WHY NOT BE…A chemical engineer?

What do they do?

Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, maths and economics to the process of turning raw materials into everyday products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the products where chemical engineering plays a central role.

What will I earn?

According to the Institution of Chemical Engineers you can expect to receive from about £24,000 a year to £60,000-plus.

Who do I work for?
You could find yourself with companies in the oil and gas industry, in chemical and similar products, pharmaceuticals, energy and food industry, many of which are to be found in Northern Lincolnshire. There are also opportunities with government departments.

What qualifications do I need?

You should look to taking a chemical engineering degree course leading to a BEng or MEng.

Where do I find out more?

IChemE (Institution of Chemical Engineers) is the hub for chemical, biochemical and process engineering professionals worldwide. With a global membership of around 27,000, the Institution is at the heart of the process community, promoting competence and a commitment to best practice, advancing the discipline for the benefit of society and supporting the professional development of its members.
You can see more detailed information by visiting: http://cms.icheme.org and
http://www.whynotchemeng.com/Splashp

There are major opportunities in Britain’s chemical industry.

Companies such as those based in Northern Lincolnshire need a sustained supply of science and engineering graduates, says Lord Sainsbury, Tony Blair’s former Science and Innovation Minister.

He told the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) whynotchemeng reception in London: “We need to inspire more young people to take up careers in the process industries.

“The scientists and engineers of tomorrow will be responsible for finding solutions to many of the problems facing our planet. I passionately believe that the process industries have a key role to play in our transition to a more sustainable society.” Earlier this year, the Confederation of British Industries (CBI) warned that the UK requires 2.4 million new science and technology graduates by 2014.

Start of a great career

The number of students applying to study chemical and process engineering continues to grow according to the latest figures.

The 2007 intake has seen a 17 pr cent rise in applications and signals good news for chemical engineering departments across the UK.

Since 2002, there has been a 60 per cent increase in students opting to study the subject, with consistent year-on-year growth. This latest increase more than doubles last year’s rise of 8 per cent.

“It is great to see chemical engineering numbers on the rise for another consecutive year and I believe it can be strongly linked to our whynotchemeng campaign,” said IChemE’s (Institution of Chemical Engineers) CEO David Brown.

The whynotchemeng campaign promotes chemical engineering as an exciting, varied and worthwhile career-path to 14-17 year-olds in UK schools and further education colleges.

With over 8,600 applications to study chemical engineering in 2007, the promising salary, career and personal development opportunities offered by the discipline are clearly proving popular.

The contributions made by engineers and scientists tackling energy, waste and healthcare problems continue to hit the headlines. Developing alternative energy sources and designing more efficient processes are just two areas in which chemical engineers can often be found.

“Chemical engineers are delivering solutions to some of the big challenges facing humanity,” said Brown. “The more people we can recruit into the discipline, the better for our society as a whole.”