A WEYMOUTH man has proved it’s never too late to learn as he’s just earned an apprenticeship at the age of 34.

As thousands of students and pupils go back to school this academic year, Robin Hawkes, pictured above, was looking forward to going back to college.

Mr Hawkes was in the Royal Artillery for 16 years, working in logistics. He had to leave the forces last year due to an injury and he and his wife moved to Weymouth.

The former bombardier said he knew exactly what he wanted to do and retrained as a plumber with New Career Skills.

Help 4 Heroes gave him funding towards a course and Mr Hawkes chose New Career Skills which allowed him to retrain at his own speed.

He said this was important as he has dyslexia and wanted to be able to carry on working while he retrained.

Robin, who worked as a refuse lorry driver while he retained, said: “I knew I could do it in my own time and didn’t have to hit deadlines. I found studying hard but if you want something, you work hard at it.”

Robin did work experience with Aster Property and when they had apprenticeship opportunity he applied and got the job.

“After being in one job for so long and retraining I thought it would take me ages to get work – but from my first interview I got a job.”

Now he is preparing to return to college as a mature student as part of his apprenticeship.

He said: “I know I can cope with it because of the New Career Skills course. I told my wife when I came out the army that my goal was to be a plumber and I’ve hit the ground running.”