Jim Lesser Training Mechanical Skills — Jim Lesser, pictured here training mechanical skills.

An organisations’ team is integral to its success.

That is most certainly true, here at MCP Technical Training.

Our people make MCP Technical Training who we are and we wanted to dedicate a series of blogs promoting just some of the amazing individuals who make up our Team. This is their chance, in their own words, to highlight their expansive experience in mechanical and electrical training so you, our customer, can see where the true added value is in working with us.

Next Up - Jim Lesser | MCP Senior Technical Trainer (Returned!)

Early Career

Jim’s early career saw him join the army as an apprentice vehicle mechanic, a trade of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME). His first posting took him to the Royal Engineer Regiment in Germany, specialising in M2 amphibious bridging vehicles. Jim is a keen sportsman and his apprenticeship also provided him with a chance to take part in many sporting activities including hockey, climbing, pot holing, canoeing and sailing. What he most enjoyed however, was skiing, and this initial posting enabled him to indulge his passion for a good number of weeks!

Honeymoon in the Falklands

His first operational tour was in Northern Ireland. Following this he was also promoted and posted to North Yorkshire, working on Foden 6x6 trucks. It was in Topcliffe that he met his wife Sadie, just before a tour to the Falklands, which was not her idea of a honeymoon!

Jim’s army career has seen him posted back to Germany, the Gulf, Bosnia and of course the UK where his wife had returned to once they had children. His early career has seen him work with small tanks, ambulances, Land Rovers, trucks and various other infantry units. He worked his way up the ranks to Staff Sergeant through his career which spanned a total of 24 years in the armed forces.

A Change in Career

When he decided to leave the forces, Jim began this new period of his life as a Technical Author for TMS, a company specialising in technical writing publications. He progressed he way up again to Project Manager. This job saw him visiting manufacturers’ locations across the UK and Europe, all while still volunteering as a civilian to deploy to Afghan, which was a designated as war zone. Prior to deploying he also completed a PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector) course locally, a recognised training qualification, to enable him to train operators on upgraded systems.

Redundancy and New Beginnings

Money in this area of technical publications became tight and Jim was sadly made redundant, just shy of ten years. This opened up a new avenue to follow in training and Jim became a self employed Health & Safety trainer. This included face fit testing, abrasive wheels, manual handling and working at height training, all across the Midlands. It was during this period that Jim received a call from a friend he served with in Germany who introduced him to John Saysell, our Director of Technical Training. Jim was subsequently brought in to our company as consultant technical trainer. During this first period with MCP he taught at sites across the UK, of some very well-known brands including; McVities, MSD, Cadburys, Astra Zeneca, Johnson & Johnson, AG Barr, Mondelez, Princess, Ocado, Ibstock and many more!

Supporting Apprentices

The first stint with MCP lasted 5 happy years, but outside influences meant that Jim would again look for alternative work. This time he changed direction and took a role teaching John Deere apprentices. While there, he also completed his Certificate in Education and Training.

Proud Moments

Jim enjoyed seeing how apprentices progressed from initial induction through to their final year of quailification. One of his proudest moments was recently when he saw on LinkedIn that one of his apprentices had received his Master Tech qualification a couple of months before. This would have taken him five years! Another of his apprentices has now himself, become a trainer at the John Deere adult training centre.

As much as Jim enjoyed his time in the classroom, he did miss being out and about and applied for a position to train the Kia apprenticeship programme, which would mean visiting dealerships across the UK. This was through Nottingham College, and unfortunately, Kia decided not to re-new the contract, so Jim decided to move on again.

The Return to MCP

Jim with Delegates — Jim with delegates on Mechanical Skills training course

John had kept in touch with Jim over the years and asked how he would feel about returning to MCP. Jim and Sadie both agreed this would be a good move and on completing his notice period, he was back at MCP HQ picking up his laptop and completing his induction. After meeting the team again, he felt like he had never been away!

Jim has had to hit the ground running with John booking him in with weeks worth of back to back courses to run. This was smooth sailing for him as much of the training material is already familiar, as he had written some of it previously as a consultant. He is now updating the mechanical training material to ensure it remains ahead of current best practices.

Hitting the Ground Running

On being asked how he felt about his return to MCP, Jim responded “It has been a busy start back to MCP and I am really looking forward to meeting the rest of the this growing team and working with MCP and their delegates, passing on my wealth of knowledge and experience, in my new position as Senior Technical Trainer.”

To learn more about MCPs Mechanical Skills courses, click here.