"When thinking about my career I was originally contemplating doing a college course in Engineering as I always had an interest in how things were made. An opportunity presented itself at Purdey and I decided to take the chance, and I have not looked back,” says Henry Richards, who recently qualified as a Junior Craftsman after passing his five-year apprenticeship.
Each apprenticeship is unique to the individual, which is what makes it special. “The foundations are hand-eye coordination, toolmaking, and cultural fit – the first three months are all about that,” says Jim Bryan, Production Manager at the factory who started out as an apprentice himself. “I was 16 and came straight into this environment because I knew a Purdey barrel maker at the time. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do as a career, working with guns seemed like a cool thing to do, and before I knew it I was in it to win it. I like to think I’ve now got to the point of becoming a craftsperson, a product specialist, a production manager… If you’re interested and you’re prepared to work hard, anyone could be a great Purdey apprentice. You just don’t know until you turn up.”
“As someone who had no previous knowledge of the gun trade prior to starting my apprenticeship, it was really exciting to learn about the mechanics of guns and the shooting world as a whole,” Richards adds. “I have learnt so many different skills in my time with Purdey, from hand filing through to working on milling machines.” Spending eight to 10 hours standing at the bench requires a certain mindset, both admit, but the key is finding enjoyment in the task in hand and being motivated to do a better job each time.
“We’re lucky that there are now a few more Purdey models to sharpen our edges on than in the past, in terms of skill development,” says Bryan. “Repetition is a big part of it, but it’s a balance between getting good at a skill by practising it over and over, and giving the apprentices lots of variation to keep things interesting. I had a lot of variation in my apprenticeship within service, which has given me a really good foundation of root cause, figuring out problems under pressure, understanding deliverables regardless of the issue that might be in front of you… And that variety hones the skills.”
“The general skillset is the same wherever you are in the factory, it’s just applied differently,” Bryan explains. “There’s a lot of metalwork in stocking for example, so you don’t just need to be really good with wood. You could technically place our craftspeople on any bench and they’d be ok – apart from engraving, or barrel making if you are an engraver (although I do have a friend who went from one to the other, even though they are poles apart). Of course, people have their strengths, but generally where apprentices start is where they stay.”
“We’ve had apprentices come and go who have been really good shots, really interested in shooting and the whole experience of it, but haven’t made it on the technical side,” says Bryan. “Only the best qualify and when they do, like Henry, it’s a big deal for us.”
“Throughout my five-year apprenticeship there have been many helpful people who have championed me to be successful along the way,” Richards picks up. “I know I am always supported and work with a great team; we go shooting together and enjoy other team bonding experiences. Now, I could not imagine doing anything else. I am really excited for my future with Purdey."
We’re holding an Open Day for those interested in applying for a Purdey Apprenticeship on 27 November, get in touch to register here.