Welding of metals in two welding positions, using more than one welding process, passing surface inspection.
Apprentices learn to produce welds using manual and mechanised arc welding processes across at least two process and material combinations. Training covers a range of processes including TIG, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW and SAW, applied to materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminium and nickel alloys. Apprentices also study welding power sources, gas equipment, joint preparation, weld settings, and the health and safety requirements that govern working in fabrication environments, including confined spaces and work at height.
A welder on this programme will set up and operate welding equipment, prepare materials and work areas, and produce welds across different joint configurations, such as butt, T-butt and fillet joints, in at least two positions. They read job specifications and engineering drawings, adjust current, voltage and gas flow settings to suit the material and process, and carry out pre- and post-weld material removal. Their work is subject to visual inspection and dimensional checks, and they coordinate regularly with fabricators, inspectors and quality control technicians.
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as general welder, weld setter or welding fabricator. From there, progression routes include senior welder, coded welder or welding inspector, with coded status in specific processes opening doors to higher-value contracts and specialist sectors. Employers span aerospace, defence, marine, construction, oil and gas, and general manufacturing, ranging from small fabrication shops to large industrial contractors. Welders with demonstrable skill across multiple processes and materials tend to have strong demand across all of these sectors.
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Completers typically move into roles such as General Welder, Welding Fabricator, or Weld Setter across a range of production and site environments. Day-to-day responsibilities include setting up welding equipment, producing welds to approved specifications across multiple processes and material types, carrying out visual and dimensional checks on finished work, and maintaining compliance with health and safety and quality procedures.
With a few years of post-completion experience, welders commonly progress to Senior Welder or Lead Welder positions, taking on responsibility for quality assurance on a production line or in a fabrication bay. Those who move into a leadership track can work towards Welding Supervisor or Welding Inspector roles. The specialist track leads toward Coded Welder status, which opens higher-value work in sectors with strict procedural requirements, or towards Welding Engineer positions, typically supported by further qualifications.
Employers span a wide range of industries, including offshore oil and gas, shipbuilding and marine engineering, aerospace, defence manufacturing, civil construction, rail, power generation, and general fabrication. Businesses range from small fabrication shops to large multi-site manufacturers and publicly funded infrastructure projects. Both private-sector manufacturers and public-sector asset operators recruit into these roles, as do specialist subcontractors working within supply chains on major capital projects.
Throughout the programme, the apprentice develops and demonstrates competence in welding processes, materials, joint configurations and welding positions while working in a real employment setting. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice must pass a gateway check, confirming they have met the required knowledge, skills and behaviours. Final assessment then establishes whether the apprentice can perform the full welder role to the required standard. Assessment covers practical welding ability across at least two process and material combinations, alongside health and safety conduct and use of technical documentation. Assessment requirements for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
Apprentices should record evidence of their work as they go, rather than trying to pull it together at the end. Good records might include photographs of completed welds, quality control documentation they have used or completed, and notes on how they adapted their technique for different materials or positions. Keeping a running log of the processes, materials and joint types they have worked on makes demonstrating the required breadth much easier when the gateway review approaches. Working closely with both the employer and the training provider to track progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours is essential throughout.
A strong provider for this standard will have access to a properly equipped welding workshop, with working plant for at least the manual arc processes (TIG, MMA, MIG/MAG) and ideally mechanised equipment such as SAW or tractor-mounted units. Check the achievement rate on their FATP profile: above 65% is a reasonable baseline, above 75% is solid for a practical trade standard at this level. Employer and apprentice satisfaction scores should both sit comfortably above the national average. Providers with direct links to industrial employers in sectors such as fabrication, marine, defence or structural engineering are better placed to source realistic work experience and varied material groups.
Be cautious of providers running very large cohorts on this standard but showing a declining or below-average achievement rate. Welding is a practical skill: a provider that relies heavily on classroom delivery without dedicated workshop time, calibrated equipment and current consumables is a concern. Vague answers about which welding processes and material groups apprentices actually practise, rather than just study, should prompt further questions. Providers unable to show that end-point assessment preparation includes timed practical welds across multiple positions and joint types are unlikely to fully prepare learners.
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications set within the standard itself, so employers set their own criteria. Most look for basic literacy and numeracy, often GCSE grades in English and maths or equivalent. Candidates must be employed for the duration of the apprenticeship, working in a role where they can practise welding on real materials and equipment. Some employers require applicants to pass a practical aptitude test before offering a place.
The typical duration is 18 months, though this depends on the apprentice's prior experience and how quickly they progress. Training is split between on-the-job learning in the workplace and off-the-job study, which may be delivered at a college or training centre. The apprentice remains employed throughout. For the current minimum duration and off-the-job training requirements, check the official standard on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) page on gov.uk, as figures are subject to revision.
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through gateway, where the employer and training provider confirm the apprentice has developed the necessary knowledge, skills and behaviours. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so check the latest specification on gov.uk for the precise methods in use. Generally, the apprentice must demonstrate competence in welding at least two process and material combinations, including at least one manual welding process, across different joint types and positions.
The funding band for this standard is £13,000, which is the maximum government contribution. Larger employers paying the apprenticeship levy use their levy account to fund training costs. Smaller employers co-invest with the government, typically contributing 5% of the training cost, with the government paying the rest. If you are a non-levy employer taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18, the government covers the full training cost. Funding covers training and assessment only, not the apprentice's wages.
Day-to-day work centres on producing welds to industry standards using manual and mechanised arc welding processes on materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel or aluminium. The apprentice prepares materials and the work area, sets and monitors welding controls, reads job specifications and technical drawings, and carries out visual checks on finished welds. They work alongside fabricators, inspectors and supervisors, wear appropriate PPE, follow health and safety procedures, and are responsible for the quality of their own output.
Completing this apprenticeship leads to typical job titles such as general welder, weld setter or welding fabricator across sectors including aerospace, construction, defence, marine and structural engineering. From there, progression routes include moving into supervisory roles, specialising in a particular welding process or material group, or going on to a higher-level engineering apprenticeship or vocational qualification. Welding skills are portable across industries, so experienced welders often have opportunities to work for a range of employers including large multinationals and specialist contractors.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 94.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.