Moving to the UK and starting work welding

[canadianWelder]

Hello,

I am planning on moving to London from Ontario, Canada this summer. I currently have a few years experience welding and fitting, and intend on perusing that line of work in the UK at least initially. Right now I've got a few CWB (Canadian Welding Bureau) certifications - MIG (FCAW) all position, and a stainless steel ticket. I've been trying to do a bit of research into how coding/certification works in the UK, where the most work is, how much I can expect to get paid, etc.. but I've got a few questions and any help would be appreciated..

1. Should I bother trying to get coded in the UK right away, or should I just try and find work that doesn't require coding? from what i understand getting coded is just the practical test but can cost up to 400 pounds for each test?? seems excessive to me, but is the better pay worth it?
2. If I were to get coded, where is the most work (whether FCAW or TIG or aluminum etc...) generally available? what processes are paying the most?
3. Is there much decent paying work in London right now? i've been watching job classified websites but its hard to get a sense really.
4. What other certifications or courses should I get into so I can start working ASAP? Do I just get one of those "trainee" CSCS cards and get to it?

I know it is a lot of questions, but any help at all would be great! thanks

 

[Robotstar5]

Welcome to the forum.

Depending on what sort of company you get a job with, they should pay to get you coded for the work they do.

 

[pedrobedro]

I'm not sure why but London is not exactly the kind of place people associate with welding or industry, more administration and banking.

 

[ronan]

Any of the decently paid welding or other engineering jobs i see advertised are either in canada or australia, you are going the wrong direction !

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Be prepared to work doing anything (McDonalds etc !) as you MIGHT find you struggle to get any job, never mind one welding, here in UK. Britain is sinking due to the influx of cheap EU labour - and that will included qualified welders who will work for minimum wage. I'm sure lots of people here would jump at the chance to move to Canada.

Paul H

 

[strada]

Any of the decently paid welding or other engineering jobs i see advertised are either in canada or australia, you are going the wrong direction !

Agree with whats been said ^^^^ struggling to find work myself, its not what you know ,its who you know.
Why come to the uk? stay where you are mate,

 

[cumbriasteve]

I imagine its the same as most skills in the UK at present, there will be a small percentage of the top class, fully certified guys earning very good money, the rest of the good welders, even with the correct certification will be chasing the few decent vacancies offering an average wage.

Then there are the positions that will employ anyone who can pass a test piece, paying them little above minimum rate, yet so many willing to do the job they are turning them away daily.

I suspect your certificates may not help too much over here.

I guess you are also aware that London houses/rents/flats etc are at eye watering prices, commuting to work can also be expensive around the whole London area.

If you go for it, I wish you good luck.

 

[ford34/2]

I can only secong whats been said, Me personaly I Love Canada, however if you must leave as has been mentioned London is probably the most expensive City to live, shop and travel in, Many of the great industrial heritages, shipbuilding, engineering, Mines, have long gone I`m afraid, and almost anything of any productive value is now Foreign owned.
The Inner city congestion charge levied 5 days a week during the day:
The standard charge is £10[2] for each day, for each non-exempt vehicle that travels within the zone with a penalty of between £65 and £195 levied for non-payment. Enforcement is primarily based on automatic number plate recognition(ANPR). Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the charge which has been operated by IBM since 1 November 2009.
Below is the guaranteed minimum wage which employers seem to just love paying. Then you have your Nat ins and Tax deductions, could be 25% off.I`m sure you will have thought long and hard about the "benefits " Of working and living here, be worth posting them and let us all into a secret.

Year 21 and over 18 to 20 Under 18 Apprentice*
2013 (current rate)£6.31 £5.03 £3.72 £2.68

I realy do wish you ever so much luck, but the streets of London were never paved with gold and they still arnt.

Kindest regards
Stan,
North East England.
I`m sorry the wages table will not post as copied or edited, 21 and over is £6.31. 18-20 is £5.03. under 18 is £3.72 and Apprentice is £2.68 an hour

 

[Rocketman]

I would guess somewhere in the Midlands would be the best bet for a welder.

 

[ronan]

I would guess somewhere in the Midlands would be the best bet for a welder.

From what i have heard about rents in and around london it probably would be the best bet.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I'd say see if you can find a job BEFORE coming here. In the long run it'd be cheaper to pay for a return air fare for an interview than using up all your saving etc only to find that you have to go back to Canada anyway.
Around here one of the biggest users of welding skills is JCB. A neighbour has been there a long time and is one of only two on his line who are qualified welders. The others are unskilled Eastern Europeans on short term contract or employed via an agency. Another friend was made redundant so seeing he lived near JCB tried to get a job there. He was told they normally employ people via agency and then if they turn out to be OK there is a chance that a full time job might be offered. He then went to the agency and was told they already have more than enough non UK / EU workers on their books so couldn't help him.

Also do you have UK passport or parents / grandparents British? If not you will have to apply for permission to work here and they are supposed to be tightening up on who is allowed to work as we have high unemployment. I think one of the conditions is you might be required to have a job in place with employer willing to sponsor you before an application can be made.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/uk-ancestry/

Paul H

 

[F.J.]

If you have an aptitude for paperwork then you could do a search for NVQ Assessor vacancies in welding and fabrication. I did it full time before going self employed and sometimes still do it on a freelance basis. Most colleges/training providers will take you on on your workshop experience alone and then put you through the relevant teaching/assessing quals as you work. Wages vary but when I was employed as an assessor I was on £26k basic (around £13p/h with pension, expenses and bonuses totalling around £33K but now when I do it freelance I get between £20/25ph. Some colleges have offered me full time work on those wages too so it could be a well paid job.

Best of luck

 

[Rocketman]

Mobile car welders seem to be getting more popular these days to. Tyre fitting places who do MOT's often use them + plus people have them come out and do jobs on their drives.