subject: TV Shows Boost Demand at Kendal College [print this page] As The Apprentice hits our screens once more, staff at Kendal College are linking the popularity of this and other similar programmes to a huge rise in demand for courses such as Business Management and Accountancy.
Over the last few years, reality TV shows have dramatically raised the awareness of successful business people such as Sir Alan Sugar, Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden, making them household names and inspiring hundreds of students to follow their footsteps into the boardroom. As such, Kendal College has demand for further education lecturers able to teach many of these business-focused courses.
To try and fill some of these vacancies, Protocol National, an organisation that places lecturers and NVQ assessors in a huge range of assignments in over 230 Further Education colleges across the country, is working with the college to communicate the huge range of opportunities that exist in Further Education and show how easy it is to start work.
Regional Manager at Protocol National, Jan Wakefield, said, "When you look at the profile and success of some of the people involved in these programmes I suppose it's not surprising that students are inspired to try to emulate them, however we need to recruit lecturers in order to meet this demand.
"We're urging people to consider part time college lecturer jobs as a valid career choice and help us fill our vacancies. There are many benefits to working in Further Education with flexible hours and extended holiday being just two. Because of this it's ideal as it can fit around another job as well as family or other commitments."
Kendal College is not alone in experiencing a demand for lecturers in certain subjects - areas such as construction and plumbing are well known for the lack of skilled workers willing to pass on their knowledge in a teaching environment. However the vacancies now emerging are in more academic subjects that have been traditionally well staffed, such as IT and Business Studies.
Jan added, "Anyone currently working in a vocational career has the knowledge and ability to teach part time in a Further Education college - many people don't realise that you don't need a background in teaching. The skills and knowledge gained on the job can be enough to get started, with teaching qualifications being obtained at a later stage."
For further information regarding the opportunities available, please contact Emma Wood on 0115 911 1137 or visit the Protocol National website at www.protocol-national.co.uk.
