Robert, 54, made big career change to teach little ones after 20 years
AFTER working in manufacturing and sales for 20 years, Robert Robertson decided he wanted to change career to work with young kids.
He took two weeks holiday to do voluntary work in a nursery to make sure he was making the right move.
After training, he switched careers in his 40s and has never looked back.
Robert said: “Working with the children is very rewarding. Even by making a child smile you’ve achieved something.”
He is one of the members of a panel of experts at an early years careers event next week for people looking to find out more about working in the industry.
The Government have planned a massive increase in jobs in the early years sector by 2020. So the Daily Record has teamed up with Early Years Scotland and Skills Development Scotland to organise the first early years career morning on Thursday at The Studio in Glasgow.
It will feature exhibitors from colleges and training organisations across Scotland and will offer advice to anyone thinking of making a career in the industry.
With 11,000 new recruits needed in Scotland in this sector over the next few years, there will be plenty of scope for job opportunities.
Robert, 54, decided to take the plunge to retrain after his successful spell of nursery work experience.
He said: “I was a merchandising manager and I took a two-week holiday to work voluntarily in a nursery to find out if childcare was for me.
“I enjoyed my experience and so I decided to apply for a childcare course.
“I looked into getting my NC in Early Education and Childcare, which I did part time in the evenings. The college then asked me if I wanted to do my HNC full time, which meant giving up my job.
“I was so passionate about becoming an early years practitioner that I decided that’s what I was going to do.”
Dad-of-two Robert, from Kilmarnock, has been working in childcare since leaving college in 2009 and loves his job as an early years
I wish I’d done it years ago. It’s more rewarding than my last job ROBERT
practitioner at Springvale Early Years Centre in Saltcoats, Ayrshire.
His wife Gwen and daughter Heather are primary school teachers – but Robert was keen on working with younger children.
He’s the only male working at the local authority nursery – but says the children enjoy having him there.
Robert said: “I’m an active male role model for them and they enjoy having a male in the room. People can bring different things to the job.” He admits some parents are surprised at first because it’s still unusual for a man to work in the industry and some thought he was a parent helping out.
Robert added: “Now they don’t bat an eye and just treat you as one of the staff.”
He has now completed a degree in childcare practice. “There’s a potential for career progression and going further with education,” he explained. “A degree can open more doors for you.”
With more jobs being created, there will be more opportunities. And Robert says it’s never too late to switch careers to do something you love.
He said: “I wish I’d done it years ago. I was in my 40s when I changed careers but I’ve not looked back.
“It’s much more rewarding than my last job.”