Plate Welder Apprentice

TOOMERS LTD

Salisbury (SP5 4EE)

Closes in 28 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 20 February 2026

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Summary

The Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA) is supporting Toomers Ltd to recruit a L3 Plate Welder Apprentice to join their Engineering team and develop within the organisation. Main tasks/focus will be in aspects of welding and fabrication as well as gaining knowledge, behaviours and experience in order to achieve the Standard.

Wage

£20,800 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The pay may be negotiated and may rise after a probation period has been successfully completed.

Training course
Plate welder (level 3)
Hours
Monday - Friday, 07:30 - 16:00, may work overtime, evenings and weekends (age dependant).

40 hours a week

Start date

Monday 7 September 2026

Duration

3 years 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

Apprentices working at Toomers Ltd will be working as part of the team, to ensure you gain the experience you will:

  • Be assisting skilled welder fabricators with their day-to-day work
  • This will involve helping set up equipment, interpret and understand drawings, select suitable tool/s for task
  • Be shown the skills required to complete jobs in a safe and professional manner
  • Be encouraged to gain confidence, you will be assisted to manage your own work
  • Learn tasks which will include cutting and shaping steel using a variety of tools, welding and mechanical fitting tasks

Where you'll work

5 Batten Road
Downton
Salisbury
SP5 4EE

Training

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

Training provider

SOUTHAMPTON ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED (THE)

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

  • Apprentices will undertake a Level 3 Plate Welder Apprenticeship Standard programme
  • This will include a full-time period of practical workshop based ‘off-the-job’ training at SETA’s Apprenticeship Centre in Southampton
  • You will also begin a knowledge qualification (depending on your prior attainments) where you will be required to attend SETA one day a week over two academic years
  • After your initial training at SETA, you will be with your employer working on developing your skills; ultimately leading to being able to demonstrate all the skills and knowledge identified in the apprenticeship standard
  • SETA will make regular visits during your time in the workplace to ensure you are developing all the required skills within the Standard, including the specified behaviours and checking your theory knowledge via professional discussions

To achieve full certification after all of your training the apprenticeship culminates in your End Point Assessment (EPA), these final tests are administered by an independent assessment organisation and take place in the last three months of the apprenticeship

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade Grade C/4-5)
  • Maths (grade Grade C/4-5)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Creative
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Other requirements

Travel to and from the workplace – serious consideration should be taken for the duration of the apprenticeship – where possible, be self-sufficient and accountable for being at work ahead of shift staff time. On-street parking available. Travel to SETA training Full training will be given, but we expect our apprentices to maintain our rigorous standards.

About this employer

Toomers Ltd is a family run business, established in 1982. We currently operate over two sites in Downton, south of Salisbury. We pride ourselves on quality, reliability and efficiency - that includes our staff. We value ‘what we say we will do – we do’ whilst managing client expectations. We are committed to delivering products and services in accordance with our quality accreditations. We forge partnerships with dependable supply chains allowing us to focus on our core production – steel fabrication and steel processing – two factors that dovetail together or run in isolation. We currently employ circa. 80 staff ranging from fabricators, welders, machine operatives, surface finishers, supported by a dynamic support team. We operate in a high energy environment whilst still allowing our skilled staff to craft or manufacture steel components that support the built environment we live in today. Steelwork that has passed through our doors is integrated into bridges, theatres, iconic and historic buildings across the world. Toomers Ltd is passionate about steel and production and wants to play a part in developing the skills of the next generation of passionate individuals who want a career change.

https://toomersltd.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

  • Opportunity to work on a varied range of projects; from multi-million-pound infrastructure schemes, international developments to supporting local community projects
  • We provide material processing, fabrication, welding and surface finishing using cutting edge technology systems.
  • We offer competitive rates of pay, wealth of experience in traditional skills and new technologies
  • We are energised to enhance our operations and look after the staff that work with for us. With over 40 years’ experience in the industry, we are keen to see the next generation build on our success and future heritage     

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SOUTHAMPTON ENGINEERING TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED (THE)

Southampton Engineering Training Association (SETA)

Recruitment@seta-training.co.uk

023 8077 1908

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016973.

Apply now

Closes in 28 days (Tuesday 31 March 2026 at 11:59pm)