David Kirkum

Over the past few years of working in the dockyard I have learned so many skills and techniques which are transferable across all jobs. During my time I had completed a city and guilds level 2 and level 3 diploma in Maritime Defence Engineering with the manufacture and construction of boats/ships, using a range of materials for fabrication processes, Health and Safety principles, Engineering maths for both diplomas plus more. Since working within the yard I have gained so much industrial experience with working with heavy equipment, hand tools, specialist tools etc... I have also gained a lot of communication skills from working within teams and working in pairs, in which having good chemistry with the team and the people I work with and ensuring to deal with any confliction quickly and in a manner of confidence and professionalism to prevent escalation. I always ensure people are happy within the team as that's the kind of person I am. Problem solving also has played a major part in my role and being able to come up with quick, safe and professional solutions ensuring the task continues and does not fall behind.

While I was at Treburley Garage I was also completing a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering and Manufacturing and a BTEC Level 2 Vehicle Technology which included vehicle design, maintenance and routine checks, removal and refitting of parts, engineering skills for vehicle technology, etc...

- All of these skills were implemented into this job when I was working there on Fridays and Saturdays. Even on odd days off on weekends and my half days on Friday I have been going up to help out on bigger jobs on vehicles up until now as of March 2026.

- The amount of skills and knowledge I have learnt working there working on a range of vehicles starting with pre-war vehicles right up until present day working on mechanical systems and electrical systems right up to diagnostics. Thanks to the garage I have now nearly finished my two and a half year restoration on my 1976 Triumph Spitfire which has been an amazing journey and learning experience doing full strip and rebuilds and working on other projects in the meantime.

- To summarise while I was there I:

• Provided excellent customer service to all customers
• Used precision tools with care maintaining their functionality over time
• Assisted in vehicle inspections for improved road safety
• Conducted routine maintenance to increase vehicle lifespan
• Managed inventory of parts ensuring the correct parts were ordered to prevent issues during repairs
• Developed diagnostic skills by working under supervision of experienced mechanics.
• Demonstrated problem-solving ability whilst diagnosing intricate mechanical issues,.