Welding Academy with South West College

Welding Academy 

If you’re interested in a career as a welder, 12 training opportunities are currently available at South West College (SWC). If you successfully complete the academy, you will gain industry recognised welding qualifications and be considered for a potential job role with one of the supporting companies.

Training

The Welding Academy is a six week intensive training course to prepare you for a job role in the engineering and manufacturing sector under the Assured Skills Programme. Those selected for the Academy will study City & Guilds Welding Level 1 or 2 and Abrasive Wheels Training. 

An Introduction to Robotic Welding (Valk) is being offered to all on the academy who want to avail of the opportunity. Students will acquire the skills to set up and operate the robot to perform a basic welding task.

If you successfully complete the course, you will be guaranteed a job interview with a supporting company.

Participants will receive a weekly £185 training allowance for the duration of the academy, as well as help with travelling and childcare costs.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

•    be at least 18 years old 
•    be eligible to work in the UK at the time of application

How to apply

Apply online via clicking the apply icon by 12.00 noon on Friday 21 August 2026.

Key dates

SWC will invite eligible applicants to attend an Information session and interview that will take place week commencing Monday 24 August 2026 at the SWC Welding Facility, Kilcronagh Industrial Estate, Cookstown.

Training

Successful applicants will attend intensive training at SWC’s dedicated training venue in Cookstown starting Monday 7 September 2026 to Friday 16 October 2026.

Training times are 8.15am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.15am to 1.30pm Friday.

Applicants must be available for the whole of the training period. 

Company Information

The supporting companies participating in the academy are: 

• Portafil International Ltd
• Specdrum/STEMfab
• TBC Conversions
• Terex, Cookstown
• Terex, Dungannon
• Bruce Engineering
• CombiLift NI
• Kane Group
• EDGE Innovate
• McGahan Engineering
• Moyle Engineering
• Muldoon Transport
• SCL Exhausts
• Terramac

Those who successfully finish Assured Skills Academies are guaranteed a job interview with participating companies.  Offers of employment will be at the discretion of the companies following the interview. 

Applicants should note that the job roles available are not eligible for skilled worker sponsorship.

Living outside Northern Ireland

If you live outside Northern Ireland, by accepting an offer of a place on this pre-employment training academy, you are committing to attending training and pursuing a job opportunity in Northern Ireland.

Applications are welcome from everyone who meets the essential criteria and are particularly welcome from people returning to work after caring for their children or other family members.

Help to apply

If you have a disability and need help to complete this form:

• email assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk

or

• telephone 028 9041 6972

All correspondence with applicants will be through email. It is the applicant’s responsibility to act on this within the given time frame.

Further information

For more information on this academy or to receive updates on new academy opportunities as they arise, please email your enquiry to assuredskills@economy-ni.gov.uk

To find out how your information will be managed, you can view the privacy notice for Assured Skills here: https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/publications/assured-skills-academies-privacy-notice