How to become an FE warehousing teacher

Despite numerous economic challenges faced by UK firms between 2018 and 2023, the number of businesses in the warehousing and storage industry stayed steady and, as of 2023, there were over 5,000 (5,090) such firms in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics: “Transport and storage is the fastest growing broad industry group, both in recent years and over the longer term.”

With that in mind, it’s a burgeoning and important industry, and further education (FE) warehousing teachers are certainly in demand to fulfil industry’s desire for well-suited candidates for job roles, post-FE.

Warehousing often goes hand in hand with logistics in an FE context, reflecting the wider world of work. At Barnsley College, for example, FE warehousing teachers lead on apprenticeships in warehousing and logistics. Students can choose between studying an apprenticeship in Express Delivery Sortation Hub Operative Level 2, Supply Chain Warehouse Operative Level 2 or Warehouse and Operations Supervisor Level 3.

With the warehousing and logistics industry playing a crucial role in driving economic growth and productivity, FE warehousing teachers engage with the new generation of talent and help address this skills shortage.

What will I teach as an FE warehousing teacher?

As Bedford College Group says on its website, its warehousing and lean management programme offers three core elements to learners studying at the institution: practical expertise, hands-on simulation and lean principles. As an FE warehousing teacher, you’ll be offering similar skills-based guidance to students. Students will be prepared for the world of work, and industry will benefit from new employees with knowledge of seamless operations and resource optimisation.

The Supply Chain Warehouse Operative Level 2 apprenticeship at Barnsley College, promises to give all students a good understanding of:

Safe driving and/or operating techniques
Safe use of equipment and machinery
Use of warehouse systems and processes relating to packaging, moving and receiving stock
Basic IT applications, as well as other relevant technology and systems, including warehousing management
Relevant legislation and regulation
Effective customer communication
Structure of the industry; methods and modes of transport; roles available within the sector in general and in relation to their own career aspirations.
The importance of delivering excellent customer service to customers and colleagues
Vision, objectives and brand of the organisation; the importance of organisation reputation

Qualifications needed for the warehousing teacher role

There are numerous pathways to becoming an FE college teacher. Although a degree is preferred in some cases, it’s not essential. You can gain a teaching qualification on the job (such as a Certificate in Education (Cert Ed), a Postgraduate Certificate in Post Compulsory Education and Training or a Postgraduate Certificate in Further Education and Training), depending on the role and the institution. However, for those wishing to change career, FE can present a viable opportunity to use and share much of the knowledge gained in your career thus far in a completely different and rewarding role.

“A warehousing apprenticeship is an excellent start for a career in the logistics sector,” the government’s website states and this includes the FE warehousing teacher position. After completing a warehouse operative apprenticeship, you can move on to level 3 Transport and the warehouse operations supervisor apprenticeship or team leader and technical operations departmental manager, which could possibly lead to level 6 chartered management.

As a general rule of thumb, apprentices that don’t have Level 1 English and maths will need to achieve this level and then take the test for Level 2 English and maths prior to taking the end-point assessment.

What salary can FE warehousing teachers earn?

Salaries for the role of FE warehousing teacher vary slightly from £22,824 at the low end of the scale to £25,000 for the most experienced employees. The median salary comes in at £23,635 per year in the UK, according to Talent.com, which is lower than the median annual pay for full-time employees (£33,000) for the tax year ending on April 5, 2022.