The best young welders in Wales went head-to-head recently in a bid to win the BOC Welsh Apprentice Welder 2012. At the end of a day of exacting practical tests, Neil Brace from MITEC Pembrokeshire College took the title at the national finals held at Gower College Swansea.
Presenting Neil with his prize, the evening’s special guest, Welsh Assembly Member Mike Hedges said the skills agenda remains a central priority: “Wales has a huge amount of talent in its young people. Helping them develop these will attract jobs and prosperity to the country and allow us to build a vibrant future for all our people.”
BOC, a member of the Linde Group, supplies industrial and gases and engineering solutions across the UK. Dan Williams, Senior Legal Counsel, explained why BOC have supported this competition since its inception. “Engineers can design great projects but to translate them into reality this country requires welders and other skilled professionals to build the machines and infrastructure.”
Nick Bennett, the Principal of Gower College Swansea, which hosted the finals event, stressed the part that education has to play in the future of Wales. “We are delighted to be able to showcase the skills of our brightest and most talented young people at this event. These competitors are visible proof of the quality of the education on offer in Wales.”
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Press release courtesy of BOC, photographs courtesy of Adrian Turner
The UK Apprentice Welding Competition is an annual competition designed to encourage and recognise excellence in welding skills amongst trainees and apprentices. National finals are held in Scotland, England and Wales. A UK final is held later in the year.
The competition is open to candidates of any age, but they must be engaged upon a course of training recognised by an award body.
BOC is a member of The Linde Group. An industrial, medical and special gases provider, the company supplies compressed and bulk gases, chemicals and equipment. For more than a century the company's gases and expertise have contributed to advances in many areas of everyday life, and industries including steelmaking, refining, chemical processing, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, welding and cutting, food processing and distribution, glass production, electronics and health care. For more information visit: www.BOConline.co.uk
The Linde Group is a world-leading gases and engineering company with around 50,500 employees in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2011 financial year, it achieved sales of EUR 13.787 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards long-term profitable growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com.
Gower College Swansea is a bustling and vibrant base for students on a wide variety of full time, part time and professional development courses. Our six campuses, located around the county, cater for more than 11,000 students each year. In addition to our full and part time provision, we have an extensive apprenticeship programme which gives students experience and qualifications while they are working. We have excellent links with industry and are constantly communicating with local employers to find out what they want from students so that we can be responsive and flexible to their needs. Our mission is to provide outstanding learning opportunities and experiences for young people, adults and employers alike.
