Buckfast Abbey welcomes brother as new apprentice

This autumn Buckfast Abbey has welcomed a new recruit to their team who follows in his brother’s footsteps. Trainee electrician, Ryan Ware, will join the Abbey’s Works Department as a new apprentice electrician and work alongside the Abbey’s current plumbing apprentice, Ryan’s twin brother, Lewis Ware.

The recruitment of Ryan is the latest in a series of apprenticeship appointments made by the Abbey and he will be their first apprentice electrician. The Abbey is a passionate supporter of education and learning and currently facilitates apprenticeship schemes in partnership with training providers in the following trades: plumbing and heating, painting and decorating horticulture and landscaping. 

Like all the apprentices at Buckfast Abbey, Ryan has a dedicated on-site mentor, who helps guide and oversee his training and development at the Abbey and will support him towards his goal of achieving Installation Electrician and Apprenticeship Qualification Level 3 in September 2023.  

Ryan’s training will see him assist in the maintenance of the Abbey’s extensive site which not only includes the Abbey Church and monastery, but also a guest house, hotel, shops, restaurant and many other buildings.   

Simon Clayton, Buildings and Maintenance Manager at Buckfast Abbey commented, “The Abbey’s Works Department is always busy and Ryan will be a great addition to our team. Working with colleagues Ryan will be assisting with tasks varying from rewiring a domestic property through to testing and inspecting commercial properties and installing and maintaining electric vehicle charge points.”

The Abbey has a proud history of learning on the job. When the Abbey was being rebuilt in the 1930s, Brother Peter went abroad to learn masonry skills and came back to instruct the monks who were working with him on the construction of the Abbey Church.  

Jen Totman, HR Manager at Buckfast Abbey, added, “Today, apprenticeships provide us with a great opportunity to invest in, and support, young people as well as helping us develop the next generation of our team.  

“We are delighted that we have been able to create further training opportunities and expand our cohort of apprentices. For our young trainees we’re pleased to offer valuable work-related skills which they combine with study and a wage, to help start a career. 

“We are looking forward to supporting Ryan and all our apprentices in realising their potential and alongside this exploring the possibility of further expanding our apprenticeship schemes.”

Buckfast Abbey’s four-strong team of apprentices includes: Apprentice Painter and Decorator, Jordan Baker-Edwards who is training at PGL Training; Apprentice Gardener, Ella Miles who is studying at Bicton College; Apprentice Plumber, Lewis Ware, who trains at PGL Training and new recruit, Ryan Ware, Apprentice Electrician also training with PGL Training.

Hannah Peacock, the coordinator at Exeter based PGL Training Ltd who manages the apprenticeship scheme added, “We pride ourselves at PGL Training on strong working partnerships with employers such as Buckfast Abbey. The work with Jordan, Lewis and Ryan is testament to the relationship we are developing with Buckfast, and we look forward to seeing them through to completion of their apprenticeship and beyond.”

Buckfast Abbey is home to a community of Benedictine monks and it offers a unique, tranquil ambience, open seven days a week to the public. Entry is free and there is ample free car parking.  For more information on the Abbey, Mass times, events and attractions visit www.buckfastabbey.org.uk