Pipewelder Apprenticeship

Summary

Join a busy, growing business and be part of an experienced team. Learn to manually weld tubes and pipes to high standards of quality. Set, test, and monitor key welding parameters as detailed within the Welding Procedure Specification and adjust as necessary to accommodate changing orientation as the weld progresses around the pipe joint.

Annual wage

£12,646.40 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Salary will be reviewed in 12 months.

Training course

Pipe welder (level 3)

Hours

Between 8am - 4-30pm Monday to Thursday. 8am – 2pm Friday.

38 hours a week

Possible start date

Sunday 2 February

Duration

4 years

Positions available

2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

Manually Weld Tubes and Pipes to a high standard.
Set, Test and Monitor Key Welding Parameters
Accommodate changing orientation as the Weld progresses
Comply with appropriate Health and Safety

Where you’ll work

Vauxhall Ironworks

Beaufort Road

Birkenhead.

CH41 1HE

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

MARITIME + ENGINEERING COLLEGE NORTH WEST

Your training course

Pipe welder (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements
Obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation)
Plan all preparatory tasks and interfaces and pipe welding activity, before commencing work
Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for each activity
Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding
Inspect the 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 and adjust as necessary to accommodate changing orientation as the weld progresses around the pipe joint.
Set-up purge protection within the pipe bore and associate monitoring methods
Set-up bore side protection controls to avoid foreign material ingress into the pipe bore
Remove materials using manual processes, including powered and non-powered equipment
Achieve a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO 5817, ISO 9606, ASME IX, ASME B31.3 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection, including Time of Flight and Phased Array methods).
Monitor weld quality and dimensions throughout welding activity and on completion of welding and report any issues through organisational production / quality control process prior to release for formal examination by others
Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location
Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques
Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity
Produce pipe welds using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW
Produce pipe welds using four material groups 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 pipe welds covering ALL defined pipe welding positions. These are Flat - Rotated Pipe; Horizontal - Fixed Vertical Pipe; Vertical Weld - Fixed Horizontal Pipe (either upward or downward progression); Inclined - Fixed 45 degree Pipe Overhead (either upward or downward progression)
Produce pipe welds in 3 main joint configurations from Single Sided Butt, Socket, Flange and Set-on Branch.
Produce pipe welds in by continually adjusting the orientation of the welder, welding torch, and welding consumable filler, including restricted access conditions
Produce pipe welds in restricted access conditions by welding with both left and right hands (e.g. boiler tube bundles, proximity of other plant and equipment, limited access locations, welds located with limited visibility of the weld joint)
Work safely at all times, comply with health & safety and environmental legislation, regulations and organisational requirements
Obtain, check and use appropriate documentation (such as job instructions, drawings, quality control documentation)
Plan all preparatory tasks and interfaces and pipe welding activity, before commencing work
Obtain, position and assemble welding equipment and associated safety protection needed for each activity
Prepare, check and protect materials and work areas ready for welding
Inspect the 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 and adjust as necessary to accommodate changing orientation as the weld progresses around the pipe joint.
Set-up purge protection within the pipe bore and associate monitoring methods
Set-up bore side protection controls to avoid foreign material ingress into the pipe bore
Remove materials using manual processes, including powered and non-powered equipment
Achieve a quality of work to meet international standards e.g. ISO 5817, ISO 9606, ASME IX, ASME B31.3 for dimensional, surface inspection (e.g. Visual, Magnetic Particle, Dye Penetrant) and volumetric inspection (e.g. Radiography, Ultrasonic inspection, including Time of Flight and Phased Array methods).
Monitor weld quality and dimensions throughout welding activity and on completion of welding and report any issues through organisational production / quality control process prior to release for formal examination by others
Restore the work area on completion of the activity and where applicable return any resources and consumables to the appropriate location
Deal promptly and effectively with problems within the limits of their responsibility using approved diagnostic methods and techniques
Complete any required documentation using the defined recording systems at the appropriate stages of the work activity
Produce pipe welds using two welding processes from TIG, PAW, MMA, MIG/MAG, FCAW
Produce pipe welds using four material groups 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 pipe welds covering ALL defined pipe welding positions. These are Flat - Rotated Pipe; Horizontal - Fixed Vertical Pipe; Vertical Weld - Fixed Horizontal Pipe (either upward or downward progression); Inclined - Fixed 45 degree Pipe Overhead (either upward or downward progression)
Produce pipe welds in 3 main joint configurations from Single Sided Butt, Socket, Flange and Set-on Branch.
Produce pipe welds in by continually adjusting the orientation of the welder, welding torch, and welding consumable filler, including restricted access conditions
Produce pipe welds in restricted access conditions by welding with both left and right hands (e.g. boiler tube bundles, proximity of other plant and equipment, limited access locations, welds located with limited visibility of the weld joint)

Your training plan

The Engineering College, Monks Ferry, Birkenhead, CH41 5LH.

1 day per week at college on a day release programme.

More training information

Upskilling in Maths and English
Technical Certificate

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 or above)
Maths (grade 4 or above)

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

Science (grade 4 or above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Team working
Initiative
Patience

Other requirements

The apprentice may be asked to work away from home as part of their apprenticeship

About this company

Here at OWS, we pride ourselves on more than just precision welding and cutting-edge engineering solutions. We’re dedicated to building lasting relationships with our customers. Our service isn’t just about providing technical support; it’s about understanding your unique needs and delivering tailored solutions that exceed your expectations.

https://owsengineering.com/contact/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

OWS have a history of apprentices growing within the business and developing their skills further.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MARITIME + ENGINEERING COLLEGE NORTH WEST

Elaine Kerr

e.kerr@theengineeringcollege.co.uk

07770349902

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000287208.

Apply now

Closes in 12 days (Tuesday 26 November)

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After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

Please follow the link to complete the online application form, stating OWS as the Company applying for. (PipeWelder)

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