We’re pleased to be offering a FREE* Introduction to Welding course, funded by Hampshire Country Council which is designed to help you gain skills and provide qualifications recognised in the welding industry.
Upcoming courses:
- x9 consecutive Thursdays – Commencing on 04/06/2026
- Block Dates – Commencing on 06/07/2026
*Learners must meet one of the following criteria: Earning less than £25,750 annually; In receipt of Universal Credit; Adults without a full Level 2 qualification; Families with school age children in receipt of free school meals; Those with a learning difficulty and/or disability; Those who are at risk of/have mental health needs; Care Leavers; Refugees; Military Veterans; Over 50s looking to return to employment.
What will the course involve?
Your training will cover a diverse selection of topics tailored to support your skill development in welding.
- Health & safety assessments and safe workshop practices.
- Safe operation and workshop behaviour, including PPE and equipment handling.
- Introduction to welding equipment and tools, including basic MIG and TIG awareness.
- Understanding the purpose of MIG and TIG welding.
- Basic MIG welder setup and shutdown procedures.
- Introduction to MIG welding techniques, holding the torch, basic angles, and steady travel speed.
- Practising simple straight weld beads on plate.
- Introduction to basic welding joints (e.g. butt and fillet) through demonstration and guided practice.
- Awareness of TIG welding equipment and basic operation (no advanced TIG joint work required).
- Introduction to welding process principles in simple, accessible terms.
- Understanding basic machine controls (voltage, wire feed, etc.) at an introductory level.
- Awareness of different filler materials and electrodes (no in‑depth selection criteria).
- Simple practical tasks to build confidence (e.g. bead runs, basic joint tacking).
- Developing hand–eye coordination and basic welding posture.
- Introduction to consistent weld pad practice (straight lines only).
- Overview of career pathways and progression routes, including readiness for Level 2 Welding.