Richard Hyne at the RNLI

Apprentice Richard Hyne is currently on a 4 year Marine Electronics Apprenticeship with the RNLI.

Richard is 21 years old and lives in Wareham. He is currently on a 4 year Marine Electronics Apprenticeship with the RNLI at the 24 hour search and rescue service for the UK and Republic of Ireland. He has already gained invaluable experience at several RNLI sites, including the electronic repair centre in Poole and the inshore lifeboat-building centre in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Richard will also be studying for a City and Guilds BTEC, which will start him on the path of becoming a marine engineer.

“My grandfather was a boat builder during the Second World War and I was always fascinated with his tales of the sea. I was also very keen on electronics at school and decided to look into a career that combined the two. I spent a year studying electronics at home before I approached Paragon about possible career options. Paragon put me in touch with the RNLI and I was delighted when I managed to get on their Marine Electrical and Electronics Apprenticeship.”

John Graham, Paragon’s Marine Engineering Director, says: “Like many traditional industries, the RNLI struggles to recruit skilled labour to enable it to keep at the forefront of technology. The RNLI turned to Paragon for help in bridging this gap and the Marine Electrical and Electronics Apprenticeship was born.”

“Thanks to Paragon and the RNLI, I feel I’ve got the chance to make a difference myself and hopefully save lives too,” adds Richard.