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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Manufacturing Production Workers in Somerset CLCI: SAB CRC:: NJ Manufacturing production operatives work in many types of industry. As examples they work for engineering companies, food factories, clothing companies, food and dairy factories, furniture makers and plastic factories. The work does not require so many skills as some jobs. It can be very routine but you do need to know what you are doing and get things right. To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your careers or Connexions library THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION WORKERS IN SOMERSET Somerset has more factories and manufacturing companies than many people imagine. Some towns have more factories than others. Overall around one-in-five of Somerset workers are employed in manufacturing. Lots of different things are made in Somerset including beds, yoghurts, machinery, helicopters, drinks and high-technology equipment Companies vary in size from having less than ten employees to several hundred (even more in one or two cases) HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Go to college/sixth-form to get some extra qualifications and start working when you are 17 or 18   Find a part-time or temporary job (possibly through an agency) in a factory as a starting point   Get a permanent job, with basic training, when you are 16   Start as a trainee – or apprentice – in a skilled job and go to college as part of your job USEFUL QUALIFCATIONS   GCSEs are not always needed for this type of job (but it can help to get some)   Many jobs come with basic training. A few might involve you doing NVQs at level 1 and 2 in manufacturing operations   As you take on new jobs, and things change, you’ll probably do company courses, learn about new production methods and brush up on health and safety More about qualifications, courses and training can be found in Moving On (published by Connexions Somerset) DO YOU KNOW? A company in Chard makes vacuum cleaners that are used in factories and office blocks all over the world WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. Otherwise pay varies depending on the employer, the work, shifts, hours and overtime. It might also depend on whether you are employed through an agency. As a rough guide you could be on around £100-150 per week in some jobs; £200-250 per week (and more) in others as you get older and more experienced FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   You need to be fairly practical and enjoy work that can be routine   Production work involves following procedures very carefully. Mistakes can be expensive!   You need to do your job well and meet strict quality standards   Some jobs are better for people over 18 because of night shifts and having to work with dangerous equipment and chemicals   You’ll be given training to do your job properly. In some factories you may have to know several different jobs and be able do them at different times   Promotion chances can be limited but, with quite a bit of experience, you could become a charge hand or supervisor   Machines and the way to do things change all the time. You’ll need to learn new things as you go along   If you are looking for a more skilled job it might be a good idea to think about an engineering apprenticeship WHO DOES THE WORK? Steve (25) trained as a mechanic but wanted to change his career. Eventually he got a job with a dairy company in Yeovil that manufactures ice cream and yoghurts. After three years Steve was promoted to become a team leader on the night shift. He still works on the production line but also looks after who does what and when Fiona (20) comes from Chard and works for a clothing firm as a machinist. By doing the job well Fiona was soon offered a special job producing samples of clothing that the other machinists copy to her standards. For Fiona this means more money and greater variety to her job More Info: A-Z Careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use