Tue, 10 September, 2019
Having started as an apprentice welder in Cammell Laird Shipbuilding yard, Eur Ing Roy Rowlands CEng MWeldI is now a Site Welding Engineer for Essar Oil and Gas UK Limited, and responsible for all welding and welding related activities, including managing the entire company’s global (both onsite and off) welding business.
Throughout his career Roy has sought to improve his knowledge and skills through qualifications, while relying on his certifications to demonstrate his competency. Early in his career Roy was offered a position in the inspection department at Shell Oil UK, and it was at this point that he realised that certification, as a welding inspector, was an integral requirement of the role. For Roy, the only logical choice was to gain a CSWIP Welding Inspector certificate as, according to him, this “was, and still is”, the best certification available. Having initially achieved his CSWIP Welding Inspector, Roy then continued on to gain his CSWIP Senior Welding Inspector, a certification that he continues to hold, and has done, for almost 15 years.
Another notable achievement for Roy, in a career spanning over 30 years, was the completion of the European Federation for Welding Joining and Cutting (EWF) and the International Institute of Welding (IIW) Welding Diplomas. Widely accepted by employers as one of the highest qualities of vocational education available in welding engineering, achieving an EWF/IIW Welding Diploma confirms an individual’s knowledge and expertise. However, as Roy knew, knowledge is only one aspect of competence, so to showcase his currency, recency and continuing professional development, and thus the full spectrum of competency, he applied and acquired status as a Certified European/International Welding Engineer.
Achievements such as Roy’s do not come without a lot of hard work, sacrifice and support from those around you. Roy’s employers, seeing the value in having certified and competent personnel, were happy to fund and provide Roy with the time needed to participate in his training and gain his certifications. They knew that having a CSWIP Senior Welding Inspector and Certified EWE/IWE, is a benefit to their business and these certifications, and underpinning knowledge and skills, demonstrated that Roy possessed the competence required to deliver his role effectively.
Having undertaken most of his training and examinations at TWI Ltd in Cambridge UK, Roy found great support from the staff in TWI Training and Examination Services in his learning, and also from the TWI Certification Ltd throughout the certification process. So much so that he has gone on to become an industry stakeholder representative on the CSWIP Welding Specialist and Practitioner Management Committee. In this role, Roy is able to give back to the industry that has been instrumental in his development, and his involvement assures the reliability, credibility and integrity of CSWIP certification.
For those thinking to gain their first certification, Roy’s advice is to ‘commit, embrace and enjoy it’. Although challenging, the reward is incredible. Completion provides you with an immense feeling of satisfaction and makes you a true professional in your field of expertise. According to Roy, certifications received from TWI Certification Ltd, are held in high regard globally; with industry understanding that personnel who hold CSWIP certificates are committed to learning, developing and maintaining their competence.
According to Roy, gaining his CSWIP certifications has spring-boarded his career by 100% and he would not be in the position he is today without it.