BCGA –
Supporting
Education

Industrial and medical gases are essential to the existence and well-being of thousands of people in the UK every day.

The gases industry underpins the vital industrial sectors, including steelmaking, refining, welding, chemical processing and electronics, who without gases, could not produce the vital materials needed.

Not only this, but gases play an essential role in the medical sector, providing applications including respiratory care, pain therapies and anaesthesia.

Download our STEM leaflet
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How you can start a career in the industry

Starting a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is easy.

Subject routes into the sector are

  • Maths
  • Chemistry
  • Engineering (various)
  • Biotech

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Opportunities for college leavers

If you’ve studied, or plan to study any of the subjects listed above, you can consider job opportunities within the industry such as:

  • Health and Safety
  • Engineer (various)
  • Environmental
  • Chemist
  • Sales
  • Marketing
  • Commercial
  • Operations

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Opportunities for STEM university graduates

If you studied, or plan to study any of the subjects mentioned above at university or indeed others but you have an interest in the compressed gases industry, there will be opportunities for you explore graduate positions in the industrial/medical gas sector.


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Opportunities for employers

Are you an employer looking to engage more with students? BCGA works with different charities and organisations involved in STEM to bring join up industry and students of all ages. We’ve listed below a few of the organisations we work with and how to get involved:

Primary Engineer

Since 2005, Primary Engineer have created an engineering curriculum that spans Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Further Education institutions. Its core aims include;

  • the development of children and young people through engagement with engineering
  • the promotion of engineering careers for pupils through inspiring programmes and competitions
  • the development of engineering skills for teachers and practitioners as a sustainable model
  • working to address the gender imbalance in science and engineering
93 Percent Club

The 93% Club is a national social mobility network dedicated to levelling the playing field for students who were educated at state schools.

WISE

WISE is a Community Interest Company which provides Business to Business (B2B) services to get more women into all levels of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) roles. Gender balance in STEM benefits the individual, company performance and the economy.

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SmallPeice

SmallPeice Trust

Becoming an Arkwright Sponsor is a great way to develop the industry talent pipeline and encourage high-achieving engineering students to join your organisation. The most prestigious of its type, the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is a two year programme for 16-18 year-olds that provides highly talented A level students with an insight into the exciting world of engineering.

 

We use a tailored approach to match Sponsors with high calibre young people, passionate about your industry, as they take the first steps towards a career as an Engineer. As a Sponsor you will be helping to develop the industry talent pipeline, inspire the next generation and identify potential future leaders to join your organisation.

 

Contact The Smallpeice Trust to find out more – Caroline.Broadway@SmallpeiceTrust.org.uk  – or visit the Arkwright website www.arkwright.org.uk/support-a-scholarship 

Latest news & events

Keep up to date with relevant articles from the BCGA along with details of associated industry events.

BCGA committee sees Oxy-Hydrogen fuel cutting in action

17/06/2026 News

Latest developments in Oxy-Hydrogen fuel cutting were top of the agenda for one of British Compressed Gases Association’s (BCGA) member groups, which leads safety standards in the sector. BCGA’s Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) 3 held its quarterly meeting at BOC’s Manufacturing Technology Centre in Wolverhampton, where members of the group were given the opportunity to find […]

Save £200 on Lifecycle of Pressure Systems 2026

07/07/2026 News

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) are delighted to be supporting IMechE’s Lifecycle of Pressure Systems 2026 conference on 28-29 October 2026 at One Birdcage Walk, London, a comprehensive “state-of-the-industry” to update for all those involved in the design, installation, management, operation and maintenance of pressure systems and their assets. The conference will also be […]

BCGA launches recruitment for new Chief Executive Officer

27/05/2026 News

BCGA is pleased to announce that the search for its new Chief Executive Officer has begun. The opportunity: The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) is the leading UK trade association representing the interests of 100+ member companies. These companies, in the industrial, food and medical gases industries, include manufacturers and suppliers of liquefied, dissolved and compressed […]

New President sets out vision for BCGA

08/06/2026 News

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has announced the appointment of its new President, Matthias Kuhn, who has set out a vision for the national trade body for his two-year term in the role. Matthias takes up the leadership position within the membership body for the multi-billion-pound industrial and medical gases industry 16 years after […]

BCGA issue revision to Technical Information Sheet 29 (TIS29)

12/05/2026 News

Oxy-fuel gas equipment. Selection and assembly. Revision 3: 2026 A summary of the requirements for selecting and assembling oxy-fuel gas equipment which supports the requirements of BCGA Code of Practice 7. BCGA TIS29- Oxy-fuel gas equipment. Selection and assembly. Revision 3: 2026 can be downloaded free of charge from the publications area of the website. 12 May […]

BCGA issue revision to Code of Practice 7

12/05/2026 News

The safe use of oxy-fuel gas equipment (individual portable or mobile cylinder supply) Revision 10: 2026 Provides the minimum safety standards required for the assembly, examination, inspection, maintenance and use of individual portable or mobile cylinder oxy-fuel gas equipment, each gas being supplied from a cylinder and individually controlled by a cylinder-mounted pressure regulator. BCGA […]

Astronaut Helen Sharman to headline BCGA Conference 2026

05/05/2026 News

The countdown is on for the BCGA Conference on 14th May, and we are looking forward to hearing from our keynote speaker, Helen Sharman. Helen has forged a distinguished career as a chemist and astronaut, famed when she became the first British person to visit space back in 1991. Since then, she has committed her career to sharing […]

BCGA Conference 2026

04/12/2025 Events

BCGA Conference 2027 will be announced later this year.

Trade body concern over illegitimate nitrous oxide imports

24/03/2026 Press Release

4 March 2026 The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has raised concerns over the misuse of large canisters of nitrous oxide, which are being imported illegitimately into the country. According to the national trade body, the nitrous oxide canisters, of approximately 600ml, have no legitimate use in the UK. The BCGA successfully campaigned for a […]

Expert line up announced for BCGA conference

14/01/2026 News

The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) is set to deliver a packed agenda of expert speakers at its annual conference in May. This year’s agenda has been developed to offer a broad perspective on key issues in the sector, with industry leaders sharing insight on a wide-range of subjects. Speakers include Professor Phil Longhurst, Director […]

Expert line up announced for BCGA conference

13/01/2026 Press Release

13 January 2026 The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) is set to deliver a packed agenda of expert speakers at its annual conference in May. This year’s agenda has been developed to offer a broad prospective on key issues in the sector, with industry leaders sharing insight on a wide-range of subjects. Speakers include Professor […]

BCGA Council broadens scope with new members

18/12/2025 Press Release

17 December 2025 BCGA Council broadens scope with new members The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has expanded its Council withthe appointment of five new members.James Crossland, Simon Fisher, Andy Tassell, Rob Thorley and Kelly Vasir all joinas Board Directors, with a remit to oversee the work of the UK membership body forthe industrial and […]