According to the Office of National
Statistics, over the last five years,
almost a quarter of all registered and
certified welders in the UK have left
the industry, representing a decline of
18,000 welders. With only 58,000 UK
welders, the UK Borders Agency
has placed high integrity pipe
welders with three-plus years
experience on the shortage list.

To meet this decline and to
educate and train a new
generation of UK-based welders,
the Weldability-Sif Foundation
has entered into partnership with
EAL and The Welding Institute
(TWI). The partnership has so
far helped 15 colleges to install
specialist welder training facilities,
each with seven distinct and new EAL
qualifications to help seal the gap in
untrained welders.