Elliot Miller on the Boatbuilding Techniques C&G level 3 course at Falmouth Marine School has secured and apprenticeship with the prestigious luxury yacht company Princess Yachts International plc.

Elliot was living in Spain and had just completed his A-levels at an international school when he heard about the course at Falmouth Marine School. Keen to enter the boatbuilding industry he began searching for an apprenticeship, but soon realised he needed a qualification to obtain one. He then asked a friend working at a boatyard in Denmark what the best route into boatbuilding was and his friend’s employer recommended the College.

Since Elliot did not have any previous boatbuilding experience he initially enrolled on the level 1 course, Introduction to Boatbuilding. However after only four weeks his tutor noticed his ability and drive and moved him up to the level 3.

Near the end of his course Elliot once more began looking for an apprenticeship, applied to Princess Yachts International plc and was invited to attend an information day. He will be one of 12 apprentices at the company based in Plymouth. He will start with bench work, which involves building parts for the inside of the yachts such as wine racks and tables and then move onto the yacht fit out. At the end of the year long apprenticeship Princess Yachts International plc will pick two out of the 12 for full apprenticeships.

Elliot said: “I was really pleased when I heard I got the apprenticeship. They’re a great company to work for. I’m really keen to go into a job as soon as I finish my course and I also considered joining the army as a shipwright, but the apprenticeship is really what I wanted. The course has been great. I knew nothing when I started and in just one year have gained so much experience and all the skills I need to start my apprenticeship.”

Dave Martin Boatbuilding Course Area Manager at Falmouth Marine School said: “We could see quite early on that Elliot was able to fast track onto the level 3. I’m very pleased that this has helped him progress into such a prestigious apprenticeships at Princess Yachts.”