What is it?

Businesses in the Manufacturing sector are involved in the manufacture of a range of products, such as food, drink, tobacco, textiles, leather, paper, chemicals, fuel, rubber, plastic and metal as well as the manufacture of products from these materials such as vehicles and electrical equipment.

Facts and figures

• the sector contributed over £2.8bn to the Sussex economy in 2005, equal to approximately 15% of the area’s total GDP
• sector accounts for 9% of employment in Sussex (equal to around 52,400 employees)
• number of establishments in the sector has decreased by around 200 (4%) since 1998 while the number of employees decreased by 14,500 (22%) over the same period
• employees are more likely to work full-time than their equivalents in all industries (91% compared with 64%) and are more likely to be low skilled (with Level 1 or no qualifications) than those across all industries (47% compared with 40%)
• workers are less likely to be aged 29 or under than workers in all industries (20% compared with 23%)  and are more likely to travel between 5 and 30km to work (37% compared with 31%

source: Sussex Enterprise

Employers in Sussex

Some global players such as Omicron Nanotechnology and Edwards have bases in Sussex. Omicron is in East Grinstead and Edwards are at Shoreham, Newhaven and Burgess Hill. Many companies are represented in Crawley such as Vent Axia.

Higher education qualifications suitable for the sector

• foundation degrees / HNDs such as Engineering, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• undergraduate degrees such as Diploma in Design and Innovation, BSc Product Design with Professional Experience, BSc Sustainable Product Design, MEng Mechanical Engineering
• postgraduate degrees such as MSc Advanced Mechanical Engineering, MSc Manufacturing: Management and Technology, MSc Product Innovation and Development

Here we are focusing on higher education but there are many other qualifications and routes to study available including NVQs, Apprenticeships and BTEC awards. Talk to your local college or private training provider about what's available.

Where to study in Sussex

• University of Brighton
• University of Sussex
• Open University
• Central Sussex College
• Hastings College of Arts & Technology
• Northbrook College Sussex

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