Level 3 Plate Welder Apprentice – Smulders Projects UK – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

Smulders Projects UK is a leading manufacturing company and part of the international Smulders Group. Our Wallsend facility, established in 2016, is located on the River Tyne. The site features three construction areas and three load-out quays, supporting offshore wind energy, oil & gas, and civil engineering projects.

Wage: £15,507.70 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Plate welder (level 3)
Hours: 39.5 hours per week (7.00am - 3.30pm, Monday to Thursday / 7.00am - 3.00pm, Friday).
39 hours 30 minutes a week
Possible start date: Monday 1 September
Duration: 3 years
Positions available: 5

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

Essential Job Functions:

Setting up and operating welding and gas equipment
Reading and interpreting weld procedures, engineering drawings, and weld details
Performing welding using multiple processes in all positions
Using mechanical grinders and pencil grinders
Understanding the use of ceramic tiles in welding
Operating overhead cranes safely and effectively
Using cherry pickers or scissor lifts (if qualified)
Working at height or in confined spaces (after training)
Wearing full PPE, including boots, overalls, glasses, ear defenders, hard hat, air-fed mask, and gloves

Apprentice values:

You resonate with the Smulders Values
You are an excellent timekeeper
You are pro-active, keen and punctual
You can work accurately with attention to detail
You are a logical thinker with problem solving skills
You are motivated to learn & ask questions
You are passionate & driven
You are good at following instructions from a supervisor
You have an interest for offshore wind steel constructions
You see the apprenticeship as an opportunity for a long-term career

Where you’ll work

Hadrian Yard
Hadrian Way
Wallsend
Tyne & Wear
NE28 6HL

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

NCG

Your training course

Plate 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.
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)

Your training plan

You will attend Newcastle College one day per week

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4)
Maths (grade 4)

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
Problem solving skills
Team working

About this company

The Company has a proven track record in Engineering, Construction, Supply and Assembly of heavy, technical complex steel constructions. Group is active in Civil & industry, Offshore Oil and Gas and Offshore Wind. Since 2016 the yard has successfully produced and assembled foundations for offshore wind turbines for various projects.

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

Successful apprentices will transition into positions within our welding teams.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

NCG

apprenticeships@ncl-coll.ac.uk

01912004844

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000310520.

Apply now

Closes on Tuesday 29 April 2025

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

Cookies on Find an apprenticeship

Level 3 Plate Welder Apprentice – Smulders Projects UK

Contents