Derbyshire teenager shunned university to become traditional blacksmith at 19
A 21-year-old who shunned university to forge a career as a traditional blacksmith while he was still a teenager in Derbyshire is hoping to inspire more young people into the ancient trade.
Jay Cardall took up the historic profession just one-and-a-half years ago after getting bored with working as a joiner.
He previously turned his back on the idea of academia after seeing his friends go off to university and knew it 'wasn't for him'.
Instead, he completed a qualification in joinery but soon got fed up with the repetitiveness of fitting kitchens and bathrooms.
Jay joined Mather of Tibshelf, in Alfreton, in April 2024, when he was 19, and says he's already on course to buy his own house.
The traditional business uses ancient forge welding techniques to create metalwork at a smithy dating back to the 1600s.
Jay, who works 40 hours a week, says he hope to encourage more young people into the historic trade in the era of the digital age.
There are believed to be fewer than 500 trainees looking to take up the profession and only 990 blacksmiths in the UK as of October last year.
Jay, of Morton, said: "A young person in blacksmithing is very rarely heard of so it's a proud thing for me because it is such a unique job.
"I've always been a getting your hands dirty kind of person - even as a kid I was always into trying to fix and build things.
"After school when I saw a few mates going off to do their A-Levels and then going to university I just sort of turned my back on that idea.
"I knew that academia wasn't for me and I wanted something a bit more hands-on.
"So I went to college and did an apprenticeship in joinery but I found the whole job a bit repetitive - just fitting kitchens and bathrooms."
Jay messaged Stephen Beckett, the director of Mather of Tibshelf, about potentially starting work at the business.
He said he was attracted to the blacksmithing trade due to the opportunity to do "something a little bit different".
The firm takes on a variety of jobs, from work at stately homes and historic churches to fixing broken mobility scooters for people in the area.
He added: "I know Steve and Rob as they know my mum and dad and they were kind enough to give me a chance.
"Some of my mates don't even know what a blacksmith is - they often ask 'so what do you actually do?'
"A lot of them work in factories, pubs, fast-food restaurants or stacking shelves but I always wanted to do something a bit more fun.
"I was 19 when I started here and I learnt on the job. I just really enjoy the variety.
"It is something different every day - you can be working on church bells, benches and school gates. No two days are ever the same.
"Anything that can be built using metal, we can do it. We use old style forge welding techniques which is rare today.
"I've only been doing it two years but already I've been able to save a lot more towards a house than with joinery.
"It has opened up more opportunities for me and for any young people thinking about it, I'd say just do it. I'd be happy if I retired as a blacksmith."
Owner Steve, whose father Rob took over the business in 1979, said: "Jay has a great attitude towards his job.
"There aren't too many young blacksmiths about and certainly not those who use traditional methods like this.
"He is really good at the creative side, coming up with ideas and suggestions as a lot of what we do is bespoke.
"He brings energy to his concepts and was quick to learn. You learn on the job in this trade, that's what I had to do too.
"The future of this industry is very much dependent on encouraging more younger people into it. There's not too many blacksmiths left using traditional techniques."