Liverpool City Region’s leading engineering skills college has launched Merseyside’s first specialist industrial welding centre approved by global organisation The Welding Institute (TWI).
Birkenhead’s Engineering College, which recently unveiled a £500,000 refurbishment and rebrand opens the doors of its new welding centre this week, after a special joint industry seminar held with TWI.
Engineering College CEO Terry Weston said the centre will enable new apprentices and professional welders to secure ‘in demand’ industrial welding qualifications authorised by the TWI, greatly improving employment opportunities.
It will be the first TWI approved industrial welding qualification to be offered on Merseyside meaning students will no longer have to travel to Manchester and further afield in search of training.
“We have always offered welding courses,” said Mr Weston. “However, due to a systematic change in the way apprenticeships are structured, now largely being created and informed by industry rather than standards agencies, we have witnessed a shift in demand towards industrial welding qualifications. The commercial welding courses have also become more rigorous with more challenging end assessments, placing greater demand on training facilities. The college has been working with TWI for some time in a bid to develop facilities which would meet the institute’s high approval rating. In line with a series of other positive developments at the college in recent months we are proud to officially open our new TWI approved welding centre for learners across the region.
Mr Weston said the welding centre will have its own separate closed-off space within the college’s large 6,500m2 training base.
“We will offer a range of courses from introductions to welding to more advanced certifications and codings,” he said. “While this offering is likely to attract many new recruits into the welding trade, it is also aimed at experienced welders who may want to boost their existing qualifications. For instance, many welders will have City & Guilds accreditations but now require industrial standards to open up greater employment prospects. Furthermore, the global reputation of the TWI accreditation is a draw for international firms and overseas engineers looking for universally recognised approvals.”
The Engineering College works with more than 90 clients, ranging from large private businesses to SMEs, and currently has around 330 apprentices in training. It delivers courses within 11 key sectors including construction, nuclear, petrochemical, renewables, maritime, oil and gas and the NHS.
Mr Weston said a new partnership with an Ellesmere Port based welding company has further boosted facilities, with specialist welding kit transferred to the Monks Ferry site.
“We have partnered with the Ellesmere Port firm to bring in six welding sets to carry out non-destructive testing,” he said. “This arrangement works extremely well as we have plenty of space to store the kit and create training bays enabling the firm to make full use of its equipment for its own training purposes. In turn college students benefit from using the equipment as well as tapping into the firm’s first-hand industry knowledge, expertise and advice.
“We are very keen to extend this collaborative model and openly welcome other firms who may have ideas to work together for mutual benefit. We are passionate about integrating our training with local industry across the Liverpool City Region and pooling resources to stimulate increased learning opportunities and business growth.”
Employers and learners wanting further details on the Engineering College should contact: Tel: 0151 666 1028 web: www.theengineeringcollege.co.uk
Notes to editors
Background
First founded in 1998, today The Engineering College has a turnover of £1.7million and 38 staff. It has trained more than 10,000 students and today has 330 apprentices in training, drawn from 90 clients ranging from large private businesses including, Mersey Rail, Cammell Laird, Balfour Beatty and Clarke Energy to SMEs including Sovex and Laker Vent.
The college has a 91% success rate for advanced apprenticeships above the national average of 72%. It further has a 90% progression route into apprenticeships or direct employment
The college is a registered Group Training Association (GTA). Nationally, GTAs are responsible for developing and delivering outstanding training, for industry by industry.
Employer engagement and unique business solutions lie at the heart of the college’s success. They include apprenticeships and traineeships, courses for staff and managers, pre-employment training, Apprenticeship recruitment and selection, consultancy and a schools’ alternative curriculum programme in engineering studies. The college is an ECITB and SEMTA approved training provider and preferred supplier to a broad cross section of engineering businesses, offering a wide range of engineering courses, tailor made to suit your business need.
As one of only 40 GTAs in the UK, the college places employers at the core of its operations making sure it is responsive to industry, efficient in the delivery of courses and effective in developing a workforce with the relevant skills for the future.