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COVID-19 updates and resources


Our professional membership team are currently working from home, and we recognise that this may affect the support we provide to our members.  We will work to minimise any disruption but we would urge all members to contact us via email as phone calls may prove difficult at this time.  The central email address to contact will be theweldinginstitute@twi.co.uk

We are without doubt living through one of the greatest challenges that our Institute, the engineering profession, and the country has faced in a generation. The Welding Institute is there for its members. From all of us here at The Welding Institute, we hope that you and your families are safe and well at this difficult time.

The Welding Institute is adopting all UK government recommended measures to minimise the risk posed to both its members, non-members, volunteers and employees. 

Some of the measures we have taken:

  • All branch events are being held virtually.
  • The membership team have been asked to cancel all non-essential business travel and attendance at external events.
  • We are actively encouraging the use of digital communications such as video conferencing or online meetings instead of face-to-face meetings.
  • We will be staying in regular communication with our Professional Members as the situation continues to offer membership guidance and support;
  • We will endeavour to maintain the level of technical assistance via services such as duty engineer and information services, as far as is practical. The library has taken all the necessary actions to ensure that they can continue to provide information support for members through the forthcoming period of disruption.  Please send messages for library support to library@twi.co.uk

Please use this web page as a place to find updates on the activities of The Welding Institute, useful links to government advice, appeals and more.

Upcoming events

Useful links 

  • 12 May 2020 1:28 PM | Deleted user

    The Welding Institute have been keeping in contact with our Members across the globe to see how the coronavirus outbreak is impacting different corners of the world.

    • Read more about Professor Guan Yingchun’s experience in Beijing here
    • Member Chris Cobain shares his experience in Perth, Western Australia. Read more here.
    • Read more about Norbert Sieczkiewicz’s experiences in Lexington, USA here

    To share your story with us, contact theweldinginstitute@twi.co.uk

  • 17 Apr 2020 8:26 AM | Deleted user

    Free digital and numeracy courses to build your skills.

    The Department for Education has launched a web page that signposts people to free online courses that can develop their digital and numeracy skills during lockdown. To find out more click here


    WorldSkills UK announce five-point action plan in response to COVID-19.

    WorldSkills UK have set out a five-point action plan in response to COVID-19, looking at how to help young people both today and in the coming months and years power up a skills-led recovery and support the rebuilding of the UK economy, beyond the immediate public health crisis. Read more here.


    Play Enginuity's New Minecraft-Based Game Skills Miner!

    Enginuity have released Skills Miner, a newly created virtual world to discover and attract future engineers within Minecraft. The game, set in an electric car showroom and factory, assesses players aptitude for a whole raft of skills – from observation and assessment, resilience, digital competency, problem-solving and critical reasoning.

    Brought forward from a planned summer release, to allow thousands of people in lockdown to have fun – and find out if they’ve got what it takes to transit from the virtual to the real world workplace in engineering. 

    The game is free to play (Education edition) or with a Minecraft licence and available on PC/ Mac/ iOS and Android! 

    Find out more on Enginuity's website here


    Provider Relief Scheme

    The Provider Relief Scheme is open for applications, and is available to training providers with contracts for services that were procured as a service under the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

    The purpose of the Relief Scheme is to ensure training providers can continue to deliver high quality education and training to make sure we have the skills needed to rebuild our economy post COVID-19. The closing date for applications is Thursday 30 April 2020. More information can be found here


    ESFA implements new measures for employers, apprentices and providers of apprenticeship training and assessment in response to COVID-19

    The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) document sets out guidance and some temporary flexibilities that we are introducing to the programme during the pandemic, and provides answers to questions related to these changes and other common questions. Read more here.

    (Updated 19 May 2020)

    What does furlough mean for apprentices?

    The Government has confirmed that furloughed apprentices can continue their apprenticeship training if they’re paid at least the apprenticeship minimum wage. Read more here.


    Coronavirus (COVID-19): financial support for education, early years and children’s social care

    The government has put in place a number of funding and financial measures to support organisations – both public and private – during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. More information can be found here.


    EqualEngineers Covid-19 Challenge

    EqualEngineers has launched the COVID-19 Challenge. They are looking for creative and out-of-this-world ideas, to help tackle the effects of COVID-19 around you. Win a £100 Amazon voucher, and a private tour at an engineering facility! All entries must be received by the 31st May. More information can be found here.


    Apprenticeships and COVID-19

    The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) has published a video that shows employers how to use pause and stop in the apprenticeship service to record a break in learning.

  • 17 Apr 2020 8:24 AM | Deleted user

    SME COVID-19 Webinar Series

    The Department for International Trade (DIT) in partnership with Newable, Enterprise Europe Network and J.P. Morgan, have launched an SME Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webinar Series. This extensive series of free webinars is designed to support UK businesses to get help, protect their business and save jobs. See a full list of the available webinars and book your place here.


    COVID-19 guidance for the charity sector

    Many of our Branches are actively involved in the charity sector and may find this link helpful. For more information click here


    Funding Competition: Business-led innovation in response to global disruption

    UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £20 million to respond to new and urgent needs in UK and global communities during and following COVID-19. Please note the competition closes on the 17 April. For more details click here.  


    COVID-19 business advice

    UK government information on financial support and business advice can be found online here


    A Fact3 guide for SMEs

    A collection of useful resources to support SMEs across Finance, HR and IT, as well as updates on general Government Guidance and other valuable information Fact3 have accessed from regulators and other trusted advisers. The guide can be found online here

The Welding Institute

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