Steve grew up in Devon and originally wanted to ride professionally but then switched to farriery. Steve said: "I did my four year apprenticeship then started up on my own and became an Approved Training Farrier (ATF) 12 years ago, when approached by a boy’s parents asking me to take him on after school. We’re still in touch and take part in shoeing competitions together.
"Since then 16 apprentices have qualified with me before becoming self-employed. Farriery is a job you have got to want to do because it’s demanding job and you have to have a feel for the work to do it properly. An apprentice can pass doing everything in work hours but if you want distinctions you need to put in extra time - and most farriers are competitive."
The event, organised by Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based industries, highlighted the importance of the sector to people's everyday lives and showcased the career opportunities within the industry. The case studies displayed on giant A-boards also aimed to encourage businesses to up skill and equip themselves for the future with support from Lantra. Career information is available from afuturein.com
In addition to Steve Hewitt from Thick Penny Forge, Moor Monkton, there was a team from Askham Bryan College,York, highlighting some of the skills involved in the environmental and land-based industries. Among them was James Richardson, who studied a foundation year in horticulture at Askham Bryan College is soon to start work.
James said: "I achieved five GCSEs at A to C grades but I didn't want to spend any more time inside. There is so much you can learn – for example, you can get a ticket to drive a JCB digger, a licence for tree work ... everything comes into it. Even gardening can mean anything from greens maintenance to arboriculture. One thing leads on to another. I’m really looking forward to it."
Without skilled people, such as Steve Hewitt and James Richardson, working on our behalf, who knows what life would be like in the UK?
