Simon Gill marks 50 years at Leeds College of Building

A former apprentice, lecturer and quality assurance specialist has been associated with the college since 1976.

Simon Gill first arrived at Leeds College of Building (LCB) in September 1976 as an apprentice gas service engineer. Five decades later, he continues to work there part-time, drawing on a career that has included studying, teaching and supporting quality assurance.

Gill began with three years of block-release study for a City and Guilds qualification in gas service engineering. He then completed a further three years, gaining a Level 3 Technician Education Council certificate in Building Services Engineering.

After spending some time working outside the college, he returned in 1985 to undertake a two-year Higher National Certificate programme specialising in gas. He took further courses at LCB during the 1990s before joining its staff full-time in 2007.

He began as a workshop learning support assistant and later became a lecturer in the gas department. Gill remained in that role until retiring in 2017, but returned the following year on a part-time contract. He has since worked as a specialist in internal quality assurance.

Gill said the college had changed considerably since he first studied there. He recalled teachers wearing formal clothing and described the atmosphere of his early classes. His experience at LCB has spanned student life, workshop support, teaching and his current specialist work.

A connection spanning generations

Rachel Nichol, LCB’s head of skills and a former student of Gill’s, now works alongside him. Nichol began studying at the college in 2006 and joined its staff full-time in 2017.

She recalled Gill’s friendly manner in class, including his habit of addressing students as “gents” before correcting himself to include a female student. Nichol said that, after being taught by Gill, she later encountered him while working as an engineer. He told her about opportunities to become an on-site assessor at LCB.

Nichol described their current working relationship as a role reversal and said Gill remained supportive and made her laugh. She also said he had been an asset to the college throughout his career.

Gill’s long association with LCB reflects the different roles he has held there, from apprentice learner to lecturer and quality assurance specialist. His time at the college has also connected him with successive generations of students and staff.