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
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
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
Start date
Monday 1 September 2025
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