Locations

Laurence Corbett

Joined 2018

Ronnie is the MPCT Regional Operations Manager for the North Region. Ronnie has been serving with MPCT since April 2018 and currently lives in Catterick Garrison North Yorkshire. Ronnie is currently responsible for Leading and Managing the Quality of Education across all four North East Colleges located at Newcastle, Bishop Auckland, South Shields and Teesside.

Ronnie leads and manages his region by ensuring that staff across his region are provided with outstanding training and education opportunities, whilst supporting them to grow and develop to become Outstanding Instructors. This ensures that all learners across the region receive the best possible educational experience whilst attending MPCT, leading to outstanding young people who contribute positively to society and become better citizens of the United Kingdom.

Ronnie has 24 years of Military experience having served as an Infantry soldier from the rank of Guardsman to Warrant Officer Class 1. He has an exemplary military record having been awarded the meritorious service medal (MSM) in 2011.

Ronnie has worked as a military instructor at a number of training establishments since 1994 including, ITC Catterick, ATR Glencorse, ATR Bassingbourn and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a Colour Sergeant Instructor. Ronnie finished the final 6 years of his Military career at the Infantry Training Centre as the Company Sergeant Major Guards Training Company from 2006-2008, Master Coach of the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion from 2008-2009 and Regimental Sergeant Major of the All Arms Drill Wing from 2009-2011.

During his service Ronnie completed 4 operational tours of Northern Ireland including a 2 year tour as the Platoon Sergeant of the Close Observation Platoon. He also served in Operation Granby in 1991 and Operation Telic as Company Sergeant Major from 2004-2005.

Ronnie is extremely passionate about physical fitness and has competed in recent years for Great Britain in his age group Duathlon. In 2017 he won the Bronze Medal at the National Championships at Oulton Park in the Sprint Duathlon. In 2015 he represented Great Britain at the World Championships in Spain.

Most recently Ronnie competed in Ironman Wales in September 2019. His next physical challenge is to represent MPCT in the toughest foot race on earth Marathon Des Sables.

Ronnie has 18-year-old daughter Afton and 21-year-old son Euan and a 3-year-old granddaughter Annie. Ronnie has been in a relationship with his partner Lucy for over 5 years now who also shares his passion for endurance sport.

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!