This shortage is driven by an aging workforce with many experienced welders expected to retire by 2027 creating over 35,000 jobs according to Axiom Personnel. The problem is coupled with a relative lack of younger people entering the profession to fill the gap. The result is a growing skills gap that threatens the efficiency and productivity of critical infrastructure projects.
Future Outlook
The future outlook for the welding profession in the UK is both challenging and promising. On one hand, the demand for skilled welders is expected to continue to rise, driven by ongoing and upcoming infrastructure and construction projects, advancements in technology, and the need for maintenance and repair of existing structures. On the other hand, without a concerted effort to attract and train new talent, the skills shortage could worsen, leading to delays and increased costs for projects.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Addressing the welding skills shortage requires a multifaceted approach, with a key focus on inspiring young people to consider welding as a viable and rewarding career path. This can be achieved through:
1. Education and awareness: Schools and colleges should incorporate welding and other vocational training into their curricula, highlighting the importance and opportunities within the trade. Career fairs, workshops, and hands-on demonstrations can also play a crucial role in sparking interest.
2. Apprenticeships and training programmes: Expanding apprenticeship programmes and providing accessible training opportunities can help bridge the skills gap. Partnerships between industry and educational institutions can ensure that training programs are aligned with current industry needs.
3. Promoting the profession: A lack of information about welding as a career option as well as changing the perception of welding from a "dirty job" to a high-tech, skilled profession is essential. Showcasing success stories and the potential for career advancement can attract more young people to the field.
Air Products, a leading global industrial gas company supplying gases to a wide variety of industries including metal fabrication is collaborating with various key organisations such as WorldSkills UK and CATCH on various initiatives to plug the skills gap with the aim of investing and inspiring the next generation of skilled welders.
CATCH is a non-profit organisation in the Humber region offering level 3 vocational training in traditional skills such as mechanical and electrical engineering including welding and fabrication. It currently has 400 learners enrolled in apprenticeships and the aim is to expand this to 1,000 within the next five years. In the recent Air Products podcast with David Talbot, CEO of CATCH, David references the skills gap as the “perfect storm” citing that there is currently a skills shortage for current projects for “business as usual”. The aging demographic means that we are losing 2.2% of the workforce year on year and the gap is simply getting worse. David’s passion for CATCH is to support our next generation of young people with highly skilled quality, well numerated jobs and he cites “the top 3 priorities for the UK to focus on to support in the net zero journey is welders, welders, welders!”
However, the skills gap is more than just providing training and apprenticeships, it’s about engaging young people and enabling them to achieve excellence in their chosen career as well as raising the profile of vital skills such as welding.
WorldSkills UK is an organisation that is focussed on raising standards, championing future skills and empowering young people from all backgrounds. It is an independent charity and member of WorldSkills, a global movement of over 80 countries supporting young people via competition-based training and assessments and is backed crucially by education, industry and UK governments. Its annual programme of national competitions plays a vital role in enabling students and apprentices to achieve excellence in their chosen career.
The 2024 WorldSkills UK National Competitions, comprising over 50 skills including welding took place at colleges, independent training providers and universities across Greater Manchester between 19th – 21st November. The Welding Competition, sponsored by Air Products for more than 20 years, is aimed at trainee/apprentice welders working and/or training in the welding industry at level 2-3 or higher level. The winners of all competitions were announced at the glittering Medal Ceremony at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall on 22 November.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith was in attendance and said "Competitions like WorldSkills UK are so important in nurturing talent, providing a vital platform for young people to develop the skills they need to seize opportunities and achieve growth”.
The gold medal winner of the Welding Competition was Zachariah Winn of Coleg Cambria. Attending the event and presenting Zachariah with his gold medal was Graham Leigh, Air Products UK Maintenance Manager. Graham likened the WorldSkills competition to “the technical equivalent of the Olympics Games” and went on to describe the initiative. “It really celebrates apprenticeships and highlights that the university route isn’t the only option to create a full and prosperous career. It is an organisation which deserves greater media coverage and support to really drive the importance of having apprenticeships and creating the skilled workforce we need”.
Zachariah Winn, Gold Medallist of WorldSkills UK Welding Competition with Graham Leigh Air Products UK Maintenance Manager.
Alison Smith, Marketing Manager UKI of Air Products commented “On behalf of Air Products, we offer our congratulations to Zachariah and all finalists on their achievements. We are proud that our partnership with WorldSkills UK allows us to play an active role in inspiring the next generation and helping to build a robust pipeline of skilled welders ensuring the sustainability and growth of our nation’s industries.”
The need for skilled welders remains a pressing issue and one that is not going to be resolved quickly, it requires a long-term commitment from government, industry leaders, associations and training institutions and Air Products is proud of its collaboration with both WorldSkills UK and CATCH in helping to inspire the future generation of skilled workers.
For more information, visit www.airproducts.co.uk
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