Four facts that will change the way you think about engineering

By Walsall College
schedule18th Apr 18

Did you know that UK engineering companies produce a £1.17 TRILLION turnover? That’s a quarter of the turnover of all other UK business sectors combined!

(Source: Engineering UK)

FACT #1: Engineering isn't all about blue overalls

You’d be forgiven for thinking that a career in engineering is about donning a pair of blue overalls and working with machinery, in factory assembly or manufacturing. Let’s be honest, as a nation we probably don’t do enough to promote the very broad and exciting range of engineering careers also available. These can include electro-technical engineering, aeronautical engineering, environmental engineering, marine engineering and much more.

Certainly a career in engineering these days can allow you to specialise in mechanical or electrical engineering methods – both of which are in high demand and key to the UK’s economy.

Mechanical engineering includes CAD, CAM. CNC turning or operating, tool making and fabrication. Electrical, electro-technical and electronic engineering is in high demand – with a growing drive for automation and efficiency in all industries. 

FACT #2: There are more than 55,000 unfilled engineering jobs per year, according to Engineering UK

Recent reports indicate there is a shortfall of 55,000 new engineers entering jobs in the sector per year. That means 55,000 jobs that can’t be filled because not enough people are skilled and trained to do them.

If these vacancies continue to go unfilled, this could cost the UK more than £27 billion in lost revenue by 2022. Safe to say, the predicted lack of talented new engineers, engineering apprentices and engineering graduates is a huge problem everywhere in the UK and means that anyone considering engineering as a career path is likely to be in high demand when they successfully complete the necessary qualifications.

Source: Engineering UK http://www.engineeringuk.com/Research/At_a_glance_2015/

FACT #3: It pays to train for a career in engineering

Because of the huge shortage in the number of skilled engineers, salaries for well qualified and experienced engineers can be very high. Did you know that the majority of engineering careers start at a salary of £20k and can go up to a salary of £100k?

Of course, money isn’t everything but we know it helps. What is most important is that you get job satisfaction. Target jobs carried out a recent survey** with engineering graduates and the majority said that their job is as they expected (62%) or even better than they expected (24%). So job satisfaction and good pay = perfect components for a great career.

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Convinced engineering is the path for you? Here’s what to do next …

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