Teamwork training for Babcock Apprentices

A group of Babcock Marine apprentices from Devonport Royal Dockyard have learned the importance of working as a team during a week long course delivered by VT Flagship at HMS Raleigh.

The group of 29 second year apprentices spent the week at the Royal Navy training establishment undergoing a series of practical exercises and classroom based activities designed to develop their teamworking and leadership skills. Each session provided them with differing degrees of challenges to improve communication, foster better relationships and encourage their team spirit to develop.

Highlights included the chance to experience HMS Raleigh's multi-million pound sinking ship simulator, where the apprentices had to work together to save the ship as it rocked from side to side in high seas and filled with water. They also tackled HMS Raleigh's assault course and spent a night under canvas on Dartmoor.

Apprentice Fabricator Mark Lucas, aged 18 from Chaddlewood, said: "This course has helped me to develop personally and given me lots more confidence. It's helped me to realise my mental strength. I've also learned that if you respect others, they respect you back. All this helps to get the job down more quickly and gives everyone a sense of achievement".

The course was delivered by VT Flagship's Training Manager, Martin Fricker. He said: "Our leadership and teamworking training draws on the Royal Navy's experience spanning many centuries. It is based on a culture of discipline, teamwork and the value of the individual. These qualities are vital in today's modern working environment and are applicable across a wide range of industry and organisations. This is the sixth year we have provided this training to the apprentices. This course will give them a good foundation on which to build a successful career in their chosen profession".