Aerospace in the UK
Aerospace is one of the UK’s success stories. The UK has a proud history of achievement in aerospace and has the second largest aerospace industry in the world. Here, aerospace directly employs 150,000 people, with another 300,000 jobs indirectly supported.
 The effects of the terrible events of September 11th 2001 and the current economic downturn have had a marked short-term effect on civil aviation, but all longer-term projections are for on-going growth at 5%per year. The UK Government has demonstrated its commitment to the industry by commissioning an Innovation and Growth team which is making recommendations for the next twenty years to ensure that UK aerospace retains its world-class status.
Aerospace is the home of many exciting projects at the leading edge of science and engineering. Current projects in which the UK has a major involvement include Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the A400M military transport and the A380 ‘super-jumbo.’ Even apparently “all-American ” aircraft have a high degree of UK content.
 The industry relies on a highly-skilled and versatile work force, particularly in fields such as mechanical engineering, materials science, physics, mathematics and information technology. There are also opportunities for those wishing to participate on other aspects of a modern business such as supply chain management, programme management, finance, human resources management, logistics, and marketing. 26% of the workforce holds a university degree or equivalent.
One of the best ways to gain experience in an aerospace company is to undertake an industrial placement whilst studying for your degree. These generally last six to twelve months, although shorter vacation placements are also offered by many employers. These placements typically consist of one or more ‘real ’ projects, giving an opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice. They also give you a real insight into the world of work, and may lead to sponsorship for the rest of your degree and the offer of a job upon graduation.
Whilst on placement you ’ll receive a decent salary, helping to reduce any debts you may have built up whilst studying.
Upon graduation you can opt to apply for direct entry into a job with an aerospace employer, but in many cases the best route is to apply for a graduate training scheme. These normally run for one to two years, after which you ’ll start in your first job. The training schemes involve placements in different areas of the business, helping you to identify your preferences as well as providing an appreciation of the overall enterprise.
 Even once initial training is completed, learning and development continue. Many employers actively encourage membership of relevant professional institutes and the process of continuous professional development in which ‘learning by doing’ is complemented by formal training and education. UK Aerospace companies regularly receive awards for the quality of their training and development programmes.
The aerospace industry has grown to be truly global, and this provides opportunities for international assignments,either short working visits or long-term placements.
Even during the current downturn, employers are reporting skills shortages in areas such as systems engineering,computer aided design and manu-facture, programme management, and lean thinking, and demand for these is likely to grow considerably. Employers also place a premium on the ‘soft’ skills of communication and team-working – plus the ability to learn quickly and adapt to new technologies.
One frequently expressed concern is that opting for an engineering - related career limits your future options. Whilst many do indeed opt to specialise in an engineering field, there are many examples of individuals who have built on their engineering skills to move into general management or commercial roles. The skill set developed whilst studying engineering is also very attractive to a wide range of employers.
A quick way to find out more is to visit the websites of the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Society of British Aerospace Companies. The Royal Aeronautical Society is the professional
institution for those involved in the aerospace industry and has branches throughout the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and across the world. Its website - www.raes.org.uk - has a dedicated careers section, and the Society had a dedicated Careers Centre at its London head office.
The Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) is the national trade association of the UK Aerospace Industry. The SBAC works with member companies and partner organisations such as the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Air League and EMTA to promote Careers in Aerospace. Visit www.sbac.co.uk/careers to find out more.
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