A man in a helmet welds metal, sparks flying as he focuses on his work

Welder Apprenticeships

A Guide To Welder Apprenticeships

In the United Kingdom, you have probably heard politicians and business leaders speaking about ‘the skills shortage,’ on television. The skills shortage refers to those types of posts that employers find difficult to fill because there are not enough people who are qualified to do those roles.

So just imagine, if you are someone who has learned a trade where there is a skills shortage, then your skills will always be in demand. This means finding work should be easier and you can develop a meaningful career in a sector that you enjoy.

If you have decided you don’t want to go to university for full time study after leaving school or college, or you are in an entry level job and you have decided you would like some structured training and qualifications to develop a career, then Apprenticeships are perfect for you.

And if it’s the world of manufacturing and engineering that floats your boat, then these are fields where skills shortages exist. Welder Apprenticeships could open up a really rewarding career for you.

What Does A Welder Do?
How Do You Become A Professional Welder?
How Do Welder Apprenticeships Work?
Welder Apprenticeships - Qualifications & Pathways
How Long Is A Welding Apprenticeship?
Further Career Progression After Welder Apprenticeships
Apply For Welder Apprenticeships In The UK

What Does A Welder Do?

But what does a welder do? Well, did you know there is not just one welder job description and welder jobs come in many shapes and sizes.

This is a really exciting trade that is crucial to not just the manufacturing industry but also other fields such as construction, agriculture, shipping, automotive...and the list goes on. Think of an industry that needs metal and that’s an industry that is looking for people to become qualified in welding.

At a very basic level, welder jobs are all about fusing pieces of metal together using intense heat. But welding careers are much more exciting than that description might seem.

Welding jobs will see you working with a whole variety of metals in many different conditions and environments. And in the future, if you really want to take welding careers to the next level and excel in your field, you could work all over the world and command a significant welder salary.

So, you can see how much your skills will be in demand. And as these areas of the UK economy continue to grow, so does the need for welders.

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How Do You Become A Professional Welder?

And how do you become a professional welder? Welder Apprenticeships will be an ideal stepping stone on the path to successful welding careers. Read on to find out more about Welder Apprentice jobs and the trade as a whole.

A man wearing a welding helmet and gloves, preparing to weld in a professional setting

How Do Welder Apprenticeships Work?

How dangerous is welding? That’s a question that could come to mind if you are thinking about working with metals and intense heat. And there is no question that it could be dangerous if you were not aware of safety precautions that need to be taken with each particular type of welding job.

Welder apprenticeships, however, are designed to make sure you get the background and training to work safely and skillfully whilst carrying out your duties. Not only will you learn the skills to do the job, you will also learn about safety equipment and legislation surrounding welding.

There are different types of welding courses out there and Welder Apprenticeships are valuable because not only will you be awarded with nationally recognised qualifications on successful completion of your programme, but Welder Apprenticeships also mean you get to earn while you learn.

The welder Apprentice salary will differ depending on your age and also your employer. Whilst there is a minimum welder Apprentice salary that you must be paid, some employers, especially if you are already training in welding jobs, might pay you a bit extra, too.

At the end of Welder Apprenticeships, you could be offered a permanent role with the company you have done your training with. If that company is not in a position to offer you permanent welding jobs then, because you have done Welder Apprenticeships, your nationally recognised qualifications and on the job training will show future employers that you are fully equipped with the skills needed to do your job.

Welder Apprenticeships - Qualifications & Pathways

Another great thing about Apprenticeships is that the Apprenticeship Standards have been drawn up by top employers and experts in their fields. Welder Apprenticeships are no different. These guys know the skills and experience you need to be successful in welding careers and therefore continuing the development of the UK’s welding industry.

How Long Is A Welding Apprenticeship?

There are two levels of Welding Apprenticeships. Level 2 and Level 3. Level 3 is the equivalent to A-Levels and takes longer to complete than Level 2. Let’s take a look at what you will learn and the qualifications you will earn by doing these Welding Apprenticeships. Level 2 - General Welder
The Level 2 General Welder Apprenticeship will take 18 months to complete, during which time, you will become a competent welder, able to work in a variety of environments. Depending on the type of welder Apprentice jobs you are applying for, that particular employer will specify the entry requirements needed.

However, all Apprentices doing the Level 2 qualification will need to achieve at least Level 1 in English and Maths if not already achieved. You must also take the examination for Level 2.

After completing Level 2 General Welder Apprenticeships, depending on the environment you have trained in, you will be awarded with one of the following standards:

ISO 9606
ASME IX
BS 4872
AWS D1.1

These qualifications are regarded as licenses to practise welding.

Level 3 Welder Apprenticeship Standard - Multi-Positional Welder (Arc Processes)
Level 3 Welder Apprenticeships are for those of you who wish to develop your welding careers further. The programme will take around 38 months to complete.

As with Level 2, individual employers will decide on the amount and type of previous experience, skills or qualifications that you need for their particular welding jobs. However, all Level 3 Welder Apprenticeships require you to have at least Level 2 Maths and English if you haven’t already achieved this.

At the end of Level 3 Welder Apprenticeships, depending on the environment you have worked in, you will be awarded with one of the following standards:

ISO 9606
ASME IX
AWS D1.1

These qualifications are regarded as licenses to practise welding.

Successful completion of Level 3 Welder Apprenticeships will also entitle you to professional registration. You will be able to register as an Engineering Technician with the UK Engineering Council.

In the future, it may be possible to do Level 3 Welder Apprenticeships in other specialist areas.

Further Career Progression After Welder Apprenticeships

Once you have completed Welder Apprenticeships at level 2 and 3, it will be possible to go on and further your career. Welding jobs can be done in heavy industry in various specialist areas and, if you choose to focus on one of these areas, your skills could be increased demand and that, in turn, can increase your welder salary.

Welding skills are in demand both in the UK and internationally and your welder salary can be increased considerably as you gain more experience.

Types of specialist welding careers could be:

Fabrication Welder:

Your Welder Apprenticeship will give you a sound base in this type of welding career. Fabrication welder jobs are usually in industries such as construction, manufacturing, aerospace, shipping and the motor industry.

Boilermaker:

These types of welding careers will see you fabricating, installing and maintaining storage tanks for gases and various liquids.

Pipe Welding Jobs:

These types of welding careers mean you will be part of a team of people who is responsible for the creation of pipelines that transport liquids and gases around the world.

Structural work:

If you want to be the person who is responsible for large scale iron and steel construction, these types of welding jobs could be an ideal specialist area for you. You will be creating the structure for various buildings and bridges, for example.

Underwater Welding Jobs:

Yes, underwater welding jobs. There are many structures underwater such as oil rigs, for example. These need to be built and also maintained. If you are also a qualified diver, then this type of welding career could take you to jobs overseas as well as in the UK.

Further considerations for you in developing welding careers as Multi-Positional Welders could be High-Integrity Welder, Welding Instruction and Teaching, Welding Inspection, Managing and Supervising Welding Operations.

Apply For Welder Apprenticeships In The UK

So, do Welder Apprenticeships sound appealing to you? Get your qualifications and on the job experience and you could soon be on the path to exciting and rewarding welding careers where your skills will be in demand nut just in the UK but all over the world. Take a look to see if there are any welder Apprentice jobs out there to suit you.

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Welder Apprenticeships

A Guide To Welder Apprenticeships

Contents:

What Does A Welder Do?

Want to save time job searching?

How Do You Become A Professional Welder?

How Do Welder Apprenticeships Work?

Welder Apprenticeships - Qualifications & Pathways

How Long Is A Welding Apprenticeship?

Further Career Progression After Welder Apprenticeships

Types of specialist welding careers could be:

Fabrication Welder:

Boilermaker:

Pipe Welding Jobs:

Structural work:

Underwater Welding Jobs:

Apply For Welder Apprenticeships In The UK

Live vacancies

Let employers approach you!

Welder Apprenticeships

A Guide To Welder Apprenticeships

Contents:

Want to save time job searching?

How Do You Become A Professional Welder?

How Do Welder Apprenticeships Work?

Welder Apprenticeships - Qualifications & Pathways

How Long Is A Welding Apprenticeship?

Further Career Progression After Welder Apprenticeships

Types of specialist welding careers could be:

Fabrication Welder:

Boilermaker:

Pipe Welding Jobs:

Structural work:

Underwater Welding Jobs:

Apply For Welder Apprenticeships In The UK

Live vacancies

Let employers approach you!