Fabricator Apprenticeship
BILLINGTON STRUCTURES LIMITED
Barnsley (S72 8SP)
Closes on Saturday 1 August 2026
Posted on 20 April 2026
Contents
Summary
We are looking for motivated Apprentices who can work safely by themselves and in a team environment. The ideal candidate will enjoy manual work and be able to interpret technical drawings to fabricate and achieve the desired result to a high tolerance and standard.
- Wage
-
£16,640 to £26,436.80, depending on your age
National Minimum Wage
- Training course
- Plate welder (level 3)
- Hours
-
Breakdown of the working week to be confirmed.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
1 year
- Positions available
-
15
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
To ensure skill levels for the future and longevity of the company we require motivated and yet articulate individuals to learn the full aspect of fabrication and welding of structural steel framed buildings. The successful candidate needs to enjoy manual work and want to develop through an apprenticeship consisting of working within the factory and college day release.
- Applicants will gain full knowledge of technical drawings, putting theory into practice using the skills taught by peers, college and by utilising the advance machinery within the company / industry.
- Using both manual and machined techniques taught to turn steel sections and fitting parts into structural steel assemblies of a building within a tight tolerance.
- Marking out steel, flame cutting, grinding, shaping, tack welding, full welding, straightening, drilling, ID stamping and de burring of individual sections within a steelwork building.
Where you'll work
Engine Lane
Shafton
Barnsley
S72 8SP
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BARNSLEY COLLEGE
Training course
Plate welder (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Work safely at all times, comply with health, safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Can obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Plan and prepare welding activities before commencing the work.
- Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for activity.
- Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding.
- Inspect assembly to be welded and undertake remedial work to comply with specification, or implement quality steps if rejected.
- Receive, inspect, condition and maintain consumables.
- Set, test and monitor key welding parameters as detailed within the Welding Procedure Specification.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Use manual processes and equipment to remove material (powered and non‐powered).
- Achieves a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO5817, ISO9606, ASME IX, AWS D1.1 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection).
- Complete progressive and final checks on the weld prior to release for formal inspection and report into the production control system at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Produce welds in plate and/or structural components using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW.
- Produce welds in plate and/or structural components using two materials from Carbon Steel, Low Alloy Steel, High Alloy Ferritic/Martensitic Steel, Austenitic Stainless Steel, Nickel & Nickel Alloys, Aluminium & Aluminium alloys, Titanium & Titanium Alloys, Copper & Copper Alloys.
- Produce welds in plate and/or structural components covering three plate welding positions which must include Vertical (either upward or downward progression) and overhead.
- Produce plate welds in 3 main joint configurations (Single or Double Sided Butt, Single or Double Sided T‐Butt & Fillet)
- Work safely at all times, comply with health, safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements.
- Can obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation).
- Plan and prepare welding activities before commencing the work.
- Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for activity.
- Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding.
- Inspect assembly to be welded and undertake remedial work to comply with specification, or implement quality steps if rejected.
- Receive, inspect, condition and maintain consumables.
- Set, test and monitor key welding parameters as detailed within the Welding Procedure Specification.
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques and report those which cannot be resolved to the appropriate personnel.
- Use manual processes and equipment to remove material (powered and non‐powered).
- Achieves a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO5817, ISO9606, ASME IX, AWS D1.1 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection).
- Complete progressive and final checks on the weld prior to release for formal inspection and report into the production control system at the appropriate stages of the work activity.
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location.
- Produce welds in plate and/or structural components using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW.
- Produce welds in plate and/or structural components using two materials from Carbon Steel, Low Alloy Steel, High Alloy Ferritic/Martensitic Steel, Austenitic Stainless Steel, Nickel & Nickel Alloys, Aluminium & Aluminium alloys, Titanium & Titanium Alloys, Copper & Copper Alloys.
- Produce welds in plate and/or structural components covering three plate welding positions which must include Vertical (either upward or downward progression) and overhead.
- Produce plate welds in 3 main joint configurations (Single or Double Sided Butt, Single or Double Sided T‐Butt & Fillet)
Training schedule
Level 3 Plater Welder Apprenticeship (Please note, this will be 4 days based at College and 1 day based at work).
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
Other requirements
An equal amount of commitment is required by the successful applicant to complete this Apprenticeship, including practical and theoretical.
About this employer
Billington Structures is one of the UK’s leading structural steel contractors. We are nationally recognised and multi award-winning, with over 70 years’ experience in the industry. Our team are experienced in projects from simple building frames to the most complex structures in excess of 12,000 tonnes. With two steel fabrication plants in Barnsley and one in Bristol we have the capability to process over 40,000 tonnes of steel per annum and can service clients at locations throughout the UK and Europe.
https://billington-holdings.plc.uk/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
We offer a competitive benefits package including company pension, sick pay scheme, health plan, cycle to work scheme, share save scheme and the option to purchase additional holidays.
After this apprenticeship
After successful completion of the Apprenticeship, our aim is to incorporate the individual into our dedicated team with the aim of progressing them further on to more complicated work.
Gaining both knowledge and increased earning potential as they go.
Supervisors and managers in this industry are often promoted from the workshop floor, as managing this type of factory requires a high level of hands-on experience.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BARNSLEY COLLEGE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000027236.
Apply now
Closes on Saturday 1 August 2026