West of England Institute of Technology Open Welding Facility at Weston College

6 July 2021

As part of the investment from the Department for Education, the West of England Institute of Technology (WEIoT) has opened a £650k brand-new facility, dedicated to welding, at Weston College’s South West Skills Campus.

The development of the new welding facility has been in response to the growing demand from employers both locally and regionally for apprentices trained in welding and fabrication; as well as local adults wanting to upskill in an area that has seen an increased demand in the local region.

As part of its commitment to sustainability and cost reduction, the centre also includes a ‘virtual welder’ simulation which allows students to learn basic techniques without wasting gases or metals as part of the initial training, reducing costs and waste.

As well as a new facility, which will develop new skills, WEIoT learners can now complete a full apprenticeship in Welding and Fabrication, which was previously not available.

Dr Paul Phillips CBE, Principal and Chief Executive of Weston College Group, said: “This new centre shows our commitment to local employers, by creating a training facility that meets the demand of industry within our local area.

“It is a really exciting facility, and it allows us to work with our Anchor Employer Partners through the WEIoT, to develop our learners with more skills, that we know are wanted by industry.”

You can find out more about WEIoT and the new welding facility, here.