engineering and manufacturing

Engineering & Manufacturing

Engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships give you the opportunity to solve the problems of tomorrow with the latest technological advances in the world. You'll be learning alongside experienced colleagues in anything from aerospace and civil engineering to construction and process manufacturing.

Industry Summary

With Engineering and Manufacturing careers, technologically advanced training and traditional manufacturing skills come as standard. It's an industry where you'll have access to the latest technologies in the industry, giving you the opportunity to solve the problems of tomorrow, today. Whether that's as an apprentice, student, graduate or regular employee!

Engineering and manufacturing are the two areas most often linked to apprenticeships, but the choices available are anything but predictable. And apprenticeships aren't your only option to make a break into the industry! There are unbelievable, exciting, almost limitless career opportunities in this continually growing field. From power and ceramics, to aerospace, motorsport and so much more – you'll touch parts of people's lives every day.

As an engineering apprentice, you'll have over 20 standards of apprenticeships to specialise in, similarly there are over 20, if a manufacturing apprenticeship appeals to you more. Whatever happens, it offers you a promise of future discovery.

You could find yourself solving tomorrow's energy challenges or generating ideas for new products that will find their way into planes, trains, cars or something you use every day! Basically, there's something for everyone – whatever gets you going. With plenty of practical on-the-job training that's engineered to let you take full advantage of the opportunities ahead. This will be true throughout your career, whether you do an apprenticeship, work in the field as a graduate or are an experienced professional of thirty years…

If you see a future in making things, bringing out the best in yourself and making the most of your talents, engineering and manufacturing could be for you!

What options can I take for a career in engineering and manufacturing?

Work Experience

Although there are loads of jobs available in the engineering and manufacturing industry, great opportunities with great employers are very competitive. Work experience in engineering or manufacturing will give you the chance to get your foot in the door, make connections and best of all find out what different jobs are all about and if you'd enjoy it as a career! Some employers also offer those who go on a work placement in engineering and manufacturing guaranteed apprenticeship or graduate job interviews.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships in engineering and manufacturing are a typical route for those entering the industry as it is the ideal combination of experience and qualifications. As an engineering or manufacturing apprentice, you'll be working with an employer with real levels of responsibility learning the skills of the trade through experienced colleagues, which is incredibly important in more hands-on industries like this one. You'll also be paid to study for 20% of your working week where you'll work on qualifications that relate directly to your role and you can apply.

An engineering apprenticeship or manufacturing apprenticeship could be perfectly suited for you if you want to learn the skills of the job and the tricks of the trade from your job and theory from college or university. If you like responsibility you'll also get it, you'll be managing areas and working on real projects and at higher levels your projects could change how your organisation operates!

• Level 2 – Engineering Operative
• Level 2 – Nuclear Operative
• Level 2 – Gas network Team Leader
• Level 2 – Non-Destructive Testing Operator
• Level 2 – Footwear manufacturer
• Level 3 – Engineering Technician
• Level 3 – Engineering fitter
• Level 3 – Food and Drink Advanced Process Operator
• Level 4 – Aircraft maintenance certifying engineer
• Level 4 – High Speed Rail & Infrastructure Technician
• Level 4 – Electrical power Networks Engineer
• Level 7 – Post Graduate Engineer

Degree Apprenticeships

There are even opportunities for you to even do a degree apprenticeship in engineering. This is the best of both academic study at university and the experience you'd get from working with an employer on an apprenticeship. You'll be studying at university for 20% of your time, working towards your degree which you'll be applying to your work all the time, even working on projects that your employer suggests. Your responsibilities will improve over the time you're there and you'll be learning from employers, your likely to even have a mentor who will support you on your work-based projects and at work.

Level 6 – Aerospace engineer (degree)

Currently there aren't degree apprenticeships in manufacturing however they are being developed and you can still work in the industry. For example, there are degree apprenticeships in supply chain.

University

The engineering and manufacturing industries are also really suited to people considering going to university. If you choose to go to university, you'll be spending your time going to lectures learning academic knowledge of the industry and getting involved with hands-on projects. If you choose to go to university, you'll also be able to pick what units or topics you'd like to study and specialise in. For example, if product design is more up your street, you can tailor your degree to that!

During a degree in engineering and manufacturing, you'll spend a lot of time learning academic theory behind the industry which you'll be able to apply to your career when you graduate. Whether you're interested in a more practical role or not, it is recommended that you look at degree courses that offer industrial placements or years in industry, so you get an understanding of what it's like from the inside too. Also, engineering and manufacturing employers love experience…

• General Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Electronic and Electrical Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Electronic and Electronic Computer Engineering Meng (Hons)
• Aerospace Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Manufacturing Engineering BEng (Hons)
• Engineering Design and Manufacture BSc (Hons)

Other routes

Engineering and Manufacturing is an industry where you could go straight into a role from school, college or following a career in another industry. It is also an industry that rewards people that stay within the industry, so you can look forward to promotions and developing your knowledge in different parts of the industry.

Now it’s time to begin your engineering and manufacturing search