Henry and Milo from Askham Bryan College are taking part in a Turing Scheme-funded mechanics and engineering project in Aruba, putting their skills into practice in two very different working environments.

At De Palm’s garage, they have been servicing and repairing all-terrain vehicles, buses and off-road vehicles, tackling everything from oil and filter changes to CVT belts, clutches and fault diagnosis – before getting the opportunity to test-drive some of the vehicles they had worked on.

At Atlantis Submarines, they have discovered another side of engineering, helping prepare and charge the submarine while also supporting maintenance on the boats serving De Palm Island.

Beyond the technical experience, living in Aruba has also helped them develop their independence, budgeting skills and confidence while experiencing life in a completely different environment.

In this video, Henry and Milo take us behind the scenes of their project and share some of the practical and personal skills they have gained along the way.

Project co-funded by the #TuringScheme programme of the UK government with the support from @turcostaposibel.

After two incredible months in Aruba, Alfie and Jack are looking back on an experience that has helped them grow both personally and professionally.

Working at De Palm Tours and Atlantis Submarines, they gained hands-on experience maintaining ATVs, tour vehicles, boats and even taking part in a major submarine refit involving 264 batteries. One of the highlights of their project was joining a successful test dive after helping prepare the submarine for inspection.

“Since the beginning of this project, my confidence has grown massively.”

In this final video, Alfie and Jack reflect on the technical skills they have developed, the friendships they have made and how living and working abroad has given them greater confidence, independence and a new perspective on life.

We are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved throughout their placement. Thank you, Alfie and Jack, for representing Everything is Possible with such enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication.

Project co-funded by the #TuringScheme programme of the UK government with the support from @turcostaposibel.

Discover Harley’s experience with his Turing Scheme UK co-funded vocational project in #engineering! He shares how he took on the unique challenge of maintaining a #submarine in #Aruba.

Trainees from Askham Bryan College have developed lots of skills during their Turing Scheme UK co-funded #Mechanic project in #Aruba.

My project involves me working as a trainee mechanic for De Palm Tours here in Aruba and I work day and night shifts on alternate weeks. As part of this, I repair and service their fleet of UTVs, jeeps and buses on a daily basis and assist on engine maintenance for their De Palm Island ferries, small dinghies and 80ft catamaran. In the following months I will be helping with refitting and repainting a boat and constructing the new adult water park on De Palm Island. Also day shifts involve being sent out on road call to deliver replacement UTVs to meet the tourist groups at various sites across the island.

Overall I think I am most surprised that there is no fresh produce on the island, not even tropical fruit as it is all imported from overseas by plane or ship, which does make food shopping an expensive event.

I feel I have gained many skills already from this amazing project including learning how to weld (arc welding, MIG and oxy-fuel) and off-road driving, plus I have improved my cooking skills and qualified as a PADI Open Water scuba diver.

Felix Baines
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Vocational Educational Training (VET) project part of ‘Discovering More’, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.