Connecting while conquering the great outdoors: our apprentices take on Outward Bound

What makes this teambuilding experience a particularly appealing one is that it usually involves trekking across beautiful landscapes, scaling waterfalls, and generally getting wilfully lost in the wilderness. Hosted this year in Eskdale at the foot of Scafell Pike – the highest mountain in England – our apprentices were let loose against the exceedingly picturesque backdrop of the Lake District, the perfect setting to get to know their colleagues, and themselves, a little better.

The aim of taking on the challenge was ultimately to help the group learn and build both essential life and professional skills, the most important of which was teamwork. A generally quite reserved and fairly introverted bunch, it would also offer our apprentices the chance to put themselves out there and do something different while taking on leadership roles and responsibilities. Representing a range of disciplines, from HGV Maintenance to Paint Spraying, the team would soon understand the benefits of working together to achieve success, the positive impact of collaboration, and the importance of clear communication.

From our full cohort of circa 40 UK-wide apprentices, seven keen participants were accompanied by a few trepidatious mentors and managers from across the business, including Shane Ross, Learning and Development Business Partner, Darren Davies, Regional Service Manager, Andy McKinlay, Quality Manager, and Tom Ball, OE Trainer. “Having started with the business just under two months ago, I was really eager to see the scheme continue as it felt like an invaluable opportunity to get our apprentices working closer together,” Shane said. “The trip would help us better instil the values of our business into these young people while supporting them to build lifelong skills that would benefit their future careers.”

The team arrived at the site on the very warm morning of Monday 3rd August where they were greeted by members of the Outward Bound Trust, including Bruce, the group’s allocated and trusted team leader. From here, their outdoors adventure would begin.

Day One

After settling into their stunning surroundings, the team started out with a gradual two-hour walk across the breathtaking Cumbria countryside which would take them past their first natural beauty – a waterfall. This gave the apprentices some time to properly get to know both each other and their leader Bruce, who would be tailoring certain activities based on what they were hoping to achieve from the trip. After relishing in the fresh air, the group then embarked on a two-hour planning session which encouraged them to set individual goals and objectives for the week.

A key part of this planning centred around designing an activity for swimming in a nearby tarn – a small lake by the mountainside. At 8.30pm that evening, the apprentices travelled to the tarn and challenged themselves to jump in and swim to a specific buoy, depending on their confidence and ability. Not all members were strong swimmers, and one professed to be very uncertain in water, but took on the challenge regardless. This demonstrated bravery and determination, and saw the apprentices work together to support each other through the swim, coordinating their planned approach and assessing any risks to ensure everyone achieved what they set out to, safely and satisfactorily.

Day Two

Their individual goals in mind, day two’s activities were aligned to help meet these, including what’s known as a ‘Gill Scramble’. This consisted of a three-hour climb upstream through a mountain gill, which involved assessing the most suitable routes, scaling waterfalls, navigating steep and slippery terrain, and battling against the force of flowing water. The group set out at the start of the day laden with all of the equipment required for this demanding task – wet suits, harnesses, fell walking boots for river walking, helmets, and safety gear galore.

“Every single person got stuck in and overcame the challenge with enthusiasm,” Shane said. “Even the non-swimmers were so at ease in the water at this point, it was hard to get them back out again! We could see the lessons from day one already beginning to pay off: communication was sharper, confidence was growing, and the team's ability to work together was very admirable.”

Day Three

Day three saw the apprentices take all of the skills they had learned so far and apply these to an overnight expedition. The day was multifaceted, kicking off with a raft building exercise that required a raft to be built from scraps of different materials. The raft would need to be strong enough to carry the whole group, and their kit, across a tarn. This encouraged the team to consider the best approach and work closely to ensure their makeshift raft was sufficiently buoyant and stable for a safe journey over the water. The tarn successfully conquered, the next stage was to embark on an hour-long hike and make camp in preparation for a bridge jump the next morning.

Camped in a relatively sheltered part of the fell, this didn’t stop the weather from reminding the team that they were at the mercy of the elements! A 50-mph gale swept through the area overnight, with temperatures dropping to just 6°C – a stark contrast from the recent heatwaves. Despite the tough conditions, spirits remained high and the group successfully completed the expedition.

Day Four

A well-earned hearty breakfast at a local country pub was the team’s reward the following morning – an important meal that would set them up for another active day. Starting their journey back to base, the apprentices all had to prepare themselves for the upcoming bridge jump which would mark the final challenge of the expedition. Ideal for those seeking an adrenaline rush, but not for any with a fear of heights, the bridge jump into the River Esk rounded off the week in spectacular style. This task perfectly captured the spirit of the week: pushing boundaries, supporting one another, and embracing opportunities for growth.

“It really did feel like a final leap of faith – almost a representation of us throwing the apprentices into the deep end!” said Andy. “They all took this on willingly and it was a great way of showing just how much courage and resilience the group had built up over the full week. Every single person got something different out of the whole experience.”

Day Five

On the final day, the apprentices used the time to reflect on their experiences and all of the adversity they had overcome during the trip. They headed home with the benefit of new social and communication skills, a stronger bond as teammates, and a greater appreciation of the natural world. Personal fears had been faced, confidence developed, and lasting relationships with colleagues built. Their Outward Bound adventure took learning beyond the classroom and into the wild, offering them a unique perspective on how teamwork, commitment, and innovative thinking extends far beyond our factories.

Seven apprentices and four chaperones have now been irreversibly shaped by this singular, unforgettable experience, and we can’t wait to see how this might impact their future successes at Dennis Eagle.