Serving the Teesside Business Community | 71
Life-changing learning
How Middlesbrough
College courses could
be lifesavers
L
ife-changing learning is available at
Middlesbrough College across a
range of courses – and in the case
of former joiner Sean Griffiths it’s
propelled him into a lifesaving career.
The 31-year-old paramedic from
Billingham now saves lives for a living, and
has told others that it’s not too late to go
back to the classroom and make big career
changes.
Several years ago, as an apprentice joiner
working on building sites, Sean found
himself bored and unfulfilled and was
looking for a change.
But without academic qualifications he
worried his options were limited.
Sean, who has just bought his first
house, explained: “I’d always fancied
working in the health sector but people I
know who’d done that were at A* level in
school, and I wasn’t.
“I struggled with science at school and
thought that might stop me, but I went to
an open day at Middlesbrough College and
discovered there was a way.
“Now I’m in a new career and it’s
changed my life.”
Sean studied an Access to Health course
at Middlesbrough College which prepared
him for a degree at Teesside University, and
having graduated last year he joined the
North East Ambulance Service.
Now he works demanding shifts as a
paramedic – responding to emergencies
across Teesside.
He added: “I love my job now. As
you’d expect, it’s physically and mentally
challenging as I’m responding to stressful
situations all the time.
“I have to be prepared to face one issue,
deal with it, and then race on to the next
with a smile on my face.
“The satisfaction is immense though. A
lot of people I help find themselves in really
worrying circumstances and they tell me
that just seeing my uniform makes them
feel safer.”
Sean is now encouraging others who
feel unfulfilled at work to reconsider their
options, no matter what their background.
He said: “Before I started I didn’t realise
the options that are available.
“I couldn’t afford to give up work so I
studied the Access course on top of my day
job.
“It was hard as it’s the equivalent of two
years of A Level study in nine months, but
the tutors were flexible and the course
really prepared me for university.
“What’s even better, the course fees
are refunded if you complete a degree
programme afterwards.
“Anyone who wants to make a change in
From life-changing to lifesaving
- Sean Griffiths has switched
careers with support from
Middlesbrough College.
their life should think about it.”
Meanwhile, fitness fanatic Mark Higgins
chose a part-time course at Middlesbrough
College to help his career.
The 37-year-old former amateur boxer
had already been running his personal
training business for more than six
years when he realised the market was
becoming more competitive.
Mark explained: “There were a lot
of people doing personal training and I
recognised I needed another string to my
bow – something to help me stand out
from the crowd.
“That’s when someone recommended
Ivan Whitfield at Middlesbrough College,
so I signed up to the VTCT massage course
– and it really opened my eyes to new
techniques.”
Studying part-time while running his
business, dad-of-two Mark found balancing
family life, work and college was easy.
He added: “When I first started I was
nervous about managing everything, but
I quickly realised I could make it work for
me.
“I really enjoyed going in to college and it
gave me the confidence to go on and study
a Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy course.”
Middlesbrough College offers a range of courses that can help you make
life-changing moves. For more information, call Course Information on
01642 333333 or email [email protected].