True North Trades

06/10/2026

Evening you awesome bunch,

As we steadily move towards our grand opening we would love to know a little more about you.

You are all at the heart of what we do and we want to ensure the we cater for everyone.

One way we will be doing this is by having subsidised courses from funding and grant opportunities. Therefore every bit of information we can gather helps us massively to be able to provide this.

If you have a spare couple of minutes to fill in the survey below it would be hugely appreciated.

Stay classy,

The True North Trades CIC Team

https://forms.gle/o2Nr1gQShNJATrx57

05/10/2026

As we push closer to the opening of the Community Workshop we would love to hear what you would like out of the site. From set courses to the freedom to come in and play at your own pace and spaces for hire.
Our ideas so far include:
- R***e Courses
- Lathe introduction/courses
- Small furniture I.E Gothic revival course
- Home Schoolers
- Scroll saw courses
- Bow making
- Basic DIY and home improvement courses
- Jewellery making
- Basic and advanced joinery
- Copper courses
- Tool making
- Guitar (Luthier) making
- Model making groups
- Restoration
- Basic car maintenance
- Classic car restoration
- Gardening/Vegetable courses
- Social groups
- Band practice space
- Veterans only day

Please comment with the ideas you like and any new ideas you have. We want this to be a place for everyone!!

01/10/2026

A second slot has been opened for our Copper Rose Workshops - grab your place before it's gone!

In this workshop, you will be learning to manipulate copper into an amazing work of art, creating an elegant copper rose! You will learn how to work with the metal, including cutting, crimping and soldering to create an everlasting rose.

This session is our 12pm - 2pm slot. Book your place here: https://landofoakandiron.org.uk/event-directory/copper-rose-workshops-12pm/

30/09/2026

Another cheeky sneak-peak at what we are finalising at the workshop right now.
Going for a very old school type build using clever tracks and solid timber!
All routed by hand. All designed in-house. We can’t wait to show this one off! And then back to working on the workshop to get it ready for you lovely people!!
And a huge thanks to the chaps Jewson Consett branch for looking after us!!

24/09/2026

We apologise for our lack of posts recently. We have been working on a gorgeous big build for a special client.
This has come with no days off for 3 weeks and working until we run out of light 😬
So enjoy this sneak peak at a component from the build, my tired face 😂 and a dark workshop!

17/09/2026

17/09/2026

As you know we’re always looking for new venues and areas to expand where we deliver our workshops, so we were thrilled when the lads from True North Trades got in touch to ask us to come and check out their new digs in Annfield Plain.

Ceri and Leanne headed up there this morning to take a peek and honestly we were blown away by what they’re creating - the whole venture that they have planned is going to be outstanding and we can’t wait to run some sessions up there!

Keep your eyes peeled for some of our workshops heading there in the New Year, and in the meantime definitely take a look at what is happening at their place over on their page as they’re well worth a follow👌🏻

11/09/2026

We have multiple projects ongoing at the moment and the workshop shows it! It’s absolute carnage in here!
Bow staves gluing up. A large commission for a great client. Installing cable trays and lighting to the main workshop. And a seemingly never ending stream of hardwoods coming through the door. Worse problems to have 👍

09/09/2026

So we may have been approached by the amazing Living North Magazine for an article on what Chris and I are creating.
We may have a full two page spread.
We may be buzzing our asses off.
Frankie doesn’t know how to read.

08/09/2026

Chris and I working on our next big build. A lot of components to this one and we’ve gone for an old-school Edwardian style which we are very excited for. Amazing client too!!!
Now if Chris could not spend 9 hours swapping a vice over, that would be great 😂