The metals industry is part of the engineering manufacturing, science and mathematics sector, represented by Semta Sector Skills Council. This sector also includes the following industries: automotive manufacture; electronics and electrical equipment manufacture; mechanical equipment manufacture; transport equipment manufacture, including marine and aerospace; and science. Across the sector as a whole, the workforce comprises approximately 2 million people, working across around 75,000 companies. UK engineering and science turnover is over £250 billion. British engineering exports amount to 37% of total UK exports of goods and services. The UK is Europe’s top location for investment in pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development.
The UK metals industry comprises:
- Manufacture of basic metals – companies that are involved in the smelting and refining of ferrous (e.g. iron and steel) and non‐ferrous metals (e.g. copper, silver, aluminium) as well as those that produce bars, rods, tubes and carry out casting of metals.
- Manufacture of fabricated metal products – companies that manufacture structural metal products (such as tanks, reservoirs, prefabricated metal buildings, steam generators), treating and coating of metal, manufacture of cutlery, tools and general hardware and other fabricated metal products (such as metal packaging, screws, washers and other metal fasteners). This has the largest number of employees of all of the metals sub‐industries.
- Wholesale metals and scrap – companies involved in the wholesale of metals and metal ores and wholesale of waste and scrap. Energy savings can be made from the recycling of metals, especially aluminium, rather than extraction from ores. There is much interest in how to make‐up components with a view to disassembly and recycling at the end of a products lifecycle.
Research developments in the molecular structure of the materials and manufacturing processes have led to their extended use in modern buildings, vehicles, engines and turbines that as well as having applications in the aircraft industry, help to harness the energy of wind and waves.
Key facts:
- There are an estimated 412,600 people employed in the metals industry, across 33,240 workplaces in Great Britain.
- The greatest concentrations of employment in the metals industry are in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West.
- 90% of the metals workforce is full‐time.
- In engineering, an estimated 6% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Jobs in the industry range from: metallurgist, materials technician, materials engineer/scientist, foundry moulder/coremaker, foundry patternmaker, heat treatment operator, foundry process operator, manufacturing production manager, quality control inspector, sheet metal worker, welder, labourers in process and plant operations.
National and regional data
East Midlands – There are an estimated 37,700 employees in the regional workforce, in over 2,900 companies. There is a total requirement of 8,530 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: metal workers; Computer Aided Design (CAD); assembly line/production robotics; tool setting; tool makers; pattern making; and foundry skills. 48% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are metal products, mechanical equipment, aerospace and automotive. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Derby City, Leicester City, South Derbyshire, Charnwood, Hinckley and Bosworth and Ashfield.
East of England – There are an estimated 28,100 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 3,340 companies. There is a total requirement of 9,960 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: welding skills; Computer Aided Design (CAD); tool setting; fabrication; Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); Material Requirement Planning (MRP11); assembly line/production robotics; manufacturing; and toolmakers. 51% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are mechanical equipment, electronics and metal products. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Peterborough, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, Luton and Basildon.
London – There are an estimated 12,700 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 2,030 companies. There is a total requirement of 8,700 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Computer Aided Design (CAD); Material Requirement Planning (MRP11); CNC machine operation; tool setting; fabrication; metal workers; toolmakers; carpentry/woodwork; and machine operator (unspecified). 47% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are mechanical equipment, electronics and metal products. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Barking and Dagenham, Hillingdon, Ealing and Hounslow.
North East – There are an estimated 22,700 employees in the regional workforce, in 1,180 companies. There is a total requirement of 4,875 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: metal workers; Computer Aided Design (CAD); Materials requirement Planning (MRP11); welding skills; and craft skills. 56% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are mechanical equipment, metal products and automotive. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, Sunderland and Sedgefield.
North West – There are an estimated 44,300 employees in the regional workforce, in 3,700 companies. There is a total requirement of 13,595 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; technical drawing; welding skills; general engineering skills; moulding skills; fabrication; metal workers; and grinding. 49% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are metal products, mechanical equipment and aerospace. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Fylde, Knowsley, Crewe and Nantwich, Stockport, Oldham and Preston.
South East – There are an estimated 33,000 employees in the regional workforce, in just over 4,300 companies. There is a total requirement of 10,120 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Computer Aided Design (CAD); welding skills; assembly line/production robotics; fabrication; Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); Computer Aided Engineering (CAE); Materials Requirement Planning (MRP); Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); Statistical Process Control (SPC); tool setting; craft skills; general machining; metal workers; precision engineering; and foundry skills. 46% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around West Berkshire, Basingstoke and Deane, Milton Keynes, Eastleigh, Portsmouth, Crawley and Medway.
South West – There are an estimated 31,400 employees in the regional workforce, in just under 2,870 companies. There is a total requirement of 7,460 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; Computer Aided Design (CAD); Computer Aided Engineering (CAE); Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); tool setting; welding skills; general engineering skills; fabrication; and precision engineering. 47% of the workforce is employed as sheet metal workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are mechanical equipment, electronics and metal products. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Tewkesbury, Cheltenham, Stroud, South Gloucestershire, Bristol, Swindon, South Somerset, Poole and Plymouth.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 86,300 employees in the regional workforce, in 5,850 companies. There is a total requirement of 15,730 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; fabrication; Computer Aided Design (CAD); assembly line/production robotics; welding skills; general engineering skills; general machining; Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); Statistical Process Control (SPC); tool setting; moulding skills; metal workers; grinding; plating; and pattern making. 67% of the workforce is employed as metal making and treating process operatives. The largest industries in terms of employment are metal products, mechanical equipment and automotive. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Coventry, Dudley and Telford and Wrekin.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 57,900 employees in the regional workforce, in 3,580 companies. There is a total requirement of 13,595 employees needed in the region between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); general engineering skills; metal workers; Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); assembly line/production robotics; tool setting; moulding skills; and manufacturing. 72% of the workforce is employed as metal making and treating process operatives. The largest industries in terms of employment are metal products, mechanical equipment and automotive. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Rotherham and Kingston upon Hull.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 8,800 employees in the metals workforce. There is a total requirement of 500 employees needed per year between 2005 and 2014. 39% of the workforce is employed in the welding trades. Skills gaps include: welding; CNC machine operations; mechanical engineering skills; metalworking; and electrical engineering skills. The largest industries in terms of employment are electrical and electronics industry and the metals industry.
Scotland – There are an estimated 28,500 employees in the workforce, in just over 2,000 companies. There is a total requirement of 7,140 employees needed between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: CNC machine operation; Materials Requirement Planning (MRP11); metal workers; Computer Aided design (CAD); Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM); Computer Aided Engineering (CAE); Statistical Process Control (SPC); assembly line/production robotics; tool setting; general engineering skills; craft skills; fabrication; mechanical engineering; and turners. 62% of the workforce is employed as smiths and forge workers. The largest industries in terms of employment are electronics, metal products and mechanical equipment. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around the City of Glasgow, Fife, South Lanarkshire, the City of Aberdeen, North Lanarkshire and West Lothian.
Wales – There are an estimated 30,000 employees in the workforce, in just under 1,450 companies. There is a total requirement of 4,350 employees needed between 2007 and 2014. Skills gaps in the region include: Computer Aided design (CAD); fabrication; CNC machine operation; welding skills; general engineering skills; general machining; precision engineering; and machine operator (unspecified). 75% of the workforce is employed as metal making and treating process operatives. The largest industries in terms of employment are automotive, basic metals, mechanical equipment and aerospace. Engineering employment is geographically concentrated around Flintshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda, Cynon and Taff, Bridgend and Wrexham.
[N.B. Data derived from Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, Census, 2001, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007.]
