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Manufacturing is a quickly growing industry within Greater Manchester. Manufacturing is the process of processing raw materials or parts into finished products and goods through many different methodologies, including machinery, human labour, chemical processing and the use of specialist tools. Manufacturing covers a wide range of different essential services, and no two jobs in Manufacturing are the same.
Here are some of the typical job opportunities within Manufacturing and Engineering, and how you can make your first steps within the sectors.
Agricultural Engineers are a land-based engineer- they work with agricultural, horticultural and forestry machinery and equipment. An Agricultural Engineer can expect to work with fixing, building and servicing essential equipment, and occasionally work evenings and weekends.
A Bottler or bottling operative is an entry-level role in manufacturing, and they work by filling, packing and operating bottling machinery in drink, food and bottling factories. Bottlers can occasionally work evenings and weekends.
Food Scientists (or Food Technologists) develop new food and drink products, working out the most efficient way for them to be made in massive numbers, and making sure they’re safe to consume. All the most prestigious food and drink factories have Food Scientists on staff.
Packers (also known as order packager or packaging worker) are another entry-level role in Manufacturing. Packers work primarily in warehouses and factories, and work on swiftly putting products into containers, boxes and crates ready for delivery.
The roles above are a very small example of what is available- to find out more, you can see the full list of roles by clicking here.
There are a wide range of Manufacturing and Engineering qualifications and accreditations available to the residents of Greater Manchester. Read on to learn more about what options are open to you.
Working in manufacturing will require you to at least be good at working with your hands- a large part of most manufacturing jobs will be the manipulation of tools and machinery to make essential components or ingredients, or packing products into a box. For a lot of roles, specific knowledge around engineering and manufacturing will be necessary.
Skills you can expect to need and use are:
An apprenticeship allows you to “learn while you earn” and can work best for people wanting to try a new career or who feel they are practical learners. A common misconception about apprenticeships is that they are mainly for school leavers- apprenticeships are for people of all ages and are a great way to restart your career, change your career, or progress in your current career.
There are a wide range of adult courses available across Greater Manchester. Many of these courses are fully funded, which means there is no cost to you, or your employer if you are currently employed. These courses have a range of levels, meaning you can boost your skill set, or go for a full qualification in an area that interests you.
If you would like to study for a university-level degree but don’t have the traditional qualifications, Access to Higher Education courses could help you to achieve your goal. There are a variety of resources available to you to help you achieve.
Considering university, or a degree-level course? Higher education is the route you’d be going down- whether you’d be looking to study full-time, or if a more flexible approach would work for you, there are plenty of options available. If you’re looking to increase your skill set, there are a wide variety of options open to you- to learn more about how you can achieve in Greater Manchester.
Whether you are looking to develop in your current role, or looking to take the next steps in your career there is a variety of training and pathways you can consider.
Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses of up to 16 weeks, giving people the opportunity to build up sector-specific skills and fast-track to a guaranteed interview with a local employer.
Developed by the Government as part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, Skills Bootcamps are being delivered in partnership with employers, providers and local authorities, to help people gain skills for life, help support skills demands in their local area, and ultimately – to help people get a better job.
There are a wide range of adult courses available across Greater Manchester. Many of these
courses are fully funded, which means there is no cost to you, or your employer if you are
currently employed. These courses have a range of levels, meaning you can boost your skill set,
or go for a full qualification in an area that interests you.
Manufacturing is a fast growing and expansive industry in Greater Manchester, with plenty of room for progression and knowledge to gain. Learning on the job is one way to go, so considering an apprenticeship might be for you:
Learn more about apprenticeships here.
There are also many courses available to help people start careers in Manufacturing and Engineering- with so many technical skills to learn, this sector is as broad as you'd like it to be.
Find local courses to you with our course searching tool.
Getting started
Enhancing your skills
Managing others
Want to work in Manufacturing or Engineering, but the traditional avenues aren’t for you? There are also a wide range of roles that utilise different skill sets to support you into the industry.
There are many exciting options in the accounting profession as you can work in a variety of industries. Accounting pays well, offers prospects for advancement, and allows you to assist organisations to thrive into the next decade and beyond.
Business administration is a fast-paced job with opportunities to advance and work in a range of sectors and businesses. It’s also a professional route with many transferable skills that may lead to lots of options if you decide to move into another business sector later in life.
HR professionals’ day-to-day responsibilities are to ensure employee wellbeing and happiness. A well-trained and organised HR department is at the heart of any establishment that hires many employees and is essential for maintaining a motivated and productive workforce.
As technology advances, so too do the possibilities for more effective marketing. There’s a variety of professional options to select from, whether you want to get into management, analytics, product design, or brand management to name but a few. With this role, your skills become transferable, allowing you more flexible career options.
As an IT professional, you will develop the skills to support internal and external customers, helping them to be productive by problem-solving and troubleshooting non-routine issues.
Manufacturing is a quickly expanding industry in Greater Manchester, and there are plenty of opportunities for you to find in this sector. If this is the sector for you, you can really build a lasting career.
Looking to improve your skills? Search for local courses here.
Looking to find Manufacturing vacancies? Search for local jobs here.
For more information about gaining these qualifications and get your career started in the sector, visit the National Careers Service website at: nationalcareers.service.gov.uk or call 0800 100 900
