Plate Welder Apprenticeship (Level 3)
DYER ENGINEERING LTD.
Co Durham (DH9 7RU)
Closes in 13 days (Friday 6 March 2026)
Posted on 20 February 2026
Contents
Summary
Develop the skills needed to fabricate and weld structural and plated components. You’ll learn different welding techniques, how to read fabrication drawings, prepare materials and work safely to industry standards, building a solid foundation for a career in fabrication and welding.
- Wage
-
£16,933.80 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Annual salary increase in June.
- Training course
- Plate welder (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday - Wednesday: College, 9am - 4.30pm.
Thursday: Work, 7.30am - 4.30pm.
Friday: Work, 7.30am - 12.30pm.
(Subject to change).
39 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 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
- Production: Understanding core manufacturing processes and how components are made on the shopfloor.
- Quality Control: Learning how industry-leading standards are applied, measured and maintained.
- Engineering Solutions: Developing real-world, problem-solving skills by supporting engineering challenges and continuous improvement projects.
Where you'll work
Unit 3 & 5
Morrison Road Industrial Estate
Annfield Plain Stanley
Co Durham
DH9 7RU
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
NEW COLLEGE DURHAM
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
You’ll join a multi award winning programme, where you’ll be matched with your own mentor, supported through regular reviews and guided by clear quarterly milestones.
From day one, you’re part of our team and will work on real-world projects across key industries, including energy, rail, defence and processing, supporting global customers and learning from our experienced engineers along the way.
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
About this employer
Founded in 1977 and based in the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing region, we collaborate with global brands to deliver industry leading engineering solutions.
After this apprenticeship
On successful completion of the apprenticeship, the apprentice is expected to progress into a permanent role as a plate welder / structural welder within the business (subject to performance and business needs).
With increased experience, additional welding qualifications and exposure to more complex projects, career progression may include:
- Coded Multi-Positional Plate Welder
- Senior / Lead Welder
- Welding Coordinator
- Welding Inspector (with further qualifications such as CSWIP)
- Welding Supervisor
- Welding Quality Technician
- Welding Engineer (with further study and higher-level qualifications)
- Team Leader or Production Supervisor
Apprentices will develop highly transferable, industry-recognised skills across multiple manual welding processes and material groups. These skills provide opportunities to work across a wide range of sectors including Structural Steel, Marine, Defence, Process Plant, Transport and Heavy Engineering, both nationally and internationally.
We actively support continued professional development, including additional welding coding, specialist process training and progression to higher-level engineering qualifications such as HNC/HND or degree-level study where appropriate.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
DYER ENGINEERING LTD.
Sara Churchill
sara.churchill@dyer.co.uk
07842448510
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000017027.
Apply now
Closes in 13 days (Friday 6 March 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.