Science & engineering

Glasgow has a smaller number of people employed in manufacturing than the rest of Scotland; only 6% of the workforce. Traditional engineering industries such as Shipbuilding have seen employment numbers fall.  However, new manufacturing industries such as life sciences and biotechnology are forecast to be this century’s most dynamic growth areas.

Scotland has one of the largest and fastest growing life science sectors in Europe. Scotland is home to nearly 15 per cent of the UK’s life science companies; over 590 organisations employing 29,500 people. Over 70% of Scotland’s core life science organisations focus on Health Care.

Scottish Enterprise Glasgow estimated that in 2004, there were 50 companies in Glasgow, with a total of 880 jobs, operating in the bioscience, medical device and related areas. It was estimated the total number of jobs in this sector, including those at Glasgow’s universities, was nearly 4,000.

Read our case studies on science and engineering.

Key facts and figures

• Between 2007 and 2017 there will be 62,000 new science/technology job opportunities in Scotland at graduate and technician level.
• The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research is one of the largest cancer research institutes in the UK employing 240 researchers.
• There are also job opportunities in Engineering at craft level.  Over 13% of the Modern Apprenticeships in Glasgow are in engineering trades.

See weblinks for local employers.

For more information on science and engineering, the following websites are useful:

SEMTA - Science, Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies Alliance

Life Sciences Scotland - for infromation on the life sciences industry in Scotland

Careers Scotland - for careers information on science and engineering careers