Sea-ze every day! Learn everything with the 'spirit of the sea'

Learn everything with the 'spirit of the sea' © Sarah Harrington

Apprenticeships © Graham Carlow

With the start of the academic year looming, many may come to consider an apprenticeship as an alternative to the more conventional university route. Apprenticeships give real life and professional experience, the opportunity to learn 'on the job' and earn real money whilst acquiring no student debt.

Featured regularly by the Sunday Times as a perennial Best Place to Live and winner of the best Coastal Community at the Great British High Street Awards, Falmouth boasts over 200 independent outlets within three square miles and is buoyed by around 750,000 visitors each year. In addition, this 'port with a purpose' has the world's third deepest natural harbour and supports a number of major businesses which operate on an international level.

Cornwall may not immediately spring to mind as a hub of technology; yet Falmouth (defying stereotypes) is experiencing an explosion of creative and technological energy, epitomised by its thriving marine and higher educational hubs (an innovative shared campus houses Falmouth University and the University of Exeter in Cornwall). This vibrant, entrepreneurial town is awash with opportunity; a fantastic location for doing business. Many Falmouth-based companies offer inspirational apprenticeship schemes, including the following:

A&P Falmouth

Leading engineering services and fabrication group, A&P works in the global marine and energy sectors and has taken on 28 apprentices across a mixture of trade disciplines over the last five years, 16 of which were in Falmouth, many of whom are still employed by the company today. These lucky apprentices are offered the opportunity to develop a career in a company buoyant in defence and commercial, renewables and the cruise ship market.

The business is currently mid-way through a recruitment drive to find a further ten apprentices to join A&P Falmouth this September, which will provide an opportunity for young people to undertake an engineering, commercial, procurement or health, safety and environmental technician apprenticeship. Successful candidates will have the potential to move into full time employment within A&P once their studies are complete. The company currently has six apprentices on site.

An apprenticeship with A&P is often a guarantee of a future top job! 72% of all of A&P Falmouth's management, supervisors and technical staff started out on apprenticeship programmes and A&P Defence's Managing Director, Gerald Pitts, is one of them. He began his career at A&P Group as an engineering apprentice in 1976.

Pendennis Shipyard

World class and award-winning custom build and refit superyacht yard, Pendennis Shipyard was awarded 'Best Company to work for' by the British Marine Federation in 2016 and for the past three years has been awarded the Gold Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Workplace Health Award amongst other numerous training accolades. Pendennis is proud of its award-winning apprenticeship programme which has trained over 200 young men and women in key industry trades over the past 20 years. These schemes focus on continual development of the company's workforce, maintaining the world-class standards which it adheres to in all aspects of a custom build or refit.

This four year course consists of a first year at Cornwall College gaining grounding in all aspects of yacht manufacture and maintenance. The apprentices then spend the next three years at the yard in their chosen trade gaining qualifications and experience. On successful completion of their course, the apprentices often choose to take up positions within the yard and become valued and permanent members of the team.

The University of Exeter

The University of Exeter has a campus in Penryn and as an institution currently employs an impressive 116 Apprentices. It is actively recruiting more wherever possible, with over 17 new starts scheduled between now and March 2020. It is also even encouraging its existing staff to complete apprenticeships to upskill. Of the above figures, there are currently ten apprentices in Cornwall on the Penryn Campus, including one lab technician, seven academic professionals, and two senior leaders.