Facts & Figures
Did you know that the UK is the 11th strongest manufacturing nation in the world and Engineering and manufacturing are one of the UK's broadest sectors? Almost 5.7 million people work in engineering in the UK, accounting for just over 19% of all UK employment.
While some engineering-related industries are in decline others are experiencing skills shortages including Aerospace, Civil, Environmental, Defence, AgriTech and MedTech
What could I do in engineering?
Essex is home to some of the world's best engineering: BAE Systems, Ford Motor Company, CNH, Leonardo, Gardner Aerospace, Raytheon and Teledyne e2v (check out any of these companies - we bet you'll be impressed!). Essex is also home to the first commercial radio broadcast, which is what started the way we listen to music today; there's no better place for engineering in Essex!
There are a lot of different areas in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector, but we have broken it down into some of the unique and exciting career opportunities you could find yourself doing in Essex.
Engineers create solutions to problems using a bit of science and a lot of design! That means it doesn't matter Aerospace, automotive and technological engineering are all very important to Essex, but you could get into so many other different areas too. Ready for a quick list?
- Toys - you might think you're too old to play with them, but you're never too old to design and produce them!
- Defence - military equipment is a part of it, but you could also work on satellites, security systems for companies or even safety gear for commercial use.
- Food and Drink - Okay, you will get to taste your products, but it's not just about eating lots of cake. You'll be checking nutritional value and use techniques like thermal processing and dehydration.
- Medical & Pharmaceuticals- Engineers in this area create medicines, prosthetics and support equipment to help keep us healthy.
- Energy - Can you imagine life without electricity? No wifi, no TV, no phones, no lights!, NO WIFI! The energy sector helps generate systems that give us electricity - from using the power of the wind, sea or sun, to manufacturing it entirely from machines.
Did you know ....?
Both Basildon and Braintree are the most popular places to work for engineering - they both have more than 7,000 people working there! That's 2,000 more people than anywhere else in Essex!
What's out there for me?
Tomorrow's Engineers is a great place to learn more about the world of engineering, but check out these roles first to give you some inspiration about the things you can do in this industry.
Aerospace Engineer: Sounds cool right? Well, it is! Participate in flight-test programmes, use your knowledge of technology to create aircraft equipment and even design aircraft mechanics on computer systems. Good knowledge of science will help you to create the safest and most efficient aircraft.
Automotive Engineer: Design, develop and deliver! The world of vehicles is waiting for its next automotive engineer to build prototypes and test performance and safety features. They also get to inspect and test drive the latest vehicles which are built and designed to meet specific requirements, like using more technology to make eco-friendly or self-driving cars!
Chemical Engineer: Just like magic, these people use science and chemicals to change the build of things to make real products - like changing oils into plastics. Their work begins in a lab with which has to be completely clean, and then they develop formulas to be scaled up to sometimes millions of products.
Electrical Engineer: Phones, nanotechnology, robotics or sound - the choice is yours! All of these areas have electronics engineers to develop new ideas to solve problems using technology. They design and test electronic products or software sometimes using a computer, and sometimes using their hands to put the equipment together. Your phone didn't build itself, you know!
Mechanical Engineer: We're not just talking about engines here - we mean everything mechanical, from mechanical hearts to production machines or medical robots. Most people and companies rely on mechanics in some way and mechanical engineers are the people who build and repair these products.
Diversity in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering
Women make up only 16.5% of engineers. That’s less than one in every 5!
Companies recognise that they need more women engineers to create brilliant inventions and they’re doing everything they can to encourage them.
Similarly, degree courses and apprenticeships are now very welcoming places for girls, so there's nothing to stop you!
For International Women in Engineering Day this year, the Lower Thames Crossing visited Lansdowne Primary Academy in Tilbury to showcase some of the brightest and bravest women in engineering history, the inventors and innovators.They played a Who Wants to Be a Millionaire themed game with year five pupils to showcase some of the life changing inventions created by women in history, from the ice cream maker to the first solar powered house and automated dishwasher!
Top advertised job roles
Design Engineer
Chemical Operative
Metal Worker
Process Engineer
Planning Technician
Links to useful websites for a career in engineering
Engineering for Students
Apprenticeships in Engineering and Manufacturing
'Engineering' Job Vacancies
'Manufacturing' Job Vacancies
