The role of our mentors is to ensure that bursary awards are achieving the required effect. We appoint a mentor for each apprentice to monitor progress, offer support and provide feedback to Trustees and to be the main point of contact between the Trust and the employer. This fosters strong relationships, and a mentor will visit the apprentice’s place of work at least once annually,
The mentor’s role is to also encourage the apprentice to apply to The Worshipful Company of Gunmakers Certification Panel, on completion of the apprenticeship, to gain formal recognition and certification in their chosen field of expertise.
Ian Sweetman is an acclaimed gunmaker and award-winning finisher. He supports our apprentices through his mentorship role with the Gunmakers Trust.
Having worked in the gun trade since he was 15 years old, Ian’s career started at Atkin Grant & Lang Gunmakers, where he worked as an apprentice, undertaking repairs and restoring heritage English guns. Ian then progressed to a position at Westley Richards & Co, before moving to James Purdey & Sons, where he completed a second apprenticeship in finishing. He was then presented with a McMillan Award for Excellence in gunmaking for his outstanding work.
Having now worked in the industry for nineteen years, Ian runs his own gunmaking company, specialising in finishing and rifle work, but also covering all areas of repairs, servicing, alterations, restorations and new builds.
Ian says, ‘I agreed to become a mentor because I didn’t have one during my apprenticeship, and I believe my younger self would have greatly appreciated having a mentor. The most important lesson I can impart to an apprentice is perseverance. I firmly believe there’s no secret to becoming a great gunmaker other than to keep going. It can be tough, as this job often involves learning through repeated failures, but success is inevitable if you persist.’
Ian is keen to support the apprentice that he mentors and says his hope is that ‘they will successfully complete their apprenticeship and have a proof piece of their work submitted to and approved by the certification panel of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers.’
When asked if there is anything he would have changed about his own career, Ian concludes, ‘there aren’t many things I would change. While it hasn’t been smooth sailing, every experience, both good and bad, has been a learning opportunity that has allowed me to develop both personally and professionally.’
