Self-employed Teessider John Tells How Courses and Support Helped Him Go It Alone

Business & Invest | Published on: 15th January 2025

A heavy machinery worker who took the plunge and left his job after more than a decade has revealed how a raft of courses has opened up great new opportunities for his career.

Self-employed Jonathan Currie has secured work on the Teesworks site and sites across our region on the back of making the most of adult education courses funded by the Combined Authority.

And the Grangetown 43-year-old has urged others considering taking a new path in 2025 to get out there and grab hold of the support available.

John said: “There was a lot of work on cherry pickers last year – I had a ring around and I’ve been in touch with HST Ltd. As soon as I got that licence, I got a job straight away at Wilton doing a bit of work in there.

“If all the funding is there, and it’s free, why not use it?”

John left his job of 12 years forklift driving wanting a change. The rise of Teesworks lit the spark and he boosted his knowledge and bank of licences in a bid to secure more work.

With the help of the Seymour Academy, in Hartlepool, and Stockton-based MP Plant Training he chalked up qualifications using a dumper and excavator, telehandling, using a rear dumper, and his tractor and trailer licence.

Meanwhile, funding through the Combined Authority’s Adult Skills Budget helped John get the support he needed from Health and Safety Training Ltd to secure his IPAF Scissor and Boom licence.

John said: “There is plenty of work locally now.

“I was always working away before, but I knew there was going to be plenty of work, so I jumped in while it was hot and got work straight away.

“I’m a self-employed worker through agencies – I’ve had a couple of little gaps in work – but no more than two or three weeks.

“This time of year does get quiet – but by the middle of February it will pick up again big time. I’ve told all the lads on site that if they get a break in work, there are loads of courses available.”

John has also secured GWO (Global Wind Organisation) training qualifications from Middlesbrough College to work with wind turbines as major offshore windfarm projects boom.

His tractor licence has also helped him secure work on Teesworks – and he explained how there is still high demand in the region for cherry picker drivers.

“All you need is the ticket and the confidence to get to work,” said John.

“Some will get it (the licence), and they’re scared of getting on the machine – but if you have a play about with it for half an hour, you’d be surprised with how quickly you pick it up.”

With funding from the UK Government via the Department for Education, the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority support a wide range of adult education providers to offer free courses to people across the region.

Through the Adult Skills Fund, the authority makes sure providers meet the skills needs of local employers – and also provides “second chance” opportunities for people who looking for a career change into a job in a high demand, high growth or priority sector.  

With major projects across the Tees Valley coming to fruition, John has managed to get work on SeAH Wind’s huge monopile factory just a short trip away from his home in Eston.

He added: “It’s a 10-minute drive to work for me so it’s nice to be working on the doorstep now.

“Sometimes you’ve got to get out there and persevere with these things – there’s plenty of work about and you can’t be shy.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Our contractors, small businesses and self-employed workers are the backbone of the economy running through Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“John is a great example of someone who took a chance by going it alone – and it’s wonderful we’ve been able to play a small but important part in his ongoing success.

“My job is to get to get as many good, well-paid jobs to as many local people as possible – and we’ve put the building blocks in place to bring huge game changing projects to our region.

“John, like thousands of others across Teesside, is a grafter who seeks out opportunities and grabs them with both hands. We want as many people as possible to follow his lead and use the support we provide and help fund to get work on our projects.

“It’s contractors like John who keep us moving, get these big projects delivered – and it’s great he’s working close to home.”

To find out more about the support available for adults in the region, go here.

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