From Volunteering to a Career in Welding: Noah's Journey

Sometimes, finding the right path starts with realising that the path you're on isn't the right one.

For Noah, that meant leaving behind a sports course that hadn't turned out to be what he had hoped for and discovering a completely different direction through practical skills.

In August 2025, Noah joined Forge and Equip as a volunteer.

What followed was a year of commitment, learning and hard work, eventually leading to his NC in Welding and Fabrication and, in September 2026, a new job as a CNC trainee and welder.

Finding a different direction

Noah had started a sports course at college, but became disappointed with the experience and realised that it wasn't the right fit for him.

When he came to Forge and Equip, he was given the opportunity to try something very different: practical, hands-on work in a real workshop environment.

And he got stuck in.

From the beginning, Noah showed a great attitude towards learning. He was willing to have a go, take on new tasks and learn from the people around him.

Perhaps most importantly, he showed commitment.

Noah was travelling around 2 hours each way to get to the workshop. Despite the journey, he consistently turned up and made the most of the opportunity he had been given.

From volunteer to employee

As Noah developed his skills and became more familiar with the workshop, his role with Forge and Equip grew.

He moved from volunteering into part-time employment, giving him the opportunity to gain experience in a working environment while continuing to develop his welding and fabrication skills.

He became involved in a range of workshop activities and commercial projects, gaining experience of the standards, expectations and teamwork involved in real fabrication work.

For us, this is an important part of what Forge and Equip is about.

We don't just want people to learn a skill in isolation. Where possible, we want to give people opportunities to use those skills in a real working environment, take responsibility and see how the things they are learning connect to the world of work.

Taking the next step

Noah continued working towards his NC in Welding and Fabrication, which he successfully achieved in July 2026.

It was a significant milestone — and one that reflected the commitment he had shown throughout his time with us.

But the qualification wasn't the end of the journey.

In September 2026, Noah secured a new role as a CNC trainee and welder, taking the skills and experience he had developed into the next stage of his working life.

We're incredibly proud of him.

One journey, many possibilities

Not everyone who comes to Forge and Equip will follow Noah's path and that's not the point.

Some people come because they want to move towards employment. Others want to gain qualifications. Some are looking for a new hobby, want to try welding for the first time or simply enjoy making things with their hands.

Our role is to create a space where people can learn, develop and discover what they might be capable of.

Noah's journey shows what can happen when someone is given that opportunity and then makes the most of it.

We're delighted to have been part of the journey, and we're excited to see where it takes him next.

If you’d like to hear more about our courses, please get in touch.