Building new skills for a changing world: Gregory’s story

After a successful career working on major programmes for organisations including HSBC, Citi and BT, Gregory Griffin suddenly found himself facing a very different future following redundancy.

By late 2024, he was approaching a third Christmas without work. Despite submitting more than 1,000 job applications and securing 20 interviews, he repeatedly found himself being told he was “overqualified” for roles.

The prolonged period out of work took its toll. For someone who had previously worked at Chief of Staff level and was accustomed to succeeding professionally, repeated rejection affected his confidence as well as placing significant pressure on his family and finances.  

But Gregory refused to be defined by a broken job market, and instead of standing still, he channelled his efforts into an AI Skills Bootcamp at Basingstoke College of Technology.  

Returning to learning presented its own challenges. Gregory had additional learning needs which meant technical tasks could require significantly more time and concentration. He responded by drawing on the skills and discipline he had developed during his career, applying the same careful planning and determination to his studies that he had once brought to managing major corporate programmes.

The course gave Gregory the opportunity not simply to learn about a rapidly evolving technology, but to recognise the continuing value of the experience and skills he already had.

His studies culminated in a portfolio presentation which reflected the depth of research and commitment he had brought to the course. His tutor, Jack Roche, described it as the best presentation he had seen during his teaching career.

Gregory’s return to education also had an impact beyond his own learning. In the classroom, he became a consistent and supportive presence, drawing on the communication, diplomacy and leadership skills developed during his career to help fellow learners who were less confident about new AI technologies.

After two years of searching for work, Gregory combined his newly developed knowledge of AI with decades of professional experience to successfully secure a role at the University of Warwick.

His journey demonstrates the transformative potential of adult education at moments of profound change in people’s lives. For Gregory, returning to learning gave him an opportunity to update his skills, rebuild his professional confidence and recognise that the experience he had accumulated throughout his career still had value in a changing labour market.

Gregory’s experience also shows why opportunities to learn throughout adulthood matter. Changes in the economy, technology or personal circumstances can leave even highly experienced people questioning where they fit. Adult education can provide a route back, helping people adapt their skills, rediscover their confidence and see new possibilities for their future. For Gregory, that opportunity helped turn one of the most difficult periods of his working life into a chance to begin again.