As part of Volunteers’ Week, we’re highlighting the contributions of the volunteers who support The Welding Institute and the wider welding and engineering community.
In this interview, we caught up with Aaron Kirkbride, Northumbria Branch Chair and Programme Secretary, who shares insight into his role and the impact it has on supporting members across the region. Aaron discusses the responsibilities that come with leading a branch, the value of local engagement within the engineering community, and how his work helps strengthen professional networks and opportunities for members.
Can you describe your volunteer role with The Welding Institute and the types of activities you're involved in?
I currently serve as Chair and Programme Secretary of the Northumbria Branch of The Welding Institute, which primarily covers the Tyne and Wear and Durham regions. Prior to this, I held the roles of Secretary and Young Members Representative within both the Southwest and East Midlands Branches.
Having recently re-established the Northumbria Branch, our committee is focused on building an active programme that supports members across the region. This includes organising technical presentations, networking opportunities, and activities that encourage professional development and engagement within the welding community.
In addition to my branch responsibilities, I am also a member of the Professional Board, which oversees matters relating to Institute membership, professional registration, and engagement with the Engineering Council.
How does your volunteer work support the welding and engineering community?
Through my role with the Northumbria Branch, I aim to support members of the welding and engineering community in a variety of ways, including providing career guidance, promoting professional development, and encouraging membership engagement.
Since relaunching the branch in February, we have delivered several high-quality technical presentations and are continuing to expand our programme. These events provide valuable opportunities for Continuous Professional Development (CPD), while also creating an environment where professionals can network, share knowledge, and build relationships within the industry.
How has volunteering connected you with other professionals in the industry?
Without question, volunteering has been one of the most effective ways to build a professional network. The welding community is relatively close-knit, and volunteering provides opportunities to connect with professionals from a wide range of sectors and experience levels.
I have been a member of The Welding Institute since I was 17 years old, and the relationships I have built through branch events, committees, and Institute activities have been invaluable throughout my career. The connections made through volunteering often lead to opportunities for collaboration, mentoring, and professional growth.
What do you find most rewarding about giving your time and expertise?
The most rewarding aspect of volunteering is being able to provide meaningful support and guidance to others. Whether someone is navigating technical training, professional registration, career development, or a specific welding-related challenge, it is satisfying to help them overcome obstacles and progress towards their goals.
Welding and joining technologies can be complex disciplines, and many of us have benefited from the advice and support of others throughout our careers. Being able to give something back to the profession and help others succeed is extremely rewarding.
Would you encourage others to volunteer with The Welding Institute, and why?
I would certainly encourage others to consider volunteering, although it is important to recognise that it requires both time and commitment. The experience can be highly rewarding, both personally and professionally.
When I first became involved with The Welding Institute, I benefited greatly from the guidance, encouragement, and support of volunteers who were willing to share their time and expertise. Volunteering provides an opportunity to give back to the profession, support the next generation of engineers and welding professionals, and contribute to the continued success of the Institute and its members.
The Welding Institute would like to thank Aaron for his outstanding volunteering work and for sharing his insights on the importance and impact that volunteering has within our community.
If you’re interested in getting involved, you can find out more here.
In this interview, we caught up with Chris Eady, MERC member and Training, Qualification and Quality Technical Group (TG9) Co-Chair. Chris shares insight into his role on MERC, the wider impact of its work on the engineering profession, and his experience as a Technical Group Co‑Chair and the benefits it brings.
Can you describe your volunteer role with The Welding Institute and the types of activities you’re involved in?
At present, I contribute to The Welding Institute’s Membership Education and Registration Committee (MERC), which operates the assessment and approval of applicants for recognition as Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer in the Engineering Council register and for membership of the Institute as Technician, Member and Fellow. On behalf of MERC, I chair the Welder Grade Working Group, in which a smaller group of enthusiastic and knowledgeable Professional Members are working to define membership benefits for welders, as a new Professional Membership service. I also Co-Chair the Technical Group 9, which focuses continuing professional development delivery onto Professional Member interests in Training, Qualification and Quality.
Contributing to MERC directly supports the profession, as peer review and recognition is at the heart of professional engineering competence and commitment in the UK and amongst Engineering Council registrants worldwide. MERC is also at the centre of innovation and change management to accommodate new and emerging technologies and job roles into the profession and to account for new approaches to technical education and training. As an example, I recently contributed to an Engineering Council workshop focused on engineering ethics and professional behaviours as part of the next revision of the UK-SPEC registration standard.
The volunteer community comes from a broad cross-section of the Institute Membership and the Profession. Attending meetings and events not only renews acquaintances but creates new relationships with professionals from a wide range of job roles across all engineering and manufacturing sectors and applications. The TG9 events enable me to meet Professional Members and non-members who are not in the volunteer community and to learn about their priorities and challenges so that we can consider how best to support their professional development and career progression through future events and improved services.
It is most rewarding to hear from a Professional Member how something I have contributed to has benefited their career, whether that was simply a connection to another Professional Member, an additional qualification, higher recognition, or something as massive as gaining a new role.
The Welding Institute is its Professional Members, and the peer review and recognition process provides public confidence, ethical direction, professional recognition and a huge support network to the best, most committed and most professional engineers and technicians. The way to make more of that happen is to volunteer with The Welding Institute.
The Welding Institute would like to thank Chris for his outstanding volunteering work and for sharing his insights on the importance and impact that volunteering has within our community.
In this interview, we spoke to Don Atkinson, Teesside Branch President and a dedicated volunteer of The Welding Institute. Don shares insight into his role, how his work supports the wider community and what motivates him to volunteer.
I have been involved with the Teesside Branch of The Welding Institute since 1988, when my Head of Department at Longlands College introduced me to the branch committee. Since then, I have taken on many roles, including Secretary, organising Annual Dinners, lectures and a wide range of events such as career events for apprentice recruitment. I have also served as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Branch, and I am currently President, a role I have held since 2021. The annual awards remain one of the greatest events I have been involved with.
I believe that volunteering with The Welding Institute Teesside Branch allows me to support and encourage the Welding and Engineering sector across Teesside, engaging with a wide range of groups; from current employees to young people who represent the future of our industry. I have also worked with organisations such as the Cleveland Scientific Institution and the Cleveland Institute of Engineers, helping to make opportunities visible to many potential new entrants to our sector.
I have worked with lots of companies and other stakeholders throughout the UK who are involved with Welding, which has taken me to the National Skill Shows at the NEC in Birmingham and World Skills in London in 2011.
The most rewarding part of giving my time and expertise is seeing young people grow and later meeting them again in senior positions within the industry, knowing that some of their journey began with a little guidance from me. I also currently serve as Chairman of the UK Skillweld Competition, and watching young welders compete on a national level and gain confidence in their abilities is incredibly fulfilling.
I would encourage anyone to get involved in volunteering with The Welding Institute, as it brings a great deal of satisfaction and the knowledge that you have helped the next generation take their first steps on the welding career ladder. I have had many people contact me over the years to thank me for my help and guidance, and the greatest reward is seeing their careers in welding grow.
The Welding Institute would like to thank Don for his outstanding volunteering work and for sharing his insights on the importance and impact that volunteering has within our community.
In this interview, we spoke to Matt Haslett, PRI Assessor, Offshore Energy Technical Group (TG4) Secretary and STEM Outreach Ambassador, and a dedicated volunteer of The Welding Institute.
Matt shares insight into his work processing applications, organising events in his role as Secretary, and reflects on how volunteering has supported his own professional development while helping others progress in their careers.
I am currently involved in a number of activities, including conducting PRIs, assessing applications and ratifying awards of membership. I am also the secretary for the Offshore Energy Technical Group (TG4) and get involved in education outreach events.
By conducting PRIs, I am assessing the competence of fellow engineers to become members of the Institute, which will then help them with their future career development. By organising TG4 events, I am helping to provide relevant and rewarding CPD to Institute members.
I have made a number of connections with other engineers and scientists during my time as TG4 secretary, which has grown my own professional network.
I really enjoy being able to give something back to the profession, which has supported me in my own development, and seeing others achieve their goals and ambitions. With regards to outreach, I also value being able to promote welding and joining to the younger generation, so hopefully they will consider it as a possible career.
I have gained so much by being a member of the Institute, I would recommend membership to anyone.
The Welding Institute would like to thank Matt for his outstanding volunteering work and for sharing his insights on the importance and impact that volunteering has within our community.
What a fantastic evening for our Teesside Branch. Last week, the 71st Annual Dinner welcomed 150 guests to come together, connect and celebrate the people helping to secure welding skills for the future.
We were delighted to welcome guest speaker John Bickerstaff, and to hear from Caroline Gumble, CEO of The Welding Institute, who shared an update on our ongoing work. We also had the pleasure of introducing Andrew Ward, our new Director for Professional Membership.
A huge congratulations to our award winners and runners-up:
A big thank you to everyone who supported the charity raffle and auction on the night, raising funds for Teesside Hospice and My Sister’s Place (including an auction for a signed Middlesbrough Football Club shirt).
Thank you to our table sponsors, to James Bell from our Younger Members Committee for producing the programme and supporting the charity contributions, and to the hospitality team at Middlesbrough Football Club for the excellent food and service.
Thank you to all our sponsors for supporting the evening:
SGS, EAL, Sunderland College, Middlesbrough College, NETA Training, Amentum, WB Alloys, Hartlepool College of Further Education, Mark Chapman, PJD Mechanical Engineering, ECITB, CATCH, Oceaneering, Libellum, Hydram Engineering - Sheet Metal Fabrications, SeAH Wind.
As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, we sat down with an AWeldI Member who is an open advocate for neurodivergence and a champion of different minds. They spoke about their lived experiences, their perspectives, and their hopes for the future - both within the workplace and the wider community.
What does Neurodiversity Celebration Week mean to you?
They say they see how important it is to have spaces like this week to open conversation and that there’s great value in fostering them within The Welding Institute and the workplace. They mention that awareness not only makes the conversation easier but also more normal and helps to stop the taboo around the topic.
“To me, Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an important starting point, the first step in creating an inclusive workplace, and even an inclusive society is awareness. And awareness only grows when we’re willing to open a dialogue. Opportunities like this give us the space to talk openly about the challenges faced by neurodivergent, and to show that these should be shared. The effort required to be part of the society shouldn’t fall solely on neurodivergent people, it should be carried by all of us."
They highlight how visibility, through videos, panels, and shared experiences helps people across the company understand what support exists and how others navigate neurodiversity.
How does being neurodivergent changed your outlook on life?
For them, neurodivergence isn’t something they compare to a “before” or “after”, it’s simply the way they experience the world. They explain that neurotypical people often grow up with an instinctive sense of how things “should” be, reinforced by the positive feedback they receive from society. Neurodivergent people, however, build that understanding consciously and intentionally.
“It doesn’t change my outlook because I wouldn’t know any other way. What it does give me is a way of seeing the world without assumptions. It makes me curious, observant, and willing to question what others might take for granted, I see the world as it is, not as it’s assumed to be. And because I don’t start with fixed expectations, I’m much more open to accepting people, events, and life as they come, without judgment or resistance.”
“I can see patterns and links that aren’t always obvious. I have a heightened pattern recognition, so I pick up the anomalies, the things that just don’t look right, and that pushes us to review and rebuild our understanding, so it includes the new information.”
This constant questioning brings with it openness, flexibility, and a deep awareness that there are multiple ways to think, communicate, and solve problems, all of which enrich their work and relationships.
What adaptations have you found most helpful at work?
They emphasise one thing above all: flexibility.
“Something I’ve had from TWI that has been incredibly helpful is the flexibility. My experience here, and especially my manager’s approach, has given me the freedom to work with my brain rather than against it. I’m not forced into a box or expected to follow a set, neurotypical way of doing things. I’m trusted to solve problems in the way that makes sense to me, and that freedom has allowed me to add real value. I wouldn’t have been able to do as much if I’d been constantly trying to mimic a neurotypical approach.”
They also highlight the importance of supportive colleagues, who make them feel included and valued even when they approach things differently. Practical adjustments, like Copilot, extra monitors, or noise cancelling headsets, also help them work more comfortably and stay focused.
What misconceptions about neurodiversity do you wish people understood better?
“I think as a society we lack awareness. Not many people understand what neurodiversity is or how it can manifest in different people. A lot of assumptions come from stereotypes portrayed in films or TV, which are not accurate or representative. In many cases, neurodiversity becomes a nonvisible disability simply because the willingness to truly see it isn’t there.”
“I come across as social because that’s what has been expected of me… but I’m an introvert, and I’m autistic. Social interaction takes a lot of energy from me, but this is rarely acknowledged. Even when I try to explain, I often hear: ‘I wouldn’t have guessed you were autistic.’”
They explain that the expectation to fit into a neurotypical way of life pushes many neurodivergent people to mask their struggles, making it harder for others to recognise when support is needed, and adding to the individual’s burden. They wish people understood the amount of invisible effort behind their day to day functioning so they could be more accommodating. Their hope is that greater understanding will reduce the pressure on neurodivergent individuals to constantly self censor or self advocate. Instead, there should be a willingness from the wider community to learn about neurodivergence and appreciate its nuances.
How does neurodiversity empower you?
They describe their strengths with clarity and pride.
“I’ve got an eye for detail, strong pattern recognition, and a 3D way of thinking that helps me make connections and understand complex problems.”
“I question the normal approach not because I want to be difficult, but because I’m genuinely asking whether the typical approach is still applicable, and whether it’s the best option. That questioning mindset, the uncertainty that comes with my neurodiversity, pushes me to probe deeper and find better solutions.”
This ability to challenge norms, reevaluate processes, and see connections others might overlook is a powerful asset in engineering environments.
What do you hope people take away from Neurodiversity Celebration Week?
They hope for greater awareness, empathy and shared responsibility.
“I wish people and organisations understood the value neurodivergent people can bring to the table, and took an active role in accommodating their presence, so that the effort doesn’t fall entirely on the individual.”
They want workplaces to recognise that neurodivergent people shouldn’t have to be exceptional just to be included, and that with the right structures and understanding, far more people can thrive. We’d like to thank our AWeldI member for their incredible insight into being neurodivergent and how we can all contribute to building a more inclusive community within The Welding Institute.
We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Want to learn more about requesting reasonable adjustments with practical tips and advice for your membership application? Speak to our membership team today.
This National Careers Week, we spoke with Morgan Ellis a member of The Welding Institute and Welding and Materials Engineer.
Morgan shared insights into her role, how she entered the welding field, and shared insights into the skills that are valuable in welding and engineering, along with advice to help you decide whether these fields, and their many possible career pathways, might be the right fit for you.
Read the full interview to hear Morgan's stories and insights below:
Morgan Ellis AWeldI
Welding and Materials Engineer, Subsea 7
Can you tell us about your current job role and what a typical day looks like?
I am currently a welding and materials engineer for Subsea 7. They're a subsea engineering and construction company who design and install subsea components. Most of that is to support the offshore energy industry, working in both oil and gas and renewables.
My role is to work with our clients and our suppliers to make sure that we are procuring material that is safe, compliant with national and international standards and our client requirements. I'll then work with our fabricators who help build these items, so these could be pipelines or large structures that are going on the seabed, and I'll work with them to develop procedures and support them in producing these items.
Day-to-day, most of my time I am based in the office and I'll be working with multidisciplinary teams. We'll have a project team that'll be made-up of design engineers, project engineers, materials engineers, as well as quality and supply chain.
We'll work on long-term projects that can last anywhere from a few months to two years. From that, we'll take the design from concept phase all the way from manufacturing, fabrication to installation on the seabed. While my day-to-day is in the office, it does mean that I do get to go out on site and see these things being made. I've had some really good trips to Italy to see some forge masters, as well as spending a lot of time with one of our fabricators in Peterhead in north of Aberdeen to support them in fabricating our structures.
How did you get into the engineering and welding field?
After finishing my GCSEs, I went to college to do my A-levels where I did maths, physics and computing. I then went to university to do mechanical engineering. Whilst I was here, I did a year in industry where I worked as an operations intern and focused on project management.
When I left university, I didn't really know what I wanted to do and decided that I was going to go and work at a foundry as a quality technician. This was where I started to learn more about materials and decided that maybe I was more interested in the material side than the mechanical engineering side.
I then came to work with Subsea 7 and they've supported me through doing the TWI Welding Diploma, which I finished this year, which has really helped me transfer what I've learned as a mechanical engineer and build up my materials knowledge and helping to develop my skills as a materials and welding engineer.
What I would say is that everybody that I meet in engineering has a different story of how they got into engineering, whether that's through an apprenticeship, or something they found later in life. So I guess rather than focusing on ‘you need these grades’, I would say the main skills you would need is to be creative, be good at problem solving and being a good communicator. If you enjoy these things and you find that you're good at them, then that's maybe a bit more important than thinking I need to have this grade in maths or this grade in physics.
I would say that engineering is massive, it’s so broad. So if you find that you don't particularly like one area, that doesn't mean it's not for you. Don't rule it out. You could find something that is more your thing. So I think the biggest thing is, do what you enjoy. Find areas that you enjoy, it'll be much easier if you do. Also find courses that are tailored towards that. I think if you are looking at chartership and professional development, one of the key things is to make sure that the course that you're planning to do is accredited by the Engineering Council.
But other than that, just find what you enjoy and what sounds interesting to you.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in engineering or welding?
I'd say the first thing is don't pigeonhole yourself, I did a mechanical engineering degree and I've since found that engineering is a big open world with many different opportunities. Find the things that you enjoy and if opportunities come up that take you away from what you thought your core discipline was, that's fine, go with it.
Also, professional bodies like the TWI can support you in identifying areas that you may be interested in. They work in many different areas and can introduce you to different areas of welding and materials that you didn't really know existed.
So I'd say keep it open, do what you're interested in and talk to people about their careers and how they've got into it and what they enjoy about it.
Also experience, on-site experience is always good. So if you ever get the chance to go and see things, go and see them up close, see them in person, do it because you can be designing things from behind a computer, but until you've seen it up close and personal, then you can't really fully wrap your head around it. So as much site time as possible.
Many thanks to Morgan for taking part and sharing valuable advice on the skills needed to enter the welding industry, and how to figure out whether it’s the right career for you!
Watch the full video interview here!
Discover more about National Careers Week: Welcome - National Careers Week
Read our National Careers Week news item and download our PowerPoint about career pathways into welding, engineering and NDT!
This National Careers Week, we spoke with Carl Lavis, a Professional Member of The Welding Institute, about his career in welding engineering.
Carl shared insights into his role, how he entered the engineering field, and his advice for anyone considering a career in engineering or welding, including the different pathways available to build a successful future in the industry.
Read the full interview below to explore his story and perspectives:
Carl Lavis, MWeldI CEng
Principal Welding Engineer, Babcock International
I’m currently a Principal Welding Engineer for Babcock International, based at Devonport. My main responsibilities are:
I originally got into the welding/engineering field as a pipefitting apprentice where I had to learn welding for a module during the apprenticeship. After finishing my apprenticeship, I was given the opportunity to move into Devonport’s nuclear welding team and specialise in TIG welding of pipework in various materials.
After a few years I moved into a welding quality assurance/quality control role and achieved CSWIP 3.1 certification. Getting that certificate made me want to know more about the theory behind welding, so I followed up with the TWI specialist and technologist diplomas and was given the chance to move in to Welding Engineering if I studied for a degree. A good few years later, I have a foundation degree in Engineering through the Open University, a master’s degree in Welding Engineering through Cranfield University and have moved up through the grades in the welding department at Devonport.
If I had to recommend any specific course, it would have been my apprenticeship right back at the start of my career. It gave me a solid foundation in the “hands on” side of engineering and gave me a good appreciation of “the art of the possible”, and the environments that the staff on the shop floor work in. Typical salaries for trade staff start around £17k for an apprentice and end around £36,000 after finishing their apprenticeship. An engineering graduate can expect to start on £37k-39k with essentially no upper limit depending on how they progress through the company.
There’s no better time to get into engineering. The “skills gap” is here and now, so there’s a lot of opportunities for people. With the increase in civil nuclear, and defence spending there are a lot of un-filled jobs out there.
Thank you Carl for taking part and sharing your advice for young people considering a career in Welding and Engineering!
National Careers Week, 2nd -7th March, is a dedicated annual event that highlights the importance of meaningful careers education across the UK.
The week provides a focal point in the academic calendar, encouraging schools, colleges, universities, alternative provision settings, and organisations to come together and inspire young people as they explore their future pathways.
The aim of the week is to raise awareness, spark curiosity, and build confidence by giving learners access to guidance, information, and real-world insight at a crucial stage in their development. Through free resources, activities, and conversations, National Careers Week helps young people understand the breadth of opportunities available to them and the skills they may need to succeed.
This year, we will be sharing a range of resources designed for young people interested in welding and engineering. These will include insights into different career routes, practical guidance on training and qualifications, and interviews with professionals working in the sector. Their experiences and advice will help highlight the skills, attributes, and pathways that can lead to a rewarding career in welding and engineering.
Kick off the week by exploring exciting career pathways in welding, welding engineering, and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT). Check out our PowerPoint to learn more!
Read more about National Careers week: Welcome - National Careers Week
National Apprenticeship Week is the biggest celebration of apprenticeships and skills in the calendar. Now in its 19th year, the theme for 2026 is ‘Skills for Life’, is focusing on opening doors to exciting and rewarding careers, helping businesses build future-ready workforces, and supporting the economy by upskilling and addressing priority skills gaps.
We encourage everyone to celebrate how apprenticeships and skills help individuals reach their full potential while breaking down barriers across industry.
Membership with the Institute provides support in enriching both professional and academic development – benefits such as free Back-to-Basics webinars hosted by the Younger Members’ Committee (YMC) and guidance and advice from ASSET (Association for Skills, Education and Training) ensure that the role The Welding Institute plays encompasses the needs of our younger members. Our Technical Group webinars are offered at a reduced rate for Student Members, providing the opportunity to gain in-depth technical insight from industry experts while earning points towards Continuous Professional Development (CPD).
Additionally, joining a local branch allows apprentices to expand their networks beyond the workplace and training providers running regular online and in-person events on subjects such as friction welding, diffusion bonding and stainless steels.
ASSET Members Chris Eady and Miles Goodwin share their thoughts on how the association supports apprentices in developing their careers and learning:
How does ASSET’s collaboration between employers, training providers and colleges enhance the quality of apprenticeship training and help build a future-ready workforce?
Like many contributors to ASSET (previously known as AWFTE), I began my engineering career as an apprentice and the learning has never stopped. Membership of a Professional Engineering Institution, such as The Welding Institute, provides access to library services, online resources, events, activities and networking opportunities that make Continuing Professional Development (CPD) both accessible and enjoyable. ASSET supports welding and fabrication trainers, lecturers, instructors, tutors and teachers in their own lifelong learning, enabling them to pass this knowledge on to their apprentices. Today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s trainers - learning Skills for Life that they will, in turn, pass on to others.
Like many contributors to ASSET (previously known as AWFTE), I began my engineering career as an apprentice and the learning has never stopped.
Membership of a Professional Engineering Institution, such as The Welding Institute, provides access to library services, online resources, events, activities and networking opportunities that make Continuing Professional Development (CPD) both accessible and enjoyable.
ASSET supports welding and fabrication trainers, lecturers, instructors, tutors and teachers in their own lifelong learning, enabling them to pass this knowledge on to their apprentices.
Today’s apprentices are tomorrow’s trainers - learning Skills for Life that they will, in turn, pass on to others.
EUR ING Chris Eady BSc (Hons) MSc CEng FIMechE FWeldI
How do apprenticeships supported by ASSET help individuals develop their skills beyond initial qualifications into longer-term careers?
ASSET acts as a signposting association, guiding apprentices and post-apprentices towards relevant further and higher education pathways including Level 4 and above, up to degree level. It provides information on course locations and available support, while connecting welding organisations, educational establishments, employers and individuals looking to advance their careers.
Miles Goodwin TechWeldI EngTech
Through the work of ASSET and the Younger Members’ Committee, students and apprentices can make the most of their free student membership - helping you advance your learning journey completely free of charge.
Interested in finding out more? Visit our Student Information page.
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