Hi new to this forum and looking at the possability of moving to spain. I would like to start my own business over there and was looking for advice from you all. I s there a need for blackmiths? ie. makeing gates hand rails fixing farm machinery and doing general metal work. any advice will be gratefully appreciated.

Yes there is a lot of that going on - more from the gates, grilles, fences angle than the farm angle but I dont think now is a good time there is a crisis here and without Spanish etc starting a business is risky.

thanks Rob, I am about to start learning the lingo at night classes to get a better grip of the language and i know it will take a while. Your info is gratefully appreciated and has been taken on board.

Spain’s a big place.  Around our way there is work for blacksmiths but then there are established family firms doing it, so you’d really have to visit and research, find a village where an old smith - un herrero - was about to retire, or buy into a partnership. Spanish would be essential and not just classroom stuff either - you’d obviously need the vocabulary for your trade - so working alongside a local to start with would be ideal.

Getting set up and independant can take a while, especially with the language and sourcing work from the locals.

I have a good friend in Granada province who is a highly skilled metal worker and welder. There’s very little he can’t do. He has a workshop at home and and after several years of trading mostly to British developers and expats, over the last couple of years, most of his business comes from the Spanish locals. He’s been offered partnerships with a number of local Spanish companies, but he’s happy to stay independant.

If you’re highly skilled at any trade and have a good grasp of the language, there’s no reason why a move here can’t be a success. What you do have to be prepared for though, is a number of years to get fully settled, integrated and more to grips with the language. It’s been the same for me with my multiple lines of work, but I’m also getting more work from the locals, which is great when you can get to that stage.