Meet Our Apprentices: Jamie and James
At Tamar Crossings, our Apprentices are a vital part of keeping our ferries and infrastructure running safely and smoothly. Working on one of the UK’s few remaining chain ferries means no two days are ever the same, and the skills learned here are truly unique.
We spoke to two of our current Apprentices, Jamie and James, about their journeys so far, what they’ve learned, and what it’s really like to be part of the team.
Jamie:
Jamie joined Tamar Crossings just over a year ago after deciding it was time for a career change. The apprenticeship covers both Electrical and Mechanical disciplines, giving her a broad and hands-on learning experience. For Jamie, it's been a unique experience where she's learned about elements of engineering that you wouldn't find anywhere else.
“I was previously working in retail and wanted a change. I’d done engineering in college and wanted to come back to it again. On the Electrical side I’m testing fire alarms, changing lamps and fixing faults. Mechanical work can mean getting into the chain chute, changing segments, pulling chain or servicing generators - they’re completely different each side.
I've found that I prefer Electrical Engineering, you really have to engage your brain with creative problem solving.
The team are like a mini family, everyone gets on. They’ve also helped with my college work, which is really valuable. We’ve all got a good sense of humour, and that’s vital when you’re working so closely together.
The things you learn here are very unique. As one of the UK’s few chain ferries, we’re learning things that engineers in other roles wouldn’t be exposed to.”