Level 3 Pipe Welding Apprentice

Join us as an apprentice, and help be the energy behind the change.

Here at National Gas, we are at the forefront of the UK's move towards sustainable energy and achieving our Net Zero goals by 2050. Whilst our teams work behind the scenes to develop the future of our energy systems, you’ll be out with our engineers in the field delivering the natural gas demands of today.

What you’ll be doing

Are you ready to kick-start your career with hands-on experience and top-notch training? As a Pipe Welding apprentice, you won’t be sat behind a screen; you'll split your time between learning out on site, working alongside experts solving real-world problems and studying at college.

During first year term time, you’ll be at Ofsted ‘outstanding’ Riverside College Widnes (in between Liverpool and Manchester). Here you'll stay and study during the week to learn the foundations of the trade, with all travel and accommodation expenses covered by National Gas. In your second and third year, you’ll spend one day a week during term time, released for college. Outside of term time, you’ll often be invited to complete additional trainings and courses as part of your National Gas journey.

You’ll be joining National Gas Services, a specialised unit, relied on by the UK and other gas companies in the event of pressure gas emergencies. This makes it a really varied role, and means you’ll get the opportunity to frequently travel across the UK and Ireland. During this three-year apprenticeship, you’ll develop as a skilled pipe welder.

You’ll learn how to:

1. Weld tubes and pipes to a high standard, using a minimum of two manual arc welding processes
2. Identify and understand the causes of typical welding defects and how their occurrence can be reduced
3. Understand welding quality documentation, organisational reporting systems, procedures and their role within the overall quality process
4. Practice Health and Safety in the engineering sector
5. Form and assemble pipework systems
6. Prepare and use Manual Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) or Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)
7. Study metallurgy of steels and alloys
8. Understand weld positions and codings
9. Conduct weld testing
10. Read technical drawings and welding symbols

We’ll work closely with your college to review your progress at regular intervals, providing feedback and guiding your development. You’ll have a tailored personalised plan that ensures you have appropriate support and training. The majority of your learning will be on the job, with off-the-job training and one-to-one tutoring. Your apprenticeship will end with the completion of a dissertation and an End Point Assessment.

About You

This apprenticeship is perfect for someone who takes pride in their work, is proactive, thrives on ‘getting stuck in’ and is excited by the opportunity to learn how we keep energy flowing safely and efficiently.

If the thought of getting out there and learning from the best excites you, this is the perfect role for you!

You’ll need:

1. 4 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) including maths and English.
2. A cover letter is essential to help us understand why you're a great fit for the role.
3. Our sites are located across the UK & Ireland, so you’ll need to be comfortable with travel and overnight stays. This means that you’ll need to have obtained a driving licence within a year of starting your apprenticeship (so by September 2027).
4. You'll need to have permanent right to work in the UK for the entirety of this programme, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Studies suggest that women tend to apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. If you resonate with our mission, the role excites you and your skills align, we encourage you to apply.

What should you include in your cover letter?

A cover letter is a chance for us to get to know you as a person – we understand you may not have workplace experience yet, and that’s absolutely fine! Let us know about your personal qualities and interests. Your cover letter should be no more than one A4 page. Make sure it includes:

1. Why you’re interested in working at National Gas
2. What personal skills and qualities you have that would make you a great apprentice
3. Why you want to become a Pipe Welding Apprentice

What you can expect from us

At National Gas, we pride ourselves on a supportive and collaborative work environment. We understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance and support our employees in achieving it. We strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone can perform at their best, where every team member feels valued and supported.

You'll be mentored by experienced professionals and have opportunities to work on impactful projects. We ensure that you gain hands-on experience, with opportunities for career advancement and professional development.

You’ll receive a range of benefits that reward your great work. Your starting annual salary will be £24,242. You'll receive a generous holiday allowance with the option to buy and sell additional days, as well as a generous pension scheme. For every £1 you pay in, National Gas will contribute £2.

The 'nice to knows'

You'll start in a large cohort of other apprentices, where you'll attend an in-person induction in September 2025, fostering strong workplace relationships that will build the foundation of your future networks.

Your next steps…

You'll be offered support and guidance throughout the application process by our Early Careers team. Eligible applications will be reviewed by a human, every step of the way. You can only apply for one apprenticeship, so please choose carefully, as additional applications will not be considered. When reviewing your application, if we feel you might be a good fit for something else, we'll be sure to let you know.

If your online application is successful, you’ll be invited to a virtual solo interview, allowing us to get to know you better. The final stage will be an in-person interview. Support is available towards travel costs if required.

Applications close on Sunday 9th March 2025. Each year, we receive a large volume of applications, so we'd encourage you to apply early as we may need to close some roles early.

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At National Gas we value everyone's unique contributions and perspectives. If you require reasonable adjustments to complete the application process, please contact us at earlycareers@nationalgas.com