How an exciting career change has helped a Harborough district paratrooper turn his life around after the devastation of leaving the army due to injury

An elite paratrooper from the Harborough district forced to quit the army because firing heavy weapons made him deaf in one ear has become an apprentice electrician - and he’s loving it.

Michael Parr, 28, of Great Glen, said it’s the best thing he could have done to turn his life around after the para was “devastated” to have to leave the military after just four years.

He was discharged from the country’s crack 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment after he suffered chronic hearing loss in one ear.

Worried Michael feared he was going to hit the ground with a bump after his time in his beloved Army was brought to an abrupt halt.

But the proud ex-soldier has managed to land firmly on his feet as he carves out an exciting new career at RK Electrical Mechanical Services on Stoke Albany Road, Desborough.

Speaking ahead of National Apprenticeship Week (on Monday February 8 – Sunday February 14), Michael said: “On leaving school I went on to study farming, I’d worked on a farm since I was 13 and knew this was something I wanted to do.

“I studied farm management and worked in the industry for eight years.”

After working for two years on farms in Australia, Michael acted to make a life-long dream come true as he passed a tough selection course to join the Army’s iconic Parachute Regiment in 2014.

“I went overseas quite a lot on training exercises, completing various parachute jumps.

“I loved everything about it and was devastated when after just four years I was discharged for becoming deaf in one ear from firing heavy weapons.

“I didn’t really know what to do then - a career in the army was my life ambition,” said Michael.

“I didn’t have a back-up plan and I needed one fast.”

So he decided to retrain to become an electrical engineer.

“I decided to throw myself into a new career.

“I had excelled in the army and I knew I would excel as an electrician,” said Michael.

“I could transfer all the skills I had learnt in the army into relearning a trade.

“I asked around and was told about RK Electrical Mechanical Services.”

The award-winning Desborough-based employer specialises in providing high-quality electrical, plumbing and heating services across a range of industry sectors.

They include housing developments, social housing sites and industrial, commercial and domestic properties.

Apprenticeships in electrical plumbing and heating, including gas, are offered to successful candidates on completion of a two-week trial.

Michael is looking forward to completing his second year next month.

“Being an apprentice is so much better than I expected it to be.

“I’ve had fantastic support from everyone at the firm and I would tell anyone faced with a situation like mine to go with their gut feeling, don’t let the word ‘apprentice’ put you off,” said the former paratrooper.

“As much as I wanted to stay in the Army I knew that becoming an electrician would be better for my future and the time goes so fast.

“When I was told I was getting discharged from the Army I really didn’t think I’d be where I am now.

“I knew a bit about electrics and decided to go for it and I would encourage others to do the same.”

RK Electrical Mechanical Services is currently supporting seven apprentices across both the electrical and mechanical sides of the industry.

Kye Bishop, the company’s Business Development Manager, said: “Apprenticeships have a key role in helping the UK’s economic recovery from Covid-19 and we are proud to be able to help people like Michael to retrain and up-skill.

“Our apprenticeship scheme supports our commitment to organically grow the business and create our own professional, highly-skilled workforce.”