Industry Sectors

Role Description

You'll need:

• excellent analytical skills
• the ability to work with people at all levels
• the ability to lead and motivate a team
• the ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines
• the ability to anticipate issues and respond to unforeseen changes

You’ll work with senior managers and other professionals to support changes to the way an organisation works, like:

• improving decision-making processes
• supporting the introduction of a new IT system
• developing a marketing and sales strategy
• Your day-to-day duties might include:
• speaking to managers to find out what they want to achieve
• carrying out fact finding tasks into business processes to see what they do and how they do it
• analysing findings and using data modelling methods to help recommend changes and improvements
• explaining the benefits of your recommendations and looking at the potential impact and risks
• agreeing the best way to put recommended changes into place with management
• overseeing testing and quality checks of recommendations
• supporting staff making changes and reporting any issues
• In some cases, you may be responsible for managing a project through to completion.

Role Training

Entry requirements

There are no set requirements, but previous project management experience and a working knowledge of project development methods like Waterfall or Agile will be helpful. A technical background, like in software development or programming, can also help.

It may be useful to have a first or higher degree in subjects like:

• business information systems
• business management
• computing and systems development
• computer science
• Employers may look for recognised certification of your skills from a professional body, like The International Institute of Business Analysis UK (IIBA) or The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS).

You could get into this career through a degree apprenticeship.

Role Description

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• planning where to put insulation 
• deciding what materials to use for a particular job 
• preparing and cleaning surfaces to be insulated
• measuring and cutting insulation materials to size
• fitting insulation using clips, adhesives or cement
• sealing the work area after completing an installation

Role Training

There are no set requirements. You could move into this role with related industry experience, like working with air conditioning.

You could also get into this job through an apprenticeship.

The Thermal Insulation Contractors Association has more information on becoming a thermal insulation engineer.

With experience, you could move into a technical, supervisory or managerial role, like foreperson, site safety officer or contracts manager. 

You could also move into a related area, like heating and ventilation engineering or air-conditioning and refrigeration.

Role Description

Skills required

You'll need:

• excellent organisational, planning and time management skills
• leadership, and communication skills
• the ability to negotiate and influence
• budgeting skills
• IT skills for using project management software
• the ability to use initiative and work under pressure

What you'll do

You could work on different types of project in almost any industry or sector like construction, IT or the NHS. You might be managing a large building development, introducing a new computer system or developing a new advertising campaign. 

You'll be:

• finding out what the client or business wants to achieve
• agreeing timescales, costs and resources
• drawing up a plan for each project stage
• negotiating with contractors and suppliers
• choosing and leading a project team
• constantly monitoring progress, quality and costs
• reporting regularly to senior managers and the client
• using specialised software and spreadsheets for planning, costing and analysing risks

Role Training

While you're working, you could study for an industry qualification like PRINCE2 or Agile.

You could also get professional qualifications through:

Association for Project Management (APM)

Chartered Management Institute (CMI)

Project Management Institute (PMI)

If you're working in the IT industry, you could get a certificate in project management through The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS).

With experience, you could move into senior management or become a freelance consultant.

Role Description

You could work for a wide range of companies or you could work in the public sector. Your day-to-day tasks may include:

• processing and paying invoices
• recording receipts and payments
• preparing and checking ledger balances and other monthly accounts
• completing and submitting tax returns, VAT returns and National Insurance contributions
• handling company expenses
• updating computerised accounting systems
• With experience, you could take on more complex tasks like:
• preparing financial reports
• helping to plan budgets
• supporting qualified accountants with accounts inspections (audits)

Role Training

AAT and ACCA qualifications are recognised across the world, so you could work overseas.

Role Description

You'll make precision parts for the automotive, power, aerospace and manufacturing industries. You'll work with metals, wood, composites and plastics, and CNC tools, like lathes, cutting machines, drills and presses.

Your day-to-day tasks could include:

• programming the CNC machine tool with data taken from technical drawings
• working out the most efficient order to carry out machining tasks
• choosing the right tools for each stage
• setting the cutting speeds and tolerance levels
• operating the machine
• checking the work meets quality and technical standards
• maintaining equipment

Role Training

You could get into this job through an engineering apprenticeship.

It may help you to find work if you complete a college course in:

engineering

engineering and manufacturing

mechanical engineering

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.

Role Description

1. Entry requirements

You may find it useful to have GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, in subjects like English and maths.

A qualification in administration or secretarial skills may help. Employers also value experience, which you could get by temping or volunteering.

You could get into this job through an apprenticeship.

2. Skills required

You'll need:

• an excellent telephone manner
• skills in IT and administration
• the ability to use your initiative and solve problems
• organisational and time management skills
• 3. What you'll do
• You could work in the public or private sectors or for a charity.
• Your day-to-day tasks could include:
• being the first point of contact for visitors, phone calls and emails
• arranging meetings and taking minutes
• diary management and making travel arrangements 
• producing letters, reports, spreadsheets and invoices
• updating records on IT systems
• photocopying, printing and filing
• handling confidential information

4. Salary

Starter: £14,000 to £16,000

Experienced: £17,000 to £20,000

Highly Experienced: £25,000

These figures are a guide.

5. Working hours, patterns and environment

You'll usually work in an office, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

You could also work part-time or get temporary work.

6. Career path and progression

With experience, you could become a personal assistant or office manager.

You could also move into human resources work, or train as a legal or medical secretary.

Role Description

You could work for sales and marketing agencies, or in marketing departments of organisations like financial services or manufacturing. 

You could also work for fund-raising charities, heritage organisations or the education sector.

Your day-to-day tasks could include:

• researching and analysing market trends and your target markets
• creating marketing and social media strategies
• planning and managing the launch of new products and services
• setting budgets, targets and timelines
• working with in-house or external agencies to produce attractive campaigns that increase business
• organising and attending events to meet new and existing clients 
• managing budgets and reporting on the effectiveness of campaigns
• managing a team of marketing executives

Role Training

There are no set entry requirements. You'll usually need 3 to 5 years' experience as a marketing executive, sales manager or public relations officer.

You may need a degree in marketing or business, or a professional marketing qualification.

Another option is to start as a junior marketing manager or marketing apprentice and work your way up.