Blacksmithing Craft Fellow

Details

Historic Environment Scotland’s Craft Fellowship programme offers hands-on experience in traditional skills and building conservation, enabling you to work on live projects, expand your knowledge and build a professional network. As a Craft Fellow, you will receive expert mentorship, group training, and support for your continuous professional development goals, combining practical work with learning from industry experts.

You will be based at Two Ravens Forge where you will receive mentoring, training and experience in blacksmithing, traditional metal forging techniques and modern metal work technology. This fellowship will provide you with an opportunity to gain experience of:

• a range of forging, welding, fabrication and finishing techniques, including using relevant tools and equipment;
• an understanding of iron and steels, the differences and attributes of each, of heat treatment and its application;
• drawing up projects, assessing material requirements, planning processes to ensure efficient workflow;
• forging and fabrication of components for projects, including systems for efficient and accurate production;
• the manufacture of job specific tooling and jigs for batch and production components;
• assembly of components in a traditional manner and when appropriate with modern techniques;
• an understanding of finishing processes, safe and appropriate application of finishes and how the finish protects and enhances the work; and
• attending training courses and potentially attaining formal qualifications such as first aid and relevant skills.

Your responsibilities and duties will include:

• carrying out work in a professional manner, whilst working on conservation/restoration and in house projects, and whilst representing HES at events, conferences, and training workshops;
• Health and Safety, not only for yourself, but also for anyone who might be affected by any of the work you are carrying out – it is important that you ensure that you and others are safe in all elements of your work;
• using, caring for and maintaining various tools and equipment – all training related to this will be provided;
• supporting and learning from Steve Rook and Elspeth Bennie at Two Ravens Forge, whilst also taking responsibility for your own learning and personal development, and the recording and reporting of this to HES;
• being an active member of the HES Craft Fellowship Programme, and getting involved with training, continued professional development opportunities, and the Craft Fellow network;
• supporting with the delivery of training, education visits and outreach events both within the blacksmithing field and through HES’s Engine Shed programme.

Essential requirements:

• An interest in traditional building conservation and/or conserving historic structures.
• Practical experience of using hand tools and power tools.
• Ability to work independently but to also take direction to complete a project.
• Ability to be curious and ask questions/carry out research to support own learning.
• Ability to be an active member of a team.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Good attention to detail.

Desirable requirements:

• Good understanding of Scottish historic building conservation and materials.
• A full, clean UK driving licence.
• An awareness / experience of construction site safety.
• Experience in Office 365 (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook).