Navy News
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Celebration of Royal Navy apprenticeship pathways
10 February 2026
Skills for life are the focus of National Apprenticeship Week, with the Royal Navy offering a wide range of opportunities.
Running until 15 February, the week encourages personnel to find out what an apprenticeship can do for them and their team.
Rear Admiral Jude Terry said: "Supporting the personal development of your team members not only makes them happier and more confident but also benefits the organisation as a whole.
“During development conversations, focus on the individual and the broader impact of their growth, even if it means they eventually move on. I once approved an apprenticeship for someone previously denied the opportunity. They grew immensely, and the organisation thrived as a result.
“Yes, we lost them for a day a week, but the value they brought back far outweighed the cost. As managers, I urge you to think beyond your immediate area and consider the bigger picture, investing in people benefits everyone."
One of the many apprenticeships offered in the Royal Navy is to become a survival equipment technician – responsible for fixing the life-saving kit used by helicopter aircrew.
This includes more than 1,000 items of equipment - everything from aircrew helmets, night-vision goggles, inflatable life-preservers, personal beacons and survival packs, to search and rescue harnesses, stretchers, and life rafts.
Trainee survival equipment technicians with Merlin Helicopter Force study for an NVQ Level 3 in aeronautical engineering.
The ratings have already been in the navy for two years by this point, having completed their basic training at HMS Raleigh at Torpoint, and then engineering training at HMS Sultan in Gosport.
I always wanted to go into the military but I didn’t think I was ready for it. Instead, I waited until I was a bit older and had more confidence.
Their final phase of training takes place ‘on the job’, in this case at the helicopter base Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in west Cornwall.
Able Rate Ryan Stroud, aged 19, grew up not far away from Culdrose, at Hayle, also in west Cornwall. He comes from a naval family with his grandfather, father and uncle having all served as air engineers in the Royal Navy.
He said: “I am the only one who is not an air engineer. I was debating doing a construction job but I always knew I wanted to join the navy.
“I was pleased to come to back to Cornwall and to Culdrose. You get that home-life balance down here where I can still see my friends and family.
“I enjoy the job. Day-to-day, it can be a bit demanding but you can see the work you’re doing. You can get a helmet that comes in in a shocking state and then it goes out fresh and new. It’s rewarding.”
Able Rate Lauryn Beggs, 25 and from Southport in Merseyside, said she felt she was too young to join the navy straight from college and decided to delay her application.
She said: “I always wanted to go into the military but I didn’t think I was ready for it. Instead, I waited until I was a bit older and had more confidence.
“I do like it and I am enjoying it. The work is important and I like the fiddly, hands-on work – which this job can be at times. The only problem I have here in Cornwall is that I don’t have a car, but everyone is really friendly.”
Able Rate Oli Yeo, 19 and from Hereford, joined the navy straight from college. He said: “My college tutor – she was in the navy – said how good it was. I decided to give it a go and it’s been really good. The training is interesting and hands-on maintenance work is always good. We are the last line of defence – if we fail in our job then the aircrew are in a terrible state if their helicopter goes down.
“At the weekend, we went down to see the course going through HMS Sultan who became our friends when we went through training. It’s nice to have that – a bit of ‘family’ around you. In the navy, you have a wide range of friends.”