W5 - Engineering

Engineering includes design, development and construction in a range of contexts, including: aeronautical, agricultural, chemical, civil, electrical, electronic, energy, environmental, ergonomic, marine, mechanical, mining, nuclear, and structural. 

Design, an essential part of engineering, is concerned with both how things work and how they look. 

Architecture is the planning and design of buildings and their environment.  

Engineers are employed in a wide range of large multinational, medium and small industries from light electronics to shipbuilding and road construction, as well as in academic institutions, and public and government agencies. 

Aeronautical engineers design and build aircraft and develop aerospace vehicles. 

Architects are involved with the design and construction of new buildings, as well as the restoration and conservation of older buildings, from earliest stages through to completion.  They are also involved in urban and rural planning. 

Chemical engineers design and operate equipment involved in manufacturing or processing products like cosmetics, food, fuels, fertilisers, paint and pharmaceuticals. 

The activities of civil and structural engineers include designing and supervising the construction of buildings, industrial plant, roads bridges and tunnels. 

Electrical and electronic engineers work mainly in designing electrical or electronic products, and developing and operating power generation systems, telecommunications and electronic control systems. 

Electricians lay and replace wiring in buildings, and maintain circuits and service machinery in manufacturing and service industries. 

Industrial Designers consider both functional factors and the look and feel of the end product of their design. 

The activities of mechanical engineers include designing and building machines, equipment and vehicles.    

For further information please see: 

 
SEMTA (Science, Engineering, Manufacturing Technologies Alliance)

14 Upton Road     Watford    WD18 0JT
Tel:  01923 238441      Fax:  01923 256086     Email: infodesk@semta.org.uk
Semta Learning Advice Line (free) 0800 282 167
Website:  www.semta.org.uk - Choose careers information advice and guidance

Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland)  

Interpoint   20 - 24 York Street   Belfast BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878    Fax: 028 9031 0301
Website:  www.etcni.org.uk - Choose careers

Institute of Physics  

76 Portland Place     London     W1B 1NT
Tel:  020 7470 4800      Fax:  020 7470 4848      Email: schools.education@iop.org
Website  www.iop.org - Choose about careers in physics

The Institute of Mathematics and its Applications    

16 Nelson Street     Southend on Sea     Essex     SS1 1EF
Tel: 01702 354020      Fax: 01702 354111      Email:  post@ima.org.uk
Website:  www.ima.org.uk - Choose careers

General information on Northern Ireland based careers can be found on www.careersserviceni.com - Choose explore careers. 

Courses in engineering and associated areas are available at a number of higher education institutions.  Please see the UCAS site www.ucas.ac.uk for more information - Choose students then courses.  

For information on modern apprenticeships, see the Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland) site www.etcni.org.uk - Choose careers then modern apprenticeships.