The Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Industry

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The structure and size of this industry is changing; modern manufacturing is also now much more high-tech.

It is still a key industry and vital to the Scottish economy.

There has been a significant drop in the number of jobs in manufacturing in the last 20 years or so. This has been due to job losses in shipbuilding, car and truck manufacture, textiles and the steel industry.
However, it is still a major employer in Scotland; with around 10% of all Scottish jobs.
The types of jobs available in the sector are changing; with more higher level jobs in scientific and technical development and research.
Life sciences and food and drink are two of Scotland�s key industries.
Some industries are concentrated in particular parts of the country; for example oil and gas in the North East and textiles in the Borders

Areas included

There is often some debate about what is meant by "manufacturing".

Traditionally, manufacturing has been seen as making a product for sale; today it involves both the "creating" as well as the "making" of a product. This includes key services such as research and development and design.

Some of the key manufacturing industries in Scotland include:

Aerospace
Biosciences
Building Products
Chemical Industry
Clothing and Footwear
Electronics and Engineering
Food and Drink
Furniture
Glass
Mining and Quarrying
Nuclear
Oil and Gas
Paper and Print
Petroleum
Pharmaceuticals
Plastics and polymers
Shipbuilding
Textiles

There are jobs at all levels.

Employment is still mainly in lower-skilled jobs; such as plant and machine operators.
However, the profile is changing and there is a demand for new entrants to have higher levels of skill.

For a full list of jobs in the Science, Engineering and Manufacturing see below.

What�s it like working in the Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Industry?

This industry will appeal most to those with an interest in science and a technical aptitude
Most jobs are full time.
More men than women work in these industries. Textiles has the largest number of female employees - 43%.
The average age of a worker in these industries is higher than the Scottish average of 36.
Job prospects for school leavers are best in the Chemical/Petroleum, Engineering and Food and Drink sectors. Nearly a third of employers in these sectors have recruited a school leaver in the last two to three years.
Modern Apprenticeships are available in biotechnology (Life sciences), chemicals manufacturing and petroleum industries, engineering, food and drink manufacture, pharmacy technicians.

Future Trends

Although more jobs are predicted to be lost in manufacturing during the next ten years, there will still be a reasonable number of opportunities for new employees as a result of replacement demand.
Food and Drink, in particular will have 14,000 job openings.
The Scottish Shipbuilding Industry is expected to need another 1000 people to work on the two new aircraft carriers being built on the Clyde and Rosyth

Find out more about where the jobs are in your area.

Useful Information

There are five Sector Skills Councils for the Science, Engineering and Manufacturing industries.

Skillfast-UK - Apparel, Footwear and Textiles. Their Just the Job website has Job Profiles on the different jobs in the sector.
Can U Cut It? In Fashion is their specialist Fashion website and the Future Textiles website contains information on technical textile careers.
COGENT - Chemicals, Nuclear, Oil and gas, Petroleum and Polymers. The Careers website has a detailed section with job profiles, case studies and information on courses and apprenticeships. The Oil and Gas 4U website highlights jobs in oil and gas.
Improve (Food and Drink) - Food and Drink manufacture. The ImproveSkills careers website has a virtual careers adviser, Dunkan, offering advice and guidance. The Virtual Work Experience website has detailed advice and guidance on careers in the Food and Drink industry
Proskills - Process and manufacturing industries � building products, coatings, extractives, furniture, glass, paper and printing. Their Prospect 4 U website has a range of information on each of the above industries.
SEMTA - Science and engineering. The Plan Your Career section of the SEMTA website has some information on careers in science, engineering and manufacturing but more detailed information can be found on these sites.
SCENTA - the Engineering Technology Board careers website.
ENGINUITY - engineering and technology careers website for young people.
FUTUREMORPH - information on a whole range of careers which are possible from studying science, technology, engineering and maths.
ABPI CAREERS - information on careers in the pharmaceutical industry.
The Future is Ship-Shape - information on job opportunities in the Shipbuilding Industry

For more information on Life Sciences visit Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences

Occupations

Abattoir Worker
Acoustics Physicist
Aeronautical Engineer
Agricultural Engineer
Agricultural Engineering Technician
Agricultural Research Scientist
Agricultural/Garden Service Engineer
Aircraft Maintenance Engineer
Analytical Chemist
Animal Technician
Assembler - Light Industry
Astronomer
Audiologist
Auto-electrician
Automobile Engineer
Automobile Engineering Technician
Baker
Biochemical Engineer
Biochemist
Biologist
Biology Laboratory Technician
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Scientist
Biotechnologist
Botanist
Bottling Operative
Brewery Worker
Broadcasting Engineer
Building Services Engineer
Building Services Engineering Technician
Business Equipment Service Engineer
Butcher - Retail
Butcher - Wholesale
Cabinet Maker
Car Mechanic
Cardiological Technician
Cartographer
Cartographic Draughtsperson
Ceramic Pottery Maker
Ceramics Designer
Ceramics Technologist
Chemical Engineer
Chemical Plant Process Operative
Chemistry Laboratory Technician
Civil Engineer
Civil/Structural Engineering Technician
Cleaner - Industrial
Clerk
Clinical Research Associate
Cloth/Garment Examiner
Clothing Alteration Worker
Clothing Machine Engineer
Clothing Technologist/Manager
Colour Technologist
Community Pharmacist
Computer Assembly Technician
Control Engineer
Design Engineer
Designer
Diver
Domestic Appliance Service Engineer
Dressmaker
Dry Cleaning Assistant
Dry Cleaning/Laundry Manager
Dyehouse Operative
Dyeing Technician (Textiles)
Ecologist
Electrician
Electronics/Electrical Assembler
Electronics/Electrical Draughtsperson
Electronics/Electrical Engineer
Electronics/Electrical Engineering Technician
Engineer
Engineering Craft Machinist
Engineering Machine Operator
Ergonomist
Fabric Cutter
Fashion Designer
Food Scientist/Technologist
Food Technician
Footwear Designer
Forensic Scientist
Foundry Worker
French Polisher
Fuel and Energy Engineer
Furniture Designer
Gas Engineer
General Assistant - Factory
Geochemist
Geologist
Geologist - Engineering
Geologist - Minerals/Mining
Geophysicist
Glass Designer
Glass Technologist
Glassmaker
Heavy Vehicle Mechanic/Technician
Horticultural Scientist
Hospital Pharmacist
Industrial Chemist
Industrial Pharmacist
Information Scientist
Laboratory Technician
Landscape Scientist
Leather Technologist
Leather Worker
Locksmith
Machine Printer
Maintenance Fitter
Manufacturing Systems Engineer
Marine Biologist
Maritime Engineer
Maritime Engineering Technician
Materials Scientist/Technologist
Materials Technician
Mechanic/Technician
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineering Draughtsperson
Mechanical Engineering Technician
Medical Laboratory Assistant
Medical Physicist
Metallurgist
Meteorologist
Microbiologist
Minerals/Mining Engineer
Minerals/Mining Surveyor
Model Maker
Naval Architect
Non Destructive Testing Specialist
Nuclear Engineer
Oceanographer
Offshore Engineer
Oil Driller
Organisation and Methods Officer
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Packaging Designer
Packaging Technologist
Packer - Heavy Goods
Packer - Light Goods
Paper Technologist
Patternmaker
Perfusionist
Petrol Station Attendant
Pharmacologist
Photographic Technician
Photographic Technologist
Physicist
Physics Laboratory Technician
Picture Framer
Picture Researcher
Plastics Processing Machine Operator
Plastics Processing Machine Setter
Polymer Technician
Polymer Technologist
Presser - Clothes
Print Finisher
Process Development Scientist
Product Designer
Production Engineering Technician
Production Manager
Production Planner
Proofreader
Publisher's Representative
Quality Assurance Inspector
Quarry Manager
Quarry Worker
Scientist
Screen Printer
Sewing Machinist
Sheet Metal Worker/Plater
Soil Scientist
Sound Recording Engineer
Systems Engineer
Tailor
Technical Author
Technical Brewer
Technical Dyer
Television Aerial Installation Engineer
Television Service Engineer
Textile Designer
Textile Operative
Textile Technician
Textile Technologist
Theatre Lighting Technician
Theatre Sound Technician
Toolmaker
Toxicologist
Transport Designer
Typesetter
Upholsterer
Vehicle Body Repairer
Vehicle Patrol Mechanic
Watch and Clock Repairer
Welder
Wigmaker
Zoological Scientist