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Working in engineering

Working in engineering means making a real difference in the world. You're helping to make lives better, easier, healthier, safer.

Working in engineering in the UK, you become a part of an awesome community of professional engineers.

With your creativity, imagination and knowledge of maths and science, you'll be tackling real-world problems and finding the best solution.

Working in engineering means making a real difference in the world. You're helping to make lives better, easier, healthier, safer. Without engineering there'd be no internet, smart phones or computers; no power, clean water or medicine; no cars, planes, bikes or trains.

As the biggest private sector employer in Gloucestershire Renishaw wants to inspire local girls and boys, young men and women. We want to help them to realise the tremendous importance of engineering and the many rewards a career in engineering provides.

Who knows, one day they – or maybe you - might be working as an engineer at Renishaw.

Engineering uses knowledge of science (particularly physics) and mathematics, to find new solutions to everyday problems.

Engineering improves our lives


Engineering is all around us, all of the time. It's in your smart phone, the internet, your car and the roads it drives on – it's everywhere. It plays a vital role in literally everything our lives depend on. It's involved in our buildings, food, water, energy, transport, communication, medicines – everything!
It uses our knowledge of the sciences (particularly physics) and mathematics, to find new solutions to everyday problems. It creates better ways of doing things and continually helps to improve our lives. It makes things easier, faster, safer, smaller, lighter, more consistent and affordable – we all rely on engineering.
Engineers are problem solvers, they research, innovate and either create something new or improve something. They find alternative solutions, they design and build better things. You might even call them inventors.

Just by studying maths and science at school, students give themselves a great opportunity to follow a highly rewarding career in engineering.

There's actually three main ways of becoming an engineer in the UK: through engineering apprenticeships, vocational qualifications and university degrees. Here's just a brief insight to help you make the right choice:

Engineering apprenticeships


Engineering firms big and small like students to take this more hands-on route as they can be certain that their apprentices learn the specific practical skills that their business really needs. It makes perfect sense.
Engineering apprentices study for a recognised engineering qualification while also receiving paid on-the-job training from their engineering employer.
Discover Renishaw's engineering apprenticeships programme

Vocational engineering qualifications


Offered to students at lots of different levels, practical in nature and specifically designed to prepare students for work in a particular job or industry, vocational engineering qualifications include BTECs, NVQs, HNCs and HNDs.
A vocational engineering qualification can feature coursework based on real work-based scenarios, link-ups with potential employers and work experience placements. It leads to further or higher education or employment.

Engineering degrees


To apply for any engineering course at university, students will usually have A-levels in maths and physics or a vocational qualification to Level 3. Engineering degree courses can be three or four years in length and can include a year working in industry.
Discover Renishaw's placement programme
Engineering degrees can be specific i.e. electrical and electronic, mechanical or chemical for example, or can be more general in nature, with specialisation in the final year. There are many excellent universities in the UK supporting all the different types of engineering.
Discover how Renishaw is working with universities

Find out more about your career in engineering