Jobs and Careers Summer 2023 - 354

MANUFACTURING
M
anufacturing is the
country's oldest industry
and, with an output of
£183 billion a year, the
UK is the ninth largest
manufacturing nation in the world.
Manufacturing is the creation of goods
of every kind - from household appliances
to aircraft, clothes to electronics, and
medicines to cars. It can refer to any
process of production, from handicrafts
to high-tech, but is mostly used to refer
to industrial production.
The UK industry employs more than
2.5 million people, with the average
manufacturing wage being 12% higher
than the whole economy. Companies are
actively investing and recruiting, with the
industry currently accounting for 15%
of total UK business investment - and
there's a sustained labour shortage in the
UK's manufacturing sector, so it's a great
time to join the industry.
This robust sector makes products that
are in constant demand, from trains,
trucks and military vehicles to plastics
and pharmaceuticals. Textiles, petroleum
and machinery are areas that are showing
particularly impressive growth right now,
with chemicals and pharmaceuticals,
food and drink, transport and electronics
also doing well.
Although the stereotype of a job in
manufacturing might be the production
line, there's a wide variety of roles from
the factory floor up. The industry is spread
around the country - the north-west is
the biggest region by output - and there
are hundreds of thousands of jobs in
almost every region, with an average
salary of £35,277. Read on to learn more
about how you can make a career for
yourself in manufacturing.
Quality controller
No manufacturing firm - from plastics to
pharmaceuticals - will succeed if it can't
guarantee the quality of its products, so
the quality control department is vital
in every company, in every sector, of the
industry. Responsibilities can include
anything from analysing products and
" Name a career, and manufacturing
needs that skill set "
Kelly Whalley is Global Employer Brand Lead
at Knauf Insulation, one of the world's largest
manufacturers of insulation products
I didn't specifically choose to go into the manufacturing industry - it was
the role and potential that were irresistible. Manufacturing impacts every
area of our lives and, as soon as you scratch the surface, you realise the
enormous variety and opportunities that exist within the sector.
I've only been at Knauf for a short time so I'm still exploring it with fresh
eyes, but that theme of variety and opportunity is strong here. I'm working with
incredibly talented people and I love learning from them. The Knauf values and
ethics fit with my personal priorities.
There's no specific type of person who suits this sector. Name a career,
and manufacturing needs that skill set. A product needs to be made, tested,
marketed, sold, distributed, supported and further developed. Businesses can be
small or huge, innovative or traditional, manual or high tech, and every variation
in between. At Knauf, we see opportunity in everyone, so start exploring
the sector and see what grabs you!
In my job, I'm given the space to excel at what I'm good at, and the
support to implement it. I love that I can see the impact I'm making,
and I can turn challenges into opportunities.
354 /// JOBS & CAREERS /// jobsandcareersmag.com
processes to dealing with customer
complaints and feedback to staff training.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
Communication and people skills are
crucial - you may have analytical
know-how but if you can't get others to
understand how to improve or maintain
quality, you won't be effective. You can
take a foundation degree, diploma or
degree that includes quality control
options, such as business or production
management, or study for qualifications
from the Chartered Quality Institute.
How much can I earn? A quality control
assistant can start on £16,000, but with
potential to move into supervisory or
management positions, this can quickly
rise to £25,000 or more. In some
industries, such as aerospace, a quality
control manager can make £60,000.
Production manager
A manager is required to oversee all the
elements of the production process, from
scheduling and budgeting to ordering and
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Jobs and Careers Summer 2023

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