A team building event with a difference has taken place to ensure apprentices working for BAE Systems Submarines didn’t miss out on a popular outdoors challenge.
Normally apprentices from Barrow would take part in a series of activities held in the Lake District as part of their personal development. Covid-19 meant the event, for first year Higher and Degree Apprentices, was postponed this summer.
Instead apprentices were posed a challenge; to run, walk, cycle, swim, paddleboard or crawl 306 miles, the distance between Barrow and Portsmouth, where BAE Systems Maritime Services is based, in just seven days.
BAE Systems Submarines is part of BAE Systems Maritime which includes Maritime Services and Naval Ships.
“Lockdown can be a difficult time for everyone, and we wanted to encourage apprentices to get involved in a fun way that would also help to promote working in a team and allow them to manage their wellbeing from home,” Helen Wharton Graduate and Higher Apprentices Manager, said.
The inaugural Higher Apprentices Lockdown Challenge 2020 saw 52 apprentices taking part, vying for awards such as the team covering the most kilometres in seven days, the most unusual way of completing the distance and highest personal mileage
Among those winning awards for showing creativity in completing the challenge were engineering high apprentice Amber Carson who climbed during her attempt and Curtly Etchells who included golf to contribute to the challenge.
Higher apprentice Kyle Swinburne, who covered almost 77 miles and covered the furthest distance in the week, said it was great fun.
“I found the challenge a great way to get out the house, and relax after being in the same room for hours on end,” Kyle said. “It encouraged friendly competition within our own team to see who could go the furthest, but also gave the team something to work towards.”
The team effort included project management higher apprentice Daisy Fletcher-Cooney who drew up the leadership score sheet and worked with Hannah Priestley-Jukes, the Project Management Skills coach in BAE Systems Early Careers, who was instrumental in developing and implementing the challenge.
The event has proved so popular the team are now rolling it out across other apprentice year groups to encourage wellbeing, exercise, teamwork and creativity.
