Metal Fabrication Intensive

Dates: Monday 14 – Friday 18 September 2026

*We can offer accommodation on the Sunday evening for people travelling from further afield for an additional £36. Please email accounts@ssw.org.uk if this is required, following booking online.

Time: Teaching starts at 10am and finishes around 4pm. The optional evening programme will start from 5pm.

Cost: £665 (includes tuition, materials, consumables, PPE and accommodation).

Places: 4

Level: Some knowledge or experience of using metal required.

Information on access is at the bottom of this page.

Across 5 days in the workshop this course gives participants the chance to build confidence and skill in metalwork by creating their own small sculptural piece, armature, decorative panel, or functional item. You will have the time to grow and refine your welding and fabrication techniques to drive forward this personal project. With full access to our fabrication workshop, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Each day of the course you will work through different techniques including; hot and cold bending, surface finishing, a range of welding processes and techniques and how these can apply to both large and small scale work.  We will also cover the process of making jigs to create multiples and building armatures to create sculptural structures.

By the end of the week you will have pushed your skills further, increased your confidence and explored new ideas in metal fabrication. You’ll also feel more confident in a workshop environment and handling a wider range of tools and processes, whilst also gaining knowledge of safety and best practice.

A selection of materials for use on this course may include 6–10 mm round bar, hollow section, flat bar, and 1 mm steel sheet. 

Participants will have access to:

• Plasma cutting and angle grinders
• MIG, TIG and MMA welding processes on mild steel
• Different ways of hand forming, bending and manipulating thin gauge steel

Participants will have access to:

Course materials and PPE will be provided and a full induction to the workshop will take place at the beginning of the course.  Additional material will be available for purchase if required.

Previous welding or metal work experience is suggested as the course is designed to support participants to develop skills and expand on their ideas for fabrication, encouraging experimentation and more advanced techniques.