Skills minister launches welding skills training centre
25 October 2011
Welding products supplier, Weldability-Sif has been working in close co-operation with The North Hertfordshire College in Stevenage to set up a new welding skills training initiative and centre at the college. The facility was officially opened by skills minister John Hayes earlier this month. “On 15th June, I set out my vision for further education," he said. "This partnership...to overcome the current skills gaps in the UK welding industry is a great example of making this vision a reality."
"I am really pleased that this training will be promoted both locally and at the national level and will enable learners to progress from foundation level through to a passport to practice welding internationally, leading to top TWI qualifications at the International Engineer level,” Mr Hayes continued.
Adrian Hawkins, managing director at Weldability-Sif said: “We have set up the Weldability-Sif Foundation Charity to encourage the development of new welder training facilities across the UK and the North Hertfordshire College is the first to inaugurate a specialist foundation level training facility.
"As National Chairman of the AWD, I have a unique bird’s eye view of the needs of our industry. My vision is of investment in education through government and charitable funding for both Skills Centres and the new Studio Schools. Vocational skills are back on the educational agenda and this certainly helps our cause.
"Over the past 18 months we have been working together with The Welding Institute and EAL certification, to agree a pathway for developing a welding career. We have agreed on a process and EAL have kindly created the qualifications to support this activity. The next step is to develop the Apprenticeship frame work and this concept is developing as I speak.”
Pictured here (left to right) are student welder Cameron Wallace (16) from Ware, John Hayes MP and student welder Matthew George (16) from Stevenage