Weld Off 2016, a competition to celebrate the skills of the UK’s top young welders and help them forge ahead with their careers, was launched today (12 January) by leading equipment manufacturer Morris Site Machinery.
The company, based in Four Ashes, Wolverhampton and supplier of ArcGen welder generators, is now seeking entries from promising welders aged 16 – 26 who are in college or at work.
Back for its third year, The Weld Off is set to celebrate some great British milestones in its 2016 competition, by challenging the UK’s young welding talent with the theme: God Save the Queen.
From Her Majesty celebrating 90 years in May, The Prince’s Trust reaching its 40th anniversary – the same year that Punk arrived and the Sex Pistols recorded their eponymous No 1 hit – it’s a timely theme to fire up the imagination. Morris Site Machinery’s welding brand ArcGen, in conjunction with Speedy Services, EAL and KEMPPI are on the hunt for the UK’s top young welders to use their bright sparks to now translate this year’s theme ‘God Save the Queen’ into a piece of welded creativity.
The four teams who make the final will face a series of challenges to demonstrate their ability and knowledge with a Q&A and safety round, a welding skills section and a creative test on the theme ‘God Save the Queen’. At stake is a top prize of £1,000 for their welding department or workplace, plus £500 for each member of the winning team.
Phil Winnington, Managing Director at Morris Site Machinery, said: “This is a great opportunity for budding young welders to think around this very current theme and bring to life their own spin on it. We’re expecting some great interpretations and fantastic entries to demonstrate all the talent out there. The UK welding industry is a competitive one and we want to help young people get ahead and enhance their skills and knowledge with this competition.”
The teams will have to work together to impress judges including Mick Link from Speedy Services, Head Judge Michael Scarrott from EAL and welding specialist Richard Denholm returning as a judge in his new role as Sales Director for Morris Site Machinery.
Jane Nugent, Marketing Director at Speedy Services, said: “Speedy are once again delighted to being a part of ‘The Weld Off’ and to help promote this unique competition to an even wider audience for 2016. The Weld Off is a fabulous opportunity for young apprentices and students to showcase their talents and creativity, whilst also helping them develop their careers in the welding industry.”
Michael Scarrott from EAL, said: “We are keen to encourage young people to learn skills and gain confidence that will help them be successful in careers in valuable industries such as welding. We would urge students either employed in industry or at college, and employers and tutors, to get a team together and enter Weld Off 2016 ahead of the closing date on 11 March.”
The competition will be judged in two stages. There is a paper-based/online entry for the first round and the competitive live Weld Off final will be held at Speedy’s National Distribution Centre in Centurion Park, Tamworth, on 11 May.
The deadline for entries is 11 March. To download an entry form, please go to www.morrismachinery.co.uk/weld-off
