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Professional Q+A: Hugh McPhillips

Thu, 07 December, 2023

With 2023 marking the one-hundredth anniversary of The Welding Institute, we have been hearing from Professional Members to find out about their careers and how membership of The Institute has helped them in their professional lives.

This week we heard from Hugh McPhillips IEng MWeldI AWS, who, as well as being the Managing Director and owner of Genetic Education Training Services Ltd, is the Educational Editor on the Institute’s own Welding and Joining Matters Journal.

Hugh tells us all about his various roles, including working with the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE), as a T-Level Ambassador for City and Guilds, and as a Member of the Employers Information Board (EIB), who are working with The Royal Academy of Engineering. In addition, Hugh works as a Technical Advisor for a new Virtual Reality Welding Programme alongside my own Welder Approvals Programme.

He told us how an interest in metalwork, woodwork and technical drawing at school led to him taking a five-year apprenticeship with Kodak Ltd that allowed him to enter into the world of engineering, as well as offering an insight into his proudest career achievements and biggest challenges.

Of course, Hugh also spoke on how he came to join The Welding Institute and how his membership has helped his career, while also talking about the benefits of professional registration and the various volunteering roles he has taken up with The Institute.

Finishing by revealing his engineering aspirations and why he would recommend for others to become Members of The Welding Institute, Hugh signed off by providing some career advice for anyone looking to follow in his footsteps.

You can read Hugh’s interview in full on The Welding Institute website, here.

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