to students preparing for their careers.
No Formal Qualifications? No Problem!
There aren’t always formal qualifications required to teach in a Further Education setting like a college. As independent organisations, teaching at a higher level, they can set their own entry requirements and benefit packages.
Roles to Match
Your Expertise
Roles can vary from subject lecturer positions to tutoring roles. With opportunities to assess and verify also an option with the right training.
Earn While
You Learn
Some Colleges, Training Providers and even Prisons, will fund your training on the job, allowing you to earn while you learn, developing your skills in the field from the beginning.
Try Before
You Commit
If you aren’t sure you want to jump into formal training or a new job just yet, a free course is available from the Education & Training Foundation (ETF) allowing you to explore what it’s like to be a teacher in FE.
What funding could
be available to you?
- Financial support in the form of student loans may be available to you if you wish to study ahead of your first job in Education.
- Depending on your chosen subject and area of expertise, you may be eligible for a tax-free bursary of up to £6000. This can usually be claimed at any point in your first 5 years.
How can you get into an FE Lecturing role from Industry?
- Direct Entry: Some FE colleges offer part-time or sessional lecturer positions for industry professionals without formal teaching qualifications. This can be a great way to start while gaining teaching experience.
- Industry-Specific Workshops & Guest Lecturing: You could begin by offering guest lectures, seminars, or workshops in your area of expertise, easing the transition into a more formal teaching role.
- Teaching Apprenticeships: If you’re new to teaching, some FE institutions offer teacher training apprenticeships that allow you to gain a qualification while teaching.
- Work-Based Assessors: Many professionals start as assessors for vocational qualifications before moving into lecturing, as it allows you to apply your industry skills directly to student assessments.
Real Stories: How others like you made the jump into FE Teaching
Hear from candidates we’ve helped transition into teaching roles in Further Education, even without formal experience. Their stories highlight how they used their skills and industry knowledge to thrive in new teaching careers. See how they navigated the process, what surprised them most and the rewarding experiences they’ve had since making the move.
