Apprentices at Pendennis Shipyard in Falmouth celebrated for efforts during pandemic
We're shining a light on Cornwall's apprentices for National Apprenticeship Week
Cornwall's apprentices and graduates are being celebrated across the Duchy as National Apprenticeship Week comes to a close.
According to latest figures from Cornwall apprenticeships, almost 3,400 people started some sort of apprenticeship in the 12 months to July 2021, despite disruption from the pandemic.
Will Wilkinson and Jack Elsby-Hartman are two Cornish apprentices who are being celebrated for their efforts as apprentices as part of Pendennis Shipyard, who host apprenticeships for young men and women across the Duchy.
Will said: "I've always had a passion for working on Yachts and the scheme has set me up for some sort of project management role or drawing, I haven't quite decided yet.
"I've gained communication skills. I've definitely improved on those on communicating between managers and teams. I've been able to go out and speak to them and go out to the job and carry out those kind of roles".
Through the week the shipyard have run a scheme to celebrate National Apprenticeship Week including community week placements where apprentices volunteer for charities and local organisations, a 'job swap' between directors and apprentices and training exercises.
Will talked about his experiences: "This week I've been the team leader for Falmouth rugby club, it's been a great week for us we've been supporting them because it's their 150th anniversary this year. There's been a team of eight of us to make sure everything that needs to be done is done. Keeping up the standards of the Yachts really with the attention to detail".
Jack, who was a previous apprentice at Pendennis, told us: "I come from a background where I've done a lot of sailing. Before I started the apprenticeship I wanted to gain an understanding about how you construct these boats.
Jack is recently graduated from the scheme and after finishing his Pendennis training last year has found himself a role.
He told us: "During my apprenticeship I've developed hand skills and professional skills which are quite transferrable across a range of tasks but also my confidence and my communication skills have been developed through my apprenticeship.
"It's been great to develop those skills and they continue to develop after you've finished your apprenticeship".