Among the skills we offer to those who join the company at Apprentice level, or after a prior career, is the opportunity to receive training for an IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) qualification.
Our seven strong team of IRATA trained specialist clockmakers is headed up by Jason (here pictured alongside Tom) who has in excess of 10,000 hours of working via rope access. Expertise gained over 20 years, Jason first qualified with IRATA in 2001. Since that time, he has re-validated his Level 3 qualification every three years, as required, and has in total taken five assessments at this level. Jason has worked with Smith of Derby as a Level 3 supervisor since 2007, becoming a full-time employee in 2019.
“I consider myself extremely fortunate,” says Jason, “that I get to look after such magnificent pieces of British engineering.”
As well ensuring the rest of team are supported on the rope-access front, Jason (@jasonabudd) takes many of the incredible on-site photos we feature on our page.
Tom, who came through via our apprentice scheme and is now IRATA Level Qualified, says,:
“Working at height wasn’t something I’d done before it was offered as an option by Smith’s, but had a feeling it would be something I would be good at and enjoy. I said I was interested and they put me forward for a week-long Access training course in Sheffield. It was pretty intense in a good way and I learnt a lot, and qualified with a level 1 IRATA.
It’s been great putting this rope access to use in my Clockmaker Engineer role. The other week we were at a very tall tower at a place called Eton Hall, where the beautiful mosaic dial, dial works and hands needed removing for restoration. Most commonly using my rope access expertise involves scaling a building and abseiling off the top on the outside to remove or reinstall dials and hands, but occasionally we need to access a dial works in a difficult to reach spot, such as above a belfry, and the rope access enables us to do this.”
Clockmaker Mike working at height
If you’d like to learn more about the Clockmaker apprenticeship opportunities available at Smith of Derby, do get in touch with us, emailing jane.betts@smithofderby.com to find out more