Atherstone aerospace manufacturer ANT Industries is encouraging engineering graduates and apprentices to consider careers in the sector as the company prepares to mark National Manufacturing Day amid a record order book. Organised by Make UK, National Manufacturing Day takes place on Thursday 24 September, with manufacturers across the country opening their doors and highlighting the careers available within modern UK industry. The annual event has a particular focus on connecting manufacturers with schools, colleges and future talent.
For ANT Industries Managing Director Shaun Rowley, the event comes at an opportune time. The precision engineering specialist continues to grow its aerospace work and is seeing its order book reach new company records, creating further demand for skilled people capable of building careers in advanced manufacturing.
The recruitment message also follows the publication of the Guardian University Guide 2027 rankings for aerospace engineering, highlighting the strength of the UK’s university pipeline into the industry.
Imperial College London headed the aerospace engineering table with a Guardian score of 100, followed by Sheffield at 93.2 and Manchester at 89. Birmingham placed fourth, with Southampton and Bath sharing fifth position. Loughborough, South Wales, Bristol and Coventry completed the top ten places. Several of the universities recorded teaching satisfaction scores above 90 per cent, including Imperial, Sheffield, Bath, Loughborough and Coventry. The rankings also underline the geographical spread of aerospace engineering education across the UK, with 32 institutions included in the main table and further universities offering the subject outside the ranking.
Rowley believes manufacturers have an important role to play in turning that educational strength into long-term engineering careers.
“There are some excellent aerospace and engineering courses being delivered across the country, and we want those students to see UK manufacturing as somewhere they can build a serious career,” said Rowley.
“When you walk into a modern aerospace engineering business, you are working with advanced CNC machine tools, complex materials, exacting tolerances and components that ultimately form part of some of the world’s most sophisticated aircraft engines.
“We are breaking records with our order book at ANT Industries, so our message to talented young engineers is very simple: come and have a look at what this industry can offer you.”
The opportunity extends beyond university graduates. Apprenticeships remain an established route into aerospace manufacturing, combining engineering education with practical experience on the factory floor. Figures published by aerospace trade association ADS show that aerospace, defence, security and space businesses collectively support 468,500 direct jobs in the UK, including 29,000 apprentices. Employment across the four sectors has grown by 39 per cent over the past decade.
Recruitment is receiving renewed attention across aerospace as production increases. ADS launched its nationwide “There’s Aerospace For You” careers campaign this summer, backed by major industry names including Airbus, GKN Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and Safran. Its latest industry research found that 66 per cent of aerospace employers were experiencing persistent workforce and skills shortages. At ANT Industries, continued investment in machining capability has accompanied that growth in demand. The Atherstone business manufactures complex aero-engine components and has expanded its advanced manufacturing capacity as new packages of work have been secured.
Rowley sees bringing people into that environment early in their careers as central to developing the engineering knowledge required for the years ahead.
“Some people will arrive through university and others will begin as apprentices. Both routes can produce outstanding engineers,” he added.
“What matters to us is aptitude, curiosity and a genuine interest in engineering. There is something very rewarding about developing the skills to manufacture an aerospace component and knowing where that component is eventually going to operate.
“National Manufacturing Day gives our industry another opportunity to show young people what happens inside businesses like ANT Industries. Aerospace engineering offers the chance to keep learning throughout your career, work with some remarkable technology and contribute to an industry with a strong future here in the UK.”
National Manufacturing Day forms part of Make UK’s wider effort to showcase contemporary manufacturing careers. This year’s programme will see factories and engineering businesses welcome visitors across the country on 24 September, with aerospace among the industries represented.