At this year’s Smart Manufacturing Week, attendees will get more than just a glimpse of cutting-edge tech and industry insights, they’ll witness the heat of competition — quite literally — at the Ultimate Welding Showdown.
Hosted at the Enginuity WorldSkills UK stand, this electrifying event will fuse skill, precision, and passion, all while drawing attention to one of the UK’s most urgent industrial challenges: the skilled welder shortage.
More than just a spark
The competition won’t just be a display of talent—it will be a call to action. With over 35,000 welding jobs projected to open up by 2027 as experienced professionals retire, the industry is bracing for a serious skills gap. Welding plays a foundational role across construction, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure, and without a steady influx of trained professionals, the UK’s economy and supply chains could feel the strain.
Enginuity, WorldSkills UK and Seabery will bring the showdown to life—not only to identify future champions, but also to challenge outdated perceptions. Aimed at young attendees, the hands-on event will invite them to test their abilities using Seabery’s virtual welding simulators, offering a realistic, risk-free introduction to the trade.
Seabery’s virtual welding simulator allows individuals to experience welding as realistically as possible without actually welding…
Welding: not just a job, but a journey
What many may not realise is how rewarding a career in welding can be. Some welding specialisms, such as nuclear welding, command salaries of up to £80,000 a year. And contrary to the myth that AI is replacing all technical jobs, welding remains a hands-on, high-skill trade where human precision is irreplaceable.
Welders often work in exotic locations—from the ocean floor to space stations—and, for many, the job is as much an adventure as it is a profession. As Melanie Stewart, Lead Welding Engineer at Merit, reflects: “There have been points in my career when I’ve earned more money than a doctor. There’s good money to be earned.”
A platform for future talent
The Ultimate Welding Showdown will also serve as a springboard into the wider WorldSkills UK competitions. These prestigious contests test technical prowess on national, European, and global stages, with the World Finals set to take place in Shanghai in 2026 and Japan in 2028. According to WorldSkills UK, 89% of past participants report improvement in both technical and employability skills—a testament to the platform’s value in shaping career-ready talent.
Breaking the mould: women in welding
A major focus of the event will be inclusivity—particularly the push to attract more women into the field. Currently, only 5% of welders are female, despite evidence that women often outperform in aspects crucial to the trade. Greater hand stability and a lower centre of gravity can give women a natural edge, yet the talent pool remains under-tapped.
One of the standout voices at the event will be Lily Singleton, an engineering welding fabrication apprentice at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry. Passionate about promoting the trade among women, Lily regularly participates in STEM and Women in Engineering events. “Being in the welding industry is not only a passion, but an amazing opportunity to be part of the five per cent female representation,” she said.
Lily’s enthusiasm will be on full display as she engages directly with students at the stand, offering them a firsthand glimpse into a career she proudly champions.
Forging a future
Through the Ultimate Welding Showdown, Enginuity and its partners won’t just be running a competition—they’ll be building a movement. A movement to elevate vocational careers, close the gender gap, and prepare a new generation to take the torch—literally and figuratively.
For those seeking a career that’s hands-on, well-paid, global, and essential, welding might just be the perfect match. And with events like this one, it’s clear that the sparks are only just beginning to fly.
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