:: Careers in the Process Industry ::

NEW: National Skills Academy Process Industries jobs: www.leadthesector.co.uk

What you'll find on this page

Information about NEPIC
Information about NEPIC member companies
How the process industries are improving our everyday lives
Information about joining the process industry
Examples of what people in different jobs actually do at work
Examples of some typical career progression routes
Information about relevant courses at colleges across the North East
Answers to frequently asked questions related to careers in the process industry
Other useful links
DVD pack available
An invitation to visit a NEPIC company
If you are interested in joining the process industry or just want to find out more…

Information about NEPIC

NEPIC (the North East Process Industry Cluster) is a network organisation representing over 200 process industries - chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and speciality companies - across the North East of England.

Facts and figures about NEPIC:
• Directly employs 34,000 highly paid talented people and also provides work for a further 280,000 jobs in other companies that support the process industry
• Generates £8.8 billion of GDP
• These companies form 25% of the whole North East economy
• Companies in the North East produce half of the UK's petrochemicals and a third of all the UK's pharmaceuticals
• Tees Port is the UK's second largest port and 70% of the goods shipped through Tees Port come from the process industry
• The Wilton Centre is Europe's largest non-military research centre
• Since 2003 the number of biotechnology companies based in the North East has grown from 28 to 50 and they now employ over 4,000 people
• In the last 3 years NEPIC members have invested £1.1 billion in capital projects in the North East.

Information about NEPIC member companies

Look at the Members section and you can find out about individual companies with the option of transferring to the company website too by clicking here.

For articles about NEPIC member companies in the bimonthly newsletter FocalPoint. Look at the FOCALPOINT section to see the current and previous issues.

How the process industries are improving our everyday lives

• New technologies such as fuel cells, biomass and "clean coal" power stations are leading the way in producing power without greenhouse gases.
• Best-in-class laboratories, pilot plants and manufacturing facilities have improved safety, health & environmental aspects.
• Use of micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi, provide natural solutions to the problems of reducing pollution from the discharge of effluents and wastes into the environment.
• Intermediate products produced by the process industry are used in the manufacture of adhesives, clothing, carpets, cars, detergents, flavour & fragrances, footwear, fuel additives, furniture, health care, packaging, paints & coatings, personal care products, 'phones, photographic chemicals, textiles.
• They manufacture leading prescription medicines in a range of dose forms including syringes, vials, inhalers, pumps, tubes, tablets, capsules and bulk granules.
• They manufacture clinical diagnostics and specialist equipment for hospitals to help in the investigation of blood clotting disorders.
• Innovative development and manufacture of reagents used in biomedical research.
• Recovery of spent catalysts and other secondary materials plus refining technologies help the oil & gas, petrochemicals, inorganic chemicals, specialty chemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics and food industries.
• Innovative plastics reprocessing takes difficult pre-consumer waste, such as scrap car bumpers, fridge scrap, electrical plastic scrap and many others, and processes them into high-grade polymers.

Information about joining the process industry

There are two ways to join the process industry:

• As a Technical Apprentice. Such vocational trainees are highly valued in the industry and are funded through their training by a local company. From the age of 16 onwards the process industry recruits people into technician training. Working with local training providers, such as TTE, LDR2 & FE colleges, training leads to NVQs and, for those interested, a degree via University.

• As a graduate coming into a diverse range of careers as scientists, engineers and into all business functions. Graduates will usually attend a university and take an honours degree in a science or engineering discipline (e.g. Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Sciences, Analytical Chemistry). All five North East Universities offer degree courses relevant to the process industry.

Examples of what people in different jobs actually do at work

Process Technician
Operates complex manufacturing processes and machinery often computer controlled in a highly regulated environment to standard operation instructions. A key skill is the ability to investigate and correct problems as they arise.

Laboratory Technician Analytical
Carries out very precise analytical tests on products, raw materials, environmental and safety samples. Able to repeat accurately detailed analytical instructions and make observations of unusual occurrances. No products are allowed to leave process industry sites without passing the detailed testing procedures carried out by laboratory technicians.

Laboratory Technician Research & Development
Carries out scientific experiments under the guidance of a scientist and has to keep an accurate record of what was done and what was observed. The details of these experiments are often scaled up to become the processes and products of the future.

Engineering Technician Mechanical
Will build up an in-depth understanding of how machines work and are best maintained. Regularly stripping down and repairing existing equipment and ensuring the correct installation of new machines. Keeping detailed records of performance in order to ensure that breakdowns are kept to a minimum by carrying out routine maintenance.

Engineering Technician Electrical
Most modern machinery is run with electrical power. Electricians ensure that the correct electrical installation is in place for any item of machinery. This becomes more complex for a collection of machines or indeed for a whole process industry factory. Electricians will be involved with power coming from the National Grid through to the safety of hand-held pieces of electrical equipment such as computers.

Engineering Technician Instrumentation
Most modern process industry plants and processes are controlled centrally with computer systems. There are many types of instrumentation used e.g. mass and flow measurements, pressure and vacuum measurements, ph and water purity, analysis of gases, liquids & solids, opening and closing many types of valves and switches. Instrument Engineers design, build and maintain complex control systems that feed data to monitoring computer systems.

Engineering Technician Welding, Construction, etc
Process Plants are often large scale and require steel structures to hold large pieces of equipment. The equipment is often connected by steel and glass pipelines. During the maintenance and construction of these facilities, Welding and Construction Engineers will build and repair the buildings, process plant and machinery. These skills will involve scaffolding, earth-moving, concrete casting, building structures, lifting equipment, welding and pipe construction.

Administration & Business Assistant
Office work of all types is involved. Computer skills are essential. Jobs in Reception, Accounts, Sales, Purchasing and Secretarial are likely to be carried out. Administration jobs can also be found in many technical departments such as manufacturing, R&D and Engineering etc.

Examples of some typical career progression routes

Process Technician > Process Team Leader > Process Supervisor > Process Manager > Factory Manager > Operations Director > Global Operations Director

Laboratory Technician Analytical > Analyst > Quality Assurance Practitioner > QA Supervisor > QA Manager > Qualified Person (authorised to release pharmaceuticals) > Site QA Director > International QA Director

Laboratory Technician Research & Development > R&D Scientist > R&D Team Leader > R&D Manager >
R&D/Technical Director > International Vice President R&D

Engineering Technician Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, etc> Engineer > Maintenance/Construction Team Leader > Maintenance/Construction Manager > Engineering Manager > Engineering Director

Administration & Business Assistant > Administration/Marketing/Sales/Purchasing/Accounts Executive > Administration/Marketing/Sales/Purchasing/Accounts Team Leader > Administration/Marketing/Sales/Purchasing/Accounts Manager > Business Manager

All the of the career routes can also lead to business leadership positions, many Managing Directors and Chief Executives within the Process Industry have come through the career routes shown above. The four routes shown above are not set in stone and there are many examples of people moving between the routes. For example, a Senior Executive in the North East took the following route:
Laboratory Technician > Analyst > R&D Scientist > R&D Manager > Operations Manager > R&D/Technical Director > Site Director > Managing Director > Global R&D/Technical Director > Chief Executive

Information about relevant courses at colleges across the North East

If you are interested in further details - look at the college website.

If you are interested in visiting a college - contact the college.

Click here to view a list of local Colleges and the Science & Engineering Courses (pdf) available in the North East

Answers to frequently asked questions related to careers in the process industry

Can I earn money while I'm training?
Yes, you can earn £10-20k per year for the first 4 years while you are training. When you have completed your training you could be earning an income in the range of £20 - £30k per year. Graduates with honours degrees in science, engineering & technology can also expect an income in the range of £20 - £30k per year.

Can I get qualifications beyond GCSEs?
Yes, studentships and apprenticeships provide the relevant training to NVQ Level 3 for the NEPIC companies and the company pays your course fees. If you want to go on to get a degree, the company will pay your university fees as well as your salary.

Do I have to get a degree?
No, this option is just open to people who have the interest and ability to study for a relevant degree. If you do, you would earn a salary and get job experience while the company pays your university fees.

Can I use other skills?
Yes, if you have ambition, determination, show initiative, can lead teams as well as work hard NEPIC companies will reward and support you as your career develops.

Could I earn a high salary?
Yes, wide ranges of job opportunities are available in careers in NEPIC companies - with good salaries.

Could I have an interesting job working with other talented people?
Yes, join the process industry in the North East - there are exciting new career opportunities for technicians with the right skills.

Would I be joining an industry that is growing?
Yes, in the past 3 years investment in the North East in new production plants and projects, including 8 new pharmaceutical and biotechnology projects, was over £1.1 billion - and more investment is planned.

DVD pack available

A 7-minute DVD giving more information about the Technical Apprentice route into the process industry in the North East of England is available. It contains short clips of young people talking about their experiences of working in the process industries and showing their working and learning environments.

Copies of the DVD Pack were sent into all schools and colleges in the North East.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy please contact NEPIC via enquiries@nepic.co.uk

An invitation to you .

If you'd like to visit a company to see the working conditions for yourself - contact NEPIC via enquiries@nepic.co.uk

If you are interested in joining the process industry or just want to find out more .

If you are interested in a career in the process industry here in the North East of England, contact enquiries@nepic.co.uk