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Almost everything you use on a daily basis has been engineered. An exciting and rewarding profession, a range of occupations sit under the engineering trade banner including Light Fabrication Tradesperson.

Blue Dog Engineering Manager, Grant Mills said every day elements and products that people take for granted have been made easier by Engineering. "Engineering is an interesting and satisfying career. Whether in a workshop, construction or mine site, our Engineering apprentices make significant and valuable contributions to everyday products".

Historically known as Sheet Metal Workers, Light Fabrication Tradespeople cut, shape, join and finish metal to make, repair or maintain a variety of metal structured products.

Described by some as origami with metal, Sheet Metal Workers manufacture a variety of products and components using thin sheet metal with hand and power tools, joining it all together by welding, brazing, soldering, riveting or bolting.

Blue Dog Trainer, Brian Mills said Sheet Metal Apprentices need a high-level of skill and accuracy to ensure success in their job. "When working with such thin material there's no room for error. Using specialised tools Sheet Metal apprentices need a finer level of skill to make, repair or maintain structures" he said.

Working onsite and in workshops, Brian said site work is a particularly exciting element of the trade. "Often the apprentice will work onsite helping install air conditioning systems or ducts for a large commercial project such as a shopping centre. It's a great opportunity for them to see the application of work completed in the workshop to installation onsite".

Fourth year Sheet Metal apprentice Matt Stead transferred from a mechanical apprenticeship with Volkswagen to a Light Fabrication apprenticeship with Tony Porter Fabrications and hasn't looked back. "After a friend introduced me to the trade I was really interested. The work I do is really cool; easily the most satisfying part is seeing what you've completed. I love sharing photos of what I've built at work - everyone envies me!"

Working with a range of metals means Matt works on a range of products too. "I work on something different everyday. Our job board is organised chaos - we've always got multiple jobs on the go. I've worked on tool boxes, canopies, fast food speaker boxes and hand rails, through to race cars, trucks and boats. It's always changing, no two jobs are ever the same!"

Hoping to have his own business in the future, Matt is excited to be so close to finishing his apprenticeship but would certainly recommend it to others.

An Engineering trade with Blue Dog Training puts qualified apprentices in one of the most in-demand qualifications. Developing refined, practical skills, Blue Dog Engineering apprentices have the technical competency to interpret, create, modify and weld various engineering applications; from pipelines to bridges, high-rise buildings to plant and mining equipment.

Want to learn more about a Light Fabrication/Sheet Metal Apprenticeship with Blue Dog Training? Give one of our trade-qualified trainers a call on 1300 133 622.