When I launched Watershed Forge it was me pursuing my dream and allowing me to make it happen

When I launched Watershed Forge it was me pursuing my dream and allowing me to make it happen

18 January 2023

FORMER engineer Robert Galbraith has turned his passion for traditional craftsmanship into a successful blacksmith business and proved that dreams do come true.

The Downpatrick man secured help on his journey from the Go For It programme in association with Newry, Mourne and Down Council, with the project part-funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the European Regional Development Fund.

Robert decided to open Watershed Forge last year after working as an engineer for 12 years. Having always enjoyed working with his hands, he got into blacksmithing after watching YouTube videos and taking lessons which spurred his passion for the traditional craft, dreaming of one day having his own blacksmith workshop.

Robert said when he realised that he could make money from doing what loves through the work that he was producing, he wanted to better understand how he could make it into a business.

Robert then got in touch with the Go For It programme to ask for advice on how he could make it a viable business opportunity.

“Whenever I launched Watershed Forge, I just felt like I had a lot of freedom and fulfilment from what I was doing. It was me pursuing my dream and allowing me to make it happen,” he said.

“For me, the best thing about owning your own business is being your own boss, you get to make the decisions day to day on what you want to do and the jobs you want to take on or don’t want to take on.”

Robert said he was given the freedom to decide.

“I get to choose my own hours, sometimes they’re long, but they’re for me and that’s what’s most important,” he explained.

Robert has achieved a lot since opening the doors to his workshop and one of his proudest moments to date has been delivering a large-scale restoration project in Armagh city centre. 

The Go For It programme is delivered free of charge by a team of experienced business mentors through Northern Ireland’s wide network of enterprise agencies. 

In addition, it provides expert advice and support to develop a business plan that helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into commercial businesses. 

Robert continued: “Go For It gave me a real understanding of what was required to run my very own business. I’d never done anything like this before and didn’t understand overheads and outgoings. 

“The business plan gave me the knowledge and insights to examine the levels of work I needed to deliver in terms of money coming in versus money going out.

“It gave me the skillset and confidence I needed to take that leap of faith to launch the business and the belief that I could make it successful. I would advise anybody looking to start their business to contact the Go For It programme and they will help you on the way.”

Council chairman, Michael Savage, said he is delighted to see Robert receive the necessary support through the Go For It programme to help him launch his very own traditional blacksmith’s workshop in the heart of Downpatrick.

“It’s an age-old tradition that he’s helping keep alive in the region and the type of skilled restoration work he is bringing back to life is the highest of quality, so it’s great to see him fulfilling his dream of owning his own blacksmithing business and supporting the economic development of the district,” he added.

Down Business Centre business advisor, Joan O’Hara, said it was a “real pleasure” to work alongside Robert with the development of his business plan. 

“He has so much passion for the craft and really wanted to continue the tradition with a viable business in the area. We helped guide and support him,” she said.

“We mentored Robert in the process of preparing a business plan, focusing on areas such as market research, financial planning, marketing, and goal setting. This provided him with a clear plan for the future of the business and helped him secure the premises that transformed his vision into a reality. It is fantastic to see Robert’s business thrive, and we wish him every success for the future.”

Anyone who has business idea they’d like to develop or are thinking about starting a business can contact the Go For It programme on 0800 027 0639 or visit: www.goforitni.com.