Category: News & Updates

2020 is just around the corner, so we thought now would be the perfect opportunity to wish all of our clients a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We hope to see you in the New Year, and can’t wait to support you in your upcoming projects.

It has been an exceptionally busy year for all of us here at European Springs & Pressings Ireland, with the manufacturing industry as a whole experiencing some tough times throughout 2019. Our team have pulled together to ensure that our customers have continued to experience the same high levels of service they have become accustom to over the years.

If you require a spring manufacturer in the New Year, then you should certainly consider getting in touch with the team here at European Springs & Pressings Ireland. With over 70 years’ experience in the industry, our team have the experience and expertise to ensure you receive the perfect products for your next project.

The manufacturing industry is full of fast-paced work with plenty of progression opportunities; if you know how to work hard and focus. In this article, we are going to discuss the variety of jobs you could be earning within our sector, along with some useful tips about the best routes to achieve the career of your dreams.

Careers in the Manufacturing Sector

There are plenty of opportunities in manufacturing, though if you are looking to begin a life-long career in manufacturing, it might be important for you to work towards a job that isn’t in any danger of becoming replaced by a machine. This means that if you’re prepared to work hard, you should aim for high-skilled jobs – these are also the jobs which are going to earn you the most money, so they are a worthy goal for your time.
If you know someone who is young, still in education and interested in manufacturing, then you should encourage them to research a variety of jobs in the industry – different career paths can have vastly different educational requirements. In this blog, we will cover some roles and the kinds of qualifications needed to secure the role – this should give you some idea of how long it will take you to gather the skills before you can successfully achieve your dream job.

Before we get into the logistics of achieving your dream job in manufacturing, we need to consider the variety of roles that you can choose from:

Assembly

The assembly workers in manufacturing build products from finished pieces. This may include working with your hands, tools and machines – often with training once you have the role. You will generally be expected to have high school certificates for most roles in this group.

Examples

• Assembler
• Expediter
• Material Handler
• Tool and Die Maker
• Warehouse Worker

Brazers and Welders

These roles require some precise technical education. Their job is generally to cut and/or join any metallic parts used in the product. You can attain these skills through high school, vocational schools, community colleges or a mix. You may also be able to find local training courses suited to your needs.

A welder’s work is all in the detail; you need to be careful when using highly dangerous equipment, and the expensive materials you’ll be using to make the product means you’ll need to keep mistakes to a minimum. You’ll need to learn to use the equipment, as well as reading blueprints and diagrams if you want to secure one of these positions for yourself.

Examples

• Brazer
• Welder
• Solderer
• Cutter

Machinists and Operators

We previously mentioned tool and die makers in the Assembly group, but sometimes, they may fall under the category of machinists and operators. This is one example of how some of these roles may cross some of the boundaries we use to generalise these roles for description.

A machinist or operator will be required to set up, maintain, and operate integral machinery. To attain one of the following positions, you will probably need on-site training or an apprenticeship, vocational school, or technical college qualification. Some roles may require further qualifications, so research the potential thoroughly.

Examples

• Design Engineer
• Field Service Technician
• Aircraft Mechanic
• Safety Technician
• Waste Treatment Plant Operator

Production Manager

Working in management is where you are most likely to find the highest wages, but you will also have to stay in education for much longer if you want to improve your chances of getting into a managerial position. Most managers in manufacturing have at least a bachelor’s degree in business or industrial engineering.

Production managers are expected to ensure that general operations run smoothly and to find areas where processors could be managed with greater efficiency. They ensure that production stays on schedule as well as overseeing the hiring process for other workers.

Examples

• Assembly Supervisor
• Master Scheduler
• General Manager
• Product Marketing Analyst
• Warehouse Manager

As spring suppliers, we are invested in the future of the manufacturing industry. We think that it’s never too late to start a bountiful career in manufacturing if you have the resolve to get there, so start now by enrolling in a local skills course or by attaining work experience with your local manufacturer.

Whatever the results are, emotions are sure to be running high. Whether you’re reading this for yourself, your friend, a sibling or a child, we’re here to help you understand why choosing a STEM subject to take to college could change lives for the better. In this article, we take a look at what you should expect during results day and what you should be thinking about next.

Keeping Calm on GCSE Results Day

For all young adults and teenagers out there about to receive their GCSEs, we know that keeping calm is the last thing on your mind. You’re busy thinking about all the hard work you have put into your education over the past few years, and, most importantly, whether it has been enough.

We recognise the sacrifices you’ve made, giving up your free time, again and again, to thoroughly complete your homework, working hard to make sure you really understand the concepts that you’ll need to take with you into the exam, we understand that these aren’t just certificates and awards to you.

However, once you have taken your exams, there is little that can be done to change the outcome. What is important for you now is to keep researching what routes are open to you based on your passions and skills.

The chances are that you can guess what grades you should be expecting based on your performance in mock papers, but if you’re even slightly worried, it can help to explore your options. It’s important to remember that you aren’t going to be boxed in by your results; there are multiple routes to achieving the career of your dreams, and not everyone needs to go to university.

At GCSE, however, you might still be trying to figure what ‘the career of your dreams’ really means to you. If there are lots of subjects that you enjoy, for example, trying to reduce those subjects to three or four that you’ll take with you to A-Levels can feel like an impossible task. Whether you should prioritise your grades in a subject over your enjoyment of it isn’t a question that we can answer for you, but we can tell you about all the reasons why you should consider pursuing a STEM career.

What is STEM?

The acronym ‘STEM’ stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. These academic disciplines are grouped because they share similar ways of working and learning, often heavily relying on mathematical formulae and sharing some theories and knowledge between the subjects within them.

The UK is currently suffering from a shortage of skilled workers in STEM careers; this means that you could be looking at earning a lot of money if you were to pursue an education in STEM. We rely on STEM learners to construct buildings, solve diseases and innovate technology; those working in STEM elevate humanity through their creations and hard work.

If you want to pursue STEM, you need to have an aptitude or a passion for basic maths and science, preferably both. If you’re pursuing STEM because you want to earn a high wage, then (like any career) you will have to learn to achieve focus and to work hard.

My Future with STEM

When you study maths and science, there are plenty of opportunities available to you. Your future with STEM doesn’t necessarily require you to have high grades, though your grades may determine which area of STEM you start with.

If you are a high-achieving student, then you are unlikely to have jobs and apprenticeships on your mind at first. Many high-achieving students in the UK go to university, and while this is the right decision for many students looking to improve their knowledge and connections in their field, you may be better served by taking an apprenticeship or work experience.

Unlike a degree, an apprenticeship will focus on perfecting those practical skills that working environments want to see on your future CV. Similarly, you can get paid during an apprenticeship, which makes it a more financially attractive prospect than university.

If you have average grades and good determination, then you may be considering the pros and cons of pursuing college and university versus starting your career. You may find academic learning more difficult than your peers, so a hands-on apprenticeship might be better for your progression. If you aren’t sure yet, the best course of action for you now is to receive your results, enrol in a college with your preferred STEM subjects and give it your best shot. How you feel during the end of your course should give you the information you need to know whether you’ll want to pursue academic STEM or start your work experience.

If your grades are low, but you have a strong work ethic, then you can work hard to elevate your grades during college or start considering your aptitudes for hands-on learning in work experience and apprenticeship courses. Consider taking extra-curricular activities and courses to bolster your skills set for future employers if you’re struggling with the academic rigour of school-learning.

Remember that not all pupils are well-represented by the GCSE examination system, your grades, successes or failures won’t define you as a person. What you need to do now is think carefully about the options available to you and where you would like to be in two-to-five years. We’ve had plenty of apprentices pass through our doors, trying to gain a solid understanding of what is expected from spring manufacturers in the UK.

 MANUFACTURING HISTORY AND BIG BEN – FEBRUARY

The World Economic Forum shows that women account for 20% of engineering graduates but only 11% of the engineering workforce. The Office for National Statistics found that, in April-June 2017, only 48,000 women worked in engineering professions in the country, while there were more than 400,000 male engineers.

 As spring manufacturers, we believe that addressing this still significant gender gap in engineering is of the utmost importance. But how exactly can the country, as well as UK engineering businesses, tackle this issue?

Where Are We Now?

2018 was the ‘Year of Engineering’, a government initiative that arose in response to statistics published by Newbury Electronic showing that only 23% of UK STEM roles were held by women and that the United Kingdom had the lowest percentage of women in engineering in Europe. The Year of Engineering brought more attention to these figures and aimed to improve them.

We believe that more initiatives such as these are needed to see more women in engineering roles. In addition, by bridging the gender gap in engineering, the UK has the potential to add £150 billion to GDP forecasts by 2025, according to McKinsey’s MGI report.

Potential Ways to Bridge the Gender Gap

There are many barriers that appear to stop girls from continuing their STEM studies or pursue engineering careers. These issues are complex and multifaceted, since women are a varied group, but they tend to focus on challenges such as gendered norms and stereotypes. Challenging society’s attitudes and expectations of what consists of a ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ career path is a great start. A way to achieve this would be to engage women with STEM from a very early age, including engineering, to ensure a continued interest in these subjects.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills says that 43% of STEM vacancies are difficult to fill at the moment due to a skills gap in the industry. To be able to fulfil this demand, we need to find 1.8 million new engineers by 2020, which will also allow the UK to remain competitive in the global economy. Attracting the next generation of engineers, therefore, is crucial; it’s equally important to include women in these initiatives as well, which will help to attract more professionals and address this skills gap at the same time we address the gender gap issue.

Apprenticeships are another great way to ensure more women follow an engineering career. By increasing the number of high-quality apprenticeships, it’s easier to raise awareness of the industry among women, as well as young people.

Female role models and mentors can also influence women’s decision to pursue engineering; in 2014, Esther Dyson, named ‘the most influential woman in all the computer world’, said that “there’s an awful lot of women. But none of us is Bill Gates”. It’s easy to see what Dyson meant; despite the fact that there is a lot of female engineers across the globe, their voices are not getting heard as much. Having someone to look up to can make a huge difference and impact someone’s decision to follow a certain career path.

Another way to bridge the gender gap is to offer girls the chance to have hands-on STEM experience, be it in the classroom or as part of STEM-related after-school programs. Practical learning can give girls more confidence in their abilities, as well as show them the importance of choosing a career in engineering.

Many girls and women place more value on collaborative environments instead of competitive ones. However, many academic programs are often rooted in competition and on ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. It’s vital that schools foster learning environments in which all students can contribute and discuss ideas and solutions. All ways of thinking should be accepted, which can help everyone feel like they fit in.

Not only are there many ways to start reducing the gender gap in engineering, but organisations and businesses should invest in this issue and seek to balance the ratio of women to men in the industry, in order to achieve a more diverse and inclusive work environment.

European Springs & Pressings Ireland understand the importance of addressing the gender gap within engineering. We also know that more must be done. With this in mind, it’s crucial that businesses, as well as the government, take steps to ensure more women are introduced into the sector.