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A career or further study in the Engineering sector is packed with exciting opportunities right now. The Diploma helps to prepare you for them by giving you the skills and experience you need to succeed. What’s different about the Diploma is that businesses in the industry are investing their time to help you do this.

This is why you’ll be learning about developing, designing and making things from the people who know - as well as solving practical problems. What the sector can offer keen young people in return is lots of variety, the chance to work with (and design) new technologies plus great rewards.

So, what’s it really like?
Engineering is an industry with a really proud past that’s still going strong today. There are around 800,000 engineers in the UK, making a real difference to our everyday lives.

They’ve given us wind turbines and low-carbon car engines; they make our food and drink safe to consume, and they keep our buildings from toppling over and letting in water with clever design. Plus a whole lot more.

It’s a big sector, with hundreds of different types of jobs to do. Just look at military aircraft and equipment, for example. Many types of engineer are needed to do this kind of work, including those who specialise in aeronautical, structural, electronic and mechanical disciplines.

Then take aerospace (planes and space travel). A massive 250,000 people work in it, which makes the UK engineering industry second only to the US in size. Now think about phones. There’s hundreds of companies in the UK, from mobile operators to internet service providers like BT, Cable and Wireless and Orange.

So, you could have a big choice of employers as an engineer. And we haven’t even mentioned civil engineering, pharmaceuticals...the list goes on.

That should give you an idea of how big an area this is to explore, whether you’re thinking of working in it or studying more about it. By doing the Diploma in Engineering, you’ll get the chance to do just that: Explore everything.

Useful links

Visit Go Engineer to get inspired about engineering, and all the things you can do in it. Also try Construction Skills (the sector skills council) and U-xplore too.

Have a look at Planet Science, where you can find loads of cool science facts and things to do plus links to other good sites. And Engineering Education, where you might get some good ideas for your project.