Career Zone
Career ZoneCareer Research and PlanningExploreEmployment SectorsEngineering and ManufacturingManufacturing and Processing

Manufacturing and Processing

Manufacturing and processing incorporate a broad category of industry that involves the production of goods through mechanical, physical, or chemical processes. This sector covers everything from raw material transformation to finished product creation and includes the tools, machines, labour, and techniques (processes) used throughout. It is one of the foundational sectors of any industrial economy and includes a wide range of activities — from designing and fabricating products to assembling and packaging them. In the UK, the manufacturing and processing industry makes a considerable economic impact, contributing approximately £217 billion to GDP and employing around 2.6 million people, with average wages 10% higher than the national average (source - https://makeuk.org/about/backing-manufacturing).  

If you’re like to find out more about what a job in the manufacturing and processing sector may look like, you can view example job profiles from Prospects here:  

Skills employers look for

Every employer is different so there are no definitive lists here.  These are meant as a guide and should be considered in addition to fully exploring role requirements outlined in person specification, job description and advert for each role you consider applying for. 

In the manufacturing and processing sector, a combination of technical and soft skills are essential for success. Below is an indication of the type of skills employers may seek from successful candidates. 

  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Assembly
  • Attention to detail
  • Coding
  • Communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Data Analysis
  • Digital Fluency
  • Equipment operation and maintenance
  • Fabrication
  • Machining
  • Problem solving
  • Programming
  • Quality Control and Assurance
  • Robotics
  • Team work
  • Understanding of manufacturing processes
  • Welding
  • Working to deadlines.

To develop these skills, remember Career Zone offers a range of Personal and Professional Development sessions which are available to book on Handshake and run at least once per term.  Please also read through the sections about Gaining Experience and Further Study and Professional Development to discover how you can develop your skills through experience and by gaining further knowledge or qualifications.   

Gaining Experience

All experiences ranging from volunteering, active involvement in clubs/societies can help you to develop relevant and transferable skills. To gain experience in manufacturing and processing, you can pursue hands-on opportunities which help to develop theoretical knowledge and relevant skills. This includes internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level positions in manufacturing companies, as well as taking online courses, joining makerspaces, or volunteering. Outlined below are some ideas of where to start to develop your experience.  

  • The engineering department at Exeter has its own maker space; offering a unique area where students can work collaboratively and test and build prototypes using specialised equipment.
  • Summer internships or work experience:  these will increase your chances of gaining employment upon graduation – please refer to the section below to find the best websites to source such opportunities.
  • All engineering degree courses at Exeter offer a year in industry placement option, which is fantastic for ‘road testing’ specific roles you’re interested in, whilst networking and developing contacts for future job opportunities. This type of experience will allow you to evidence your skills development and develop commercial awareness, which will help improve your graduate prospects.
  • Student membership with a relevant professional body such as the IET or IMechE will help you keep up to date with news and developments in the industry. This will show your interest in, and enthusiasm for, the manufacturing sector at interviews. See the professional bodies section below for further details and more examples.
  • Joining the Engineering Society (ExENG) is a great way to demonstrate your interest in the sector and have the opportunity to network with like-minded students as well as gain employer insights through events and bespoke opportunities.
  • The Forage – gain insight into various engineering companies by engaging with a virtual experience programme from Forage, opportunities include:

Speculative applications and where to find opportunities 

Undertaking relevant work experience will also allow you to develop new skills and gain a valuable insight into the sector. As jobs and opportunities are not always advertised, it can be useful to develop your networking skills and apply speculatively. You may find it useful to read our researching employers page before making a speculative application.  

Finding part time work 

Doing part time work alongside your studies is a great way to gain experience whilst earning money at the same time. A part time role doesn’t always have to be relevant to the sector you’re planning on getting into, as any role you do will have transferrable skills (such as communication, team work, working to deadlines etc) which all employers will find valuable. The below list offers some ideas of where to start with your search.  

Finding advertised graduate roles, placements and internships

Competition can be strong, especially for entry-level positions. Use the following resources to find advertised vacancies and research employers.  

For general information about finding graduate opportunities, please visit our Graduate Jobs page. 

Graduate schemes, internships and placements 

  • Handshake - internships vacancies
  • Handshake - placement vacancies
  • Gradcracker – the UK’s only STEM-specific careers website, where you can seek internships, placements, graduate roles and gain relevant employer insights. Use the bespoke filtering tool to narrow down your search criteria – e.g. “manufacturing engineering”
  • Bright Network - a list of manufacturing graduate jobs and internships
  • Rate My Placement – more than just placements, here you can find internships and graduate roles too
  • Matchtech.com - Engineering and technical job agency with a section for new graduates
  • Careerjet - A job search engine for UK engineering jobs
  • Catfoss Recruitment Ltd - Specialist engineering recruitment agency. UK-wide reach, covering a variety of engineering, manufacturing, production, construction and energy generation industries
  • Jonathan Lee Recruitment - Specialist recruitment company covering engineering, technical, manufacturing, construction vacancies
  • Jobsite - Engineering Jobs - Engineering jobs from top employers and recruitment agencies
  • Justengineers - Specialist website for engineering industries and related technical areas
  • NES Global Talent - Engineering and technical recruitment specialists
  • Rise Technical Recruitment - Specialist recruiter of engineers and technical professionals UK-wide. All types of engineering covered including civil, design, development, electronics, manufacturing, process, software and structural
  • Prospects.ac.uk lists a series of organisations offering engineering related work experience opportunities
  • Indeed – worldwide jobs platform, can search for part-time or full-time jobs in any sector. Large companies as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) advertise vacancies on this platform.  

Placements  

In addition to the above pages, if you are interested in finding out more about work placements, you can access the Work Placements SharePoint via Single Sign-On. This resource covers all aspects of credit-bearing work experiences as part of your degree, including what a placement is, how to apply for them, and bespoke information for international students or those interested in working abroad.  

Further sources of support 

If you are an international student, visit our international webpages for help finding opportunities both in the UK and globally. 

To find opportunities outside the UK use GoinGlobal.

Further study and professional development

Here, research is needed to discover relevant professional bodies and accreditation which relate to the role in question.  Keep them relevant to the industry and remember impartiality. You might find this website useful to explore: Directory of the Professions | Information resource for all professional organisations in the UK  

Some individuals decide to undertake further study to develop their skills and knowledge of the sector and related occupations. Not all roles or employers will require this, so it is important to research entry requirements and employer preferences before committing to additional training or qualifications. Use the sites below to research your further study options.  

Information and links from professional bodies 

If you have studied a related degree, check if your course is accredited by one of the professional bodies. Being a member of a professional body is voluntary; however, it can be valuable for developing networks, continuing your professional development, and generally keeping up to date with what's happening in the sector.  Outlined below is a selection of professional bodies that operate in the manufacturing sector, broken down into key areas.  

General Manufacturing  

Engineering and Design 

Quality and Process Improvement 

Supply chain and Logistics  

Training and skills bodies