Industry Profile - Engineering

Which industry can rightly claim to have the greatest influence over how we lead our lives - Media, Politics, perhaps Brewing? In fact none of these, the Engineering industry is the cornerstone of the UK economy and is vital to wealth creation.

We rely on the work of engineers for our electricity, water, our homes, television and of course the internet.

If you ever look at a machine, for example a refrigerator, have you wanted to know how it works, rather than just admiring it because it does work? If you look at a bridge or a building and think about the structure, or have thought about (and examined) the inner workings of your car - Engineering might be the profession for you.

What is Engineering?

Engineering is the art of applying scientific, mathematical and physical principles, experience, judgment, and common sense to construct (or engineer) things that benefit people.

Engineers design everything from bridges to heart valves, jet fighters to pollution containment systems. Engineering is the process of producing a technical product or system to meet a specific need.

Engineering work is organised by traditional academic fields of study. The largest of these are chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical and computer engineering. There are also more specialised engineering fields, including aerospace, ocean, nuclear, biological, and environmental engineering.

If you are interested in the latest technical developments, you might consider a career as a research engineer. If you have lots of ideas and creativity, design engineering may be for you. Analytical engineers are methodical people working with figures and physical laws. If you like conducting laboratory experiments, look into becoming a development engineer. Sales engineering could be a good choice if you are charismatic, an excellent communicator and enjoy working with people.