Ministry of Defence trainees have been inspiring young potential engineers to follow in their footsteps at a National Apprentice Week event in Plymouth.
The three engineering apprentices, working in HM Naval Base, Devonport, alongside ships and submarines in a support role – Phoebe Loveridge (18), Owen Hoffmeyer (17) and Charlie Sloan (17) highlighted the benefits of a career in the MOD as an engineering apprentice by attending the Manufacturing Group Apprentice Recruitment Fair.
Phoebe Loveridge has attended local school fairs, evening and weekend events. She is passionate about the apprenticeship and is proving to be a great role model: “I believe attending these events helps other people to find out about the apprenticeship and to bring more females into engineering.
“I also like to attend them because when I was looking for an apprenticeship I struggled to find information and I found out about this apprenticeship through a teacher that used to work for the MoD. The events enable me to gain my communication and presenting skills and to meet future apprentices.”
Attendance at these local events, and visits to local schools, has increased the Defence Equipment & Support advanced apprenticeship numbers in Devonport significantly; it not only increases local awareness of what the MOD, and HMNB Devonport has to offer, but also gives our Apprentices the opportunity to demonstrate some of the skills that they have learned during their apprenticeship.
Saturday’s event was supported by the Apprentice Management Team, and three Apprentices from the current Phase 1 cohort.
Earlier last week another group visited Devonport High School for Boys. They met with students who are in their final year and considering their options for future employment. Sue Moreton the IAG co-ordinator at DHSB said that the boys were all totally engaged with stories of warships – hopefully some of them may be inspired to enquire further. She was also grateful to the apprentices and staff for giving up their time to visit as she firmly believes that employer/career engagement is vital for developing confident young people who not only know what they want to do but also have an idea how to get there!
