Why go it alone in FE?

Why would you give up a perfectly good job in a thriving college, become self-employed in order to go it alone? A very good question, and one I was asked quite frequently when I announced my decision three years ago to do exactly that. I was privileged to be able to make that move for a variety of professional and personal reasons, which made sense for me at the time. I rather suspect that in the current climate of cuts, redundancies and general uncertainty many middle and some senior managers may be having this choice thrust upon them, or at least being forced to consider it as an option. People who, under different circumstances, would not normally have dreamed of it.

A large organisation provides you with a security net that you don’t always fully appreciate until it is not there. Suddenly you are responsible for your own tax, insurance and pension, to say nothing of your own time. You might also miss the comfort of a structure that, for some, is almost like a second family unit. But working in the microcosm of a particular educational institution can lead you to become quite parochial, especially if you have worked in the same place for many years. Getting out for a while could give you a wider perspective before returning to the mainstream or could be a half way house towards retirement.

I was very fortunate that I had earlier been given the opportunity to manage a curriculum area that was not my original subject specialism and therefore had a taste of working ‘out of my comfort zone’ to some extent. Even so taking on an interim management post means starting from scratch every time; getting to know the people, courses and systems very quickly can be quite a challenge. It’s certainly not a job for the faint-hearted. However one of the great advantages is that each assignment is different and each time you learn something more and broaden your professional experience. It’s the very epitome of Continuous Professional Development! I have met people along the way for whom a period of interim has led to a permanent job, often a promotion, for which they would previously not have had the experience or confidence to apply.

Another great advantage for me has been the variety. There is an unexpected range of work out there from one-off training days to interim jobs lasting a few weeks to several months but it is hard to predict and of course financially it can be a bit precarious at times. Availability of work is mainly centred around traditional term times but being your own boss does give you some element of choice. So if you want a temporary reduction in work because of a family issue or to book a week’s holiday in September you do have that option. You can keep it as simple as trading under your own name and using agencies to find work for you, through to developing your own company and finding a niche market that utilises your particular skills.

None of us would be in education if we didn’t want to make a difference in some way. Usually we imagine that is best done from inside the organisation but sometimes coming from outside gives you the opportunity to see the whole picture and be more objective. Occasionally there is a quick fix to a problem but more often it is about giving people ideas or strategies that give them the confidence to move forward. For me the satisfaction is simply in leaving a situation better in some way than when I found it, whether that is through a short training session or a longer-term placement.

So I suppose the real question is, “was it a good idea?” In retrospect I don’t regret the path I took but a bit of hindsight would have been useful. I discovered there is little support once you strike out on your own and learned through experience and by my own mistakes. It was bit like jumping in the deep end without a lifebelt. So having kept my head above water through the first few years I thought it might be useful to share my experiences with others and offer them a few ‘swimming lessons’, through workshop style events. The ‘going it alone’* workshops are not intended to teach management skills, those are assumed, but it does provide a safe place to discuss the issues and challenges you might face and gives some practical advice too. So if you are thinking of dipping your toe in the water why don’t you come along?

Angela Moir is now a freelance interim manager and trainer after teaching for many years in health and social care, and managing a successful business studies department, in an FE college

More information about the ‘Going it Alone’ workshops running in May and June can be found on the FE Events page or by emailing [email protected]