Welding Apprenticeship

Programme title: Welding Apprenticeship

Level: 3

Salary: £17,001

Location: Ashton House, Bristol

Application closing date: 12th March 2026

Programme start date: September 2026

Role ID:68252

Interested in becoming an elite welder creating safety-critical products? Launch your career through our fantastic 4-year Welding Apprenticeship.

About the programme

This isn’t your typical welding job. Join us, and you’ll train in state-of-the-art facilities to achieve top-tier standards. You will learn to weld complex joints using TIG, MIG, MAG, Manual Metal Arc, and Flux-Cored Arc welding techniques, making you a highly skilled specialist.

Working alongside experts, you’ll collaborate on products like submarine components to help keep navies safe at sea. When lives depend on quality, attention to detail matters.

Gaining hands-on experience, you’ll:

• Excel at welding complex joints in exotic metals.
• Achieve stringent codes for naval welding quality.
• Hone workshop skills like machining and hand-fitting.
• Diagnose and solve challenging welding defects.
• Operate the latest robotic welding equipment.

Your education/training

You'll study towards the Level 3 Plate Welder Apprenticeship standard at Weston College, developing the knowledge and competencies for your role.

Future prospects

After qualifying, you’ll begin an exciting career as a coded welder at Babcock. With your advanced skills, you can progress to roles like welding engineer.

What you’ll need 

• A minimum of 3 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (or equivalent), including Maths, English Language and a Science, or equivalent qualifications.

• Many of our apprenticeship programmes are subject to Security Clearance and Trade Control restrictions which mean that your place of birth, nationality, citizenship, or residency you hold or have held may impact which programmes you are eligible for. For this programme, you must be able to achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and Security Check (SC) clearance. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What you’ll get

We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career.

In addition, you’ll benefit from:

• Fully funded qualification 
• Personal development training and opportunities
• Minimum 28 days holiday allowance including bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme 
• Employee share scheme
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme and employee shopping savings portal

You’ll also have the chance to get involved in our STEM outreach activities and volunteering opportunities, which our apprentices find incredibly rewarding.

Your career development

It’s hard to beat the variety of fantastic opportunities and business experiences you’ll receive. You can expect real world encounters and exposure to exciting projects that will really help you navigate where you want to take your career.

Plus, when you join us, you’ll be automatically enrolled onto our Apprentice Development Programme. Through a series of digital and face to face sessions, presented by wellbeing and performance experts and our external partners, we will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to thrive and perform at your very best on your programme and beyond.

Application process and closing dates  

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the programme may close early if we receive a high volume of interest. To give yourself the best chance of being considered, we strongly recommend submitting your application and completing any required online assessments as soon as possible.