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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

Click on 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.

Acoustics consultant

Forklift engineering technician

Patent attorney

Aerospace engineer

Foundry moulder

Pattern cutter

Aerospace engineering technician

Foundry process operator

Pattern grader

Agricultural engineer 

French polisher

Physicist

Agricultural engineering technician

Garment technologist

Plumber

Auto electrician

Gas network engineer

Port operative

Automotive engineer

Gas service technician

Printing administrator

Blacksmith

Glass engraver

Product designer

Bottler

Glassmaker

Production manager (manufacturing)

Brewer (Technical)

Heating and ventilation engineer

Production worker (manufacturing)

Broadcast engineer

Heat treatment operator

Production manager (manufacturing)

Building control officer

Industrial Electrician

Quantity surveyor

Building services engineer

Land surveyor

Quarry engineer

Cabinet (furniture) maker

Leakage operative

Quarry operative

Cad technician

Leather craftworker

Rail engineering technician

Chemical engineer

Leather technologist

Rail track maintenance worker

Chemical engineering technician

Lift engineer

Recycled metals worker

Chemical plant process operator

Light industry assembler

Refrigeration and air conditioning engineer

Civil engineer

Machine printer

Reprographic assistant

Civil engineering technician

Manufacturing production worker

Sattelite engineer

Clerk of works

Manufacturing systems engineer

Satellite systems technician

Clinical engineer

Marine craftsperson

Security systems installer

Cnc machinist 

Marine engineer

Sewing machinist

Construction labourer

Marine engineering technician

Sheet metal worker

Construction plant mechanic

Materials engineer

Signmaker

Design engineer

Materials technician

Steel erector

Domestic appliance service engineer

Measurement and control engineer

Steel fixer

Dressmaker

Measurement and control technician

Structural engineer

Electrical engineer

Meat process worker

Sound engineer

Electrical engineering technician

Mechanical engineer

Technical brewer

Electricity distribution worker

Mechanical engineering technician

 

Technical surveyor

Electricity generation worker

Merchant navy engineering officer

Technical textiles designer

Electronics engineer

Model maker

Telecoms technician

Electronics engineering technician

Motorsport engineer

 

Textile dyeing technician

Energy engineer

Motor vehicle body repairer

Textile machinery technician

Engineering construction craftworker

Motor vehicle technician

Textile operative

Engineering construction technician

Musical instrument maker-repairer

Textiles production manager

Engineering craft machinist

Naval architect

Textile technologist

Engineering maintenance fitter

Non-destructive testing (ndt) technician

Thermal insulation engineer

Engineering operative

Nuclear engineer

Toolmaker

Ergonomist

Offshore drilling worker

Watch or clock repairer

Estimator

Offshore roustabout

Welder

Fitness Instructor

Packaging technologist

Wood machinist

Food packaging operative

Packer

 

Food factory worker

Paint sprayer

 

Food scientist

Paper manufacturing operative

 

Footwear manufacturing operative

Paper technologist

 

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