Careers
Why should I consider a career in the Process Industries?
The Process Industry is a long established, capital intensive and technology driven sector, providing the key building blocks for the products that we all need in our day to day lives. From fertilisers to medicines, plastics to hair dyes, our world would be very different if we didn’t manufacture these materials, so the industry will continue to exist as far ahead as we can see.
The careers that make up the workforce of the sector are varied, interesting, well rewarded and sometimes challenging. Opportunities exist for both graduates and vocational entrants, and cover scientific, engineering and technology, business management, and many other areas. Some roles offer the prospects of world travel, if that is of interest to candidates. All roles offer stable careers in a sector that is constantly evolving, and that, in the Northeast of England, is growing year by year.
- The roles are challenging, but rewarding
- They offer the chance to develop new products and make a difference to our world
- The Process Industry is one of the largest employers in the region, and is continuing to grow and evolve
- Many companies are part of global operations and provide the opportunity to visit and work in many parts of the world
What jobs are available for me?
This can be broken down into three broad areas:
- Vocational - such as Process, Engineering or Laboratory Technicians;
- Graduate - Professional Chemist, Engineer, Environmental Manager and so on;
- Business Management - including Accountancy, Marketing, IT and others.
A list of some of the technical roles are available, but there are many others. Don’t forget that we also have opportunities for all of the usual business management roles too, including finance, marketing and PR, supply chain and logistics. Contact NEPIC if you have a particular query about the role that is right for you
Which companies are there in the region?
North East England has more than 500 companies working in this sector, including chemical manufacturers, engineering companies, law firms and many others. To find a full list of the member companies in NEPIC, please see our members page.
What training will I receive when I start work in the sector?
Most companies offer some training, but the amount varies from company to company. All new employees, at whatever level, will receive some training on the particular aspects of their job and also on health and safety, environmental protection, management systems and so on.
Many of the companies in the sector offer graduate training programmes, giving an opportunity for new graduates to develop their skills in a broader way that helps them to become more prepared for working in a complex business, allowing them to see the opportunities for future development that exist beyond their narrow subject area.
For vocational entrants there is usually an element of training and development during the early years of employment. This may include opportunities to study subject areas that underpin NVQ qualifications, or may even lead to paid study for degree level qualifications. This really is “earn while you learn”.
All companies provide on-the-job training that allows individuals to function properly within their role, and some also offer the chance to develop further through external training.
Can I move through the company to higher levels?
Within most companies there are opportunities for employees to earn promotion. Many companies have a policy of developing their own staff to take on more senior roles, and help individuals with planning their career routes.
The Sector Skills Council, Cogent, have developed a “Careers Pathways” tool that can be used to identify the potential routes for progression within Process sector businesses. This, along with other information about the industry sector, can be found at: www.cogent-careers.com.
How much could I earn?
The salaries in the sector vary between individual companies and by different roles. In general, though, the earnings in the sector are higher than average earnings for a given role, and in many cases can be considerably so.
Examples of typical earnings, and progression routes within the industry can be found on the Cogent Careers Pathways tool at: www.cogent-careers.com.
Potential earnings for people who choose to develop their career in the process industry sector can be very competitive and benefits can also be very attractive.
How do I find out about opportunities?
There isn’t a single point of reference for vacancies, but by following the links to company websites from our Members section, you will be able to search for opportunities that exist. Many sites also provide information on selection processes, training and development and case studies of current employees - check some out, they’re packed with information!
There are a number of recruitment companies that specialise in the Process Industry sector. These can be found by following the link from our Members section to the “Recruitment” area.
