Manufacturing and Advanced Engineering in Cheshire & Warrington

The Manufacturing and Advanced Engineering Sector remains the cornerstone of the Cheshire and Warrington economy representing almost 25% of our economy by value and twice as productive as the UK as a whole.  The area is home to a significant automotive cluster and 95% of UK car production lies within a 3 hour drive, presenting significant opportunities for the automotive supply chain.

There is diverse base of advanced manufacturing operations in Cheshire and Warrington including those serving aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, nuclear, wastewater and medical.

Today’s manufacturing jobs look a lot different than they did 20 years ago. Now, they’re increasingly high-tech. They blend engineering skills—like industrial design and quality control—with traditional manufacturing skills—like welding or machining.

Engineering combines mathematics and scientific principles to provide solutions to people, businesses, and society. Engineers are high level problem-solvers, looking at ways in which products or issues can be improved. 

Examples of this can be building a bridge, designing and developing a product or building, creating a new way of producing energy or designing and building a car or plane. 

Manufacturing is the specific type of engineering that refers to the creation of products, such as the can of pop you drink from, or the plastic piping used around the world. 

Manufacturing engineering requires the ability to research and to develop tools, processes, machines and equipment; and to plan how to use them to make quality products. 

Locally, Cheshire and Warrington have Bentley and Vauxhall as major motor manufacturers, along many world-class manufacturers such as Airbus, Siemens and AstraZeneca. Ringway Jacobs looks after all of Cheshire West's roads. And there are numerous food manufacturing companies making things like Cheshire cheese, bread and beefburgers. There is even a local company making lubricating oils for space satellites!   

But there's also a good living to be earned from being an artisan craftsman if you are good with your hands: people still buy hand-made suits, shirts and furniture. Often this means being self-employed or working for very small companies.  

Career Opportunities

After serving apprenticeships or entering the workforce as a graduate, engineers can gain chartered status and allow them to progress their careers into project management, other leadership roles, or event owning their own business. 

Entry-levels roles in manufacturing can lead to senior roles through continuous professional development and experience.  

Routes In

There are three main routes into manufacturing and engineering: 

• Direct employment in an entry-level job 
• Apprenticeship route will result in a professional qualification 
• Graduates can enter the workforce after attaining a relevant degree 

Number of new employees needed: 124,000 new engineers nationally