Engineering and manufacturing » Employment sector information » 16+ courses - Making the right decision » Learning

Although manufacturing/engineering remains significant in the East of England there has been a gradual decline over the last few decades along with a similar trend in the rest of the UK. The recession will only continue to speed this up.

22.8% of the workforce is employed in this sector in South Cambridgeshire. People are employed in aerospace engineering, chemical manufacture and electrical and electronic engineering. Food processing, pulp and paper products, fabricated metal products and mineral manufacture employ over 20.6% of the Fenland workforce.

Mechanical engineering, turbine technology, plastic and metal working, electrical engineering and electronics are important to the Huntingdonshire area. These industries employ 17.3% of the local workforce. Engineering is also an important industry in Peterborough.

Employment levels in food processing and drink manufacturing have decreased over the last few years. However this remains an important industry in Fenland.

Apprenticeships can be a good route into a skilled trade. They can offer a more vocational route into work and gaining qualifications.

Is this you?

Good at communicating ideas and theories
Always pay attention to detail
Interested in craft, design and technology

What 16 year olds did in 2008

In 2008 a total of 504 year 11 school leavers from local schools started full-time employment or work-based training. Of this number, 45 went into engineering and 12 went into manufacturing. Nearly 9% of all year 11 local school leavers went into engineering and less than 3% went into manufacturing.