What a fantastic evening for our Teesside Branch. Last week, the 71st Annual Dinner welcomed 150 guests to come together, connect and celebrate the people helping to secure welding skills for the future.

We were delighted to welcome guest speaker John Bickerstaff, and to hear from Caroline Gumble, CEO of The Welding Institute, who shared an update on our ongoing work. We also had the pleasure of introducing Andrew Ward, our new Director for Professional Membership.

A huge congratulations to our award winners and runners-up:

• Best Welding Student 2026 (Winner): Sharne Tallon
• Best Welding Student 2026 (Runner-up): Cole Sanderson 

• Best Practical Welder 2026 (Winner): Joe Taylor 
• Best Practical Welder 2026 (Runner-up): Natasha McLaren

• Apprentice Welder 2026 (Winner): Jack Morley
• Apprentice Welder 2026 (Runner-up): Ben Williams

• Training Provider 2026 (Winner): CATCH (Grimsby)

With thanks to our awards sponsors WB Alloys and Dan Churchill, and EAL and Paddy Oakes.

A big thank you to everyone who supported the charity raffle and auction on the night, raising funds for Teesside Hospice and My Sister’s Place (including an auction for a signed Middlesbrough Football Club shirt).

Thank you to our table sponsors, to James Bell from our Younger Members Committee for producing the programme and supporting the charity contributions, and to the hospitality team at Middlesbrough Football Club for the excellent food and service.

Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting the evening:

SGS, EAL, Sunderland College, Middlesbrough College, NETA Training, Amentum, WB Alloys, Hartlepool College of Further Education, Mark Chapman, PJD Mechanical Engineering, ECITB, CATCH, Oceaneering, Libellum, Hydram Engineering - Sheet Metal Fabrications, SeAH Wind.