Any Mechanical Engineers on here

rpc

The two routes, as others have said, are apprenticeships or a degree. Which route is right will depend on your son - some people are better suited to the apprenticeship route and others best suited to entry as a graduate. Neither is objectively better or worse, but they will probably lead to a different career path.

Apprentice routes tend to be more hands on, more related to current technology and lead to professional membership as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng). Graduate route are more about developing technology and heading towards Chartered Engineer (CEng). That said, there is an awful lot of overlap. Engineering needs both.

If the graduate route appeals, try a headstart course in a few years http://www.etrust.org.uk/headstart.cfm

Where in the country are you? Most of the large engineering firms have STEM ambassadors that can go into schools to talk about engineering. IMechE might also be a source of information if industry isn't although Year 8 is a bit early.

You might also find companies running open days for schoolkids and undergrads. We have one quite soon, but then we are the wrong side of Hadrian's Wall...

Person_one

Um, he's 13, right?

Just encourage him to do well at school and support him in taking up any hobbies he fancies.

Who knows how he'll feel in a few years time? A lot can change between 13 and 16, and between 16 and 18. If he does still want to do mechanical engineering when the time comes for UCAS applications, it will be up to him, not you, to do the running, the research and the applying anyway!

Relax a bit, 13 is to be enjoyed.

getmore4less

In my day there were undergrad apprentice sponsored to do the degree.
(any of these still around

I started with RR as an apprentice after A levels going to imperial to do the total technology degree(1st year they did it).(5 years, 2 industry based)
Very hard work and got lost a bit so ended up doing HND.
moved into manufacturing/production areas specialising in computer based stuff, machine tools and cadcam.

30 years later semi retired Quality specialist in the computer industry.

The UK is still world leading engineering with motorsport and aerospace and plenty of other areas.


Engineering qualifications are very broad based so can be applied to lots of other fields.

Another thing to look at is somewhere that has international links a goodway to boost any career.

suze200

My son left school at 16 after GCSEs. Did a 4 year engineering technician apprenticeship (mech & electrical with HNC, HND and level 3 NVQ) with a large pharmaceutical company. Made redundant at the end of 4 years. 6 months later got a job with a smaller pharmaceutical company as a production operator and worked there 2 years, all the while on the lookout for and engineering role.


Got a job in September as a process engineer with the second largest pharmaceutical company in the UK on a salary of 42K (this includes shift allowance). They have said they will pay for him to do a part time degree or up skill on the electrical side.


Not bad for a 23 year old who didn't go to uni.

tstodart

http://www.imeche.org/

Lots of stuff to browse.

rpc

getmore4less wrote: »

In my day there were undergrad apprentice sponsored to do the degree.(any of these still around)

Advanced apprentices often are, but there is not the same level of sponsorship for regular undergrads. The forces does, but industry is more limited to summer placements now.

Engineering qualifications are very broad based so can be applied to lots of other fields.

Last time I looked at the stats, about 25% of engineering grads didn't go to work in Engineering. The City is a popular destination and we always had the big consultancies coming in to recruit engineers. One of my friends from school now earns lots of money for an actuary - he decided what he really liked from his Chem Eng was the mathematical modelling and he could get paid a lot more in the finance sector.

suze200 wrote: »

Got a job in September as a process engineer with the second largest pharmaceutical company in the UK on a salary of 42K (this includes shift allowance). They have said they will pay for him to do a part time degree or up skill on the electrical side.

Process (or chemical) engineering is probably one of the most well paid fields. That and oil&gas which is mostly processing and commissioning anyway.

fannyadams

torbrex wrote: »

As a time-served toolmaker, I would echo what others have said about trying for an apprenticeship first, I have met far too many qualified engineers that knew nothing about the basics of the job as all their learning had been on paper.
The really good engineers are the ones that understand the problems that can get thrown up when trying to convert a drawing into a product.

Agree with you there torbrex
As a time served biomedical scientist (the one who tests your blood/wee/poo/spinal fluid in the lab at the hospital - no not a doctor)
I would also LOVE to see the reversion back to apprenticeships as the standard of post grads who apparently have microbiology as their major leaves a lot to be desired (some can't even do the basics).

A previous poster asked about my DS#1 and Imperial.
We're in MK. DS#1 (13 - year 9) wants desperately to do Mech Eng for a degree and Imperial is our closest with the best transport links (he can ring his washing home on weekends). Having said that we also have two F1 teams in the neighbourhood and Silverstone on our doorstep so it might be that he asks one of them for work experience.
Hadn't thought of doing Mech Eng in Pharmacology/production - we have a veterinary company and a large food manufacturing company also in the neighbourhood so we'll see when he gets there (as it were).

Thank you to everyone who has taken the trouble to reply it's all good information and I will be keeping it back/bookmarking the thread for later.
Cheers
FA
x

Clive_Woody

I am not an engineer (although I did play rugby for the engineering dept in Cardiff as they had the best Christmas parties and were a great bunch for socialising with), but I would be cautious about deciding not to do a degree.

A lot of industries if you want to progress to the higher levels a degree is essential and in many cases a higher degree also comes into the equation.

I've worked in the pharma industry for nearly 14 years and have worked for the largest pharma companies in the world. I now project manage clinical trials and I certainly know in the career path I have chosen a degree and higher degree are pretty much essential if I want to keep progressing.

I do also support the experience argument though, I know when I am recruiting people I have a quick look at their qualifications but I spend a lot more time looking at what experience they have.

A degree with a placement would seem best bet for me, but then my only experience of engineering is drinking and playing rugby with them :beer:

tea_lover

Just to add, it's not always an either/or situation. Our apprentices are taken on at 16 and will then be offered the chance to take a degree from 18/19 onwards (all paid for of course).

Raksha

My son is doing BTEC level 2 at the moment, but the Gov is pouring alot if money into engineering to help fill the skills gap, which means dedicated engineering colleges to support apprenticeships (I think we used to call them Technical Colleges...)