Navy

MOD Apprentices Help With Community Projects

Ministry of Defence Engineering Management apprentices have been helping with community and regeneration projects as part of their training.

They have undertaken tasks with charities near Devonport Dockyard in Woodland on the high street.

Kate Perry, Apprentice Development Manager for Devonport, said: “The community projects have not only given the apprentices a chance to develop and put into practice project management and team work skills that are essential to their future work placements, but it has also given them the opportunity to give back something to the local area in which many of them live.”

The apprentices are potential project managers for the MOD and this part of their training aims to reflect the theoretical project management knowledge while giving back to the community close to the Naval Base.

The students were given one project planning week where they had discussions with the outside organisations’ co-ordinators and ran it like mini project, developing a basic project plan, risk assessments and managing staffing.

One project consisted of working with a gardening group in Stoke called ‘Diggin It’ and they built a woodland walk way in a disused area to help educate school children on wildlife and conservation.

Zoe Underwood, from Diggin It said: “We have never met such a capable and enthusiastic bunch of lads. They were very professional and courteous: going above and beyond.”

She added the group “created a woodland walkway and the finished result after their short space of time with us has blown our expectations. Not only will our volunteers/ visitors benefit from our beautiful spot, but also the local wildlife.”

Other projects include working in Devonport with the Devonport Regeneration team to transform a disused shop on George Street into a café and performing arts space.

The apprentices have begun their first work based placement within teams based at dockyard, before starting an intensive HNC in Marine Engineering at Cornwall College early next year.