RETURNING to college was a culture shock for welder Neil Jackson, but has sparked a change of direction and the desire to pursue further studies.

Mr Jackson, 39, of Whitby, has worked at Cleveland Potash for almost a quarter of a century, starting his career as a welder and fabricator, but now spends most of his days in the office.

He credits this change to a decision he made to start an HNC in mechanical engineering at Redcar & Cleveland College, where he couldpair practical experience with an industry-recognised engineering qualification.

Each day Mr Jackson, who now works as a maintenance technician for the firm, uses the skills he has learnt at the college. He says since he began the course his role has changed from being practical to more planning-focused.

“I realised that I could use my practical experience in a more organisational role so wanted to go back to college and get a qualification to go with my experience,” said Neil, a former student at Whitby Community College.

“The tutors at the college have been fantastic, they are very knowledgeable and are always willing to help.”

His day-to-day work at Cleveland Potash involves working on AutoCAD to draft lifting plans for use by the site’s crane operators, and he is also involved in revising operational procedures at the firm.

“Studying at the college has sparked an interest in higher education, and I’m keen to progress my skills even further. I start a degree in Engineering at Teesside University in September,” he added.

Derek Holmes, a tutor at Redcar & Cleveland College, said: “Neil is a committed and dedicated student who has helped and supported the whole group. I am really pleased that he is doing really well and is using this qualification to better himself."

Chris Long, a mechanical engineer at Cleveland Potash, said Neil had learnt valuable skills that made him a key asset at the firm.

“Neil has been part of the business from an early stage in his career. His academic qualification has enabled him to greatly advance and use his tacit knowledge to apply academic skills with a pragmatic approach.”