Sealing the welding gap

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.