Welder
Welders work in a range of different sectors including construction, transport and logistics, utilities, engineering, aerospace, off-shore oil and defence. Depending on the requirements of the job, welders will work with metals and alloys, cutting and joining using a variety of welding techniques such Arc, MIG, TIG and Stick Welding. Similar job titles include Fabricator, MIG/TIG Welder, Coded Welder, Automotive Welder, Machine Shop Operator or Engineering Fitter.
Day-to-day tasks for Welders may include setting out the materials to be cut or joined following engineering instructions and drawings, inspecting and testing cuts and joins using precision measuring instruments as well as using general workshop tools and small machine equipment such as saws, drills, lathe & mills, including hand tools and hand power tools. Welders will also frequently use manual and computer-operated machinery for drilling, milling and cutting.
Next Phase regularly has opportunities for Welder Fabricators and MIG/TIG Welders working on armoured vehicles focusing on vehicle protection systems, seats and the installation of sub systems. Previous experience of working on automotive or military projects is highly advantageous for these welding jobs.
Skills Required for a Career in Welding
- NVQ Certification in Fabrication & Welding Engineering Level 2 and 3-
- City and Guilds trained
- Welding standards to BS4872-1: 1982 and BS9606-1
- Understanding of technical plans
- Ability to concentrate for long periods
- Reasonable maths and measuring skills
- self- motived, able to work as part of a team
Salary Levels and Career Progression
The starting salary for a career in welding is around £16,000 to £19,000 which can increase to around £35,000 for highly experienced welders. Due to the nature of the work and the need to be flexible with regard to location, many welders work on a self-employed contract basis for which the hourly rate is around £16. With experience and a good track record, welders may be promoted to a supervisory role or be a workshop manager.
Manchester
Manchester is a world class city in north-west England with excellent transport links including an international airport, the Manchester Ship Canal and easy access to the national motorway network. Manchester was initially settled by the Romans, growing slowly during the Middle Ages and then rapidly around the turn of the 19th century, thanks to the textile industry, making it the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. The city continues to be an industrial and commercial powerhouse. Manchester’s current strengths include Life Sciences, Manufacturing and Creative/Digital media. Several medical research institutes and Europe’s biggest cancer treatment are located in Manchester as are numerous innovative software development, augmented reality, digital health, e-commerce and gaming companies.
The biological, medical and health sciences have a long and proud history at the University and in the city of Manchester.
Manchester is a place of world-firsts in cancer research, including the first clinical use of Tamoxifen for breast cancer and the first single harvest blood stem-cell transplant.
The study of medicine at Manchester can trace its roots back to 1814, when Joseph Jordan opened a school of anatomy in the city. From 1824, numerous medical schools opened in the city which, in 1836, amalgamated to form the Manchester Royal School of Medicine and Surgery, employing well-known names such as John Dalton, Edward Lund and Rochard Hunt. It was also in 1824 that the study of pharmacy began at Manchester Medical School.
The study of life sciences at Manchester goes back to 1851, when Owens College was founded and William Crawford Williamson was appointed as professor of natural history with teaching responsibilities for botany, ohysiology, geology and zoology.
The Museum of Medicine and Health holds a significant collection of medical, nursing and pharmaceutical artefacts dating as far back as the 16th century.
Famous people from Manchester:- Noel & Liam Gallagher (Oasis) and Emmeline Pankhurst – Suffragette/Women’s rights activist
