New Engineering lecturer first to graduate through forces scheme

Alex Knowles delighted to qualify after RAF career

The newest Engineering lecturer at Grantham College has become the first Armed Forces service leader to graduate through the Further Forces programme.

Alex Knowles, who served in the Royal Air Force, will begin his new role teaching Anglian Water apprentices in September.

The Further Forces programme, an Education and Training Foundation initiative, helps create paths for service leaders to retrain as further education lecturers.

Alex began work at Grantham College in September of last year while gaining his PGCE at Nottingham Trent University. 

The newly-qualified teacher hopes to pass on his vast experience as an engineer to all of his future students.

He said: “After leaving the Royal Air Force I knew I always wanted to have a career that had the opportunity to make a difference and inspire others to get into engineering. 

“Engineering has taken me to some fantastic places and seen incredible things. I hope that my students get the same memories throughout their careers.”