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Pete Leak

Joined 2006

Pete served as part of the Royal Green Jackets and was posted to a variety of locations including the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Kenya and Fiji, the latter as part of the British Army Recruiting Group selecting candidates from Fiji for the British Army. On Operations, Pete spent 3 years in Northern Ireland and was presented with a Mention in Dispatches as part of his teams’ actions in August 1992.

Upon joining MPCT in 2006, Pete began as an Instructor at MPC Cardiff before becoming the Lead Instructor in Wrexham and has progressed through the Company since then.

As well as having a physical training background, Pete is an avid exercise enthusiast and has taken part in a variety of endurance challenges to raise money for local charities. Pete feels that the mark of a good society is what we do for the most vulnerable within it to make their lives better. Pete is extremely proud to be part of MPCT, supporting young people in their career progression, and finds it extremely rewarding.

"The most rewarding part of the job is seeing learners progress within their chosen career. I enjoy helping them with any barriers they need to overcome and it gives me a sense of pride to see them develop into professional and focused young people."

~Pete Leak

James Rock

Joined 2020

James had the privilege of enrolling at the Army foundation college which taught vocational and military driven education in 2005 aged 16 .

In 2006 James graduated and posted to Knightsbridge.

James served 12 years in the Household Cavalry Regiment specifically the Blues and Royals Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. James completed SCBC (section commanders battle course ) and P company after Ceremonial duties as a Lance Corporal of horse in the Blues and Royals covering all State occasions; for example State visits, the State opening of Parliament, The Queens Birthday Parade ( Trooping the Colour ) no fewer than on six occasions.

James also experienced the armoured division at Windsor in D Squadron linked to special services where he completed a seven month tour of Afghanistan herrick 13.

Throughout his military career he has delivered training,coaching and counselling through the class room ,on the Job and in the field to a wide and varied audience

James was the captain of the regiment football team and completed a three week Rugby tour in Australia, he enjoys all sports and having left the military James now plays football for his local team.
In 2017 James successfully completed the London marathon.

James's passion is learning new things and coaching and influencing others to achieve beyond there expectations and continually beat there best. James holds high expectations in fitness, health and well-being.

Richard Fell

Joined 2021

I joined the Army is September 2006 and served 9 years in the Royal Engineers as a C3S operator. I served in Hohne Germany for the first 5 years of my service, where I deployed on major exercises to Kenya, Canada and Jordon.

I deployed on two operational tours to Iraq on telic 12 and to Afghanistan on Herrick 14. I Deployed to Iraq in 2008 where I was part of one of the Royal Engineer search teams, our main role was to search for improvised explosive devices, search areas, buildings and also on vehicle check points. Shortly after my tour of Iraq I was loaded onto my regiment's cadre.

After successfully passing my JNCO cadre I was soon promoted to LCpl. 2012 saw the year I deployed to Afghanistan on Herrick 14, I had lots of roles in Afghanistan, one being the driver and signals commander for the OC and Squadron Sgt Major, where we supported the armored support group. The other was 2ic Shift commander in the Operations room back at camp Bastion.

Shortly after returning back from Afghanistan, it was my time to be posted back to the UK in Ripon North Yorkshire. Always been highly passionate about fitness and the human body, it was there when I decided to do my AAPTI course. After successfully passing and delivering training to my squadron and coaching to the civilian population I decided it was something I wanted to do full time, at a deeper level and not have distractions from the Army, I decided I wanted a career change and left the Army in 2015.

My biggest achievements were promoting to LCpl, and deploying on two successful tours of duty. One of the most rewarding achievements in sports was representing the Royal engineers at snowboarding, my regiment at football golf and weightlifting.

Upon leaving the army I obtained qualifications in level 3 personal training and sports massage. Straight away my passion for coaching and training young adults drew my attention to the job role sports services instructor, where I worked as a civilian PTI for 6 years at the Harrogate foundation college. In this time, alongside day-to-day delivery of the army training syllabus I coached boxing and weight training to junior soldiers in the evenings, to help them towards their Duke of Edinburgh qualification.

My main passion outside of work is Weight training. I participate in bodybuilding competitions at a good armature level, in the men's physique class. In January 2021 I completed my level 4 in Spots Massage Therapy, since then I have started my own massage and basic rehabilitation brand which I try and do as much as I can outside of work.

Sophie Spowart

Joined 2021

My early years were spent growing up in Spain where I attended Spanish state primary and secondary schools leading to me now being able to speak, read and write in fluent Spanish.

I have always enjoyed a more hands on approach to learning and being outdoors, so I returned to the UK in 2011 at the age of 17 to begin my British Army career by passing out of basic training at the Army Foundation College Winchester. I joined the Royal Logistic Corps with 17 Port and Maritime Regiment becoming my home unit.

In 2013 we deployed on Op Tosca, a joint force peacekeeping operation with the United Nations deployed on the buffer zone in Cyprus. I was a awarded a Force Commanders Commendation of Excellence for my hard work and effort on this deployment and although I am terrified of heights, it was during a 2-week Adventure Training course on this tour, I had my first taste of skydiving. I was instantly hooked with the adrenaline and excitement of the sport and attended the drop zone at every opportunity, eventually earning myself a skydiving license.

Once I returned from Cyprus, I was seconded to work with the Royal Logistic Corps parachute display team, The Silver Stars. This became my full-time role, when not practicing for demo events I took charge of all admin and ground control duties for the team. I then progressed further and eventually became a full time Adventure Training Instructor based out of the Joint Service Parachute Centre in Netheravon. My time as part of the Adventure Training Group in the British Army took me all over the world completing skydives in the UK, Cyprus, Germany and even California in the USA.

I left service in 2017 to further travel the world and pursue adventures beyond the military. My days are now filled with mountain biking and trail running with my best friend Sid the adventure dog and studying for my BSc (Hons) degree in Sports, Fitness and Coaching.

Karl Bartlett

Joined 2021

As the child of a military family, I grew up all over the world, however, I think of Nottingham as my home having spent more time there than anywhere else and I am extremely excited to finally return, as a Skills Instructor at the MPTC in Nottingham, after a 30 year absence.

I have had an exciting and varied career beginning when I joined the British Army (The Royal Corps of Signals) at the age of 18 where I trained as a telecommunications operator and then served in the UK, Europe and on operations in the Balkans.

I served for 5 years in the regular Army, and on leaving I continued my military career in the TA (33 Sig Regt (V) again as a telecommunications operator and later as the regimental recruiting Sergeant in Manchester and Liverpool until 2008. Then, due to the reorganisation of the TA I served a further 2 years (TA) at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester until 2010.

I have also worked as a prison officer, working with young offenders. After 9 years of working in a variety of different positions within the jail, the final one being in the education department, I decided to leave and go to university.

After completing my History and Education degree, I worked and taught for several training companies specialising in apprenticeships, maths and English, whilst also studying to teach. On completion of my training, I decided I needed a new adventure and left with my family to teach abroad.

I taught in Bulgaria, Qatar, Egypt and finally Romania before returning home in 2020. Whilst teaching abroad I gained valuable teaching, cultural, religious and social skills which have added to values that the Army had taught me.

All my experiences have shown me that as a teacher I need to be everything to my students. I need to be a role model, supportive, positive, constructive, reflective and understanding. Therefore, I always strive to ensure that my professional philosophy encapsulates this.

I am married, have 1 child (another on the way) and a lunatic Cocker Spaniel who all love nothing more than being outside in any weather!