Training & Development Pathway

[jayz]

Hi

I've come looking for some advice. I'm 22 years old and I've been drifting since leaving school never really settling into anything. I've always been into climbing and someone suggested I look at trying to find work doing what I love.

The jobs I've found that would mean working at heights usually need additional skills tand a few of the jobs I've seen include welding.

If you were a complete beginner starting out on this road with the same ultimate goal what would be your training route be to gain the needed welding skills be?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[georgetheforge]

Hi Jayz

if you like heights and rigging etc, have you thought about theatre/entertainment rigging- can be fun-

look up the likes of unusual rigging- http://www.unusual.co.uk

have fun

George

 

[Delta]

Scaffolder?

Lots of climbing and not highly skilled...

 

[jayz]

Big thanks for the suggestions, would still appreciate some ideas about training in welding if anyones got thoughts

 

[Luke]

I'm not sure how much roped-access work there is, involving welding. I'd have thought the issue of lugging plant/tools up with you makes it pretty unlikey? I know inverter machines are light, but you still need power etc?

FWIW, I've worked with theatre riggers a bit, it looks like good fun, last time it was a 10 day job out in Singapore. Stage shows, concerts etc mean plenty of variety, but I reckon it could be a challenge to get work, get known etc.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I looked into this years ago. I liked climbing and pot holing and thought why not combine it with work. I found that the companies (offshore mostly CAN Offshore, Hi-Rope, Technitube etc) were very intereested in my trade (mechanical fitter) but not too interested in the rope access abilities. Thier view was "we can train people to handle ropes it takes longer to train people to pipefit, NDT, weld etc". Worth looking into but as you say get the skills first. I would probably go for NDT as it is applicable to high and low level work.

I was offered a job in Spain when I was looking cleaning windows for 3 weeks on 550ft highrise - about 15 years ago they were paying £10 /hour. The money is there and rope access is loads cheaper than scaffold so more scope I think