Engineering

Engineering is a huge sector. It offers a wide choice of careers at many different levels. Job prospects vary depending on:

• the type of engineering you do
• the level you go in at
• the industry you work in.

Prospects are generally very good and there are a range of job levels available from operative to technician, up to chartered engineer. There is the chance to travel and work abroad, especially for professional engineers. Women are still under-represented in engineering at all levels, with only 7% of the UK engineering workforce being female. As such, lots of organisations offer support and encouragement to female applicants.

Engineers use science and technology to come up with the answers to practical problems. They design, develop, build, fix and put together all types of things. There are all sorts of engineers working in hundreds of different industries. There are many sub-sectors of engineering covering a wide range of disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical and chemical. It could involve designing and producing wind turbines or marine energy technology, working on electronics for satellite or defence systems or developing environmentally friendly waste systems. Engineering UK has forecast that by 2020 engineering companies will need to recruit 1.86 million people with engineering skills, 204,400 of which will be to fill new jobs. The number of engineering companies in Scotland grew in 2012 and at 10.3%, Scotland generates over a tenth of engineering turnover for the UK as a whole. Over 65% of renewables work is engineering based and there is expected to be an increase in jobs in this sector in the coming years. The oil and gas industry employs around 400,000 people in the UK, 45% of which are in Scotland, and the power sector employs around 230,000. A lot of money is being invested in both the offshore wind, and oil and gas industries over the next 10 years. There will be an estimated 5,200 to 9,500 job opportunities each year until 2020. At present there are 3,000 apprenticeships taken on each year in engineering and energy related subjects. Research by Skills Development Scotland has shown that 92% of those who completed their Modern Apprenticeship were in employment within six months. The jobs and courses in this career area are split into 7 sectors:

• General
• Aeronautical
• Chemical and materials
• Electrical and electronic
• Mechanical and manufacturing
• Naval architecture and marine
• Offshore engineering and mining.

For information on civil engineering see the career area 'Construction'. Engineers also need ‘soft skills’ to do their jobs well. This includes skills such as:

• communicating with fellow workers and customers
• planning projects
• organising and supervising a team
• writing reports
• giving presentations.

Some jobs, for example gas service engineer, mean you have to deal with the public. So you must be polite, friendly and a good listener! Why not take a look at Discover Engineering, a not for profit website designed to showcase the best website resources for young engineers, for more information? The website STEM Central has a bank of over 30 case studies of different engineers working in Scotland, which will give you some idea of the range of the industry. If you are intersted in working in the renewable energy sector, Renewable UK is a good source of careers information. gocracker encourages young people to discover the world of Science, Engineering and Technology and go on to a related course or career. They list apprenticeship vacancies with firms such as Scottish Power, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and GlaxoSmith Kline. Apprenticeship recruitment for most large engineering companies takes place betwen January and March. Apply early to avoid disappointment. And Tomorrow's Engineers is another excellent source of information on careers in engineering.

You can work at different levels in engineering. Some jobs are more difficult than others and need more training and experience. There are roughly 5 levels from operative to chartered engineer level, although there is a bit of overlap in most jobs. You can usually progress from one level to another by getting more qualifications and experience. Level 1 – Operative. You do not need qualifications for most operative jobs, but some employers may look for a few subjects at Standard grade or National 4 or 5. You might train to Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) Level 1 or 2. Level 2 – Craft. You normally need subjects at Standard grade or National 4 or 5, usually including English, Maths and a science or technological subject. You will train to SVQ Levels 2 and 3. Level 3 – Technician. You normally need 4 or 5 subjects at Standard grade or National 5 including English, Maths, a science subject or a technological subject. Some employers may also look for one or more Highers. You will normally train to SVQ Level 3, but some companies train technicians to SVQ Level 4. Level 4 - Incorporated engineer. You will need an accredited Bachelors degree in engineering or technology, or a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) in engineering or technology plus appropriate further learning to Bachelors degree level. Level 5 - Chartered engineer. You will need an accredited Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology plus further relevant learning to Masters degree level, or an accredited integrated Master of Engineering (MEng) degree.

Sources

Engineering UK 2014, The State of Engineering

Engineering and Technology Skills demands 2013 Issues and Actions, The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET)

Engineering our Future: Stepping up the Urgency on STEM, Confederation of British Industry, March 2014

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