Beyond the Military

We are working with the High Ground charity to provide blacksmithing training as part of their Rural Experience Week, held regularly at Bicton College in Devon. We take our mobile forges to the college, and we make sure that participants achieve success by unlocking the skills and disciplines which are already part of their military training. All our attendees complete a forged item, everyone works as part of a team, and we are there to provide guidance, support and encouragement. We use a forge, a hammer, passion and enthusiasm to get people learning, talking, and gaining in confidence.

Ian also contributes to High Ground Rural Weeks, regularly delivering talks about rehabilitation and the transition to civilian life, planning for a business, working with civilian customers, and how to manage difficult work relationships.

Feedback from our work with High Ground:

• “A big ‘Thumbs Up’ to Ian and Dan for the delivery of this session. The whole group enjoyed every aspect of the blacksmithing. Ian and Dan treated the group with kindness and respect but also injected service humour and banter, which they really enjoyed. The session was just over 3 hours long and many would have quite happily spent all day in their company learning new skills” - Chris Shepherd, Bicton College

• “What an amazing week we had in the Devon sunshine and countryside. The session that you and Dan delivered was a true highlight...” - Tim, High Ground

• “Thank you so much for the talk, we were still buzzing this morning! I really hope that you will come back and talk to us again during the Spring programme” - Anna, High Ground