Engineering and manufacturing sector

Overview of the engineering and manufacturing sector in the UK

The UK employs more than eight million people in the engineering and manufacturing industries, making it the seventh largest manufacturing nation in the world

What areas of engineering and manufacturing can I work in?

While areas of engineering include transport and logistics, energy and utilities and construction, the majority of job opportunities occur in the following areas:

• Aerospace - employs more than 96,000 people in more than 3,000 companies who help supply both civil and military air transport.  
• Automotive - has a 730,000 strong UK workforce and thousands more apprentices. In 2011, the UK automotive industry employed 11% of new recruits from universities and higher education institutions.
• Biotechnology - science is at the root of the sector, with biotechnology harnessing cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technology and products.  
• Chemical - the industry is made up of 3,300 companies employing 200,000 people. The three main areas of activity include commodity, speciality and consumer chemicals.  
• Electrical and electronics - has the highest average number of engineering employers per organisation. More than 11,000 companies employ over 250,000 people.  
• Food and drink - is the largest industry in the UK manufacturing sector, employing up to 400,000 workers.  
• Metals, minerals and materials - this sector supports technological advances on a global scale. The UK has been at the forefront of the metals processing industry for hundreds of years.  
• Marine - the industry contains over 5,000 companies employing 90,000 workers in the UK. It manufactures and provides a range of small sectors.  
• Nuclear - not only does the UK nuclear industry provide 18% of the nation's electricity, it also exports to international markets. The industry directly employs 24,000 people and indirectly employs 20,000 more.  
• Oil and gas - supplies the UK with power to heat homes, fuel for transport and raw materials to produce other everyday items. The industry employs 440,000 workers, some offshore and others in technical positions or in commercial areas.  
• Pharmaceutical - is one of the largest sectors for investment in research and development. In the UK it employs 67,000 people.  

For examples of job roles in this sector, see graduate jobs in engineering and manufacturing.

Who are the main graduate employers?

The main companies in the aerospace industry are:

• Airbus;
• BAE Systems;
• Boeing;
• Thales Group.

The top UK employers in the automotive industry include:

• BMW Group;
• Ford;
• Jaguar Land Rover (JLR);
• Nissan;
• Toyota.

Household names in the food and drink manufacturing industry include:

• Cadbury;
• Nestle;
• Heinz.

In oil and gas the main companies consist of:

• BP;
• Schlumberger;
• Shell.

Some examples of big names in the pharmaceutical sector are:

• Beiersdorf UK Ltd;
• GlaxoSmithKline.

What's it like working in the sector?

Graduates entering the engineering and manufacturing sector can expect:

• to work in different environments depending on the sector. Many companies are industrial and have a factory environment, while you may also work in an office or even on an oil rig;
• to earn an average of £24,615 a year working as an engineering professional, six months after graduating. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters survey, predicted salaries for 2011/12 graduates are £26,750 for manufacturing engineers, £25,500 for electrical engineers; £25,000 for mechanical engineers, and £24,500 for civil engineers;
• to work differing hours depending on your role: a nuclear engineer works 35-40 hours a week on a shift basis, occasionally being called out for emergencies, while office hours will be a 9am to 5pm working week. Some roles will require employees to spend time abroad.

What are the key issues in the engineering and manufacturing sector?

It is thought that once the UK moves out of recession the engineering and manufacturing sectors will pick up. The government is backing initiatives to encourage young people to work in these sectors as it expects future growth.

• Engineering - There are signs of an upturn in fortunes in the engineering sector after a tough few years since the recession first hit. In 2010/11, more UK first degree graduates found jobs as engineers six months after leaving university compared to the previous year.  
• Manufacturing - The manufacturing sector has struggled in recent years, with some international companies pulling out of the UK to save money. The problems in the Eurozone have combined with the UK recession and forced some businesses to close. However, some organisations, such as JLR, have found opportunities to take on more employees.

Graduate jobs in engineering and manufacturing

There is an extensive range of jobs in the engineering and manufacturing sector. Find out which profession matches your skills…

What graduate job can I do?

These job profiles are examples of graduate careers in the engineering and manufacturing sector:

• Automotive engineer
• Biomedical engineer
• Chemical engineer
• Contracting civil engineer
• Electronics engineer
• Energy engineer
• Food technologist
• Land-based engineer
• Manufacturing engineer
• Manufacturing systems engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Quality manager
• Structural engineer
• Technical brewer

To find the graduate job roles that best match your skills and interests, log in to what jobs would suit me?

For job vacancies in the engineering and manufacturing sector, search graduate jobs in engineering and manufacturing.

Getting a graduate job in engineering and manufacturing

In order to achieve a graduate job in the industry, you'll need to tick a number of different boxes

Do I need a relevant degree?

A degree in an engineering or technology-related subject is usually necessary to work in this sector.

• Engineering - To gain employment as an engineer you will need a relevant degree. There can be flexibility between disciplines, but to move between areas you may need to complete a conversion course.
• Manufacturing - For product design or manufacturing-related jobs, a relevant degree is required.

However there are areas of this sector that will not require an engineering degree, such as finance and accounting, human resources (HR), management and marketing and communications.

What skills do employers want?

Graduate employers within the engineering and manufacturing sector require candidates with:

• analytical and problem-solving skills;
• awareness of statutory, industry and company health and safety practices applicable to the job role;
  innovation;
• a high standard of numeracy, literacy and computing skills;
• planning and organisation skills.

Where can I get work experience?

Employers in the engineering and manufacturing sector look favourably on those who have experience in the working environment, combined with the theoretical knowledge gained during a degree.

Many university courses in engineering and technology offer a placement year and lecturers will also know of work experience opportunities within the sector.

Some larger companies even offer paid internships to students, with the National Grid being one example.

To find work placements and internships in the engineering and manufacturing sector, search for work experience.

How do I find a graduate job in engineering?

There are a number of large employers who offer graduate schemes in engineering and manufacturing, such as BAE systems, Jaguar Land Rover, BP and Siemens. But there are also small to medium-sized employers that can hold local opportunities for graduates.

Large engineering and manufacturing companies also offer opportunities to work abroad as part of their graduate schemes.

You can search for jobs in specialist press, such as New Scientist or The Career Engineer, or through niche recruitment agencies.

In addition, professional bodies, for example the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology, often advertise vacancies.

To find jobs and graduate schemes in the engineering and manufacturing sector, search graduate jobs in engineering and manufacturing.

Professional development and training in engineering

You may find it easier to climb the career ladder in this sector with the help of extra qualifications or training

Do I need to do postgraduate study?

A postgraduate qualification is not usually essential for entry into an engineering or manufacturing job. However, further studies and professional training can be highly sought after for certain jobs in certain fields, and can help you progress to the next level.

• Engineering - To study to become a chartered engineer you need to have a Masters (MEng) or doctorate (EngD), which is accredited by a licensed professional body such as the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMECH) or Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE). Alternatively, you need appropriate further learning to Masters level, or an accredited integrated MEng degree.
 
• Manufacturing - If you are looking to enter a design or research and development job in manufacturing, a Masters or a PhD is useful and sometimes essential. Many of the more specialised engineering and science roles in the industry require Masters or PhD.

For more information on entry requirements and career development in the engineering and manufacturing sector, see types of jobs.

To find postgraduate engineering and manufacturing courses in the UK, search courses and research.

Should I join a professional body?

In this sector joining a professional body is not necessarily obligatory to gain a job, but it is if you want to be assessed for registration as a chartered engineer (CEng), incorporated engineer (IEng), engineering technician (EngTech) or information and communication technology technician (ICTTech).

Other benefits of membership of a professional body include:

• networking;
• access to professional qualifications;
• latest industry news;
• training events.

To progress in a career in engineering or manufacturing there are other training opportunities available through the professional bodies that will help graduates to move up the ladder and become leaders/managers at more senior levels.

Which professional qualifications are recognised in the engineering sector?

• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)  - a registered professional body with the Engineering Council UK for civil engineering. Membership offers a number of professional development courses that can help you to continue building on your skills.
• Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)  - the professional body for chemical engineering provides numerous training opportunities - both in person and online - focused on a range of specialist topics.
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)  - membership or accreditation with the professional body for mechanical engineering allows access to a range of training courses, covering business and management, as well as technical subjects.
• Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST)  - the only professional body which covers all aspects of food technology in the UK, they offer an accreditation scheme to become a chartered scientist.
• Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)  - This organisation offers a membership option called IET Advantage, which is for those who graduated within five years. It helps them to become registered as IEng or CEng.