Staffordshire has been responsible for half of net national jobs growth in manufacturing since 2010. We have strengths and future employment growth is expected in areas such automotive, aerospace, advanced materials, med-tech, agri-tech, energy, and other technology-intensive industries.
Facts& Figures
Engineering and manufacturing is one of the UK’s broadest sectors with specialist branches in a number of areas such as automotive and medical technologies.
Manufacturing is the process of adding value to raw materials by turning them into products, electrical goods, vehicles, aircraft, food, beverages, medical supplies, pharmaceuticals etc.
Engineers working in the manufacturing industry are responsible for the safe and efficient planning, management and maintenance of production methods and processes. Typical areas of work include research, design, development, production, and quality assurance. Engineers in manufacturing can also apply their skills in commercial roles such as marketing, supply chain, operations management, logistics and sales.
Manufacturing jobs are increasingly high-tech
Today’s manufacturing jobs look a lot different than they did 20 years ago. There has been a shift from traditional manufacturing such as manual shop-floor production to more digital based practices through the adoption of new technologies such as automation, AI and machine learning.
There is an increasing demand for new and emerging occupations to maximise the effectiveness of new digital technologies, such as:
- Chief Digital Officers who advocate new technologies and envision how companies can implement new ideas.
- Digital Manufacturing Engineers who design new systems and processes that use advanced manufacturing technologies like 3D printing.
- Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality System Specialists who find manufacturing applications for these tools to support early product development, including design, engineering and analysis.
- Worker Experience Designers - who help to ensure that existing workers and new talent have the skills to use new technologies such as AI and machine learning.
- Digital Factory Automation Engineers - who help transition from traditional production to automated production to improve productivity and quality.
Staffordshire's major companies such as JCB and JLR, new Advanced Materials and Incubation and Accelerator Centre, and Innovation Demonstrator programmes will make a significant contribution to the future of manufacturing in the UK.
Local Manufacturing Engineering Jobs
Local Manufacturing & Engineering Apprenticeships
Major employers in Staffordshire
Local Manufacturing Engineering Courses
To support growth in more advanced manufacturing and engineering Staffordshire must continually work to develop the local skills base and ensure residents have access to gain the skills which are in demand from Industry 4.0 businesses and smart factories.
Staffordshire has a wide range of employability and skills programmes such as the University Deals and Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Hub which will be central to ensuring skills supply meets business demand.
Top hard skills in demand:
Machinery
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Auditing
Field Service Management
Automation
AutoCAD
Hydraulics
Top common skills in demand:
Communications
Management
Customer Service
Problem Solving
Operations
Innovation
Planning
Leadership
Detail Orientated
Sales
