1st April 2025
Here at South Devon College we are all for creating equal opportunities and breaking down any barriers to success. And apprentice Ebony Mason is the perfect example of this as she forges a strong career in the typically male-dominated environment of welding.
Not only is Ebony the only female on the course, she is the first ever female welding apprentice at South Devon College, paving the way for many others to follow suit!
For those of a certain age, the film ‘Flashdance’ had an iconic scene featuring a female welder, and this moment was not lost on Ebony when she was younger. That moment from Hollywood, in combination with her inspiring welder Grandad, kickstarted Ebony’s interest in the industry.
“I looked into local welding courses, found the ones at South Devon College, enrolled on the Level 1 MIG welding and loved it!” she said.
Her talent and aptitude for welding was quickly spotted by lecturer Andy Shimmin, who advised her to continue on to the 18-month Level 2 Arc Processes course, and helped her to find a work placement.
Ebony is now employed by Reliant Metal in Newton Abbot and has quickly become a valued member of the team, attending College one day a week to continue her studies.
“My biggest worry was that I wasn’t going to find an apprenticeship as I was a female in a very male-dominated industry and I was also older at 28, but it turns out you can do it at any age and at any point in your career. I have fallen in love with welding!”
Ebony’s day at College is split between studying welding theory and completing practical aspects, focusing on several welding processes with a variety of different types of material and positions.
“At work I have been thrown in at the deep end and I’m doing all the welding – so it’s all practical work but hardly any theory. As I have ADHD, I love to know the theory and science behind the physical work, as it helps me to understand the practical side.
“I love Andy’s teaching – he’s amazing! He breaks down the theory and makes it easy to learn. So, I am taking theoretical knowledge from College and applying it in the workplace in my practical work.
“There are three different workshops at work – one for steel used in structural products such as beams for buildings. At the moment we’re constructing a cable car and track for a building on an island!
“The other workshops are for stainless and aluminium, creating products such as showers for prisons and youth centres, pharmaceutical trolleys for the NHS, and decorative air vents. It’s very varied!”
Ebony putting her skills into practice in the workshop
Ebony has shown such a willingness and skill for the industry she is completing some coding qualifications early, to help her employer cope with its workload.
“At our end-point assessment for the apprenticeship, we also do our coding at the same time, which are licences for different welding processes and positions.
“At work, because of the jobs we’re getting in, they needed coded welders immediately, so I’m being put through my coding already, even though I’m not supposed to be doing it until July 2026!
“I feel confident to do it because of the learning received from Andy and the College. I told Andy I was being coded and he’s helping me – he’s tailored my learning to my specific needs.”
Andy Shimmin, Lecturer in Welding at South Devon College, said: “As Ebony’s lecturer, I have witnessed remarkable growth in her welding skills throughout the apprenticeship. She has demonstrated exceptional dedication, consistently improving her precision, technique, and understanding of welding theory. “Her commitment to excellence and her ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical welding scenarios has been truly impressive.”
Achieving success in a male-dominated industry attracts attention and intrigue and Ebony has become an unintentional role model and inspiration for other females with an interest in welding.
“At first I was concerned being a woman in a male-dominated industry, but I didn’t need to worry. All my work colleagues and student peers are very supportive, and my gender isn’t an issue – I’m very privileged as I know it’s not always like that.
“Outside of my workplace I get grilled and quizzed! I promote what I do on social media and I have received messages from other females interested in going into the industry.
“There is also a sharing of knowledge and genuine interest amongst female welders – I am in touch with another female automotive welder in Cornwall who will happily share advice and tips.”
The small downsides of being female in the industry are all of a practical nature and will undoubtedly be a thing of the past in due course.
“The only thing that can make it tricky is that I sometimes struggle with the height of things we are constructing – I sometimes have to sit on a baby’s booster seat when I’m TIG welding!
“And PPE is an area that needs to change – for example welding gloves aren’t made for smaller hands and there are not many small sizes in steel-toe capped boots.”
But these slight hinderances will not be deterring Ebony – she has her sights firmly set on a welding career.
“Eventually I would like to produce sculptures – I am working on a project with my mentor at work creating a huge gargoyle with a 3m wingspan. I also have a dream to work on football stadiums in the future – the engineering and structural drawings of them are fascinating!”
Ebony understands her position as a role model to other females and she would also like to teach a female welding course in the future.
“My advice to any other female considering it would be ‘go for it’. Start with a Level 1 to see if you enjoy it – find it and own it, as you are just as good, if not better, than any other gender.
“And also remember you’re never too old. My son, who is nine, is the proudest person – he told everyone at school what I did, and I now have girls in the playground come up to me to say they want to be welders!”
