Join our Welding and Joining Processes Technical Group as they host their upcoming Technical Group Webinar…

When: 2 October 2025

Time: 12:30 PM-2:00 PM (BST)

Where: Online (Teams)

CPD Points: 3 Credits

The event, which is titled, ‘An Introduction to ISO 15614-1: Welding Procedure Qualification', will provide a breakdown of the specification requirements, including coverage of both essential and non-essential variables, along with how they affect the range of approval and explore cost-effective strategies for reducing the cost of procedure qualification.

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for welding engineers, welders and welding foremen, quality assurance personnel, project and planning managers and engineers, to enhance your understanding, improve decision-making and support cost-effective operations.

Speaker and Presentation:

EUR ING Gene Mathers CEng, MSc, Dip IIM, FWeldI, EWE, IWE , Consultant and Chair of The Welding Institute’s Welding and Joining Processes Technical Group Technical Group, ‘An Introduction to ISO 15614-1: Welding Procedure Qualification.’

Can’t Attend Live?

No problem - if you can’t join us on the day, you won’t miss out. By registering in advance and completing payment, you’ll receive full access to the webinar recording after the event, along with any presentation materials (subject to presenter consent).

Discover more here

Join our Structural Integrity/Offshore Energy Technical Groups as they host their upcoming webinar…

When: 25 September 2025

Time: 9:30 AM-12:00 PM BST

Where: Online (Teams)

CPD Points: 5

The event, which is titled, ‘Environmental Material Testing for Structural Integrity’, will provide a deeper understanding of the challenges involved in testing offshore equipment exposed to extreme environmental conditions. It will also cover recent activities focused on investigating and recommending how these configurations should be assessed.

 

Who Should Attend?

This webinar is designed for structural integrity assessors, materials scientists, and owners, operators and assessors of offshore equipment.

Speaker and Presentation:

David Baxter, Chief Engineer, Kent PLC - Influence of Material Test Data on the Design of Pipelines for Hydrogen

Dr Yuri Tkach, Technical Authority - Fracture Integrity and Fitness-For-Service, Wood PLC - ECA of Girth Welds to be Operating in Severe Sour Environment

Alexandre Galiani Garmbis, Senior Pipeline Engineer, Petrobras - Challenges in Testing Alternative Materials for MLP in Environment

Afshin Motarjemi, Managing Director, Z-Subsea Energies - FEA-based structural integrity assessment of a dented subsea pipeline and validation of repair by composite wrap - A real case study

Can’t Attend Live?

No problem - if you can’t join us on the day, you won’t miss out. By registering in advance and completing payment, you’ll receive full access to the webinar recording after the event, along with any presentation materials (subject to presenter consent).

Discover more

Join our Welding and Joining Processes (TG2) Technical Group and our London Branch for their upcoming In-person event hosted by Fronius International and organised in collaboration with Cranfield University.

The event, which is titled, ‘Advances in Welding Technology: An Afternoon Session of Demonstrations and Technical Talks, followed by a BBQ and The Cranfield Student Lecture Competition’, will feature live demonstrations, cutting-edge technical talks, and student innovation; centered around the future of welding technology and education.

The day will begin with an afternoon session of technical talks and live demonstrations presented by a range of industry experts:

Advances in Weld Monitoring - presented by Chris Cathles, TVC Ltd. Followed by live demonstrations on arc monitoring, purge technology and laser cameras.

Advances in MIG Welding - presented by Bernd Rutzinger, Fronius Ltd. Followed by live demonstrations on ‘I WAVE Pro’ and stainless steel.

In addition, Dr James Wainwright from Cranfield University will be presenting on, ‘Advances in Welding Education,’ showcasing how educational advancements are driving industry progress.

To follow from the technical talks and live demonstrations, a BBQ and networking session will be hosted before continuing on to the evening session, including the Cranfield University Welding Engineering MSc Group Project Lecture Competition, sponsored by The Welding Institute's London Branch. Three group projects will be presented by 18 MSc students currently enrolled at Cranfield University, presentations will focus on:

• Laser welding of duplex steels with oscillated profile
• Improvement of surface finish for wear plate using laser scanning
• The use of flux cored wires with advanced power sources

These students bring global expertise, including IWE and EWE diploma holders, a Certified Welding Inspector (CWI), and a seasoned NDT specialist with over 20 years in the oil and gas sector.

To conclude, a judging panel will select the top project, with the award being presented by the President of The Welding Institute’s London Branch.

Discover more: https://www.theweldinginstitute.com/event-6241185 

Earlier this year, Callum Williamson delivered a presentation on friction stir welding to students of Tyne Coast College.

Callum was informed by the college’s Work Placement Officer that they had a very inspiring individual who changed professions around the time of COVID-19. This individual, who was excelling in their Welding and Fabrication qualification, was Ruth Bolton.

Callum had the pleasure to sit down with Ruth to discuss her passions and what led her to change careers.

Thank you, Ruth, for taking the time to talk with me. Could you tell our readers a little more about your previous career as a NHS Scrub Nurse?

“Absolutely! I was previously a Scrub Nurse in the Hepatobiliary Department. Hepatobiliary focuses on disorders of the liver and gallbladder. As part of the department I was working with, the Lower Abdominal Transplantations team, I helped cover and work with organ transplants across the UK.”

Okay, wow! That’s a pretty big jump - going from NHS Scrub Nurse to welding. Can you tell me more about why you looked at a career change?

“Well… COVID-19 happened. During the pandemic I was frontline staff and a key worker. After the pandemic abated somewhat and the infection rate grew low, I felt like I seriously needed to sit down and re-evaluate whether my current values and passions were aligned with what I was doing. Sadly, I understood that my values didn’t align, and I started looking for other opportunities”

I feel like we all can empathise with what your thought process was there, and I’m glad you were able to make a decision that benefitted what you needed at the time. Can you tell our readers more about what specifically drew you to welding and fabrication?

“I always wanted to do it when I was younger, especially when I was looking to leave school. I know things are very different now but, when I was in education, strangely, engineering was looked down upon, especially for women. I ended up doing Electronics Design and Technology, which, at the time, wasn’t always accepted by universities as a qualification. Which is why I didn’t progress it further.”

Thank you for sharing that. Were there any engineers within your family that you could draw inspiration from or that influenced you?

“Yes, my grandfather! He actually worked for Caterpillar for over 25 years.”

Interesting, so you were at least exposed to engineering early on in your life because of your grandfather. I am sorry to hear that you had that negative and exclusionary schooling. I know the views between 1970 and well… realistically, the early 2000s did discourage women who considered becoming engineers. Which is why I am so glad that I am seeing more and more women getting into the industry at younger ages.

To pivot to a more idealistic question. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What job opportunities are you hoping to find and where can you see this new career taking you?

“That’s actually a difficult question to answer. Since starting this course, I’ve been subject to so many new ways of thinking and so many opportunities. It’s opened up so many new possibilities. I almost feel like a ‘kid in a candy shop’ now. So it’s quite difficult to predict. With being quite early on, on my course, I feel like I’m still looking through a keyhole to this brand new world.”

Do you have any clue as to a sector you would like to specialise in?

“It’s still quite difficult to say. What I do know is, I love learning and investigating new processes. So maybe it would be easier to say I think I would work in ‘process’ driven teams in any sector.”

Oh that’s Interesting! So, logically your career pathway may include universities for higher education routes or hitting the ground running with process controller pathways. Given you do have an understanding of where you’d like to go with this new career, if you were to go back to Pre-COVID-19 or during COVID-19, what career advice would you give yourself?

“Ha ha, I’d have quit much sooner. It’s funny really, as I had looked into welding before COVID hit. With being a mature student, the funding rules were a little more strict with regard to paying for the course. So I opted to not proceed, as I couldn’t afford it. There was a course being ran out of Middlesborough that I had looked into. But the cost of being in full-time education, running my own home, transport and essentials… I really couldn’t have afforded it. Looking back, it’s a shame I couldn’t have followed through with it.”

That is a bit of a shame. Do you feel like you now have the funding you need to be able to take this course? I mean, obviously, you are here…

“I do! I am really glad that the funding rules changed and that there were more funding options available for me. I looked into doing apprenticeships over 10 years ago now, and I can say they are completely different.”

You are 100% correct there, Ruth. Apprenticeships have changed. It’s no longer just a young person’s game. I see more and more students from all age demographics picking up apprenticeships now. The funding elements are more inclusive. There is not as much emphasis on employers and training providers getting bonuses for taking on young students. These days, with how well employers and training providers are working together, it’s never been easier to excel in work and education.

Going with the theme of career change and opportunities. Is there any advice you would give others, both older and younger, who are considering a career change?

“I know it can seem very scary. Looking at my parents, they had one interview, one job and then they retired. With the cost of living now, we aren’t retiring at 55 or even 65. Even at 40, it feels like we’re still going to be working another 40 years. It’s the new reality. But it’s not intimidating any more, to look at changing things. From what I’ve done so far, I’ve developed all of these new skills and I’ve been able to hone others. I know there are employers who would love to have these skills within their teams both my new ones and my old ones.”

I love a good transferable skill…

“…It also helps that I think employers secretly love hiring ex-nurses.”

Last question, I promise. We’re going to end on a broad one. Why should anyone, all age groups, all genders, all backgrounds, consider taking education and possibly a starting a career in engineering, welding and/or fabrication?

“I think for welding and fabrication, it opens a lot of doors that you don’t necessarily realise are there. Like when I first started out, I thought that I would be at a bench laying down beads all day… that is such an inaccuracy. That’s the exact opposite of what we do here. It’s such a massive field, especially if you are young and athletic. You can deep-sea dive and get paid to weld, if you’re more computer focused, you can program and/or design machines and teach them how to do difficult welding tasks. The way I see it is; if you are passionate about something, there will be a way to apply it within a welding and fabrication career.”

This interview was very insightful. Especially to me, as I’ve often considered what field I would look into, if I ever decided to re-train or make a career change.

Making such a large change, just after the pandemic had died down and to THRIVE in that change, shows just how committed Ruth is to developing the skills necessary to become the newest of ‘Tomorrows Engineers.’

I hope you have all enjoyed the interview and hopefully I can bring more to you.

Callum Williamson
Education, Accreditation and Approvals Officer

At The Welding Institute, we are proud to stand alongside the global engineering community in celebrating International Women in Engineering Day (INWED25), on 23 June.

This annual event is a powerful reminder of the vital role that women play in shaping the future of engineering, and an opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate their achievements.

As a professional body dedicated to welding, engineering, and allied technologies, we are committed to recognising and amplifying the voices and contributions of women across our industry. From research and innovation to hands-on technical expertise, women continue to drive meaningful change and push the boundaries of what is possible.

This year’s INWED theme, “Engineering for a Sustainable Future”, reflects the urgent need for solutions to today’s global challenges and the essential role women engineers play in creating a better and more resilient world. INWED is a moment to honour the trailblazers, change-makers and everyday heroes who use their skills and passion to make a real difference in their communities and beyond.

INWED is not just a celebration - it’s a call to action that encourages individuals, organisations, and institutions to actively support a more inclusive and diverse engineering sector. Whether it’s through mentorship, education, advocacy, or policy change, together we can build a stronger, more united profession.

To mark this special occasion, we have invited several of our Members who are women working across various engineering disciplines to share personal stories and reflections on their journeys. By spotlighting their experiences, we aim to inspire the next generation of engineers and show the strength of community and collaboration.

'I feel privileged to work as an engineer, it gives me the opportunity to work alongside other fantastic engineers on exciting and challenging projects at the cutting edge of technology."

Dr Claire Kimpton CEng FWeldI

'Working in the field of structural integrity means that I have the fun job of breaking welds in various components (from pipes to wind turbines to diggers...). By understanding how and why welds break, we can predict and avoid failures in service. It's a challenging and varied field that really makes a difference to industry and society - I encourage budding engineers to consider specialising in structural integrity’ 

Carol Johnston CEng MWeldI

‘I have been lucky to have had many fantastic mentors in maths and engineering – my mother is a maths teacher, I had a brilliant female PhD supervisor, and I now work with many professionally impressive women in engineering. My opinion is that diverse perspectives make engineering stronger.’ 

Georgia Schneider CEng AWeldI

‘I chose engineering because I wanted to do something I enjoy, and I’ve never been afraid to try something new. That’s the advice I always give others—pursue what excites you and don’t shy away from challenges’ 

Joanna Nicholas CEng FWeldI

'As a woman in engineering and in particular the welding discipline, it’s an industry where females are few and far between. We face unspoken biases, but every challenge is a chance to break barriers, not just for myself but for the women coming after me'

Jade White CEng MWeldI EWE IWE

Let’s come together to celebrate, uplift and empower women in engineering, not just today, but every day.

As the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession, The Engineering Council holds the national registers of 223,000 Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Chartered Engineers (CEng).

The Engineering Council’s ‘The Engineers’ 2025 Survey Salary’ found that professionally registered engineers and technicians tend to have higher salaries.

The study showed that, of the 621 respondents who work across 12 industry sectors, 49% were professionally registered. Based on this sample, it showed that professionally registered engineers earn £7,000 more per year than survey respondents who are not professionally registered.

Interested in becoming professionally registered?

Becoming professionally registered is an excellent way to demonstrate your competence, credibility and commitment to the highest standards in engineering.

It shows your employers, clients, and peers that your skills have been independently assessed and meet nationally and internationally recognised benchmarks.

Registration also enhances your professional reputation, opens up greater career opportunities, and, as recent studies by the Engineering Council show, is often linked to achieving higher salaries.

Whether you're early in your career or looking to progress further, becoming professionally registered is a mark of excellence that sets you apart.

As a professional member of The Welding Institute you may be eligible to register with the Engineering Council, allowing you to gain formal recognition for your engineering qualifications and advance your career within the industry. 

Discover more about Engineering Council Registration

Read more about The Engineer’s 2025 Salary Survey

The Welding Institute is supporting the reactivation of the UK Forum for Engineering Structural Integrity (FESI)—a not-for-profit, technology-focused organisation dedicated to reducing the risk of engineering failures by advancing understanding of structural integrity across industry and academia.

FESI experienced a significant setback in late 2024 following the sad passing of its key leaders, Peter Flewitt and Roderick Smith, who died within three months of each other. Their deaths left the organisation without a board of directors and prompted a period of reflection on the future of the forum they helped to shape.

Now, FESI is entering a new chapter. A new board of directors has been established, including Paul Woollin, Director of Research and Quality Assurance at TWI, who brings extensive experience in engineering research and standards. Speaking about the appointment, Paul Woollin said:

““We all admired Peter and Rod and want to continue the vital work they undertook through FESI to promote understanding and awareness of the science and technology that underpin structural integrity. This work is essential to ensuring safety and reliability for the benefit of society.””

FESI’s mission continues to be supported by major industrial organisations, leading academic institutions, and public bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive and the National Physical Laboratory. The forum aims to build a strong, collaborative community that brings together voices from engineering, education, and government to share knowledge, raise awareness, and influence standards.

The new FESI board comprises:

• Dr Mayur Jagatia, Group Director of Materials Science and Structural Integrity (MSSI), Amentum
• Dr Yiqiang Wang, In-vessel Engineering Section Leader, UK Atomic Energy Authority
• Professor Michael Fitzpatrick, Lloyd’s Register Foundation Chair of Structural Integrity and Systems Performance, Coventry University
• Paul Woollin, Director of Research and Quality Assurance, TWI

In continuing roles:

• John Sharples, Technical Manager and Chief Technologist (Structural Integrity), Amentum – Chief Technical Advisor
• Brian Daniels, Structural Integrity Consultant, Amentum – Honorary Treasurer
• Jack Beswick, Senior Structural Integrity Engineer, Amentum – Chair of the FESI Student and Early Career Council

FESI has also appointed Amanda Rabbich as its new administrator. Amanda will act as the main point of contact for members and can be reached at amanda@fesi.org.uk.

More information about FESI and its activities

An Insightful Day of Innovation, Inspiration, and Industry Connection

The Welding Institute had the pleasure of hosting Level 2 Welding students from East Coast College on Wednesday, 21st May, for an engaging presentation and guided tour of TWI Ltd’s cutting-edge facilities.

This collaborative event highlighted the Institute’s commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of engineers, offering students a closer look at the welding industry’s real-world applications and career potential.

Building Knowledge Through Practical Insights

Led by David Howse, the day began with an informative session on fundamental welding processes. Designed to reinforce the students’ classroom learning, the presentation sparked enthusiastic engagement, with many students asking thoughtful, relevant questions connected to their daily training.

Exploring the Future of Welding Technology

Following a lively Q&A and a well-deserved lunch, students and tutors were taken on an immersive tour of TWI Ltd’s laboratories. Here, they observed real-time experiments and explored advanced technologies such as Laser Welding, Linear and Rotary Friction Welding, and Friction Stir Welding.

The tour also introduced students to Additive Manufacturing and Surfi-Sculpt, demonstrating how these innovations are reshaping product design and manufacturing processes across industries.

Inspiring Ambitions and Recognising Talent

Tutors Douglas Lawrence and Jason Taylor accompanied the students, whose ambition and interest in diverse sectors - including Aerospace, Automotive, Nuclear, and Defense - was evident throughout the visit. East Coast College is proud to share that one of its brightest female welding students recently completed work experience with automotive manufacturer, Lotus.

Supporting Tomorrow’s Engineers

Before the visit, many students were already aware of The Welding Institute’s role in helping to shape their career paths. By the end of the day, they left with a deeper appreciation for the support, guidance, and opportunities available through the Institute and its Professional Affairs Group.

Get Involved: Join the Welding Journey

Whether you’re a student, tutor, or industry professional, there are many ways to connect with The Welding Institute:

• Students: Want to learn how The Welding Institute can help guide your career? Visit our Student Associate membership page to discover more.
• Colleges & Educators: Interested in arranging a similar visit? Contact us here to discuss educational partnerships.
• Stay Updated: Follow us on LinkedIn for the latest events, opportunities and innovations in welding and engineering.

The Welding Institute is proud to play a role in shaping the next generation of welding professionals — equipped with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to lead the industry forward. 

EUR ING Martin Boyd BEng EWE IWE CEng FWeldI graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Materials Engineering. He is currently a welding engineer at Rolls-Royce, having joined The Welding Institute in 2007 as a Graduate Member (GradWeldI). Within his current role, he supports production facilities and external supply chains. He is also lead auditor managing the auditing of all suppliers that carry out welding for the business. Martin talks us through his career in engineering, his thoughts on being a Member and how he finds volunteering at The Welding Institute. 

Intro to you and your career in engineering

Why did you choose a career in engineering?

I was always interested in engineering, and concentrated on relevant subjects at school. Working at a small engineering company in the North East for a summer sealed my future career direction.

What’s one of your biggest career highlights or achievements that you’re most proud of?

Leading the weld development of a large structural assembly on the UltraFan® engine was a great experience. Seeing the complete engine in the test bed made me particularly proud.

What is one of the biggest challenges you have faced in your career and how did you overcome this?

At university, you are taught the technical aspects of the subject, this education continues with other courses, such as the EWE diploma, arming the candidate with extensive knowledge of the technical side of welding engineering. What all of these courses fail to cover is the human aspect of any given situation: even if you know everything about the technical aspects of your area, this counts for little if you cannot engage with the people carrying out the process. I learned this early on in my career, imparted from a line manager many years ago. At the time, I was not convinced, but it soon became clear as I interacted with a wider number of people that it is key to have that understanding and appreciation of the great skills that people have.

Early Professional Membership

Why did you initially join The Welding Institute?

I was working in the Joining Development Section at AWE and The Welding Institute was suitably aligned to my career development plan.

Tell us a bit about the process of becoming a Member of The Welding Institute.

I joined the Institute in 2007 as a Graduate Member (GradWeldI), moving to Associate Member (AWeldI) after several years. In 2016, I applied for Member (MWeldI), and then more recently I applied for Fellow Member (FWeldI) in December 2024, which I achieved earlier this year. Throughout my career, I have gained further qualifications and experience, which I have been able to compliment with my progression through the membership grades.

Professional Membership and Registration:  

When and why did you choose to become professionally registered?

When I stared working at AWE as a graduate metallurgist, my line manager at the time made it clear that engineers should be both aligned to a relevant professional body, and work towards engineering registration. I was assigned a mentor very early on, and this mind-set has followed me throughout my career.

How has Professional Registration as CEng supported you in your career?

CEng demonstrates that I have been independently assessed by my peers against the Engineering Council requirements. This shows the level of competence I have as an engineer, which employers have confidence in. Shortly after achieving CEng I moved to a new role, similarly when I achieved IEng back in 2016 I progressed to another role, demonstrating how this type of registration can be beneficial. More recently, I also gained EUR ING registration. Having both CEng and EUR ING help to demonstrate my high level of competence with the suppliers that I engage with.

What was the most difficult aspect of becoming registered as CEng and how did you overcome it?

As I only have a bachelor’s degree, I could not apply through the standard route, but need to use the individual route. This made me delay my application due to a perceived difficulty in the process. However, once I made the step of starting the application I found it to be straight forward, with great support from the membership team.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of becoming CEng?

CEng had been a career goal of mine since starting work, so finally achieving it was a huge reward in itself. Moving forward, I find it very rewarding helping colleagues realise their own potential in attaining their career goals and relevant registrations.

Current Membership

What are your core involvements with The Welding Institute, what do they entail and why do you undertake them?

I volunteer in a number of roles with the Institute: I am chair of the Membership, Education and Registration Committee (MERC), chair of the East Midlands Branch of the Institute, and I carry out reviews of potential Members’ application packs and conduct professional review interviews.

Additionally I mentor colleagues as they work towards professional membership and registration.

Which membership benefits do you use the most and find the most helpful and why?

Networking is the greatest benefit in my opinion: I have met a large number of people throughout my 18 years as a Member of the Institute, which has expanded my knowledge, and appreciation of the subject of welding. I also find the Welding and Joining Matters Journal to be very useful, helping to further my knowledge of welding.

Future (Membership and Career)

What are your engineering aspirations?

I currently enjoy helping junior members progress with their careers through mentoring and training, and I plan to continue this, utilising my technical knowledge, as well as my understanding of the membership and registration processes.

Would you recommend Membership with The Welding Institute and why?

I fully recommend membership with The Welding Institute for anyone working or interested in the

welding and allied services field. Over my career, this has significantly contributed to my professional development and career progression.

What advice would you give or what would you say to your younger self-beginning your career in engineering?

Take the opportunities that come your way and remain curious. Also believe in yourself – I hesitated in applying for each level of membership and registration throughout my career, not being sure I was good enough, and comparing myself against others. Several years ago, I attended a seminar on imposter syndrome and I found that helped to explain this situation and allowed me to move forward with more confidence.

We would like to thank Martin Boyd for taking the time to tell us about his career and experience being a welding engineer.

Find out more on volunteering at The Welding Institute here.