What industry to get into?

[glypo]

Have you tried going from Automotive to Aerospace?

Some aerospace firms are feeling the pinch, BAE and Rolls Royce (who are both massive) are cutting a few jobs. Generally the whole science/technology/defence/aerospace industry is resilient in times like these however. The company I work for announced big profits and growth just a couple of weeks ago, not bad going at all.

We work on a lot of high level (secret/classified/confidential) as does most the industry, so you need to be British with both parents also British and no mix nationality, so that is a draw back and problem for a lot. That's not just specific to the company I work in, but many others in aerospace so don't bother trying if you don't think the government will grant you access to see materials at that level.

However if that's not a problem, I would suggest Aerospace or just Science/Technology in general. Although the companies are doing well, they are still being cautious and not recruiting a whole lot. However there are jobs if you look, and they should be reasonably secure (hopefully) once you get in.

I suppose more proof of the whole technology thing. One of my brothers lost his job as an architect due to the construction industry problems. However another of my brothers works for a company that makes Sonar/ROVs/Subsea instrumentation etc and due to the number of large contracts they have secured recently they needed CAD designers etc so he managed to get a job there as well.

Proper industry no longer exists in the UK, and hasn't for years. However our expertise does and it is these kind of companies that actually do the hard work designing the stuff that should be relativley safe even during a recession. Airlines want less costs due to economy, best way is fuel effcient aircraft, thus firms designing the aircraft should get their buisness.

[Ian F]

You're never secure working for someone else doesn't matter how big the company, look at Woolworth 25000+ staff might be out of work by Christmas.

[mobile chicane]

mobile service industry seems ok at the moment, I get 2-3 potental job offers a week from agencies looking for field service engineers saying that I've 11 yrs field service experiance in a variatey of roles no kids and a clean driving licence which makes me a rare find especialy with the experiance I'm gaining at my current role.

When I was fixing pneumatic bailers at a fixed £20k sallary I used to deliver pizzas for dominos 2-5 nights a week money was min wage but tips and fuell allowance made it worth my while paid me about £2500 in 4 months work.

my industry seems ok at the moment as people are getting their cars repaired rather than buying new therefore more both use = more breakdowns= more overtime for me.

[cjm_2008]

my advice: find a niche and become the best within that niche. if it's in IT, and you can work for the government, even better.

there's only a handful of people in the UK who can do what I do, and I'm probably at the top of that tree, so I *should* be ok for a while - especially as my job involves cutting operational costs.

I am avoiding being total smugness, however, because any contract is only as good as it's notice period, despite the fact I've just been extended to june 09.

i do feel comfortable enough to piss away $$$ on karting though

[MK999]

I find myself comfortable enough to pi$$ away money on cars, and i'm a student with sort of, no job (I work part time at a go kart track, but it's paper round money really) Overdrafts are a way of life for the full time student

[Lee]

Originally Posted by glypo

Proper industry no longer exists in the UK.

Who told you that

My company has £400 m worth of work i the next 2 years in teesside, last year i worked on a £200m project in lowestoft, there is bags of industry in the uk, probably as much as there was back in the 70's, but the processes are becoming more automated.

You still need pipers Electricians, riggers, welders etc its just knowing where to look, if a job isn't on a lot of peoples doorstep, their answer is there is no work

[i4n]

Originally Posted by Lee

if a job isn't on a lot of peoples doorstep, their answer is there is no work

I think you've just hit the nail on the head, Lee. People can't be arsed to put themselves out a little bit and actually LOOK for work, they wan't it handed to them on a plate.

[DCM]

the other thing, getting re-training is hard, I know in the 80's and 90's, there were loads of initiatives, but there isn't so much now. My brother-in-law has just lost his job, and all the government done was give him a grant and told to go find some courses.....

Also, decent apprenticeships are very hard to come by now too.

In South Wales, the 'manufacturing' industry has been well hit, plus engineering.

[pro4nut]

Well if it cheers anyone up the mobile phone industry is still expanding its retails divisions. The company i work for will be opening 20 new stores in the next 6 months and getting good terms on the lease agreements as many other retailers are doing the opposite. For people looking for part time work we pay far more than the rest of the high street in basic pay let alone the commision/bonus structures. Starting pay for store managers runs from 25K to 30K with bonus pushing that to 40K a year. Not trying to advertise really just saying that not every business is fragile, mobile phones are treated as a utility rather than a luxury so unless everyone goes back to using landlines things are looking good over this way.

BTW if you are looking for work in the london area drop me a pm

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by chrispattinson

Considering the current economic climate, what's the best industry to be looking to work in. I can vouch that automotive is not where it's at.

somin to do with immargation, that seem to have planty to do at min, open the door and wave em in, seem an easy life to!!

[glypo]

Originally Posted by Lee

Who told you that

How many sources do you want? If that is not common knowledge than I don't know what is! You say £200m revenue as if that is substantial for a company, where I work a single contract can be worth that and with a revenue of £1.4bn/year. I would almost consider where I work to be partially in the manufacturing industry, and even then at £1.4bn I say it's small.

As usual I have just done my homework, here you go:

Originally Posted by Government - ONS

The manufacturing industries contributed more than 20.0 per cent of GVA until 1998, when it stood at 20.0 per cent, but has fallen every year since then, to 14.1 per cent in 2004.

We have a Financial Service industry that is a massive 30% of the economy, ICT not far behind. In reality, as that statistic is old you will find industry has dropped to around 9.8%.

You have to consider Britain was once almost entirely proper industry. The industrial revolution was born here, we are the ones that made the modern world. This powered our empire, the biggest the world has ever seen, and industry took over from agriculture as the major source of wealth for the country.

Change happens, and it's not always bad, it's just different. Agriculture dropped from basically 100% before the industrial revolution and proper industry took it's place. Now services are by far the biggest part of the economy, probably 70% when you combine government/financial/technical. Industry is a lonely 9% and agriculture is just about 1-2%.

And yes you are right, we now design the stuff but still need to people to make it. But most those people live in China. We live in a world where even Boeing and Airbus are making their planes in China due to the savings. There will always be stuff that needs to be at home, and that small amount of stuff accounts for the small 9% of the economy, and falling.

I am not trying to put down the industry down, I am an engineer and rely on industry to build the stuff we design. I am just saying things aren't what they used to be, and manufacturing is not really the best place to look for jobs right now compared to some of the more technical industries.

[Gaz_Stanton]

Originally Posted by glypo

And yes you are right, we now design the stuff but still need to people to make it. But most those people live in China. We live in a world where even Boeing and Airbus are making their planes in China due to the savings.

Have you seen some of the crap we're getting out of China?!?

Most of it will be back soon if common sense can overrule the politics...

[PaulRotheram]

steer well clear of the building industry for a few years, its on its arse at the moment! lots of people loosing their jobs, no work, no one to buy the work, no one to provide funds, times are bad!

[DaveG28]

Originally Posted by cjm_2008

my advice: find a niche and become the best within that niche. if it's in IT, and you can work for the government, even better.

there's only a handful of people in the UK who can do what I do, and I'm probably at the top of that tree, so I *should* be ok for a while - especially as my job involves cutting operational costs.

I am avoiding being total smugness, however, because any contract is only as good as it's notice period, despite the fact I've just been extended to june 09.

i do feel comfortable enough to piss away $$$ on karting though

What he said!! Find something your good at, mate it to something people want, and its as well protected as you can get!

This last year has maybe been slightly different in that more fundamentally sound businesses are being killed by cashflow due to the lack of credit.

Any industry can suffer, for example not all the mobile phone industry is doing well. I worked in the industry for 5 years until a few months ago and many of the guys I worked with have been made redundant since. I work in a support function (finance) though so I am of the view that it should be people in my type of role being made redundant before salespeople/engineers etc. I now work in a manufacturing business and I think it would be madness for them to lay off people who make the product or sell the prouct before looking for ways of cutting central costs such as finance/HR etc. Keep the engine room strong in any business, and try to cut support costs!

[chris_dono]

Originally Posted by chrispattinson

Considering the current economic climate, what's the best industry to be looking to work in. I can vouch that automotive is not where it's at.

become an accountant.

[Northy]

I think Edward might change his mind too now

G

[tjf]

Computer game industry is one to get into its worth billions of pounds a year. I'm sure you know people who love games consoles etc.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Northy

I think Edward might change his mind too now

G

I took a gamble on that project G because it was OK money for working at home. It was the bank that pulled the funds and nothing really to do with the oil industry, numerous platforms are making £30 million /day for the operators

I have been offered work in dubai but don't really fancy it. I was meant to be in mexico now too but they cant pull the funds together to finish the platform.

@ Glypo: the percentage contributed by the manufacturing industry may have fallen, but this could well mean that others have contributed more rather than that one declining?

[chrispattinson]

Originally Posted by chris_dono

become an accountant.

I am an accountant , chartered accountant and vba prgrammer / financial modeller. Was management acocuntant for Northern Rock, something went wrong there, now assistant financial controller for JCI making seats for most of the cars on the road, but the automotive industry is heading south aswell. I think I might look at public sector!!!

Some really good points being made in this thread, us ooplers are an informed bunch, or an opinionated bunch

[Danny McGee]

Aerospace is pretty safe. We've just got a 7 year contract with Airbus so im a happy man