THE chance to throw the spotlight on young apprentices during National Apprenticeshp Week was welcomed by UK Docks, which has invested in young marine workers the length and breadth of the country.
In Gosport, we have marine engineer apprentices Finlay Smith (left), currently in Year 2 of his apprenticeship and Charlie Shepherd in Year 1.
At our headquarters in South Shields, Michael Wright, in his fourth year as a maintenance technician, works alongside first-year maintenance technician Sonny Walton (wearing glasses).
Fellow apprentices Ewan Wilson, a third-year maintenance technician and Lewis Illingworth, second-year maintenance technician, are usually based in South Shields but both have been working in the dockyards at UK Docks’ Teesside facility to gain hands-on experience of shipes handled there.
Ewan is pictured here in the dockyard, Lewis in the workshop.
In addition, Nick Elliott is a mature apprentice, Level 7, and Chief Financial Officer, John Armstrong, is looking to bring a trainee into finance.
In this way, a steady stream of apprentices (in an industry which can struggle from skill shortages), are regularly been trained up and moved through the business.
This consistent approach has underpinned UK Docks’ steady growth for many years and is an important part of its planning strategy.
UK Docks’ managing director, Jonathan Wilson, said: “As a family-owned business, apprenticeships is something we genuinely care about.
“The marine industry depends on skilled, practical people — not just today, but for generations to come. “Apprenticeships are one of the most important ways we protect that future.
“They bring fresh thinking, new energy, and a real hunger to learn, while allowing hard-won experience to be passed on properly, on the job.
“At UK Docks, apprentices are part of who we are.
“We invest in people from the very start of their careers and give them the chance to grow, progress, and build long-term futures within the marine sector - many of our most experienced team members started exactly that way.
“Supporting apprentices means supporting the strength, resilience, and sustainability of the UK marine industry as a whole. During National Apprenticeship Week - but also during every week - we’re proud to play our part.”
At Gosport, UK Docks South has Finlay and Charlie doing their apprenticeships through Southampton City College, with another apprentice due to join them in September.
Both are gaining great experience in the workplace and have been rotating their work to gain experience on all the different type of vessels the compnay maintains.
UK Docks South also takes Apprentices from the local college, CEMAST, (Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Manufacturing and Advanced Skills Training).
The company takes marine engineers who are looking to do 50 hours work experience as part of their course.
Currently, there are 10 of these apprentices coming through; to gain the knowledge they need and enable them to complete their course.
Finlay Smith. assisting with a service on a C18 Caterpillar Main Engine on HMS Dasher
Charlie Barley, director at UK Docks South said: “We find this rewarding in that we are helping these young apprentices in our local area gain their qualification.”
He added: “UK Docks South employs around 40 employees and, in turn, employs many marine trades and local sub-contractors, thereby locally supporting dozens of businesses in the local area.
“We are based in Gosport, and opposite the main Naval Port (Portsmouth) where the local area also has thousands of leisure and commercial boats served by its many marinas.
“We understand that in a marine industry area which employs thousands of people and which has a skills shortage in all trades - whether it be marine engineers, marine electricians, shipwrights, carpenters, fabricators, laminators etc - new workers are vital.
“That’s one of the reasons why the company has made a steady stream of apprentices a priority for many years.”
Charlie Shepherd changing a lagging pad on the exhaust of a P2000 (HMS Dasher). The vessel visited UK Docks to undertake her annual Refit Package