Hydram Apprentices Take on the Lake District

Within our apprenticeship programme, we look to deliver and provide opportunities outside of the classroom and the workplace for apprentices to develop, collaborate and challenge themselves in an environment beyond their comfort zone.

As part of that, each year we host a residential trip which takes them outside of their usual environment, but also gives them the opportunity to work together as a group.

Here, Lee Bailey, Apprentice Programme Lead at Hydram reflects on the latest trip and shares valuable insight on the benefits it has.

It was a damp but mild day in the Lake District when we started our annual residential trip, on September 14th, 2026, which has become an important part of our apprenticeship programme. The apprentice group was made up of nine individuals from Hydram and three apprentices from Dynamic Aerospace Fabrications in Derby across the three apprentice year groups.

This year we worked with a new provider, Mobile Adventure a professional and highly supportive outdoor company which runs a wide variety of outdoor activities. They arranged the accommodation, transport and activities for the trip.

Straight Into the Deep End

We wasted no time on day one, heading to Stoneycroft Ghyll in the Newlands Valley for a ghyll scramble.

This involved, working our way through flowing water, rocky sections, slides, jumps and waterfalls – which meant everyone had to get involved and support each other. Some took to it immediately, while others were well outside their comfort zone, but that was exactly the point.

It was great to see the group naturally start encouraging each other and helping people through the more challenging sections.

That evening we headed onto Derwentwater, with half of the group in rafted canoes and the other half sharing a giant paddleboard. Staying upright, moving in roughly the right direction and working together provided another test of communication and coordination, with plenty of laughs along the way.

Derwentwater to Bassenthwaite

Day two brought the biggest physical challenge of the trip: an approximately 14 km canoe journey from Derwentwater, along the River Derwent and into Bassenthwaite Lake.

It was a long session and required each canoe team to communicate, coordinate their paddling and maintain a steady pace. As everyone started to tire, keeping each other motivated became just as important as the paddling itself.

Three of the six boats capsized during the journey, sending their crews for an unexpected swim a total of nine times, while the other half of the group somehow managed to stay bone dry.

After returning to Hawse End, we somehow decided that everyone still had enough energy left for an evening climb up Catbells, a popular fell.

The group dealt with different walking speeds and confidence levels well, making sure nobody was left behind and helping each other through the steeper sections. Reaching the top together, with its fantastic panoramic views, was a fitting end to a long but brilliant day.

One last challenge

Before heading home, our final morning was spent at an indoor climbing centre.

By this point there was a noticeable difference in the group. People were more comfortable with each other; communication came more naturally and there was plenty of encouragement for those who were less confident climbing.

The progression of the apprentices, over the three days is one of the most valuable parts of the residential.

These trips are obviously great fun, but there is a serious purpose behind them too. Taking apprentices away from their normal roles gives us an opportunity to see how they communicate, support others, respond to challenges and work together as a team.

Bringing apprentices together from both Hydram and Dynamic Aerospace Fabrications provided an additional opportunity to build relationships outside of their usual teams and to get to know people from another part of the wider business.

For me, as Apprentice Programme Lead, it is also a valuable opportunity to understand the apprentices better as individuals. You see strengths, confidence and leadership qualities that don’t always appear during an ordinary workday.

This year’s residential was a real success and Mobile Adventure proved to be an excellent choice as our new provider. They delivered a packed and challenging programme of activities which really gave our apprentices the opportunity to develop their capabilities.

Most importantly, 12 apprentices came back tired, probably slightly bruised, but knowing each other considerably better than when they left.

That is really what the residential is all about: character building, team bonding and giving our apprentices experiences that challenge them outside the workplace and confidence they can respond in difficult situations.

For more information on our apprenticeship programme, visit our dedicated page and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook.