Former paratrooper encourages others to accept apprenticeship plunge
A paratrooper who was forced to quit the army because of health reasons says becoming an apprentice electrician was the best thing he could have done to turn his life around.
Michael Parr, 28, of Great Glen, Leicestershire was discharged in the 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment after suffering hearing loss in one ear as a result of firing heavy weapons.
Since just as one apprentice at RK Electrical Mechanical Services in Northamptonshire he has his feet firmly on the floor and hopes to encourage others to consider apprenticeships when faced with having to make a career change.
Speaking of his experience during National Apprenticeship Week (8-14 February), he said: “On leaving school I went on to study farming, I’d done a farm since I was 13 and knew this was something I wanted to do. I studied farm management and worked in the market for eight years.”
After spending two years working on farms in Australia Michael decided time it was right to follow a life-long ambition to join the army and in 2021 he took the plunge.
He said: “I went overseas quite a lot on training exercises, completing various parachute jumps. I loved everything about this and was devastated when after just 4 years I was discharged for becoming deaf in one ear from firing heavy weapons.
“I didn’t find out what to do, a career in the army was my life ambition. I didn’t possess a back-up plan and I needed one fast.”
Michael decided to retrain to become an electrical engineer.
He said: “I decided to throw myself right into a new career. I had excelled in the army and I knew I would excel as an electrician. I could transfer all the skills I had learnt in the army into relearning a trade. I asked around and was told about RK Electrical Mechanical Services.”
The award-winning Desborough-based employer specialises in providing high-quality electrical, plumbing and heating services over a number of industry sectors, including housing developments, social housing sites and industrial, commercial and domestic properties.
Apprenticeships in electrical plumbing and heating, including gas, can be found to successful candidates on completing a two-week trial.
Michael will complete his second year in March.
He added: “Being an apprentice is so much better than I expected it to be. I’ve had fantastic support from everyone at the firm and I would tell anyone confronted with a situation like mine to choose their gut feeling, don’t allow the word ‘apprentice’ put you off.
“As much as I needed to stay in the army I knew that becoming an electrician would be better for my future and also the time goes so fast. After i was told I was getting discharged from the army I really didn’t think I’d be where I'm now.
“I knew a bit about electrics and decided to go for it and I would encourage others to do the same.”
RK Electrical Mechanical Services is currently supporting seven apprentices across both electrical and mechanical sides of the industry.
Kye Bishop, Business Development Manager, added: “Apprenticeships have a key role in helping the UK’s economic recovery from COVID-19 and we're proud to be able to help people like Michael to retrain and up-skill. Our apprenticeship scheme supports our resolve for organically grow the business and make our own professional, highly-skilled workforce.”
On completion of the apprenticeship programme candidates will have taken the necessary steps to be qualified as either an electric or mechanical engineer.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the RK Electrical Mechanical Services apprenticeship scheme can contact Kye Bishop 01536 601900, email: kye@rkelec.co.uk or join a monthly e-newsletter here.
Click or tap for more information about RK Electrical Mechanical Services.
