Manufacturing

The UK’s top four manufacturing industries are motor vehicles, food and drink, chemicals and machinery and employs almost 4 million people.

Roles in manufacturing cover a wide range of industries from aerospace and automotive to electronics and pharmaceuticals. You could be manufacturing anything from submarines and aircrafts, to drinks, pharmaceuticals, paints, TVs or building products.

There are great opportunities in engineering, although this is still quite male dominated. Working environments vary considerably from offices to noisy factories and industrial plants, depending on the role.

Job roles 

The manufacturing process requires scientists, engineers and market researchers in the initial research and development stage. 

Design engineers are also needed before the production stage, which requires plant and production managers, HR professionals and engineers. 

Of course, every product needs to be sold and marketed and this is where advertising, marketing and sales executives are needed. The financial side is handled by accountants, administrators and purchasing managers.

The estimated graduate starting salary is from around £14,000 to £23,000. Post-training, salaries typically range from £25,000 to £38,000

Recruiters in this sector:

Avara Foods

Avara Foods is one of the UK’s leading food businesses supplying great tasting chicken, turkey and duck products to some of the biggest supermarkets and restaurants in the country.

Bentley

Bentley is a unique place to work, with its own special culture and people who are all driven by the same ideal

BOSCH

A global leader in technology and services.

Cargill

Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world.

DHL Supply Chain

DHL is the global market leader in the logistics industry and "The Logistics Company for the world".

Dunbia

Dunbia is one of Europe’s leading food companies. Founded in 1976, Dunbia is a family business with down to earth values and the desire to create better food naturally is the driving force behind everything they do.

IMI

IMI plc, the specialist engineering company, designs, manufactures and services highly engineered products that control the precise movement of fluids. Its innovative technologies, built around valves and actuators, enable vital processes to operate safely, cleanly, efficiently and cost effectively.

Inspired Pet Nutrition

Our business, IPN Inspired Pet Nutrition Ltd is a market leading FMCG manufacturer of pet foods. We are best known for our market leading brands, Wagg and Harringtons.

JJS Manufacturing

Are you curious, passionate, adventurous, a pioneer? If so, let your remarkable talents make an impact in the manufacturing world with JJS.

Kraft Heinz

The Kraft Heinz Company is an American food company formed by the merger of Kraft foods and Heinz in 2015.

LIDL

As a large international retailer, opportunities with Lidl are endless.

MHI Vestas

Established in April 2014, we are a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Vestas Wind Systems A/S (Vestas). Our parent companies are two of the global leaders in wind and energy, inspiring and leading us forward.

Stanley Black & Decker

We are the leader in tools and security. We are Stanley tools. We are DEWALT. We are Black & Decker. We are Mac Tools. And we are much more.

The London Taxi Company

The London Taxi Company is the leading global manufacturer and retailer of fully accessible, purpose-built London Taxis.

TK Maxx / HomeSense, part of TJX Europe

You might not have heard of TJX Europe, but you’ve probably heard of our brands – TK Maxx and Homesense.

Vauxhall Motors

General Motors is the largest automotive manufacturing company in the world with a huge global reach operating in over 200 countries.

Videojet

Videojet Technologies, a Danaher company, is the global leader in product identification solutions

William Jackson Food Group

William Jackson Food group supply leading supermarket with brands such as Abel & Cole, Aunt Bessie's and Jackson's Yorkshire's Champion