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.
South East England
South East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It consists of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Greater London is usually considered as a separate region, although it too is obviously located in the South East, bordering Kent, West Sussex, Surrey and East Sussex.
Major towns and cities in the South East of the UK include Brighton and Hove, Canterbury, Chichester, Oxford, Portsmouth, Southampton, Winchester, Crawley, Reading, Milton Keynes, Horsham, Farnham and Worthing. The South East of the UK is an economic hub and is second only to London in terms of its economy thanks in part to the location of Gatwick Airport in West Sussex and numerous Channel ports on the Kent coast.
Many global companies have their UK Headquarters in the South East of the UK, including a concentration of technology companies along the “M4 corridor” and numerous technology, clinical research, pharmaceutical, biotech, life science and engineering companies are located in the various counties comprising the South East of the UK.
The 'golden triangle' is the world-leading life sciences cluster of London, Oxford, Cambridge and England's greater south east.
This region is a hotbed of innovation, home to:
Four of the world's top 10 universities
Five our of seven of the UK's academic health science centres
Leading medical research institutes including hte Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, and the national Cell Therapy Catapult, focusing on stem cell research and industrialisation.
The golden triangle is being boosted further by a wave of significant new investment, including:
The Francis Crick Institute - bringing together 1,500 scientist under one roof
Imperial West - co0locating researchers and businesses on 25 acres.
UCL East - a cross-discipline enterprise and innovation centre focused on health and biological technologies on the site of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The Institute of Cancer Research - creating the world's second largest cancer research campus in south London.
AstraZeneca's Global R&D Centre - bringing together 2,000 employees in Cambridge.
South-East England is a great place to further your career in life sciences. If you are a looking for pharmaceutical jobs in the South East, scientific careers in the South East or want to discuss cell therapy, gene therapy, ATMP, medical device, technology, biotech or pharmaceutical job opportunities inthe South East, give our Next Phase team a call. The London area is continuing to expand as a centre for jobs in science, process development, technology, software development, project management, informatics, quality, reg affairs and supply chain.
At Next Phase we help people find new jobs in life sciences across the UK, Europe and USA. This page lists some of the job opportunities in London, and if you give us a call we can also talk to you about other scientific jobs, pharmaceutical career opportunities and the latest updates in cell and gene therapy and ATMP development in the area.
