SALISBURY-BASED GoSkydive has welcomed its first female instructor to join its high-flying team.

Holly Goodfield qualified as a tandem skydive instructor after completing more than 1,300 jumps to master parachute handling, freefall and camera flying.

The 21-year-old is the first female instructor to qualify at GoSkydive, which is based at Old Sarum Airfield, and becomes the centre’s first and only female instructor.

She joins about 15 other female tandem skydive instructors working in the UK, and GoSkydive’s team of 20 instructors, who between them complete up to 150 jumps a day.

Since 2014, Holly has been working at GoSkydive as a freefall photographer.

Holly said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have qualified as a tandem skydive instructor. I have been working toward this for the last few years – I’m very proud to have achieved it and also be able to add to the small number of females in the profession.

“It really is an honour to share the special experience of tandem skydiving with someone – especially when it is their first time, and often will be their only time doing one. It’s brilliant that I can now call it my profession, and I can’t wait to jump with lots of customers this summer and create some amazing skydiving memories.”

Holly’s qualification comes after GoSkydive launched the world’s first Tandem Skydive Instructor Apprenticeship Programme, which offers candidates the opportunity to train and qualify in the adrenaline-filled industry.

During the two-year programme apprentices can fully qualify as freefall video and still photographers, and go on to become fully qualified tandem skydive instructors.

Gordon Blamire, the founder and managing director for GoSkydive, added: “Being a tandem skydive instructor is such a fulfilling job — you get to give people unforgettable memories while doing what you love on a daily basis. Holly will be a great asset to our team and we look forward to seeing her put her training and qualification into action with lots of Tandem Skydives this summer.”

To find out more about GoSkydive’s apprenticeship programme go to GoSkydive.com/apprenticeships