Metalwork and Welding

Explore metalwork and welding in plain English, with practical context, common distinctions and questions to ask before work starts.

Start with the entries below. They are part of a growing reference library, not an exhaustive technical specification or a substitute for specialist assessment.

Getting into welding

Welding joins materials using a controlled process suitable for the component and service. Different materials, joint types, positions and industries need different competence. A career route should develop preparation, procedure-following and inspection as well as producing a visually neat bead.

Steel fabrication

Steel fabrication is the process of turning steel sections or plate into components by cutting, drilling, forming and joining. A fabricated item may be structural, decorative or functional.

Last editorial check: 8 November 2026.