Apprentice Welder
PDL FABRICATION SPECIALISTS LIMITED
Ilkeston (DE7 8DW)
Closes in 30 days (Friday 19 June 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 19 May 2026
Contents
Summary
PDL Fabrications are looking for a motivated Apprentice Welder in a role that combines practical workshop experience with off-the-job training. You will develop core welding skills, safety knowledge, and industry-recognised qualifications.
- Wage
-
£16,640 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Welder (level 2)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday - hours to be confirmed.
30-minute lunch break.
Occasional Saturday work may be required.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
3 years 4 months
- Positions available
-
1
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
A welding apprentice will produce welds that meet quality standards and pass inspection, follows established welding procedures, cuts and joins materials accurately, and adheres to health and safety guidelines at all times.
Your day-to-day tasks will include:
- Fabricating and assembling metal products
- Fettling & Grinding
- Operating machinery
- Using hand and power tools
- Lifting and moving material
- Reading/interpreting drawings, procedures and specifications
- General workshop duties
- Maintaining a safe and tidy work environment
Where you'll work
Unit 1 Millership Way
Ilkeston
DE7 8DW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
DCG
Training course
Welder (level 2)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
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.
Training schedule
Welder Level 2.
You will spend 4 days each week in the workplace and 1 day each week training at Derby College's Roundhouse Campus.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade 4/C)
- Maths (grade 4/C)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Patience
- Integrity
- Punctual
- Reliable
About this employer
At PDL Fabrications Ltd, we are dedicated to providing top-notch metal fabrication services for both residential and commercial needs. Our commitment to exceptional service and expertise sets us apart in the industry. We take pride in delivering high-quality fabrication solutions, ensuring the durability and functionality of the metal products we create.
After this apprenticeship
After successful completion of this apprenticeship, you could progress to complete a Level 3 Plate Welding apprenticeship.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DCG
Fliss Rogers
fliss.rogers@derby-college.ac.uk
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000032514.
Apply now
Closes in 30 days (Friday 19 June 2026 at 11:59pm)