Frances Johnston
Business Trainer (transitioning to FE Lecturer) · Sheffield, South Yorkshire
TQUK Level 5 Award in Education and Training
“I've used learndirect before for other courses and I knew the quality would be there. The site is easy to navigate, the follow-up was swift, and this course really is a great investment in myself – exactly what I hoped for.”
The Challenge
Frances had spent fifteen years in corporate training and L&D roles for a Sheffield-based financial services firm, designing and delivering staff development programmes. When the company restructured and her role was made redundant at 47, Frances decided to turn the setback into an opportunity: she wanted to move into FE lecturing, where she could teach business and professional skills to adult learners. She had industry expertise and delivery experience, but she needed the formal teaching qualification that FE colleges require of their staff – the Level 5 Award in Education and Training.
Why learndirect
Frances had completed a learndirect course several years earlier for a different professional requirement and knew from that experience that the platform was well-organised and the tutor support genuine. “I didn't need to do a lot of research – I'd seen the quality firsthand. I went straight to the website, found the Level 5 AET, and enrolled within 48 hours.” The microteach element of the qualification suited her well: she was already running business workshops for a local enterprise network during her notice period, giving her a ready-made environment for her observed teaching session.
The Outcome
Frances completed the TQUK Level 5 Award in Education and Training and was appointed as a part-time FE Lecturer in Business at Sheffield College – one of the largest FE colleges in the North of England. She teaches two evenings per week and one Saturday morning, with the option to increase her hours as she builds her teaching portfolio. Her FE lecturing income has supplemented her return to some freelance training work, and she has a clear goal to progress to a full-time lecturer role and then the Level 5 Certificate in Education and Training. “At 47, I feel more excited about my career than I have in years,” she said.