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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Mechnical Engineers in Somerset CLCI: RAX CRCI: GH This leaflet looks at the job of the mechanical engineering craftsperson. For this job you need to do a craft apprenticeship. The work involves doing tasks such as manufacturing and assembling components, welding, interpreting drawings and using CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems. It involves using all sorts of machinery from large computer controlled machines to small hand tools. To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your Careers or Connexions library THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MECHANICAL ENGINEERS IN SOMERSET Somerset has a relatively large number of manufacturing companies making anything from vacuum cleaners to helicopters. These businesses need skilled mechanical engineers making things to high standards. Engineering companies come in all shapes and sizes. These range from large places employing hundreds of people to small workshops. There are engineering opportunities throughout Somerset with particularly good openings in South Somerset, Sedgemoor and Mendip HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Start as a trainee – or apprentice – with a company and go to college as part of the job (this is the most likely way into this work)   Go to college/sixth-form to A levels or a BTEC engineering course (as a way of getting into engineering at professional level after university) USEFUL QUALIFICATIONS   Many jobs require GCSE passes in subjects such as maths, English, science and design technology   Most employers expect you to pass a selection test before you can be offered an apprenticeship   Full-time BTEC courses at college can lead to technician and professional jobs   BTEC and NVQ qualifications are done as part of most apprenticeships For more about qualifications, courses and training see Moving On (produced by Connexions Somerset) DO YOU KNOW? Engineering is a global business. Certain Somerset engineering companies export machinery all over the world. Sometimes you might get the chance to go abroad to repair it! WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. This could increase as you make progress to around £120-150 per week at 17; £150-170 per week at 18. When qualified pay is relatively good for the skilled worker (compared to less skilled jobs needing less training) FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   Other types of engineering include electrical, electronic, motor vehicle and civil   Higher jobs exist at technician and professional level. You’d need to go to university for many professional level jobs   Sometimes you can move from a craft apprenticeship to technician work   The job changes all the time. You must be prepared to learn new skills and keep to up date   As well as being practical you need to be good at team work and communicating. Number and word skills are also important   You have to work to deadlines. This means you are sometimes under pressure   In many jobs you are switched between different tasks. This means being good at more than one thing   Engineering needs new recruits! There are some good opportunities if you look around WHO DOES THE WORK? Sarah (17) is an apprentice in an engineering company near Bridgwater. So far she has learnt all sorts of engineering skills and has completed NVQ level 2 engineering. Sarah is about to move on to NVQ level 3 training. For the future Sarah has plans to lead her section before moving on to service her company’s products all over the country and overseas Paulo (20), from Crewkerne, started as a craft apprentice and showed so much promise that he was upgraded to technician training. This means he works as part of a small team developing new products and improving the way things are made. Now he has completed his apprenticeship Paulo is aiming even higher by doing university-level qualifications on day-release at his nearest college More Info: A-Z Careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use