L2 Welder Apprenticeship

Summary

If you are looking for an entry level position to kick start your career as a Welder, this opportunity to work and learn with a family run business whilst studying for an apprenticeship may be the role for you. Learning alongside an experienced team you will work towards gaining a General Welder Level 2 apprenticeship.

Wage

£14,772.50 a year

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Annual

Training course

Welder (level 2)

Hours

Monday to Friday including one day at Crawley College Exact shifts TBC

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 22 September 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

2

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

This position is designed to help the apprentice develop the necessary skills and knowledge to become a fully qualified welder.

Key Responsibilities:

Welding Support:

Assist skilled welders in performing welding tasks using various welding techniques such as MIG, TIG, and Stick welding
This includes preparing materials for welding, setting up welding equipment, and ensuring the proper selection of materials based on project specification

Material Preparation:

Prepare metal pieces by cutting, grinding, cleaning and shaping them before welding
This also involved measuring and marking materials accurately to ensure prevision in the welding process

Learning Welding Processes:

Gain proficiency in different welding processes, such as Arc Welding
Understand the principles of hear application, metal fusion and how the adjust techniques to meet the specific needs of various projects

Safety Compliance:

Follow strict safety protocols and industry regulations while working in the welding environment
Wear proper protective equipment
Wear proper protective equipment such as welding helmets gloves and safety boots
Adhere to all workplace safety practices to prevent accidents and injuries

Too and Equipment Maintenance:

Help maintain welding equipment and tools by cleaning and inspecting them regularly for wear and tear
Assist in minor repairs of welding machinery and tools as needed

Neils Steels has over 30 years of experience working with structural steel and have gained a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of its fabrication and installation supplying a full range of beams as well as delivering them untreated, galvanised or painted as required and the apprentice will be exposed to all of this during their apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

Star Road Trading Estate
Star Road, Partridge Green
Horsham
RH13 8RA

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP

Your training course

Welder (level 2)

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What you'll learn

Course contents

Apply health and safety procedures including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Collect and use information - text and data. For example, manufacturer's instructions, manuals, job instructions, drawings and quality control documentation.
Prepare welding materials and work area: sourcing, checking and protecting.
Prepare welding machines or equipment and safety protection measures, for example, check calibration and maintenance dates, inspection for cable damage.
Check and use or operate tools and equipment.
Set, modify and monitor welding controls, for example, current, arc voltage, wire feed speed, gas flow rates, polarity, mechanised tractor units.
Identify issues and actions required. Escalate issues or concerns.
Use manual processes and equipment to remove material before and after welding.
Weld using processes, for example, tungsten inert gas (TIG), plasma arc welding (PAW), manual metal arc (MMA), metal inert or metal active gas (MIG or MAG), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), tractor-mounted metal inert or metal active gas (MIG or MAG), tractor-mounted flux cored arc welding (FCAW), tractor-mounted or orbital tungsten inert gas (TIG), tractor-mounted or orbital plasma arc welding (PAW).
Adapt welding technique to weld different material groups, for example, carbon steel, low alloy steel (3-7% alloy content), high alloy ferritic or martensitic steel (>7% alloy content), austenitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steels, nickel and nickel alloys, aluminium and aluminium alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, copper and copper alloys.
Weld materials in different joint configurations, for example, butt, T-butt, fillet, cladding or buttering.
Adapt welding techniques to weld materials in different positions, for example, down-hand, horizontal-vertical, horizontal, vertical-up, vertical-down, overhead, inclined.
Identify surface defects.
Apply visual inspection, dimensional and alignment checks.
Restore the work area on completion of the welding activity, for example, clean equipment and machinery, tidy the work area, return excess resources and consumables.
Communicate verbally with others, for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, supervisors and managers.
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards and guidance. Segregate resources for re-use, recycling and disposal.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Follow work instructions - verbal or written.
Apply team working principles.
Apply health and safety procedures including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Collect and use information - text and data. For example, manufacturer's instructions, manuals, job instructions, drawings and quality control documentation.
Prepare welding materials and work area: sourcing, checking and protecting.
Prepare welding machines or equipment and safety protection measures, for example, check calibration and maintenance dates, inspection for cable damage.
Check and use or operate tools and equipment.
Set, modify and monitor welding controls, for example, current, arc voltage, wire feed speed, gas flow rates, polarity, mechanised tractor units.
Identify issues and actions required. Escalate issues or concerns.
Use manual processes and equipment to remove material before and after welding.
Weld using processes, for example, tungsten inert gas (TIG), plasma arc welding (PAW), manual metal arc (MMA), metal inert or metal active gas (MIG or MAG), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), tractor-mounted metal inert or metal active gas (MIG or MAG), tractor-mounted flux cored arc welding (FCAW), tractor-mounted or orbital tungsten inert gas (TIG), tractor-mounted or orbital plasma arc welding (PAW).
Adapt welding technique to weld different material groups, for example, carbon steel, low alloy steel (3-7% alloy content), high alloy ferritic or martensitic steel (>7% alloy content), austenitic stainless steel, duplex stainless steels, nickel and nickel alloys, aluminium and aluminium alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, copper and copper alloys.
Weld materials in different joint configurations, for example, butt, T-butt, fillet, cladding or buttering.
Adapt welding techniques to weld materials in different positions, for example, down-hand, horizontal-vertical, horizontal, vertical-up, vertical-down, overhead, inclined.
Identify surface defects.
Apply visual inspection, dimensional and alignment checks.
Restore the work area on completion of the welding activity, for example, clean equipment and machinery, tidy the work area, return excess resources and consumables.
Communicate verbally with others, for example, internal and external customers, colleagues, supervisors and managers.
Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards and guidance. Segregate resources for re-use, recycling and disposal.
Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
Follow work instructions - verbal or written.
Apply team working principles.

Your training plan

Welder Level 2 Apprenticeship standard including Welding of metals in 2 welding positions, using at least 1 arc welding process, passing surface inspection

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Maths (grade 9-2)
English (grade 9-2)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Willingness to learn
practical
strong attention to detail
ability to work with precision
team player
understands time management
effective communicator
proactive thinker
reliable
strong work ethic
contributes to solutions
strives for success

Other requirements

This is an 18-month apprenticeship including end point assessment and the apprentice will be expected to commit for the full term. The role will mainly be based at the Partridge Green site and own transport will be essential as public transport is limited and not reliable. Some travel will be required to the Portslade site and when required travel between the sites will be arranged. This apprenticeship would suit someone wanting to forge a welding career and is not dependant on previous experience. Applicants MUST BE resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start of learning and have work authorisation for the UK. Applicants WILL NOT BE eligible to apply if they have already achieved a qualification which is equal to or higher thank the apprenticeship standard on offer. Applicants MUST BE resident in the area local to the apprenticeship opportunity or be prepared to relocate in time to start employment and study. Applicants MUST BE committed to the learning and stay to the end of the apprenticeship. Learning will start in October 2025.

About this company

Neils Steels is a family run business based in Brighton & Hove. From humble beginnings in 1979 to growing to a team of 25 employees, owner, Neil Dermott has expanded the business to what it is today. Following in their father’s footsteps, Scott and Glen Dermott now both run the day-to-day operations across our two sites, Partridge Green and Portslade. As a family we have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the steel industry which has helped us establish ourselves as one of the leading steel fabricators in the South East as well as gaining a loyal customer base along the way.

After this apprenticeship

Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship program, individuals may advance to a welder position. This offers an excellent opportunity to develop valuable trade skills, gain industry experience and build a rewarding career in welding.

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