Level 3 Plate Welder Apprentice – Smulders Projects UK Limited
SMULDERS PROJECTS UK LIMITED
Tyne & Wear (NE28 6HL)
Closes in 12 days (Friday 17 April 2026)
Posted on 1 April 2026
Contents
Summary
As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience, develop new skills and work alongside experienced staff in a real-world manufacturing environment.
- Wage
-
£17,459 a year
- Training course
- Plate welder (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Thursday: 07.00 - 16.00
Friday: 07.00 - 15.15
Total hours: 39.5 hours per week
39 hours 30 minutes a week
- Start date
-
Monday 27 July 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- Positions available
-
5
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
Essential Job Functions:
- Setting up and operating welding and gas equipment
- Reading and interpreting weld procedures, engineering drawings, and weld details
- Performing welding using multiple processes in all positions
- Using mechanical grinders and pencil grinders
- Understanding the use of ceramic tiles in welding
- Operating overhead cranes safely and efficiently
- Using cherry pickers or scissor lifts (if qualified)
- Working at height or in confined spaces (after suitable training)
- Wearing full PPE including boots, overalls, glasses, ear defenders, hard hat, air-fed mask, and gloves
Standard Job Functions:
- Following all health & safety practices, company procedures, and technical standards
- Applying risk assessments and best practices in daily tasks
- Maintaining a clean and safe working environment
- Attending college one day per week as part of the apprenticeship
- Carrying out any reasonable tasks requested by a supervisor
Where you'll work
Hadrian Yard
Hadrian Way
Wallsend
Tyne & Wear
NE28 6HL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NCG
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
- Plate Welder Level 3
- 4-days per week at Smulders
- 1-day per week at Newcastle College Energy Academy (Wallsend)
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4)
- Maths (grade 4)
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
- Logical
- Team working
Other requirements
- Grade 4 or above in GCSE English and maths (or equivalent)
- Excellent timekeeping and punctuality
- Proactive attitude and willingness to learn
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy
- Logical thinker with problem-solving skills
- Ability to follow instructions and work as part of a team
- Interest in offshore wind steel constructions
- Motivated, driven, and eager to ask questions
About this employer
Smulders Projects UK is a manufacturing company and part of the Smulders Group, an international steel construction company. Our Wallsend facility, established in 2016, is located on the River Tyne with direct access to the North Sea. The site includes three construction areas and three load-out quays, supporting major projects in offshore wind energy, oil & gas and civil engineering. Smulders has a proven track record in engineering, construction, supply, and assembly of heavy, technically complex steel constructions. Our group operates in civil & industrial sectors, offshore oil & gas, and offshore wind energy. Since 2016, our Wallsend yard has successfully produced and assembled offshore wind turbine foundations for major international projects. As an apprentice, you will gain hands-on experience, develop new skills and work alongside experienced staff in a real-world manufacturing environment.
After this apprenticeship
- Practical Welding Skills - Learn to set up welding and gas equipment and perform welding using multiple processes in all positions
- Industry Knowledge - Gain experience in reading engineering drawings, understanding weld procedures, and working with ceramic tiles
- Equipment Handling - Become competent in using mechanical grinders, overhead cranes, cherry pickers, and scissor lifts (if qualified)
- Health & Safety Training - Understand and apply safety procedures, PPE usage, and risk assessments
- Career Growth - Build a strong foundation for a long-term career in the offshore wind and steel construction industries
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
NCG
Apprenticeships
apprenticeships@ncl-coll.ac.uk
01912004849
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000024598.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Friday 17 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.