Rail
Network Rail, which owns and operates Britain’s rail infrastructure, is a big employer of engineers. It offers apprenticeships, a graduate programme and a conversion system where engineers from other industries can learn to become railway engineers. Major projects in which the company is involved include electrification of parts of Britain’s rail infrastructure, and numerous upgrades of stations.

The rail engineering arm of Balfour Beatty, which employs several hundred people, is another major destination for engineers. Balfour Beatty undertakes rail-enhancement projects, signalling and telecommunications, overhead line and track renewals nationwide. 

Japanese firm Hitachi Rail, meanwhile, will be looking for engineers to build the new fleet of bi-modal (capable of both diesel and electric operation) Inter City trains at a factory planned for Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Derby-based Bombardier, the last train manufacturer based in the UK, has endured a difficult time recently owing to the government’s decision to award a major contract to build new Thameslink trains to German engineering giant Siemens. There is hope that the factory will be able to win new business, however.

Another key rail project on the go includes London’s Crossrail system, which is in the early stages of construction.