Hi Pete,
Depends what kind of stuff you want to do? At the very least you would have to do 3 years day release at college for your C&G (or equivalent) but most colleges now would like you to have employment aswell.
Or the other option is to do say a year general welding course and work for yourself making one off stuff etc.
Depending where you are in the south,in the south east (kent,london area) Bexley college at Erith is where i did my 1st year welding course which was 2 days a week Mig,Tig,MMA,O/A,fabrication processes and theory,2 long days consisting of mornings in the classroom and then from 1pm until 7pm welding etc.
Do a search on hot courses.com