Apprentice Pipe Welder
INEOS Inovyn
Runcorn (WA7 4EL)
Closes in 12 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 14 May 2026
Contents
Summary
This is a fantastic new opportunity to work and learn as a Pipe Welder Apprentice, with a leading chemical company which is part of the global Ineos Group.
This role is responsible for supporting the safe and efficient fabrication, assembly, and welding of pipework and associated fittings.
- Wage
-
£24,352 a year
- Training course
- Pipe welder (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 15:42 each day.
36 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years
- 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
You will be working from engineering drawings and approved welding procedures to deliver high-quality pipe spools and assemblies that meet project, quality, and safety requirements.
Key responsibilities:
- Fabricate, assemble, and weld carbon steel, stainless steel, and/or alloy pipework in accordance with engineering drawings, isometrics, and fabrication specifications
- Set out, cut, bevel, align, fit, and tack pipework and components to specified dimensions and tolerances prior to final welding
- Manufacture pipe spools, supports, and assemblies using correct fabrication techniques and approved materials
- Carry out welding activities using TIG, MMA (stick), and/or MIG processes as required, strictly following approved Welding Procedure Specifications (WPS)
- Ensure all welds meet visual acceptance criteria and are suitable for non-destructive testing (NDT), including VT, MPI, and radiography where applicable
- Undertake minor repairs, weld corrections, and rework in line with inspection and quality control feedback
- Accurately use measuring and alignment equipment, including tapes, levels, verniers, spirit levels, and squares, to ensure dimensional accuracy
- Comply fully with permit-to-work systems, risk assessments, method statements, and site or workshop safety procedures at all times
- Maintain a clean, safe, and well-organised work area, ensuring tools, equipment, and materials are used and stored correctly
- Work collaboratively with supervisors, inspectors, and other trades to meet agreed schedules, productivity targets, and quality standards
You must be willing to learn and develop technical skills through the Apprenticeship.
Where you'll work
Runcorn Site HQ
Bankes Lane Office
Bankes Lane
Runcorn
WA7 4EL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
RIVERSIDE COLLEGE
Training course
Pipe 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
- Obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation)
- Plan all preparatory tasks and interfaces and pipe welding activity, before commencing work
- Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for each activity
- Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding
- Inspect the 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 and adjust as necessary to accommodate changing orientation as the weld progresses around the pipe joint.
- Set-up purge protection within the pipe bore and associate monitoring methods
- Set-up bore side protection controls to avoid foreign material ingress into the pipe bore
- Remove materials using manual processes, including powered and non-powered equipment
- Achieve a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO 5817, ISO 9606, ASME IX, ASME B31.3 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection, including Time of Flight and Phased Array methods).
- Monitor weld quality and dimensions throughout welding activity and on completion of welding and report any issues through organisational production / quality control process prior to release for formal examination by others
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity
- Produce pipe welds using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW
- Produce pipe welds using four material groups 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 pipe welds covering ALL defined pipe welding positions. These are Flat - Rotated Pipe; Horizontal - Fixed Vertical Pipe; Vertical Weld - Fixed Horizontal Pipe (either upward or downward progression); Inclined - Fixed 45 degree Pipe Overhead (either upward or downward progression)
- Produce pipe welds in 3 main joint configurations from Single Sided Butt, Socket, Flange and Set-on Branch.
- Produce pipe welds in by continually adjusting the orientation of the welder, welding torch, and welding consumable filler, including restricted access conditions
- Produce pipe welds in restricted access conditions by welding with both left and right hands (e.g. boiler tube bundles, proximity of other plant and equipment, limited access locations, welds located with limited visibility of the weld joint)
- Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements
- Obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation)
- Plan all preparatory tasks and interfaces and pipe welding activity, before commencing work
- Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for each activity
- Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding
- Inspect the 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 and adjust as necessary to accommodate changing orientation as the weld progresses around the pipe joint.
- Set-up purge protection within the pipe bore and associate monitoring methods
- Set-up bore side protection controls to avoid foreign material ingress into the pipe bore
- Remove materials using manual processes, including powered and non-powered equipment
- Achieve a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO 5817, ISO 9606, ASME IX, ASME B31.3 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection, including Time of Flight and Phased Array methods).
- Monitor weld quality and dimensions throughout welding activity and on completion of welding and report any issues through organisational production / quality control process prior to release for formal examination by others
- Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location
- Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques
- Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity
- Produce pipe welds using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW
- Produce pipe welds using four material groups 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 pipe welds covering ALL defined pipe welding positions. These are Flat - Rotated Pipe; Horizontal - Fixed Vertical Pipe; Vertical Weld - Fixed Horizontal Pipe (either upward or downward progression); Inclined - Fixed 45 degree Pipe Overhead (either upward or downward progression)
- Produce pipe welds in 3 main joint configurations from Single Sided Butt, Socket, Flange and Set-on Branch.
- Produce pipe welds in by continually adjusting the orientation of the welder, welding torch, and welding consumable filler, including restricted access conditions
- Produce pipe welds in restricted access conditions by welding with both left and right hands (e.g. boiler tube bundles, proximity of other plant and equipment, limited access locations, welds located with limited visibility of the weld joint)
Training schedule
- Pipe Welder Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard
- Weekly attendance at Riverside College, Widnes
More training information
- The apprentice will receive hands-on training in pipe fabrication and welding (MMA, MIG, TIG), including reading drawings, preparing materials, and assembling pipework
- Training will also cover safe use of equipment, site safety procedures, and may include recognised welding qualifications, supported by experienced mentors
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
- Team working
- Pride in work
- Strong safety mindset
- Reliable
- Flexible
- Proactive
- Keen to learn
- Accurate
- Positive attitude
Other requirements
The Apprentice will be working in workshop-based and/or on-site fabrication environments.
Manual handling activities and regular use of welding, cutting, grinding, and lifting equipment is also required.
We reserve the right to close this opportunity after 1 week if we have received enough applications, and therefore recommend you make an application as soon as possible, rather than waiting until the planned closing date as we cannot guarantee the vacancy will remain open for the whole time planned.
If you are applying with qualifications other than those listed in the entry requirements (GCSE's), please make sure you have obtained official evidence of equivalency from UK ENIC before the application closing date. Please note, if you are shortlisted for the post we cannot progress your application any further without you providing evidence of this.
About this employer
INEOS Inovyn is a leading chemical company and part of the global INEOS Group. We produce essential raw materials, including chlorine, caustic soda, and PVC, which are used in everyday products such as healthcare equipment, construction materials, and energy systems.
At INEOS Inovyn, we are committed to developing the next generation of talent through high-quality apprenticeships. We offer hands-on experience in a dynamic industrial environment, combining practical learning with structured training and career development opportunities. Apprentices benefit from working alongside experienced professionals, gaining valuable skills, and contributing to real-world projects from day one, while also learning whilst they earn.
After this apprenticeship
A Pipe Fabrication Welder Apprentice at our Runcorn site can look forward to strong long-term career opportunities within a leading industrial company. Upon successful completion, apprentices can progress into skilled welder or pipefitter roles, with opportunities for further qualifications, specialist training, and career development within INEOS Inovyn.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
RIVERSIDE COLLEGE
Joanna Smith
joanna.smith@riversidecollege.ac.uk
01512572800
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000031431.
Apply now
Closes in 12 days (Friday 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm)