Practical Skills Instructor at HMP Addiewell

Practical Skills Instructor – HMP Addiewell

Location: HMP Addiewell, West Lothian
Salary: £30,145 per annum
Hours: Full Time – 40 hours per week
Company: Sodexo Government Services

Turn your practical experience into a career that makes a difference

Do you have hands-on experience in manufacturing, trades, production, industrial environments or another practical setting?

Are you someone who enjoys showing others how things are done, sharing your knowledge and helping people develop new skills?

You don't need to already be a qualified teacher to join us

We're looking for a Practical Skills Instructor to join our Learning & Skills team at HMP Addiewell. Whether you're already working in training and education or you're an experienced tradesperson, supervisor or team leader looking to take your career in a different direction, we'd love to hear from you.

If you don't already hold the required teaching qualification, we'll support you to achieve this within your first 18 months in the role.

What you'll be doing

You'll use your practical experience to help individuals develop new skills, build confidence and gain qualifications that can improve their employment opportunities following release.

Our vocational workshops cover a range of areas, including:

• Manufacturing and production
• Fabric and textile work
• Industrial cleaning
• Traditional trades
• Industry work parties
• Other practical and vocational programmes

You don't need experience across all of these areas

We're interested in people with a practical background who are confident sharing their knowledge, supporting others and creating a safe and positive learning environment.

You'll work with learners at different stages of their educational journey, adapting your approach to help them develop practical skills, confidence and greater independence.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include

• Delivering engaging, hands-on vocational training.
• Demonstrating practical skills and supporting learners as they develop their abilities.
• Planning learning activities and preparing appropriate resources.
• Monitoring learner progress and maintaining accurate records.
• Supporting learners to work towards recognised qualifications where appropriate.
• Helping individuals develop transferable employability and life skills.
• Encouraging learners to engage with education and vocational programmes.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, prison teams and awarding organisations.
• Maintaining safe working practices, including inventory and tool control procedures.
• Supporting quality standards and continuous improvement across Learning & Skills.
• Helping learners prepare for further education, employment and successful reintegration into the community.

What we're looking for

Your experience could come from a variety of backgrounds.

You might currently be a:

• Tradesperson or skilled operative
• Workshop or Production Supervisor
• Manufacturing Team Leader
• Workplace Trainer or Skills Coach
• Facilities or Maintenance professional
• Industrial Cleaning Supervisor
• Warehouse or Operations Supervisor
• Vocational Instructor
• Armed Forces Trainer
• Practical Skills Tutor

Or you may simply have strong practical experience and a genuine interest in helping others learn.

Ideally, you'll bring

• Practical experience within a trade, manufacturing, production, industrial or similar hands-on environment.
• Experience of training, coaching, mentoring or supporting others.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The confidence to engage and motivate people from different backgrounds.
• Good organisational and planning skills.
• The ability to adapt your approach to different learning needs.
• Good IT skills.
• A genuine interest in rehabilitation and helping others build a more positive future.

Don't have a teaching qualification?

That's okay

If you don't currently hold a recognised teaching qualification at SCQF Level 7 or equivalent, we'll support you to work towards achieving this within 18 months of joining us.

What matters most is your practical experience, your ability to work with people and your willingness to develop.

Why HMP Addiewell?

HMP Addiewell is focused on helping individuals make positive and lasting changes to their lives.

Education, training and employment play an important part in that journey. By helping people develop practical skills and recognised qualifications, you'll be supporting them to improve their employment prospects and build a more positive future following release.

This is an opportunity to take the experience you've already built in your career and use it in a completely different way – passing your skills on to others and seeing the difference that can make.

At Sodexo, our culture is built around three hallmarks: Be Positive, Be Courageous and Be the Difference.

You'll be part of a team that creates hope and respect, positively challenges behaviours and takes action to improve outcomes for the people we support.

What we offer

• £30,145 per annum
• Full-time, permanent opportunity
• 40 hours per week
• Support to achieve your teaching qualification if required
• Ongoing learning and career development
• The opportunity to build a career within Learning & Skills
• A role where your existing experience can make a genuine difference to someone's future

If you've built valuable practical skills throughout your career and are ready to use them to develop others, we'd love to hear from you.

You don't need to have followed a traditional teaching career. Bring us your experience, your ability to connect with people and your willingness to learn – we'll support you with the rest.

Please see the attached job description for further information regarding the full requirements of the role.

File Downloads

• UK Rewards and Benefits Guide.pdf
• General vocational trades Instructor - June 2026.docx