C&G Level 1 Award in Introductory Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding

The City & Guilds Level 1 Award in Introductory MIG Welding is a hands-on, practical qualification designed for beginners who want to develop foundational welding skills using the MIG process. This short course introduces learners to essential welding safety, equipment set-up, and core welding techniques widely used across engineering, manufacturing, and fabrication industries.

Working in a fully equipped welding workshop, learners will produce a range of basic weld joints, including butt, lap, and fillet welds, while developing confidence in controlling the MIG welding process. The qualification focuses on practical competence, supported by verbal knowledge checks to ensure understanding of safe working practices, equipment operation, and how to avoid common welding defects.

This course is ideal for hobbyists, complete beginners, or those looking to start a career in welding. It provides a nationally recognised entry point into the welding trades and acts as a strong foundation for progressing onto more advanced welding qualifications or apprenticeships.

Health & Safety in Welding
- Safe working practices, PPE, workshop expectations, and hazard awareness.

Introduction to MIG Welding Equipment
- MIG sets, wire feed systems, gas supply, torches, controls, and machine set-up.

Preparing Materials for Welding
- Cleaning, cutting, dressing edges, and positioning workpieces.

Setting Welding Parameters
- Voltage, wire speed, gas flow, torch angles, and travel speeds.

Producing Basic Welds
- Butt weld (flat and horizontal/vertical positions)
- Lap fillet weld
- Tee fillet weld (flat and vertical)

Welding Technique Development
- Starting and finishing welds, maintaining a stable arc, bead control.

Identifying Welding Defects
- Porosity, lack of fusion, undercut, distortion, and how to prevent them.

Safe Shutdown Procedures
- Powering down equipment and safe storage of tools and materials.

Completing this qualification provides a strong introduction to welding and can lead to entry-level roles across engineering, fabrication, and manufacturing. Typical job opportunities include:

- Trainee Welder (MIG)
- Fabrication/Welding Assistant
- Workshop or Manufacturing Operative
- Metal Fabrication Trainee
- Production Line Welder (with further training)
- Sheet Metal Worker

After completing this course, learners can progress to a range of higher-level welding qualifications to further develop their skills and employability. Typical progression routes include:

- City & Guilds Level 2 Award in MIG Welding
- City & Guilds Level 1 Award in TIG Welding
- City & Guilds Level 1 Award in MMA (Stick) Welding
- Full-Time Level 2 Diploma in Welding/Fabrication
- Welding/Fabrication Apprenticeship

- No formal academic qualifications are required.
- Applicants should have a keen interest in welding, engineering, or practical workshop skills.
- Learners must be able to follow health and safety instructions and work safely in a workshop environment.

Practical Assessment:
-Learners must produce a series of five welded test pieces using the MIG welding process. Each piece is assessed against City & Guilds standards for accuracy, technique, and overall weld quality.

Knowledge Assessment:
Assessment of underpinning knowledge is carried out through oral questioning with the assessor. This checks understanding of safety, equipment set-up, welding terminology, and how to avoid common welding defects.

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06/01/2026

This course runs for 12 weeks on Tuesdays, 5pm - 8pm.