From the Golden Era to an Acute Skills Gap: The Story of UK Welding

The history of the UK’s welding industry is a tale of innovation, growth and more recently, a concerning skills gap. Once a cornerstone of Britain’s industrial power, the industry is now facing a significant challenge: a retiring workforce and a severe shortage of new talent.

At the start of the 20th century, a time that we can call the “Golden Era” of welding, especially in Britain. Because of the outbreak of the First World War, technology advanced quickly, as there was a drive in demand for reliable and inexpensive joining methods.

“Electric arc welding was favoured during the fabrication of torpedoes, bombs, and mines in England during World War I due to the gas shortage.”

After the war, in 1923, the Institution of Welding Engineers (now known as the Welding Institute) was founded in London, laying the groundwork for a standardised and professional trade. As the 1930s dawned, major infrastructure projects, from steelworks to railways, fuelled a growing demand for skilled welders.

This era saw the rise of trade unions, which played a crucial role in protecting workers’ rights and wages. The 1950s solidified welding’s place as a staple trade, with the British Standards Institution (BSI) introducing early safety and quality standards that remain fundamental to this day. By the 1960s, automated welding systems began to emerge, ushering in new efficiencies and reducing the demand for manual labor.

However, a shift was on the horizon. The 2010s marked the beginning of what we now see as a period of rising concerns. In 2013, the UK’s workforce began to feel the first tremors of a potential skills shortage. The ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) launched funded training schemes to address the issue, adding around 290 extra welders over two years – however, this was only a temporary fix.

By 2015, industry training programs were highlighting ongoing shortages, particularly in critical sectors like nuclear, oil, and gas, which needed over 1,000 welders by 2020. This period was a clear sign that a significant challenge was brewing.

The “Acute Skills Gap” became undeniable by 2018, with many workers approaching retirement. This looming demographic shift, a massive wave of experienced professionals leaving the industry, began to cause real anxiety. By 2023, just 249 welding trainees were in the system, far short of the 966 needed just to replace expected retirees.

We are now in a period where shortages deepen and an “Acute Skills Shortage” is the daily reality. By 2024, half of the UK’s welders were projected to retire by 2027. This requires more than 35,000 skilled replacements, a number the current training system is nowhere near meeting.

This brings us to the current day in 2025. The severe skills shortage is no longer a future problem, it’s already here. It’s being exacerbated by two key factors: a heavy reliance on international recruitment (with over 70% of new welders coming from abroad) and the need for a significant push toward automation as a mitigation strategy.

The history of the UK welding industry offers a clear look at how a sector can evolve over time, highlighting the importance of addressing workforce gaps, and one that in this case needs resolving quickly. It underscores the need for strategic planning and continuous investment in training to ensure a stable supply of skilled professionals. The challenges ahead are significant, but by understanding the industry’s trajectory, we can better implement solutions to secure a more robust and skilled future for the sector.

Our Managing Director Chris Houston also believes it’s our responsibility as an industry to raise awareness of the benefits of joining the industry and the advantages it has to offer. He says:

“There is an urgent need for coordinated action across industry, education and government.”

He adds: “ We should make it our mission to inspire the next generation of welders through accessible apprenticeships and practical STEM education. Despite the challenges, welding remains a rewarding and stable career, offering competitive salaries and long-term job security for those who commit to the trade.”

By investing in apprenticeships and changing the industry’s image, Tadweld aims to help secure the future of welding in the UK. The company is committed to supporting young talent and working alongside partners to ensure welding remains a vital and thriving profession for decades to come.

To find out more about working for us, visit: https://tadweld.co.uk/work-for-us/

Sources

http://www.weldinghistory.org/whfolder/folder/wh1900.html

https://yeswelder.com