Yorkshire's Engineering Industry: An Overview for Employers and Engineers
The engineering industry in the UK is incredibly diverse – from building local infrastructure to developing cutting-edge aerospace technology – and it's booming with opportunities. In particular, Yorkshire stands out as a region where traditional industrial heritage meets modern innovation. This overview looks at the current state of the engineering sector in the UK and Yorkshire, highlighting key growth areas, notable employers, skills shortages, and how a specialist recruitment agency can help connect talent with opportunity.
The UK Engineering Industry at a Glance
Engineering and manufacturing remain a cornerstone of the UK economy, contributing around one-fifth of the nation's GDP jonlee.co.uk. The sector employs over 5.4 million people in engineering roles across the country, spanning disciplines from civil infrastructure and construction to aerospace, automotive, energy, and technology. Demand for engineers continues to outstrip supply – every year the UK needs tens of thousands of new engineers to meet industry demand, and many positions are going unfilled due to skills shortages.
Despite economic uncertainties in recent years, engineering has shown resilience and growth. In fact, manufacturing and engineering jobs have been on the rise again in many regions. Yorkshire – with its mix of urban centers like Leeds and Sheffield and industrial hubs along the Humber – has benefited significantly. Yorkshire and the Humber saw the largest jump in manufacturing employment of any UK region in a recent report, adding around 46,000 jobs in 2022 alone and bringing total manufacturing jobs to approximately 316,000 (about 11% of the region’s workforce). This bucked the old narrative of industrial decline, highlighting how the region is reinventing its engineering sector with new investment and technologies.
Yorkshire’s Key Engineering Sectors and Projects
Yorkshire has a rich engineering landscape that builds on its heritage (think steel, railways, textiles) while embracing future-facing industries. Here are some of the key sectors driving engineering hiring in Yorkshire today:
Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
Yorkshire is an advanced manufacturing powerhouse. South Yorkshire in particular has become a hub for high-tech manufacturing and materials engineering. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) near Sheffield, for example, brings together university researchers and companies to pioneer new techniques.
Global companies have been drawn to the region: Boeing opened its first European production facility in Sheffield in 2018, making precision actuation components for aircraft. McLaren Automotive chose Yorkshire for its £50m McLaren Composites Technology Centre, producing lightweight carbon-fibre parts for supercars. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems have significant operations in the region, from aerospace component manufacturing to advanced engineering design centres. This sector encompasses everything from cutting-edge metal forging at Sheffield Forgemasters (critical for nuclear and defense projects) to innovative medical device manufacturing and robotics startups in Leeds. For engineers, this means opportunities in CNC machining, materials science, automation, and research & development roles are plentiful in Yorkshire’s advanced manufacturing scene.
Green Energy and Renewables
Yorkshire is at the heart of the UK’s green energy revolution. The Humber estuary on the East Yorkshire coast has become a focal point for offshore wind power. At Hull, Siemens Gamesa operates a huge wind turbine blade factory – a facility so successful it is doubling in size and creating hundreds of new jobs. These massive 75-metre turbine blades built in Yorkshire help power record-breaking offshore wind farms like Hornsea Two in the North Sea. The region is also gearing up for the future of energy with investments in hydrogen and carbon capture. Initiatives like the Zero Carbon Humber project aim to make the Humber a hub for low-carbon hydrogen fuel and CO2 storage, creating engineering roles in chemical, process, and environmental engineering. Beyond the coast, inland Yorkshire hosts major power and utilities engineering as well. For instance, Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire, one of the UK’s largest power plants, has been shifting from coal to biomass and pioneering carbon capture technology. This site employs many engineers in the energy transition. With the UK’s commitment to net-zero, Yorkshire’s renewable energy sector (wind, bioenergy, and emerging hydrogen technology) offers exciting growth and a demand for engineers with electrical, mechanical, and environmental expertise.
Rail and Infrastructure
Railways have deep roots in Yorkshire – the region was a cradle of the rail industry – and today rail and infrastructure engineering is a major employer. Several big rail projects and companies are fueling demand.
Notably, Siemens Mobility recently opened a brand-new £200 million train factory in Goole, East Yorkshire, to build next-generation trains (including new London Underground tube trains). This state-of-the-art “rail village” is bringing hundreds of skilled jobs in mechanical, electrical, and rail systems engineering to the area, revitalizing Britain’s train manufacturing capability. Yorkshire is also central to key rail infrastructure upgrades: the TransPennine Route Upgrade (improving rail lines between York, Leeds, and Manchester) and proposals for Northern Powerhouse Rail mean ongoing work for civil and rail engineers in the region.
Major rail operators and engineering firms have bases here – for example, Network Rail has a significant presence in York, and companies like Hitachi Rail and Alstom (which maintain and build trains for UK railways) operate in or near Yorkshire. Beyond rail, general infrastructure and construction projects in Yorkshire’s cities (from new commercial developments in Leeds to flood defense schemes in the East Riding) also contribute to engineering hiring. Civil engineers, structural engineers, and project managers are in demand to modernize the region’s transport, housing, and utility infrastructure.
Notable Engineering Employers in Yorkshire
One measure of Yorkshire’s engineering strength is the roster of companies – from homegrown firms to multinational corporations – operating in the region. Here are a few notable engineering employers in Yorkshire across different sectors:
Siemens Gamesa (Hull) – Manufacturer of wind turbine blades for offshore wind farms. Its Hull factory is a cornerstone of the UK’s renewable energy manufacturing, employing over 1,000 people and expanding with new investment.
Siemens Mobility (Goole) – Rail engineering and train manufacturing facility opened recently in East Yorkshire, bringing high-tech train assembly back to the UK and creating jobs for mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing engineers.
Rolls-Royce (Rotherham) – Advanced aerospace manufacturing at the Advanced Manufacturing Park, including a facility that produces precision turbine blades for jet engines using cutting-edge casting techniques.
Boeing (Sheffield) – Aerospace giant’s first European factory, making components for Boeing’s aircraft. This site works closely with local partners and showcases Yorkshire’s ability to attract top-tier aerospace projects.
Sheffield Forgemasters (Sheffield) – A historic heavy engineering company specializing in large-scale steel forgings and castings (for example, parts for nuclear submarines and power plants). Now backed by government investment, it’s modernizing and continues to hire metallurgists and mechanical engineers.
Drax (Selby, North Yorkshire) – Operates Drax Power Station and related renewable energy projects. Engineers here work on power generation technology, biomass fuel systems, and pioneering carbon capture trials.
Arup, Atkins, and WSP (Leeds/York) – Global engineering consultancies with Yorkshire offices. They design and deliver infrastructure projects in the region (such as highways improvements, city regeneration, and rail upgrades) and employ a wide range of civil, structural, and environmental engineers locally.
Local Specialists and SMEs – In addition to the big names, Yorkshire has many small-to-medium engineering enterprises. For example, precision engineering firms in Huddersfield and Bradford supply components to automotive and aerospace supply chains; chemical and process engineering companies around Hull support the region’s sizable chemicals industry; and emerging tech startups in Sheffield and Leeds are working on everything from medical devices to electric vehicle technology. These smaller companies often work with local universities and play a crucial role in innovation and job creation.
(The above are just a few examples – the region hosts hundreds of engineering employers, offering roles at all levels from graduate engineers to senior project directors and leaders).
Skills Shortages and Opportunities for Engineers
Like the rest of the UK, Yorkshire faces a skills shortage in engineering. An aging workforce and too few new engineers entering the field have created a talent gap in critical areas. Nationally, it’s estimated that the UK has a shortfall of tens of thousands of engineers each year, and nearly half of engineering businesses struggle to recruit the skilled people they need. This challenge is very much felt in Yorkshire, where companies are competing to hire qualified engineers across all disciplines.
For employers, certain skill sets are especially scarce. Electrical and electronic engineers, for instance, are in high demand as manufacturing becomes more automated and as green energy systems (like wind turbines and electric vehicle infrastructure) scale up. Civil and rail engineers are needed for ambitious infrastructure projects. There’s also a growing need for engineers with hybrid skill sets – for example, mechanical engineers who also understand software and data analysis, or chemical engineers with environmental and sustainability expertise. The rise of Industry 4.0 and digital manufacturing means companies seek talent proficient in robotics, 3D printing, and data-driven process optimisation. Read the Top 10 High-Demand Engineering Skills in Yorkshire for 2025
For engineering professionals, this skills gap actually represents an opportunity. In today’s market, a talented engineer (whether an experienced chartered engineer or a newly qualified graduate) often has multiple job options in Yorkshire. Salaries and career progression in engineering are attractive and in many cases improving as firms compete for the best people. Graduates from Yorkshire’s universities (like the University of Sheffield, University of Leeds, etc.) are finding that engineering and technology degrees lead to strong employment rates and a chance to work on exciting projects right at home in Yorkshire. Additionally, apprenticeship and training programs in the region are ramping up to bring young talent into trades like machining, welding, and electrical installation – offering alternative pathways into engineering careers without a university degree. Read the 7 Qualities That Set Top Engineering Candidates Apart in Today's Job Market
The bottom line: if you have engineering skills, Yorkshire’s booming sectors want you. And if you’re a company, securing the right engineers is crucial but challenging – which is where specialist recruiters come in.
Why Work with a Specialist Engineering Recruitment Agency?
Both companies and job-seekers can benefit from partnering with a recruitment firm that truly understands engineering – and the local Yorkshire market. A specialist engineering recruitment agency focuses on matching the right engineers to the right roles, making the hiring process smoother for everyone. Here are some key benefits:
Industry Expertise: Specialist recruiters speak the language of engineering. They understand the technical qualifications and certifications (from CAD skills to chartered status) that different roles require. This expertise helps in accurately identifying candidates who fit niche roles, whether it's a CNC programmer for a precision machining company or a project manager for a wind farm installation.
Local Market Knowledge: A Yorkshire-focused recruitment firm knows the region’s employers and talent pool inside out. This means they can advise on local salary benchmarks, competition for certain skills, and where to find hidden talent. For example, they might know that a particular town has a cluster of experienced maintenance engineers due to a factory closure – insight you wouldn’t get from general nationwide job boards.
Access to a Talent Network: Good engineering recruiters maintain networks of passive candidates – professionals who aren't actively applying to job ads but would consider the right opportunity. Through their databases and relationships, agencies can tap into this network to find your “perfect fit” engineer, even if that person isn't currently on the job market.
Time and Cost Savings: For employers, using a recruitment agency can save significant time. The agency will handle advertising, initial screenings, and even preliminary interviews, presenting only the most suitable candidates. This speeds up hiring and reduces the risk of a bad hire. For candidates, having a recruiter means you get fast-tracked to serious openings – no more sending CVs into the void and waiting.
Personalised Guidance: Specialist agencies often provide a more personalised service. Employers get tailored hiring solutions (for instance, if you need to hire an entire project team, they can coordinate that). Candidates receive coaching on their CVs, interview prep, and honest career advice based on the recruiter’s knowledge of the engineering field. Essentially, the recruiter becomes a career partner and advisor.
Commitment to Long-Term Fit: Because a niche recruitment firm builds its reputation on successful placements, they aim for long-term fits. That means understanding the company culture and the candidate’s goals to ensure an engineer not only has the right skills but will thrive in that specific role. This leads to higher retention and satisfaction for both parties.
In short, working with a recruitment agency that specialises in engineering roles – like Yorkshire Precision – can be a game-changer. They bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, leveraging their industry know-how to benefit both hiring managers and engineers plotting their next career move.
Connecting Talent with Opportunity in Yorkshire
Yorkshire’s engineering industry is booming with innovation and projects – and behind every successful project is the right team of people. Whether you’re an employer looking to hire skilled engineers or an engineer seeking a new role on one of Yorkshire’s exciting developments, partnering with experts can give you an edge. As a specialist engineering recruitment firm rooted in Yorkshire, Yorkshire Precision is here to help. We understand the local market and the unique needs of both businesses and candidates. Get in touch with us to find out how we can support your hiring needs or advance your engineering career in Yorkshire’s thriving industry.
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