Walter Renteria’s Path from ESOL Student to Facilitator at Hugh Baird College

Walter Renteria, a Building Services Facilitator staff member at Hugh Baird College, began his journey at the College as a student in 2022 when he enrolled onto multiple English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses including IT and Construction.

Walter, originally from Colombia, trained in IT and electronic engineering before travelling through Spain and France and settling in the UK with his family in 2020 before joining Hugh Baird College.

Reflecting on his ESOL for Construction course, Walter said:

“When I first started at the College, my English was very limited, but learning through hands-on activities on the construction course enabled me to apply my studies to real-life scenarios. It also helped me understand how to use English in everyday situations.”

Upon the completion of his ESOL courses in 2024, Walter applied for and successfully gained a position at the College as a Building Services Facilitator. In this role, he applies his engineering background while helping students studying the College’s Electrical Installations and Plumbing courses.

Walter continued:

“I’m really enjoying my role at Hugh Baird College, where I get to work closely with students and bring my skills to life in a new and dynamic way. It’s incredibly fulfilling to be following my passion and helping shape the future of the building services sector through education.”

Walter’s journey through education doesn’t stop here. He has enrolled on a GCSE English course at the College and plans to further enhance his engineering expertise and delve into the exploration of new technologies.