The telephone, the ATM, and the hypodermic syringe. All three engineering triumphs made The Radio Times’ 50 greatest British inventions list. All very different creations, but all equally invaluable to society – and very much indicative of the UK’s thriving engineering past, to which of course many modern developments can be indebted.
Engineering is a broad church. It is the collective term given to a multitude of disciplines that see technology, scientific principles, as well as economical and practical knowledge, applied to a particular machine or project. From engineering sports cars to engineering cosmetics, all these seemingly disparate and distanced fields are very much connected – and that is in their scientific endeavour for creation and manufacturing; for constantly seeking innovation, and new (and better) ways to do things.
Whilst we may readily connect engineering with feats of modern technology, it is far from a modern practice. In fact, the invention of the wheel itself is a prime example of rudimentary engineering, as is the construction of the Egyptian pyramids and the very first steam engine. All three mark fundamental inventions that have transformed our lives, made them easier, and changed the way we do things forever.
So for those seeking a career in engineering, or interested in this sector, it is important to honour its sheer diversity. A passion for science, an intuitive mind, and a desire to make people’s daily lives better, all make for solid engineering necessities. Its variety of course also means that you’re likely to be able to search out a specialism of engineering that really strikes a chord with your personal interests.
Thinking outside the box
When many people think of engineering, their minds may be immediately cast to images of steel works and science labs, and whilst these settings play an important part in the sector, engineering touches a variety of industries and everyday objects that you may not have even considered…
Film and TV From Special Effects Engineers who create mechanical props to Broadcast Engineers, who ensure that TV and film output is high quality, there are lots of engineering roles to be had in the TV and film industry.
Fashion Typically, you wouldn’t envisage the world of fashion and field of science would ever cross paths, but there are jobs in fashion engineering up for grabs. One such position is that of Material Engineer, where you are responsible for developments of new fabrics – from discovering more breathable sportswear, to developing more durable knitwear.
Medicine Engineering in medicine gives those who work in the field the opportunity to transform people’s lives. You could find yourself engineering prosthetics, designing artificial limbs for amputees (just like the prostheses seen in London 2012) and really helping people live their lives to the fullest.
Cosmetics Making make-up is a science – and that’s where Cosmetic Engineers come in. They create cosmetic products – from foundation to moisturiser – and use their expertise to make our beauty regimes better – and more age-defying, of course.
Music When you go to see your favourite band play, a team of Engineers will have worked behind the scenes. These Engineers are known as Live Sound Engineers, and are responsible for ensuring the audience can hear the act as clearly as possible, by putting their technical knowledge to use. Sound Engineers – or Audio Engineers – work across the music industry; including in recording studios, making sure recordings are as high-quality as possible.
Lighting Since Edison developed the first successful lightbulb all the way back in 1879, lighting has become so much more than something we use to see: Lighting Engineers are constantly discovering new inventive ways to create dramatic lighting for catwalks and nightclubs – as well as devising the latest eco-friendly lighting methods.
Engineering change
There is no denying that the job market is tough, with applicants sometimes outstripping vacancies by 50 to one. So what better knowledge than that engineering is an industry in high demand of new employees? Alongside other STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields, engineering is in dire need of highly skilled employees – for the most part graduates – to help meet its growth projections going forward. In fact, according to inventor Sir James Dyson – creator of the Dyson vacuum cleaner – we’re set to have a deficit of 60,000 engineering graduates in 2013. Sir Dyson told the Radio Times magazine: “The government must do more to attract the brightest and best into engineering and science so that we can compete internationally. Twenty-six per cent of engineering graduates do not go into engineering or technical professions. More worrying is that 85% of all engineering and science postgraduates in our universities come from outside the UK.”
The demand for engineering graduates then is very much a necessity for Britain’s economy. Without a consistently growing pool of candidates graduating from university each year, the UK will struggle to position itself competitively against other countries. By 2020, the industry will need 87,000 potential employees with degree-level qualifications each year according to a recent study by EngineeringUK (www.engineeringuk.com). This stands at almost double the current number of engineering graduates coming through the system.
Young people need to know more about the career opportunities on offer in engineering, and its related disciplines, as Keith Lewis, Managing Director of Matchtech – one of the UK’s top recruiters in the engineering space – explains: “The UK is the oil and gas capital of Europe and its aerospace sector is one of the largest in the world. Renewables is a fast emerging sector and in need of engineers at all levels. The jobs are there and the industry is thriving – we just have to sell it to the next generation.”
Earning potential
Salaries in engineering tend to be very competitive. For instance, the median graduate starting salary with AGR-affiliated ‘engineering and industrial’ companies was £25,000, according to The AGR (Association of Graduate Recruiters)’s Summer Review, published in July 2012. For some organisations – typically in the oil and gas sector – graduate starting salaries can hit the £30,000 mark. Whereas, of course, if you gain employment with a small- to medium-sized employer, then salaries may begin at around £18,000, reaching up to £25,000.
Naturally, salaries in engineering increase with experience, and gaining chartered status is typically met with increased industry recognition and respective salary enhancement: according to The Engineering Council’s Survey of Registered Engineers 2010 (published in 2011), the median annual total earnings in 2010 for a Chartered Engineer (including bonuses, overtime pay etc) was £55,000; the mean was £67,714.
Words: Jessie Bland
Image: Shutterstock
[This article was originally printed in Jobs & Careers with Hilary Devey magazine in May 2013]
