Air Products is proud to celebrate the winner of the 2025 WorldSkills UK Welding Finals, held in South Wales from 25 to 28 November. The event highlighted exceptional national talent and technical excellence, with Jack Billingham an apprentice at Rolls-Royce plc winning gold across multiple welding disciplines.
This year’s finals also underscored increasing diversity within the trade, with female welders winning four of the eleven regional contests.
Through its long-standing sponsorship of the UK’s most prestigious welding competition, Air Products has helped position welding as a vital career path and inspired hundreds of apprentices and trainees to develop world-class skills.
The UK welding sector faces a significant skills gap, with almost half of the current workforce expected to retire by 2027. Industry estimates indicate a need for more than 35,000 new welders to meet demand across critical sectors. Competitions such as WorldSkills UK are essential in addressing this challenge by inspiring the next generation to pursue this vital trade.
“Welding is at the heart of UK industry,” said Kevin Sherry, Principal Application Specialist – Metal Fabrication at Air Products and competition judge. “From offshore wind and construction to engineering, aerospace and defence, welding plays a vital role in keeping these sectors moving. We’re proud to have supported the next generation of welders through our sponsorship for over 20 years. This year’s finalists have once again demonstrated the extraordinary talent we have in this country.”
Ben Blackledge, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to all those who participated in the WorldSkills UK national competitions in Welding. We are grateful for the ongoing support of Air Products, which enables us to help trainee welders develop their skills to the highest level. Our finalists represent the future of our economy. They are the new generation of highflyers that will give UK employers a competitive edge. Our competitions, based on global standards, play a vital role in developing the skills that will drive investment, create jobs, and fuel economic growth.”
Beyond sponsorship, Air Products strengthens welding education through partnerships that deliver classroom resources, technical demonstrations, safety training, and equipment. These initiatives, alongside diversity programmes like the WorldSkills UK Diversity & Inclusion Awards, ensure students and apprentices gain practical experience and industry insight.
