The Ultimate Welding Showdown ignites SMART Manufacturing Week

Last Thursday and Friday (5–6 June 2025), Enginuity teamed up with WorldSkills UK and Seabery to bring the Ultimate Welding Showdown to SMART Manufacturing Week at the NEC in Birmingham. 

The event invited attendees to step into the virtual welding arena, compete for leaderboard spots, win prizes, and engage directly with industry-leading welding professionals. Using Seabery’s virtual welding simulators, attendees could test their welding abilities in a realistic environment using a virtual reality headset.  

The experience aimed to spotlight the untapped potential of welding careers, which are well-paid, critical to infrastructure, and brimming with future opportunity. 

Fiona McGarry, Sector Engagement Manager at Enginuity, commented: “What we’re doing here is getting young people to think about welding careers, and to inspire the next generation of talent. It’s a unique and exciting experience to help them understand the importance of welding.” 

Lily Singleton, an engineering welding fabrication apprentice at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), was also at the stand: “Showcasing welding is so important, especially as there is a shortage. It’s important that welding is seen as a valuable career and that it is visible as an option for everyone.” 

As the official WorldSkills UK 2025 Welding Competition sponsor, Enginuity is backing young talent, fuelling excellence, and inspiring young people through national and international competitions.  

Feedback on the show floor was overwhelmingly positive. One student attendee commented: “Before today, I hadn’t considered a career in welding, and to be honest the experience was quite good fun. It was quite a surreal experience, but definitely enjoyable.” 

The Ultimate Welding Showdown underscores Enginuity’s mission to champion the next generation of skilled welders. By placing real skill challenges front and centre at an immersive advanced manufacturing event, Enginuity is helping to close the UK’s welding skills gap and inspiring more people to consider welding as a future-proof career. 

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