When Jason Faulkner, fresh out of the army, started work as a Prince’s Trust Team leader at the then Stockton and Billingham Technical College he could have had no idea of what lay ahead.
“I certainly never imagined being here 23 years later as the deputy chief executive officer of what is now the Education Training Collective,” he said.
Looking back at a career jam-packed with highlights, it makes walking away all the more difficult.
But after over two decades of helping the group achieve its ‘Outstanding’ potential, Jason is preparing to bid a fond farewell to the organisation that gave him new direction.
As the newly appointed Principal and Chief Executive of Burnley College, he is looking forward to the new challenge and exciting opportunities ahead.
“It is quite emotional, and I don’t think it has truly sunk in yet,” said the Middlesbrough dad whose roots are firmly forged on Teesside. “But I am optimistic about the future and being able to share the skills I have developed with another college and the surrounding communities there, and add value to their, and my, next chapter.”
Today the Education Training Collective encompasses Stockton Riverside College, Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training, Redcar and Cleveland College and Innersummit, and Jason has been there every step of the way.
Proud to have played such a substantial part in the Etc.’s evolutionary journey, he said: “I remember the previous chair of the governing board saying to me, ‘we are custodians of the college for a point in time and, as such, we should aim to leave it in a better place than we found it’.
“I always remember that and as I sit and reflect, I would like to think I have made a positive contribution.”
Looking back, for Jason, one of the biggest achievements, both personally and for the group, has been the turnaround of Redcar and Cleveland College.
He said: “That’s not just about the achievement data or student numbers. It is the work that has been carried out with supportive partners, the capital investments that have led to massive innovation at the college, and the relationships built with the local authority and employer partners.
“For me, the biggest thing is that Redcar and Cleveland now has a college back at the heart of its community, with a sustainable future, that people can be proud of.”
It’s no surprise the college should feature among his proudest achievements, for after working his way through the ranks to assistant principal at Stockton Riverside College, he was appointed Redcar and Cleveland College’s principal in 2018 following merger.
Since then, the college’s relationship with major employers investing in the region has flourished, particularly with developments on the doorstep.
While Jason is quick to point out that he’s no expert in the likes of renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen as an alternate fuel source, he has made it his job to do his research to better understand the skills demands that are coming and be ready to respond to them.
It’s given him a seat at the table for some top-level discussions and keen to give back to the community he’s found himself on the boards of the South Tees Development Corporation and the local Town Deal, as well as giving his time as a governor for schools in the area.
Appointed Etc. deputy chief executive in 2024, Jason said: “None of this is what I expected when I joined the college as an introduction back into civilian life.” He applied for that first job because he had experience in the likes of teamwork and outdoor education. It turns out he had lots of transferable skills too, not least in leadership.
Practising what they preach, he has continued to study himself as an adult learner, achieving his degree in education and leadership and management qualifications.
Forever attached to Teesside – “it is home” – the 53-year-old will now continue to follow the developments happening in the Tees Valley and how the skill pipelines he has helped to create continue to deliver.
After all, more than the accolades and more than the Etc. Outstanding Ofsted rating that came early this year, that’s got to be the best part of working in education, knowing the impact the individual colleges and providers have on so many lives.
While saying goodbye to the Etc. will be tough, the research into Burnley, Lancashire, its current position and demands, has, of course, already begun.
Jason said: “Leaving the Etc. is going to be hard. I have forged so many relationships with incredible colleagues, external partners and stakeholders.
“But I am inherently competitive in nature and always wanting to continue and improve. Burnley feels like a place where my skills and experience align, and I can add real value. This feels like the right fit.”
