Running for fifth year, the Pendennis‘ four-year, award winning apprenticeship scheme, in conjunction with Cornwall College, is highly respected and offer the company an invaluable source of highly trained workers. The Pendennis course not only offers official qualifications but the possibility to train to an extremely high level in a chosen trade and then to progress through the company.
This year’s 14 final year graduates from the Pendennis General Apprenticeship Scheme were honoured at an awards ceremony at the Falmouth Hotel. The apprentices started the scheme in 2008 and have worked hard to successfully complete the course and achieve the high standards associated with the scheme. In recognition of their high level of training four final-year students have reason to celebrate as they have been chosen to participate in the week-long final appraisal for the annual Worshipful Company of Shipwrights Queens Silver Medal.
This prestigious honour was previously awarded Pendennis’ Tom Clegg in 2010, and Pendennis is delighted at the high level of representation at this year’s award – four apprentices out of a total of 18 representatives from throughout the UK’s shipbuilding industry will attend the assessment course in Kielder Water with the winner announced later this year.
Over the years Pendennis has seen over 150 young people from throughout Cornwall enroll of the General Apprenticeship and Surface Finishing schemes, many of whom are now in management positions including Tim Tregear who has recently moved to Pendennis Palma facility to manage the refit operation there. Tim began his career at Pendennis as part of the Pendennis’ award winning apprenticeship scheme in 2001.
Most of this year’s qualified apprentices will go on to full time employment at Pendennis, continuing the growth and expertise of the yard’s world-class workforce.