News

As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we sat down with an AWeldI Member who is an open advocate for neurodivergence and a champion of different minds. They spoke about their lived experiences, their perspectives, and their hopes for the future - both within the workplace and the wider community.

What does Neurodiversity Celebration Week mean to you?

They shared how important it is to have dedicated spaces like this week to open up conversations, and how valuable it is to foster these discussions within The Welding Institute and the workplace. They noted that awareness not only makes the conversation easier but also helps normalise it and reduce the taboo surrounding neurodiversity.

“Any excuse to have the conversation is very welcome… the aim of having a week for it is so that we can initiate the conversation. It’s great to feel like the week isn’t a tick‑boxing exercise with real conversation being had.”

They highlighted how visibility - through videos, panels, and shared experiences - helps people across the organisation understand what support exists and how others navigate neurodiversity.

How has being neurodivergent shaped your outlook on life?

They explained that neurodivergence isn’t something they compare to a “before” or “after” - it’s simply the way they experience the world. They noted that neurotypical people often have an inherent sense of how things “should” be, whereas neurodivergent people build that understanding consciously:

“It doesn’t change my outlook because I wouldn’t know any other way. I have an openness to being different.”

“As a neurodivergent, everything is something you have to learn… you are constantly scanning and trying to build the picture of how things are. A neurotypical person has some level of inherent assumptions on how things are supposed to be, like conversations and meetings, but as a neurodivergent you don’t have that — you know there are many different ways to think.”

They also described how their approach to problem‑solving helps them think outside the box and contribute to projects in ways that might not otherwise be considered:

“I am capable of seeing much more than what is obvious to a neurotypical, so I am capable of making links and picking up the anomalies and thinking, ‘That doesn’t look right.’”

This constant learning brings openness and flexibility - an awareness that there are many different ways to think, communicate, and solve problems.

What adaptations have you found most helpful at work?

They emphasised one thing above all: flexibility.

“My manager has helped me a lot in giving me the space to work with my brain, and to work with my capabilities and not against it.”

They explained that this flexibility and their neurodivergence allows them to follow their instincts, make connections others might miss, and approach problems creatively. In one project, this led them to spot anomalies in old data that ultimately changed the direction of the work.

They also highlighted the value of supportive colleagues and tools like Copilot, which help manage distractions and stay organised. They appreciate having spaces where they can talk openly and not feel alone, as well as being able to discuss different approaches to problem‑solving with their manager.

What misconceptions about neurodiversity do you wish people understood better?

“I wish people understood how much of a struggle it is so that they can be kinder and offer help. Misconceptions are things like lack of knowledge and understanding.”

They spoke about the invisible effort behind day‑to‑day functioning and how many neurodivergent people mask their struggles, making it harder for others to recognise when support is needed.

They also pointed out how stereotypes and lack of awareness can lead to misunderstandings:

“I am apparently very social… but I am an introvert. I am autistic. Social interaction takes a lot of energy from me. I’ve heard a lot of ‘I wouldn’t have guessed you were autistic.’”

Their hope is that greater understanding will reduce the burden on individuals to constantly self‑advocate, and that there will be a broader willingness to understand neurodivergence and its nuances.

How does neurodiversity empower you?

They described their strengths with clarity and pride:

“When I’m at my top — even if it is 5% of the time — it is comparable to a neurotypical person’s full week.”

Their neurodivergence gives them a questioning mindset, a resistance to assumptions, and an instinct for spotting patterns or inconsistencies that others might overlook.

“I question the normal approach not because I want to be difficult but because I’m asking: is this applicable, is there a different way to go about it? That questioning mindset, that uncertainty that comes with my neurodiversity, allows me to probe more and find better solutions.”

This ability to challenge norms and rethink processes is a powerful asset in engineering environments.

What do you hope people take away from Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

They hope for greater empathy and shared responsibility:

“I wish people understood how much of a struggle it is… so that all of the problem‑solving wouldn’t fall on the individual person.”

They want workplaces to recognise that neurodivergent people shouldn’t have to be exceptional just to function — and that with the right structures, more people can thrive.

We’d like to thank our AWeldI Member for their incredible insight into being neurodivergent and for helping us understand how we can all contribute to building a more inclusive community within The Welding Institute.

This National Careers Week, we spoke with Morgan Ellis a member of The Welding Institute and Welding and Materials Engineer.

Morgan shared insights into her role, how she entered the welding field, and shared insights into the skills that are valuable in welding and engineering, along with advice to help you decide whether these fields, and their many possible career pathways, might be the right fit for you.

Read the full interview to hear Morgan's stories and insights below:

Morgan Ellis AWeldI

Welding and Materials Engineer, Subsea 7

Can you tell us about your current job role and what a typical day looks like?

I am currently a welding and materials engineer for Subsea 7. They're a subsea engineering and construction company who design and install subsea components. Most of that is to support the offshore energy industry, working in both oil and gas and renewables.

My role is to work with our clients and our suppliers to make sure that we are procuring material that is safe, compliant with national and international standards and our client requirements. I'll then work with our fabricators who help build these items, so these could be pipelines or large structures that are going on the seabed, and I'll work with them to develop procedures and support them in producing these items.

Day-to-day, most of my time I am based in the office and I'll be working with multidisciplinary teams. We'll have a project team that'll be made-up of design engineers, project engineers, materials engineers, as well as quality and supply chain.

We'll work on long-term projects that can last anywhere from a few months to two years. From that, we'll take the design from concept phase all the way from manufacturing, fabrication to installation on the seabed. While my day-to-day is in the office, it does mean that I do get to go out on site and see these things being made. I've had some really good trips to Italy to see some forge masters, as well as spending a lot of time with one of our fabricators in Peterhead in north of Aberdeen to support them in fabricating our structures.

How did you get into the engineering and welding field?

After finishing my GCSEs, I went to college to do my A-levels where I did maths, physics and computing. I then went to university to do mechanical engineering. Whilst I was here, I did a year in industry where I worked as an operations intern and focused on project management.

When I left university, I didn't really know what I wanted to do and decided that I was going to go and work at a foundry as a quality technician. This was where I started to learn more about materials and decided that maybe I was more interested in the material side than the mechanical engineering side.

I then came to work with Subsea 7 and they've supported me through doing the TWI Welding Diploma, which I finished this year, which has really helped me transfer what I've learned as a mechanical engineer and build up my materials knowledge and helping to develop my skills as a materials and welding engineer.

What I would say is that everybody that I meet in engineering has a different story of how they got into engineering, whether that's through an apprenticeship, or something they found later in life. So I guess rather than focusing on ‘you need these grades’, I would say the main skills you would need is to be creative, be good at problem solving and being a good communicator. If you enjoy these things and you find that you're good at them, then that's maybe a bit more important than thinking I need to have this grade in maths or this grade in physics.

I would say that engineering is massive, it’s so broad. So if you find that you don't particularly like one area, that doesn't mean it's not for you. Don't rule it out. You could find something that is more your thing. So I think the biggest thing is, do what you enjoy. Find areas that you enjoy, it'll be much easier if you do. Also find courses that are tailored towards that. I think if you are looking at chartership and professional development, one of the key things is to make sure that the course that you're planning to do is accredited by the Engineering Council.

But other than that, just find what you enjoy and what sounds interesting to you.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in engineering or welding?

I'd say the first thing is don't pigeonhole yourself, I did a mechanical engineering degree and I've since found that engineering is a big open world with many different opportunities. Find the things that you enjoy and if opportunities come up that take you away from what you thought your core discipline was, that's fine, go with it.

Also, professional bodies like the TWI can support you in identifying areas that you may be interested in. They work in many different areas and can introduce you to different areas of welding and materials that you didn't really know existed.

So I'd say keep it open, do what you're interested in and talk to people about their careers and how they've got into it and what they enjoy about it.

Also experience, on-site experience is always good. So if you ever get the chance to go and see things, go and see them up close, see them in person, do it because you can be designing things from behind a computer, but until you've seen it up close and personal, then you can't really fully wrap your head around it. So as much site time as possible.

Many thanks to Morgan for taking part and sharing valuable advice on the skills needed to enter the welding industry, and how to figure out whether it’s the right career for you!

Watch the full video interview here!

Discover more about National Careers Week: Welcome - National Careers Week

Read our National Careers Week news item and download our PowerPoint about career pathways into welding, engineering and NDT!

This National Careers Week, we spoke with Carl Lavis, a Professional Member of The Welding Institute, about his career in welding engineering.

Carl shared insights into his role, how he entered the engineering field, and his advice for anyone considering a career in engineering or welding, including the different pathways available to build a successful future in the industry.

Read the full interview below to explore his story and perspectives:

Carl Lavis, MWeldI CEng

Principal Welding Engineer, Babcock International

Can you tell us about your current job role and what a typical day looks like? 

I’m currently a Principal Welding Engineer for Babcock International, based at Devonport. My main responsibilities are: 

• Line managing a team of welding engineers 
• Responsible welding co-ordinator in accordance with Devonport’s ISO 3834 certification 
• Manage welding projects that fall outside of day-to-day work, including mechanisation, automation and non-standard repairs.

How did you get into the engineering and welding field? 

I originally got into the welding/engineering field as a pipefitting apprentice where I had to learn welding for a module during the apprenticeship. After finishing my apprenticeship, I was given the opportunity to move into Devonport’s nuclear welding team and specialise in TIG welding of pipework in various materials. 

After a few years I moved into a welding quality assurance/quality control role and achieved CSWIP 3.1 certification. Getting that certificate made me want to know more about the theory behind welding, so I followed up with the TWI specialist and technologist diplomas and was given the chance to move in to Welding Engineering if I studied for a degree. A good few years later,  I have a foundation degree in Engineering through the Open University, a master’s degree in Welding Engineering through Cranfield University and have moved up through the grades in the welding department at Devonport. 

If I had to recommend any specific course, it would have been my apprenticeship right back at the start of my career. It gave me a solid foundation in the “hands on” side of engineering and gave me a good appreciation of “the art of the possible”, and the environments that the staff on the shop floor work in. Typical salaries for trade staff start around £17k for an apprentice and end around £36,000 after finishing their apprenticeship.  An engineering graduate can expect to start on £37k-39k with essentially no upper limit depending on how they progress through the company.  

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in engineering or welding? 

There’s no better time to get into engineering. The “skills gap” is here and now, so there’s a lot of opportunities for people. With the increase in civil nuclear, and defence spending there are a lot of un-filled jobs out there.  

Thank you Carl for taking part and sharing your advice for young people considering a career in Welding and Engineering!

Discover more about National Careers Week: Welcome - National Careers Week

Read our National Careers Week news item and download our PowerPoint about career pathways into welding, engineering and NDT!

National Careers Week, 2nd -7th  March, is a dedicated annual event that highlights the importance of meaningful careers education across the UK.  

The week provides a focal point in the academic calendar, encouraging schools, colleges, universities, alternative provision settings, and organisations to come together and inspire young people as they explore their future pathways. 

The aim of the week is to raise awareness, spark curiosity, and build confidence by giving learners access to guidance, information, and real-world insight at a crucial stage in their development. Through free resources, activities, and conversations, National Careers Week helps young people understand the breadth of opportunities available to them and the skills they may need to succeed. 

This year, we will be sharing a range of resources designed for young people interested in welding and engineering. These will include insights into different career routes, practical guidance on training and qualifications, and interviews with professionals working in the sector. Their experiences and advice will help highlight the skills, attributes, and pathways that can lead to a rewarding career in welding and engineering. 

Kick off the week by exploring exciting career pathways in welding, welding engineering, and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). Check out our PowerPoint to learn more! 

Read more about National Careers week: Welcome - National Careers Week

National Apprenticeship Week is the biggest celebration of apprenticeships and skills in the calendar. Now in its 19th year, the theme for 2026 is ‘Skills for Life’, is focusing on opening doors to exciting and rewarding careers, helping businesses build future-ready workforces, and supporting the economy by upskilling and addressing priority skills gaps. 

We encourage everyone to celebrate how apprenticeships and skills help individuals reach their full potential while breaking down barriers across industry. 

Membership with the Institute provides support in enriching both professional and academic development – benefits such as free Back-to-Basics webinars hosted by the Younger Members’ Committee (YMC) and guidance and advice from ASSET (Association for Skills, Education and Training) ensure that the role The Welding Institute plays encompasses the needs of our younger members. Our Technical Group webinars are offered at a reduced rate for Student Members, providing the opportunity to gain in-depth technical insight from industry experts while earning points towards Continuous Professional Development (CPD). 

Additionally, joining a local branch allows apprentices to expand their networks beyond the workplace and training providers running regular online and in-person events on subjects such as friction welding, diffusion bonding and stainless steels.  

ASSET Members Chris Eady and Miles Goodwin share their thoughts on how the association supports apprentices in developing their careers and learning: 

How does ASSET’s collaboration between employers, training providers and colleges enhance the quality of apprenticeship training and help build a future-ready workforce? 

Like many contributors to ASSET (previously known as AWFTE), I began my engineering career as an apprentice and the learning has never stopped. 

Membership of a Professional Engineering Institution, such as The Welding Institute, provides access to library services, online resources, events, activities and networking opportunities that make Continuing Professional Development (CPD) both accessible and enjoyable. 

ASSET supports welding and fabrication trainers, lecturers, instructors, tutors and teachers in their own lifelong learning, enabling them to pass this knowledge on to their apprentices. 

Today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s trainers - learning Skills for Life that they will, in turn, pass on to others. 

EUR ING Chris Eady BSc (Hons) MSc CEng FIMechE FWeldI 

How do apprenticeships supported by ASSET help individuals develop their skills beyond initial qualifications into longer-term careers? 

ASSET acts as a signposting association, guiding apprentices and post-apprentices towards relevant further and higher education pathways including Level 4 and above, up to degree level. It provides information on course locations and available support, while connecting welding organisations, educational establishments, employers and individuals looking to advance their careers.

Miles Goodwin TechWeldI EngTech 

Through the work of ASSET and the Younger Members’ Committee, students and apprentices can make the most of their free student membership - helping you advance your learning journey completely free of charge. 

Interested in finding out more? 
Visit our Student Information page. 

NHS Scrub Nurse to Welder: How COVID-19 changed the career path of a highly motivated woman

Earlier this year, Callum Williamson delivered a presentation on friction stir welding to students of Tyne Coast College. Callum was informed by the college’s Work Placement Officer that they had a very inspiring individual who changed professions around the time of COVID-19. This individual, who was excelling in their Welding and Fabrication qualification, was Ruth Bolton. Callum had the pleasure to sit down with Ruth to discuss her passions and what led her to change careers.

Thank you, Ruth, for taking the time to talk with me. Could you tell our readers a little more about your previous career as a NHS Scrub Nurse?

“Absolutely! I was previously a Scrub Nurse in the Hepatobiliary Department. Hepatobiliary focuses on disorders of the liver and gallbladder. As part of the department I was working with, the Lower Abdominal Transplantations team, I helped cover and work with organ transplants across the UK.”

Okay, wow! That’s a pretty big jump - going from NHS Scrub Nurse to welding. Can you tell me more about why you looked at a career change?

“Well… COVID-19 happened. During the pandemic I was frontline staff and a key worker. After the pandemic abated somewhat and the infection rate grew low, I felt like I seriously needed to sit down and re-evaluate whether my current values and passions were aligned with what I was doing. Sadly, I understood that my values didn’t align, and I started looking for other opportunities.”

I feel like we all can empathise with what your thought process was there. Can you tell our readers more about what specifically drew you to welding and fabrication?

“I always wanted to do it when I was younger, especially when I was looking to leave school. I know things are very different now but, when I was in education, strangely, engineering was looked down upon, especially for women. I ended up doing Electronics Design and Technology, which, at the time, wasn’t always accepted by universities as a qualification. Which is why I didn’t progress it further.”

Were there any engineers within your family that influenced you?

“Yes, my grandfather! He actually worked for Caterpillar for over 25 years.”

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What job opportunities are you hoping to find?

“That’s actually a difficult question to answer. Since starting this course, I’ve been subject to so many new ways of thinking and so many opportunities. It’s opened up so many new possibilities. I almost feel like a ‘kid in a candy shop’ now. So it’s quite difficult to predict. With being quite early on, on my course, I feel like I’m still looking through a keyhole to this brand new world.”

Do you have any clue as to a sector you would like to specialise in?

“It’s still quite difficult to say. What I do know is, I love learning and investigating new processes. So maybe it would be easier to say I think I would work in ‘process’ driven teams in any sector.”

If you were to go back to pre‑COVID or during COVID, what career advice would you give yourself?

“Ha ha, I’d have quit much sooner. It’s funny really, as I had looked into welding before COVID hit. With being a mature student, the funding rules were a little more strict with regard to paying for the course. So I opted to not proceed, as I couldn’t afford it. There was a course being ran out of Middlesborough that I had looked into. But the cost of being in full-time education, running my own home, transport and essentials… I really couldn’t have afforded it. Looking back, it’s a shame I couldn’t have followed through with it.”

Do you feel like you now have the funding you need to take this course?

“I do! I am really glad that the funding rules changed and that there were more funding options available for me. I looked into doing apprenticeships over 10 years ago now, and I can say they are completely different.”

Is there any advice you would give others, older or younger, who are considering a career change?

“I know it can seem very scary. Looking at my parents, they had one interview, one job and then they retired. With the cost of living now, we aren’t retiring at 55 or even 65. Even at 40, it feels like we’re still going to be working another 40 years. It’s the new reality. But it’s not intimidating any more, to look at changing things. From what I’ve done so far, I’ve developed all of these new skills and I’ve been able to hone others. I know there are employers who would love to have these skills within their teams, both my new ones and my old ones.”

“…It also helps that I think employers secretly love hiring ex-nurses.”

Last question. Why should anyone consider taking education or starting a career in engineering, welding or fabrication?

“I think for welding and fabrication, it opens a lot of doors that you don’t necessarily realise are there. Like when I first started out, I thought that I would be at a bench laying down beads all day… that is such an inaccuracy. That’s the exact opposite of what we do here. It’s such a massive field, especially if you are young and athletic. You can deep-sea dive and get paid to weld, if you’re more computer focused, you can program and/or design machines and teach them how to do difficult welding tasks. The way I see it is; if you are passionate about something, there will be a way to apply it within a welding and fabrication career.”

This interview was very insightful. Making such a large change, just after the pandemic had died down — and thriving in that change — shows just how committed Ruth is to developing the skills necessary to become one of ‘Tomorrow’s Engineers.’

I hope you have all enjoyed the interview and hopefully I can bring more to you.

Callum Williamson
Education, Accreditation and Approvals Officer

Tomorrows Engineers Week

It’s Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2025, and this year’s theme is, ‘Dare to Discover.’

Dare to Discover is all about showing young people that you don’t have to get it right the first time and the importance of trial and error in engineering; encouraging students to become robust and adaptable problem-solvers.

As part of this year’s celebrations, we spoke with Chloe Wing, an East Anglian College engineering student and Skills Weld Competitor. Chloe shared her thoughts on what it means to ‘dare to discover,’ reflecting on her own experiences of trial and error during her studies, and the valuable lessons she has learnt along the way.

What made you get into engineering?

So, it was the three taster days that we had from the motor vehicle course. Darren brought us in so we could have a go at welding. I did one join, and I already knew that I loved it. It just took one press of that MIG button and I was like, “yeah, this this is what I love. This is what I want to go into.” I did a few more and when the day’s come to an end, I thought, “I don't want to leave. I don't want to go back to my course, I want to keep doing this.” So I had a chat with Darren and he sorted me out and I knew that's what my future was.

What do you enjoy most about engineering?

What I enjoy most is when I come to a stump, when I get put on challenges, because I don't like an easy task. In engineering, we have so much hands-on work and all them like instances, like, if something doesn't go your way or if it doesn't go how you want it to, you've got to really put your mind to it to go around - and I get put to challenges every single day, so that's probably my favourite part about it.

As a student, what are some problems you have faced while learning and how have you overcome them?

As a student, it's a little bit difficult because we have limited materials, limited things of how we do our welds and all how we do everything, because you can't exactly match what it will be like in industry. But there's always a way to overcome it. We've got the resources to make like jigs and G clamps and everything, so we can do the full positional welds and anything like that. So, it's all just about figuring out a way how to get yourself to be able to do that kind of thing. It's just trying to match industry. So, you know what you're going to be doing because, simple things on a table, simple, like flat welds on a table is not going to be what you're doing in industry all the time. So, working your way around that and getting yourself in position ready for when you're not doing the easiest and you're on your hands and knees - that's probably something you've got to focus your mind to.

What lessons did you take away from overcoming these problems and challenges?

Lessons that I’ve taken away is that not everything is an easy task. Not everything will go the way that you want it to, and you have to put your mind to things. You have to use creativity and problem-solving skills to figure out how to push yourself, how to get what you want out of it, because not every job is going to be an easy one that you can just go ahead and do; it's going to have difficulties and it's going to be something you've got to really teach yourself to do. You've got to teach yourself all types of problem-solving, and how not give up when something's not as easy as you want it to go, and know that, in the end if you put your mind to it, you'll get the job done and it will go exactly how you want.

Any specific problems you can think of...?

So, one specific problem would be when my lecturer was pushing me even further after I'd learned my 6G. We wanted to try out 6GR, but with the way that our bays are designed, it was getting a little bit too cramped and I couldn't fully get myself in the proper position to get that weld done. So we put our minds to it before, “what could we do? Can we extend the G Clamp? Can we somehow weld something onto the pipe so that I could access it without bashing my helmet off the wall and crashing into things?” And the train of thought is just, “what is the first step we can do? What is there that we can maybe make to make it easier to access, easier to see? Is there anything we can do?” And eventually it was just as simple as putting a plate onto it to extend it out so I could reach and I could do my weld. All it takes is just a bit of creativity to it; it's not always a difficult task where you're having to make something massive to change the bay completely. You just have to put your mind to it. And we came up with something and I could get it done.

As a student who is constantly learning, what would you say the importance of trial and error is to you, and what are some new skills you have you learnt as a result?

Trial and error is probably the most important thing, especially as a student when you're learning, because when something goes wrong, you can always learn from mistakes. You can look at what went wrong and you can get from there to where you want to be.

I've had many welds go completely wrong and I’ve looked at them with my lecturer and we've gone through issues that have caused the problems and what I could do next time to improve and get better. Problems such as in the industry, such as, if you're welding, you have tolerances for when you're hand-fitting stuff and then welding them together. If the heat bends that, and your tolerance is out, you got that wrong - and that's trial and error. But then you also know then to, after, you've got a kind of change it with your mind because you know that it's going to bend from the heat. So you change that tolerance yourself to something bigger and greater.

Because of the error last time, you know that it's going to go wrong, it's not going to be the measurements they want. So you know to change that and it will be where you want it to be. Trial and error is just something that helps you learn that problems happen and there is a way to overcome them, and you know what you're doing wrong because you're not going to do everything right on the first time. You're never going to do everything right. There's always something that you can teach yourself when looking at something that's gone wrong, so it can go right in the future.

What advice would you give to young engineers and other fellow engineering students when they face a problem similar to yourself?

When you face a problem, don't let it knock you back. Never let it stop you from thinking that you can do it, and that it's never going to go well. You can always improve from mistakes and just because things going wrong, it doesn't mean it's the end for you. You can get better and you will get better. You just have to really put your head down and think about it as you're still learning. Nothing's going to go right in the first days or weeks of learning; you have to go through that process of trial and error to figure out how to get yourself to the point where you want to be.

I faced problems. I faced a lot of problems actually, when I first started, and it did stump me a little, because I wasn't in the right mind for it. So, when welds were going completely wrong and they weren't getting any better, I was ashamed that I wasn't getting any better at it, and all it took was just a little thought that “this isn't going to be how it is forever.” You've got to really just focus and think what you're doing wrong and what you can do better, because then, when it does get better, it's a massive relief on your mind and it will never stay bad. We all have off-days. I've been welding for quite a few months, and I still face problems. I still face issues and I have off-days as well, but I don't let them stump me and that really gives me positivity, and it makes me continue because I know that everyone faces it, and it's not just you. It's not anyone. It's not your mistakes, it's what everyone goes through. You just have to learn from it and push yourself through anything that goes wrong.

Have you ever experienced a project not going to plan and, if so, how do you stay motivated when a project doesn’t go as planned?

The main project that I had big, big problems with was when I was first practising for Weld Skills and I had to learn 6G, and that was my first ever time going on to stick welding and such professional TIG welding; all the angles, all different positions, everything. It just wasn't going well for the first two weeks. But I kept myself motivated by – personally - I listen to music because it helps me get in the headspace of when I flip this visor down, I'm just going to do it. Go with the flow. Go how I have been. You're not listening to anything else outside. You're just kind of locked away in your own zone. You're focused on what you're doing. And if a weld stresses me out, like when it was blowing holes and nothing was going well, take a breather. Don't continue when you're stressed, take a breather, go speak to someone you know.

You know, personally, I always speak to my lecturer because he has so much experience with welding and the industry and things going wrong, and he just really gives me that boost of “it might not be going well now, but if you just keep going and doing what you're doing, it will eventually.” And I think that just stuck in my mind that, if he has that motivation and he thinks that I can do it, I know that I can as well. It just helps to sometimes stop yourself for a moment; let yourself have a breather, and speaking to someone that you know will give you that bit of, like, pride in the work you previously have done, and knowledge that they have on your skills. You know that you can eventually do it. It's just more, motivation is key when you're welding, especially when things are going wrong, because you never want to kick yourself when something hasn't gone to plan. You want to keep yourself in that space and you want to keep yourself going and you'll eventually get it.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve worked on that pushed you to think outside the box?

The most exciting project, was part of the Weld Skills joints. It was the aluminium pipe to plate, as it was my first few goes at aluminium. I've never really touched it before that and I knew it was very different to the mild steel, which is what I was used to. It's the first time that I did it. I was just like, “let's wing it. Let's go on the settings that I know and see how it goes.”

I then found out that it was not really how I wanted it to go, and I found that it was a much faster process than steel, because of how quickly it melts. So I had to kind of think, “how am I going to settle myself in to go in the pace that I need to for this, especially when going around the curve?” And my settings were completely off so I thought, “I'm going to have to get loads of plates, do loads of joints and, as I go through them, lower or raise the amps, go slower or go faster when feeding and moving,” until I really found my comfort, and how I was going to be able to do it without failure and I found the perfect setting, the perfect speed for myself to get that weld to where I wanted to. This is the first time that I'd ever had to properly play around with the settings to find what I wanted to and be able to do it properly, so it was more or less, wing it at first to see how it goes and see how it feels, and then, in stages, figure out my personal preference for everything so that I was comfortable when it came to the day where I had to do them.

What would you say to students or young people wanting to participate in SkillsWeld?

My first words of them would be to go for it. It's such a good experience to go through. It may seem a little nerve wracking because you're entering a competition, but it's the fun of being able to learn and do new types of welding, new joints, anything you haven't done or have done, and going up against other competitors; you can learn from them as well. You get to speak to them at the end of each round, and you can have a nice chat with them. If you're not happy with how your weld is, when you see theirs and you're a bit jealous of how much better theirs are, you can always speak to them and figure out what you could do to improve. You could follow in their steps because in that competition you've got experienced and inexperienced. I was very new to it when I joined and I was definitely nervous when the rounds got more and more serious. But, when I did it, I found that it was extremely fun. I loved every part of it.

It was something that I learned a lot of lessons from. I got my confidence up with my welds and it's just, overall, a really, really, really good experience for people, especially new learners that are getting into the engineering industry. I think everyone should just go for it. It's just something you could go for no matter how experienced or inexperienced you are.

How would you inspire someone to dare to discover and start their own engineering journey?

Well, engineering, from my point of view, is one of the absolute best industries to go into, because not only do you get so much enjoyment out of all the hands-on work that you get given, you obtain so many skills and you learn from every single project you do. It's not an easy job to go into, but it's something for people that love challenges and love proper, proper, hands-on, dive-into-it work.

I absolutely loved it from the first time I stepped into it, and I know many people that definitely will as well. I got inspired by my lecturer telling me all his stories from when he was a welder and I thought that is what I want to do that is something that I want to experience in life. Engineering just gives you so many opportunities to experience big projects and so many different things in life. You get everything from it and, especially if you want a challenge and want things to improve your skills and improve your thinking, it's definitely the industry to go into.

Watch the full interview here

Discover more about Tomorrows Engineers Week: Tomorrow’s Engineers Week - Tomorrow's Engineers

This year, National Engineering Day marks the launch of This is Engineering’s AI-Z of Engineering guide, an evolving resource designed to inspire the next generation into the exciting possibilities of modern engineering. The guide has had input from real engineers across every sector, showing what engineers do today and how they could progress in the future to build a more promising sector for upcoming engineers.

The guide was launched to combat current outdated perceptions of engineering hindering young people from choosing it as a career. By showcasing the creativity, opportunities and real-world impact of engineers, This is Engineering aims to foster greater inclusion address the growing skills gap whilst also celebrating engineers and engineering.

We spoke to our colleagues within industry who gave their thoughts on their current role and how they imagine it evolving in the future.

Sophia Sampethai, JIP Proposal Manager, gave her thoughts on how she envisions AI playing a role in engineering and the importance of inspiring future talent:

“With a world that is overwhelmed as AI takes over a lot of tasks and activities, the role of engineers is more crucial than ever. This is the right time to spread the word about engineering being a means to support societies to solve global challenges and to engage with the young generation to inspire them to go towards an engineering career with more confidence. Being an engineer supports the development of a creative mind-set that is always able to find a path forward. This is the best way of creating a better future for the whole society. The use of AI in a targeted way can be a great tool to support my day to day activities by accelerating outputs of specific tasks and leaving more time to focus on the identification and development of innovative concept ideas that can take research to the next level.”

Sophie Thompson, Laboratory Technician reflected on how she imagines her current role growing with modern technology:

“I currently work as a laboratory technician, specialising in hydrogen analysis. By 2050, I envision myself as a materials engineer developing advanced, sustainable materials that drive innovation and improve quality of life. While technology and AI will enhance our capabilities, my focus will remain on creating solutions that benefit both society and the environment.”

Access the newly launched AI-Z of Engineering guide today.

Watch Paul Woollin's full interview here

Join our Pressure and Process Plant Technical Group (TG5) as they host their first in-person event…

When: 6 November 2025

Time: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM GMT

Where: Bushy House, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW/Hybrid Event Meeting

Institute Approved CPD Points: 9

The event, which is titled, ‘Managing Integrity Challenges in Carbon Capture and Storage Operations’, aims to explore the integrity challenges facing those responsible for managing risks associated with Carbon Capture and Storage operations.

Topics will cover areas of common interest and challenges in the field of materials and integrity, including current research work relating to the management and monitoring of corrosion critical CO2 stream variables.

Who Should Attend?

Integrity, Materials and Corrosion Engineers and any other personnel responsible for managing risks in the field of Carbon Capture and Storage.

Speakers and Presentations:

Dr Gareth John, Executive Consultant, Intertek CAPCIS – CCUS – Uncertainties with Respect to Integrity Assurance

Matt Healey, Managing Director, PACE CCS – Corrosion in CCS Networks: A Review

Dr Shravan Kairy, Senior Scientist, National Physical Laboratory – Towards a Standardised Methodology for Corrosion Testing of Pipeline Steel in Dense Phase CO2

Dr Jonathan Wilkins, Technical Director, Enoflex – Non-Metallic Pipes for Corrosion Resistant Transfer of Liquified CO2

Mike Lawrence, Chair, Industrial Advisory Group (IAG), Integrated Energy Industry (IEG) – Industrial Advisory Group (IAG) of the Integrated Energy Industry (IEG)

William Ritchie, Principal Materials & Corrosion Engineer, Kent – Corrosion Control and Management in Carbon Capturing Plants

Ewa Papaj-Shields, Principal Subsea Pipeline Engineer, Genesis – Advancing Integrity Management for CCUS Pipelines: Lessons Learned and Emerging Strategies

Ian MacLeod, Technical Director, Wood PLC – CO2 Applications, Impurities, Specification, and Flexible Pipe Experience

Access the Programme here

Can’t Attend Live?

No problem - if you can’t join us on the day, you won’t miss out. By registering in advance and completing payment, you’ll receive full access to the webinar recording after the event, along with any presentation materials (subject to presenter consent).

Discover more: https://theweldinginstitute.com/event-6378690

Join our Structures and Infrastructures Technical Group (TG1) as they host their upcoming Technical Group Webinar…

When: 27 November 2025

Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM GMT

Where: Online via Microsoft Teams

Institute Approved CPD Points: 2 Credits

The event, which is titled, ‘Improving Fire and Structural Safety - An Insight into Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS)’, will provide attendees with an insight into the vital safety role that CROSS plays in the built environment. You will discover the benefits of signing up to the email reports and alerts and will learn how to contribute to this industry wide safety resource.

Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) is a confidential reporting system which allows professionals working in the built environment to report on fire and structural safety issues. They provide reports, case-histories and information on fire safety or structural safety issues on concrete, steel, masonry and timber structures. The reporting is published anonymously to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned, create positive change, and improve safety.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for engineers, inspectors, managers, supervisors, and designers working/associated with the built environment industry.

Speaker and Presentation:

Alastair Soane, BSc PhD CEng FICE FIStructE Hon FIFireE, Principal Consultant, CROSS - Improving Fire and Structural Safety - An Insight into Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures (CROSS)

Can’t Attend Live?

No problem - if you can’t join us on the day, you won’t miss out. By registering in advance and completing payment, you’ll receive full access to the webinar recording after the event, along with any presentation materials (subject to presenter consent).

Discover more: https://www.theweldinginstitute.com/event-6403907