Guyana’s rapid economic expansion, driven by oil and gas, agriculture, construction, mining and infrastructure growth, has created an unprecedented demand for certified welders.
Over the last year, the Government of Guyana’s (GoG) partnership with Nations University’s School of Technology City and Guilds Welding Programme, delivered through GOAL, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Human Services & Social Security, has emerged as one of the country’s most successful workforce-development initiatives.
Nations University developed training partnerships with TGY/GOGSSI as well as the Guyana Welding Academy to help support the training of students. Through these partnerships, Nations University graduated over 75 City and Guilds welding students per month in 2025.
Nations University’s Chief Operating Officer and Director of the School of Technology, Liam O’Toole, explained, “At the request of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, Nations School of Technology became a registered centre for City and Guilds to offer courses that would help Guyanese attain international certification in the construction trades. We are proud to say that in the past year we have delivered over 700 certifications in welding and a further 1,650 in engineering and skilled trades, including electrical installation, plumbing, AC/refrigeration, masonry and carpentry.”
The City & Guilds partnership ensures that Guyana’s welding training meets globally recognized benchmarks. Throughout the programme, trainees consistently praised the hands-on, workshop-based delivery format, the instructor’s competence and professional guidance, industry-aligned assessments, and the strong practical preparation for real workplace conditions.
Based upon a recent tracer study of the graduates, Nations University reports data to show that the programme has generated employment in education, mining and the oil and gas sectors, leading to graduates being promoted and receiving higher incomes and creating industry-ready graduates ready for immediate employment.
With a combined pool of graduates from government-funded agencies, Nations University and the Government of Guyana have now produced over 500 City and Guilds certified welders, rapidly strengthening Guyana’s technical labour force. This represents one of the most significant expansions of a technical workforce in recent years and reduces the country’s reliance on imported tradespeople.
Graduates are already supporting major national projects. Of particular interest, five welders were recently hired by GAIMMS Guyana to work on the Yellowtail Steel Fabrication W-BEAMS Project, demonstrating employer confidence in the training quality delivered through Nations University’s School of Technology in partnership with City & Guilds UK.
The tracer study also highlighted the personal and economic transformation made possible through the programme:
- A former clerk is now earning 20% more as an oil & gas welder
- A young man from Region 1 transitioned from labourer to Welding Instructor
- A 19-year-old graduate secured immediate employment as a Junior Workshop Supervisor at MACORP
- Other testimonials further demonstrate improved confidence, safety practices, technical competence, and career stability.
Some of the highlights of this report are:
- 84.7% were able to get employment within 3 months of completing training
- 17% were promoted since completing the training
- 33% indicated that their earnings have increased
These outcomes reflect a technical training model that is creating real career mobility. It aligns with national development priorities and builds a resilient technical workforce aiming to support major industries and to create tangible improvements in the lives of Guyanese citizens.
Interest in the programme continues to grow, as the programme has been seen to deliver national value that strengthens Guyana’s local content capacity, supports major industrial expansion, and improves the earning potential of citizens across multiple regions of Guyana.
O’Toole stated, “We have another 1,100 people who have signed up for the training, and we are eagerly awaiting news of the continuation of the government scholarship in 2026. We have been deeply touched by the testimonials of those who have graduated from our programme and the deep improvements it has made in their lives. With an extension to the funding we look forward to speaking with a greater number of students who have benefited through the generosity of the Government of Guyana.”
