Advanced Manufacturing
Staffordshire and advanced manufacturing
- In Staffordshire just over 13% of the workforce is employed in manufacturing. This is significantly higher than the UK average.
- Ceramic materials expertise in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire is unequalled anywhere in the UK. Approaching 8,000 people are employed in the sector, representing over 4% of the Stoke-on-Trent workforce.
- Many local advanced manufacturing businesses offer apprenticeships.
- Demand for labour in engineering and high-tec manufacturing within the sub-region of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will continue to grow to match economic performance leading to a steady demand for new employees.
- JCB, Alstom, Jaguar Land Rover, Perkins Engines, Zytek Automotive and Johnson Controls are just some examples of advanced manufacturing employers in Staffordshire.
The UK picture
In the UK more than eight million people are employed in the engineering and manufacturing industries. This makes the UK the seventh largest manufacturing nation in the world. Talented engineers, technicians and managers are vital to the future success of our engineering and advanced manufacturing sector – and the opportunities are both vast and impressive.
If your son or daughter likes solving problems, working in a team, enjoys drawing and design or just likes making things work, advanced manufacturing could be a career for them.
Advanced manufacturing covers many industries including:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Electrical and electronics
- Energy industries (oil, gas, nuclear)
- Agricultural technologies (food and drink)
- Applied materials (metals, minerals and materials)
- Medical technologies (pharmaceuticals)
Qualifications and routes to get a job in advanced manufacturing
Advanced manufacturing requires highly specialised skills and qualifications in science, technology, engineering and mathematical subjects.
There are various types of qualifications that are valued by employers and would help your child to get into the sector:
Non-graduates usually enter the sector in an Operator (for GCSE level education), Craftsperson (Diploma level) or Engineering Technician (Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher Diploma or Higher NVQ level) role.
Operators make up around one-third of the engineering industry’s labour force so breaking in to and progressing in the industry should not be a problem because practical experience is just as valuable as theory. Apprenticeships are currently the main recruitment route in to the sector.
Your child would usually need a BTEC, HNC/HND or degree in a subject relevant to the job role such as:
- mechanical engineering
- manufacturing or product engineering
- maths
- physics and applied physics
- electrical or electronic engineering
- software engineering
- aeronautical or aerospace engineering
General skills needed to get a job in advanced manufacturing
Employers will look to employ people who are:
- practical
- a good communicator
- well organised
- resourceful
- well motivated
- problem solvers
Specific skills needed to get a job in advanced manufacturing
Employers will look to employ people with specific skills in:
- digital techniques
- computing
- numeracy
- analytical thinking
- machine ergonomics
- interface development
- risk analysis
- understanding design methodologies
Types of jobs in this sector
Follow the links below to see the Careers Services job profile with details of what’s involved, hours, salary, and entry requirements or search at National Careers Service Website.
Further information