Which UK engineering firms have been expanding their job roles in 2024?
Several large firms with UK offices have significantly expanded their engineering job roles this year. This expansion could be a boon to new graduates or those looking to change roles and fit into new teams. Here are a selection of prominent firms that have been expanding this year:
Rolls-Royce: Known for its aerospace and defence engineering, Rolls-Royce has been actively hiring engineers to support its projects in sustainable aviation and power systems.
It has created 1,000 jobs in Derby after the Australian Government confirmed it would be investing in its ongoing AUKUS nuclear submarine preparations. The new commitment is in addition to the expansion funding already committed by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Siemens: Siemens has been expanding its engineering teams, particularly in the areas of automation, digitalisation, and smart infrastructure.
It announced plans to invest £100m in a brand-new manufacturing and R&D centre in Chippenham, with over 800 skilled workers being employed to build the next generation of rail signalling and control systems for Britain, keeping the rail and transport network on track.
BAE Systems: As a major player in defence and security, BAE Systems has been recruiting engineers to work on advanced defence technologies and cybersecurity.
In December it announced a new recruitment drive for 2024 with almost 2,700 new apprentice and graduate opportunities available to young people across the UK. The Company has more than doubled its early careers intake in the past five years.
Jaguar Land Rover: Another UK firm expanding its engineering workforce, fuelled by its commitment to becoming an all-electric car company by 2039. JLR is focusing on electric vehicle (EV) development, battery technology, and autonomous driving systems, which require a significant boost in engineering talent.
The firm has created 250 jobs with a particular focus on new electrification engineers at its facilities in Garden and Whitley in the West Midlands.
Balfour Beatty: The leading international infrastructure group that is significantly expanding its engineering roles to meet the growing demand for infrastructure development in the UK.
In collaboration with Costain, it is developing a new £4bn power station and carbon-capture scheme. The package will see the construction of a new a gas-fired power station in Teesside with a pipeline to a new storage facility. The framework is set to support more than 3,000 construction jobs – including engineering roles – with more than 1,000 jobs then created to run the facility until 2050.
Arup: This global engineering consultancy has been increasing its workforce to handle a growing number of projects in sustainable urban development and infrastructure.
Are you considering a career move in engineering, or just curious about industry trends? Either way, this list could point you in the right direction.