Manufacturing : Typical employers

Big players

These generally have well-developed graduate development programmes, providing comprehensive experience and training, and responsibility is often given very early on.

Companies typically recruit large numbers of graduates into sales and marketing, IT, human resources, business and commercial, engineering, research and development (R&D), supply chain, finance and procurement roles.  

Major companies include:

• AkzoNobel - specialty chemicals producer. Recruits graduates annually into a variety of career areas. Also offers internships and summer placements.
• BAE Systems - a defence, security and aerospace company. Recruits graduates into business, engineering and finance. Also offers 12-month industrial placements.
• BP - recruits graduates and student interns into engineering, science and business roles.
• Cadbury - recruits graduates into supply chain, engineering, science and technology, sales and marketing, and finance. Also offers industrial placements. Cadbury became part of Kraft Foods in February 2010.
• ExxonMobil - recruits graduates into ten graduate schemes. Also offers 12-month and 8-week placements starting in July each year, as well as a geoscience scheme for postgraduates.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) - research-based pharmaceutical company. Recruits graduates into a variety of graduate development schemes, and also advertises graduate jobs all year round. Offers undergraduate internships and an MBA development scheme.
• Nestlé - recruits graduates into a variety of schemes, including a Manufacturing & Focused Improvement programme. Also offers industrial placements and summer internships.
• Procter & Gamble (P&G) - world’s largest FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) company. Recruits graduates from various backgrounds for entry level, managerial and non-managerial positions. Also offers short and long-term internships.
• Schlumberger - world’s leading oilfield services provider. Recruits graduates, as well as offering field-based, office-based and research centre internships.
• Siemens - a leading global engineering company. Recruits graduates into engineering, business and IT. Also has undergraduate placement opportunities.
• Thales Group - a major global technology company for the aerospace, defence, and security and transport markets. Recruits graduates into a range of engineering and business functions.

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

SMEs are organisations with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of no more than 50 million Euros. Working for a smaller company can be rewarding because you are more likely to forge a path for yourself within the company.

SMEs are unlikely to use the testing and assessment techniques of larger companies, or follow lengthy recruitment procedures. SMEs are more likely to advertise their vacancies through the local press, university careers service bulletins, local graduate vacancy listings, jobcentres and word of mouth, rather than rely on their reputation and a presence at graduate recruitment fairs.

If you start out in a smaller manufacturing company, your training may be less structured. However, smaller organisations can provide fantastic opportunities to gain experience in a range of manufacturing activities.

Most industries in manufacturing are characterised by hundreds of SMEs. To find contact details, use the Yellow Pages  and Thomson Local . Your university careers service should also have listings of jobs with smaller firms. See also the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) .

Self-employment

Self-employment is possible in this industry but usually only after a sustained period of work experience. Find out more about self-employment.