Manufacturing & Engineering
Manufacturing can range from high-tech production to handmade crafts, turning raw materials or chemicals into finished products.
It is not just about producing things in large quantities but also quality and responding to customer needs with production of any type requiring research, testing, development of products, engineering and maintenance.
Careers in this sector range from manual labour, operational jobs to highly skilled and managerial positions.
In the South East Midlands area, there are some world leading manufacturers of food, drink, vehicles and components. In Northamptonshire, there are a hub of businesses producing some of the highest quality footwear in the UK.
Most things we use or consume are manufactured, see some examples of roles and earning potential in manufacturing here.
A local engineering company talks about their business
Manufacturing Occupations
The manufacturing sector links with other important areas:
High Performance Technology – this includes automation, robotics, machine building, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.
Logistics – the movement and distribution of materials and products efficiently to ensure they are in the right place at the right time.
Myth busting
“You just stand on a production line, it’s boring.”
- Over 80% of the occupations within manufacturing are skilled or highly skilled.
“We no longer have a manufacturing industry in the UK.”
- manufacturing in the UK is strong with the UK currently the world's ninth largest industrial nation. Manufacturing makes up 10% of GVA (the value generated in the UK through production of goods and services) and 45% of UK exports, and directly employs 2.7 million people.
“It’s a job for the boys.”
- wrong! There are no barriers to women working in manufacturing or anywhere for that matter. Have a look at some examples here.
The manufacturing sector is growing, with a high demand for people with the right skills, qualifications, training and attitudes.
The number of manufacturing businesses based in Central Bedfordshire increased by 60 from 2014 to 2018. There were 80 more micro businesses (less than 9 employees) in Central Bedfordshire in 2018 than there were in 2014.
Over 96% of businesses are small or micro in size.
Business Size (Employees) - Proportion
In 2017, 93,000 people were employed in the manufacturing sector in the South East Midlands area and this number increased by over 7,000 from 2014 to 2018.
Hidden within these numbers is a trend that employers are needing more higher skilled people with the introduction of the next generation of automation and the need to increase productivity.
From 2012 to 2017, higher skilled Occupations increased by 17,100 whilst lower skilled reduced by 5,700.
High Performance Technologies
HPT companies adopt and utilise revolutionary technologies and offer diverse careers with the benefits of variety and the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.
High Performance Technology in the South East Midlands comprises:
Automotive - Designing, developing, testing and building of vehicles and components.
Aerospace - Includes the design and testing of aviation systems and supervising the manufacture of aircraft, developing cutting edge defence technology and enabling space exploration. This sector also includes aircraft maintenance.
Motorsport – The UK’s focal point for development and construction of racing cars and teams including some in Formula 1. This includes performance components and engines.
Automation – Defined as the application of technology to monitor and control processes, minimising human intervention, this element includes businesses working with robotics, mechatronics (combining and integrating electrical and mechanical systems), electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic systems. The sector works within many areas from manufacturing to surgical.
Energy - Developing new ways to generate renewable and sustainable energy, including biofuels, hydro, wind and solar power. Creating and designing energy efficient devices to reduce demand for power.
Next Generation Transport - The area is a hub for the development and testing of intelligent mobility for the future including driverless vehicles and alternative energy sources.
Be inspired to make a difference, this is engineering:
As the global economy evolves and Britain prepares for the future, the sector will play an ever more vital role in driving our economy. Predictions are for an increasing demand for highly skilled jobs with a “STEM” (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills set.
Examples of manufacturing businesses based in the South East Midlands:
Throughout the area there are Enterprise Zones and Technology Hubs with clusters of manufacturing businesses such as Colworth Park, Luton Airport, Northampton Waterside, Silverstone, Central Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire and many more.
Find out more about what career opportunities and earning potential the Manufacturing and Advanced Technology sectors can provide at Real Jobs and Prospects.
What skills do I need?
Qualifications on their own will not be sufficient to secure a job. Employers also look for:
Core competencies - communication, confidence, initiative, planning and organisational, problem solving, resilience, teamwork and basic IT literacy (spreadsheets, word processing)
Basic skills - maths and English
Key employability skills - those specific to a job, technical/practical skills and customer service
Experience - gain some work experience whilst in education, this may include volunteering
Have a look at Life Skills and Industrial Cadets to prepare you for making the first step into a career.
Pathways
There are many pathways into a career in the High Performance Technology sector including the traditional academic routes.
How do I get there?
Local further and higher education providers and courses:
Further Education
Apprenticeships - Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study. Find out more here. To search for and become an apprentice, start here.
Traineeship - Traineeships are designed help young people who want to get an apprenticeship or job but don’t yet have appropriate skills or experience. More information can be found here.
Higher Education
University of Bedfordshire
University of Northampton
The Open University
Useful Websites and Social Media
Tomorrow’s Engineers: Use the online tools to find careers and develop skills
This is Engineering: An introduction to the sector and the opportunities it offers
Prospects – Engineering and Manufacturing: Information on jobs, work experience and pathways
Youth Employment: Careers and pathways into engineering