Q&A with Welding Inspection Lecturer, James Bell

Hi James, can you start by letting us know a bit about your role at TWI?

I currently provide consultancy/lectureship support to TWI training. This entails the delivery of CSWIP 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2 courses as well as essentials of welded design. I also work with the TWI team to create bespoke courses for the companies, which cover custom requirements.

What is your career background and why did you choose to become a lecturer?

I started my career as a welding apprentice back in 2003 and, in 2008, I became a lecturer for TWI training, teaching and welding inspection. Leaving TWI in 2010, I went back to the “coal face” to work as a welding engineer for TechnipFMC. It was a great experience that involved running and supporting welding, welding inspection/NDE and welding engineering teams across the world, but mainly in the UK, Angola and Houston. This was an amazing time and when I decided to leave TechnipFMC, I held the post of lead welding engineers and technical authority for welding and NDE.

Even after leaving TWI, I never lost my love to teach and share my experience and knowledge with anyone who wants to listen, so when I decided to build Carbon Arc Training and Consultancy Limited; I immediately jumped at the chance to reengage with the weld inspection team and get back to it.

Teaching allows me to not only share my knowledge but also to meet and learn from everyone else who is a candidate in my courses, whether that be for welding inspection or belonging to the cultural aspect.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that teaching allows me to hear the sound of my own voice, a lot!

What led you to teach at TWI and how is your experience here going so far?

Throughout my career, TWI has been the pinnacle of the welding and joining world. I feel proud when I tell people that I am involved with the team at the TWI.

Can you tell us what courses have you been teaching at TWI?

I teach CSWIP 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2 welding inspection courses as well as the essentials of welded joint design, and ad hoc training needs from companies.

What new things do you think your students can learn while training and teaching at TWI with you?

In all the topics that I teach, my method is to try and get the students engaged with the theory within a wider context. It is great to understand why something happens, but I want my students to apply that knowledge practically. I believe that being hands-on with the things that you learn in lectures and applying them within different situations, for example, like ISO 9001, social and economic considerations, can enable you to make better and more informed decisions.