Away for a year
For some of our apprentices, it is a big step leaving home for a
year. But at the training centre, you’ll be one of 200 – and that
brings with it a real sense of teamwork. So although this might be
the first time that you’ve spent a long period away from home,
there is a genuine community feel within the programme.
You’ll live at HMS Collingwood, which is just three miles from
the training base at HMS Sultan – and we provide transport from one
to the other. It might take a few weeks to get used to living away
from home, but it doesn’t take long to make friends, and in no time
you’ll be used to living independently. You’ll share a bedroom with
up to five others – which will mean getting used to sharing
facilities.
And there are some great facilities to make use of. There’s a
gym, swimming pool, squash courts, extensive playing fields,
outdoor tennis courts, water sports and organised activities. From
the very first day, there are also lots of team-building and social
events. While the training team is there to help you develop,
possibly the best support comes from your fellow apprentices – and
if some are struggling with certain academic or practical parts of
the course, it doesn’t take much for someone to help out. There’s a
real sense of doing this together.
In and around Gosport and Portsmouth, you’ll find plenty of
things to do in your spare time – there are lots of shops, cinemas,
historic sites, sporting activities and plenty of nightlife. Some
of our apprentices turn out for the local rugby team; others have
even taken part in skydiving and deep-sea fishing.