What is the work like?
Welders cut, shape and join materials to make components in a wide range of industries, such as construction and engineering, transport, aerospace, and offshore oil and gas. Welders also carry out repairs on manufacturing equipment and machinery.
As a welder, your tasks would include:
* selecting, laying out and positioning materials to be cut or joined
* following engineering drawings and templates
* using the most suitable welding methods to build up sections or make repairs
* inspecting and testing cuts and joins, using precision measuring instruments, such as micrometers
* operating semi-automatic spot-welding equipment, often found on high volume production lines like car manufacturing.
You would usually work with metals and alloys, but you could also cut and join composite materials, using specialist welding techniques. Common methods include oxyacetylene, MIG (metal inert gas), MMA (manual metal arc), TIG (tungsten inert gas), laser welding and ultrasonic welding.
Within engineering and construction, if you are qualified to carry out particular types of work, you would often be known as a 'coded' welder. This means that your work meets British and European quality standards.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You may be able to get into this job through an engineering Apprenticeship scheme. To start on a scheme, you will normally need four GCSEs (A-C), such as maths, engineering, English or science. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Alternatively, you could study for a qualification, which would give you some of the skills needed for this job. Relevant courses include:
* ABC Certificate in Welding and Fabrication Practice at levels 1 to 3
* City & Guilds Certificate in Welding Skills, and Certificate in Engineering at levels 1 to 3
* BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (Fabrication & Welding) or Mechanical Engineering.
See the websites for the Engineering Construction Training Board (ECITB), SEMTA and the Welding Institute (TWI) in the section below for more information about welding careers, qualifications and training. The Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland) also has careers information and a course database for local colleges.
What further training and development can I do?
Most of your training would be work based and cover areas such as reading technical drawings, selecting materials and tools, and training in the relevant welding techniques for the industry you are working in.
You could study for one of several NVQs once you are working, including:
* Performing Engineering Operations levels 1 and 2
* Fabrication and Welding Engineering levels 2 and 3
* Welding (with pipework or plating options) Level 3
* Fabrication and Welding Level 3.
You would normally have to pass competency tests for the type of welding work you carry out. These tests show that your work meets British and European welding standards (also known as codes). There are many codes specific to particular welding work, for example BS EN 287 and BS EN ISO 9606 cover pipework, pressure vessels and tanks. For more details about coding tests, contact your local welding course provider or the Welding Institute (TWI).
If you have teamleading responsibilities, you could take the ABC Level 4 Diploma in Supervisory Management in Fabrication and Welding Studies, which covers advanced welding processes, welding science and quality assurance.
You could also contact the Welding Institute about their range of training schemes covering welding techniques, as well as inspection and testing qualifications. They also have information about the industries in which welding skills play a key role.
Where can I go for more information?
Welding Institute (TWI)
Granta Park
Great Abington
Cambridge
CB21 6AL
Tel: 01223 899000
Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland)
Interpoint
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)
Blue Court
Church Lane
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8JP
Tel: 01923 260000
NASEC Administration: 01923 402155
SEMTA (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance)
14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0800 282167
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900
Welders cut, shape and join materials to make components in a wide range of industries, such as construction and engineering, transport, aerospace, and offshore oil and gas. Welders also carry out repairs on manufacturing equipment and machinery.
As a welder, your tasks would include:
* selecting, laying out and positioning materials to be cut or joined
* following engineering drawings and templates
* using the most suitable welding methods to build up sections or make repairs
* inspecting and testing cuts and joins, using precision measuring instruments, such as micrometers
* operating semi-automatic spot-welding equipment, often found on high volume production lines like car manufacturing.
You would usually work with metals and alloys, but you could also cut and join composite materials, using specialist welding techniques. Common methods include oxyacetylene, MIG (metal inert gas), MMA (manual metal arc), TIG (tungsten inert gas), laser welding and ultrasonic welding.
Within engineering and construction, if you are qualified to carry out particular types of work, you would often be known as a 'coded' welder. This means that your work meets British and European quality standards.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You may be able to get into this job through an engineering Apprenticeship scheme. To start on a scheme, you will normally need four GCSEs (A-C), such as maths, engineering, English or science. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. For more information on Apprenticeships, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
Alternatively, you could study for a qualification, which would give you some of the skills needed for this job. Relevant courses include:
* ABC Certificate in Welding and Fabrication Practice at levels 1 to 3
* City & Guilds Certificate in Welding Skills, and Certificate in Engineering at levels 1 to 3
* BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (Fabrication & Welding) or Mechanical Engineering.
See the websites for the Engineering Construction Training Board (ECITB), SEMTA and the Welding Institute (TWI) in the section below for more information about welding careers, qualifications and training. The Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland) also has careers information and a course database for local colleges.
What further training and development can I do?
Most of your training would be work based and cover areas such as reading technical drawings, selecting materials and tools, and training in the relevant welding techniques for the industry you are working in.
You could study for one of several NVQs once you are working, including:
* Performing Engineering Operations levels 1 and 2
* Fabrication and Welding Engineering levels 2 and 3
* Welding (with pipework or plating options) Level 3
* Fabrication and Welding Level 3.
You would normally have to pass competency tests for the type of welding work you carry out. These tests show that your work meets British and European welding standards (also known as codes). There are many codes specific to particular welding work, for example BS EN 287 and BS EN ISO 9606 cover pipework, pressure vessels and tanks. For more details about coding tests, contact your local welding course provider or the Welding Institute (TWI).
If you have teamleading responsibilities, you could take the ABC Level 4 Diploma in Supervisory Management in Fabrication and Welding Studies, which covers advanced welding processes, welding science and quality assurance.
You could also contact the Welding Institute about their range of training schemes covering welding techniques, as well as inspection and testing qualifications. They also have information about the industries in which welding skills play a key role.
Where can I go for more information?
Welding Institute (TWI)
Granta Park
Great Abington
Cambridge
CB21 6AL
Tel: 01223 899000
Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland)
Interpoint
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB)
Blue Court
Church Lane
Kings Langley
Hertfordshire
WD4 8JP
Tel: 01923 260000
NASEC Administration: 01923 402155
SEMTA (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance)
14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0800 282167
If you would like to discuss your career options with a learning adviser at learndirect Careers Advice, call 0800 100 900
0 comments:
Post a Comment