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We Have Seen Our Largest Intake of Apprentices to Date

We have recently recruited five new apprentices that will add to our successful team of fully qualified, experienced welders and engineers and join our four existing second year apprentices. Since the company was established over 35 years ago, this has been our largest intake of apprentices at one time.

A quality apprenticeship programme will be delivered by QA Weld Tech to the recent appointments and will consist of structured learning, organised around professional tasks and interspersed with appropriate, relevant education. The apprentices will be trained within multiple disciplines and receive constant mentoring, support and guidance from current employees as they take their first steps towards a career in the welding and engineering industry.

We would like to welcome to the team:

  • Kieran Reynard & Will Helm – Apprentice Welders
  • Jordan Walton – Apprentice CNC Machinist
  • Harrison Olive – Apprentice in Supply Chain Management
  • Lewis Hunter – Apprentice Quality Technician

Hiring apprentices helps us to enhance our highly qualified workforce and overcome the challenges faced within the industry of an ageing workforce, through engaging with young people we can bridge the skills gap and continue to move forward, focusing on key areas as we look to expand further into the nuclear and rail markets. We feel privileged that we can train the next generation and watch them continue to develop their skills and knowledge whilst growing through the business like previous apprentices that have stayed with the company for many years.

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Richard Knowles to Present at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers

QA Weld Tech’s Technical Director, Richard Knowles, will be presenting at Pressure Testing 2017 held at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers in London on 5th December alongside other industry professionals. The seminar will present the safety risks posed by pressure testing of newly manufactured and installed pipework and pressure vessels, exploring examples of best practice, developing solutions and providing guidance on improved safety strategies.

With safety being QA Weld Tech’s number one priority and all of our occupational health and safety management systems in compliance with OHSAS 18001, Richard will discuss in detail how we safely pressure test finished components as well as explain the development of our new pressure test cells that are designed to meet the most stringent HSE guidelines.

It is an excellent opportunity to gain expert knowledge from professionals in their respective field and gauge an insight into the challenges that are faced both in factory and on site, learning how to understand and enhance testing processes and determining the best course of action going forward whilst remaining compliant with regulations.

Click here to book onto the seminar or for more information, contact rlknowles@qaweldtech.com

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Dealmaking in Oil and Gas Due to See Biggest Growth Since 2014 Crash

A record breaking turnaround is on the horizon for dealmaking within the oil and gas sector, as the industry anticipates to see its first annual growth since the crash of crude oil prices in 2014. According to Mergermarket, so far this year, mergers and acquisitions have risen by 40% to over £202bn compared with £144bn in the first nine months of 2016.

With a downturn in projects and exploration over the past few years resulting in companies starting to worry about where reserves are going to stem from, but with deals such as Total’s AP Moller-Maersk oil and gas unit’s £5.8bn takeover and ExxonMobil’s US shale resources deal worth up to £5bn on the Permian Basin region of Texas and New Mexico, it suggests that the industry is beginning to refocus on growth.

After seeing a stabalisation in oil prices over the past year, ranging from £30 to £45 per barrel, buyers are confident that prices will not drop, especially as low as £18 per barrel as it previously did. This hasn’t stopped some of the biggest names in the industry offloading unwanted assets, hoping to make up for money lost during the market downturn, such as Royal Dutch Shell whom have agreed over £11bn in disposals this year.

As a leading provider of integrated welding and engineering services, we are delighted to see signs of recovery within the extremely challenging oil and gas sector, hoping companies can now get back on track after the decline and that this upturn sees more announcements and developments of future worldwide projects.

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The Third Annual Prestigious Inconel Cup Results

QA Weld Tech employees enjoyed a spot of golf for some team bonding on Friday 15th September partaking in the third annual prestigious Inconel Cup held at Dinsdale Spa. Operations Director David Pickles took home the trophy this year, stealing the title from reigning champion Charlie Tighe, QA Weld Tech’s Managing Director, much to his disappointment.

All involved put up a fight but in the end, David shone through with 40 points playing off 28. Not far behind we saw a good knock from Pete Blakely with 37 points. For Peter Martin, Paul Langley and Charlie Tighe it didn’t seem to be their day unfortunately, maybe next year gentlemen!

Played annually, the event is open to any employee that is up for a friendly round. This year it saw a dozen staff members take on the challenge and we want to thank all involved for making it such an enjoyable day, until next year.

QAadmin

BP Announces the Start of Two More Major Upstream Projects For 2017

BP recently confirmed that another two projects have entered production for 2017, making that five out of the seven major upstream projects expected to come online this year.

Juniper, located in Trinidad and Australian based Persephone follow the start-ups earlier this year of the first phase of the West Nile Delta development in Egypt as well as the Trinidad Onshore Compression project and the redevelopment in the UK of Quad 204. And this comes on the back of the first phase of the Khazzan gas development in Oman and the Zohr gas field offshore in Egypt, both anticipated to start production before the end of this year.

Located about 140 km North West of Karratha, just off the coast of Western Australia, the Persephone project that is operated by Woodside Energy comprises two subsea wells. The project at peak is expected to produce around 48 MMscfd of gas net with BP holding 16.67% interest in Persephone.

As for the Juniper project, although it is BP’s fourteenth offshore platform in Trinidad, it will be BP’s first subsea field development in the country and the biggest new project to start up there in many years. Aiming to boost gas production capacity by around 590 MMscfd standard cubic feet a day for Trinidad and Tobago.

Having worked on projects alongside BP in the past, we are delighted to see that they are in for yet another successful year and these projects are going to deliver a key part in the company’s ambitious plans to produce 800,000 barrels of oil each day – from a range of projects – by the end of this decade.