For Andrew Brock, becoming an engineering apprentice has been less about starting a career and more about finding his way back to one.
Now in the third year of his Support Engineer Apprenticeship, Andrew is studying towards a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Support Technician qualification – building on an interest in the marine world that stretches back to the very beginning of his working life.
After leaving school, Andrew studied Light Marine Engineering at Falmouth Marine School before moving on to marine biology and ecology. Life, however, took his career in a different direction. Frequent relocations led him into retail, where he spent five years with a popular DIY chain, predominantly working as a warehouse manager.
It was an experience that gave Andrew his first taste of greater responsibility, including running a department and managing staff, but the pull of the marine industry remained.
Determined to return to that world, he joined Princess Yachts Ltd as a Glass Reinforced Plastic Repairer. For almost three years, Andrew carried out fibreglass repairs, finishing work, and quality inspections – putting him firmly back into the industry he had always wanted to pursue.
Then came an unexpected setback. Prolonged exposure to fibreglass dust and particulates caused a severe recurrence of childhood eczema, meaning Andrew needed to rethink his future once again.
Rather than closing the door on marine engineering, it ultimately opened another.
“When I saw the Apprenticeship with the MoD advertised, I recognised it as an excellent opportunity to fully return to marine engineering and build upon the knowledge and experience I had gained through my education and previous industry work,” Andrew explains.
Crucially, the Apprenticeship also allowed him to continue earning a salary while supporting himself and his partner after they had bought their first home together.
Today, Andrew’s career looks very different. During his current placement within the Submarine Delivery Group, he supports maintenance and engineering assurance activities, reviews technical documentation, and engages with specialists to support decision-making. Site visits are also giving him first-hand insight into maintenance activities and the challenges faced by operators.
Alongside that workplace experience, his studies are helping him build both technical knowledge and confidence. Going forward, he is particularly looking forward to developing his Computer Aided Design (CAD) skills and strengthening his mathematical abilities.
“The Apprenticeship has helped me develop both my technical confidence and communication skills,” he says. “I now feel much more confident approaching new tasks, organising my workload, working effectively with others, and adapting to new challenges as they arise.”
That confidence has been hard-earned. Returning to formal education meant revisiting maths after some time away, and Andrew initially found some topics challenging. With support from lecturers and fellow apprentices, however, he was able to rebuild his confidence and significantly improve his understanding.
His experiences have also begun to shape where his career might take him next. While Andrew remains open-minded, working within defence has sparked a particular interest in the nuclear sector, submarines, and the wider nuclear enterprise. He is interested in potentially exploring opportunities within Design Authority or Nuclear Safety Assurance teams and would also like to continue his education with a degree or other higher-level qualifications.
For someone whose career has already taken several turns, that openness to opportunity feels fitting – and is exactly what Andrew recommends to anyone considering following a similar route.
“My advice to anyone considering an Apprenticeship like this would be to take every opportunity available to you, and keep an open mind.”
