Pendennis Apprentice Community Week 2026

Celebrating the Success of Pendennis Apprentice Community Week

Pendennis is proud to celebrate the incredible achievements of our apprentices following an inspiring week of community engagement and collaboration. As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Pendennis apprentices took part in Apprentice Community Week, where they stepped beyond the workshop and into the heart of the local community - volunteering their time, skills and enthusiasm to support a wide range of projects and charitable initiatives across the area.

Supporting Our Local Community

Throughout the week, apprentices took part in placements and projects with local schools, clubs and organisations including Archbishop Benson School, Falmouth Primary Academy, 6th Falmouth Sea Scouts, Falmouth Food Co-op, Falmouth Sports Club, Turn to Starboard, Trelawney Rowing Club and Devoran Primary School.

At Archbishop Benson School, the apprentices carried out general maintenance works and revitalised the playground area. At Falmouth Primary Academy, they transformed the outdoor activity space, constructed new steps and refreshed the breakfast club facilities for the children. Supporting Falmouth Food Co-operative at Loveland Community Fields, the team constructed a compost bay using reclaimed timber from a former film set and clad the roadside stall in larch.

Working with the veterans’ sailing charity Turn to Starboard, the apprentices assisted aboard Spirit of Falmouth, undertaking storm damage repairs, general maintenance, and interior painting and varnishing to prepare the vessel for her upcoming anticlockwise circumnavigation of the UK in March. They collaborated with Cockwells apprentices on this project. At Trelawney Rowing Club, the team refurbished a small fibreglass tender, painstakingly removing old paint, sanding, refinishing the oars and applying a final topcoat, again working alongside Cockwells apprentices.

Their efforts continued at Falmouth Sea Scouts, where they completed a range of groundwork improvements including constructing new steps, repainting the garage, and installing a lockbox and new tap. At Falmouth Sports Club, the apprentices refreshed the indoor areas with a fresh coat of paint. Alan Thomas, Secretary of Falmouth Sports Club, praised the Pendennis apprentices, noting: “What strikes me is their maturity, their preparation and planning; they’ve gone far beyond what we thought, and it’s just a pleasure to have them here.” And at Devoran Primary School, the apprentices built mud kitchens for the playground, as well as refurbished / painted an old dinghy which they then turned into a planter. They planted bulbs in areas around the school.

From practical maintenance tasks and improvement works to hands-on assistance with activities and events, their efforts made a meaningful and visible difference. Just as importantly, these placements provided valuable opportunities to connect with different parts of the community and understand the impact skilled trades can have beyond the marine industry.

Building Skills Beyond the Workshop

While giving back was at the heart of the week, Apprentice Community Week is also designed to support personal and professional development.

Over the course of the week, apprentices strengthened essential transferable skills including:

•             Teamwork and collaboration

•             Organisation and time management

•             Leadership and communication

•             Problem-solving in real-world environments

Working alongside different trades, external partners and community leaders allowed them to gain hands-on experience in new settings, adapt to varied challenges and build confidence outside their usual roles. These experiences are invaluable in helping shape well-rounded professionals ready for the demands of the industry.

A Competitive Highlight: The Apprentice Games

In addition to their community placements, apprentices also took part in local events - including ‘The Apprentice Games’ at Camborne College.

The Pendennis team secured 1st place, adding a fun and competitive highlight to an already successful week. The event showcased not only practical skill and technical knowledge, but also team spirit and determination - qualities that were evident throughout the entire week.

Welcoming Local MP Jayne Kirkham

To round off the week, we were pleased to welcome local MP Jayne Kirkham, who visited our apprentices at Falmouth Primary Academy. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the fantastic work carried out during the week and to discuss the wider value of apprenticeships, both to young people developing their careers and to the local community. It was a proud moment for our apprentices to share their experiences first-hand and reflect on what they had achieved.

Proud to Support Our Community

Pendennis Apprentice Community Week is a strong reminder that apprenticeships are about far more than technical training. They are about developing confident, capable individuals who understand the importance of contributing to the local community. 

Pendennis would like to extend a huge well done to every apprentice who took part and a sincere thank you to all the schools, organisations and partners who welcomed and supported them. Your collaboration makes initiatives like this possible.

We’re proud of how our apprentices represented Pendennis - with professionalism, enthusiasm and a genuine commitment to making a difference. 

Apprentice Recruitment 2026

Building on the momentum of an inspiring week, Pendennis was also delighted to launch recruitment for our 2026 apprentice intake during National Apprenticeship Week.

Applications open soon. Anyone interested in an apprenticeship at Pendennis is invited to attend our Apprenticeship Recruitment Open Evening on Tuesday 3rd March at 6pm to meet the team and find out more. To register, visit the apprenticeships page of our website. Application forms will be available on the evening and online afterwards.