The Welding Institute Annual Members’ Day 2025

Thu, 16 October, 2025

We were pleased to welcome Professional Members to TWI Cambridge on 15 October, 2025, for The Welding Institute Annual Members’ Day 2025.

This flagship event for the Institute provided a wealth of networking opportunities, thought-provoking discussions and saw the official launch of a new Technical Group: TG9 - Training, Qualification and Quality, which is focused on all aspects contributing to achieving quality in welding and joining. This also tied in with the theme for this year’s event, ‘Weld Quality and Skills in Manufacturing.’

The morning included keynote speeches from Keith Birkitt, a Principal Materials Engineer with the UK Health and Safety Executive, who spoke on ‘Practical Consequences of Deficiencies in Welding Skills Quality Management and Technical Understanding,’ and Helen Higgs, the Resource Programme Director for EDF Energy at Hinkley Point C, who presented on ‘The Demand for Skilled Welders and Welding Operators and the Training Challenges.’

There were other presentations from a range of industry experts, including:

• Jake Rambaldini (Rambaldini Welding Services Ltd): The Relationship Between Practical Welding, Process Control and Weld Quality - The Welder's Position’
• Mike Baverstock (Welding Engineering Consultancy Ltd): ‘The Welder Competence Requirements in Industry - The Welding Coordinator's Position’
• Joel Broddle and Paul Robinson (CATCH UK): ‘The Development of Welders to Meet Employer Requirements - The Welder Trainer's Position’
• Steve Jones (University of Sheffield): ‘The Career Progression of Welders - The Welding Professional's Position’

In addition, there was a welcome and opening remarks from Chris Eady of intraresillience Ltd, who also promoted the new Technical Group to attendees, and an address from The Welding Institute / TWI CEO, Caroline Gumble.

Lunch was provided on the day, which also offered opportunities to network and speak with staff from The Welding Institute / TWI. 

Following lunch, there there were a series of workshops designed to offer a chance to contribute ideas, collaborate with peers, and help influence the direction of The Welding Institute. These workshops included:

• Paul Woollin, (TWI Ltd) - Progress across the Institute in 2025: Exploring key achievements from the past year and how they support our Members, welding, joining and allied technology communities, and industry. Plus insights into what's coming for the year 2026 and how to get involved
• Margaret Graham (ITER) and Paul Bailey (Engineering Council) - Developing a Fresh Vision for Professional Registration: A chance to rethink how professional recognition can evolve to meet the needs of modern engineers and technicians
• Steve Jones (University of Sheffield) - Closing the Welding Skills Gap: With the critical shortage of skilled welding professionals, explore education, training, and employer-led initiatives tackling this challenge head-on

The workshops were rounded off with a plenary session overseen by Welding Institute / TWI Chair of Council, Claire Kimpton of the UK Atomic Energy Authority before Steve Jones returned for an awards presentation to round out the day.

TWI Industrial Members are provided with a number of free AWeldI memberships of The Welding Institute – you can find out more about the benefits of Professional Membership of The Welding Institute, here: https://www.twi-global.com/media-and-events/press-releases/2024/industrial-membership-benefits-professional-membership