The UK welding sector is facing one of its most significant challenges in decades.

Recent figures published by Workplace Journal (August 2025) reveal a shortage of over 35,000 skilled UK welding workers; a gap that’s already impacting manufacturers, infrastructure projects, and the wider engineering supply chain.

This is more than just a workforce issue; it’s a challenge that cuts to the very core of the UK’s industrial capability. Welding is the backbone of British manufacturing, quietly underpinning everything from our railways and bridges to hospitals, defence systems, and clean energy facilities. Without enough skilled UK Welding workers, the risk to project delivery, quality, and long-term national growth is very real.

Why is there a UK welding shortage?

The shortage isn’t new for UK welding and it’s growing more critical every year.
A combination of an ageing workforce, a decline in apprenticeships, and a perception gap around trade careers has left the industry struggling to attract new talent. The average age of a UK welder is now over 55, meaning a large proportion of today’s workforce is nearing retirement.

At the same time, fewer young people are entering the industry, partly due to a lack of awareness about the opportunities UK welding provides. It’s a profession that combines creativity, precision, and technical skill yet it’s often overlooked in favour of more “digital” or “academic” career paths.

We need to educate: Modern welding isn’t what it used to be.
It’s now a highly skilled, technology-driven discipline, using advanced machinery, robotics, and coded welding standards that demand both technical knowledge and practical expertise. But without stronger promotion, the next generation may never see welding for what it truly is: a craft and a science that powers our world.

The ripple effect on manufacturing and construction

The shortage of welders has a direct impact on project lead times, production costs, and quality control.
Manufacturers across the country, from small local fabricators to major infrastructure contractors are finding it harder to fill vacancies, leading to delayed projects and higher subcontracting costs. At MPL during the last 6 months alone, we’ve seen an increase in sub-contract welding jobs sent our way – both locally and nationally.

Sectors most affected include:

• Construction and Infrastructure - delayed bridge, rail, and power plant projects.
• Automotive and Aerospace - increased demand for precision welds with fewer hands to deliver them.
• Defence and Energy - critical shortages in highly certified welding roles.

This shortage also limits the industry’s ability to respond to new opportunities, such as the UK’s transition to renewable energy, which requires large-scale fabrication for wind, solar, and hydrogen projects.

How MPL Fabrications is responding

At MPL Fabrications, we’re proud to have a core welding team with over 75 years of combined experience in MIG, TIG, and coded welding.
Their expertise forms the foundation of our success ensuring every weld meets the highest standards of precision, strength, and consistency.

Our welding capabilities support a wide range of industries from healthcare and defence to lift safety kit components and bespoke fabrication projects which all requiring reliability and technical excellence.

MPL’s commitment goes beyond production. We’re dedicated to:

• Maintaining exceptional standards through training and continual assessment.
• Promoting engineering as a rewarding career, especially among young people.
• Collaborating with schools and colleges to highlight the real-world impact of skilled trades.

A call to action for UK Manufacturing

The UK welding shortage isn’t just a challenge for fabricators, it’s a wake-up call for the entire UK manufacturing ecosystem.
Businesses, educators, and policymakers must work together to rebuild the talent pipeline through apprenticeships, funding, and awareness campaigns that make engineering careers both accessible and aspirational.

If we want to keep Britain at the forefront of industrial innovation, we must ensure the next generation of welders is ready to take the torch - or in this case, the welding torch - and carry the craft forward.

Our Commitment to the Future

At MPL Fabrications, we’re proud to play our part in keeping British engineering strong.
Through continued investment in people, technology, and sustainable practices, we aim to lead by example showing that precision welding and fabrication are as vital to the future as they were to the foundations of our past.

Welding may not always make headlines, but without it, the world quite literally falls apart.
And as the UK faces its next chapter of industrial growth, one thing is clear; welders will be right at the heart of it.

 

🔧 MPL Fabrications – Precision. Passion. People.
📍 Based in Coventry | Delivering Nationwide
www.mplfabrications.com