On 7 July 2026, The Welding Institute was proud to take part in WeldJoinExpo, TWI's flagship event for the welding, joining, and allied technologies sectors. Bringing together professionals from across industry, the event celebrated technical excellence, innovation, and collaboration, while providing a platform to share knowledge and discuss the future of the profession. TWI was also honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne and her delegation, who were given a tour of the facilities, including the main engineering hall, while also taking time to speak with staff and visitors to the event.

As part of the day's programme, The Welding Institute hosted a dedicated workshop highlighting the benefits of professional membership, volunteering, and active engagement within the engineering community. The session explored how Members can contribute to the profession through mentoring, knowledge sharing, and volunteering, while helping to inspire and support the next generation of welding and joining professionals.

The workshop featured presentations from leading voices across the sector:

• Paul Woollin, TWI – Membership, Volunteering and What They Mean for You
• Morgan Ellis, Subsea7 & Younger Members' Committee (YMC) Co-Chair, with contributions from Melanie Stewart, Admel Ltd – Early Careers: How You Can Get Involved in the Mentor/Mentee Scheme
• Stephan Egerland, International Institute of Welding (IIW) & Paul Woollin, TWI – International Collaboration in the Global Welding Community
• Chris Eady, intraresilience Limited & Carl Lavis, Babcock International – Skills for Progression: From Workshop to Leadership
• Caroline Costelloe and Stewart Plummer, Skills England – Addressing the UK's Welding Skills Needs with Skills England

Alongside the workshop, The Welding Institute's Eastern Counties Branch welcomed visitors to its exhibition stand, showcasing a display on the history of postage stamps and offering an insight into one of the many ways Members engage with the Institute and the wider community.

The day concluded with the presentation of an Honorary Award to Steve Jones in recognition of his distinguished service as Vice-President of The Welding Institute from 2023 to 2026. Professional Board Chair, Claire Kimpton, presented the award, recognising Steve's dedication and significant contribution to the Institute and the profession over many years.

The Welding Institute extends its sincere thanks to all speakers, exhibitors, volunteers, partners, and attendees who contributed to the success of WeldJoinExpo26. The event highlighted the strength of the welding and joining community and reinforced the important role that professional membership, collaboration, and skills development play in shaping the future of the industry.