Metal Fabricator (Level 3 Standard)

Welding and fabrication is found in the advanced manufacturing engineering and engineering construction sectors. The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out metal fabrication work using things such as rolled steel joists, columns, channels, steel plate and metal sheet etc.

Work includes manufacturing bridges, oil rigs, ships, petro-chemical installations, cranes, platforms, aircraft, automotive and machinery parts, sheet metal enclosures, equipment supports, and anything that can be fabricated out of metal. Fabricators can work alone or in teams, in factories or on operational sites. Fabricators use a large range of metals including steel, aluminium and titanium at a range of thicknesses from 0.5mm up to over 20mm. The size and weight of the fabrications can range from components that can easily be picked up by hand, to massive structures that require several cranes to manipulate.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with planners, supervisors, inspectors, designers, welders, pipefitters, fitters, machinists, riggers, steel erectors, stores personnel, painters and many others involved in manufacturing, production, maintenance and repair.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the quality and accuracy of their own work whilst ensuring it conforms to a relevant specification such as an engineering drawing or an international standard. Fabricators are also responsible for the health, safety and environmental (HS&E) protection of themselves and others around them.

For Level 3 apprenticeships, learners are generally required to have a minimum of 3-5 GCSEs (including Maths and English) at grade 4 (C) or above prior to enrolment. However, for applicants aged 19 or older, this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the employer and training provider, depending on the role and individual circumstances.

Completion of the Fabrication and Welding Level 2 Apprenticeship would reduce the duration of this programme.  

• Hands-on Training & College Learning: Apprentices work on-site in fabrication yards, engineering workshops, or construction sites while attending college one day per week. They cut, shape, weld, and assemble metal components; gaining practical experience with rolled steel, aluminium, and titanium across a range of thicknesses from 0.5mm to over 20mm.

• Wide-Ranging Curriculum: The course covers technical drawing interpretation, welding and fabrication techniques, engineering calculations, materials and metallurgy, heat treatment, and health and safety. Apprentices also learn to use hand and machine tools, follow documentation, and meet international quality standards.

• Specialist Pathways: Learners may specialise in bridge and structural fabrication, marine and offshore platforms, automotive components, or sheet metal enclosures depending on interest and employer need. Employers may support additional training in coded welding, non-destructive testing, or multi-process fabrication.

• Career-Ready Qualification: Upon completion (typically 42 months), apprentices earn a Level 3 qualification and are ready for roles like metal fabricator, structural welder, or assembly technician, with progression into supervisory roles, advanced welding certification, or degree-level engineering pathway.

For a comprehensive understanding of this fabrication programme and what it entails, please click here.

This fabrication Apprenticeship is taught at our London Road campus on a day release basis once a week. In addition, you will be visited at your workplace regularly by your assessor, for the duration of your apprenticeship to assess your work performance and review progress with your employer.  You will be required to sit an End Point Assessment, towards the final stages of your programme, to ensure you have obtained the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to do your job effectively.

Typically, this apprenticeship will take 42 months to complete.

To be an apprentice, you will need an employer who can offer you a specific role relevant to this apprenticeship and release you for your training. Once you have an employer in place, you can apply online. If after reading this fact sheet, you are still undecided about the course most suitable for you, please drop into one of our advice events, ring the Apprenticeship Team on 01743 653444 or email apprenticeships@shrewsbury.ac.uk