Meet The Team -

Chris Mitchell - Instructor (Freelance)

What name/nickname do you prefer to be called? 

A straightforward, Chris – no nickname, despite 24 years in the Services.

If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?

I’m a Freelance Work at Height Instructor.

What do you enjoy about the work you do?

I enjoy the variety training at SpanSet brings, especially working alongside different Trades and Organisations. No two courses are ever the same and it gives me a real sense of job satisfaction to be able to pass on the experience I have gained over a lifetime of being at height - at work or in my leisure time.

I have had an interesting and varied work life. I served 24 years in the Services, firstly training as a Technician in the Army before luckily being given the opportunity to teach Outdoor Pursuits.

After leaving the army I completed an IRATA Level 1 course and then worked mainly in the London area gaining the hours and experience necessary to attain my Level 3. I moved offshore to work on oil rigs and production platforms as a Rope Access Supervisor and NDT tech. This took me all over the world with highlights being a 2 year contract in Trinidad and a year working off the Falklands Islands. Transit to the Falklands was from the Ivory Coast off west Africa, over the Atlantic and down the coast to the far South Atlantic (all at 4 knots an hour!).

I finished offshore when a contract in Suriname on my favourite ever rig, the legendary hard-working Maersk Developer came to an end in April 22.

I’m now at a new stage in my career, Training at SpanSet and as I’ve said, I’m really enjoying passing on my experience.

What are your hobbies?

I generally try my best to spend time out of work either drinking good coffee, caving in North Wales or sea kayaking off Anglesey or the Llyn Peninsula.

I also recently bought a narrowboat and am looking forward very much to cruising it, particularly on my home patch along the picturesque Shropshire Union and Llangollen canals.

What volunteering or passion projects do you do outside of work? 

I am an active voluntary member of North Wales Cave Rescue organisation and am slowly studying to a physics degree with the Open University. I have 2 grown up sons, one working as a physicist in Panama and the other as an electrician in the Royal Engineers.