Explore & Discover

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

There are no set requirements, but it’s common to have a qualification in a relevant subject like:

logistics

international transport

supply chain management

transport management

geography

You could also start in a more junior role like transport clerk and work your way up.

Skills for Logistics and the The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK) have more information about careers in supply chain management.

2. Skills required

You'll need:

planning and organisational skills

the ability to motivate and lead a team

spoken and written communication skills

problem-solving and maths skills

good geographical knowledge

If your employer operates overseas it may be useful to speak a foreign language.

3. What you'll do

Supply chains are made up of different operations, from forecasting trends and buying through to transport and distribution. 

Depending on which part of the supply chain you're in, your day-to-day tasks may include:

working with procurement managers and buyers to select products that are in demand and will sell

negotiating and managing contracts with suppliers

planning the best way to get goods from suppliers to distribution centres and retailers

tracking shipments and stock levels using computer software

working with retailers to make sure they receive their goods on time and in the right condition

looking at ways to improve supply chain networks

monitoring overall performance to make sure targets are met

preparing forecasts and inventories

recruiting, training and managing a team of supply chain staff

You might also be involved in brand and marketing planning.

4. Salary

Starter: £20,000 to £25,000

Experienced: £25,000 and £45,000

Highly Experienced: Up to £60,000

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You may work evenings and weekends on a rota basis, or be available on-call to deal with emergencies. Some companies run 24-hour operations involving shift work.

You’ll usually be office-based but would travel to meet clients. This could include travel overseas.

6. Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to senior planning jobs and consultancy work.

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

You’ll normally need an Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) or Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) accredited BEng degree in chemical, process or biochemical engineering.

If you have a degree in a different branch of engineering, or a related subject like chemistry or polymer science, a postgraduate qualification in chemical or process engineering may increase your chances of finding work.
 
You could also take an integrated master’s qualification, like an MEng, to prepare you for further postgraduate study like a PhD or EngD.

Some universities offer a foundation year for people without qualifications in maths and science. 

Cogent Skills, IChemE, IET and Whynotchemeng have more information on becoming a chemical engineer.

2. Skills required

You’ll need: 

• maths and science skills, particularly chemistry 
• good problem-solving and analytical skills 
• planning and organisational ability 
• excellent IT skills 
• the ability to manage projects, budgets and people

3. What you'll do

You’ll be involved in the design, manufacture and operation of processes that turn raw materials into domestic and industrial products.

You could work in a range of industries, like:

• food and drink 
• pharmaceuticals 
• textiles 
• oil and gas 
• minerals 
• energy and water 
• biotechnology 

You may also research and develop new or improved products.

If you work in research and development, you’ll: 

• test new ways to develop products in the lab 
• use computer models to work out the safest and most cost-effective production methods 
• plan how to move lab tests into a pilot production phase, then on to large-scale industrial processing 
• develop methods to deal with by-products and waste materials in a safe way 

In manufacturing, you’ll:

• work with plant designers to create equipment and control instruments for the production process 
• help to oversee the day-to-day operation of the processing plant 
• monitor production and deal with problems 
• work closely with quality control and health and safety managers 

You could also work in biochemical engineering, developing anything from new medicines like vaccines and stem cell therapies, to sources of sustainable energy like biofuels.

4. Salary

Starter: £29,000

Experienced: £55,000

Highly Experienced: £60,000 (senior chartered chemical engineer)

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. You may need to work overtime to meet project deadlines. In processing and manufacturing, you might work shifts, including weekends, evenings and nights.

You could be based in a lab, an office or a processing plant. In some environments you may need to wear protective clothing or use equipment like safety glasses, ear protectors or a hard hat.

6. Career path and progression

With experience, you could progress to senior process or design engineer, research and development manager. You could go on to be a plant manager, or overall operations manager.
 
You could also move into consultancy work.

Role Description

You’ll work as an employee or a self-employed contractor for large and small construction companies. You may work on a construction site, a client’s premises, or in your own workshop.

Depending on where you work, your day-to-day tasks may include:

• discussing plans and following instructions
• cutting and shaping timber for floorboards, doors, skirting boards and window frames
• making and fitting wooden structures like staircases, door frames, roof timbers and partition walls 
• making and assembling fitted and free-standing furniture
• installing kitchens, cupboards and shelving
• building temporary wooden supports to hold setting concrete in place (shuttering)
• making and fitting interiors in shops, bars, restaurants, offices and public buildings
• constructing stage sets for theatre, film and TV productions

Role Description

You could work in print or online, in marketing, publishing, product or games design.

• Depending on your role, your day-to-day tasks may include:
• discussing the client's requirements and coming up with creative ideas
• working out budgets and deadlines
• producing rough drafts and presenting your ideas 
• preparing designs using specialist software
• making presentations to clients for feedback and approval
• producing a final layout 
• explaining requirements to photographers, printers, manufacturers or games developers
• keeping up with design trends and developments in software tools

Role Description

You may work for high street retailers, mail order companies or online sellers. You'll be responsible for one area like fashion, cosmetics, DIY or electronics. 

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

• analysing and forecasting trends from consumer data
• attending trade fairs to find new products
• managing product quality and getting customer feedback
• negotiating prices, orders and delivery dates
• presenting collections to senior managers
• tracking sales figures, managing stock levels and keeping to budgets
• checking and reacting to competitor activities 
• adapting quickly to changing consumer behaviour

Role Description

You could work in these areas of engineering:

1. structural (dams, buildings, offshore platforms and pipelines)
2. transportation (roads, railways, canals and airports)
3. environmental (water supply networks, drainage and flood barriers)
4. maritime (ports, harbours and sea defences)
5. geotechnical (mining, earthworks and construction foundations)

You'll be:

• planning with the client
• analysing surveys, testing and mapping data using computer modelling software
• creating blueprints using computer aided design (CAD)
• judging if projects are worth doing by looking at costs, time and labour
• checking risks and the effects on the environment
• preparing bids for tenders, and reporting to clients and government agencies
• managing and checking progress at each stage
• making sure sites follow health and safety rules

Role Description

Skills required

You'll need:

• the ability to remain calm under pressure
• the ability to memorise orders
• numeracy skills

What you'll do

Your day-to-day tasks may include:

• greeting customers as they arrive and showing them to their table
• giving out menus and taking orders for food and drink
• serving food and drinks
• dealing with bill payments
• making sure tables are clean and tidy
• You'll also be on hand to answer any questions and make sure that customers enjoy their experience.

In formal restaurants your work may include silver service (plating the items of a meal at the table). You'll usually work in a team under the supervision of a head waiter or waitress, known as the maître d’.

You could also specialise in work as a wine waiter or waitress, called a sommelier.

Role Description

Entry requirements

You’ll usually need a foundation degree, HNC, HND or degree in a relevant subject, like applied chemistry, applied physics, materials engineering, materials science, or technology.

You could also do a degree specialising in a group of materials or their commercial use, like biomaterials, metallurgy, polymer science, or sports and materials science

You could get into this job through an apprenticeship, and then work your way up

The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining has information about careers and qualifications in this field.

Skills required

You’ll need:

creative problem-solving skills

maths, science and IT skills

communication and presentation skills

the ability to prioritise and plan effectively

What you'll do

You’ll research materials used in industry, like carbon fibre reinforced plastic, polymers, ceramics or alloys, and test their behaviours under different conditions.

You’ll usually work in a particular area, like metals, coatings or chemicals. 

Your day-to-day duties could include:

researching new ways to combine materials

analysing test data, using computer modelling software

developing prototypes for new products

designing manufacturing processes that use new materials

investigating the reasons behind component or structural failures

supervising a team of technicians

writing reports 

You’ll use non-destructive testing methods to investigate materials, like electrical conductivity, or tolerance to heat or corrosion.

You might work with nanomaterials like graphene and phosphorene, and identify where their properties could be put to use, like in computer electronics or biological sensors.

Salary

Starter: £20,000 to £26,000

Experienced: £26,500 to £40,000

Highly Experienced: over £45,000

These figures are a guide.

Working hours, patterns and environment

You’ll usually work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday, with some overtime to meet deadlines.

You’ll be based in an office, laboratory or manufacturing environment. 

You may have to travel between sites.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move into project management or technical sales. You could also specialise in a particular material, or work in research and consultancy.