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GUNMAKING APPRENTICESHIPS AT WESTLEY RICHARDS

For many years now Westley Richards has run a gunmaking apprenticeship program, one which we were able to scale up once we moved to our new premises in 2008. Every year since we have started (and intend to continue to start)  2 new young people on this 5 year programme to becoming a skilled craftsman in our trade.

Jeweling Locks

Westley Richards runs possibly the only remaining true gunmaking apprenticeships in the country, here we do not teach how to assemble a box of finely machined parts but rather the time honoured skills of the craftsman wishing to build the finest guns and rifles available.

As we enter a new year we now have a further 2 positions to be filled in our apprenticeship program and invite applications for these positions. Here you will join a team of young, enthusiastic and determined craftsmen aiming to build simply better and better guns.

For full details please send a CV and cover letter stating your interest to apprentice@westleyrichards.co.uk

18 Comments

  • kimet morina on September 18, 2014 at 9:08 am

    i want to do an apprenticeship. I am an x flight Sargent in the air cadets

  • Peter Lawsom on June 5, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    I would be greatly interested in this but what exactly is the age range that you look for and what experience? Thank You.

    • Simon Clode on June 6, 2015 at 9:55 am

      You can call the factory and speak to Kerry. We take people of a variety of ages from 16 year old school leavers with no qualifications to older people with skills or qualifications. We look for enthusiastic people with a desire and passion to work in our trade.

  • Luca smith on June 14, 2015 at 4:52 pm

    Do you take people with criminal records

    • Simon Clode on June 14, 2015 at 7:29 pm

      Call and speak to HR.

  • donna bowdler on October 16, 2015 at 3:57 am

    I've been wanting to learn how to make my own guns for a long time but there have never been any opportunities and don't know if i would be considered for your scheme. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and for me it's all the fine detail.

    you say that you only take 2 applicants per year is there another company that is doing apprenticeships in gunsmithing that you could reccomend please ?

    i have a background in heavy engineering and am looking for a career change that utilises the skills that i've acquired but for a more delicate application.

    donna

    • Simon Clode on October 16, 2015 at 4:08 am

      There would be no problem with your sending a CV and cover letter expressing your desire in this trade. Please send it to us here in Birmingham.

      Thanks,

      Simon

  • Tom Cheetham on October 16, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Hi there, i have been looking for a firearms apprenticeship in the UK for the past 3 years and have only just stumbled across you guys. I have a very keen interest in firearms, some would say fanatical, and other than moving to the US or Austria for a slightly better chance of getting an apprenticeship or trainee ship in this craft, you might be my last hope. I already own 2 rifles; ISSC MK22 .22cal rimfire semi automatic, BSA International mark 2 .22cal martini action target rifle, and i have stripped and re-assembled them more times than i can count. I also have experience with the cadet variant of the L98 5.56mm semi automatic. I'm not usually enthusiastic about anything, but then again, nothing interests me quite as much as firearms do. If you still have vacancies for this year i will happily apply and would be forever grateful for the consideration. Cheers. Tom.

    • Simon Clode on October 17, 2015 at 12:35 pm

      If you google gunmaking apprenticeship we come up on the first page 3 times so it is a shame you have taken 3 years 'to stumble across us'!

      Simon

      • Tom Cheetham on October 17, 2015 at 4:35 pm

        you're right, you do, however i've been googling gunsmithing apprenticeships, not gunmaking...

  • Clayton TaBelle on October 20, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    I am a 17 year old male that is very interested in firearms, the history and the creation/ maintenance of firearms. I plan on joining the military and becoming a small weapons repair. And i was wondering if i should prepare my self for when I retire to get into the world of firearms. I really want to get to a point of creating my own firearms.

  • Simon Clode on October 21, 2015 at 1:40 am

    Clayton. We take apprentices on in order to keep our benches filled with skilled workers. We would not invest our time and efforts in a person who we knew was going to be leaving shortly, that is more the role of a school such as the gunmaking school in Liege. The difference is that we pay our apprentices on a rising scale as they gain skills and invest skilled workers time to teach them.
    I think the skills you will learn as an armourer in the forces will give you a solid grounding and then you can consider what you do with those skills once you are out.

  • Ian piskulak on June 29, 2016 at 12:49 pm

    Hi I have been interested in gunsmith for some time and I'm very interested in the apprenticeships you offer are you taking on any new apprentices for 2016 thanks Ian

    • Simon Clode on June 29, 2016 at 12:55 pm

      Please contact our offices if you are interested. They will provide full details.

      Simon

  • Declan Drohan on August 26, 2016 at 3:21 pm

    Hi. I'm 17 and from Ireland. I will be finishing my secondary school education this year and I was wondering if you accept people from different countries? Gunsmithing apprenticeships are very hard to find here. And what sort of pay do starting off apprentices earn? Thank you for your time.

    • Simon Clode on August 26, 2016 at 3:36 pm

      Yes, we do accept people from other countries but we look for commitment to work here at the factory for the future as the training is expensive, it is not in our interest to train someone who is knowingly wanting to return to their country upon completion of the 5 years. You can send your details to HR at our address with your details and CV.
      Simon

  • Brett Jansen on December 18, 2016 at 12:34 am

    Hi. I'm 19, I'm interested in a career as a gunsmith and I have just completed my A levels in Zimbabwe how do I go about to apply for one of the apprentice positions?

    • Simon Clode on December 18, 2016 at 12:57 am

      If you send a CV to our general email.

      We will contact you and advise about joining our team.

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