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What is this gateway?

Thinking about your Options?

Start shaping your future with the right choices.

Explore how the subjects and skills you’re learning now can lead to exciting careers in Engineering, Design & Manufacturing – a fast-moving sector packed with innovation, cutting-edge technology, and real-world impact. From designing the next generation of electric vehicles to building robots and 3D-printing aircraft parts, this is where creativity meets technical skill.

Check what’s available at your school and remember: choosing a strong mix of creative, technical, and analytical subjects keeps your options wide open and your future full of possibilities.

Core subjects

📖 English – Essential for technical report writing, presenting designs, client pitches, and clear communication in project teams and patents.

🔢 Maths – The backbone of all engineering: calculations, tolerances, stress analysis, cost modelling, and the language every designer and manufacturer speaks.

🧪 Science – Builds understanding of forces, energy, materials, chemistry and electricity – the real-world principles behind every product, machine and process you’ll design or make.

💻 Digital (Computing/IT) – Drives modern engineering: coding for automation, CAD/CAM software, 3D modelling, controlling robots, and running smart factories.

What to study?

Relevant Year 9 Options Subjects

Closely Linked Subjects

🎨 Art – Relevant for product design, prototyping, and aesthetics in manufacturing.
💼 Business – Important for understanding production, supply chains, and operations.
💻 Computer Science – Key for automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing.
🏗️ Construction & the Built Environment – Useful for infrastructure and industrial facility roles.
⚙️ Engineering – Core subject for manufacturing; covers design, materials, processes.
🧮 Further Maths – Valuable for design, analysis, and problem-solving in advanced manufacturing.
🧵 Textiles – Directly linked to textile manufacturing and design.
🔬 Triple Science – Especially Physics and Chemistry, which are foundational for understanding materials and processes.

Linked Subjects

🏃 BTEC Sports – Relevant for biomechanics, sports engineering, and ergonomics in product design.
📽️ Creative Media – Useful in product marketing, instructional design, or digital prototyping.
📸 Photography – May be relevant in product documentation or marketing.
🌍 Geography – Useful for logistics, sustainability, and environmental impact studies.
🩺 Health & Social Care – Useful in manufacturing of medical devices or health-related products.
🗣️ MFL – Useful for international manufacturing operations and communication.

Career areas

Unlock Careers in Engineering, Design & Manufacturing

See the exciting career areas you can unlock by studying subjects within the EDM Gateway. From designing smart factories to shaping sustainable materials and ensuring global supply chains run smoothly, these pathways turn your classroom learning into real-world impact.

The table below highlights the most popular and diverse roles currently in high demand—perfect starting points for your future.

Career Areas within this Gateway
✈️ Aerospace Engineer

🧪 Chemical Engineer

🏗️ Civil Engineer

🔬 Cryogenics Engineer

⚛️ Quantum Physicist

🦺 Welder

🚗 Zero Emissions Vehicle Engineer

🤖 Robotics Engineer

🎨 Product Designer

Post-16 opportunities

Below is a list of College courses, Click on the provider:

⚙️ Mechanical Engineer / Design Engineer – [Web link to page]
🏭 Manufacturing / Production Engineer – [Web link to page]
🤖 Robotics & Automation Engineer – [Web link to page]
🖨️ Additive Manufacturing Engineer – [Web link to page]
✍️ Industrial / Product Designer – [Web link to page]
🎛️ Control & Instrumentation Engineer – [Web link to page]
✅ Quality Engineer / Quality Manager – [Web link to page]
🧪 Materials Engineer – [Web link to page]
🔧 Maintenance & Reliability Engineer – [Web link to page]
🌿 Sustainable Manufacturing Engineer – [Web link to page]

Below is a list of companies offering training opportunities:

IAE – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Goodwins International – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Bowson Engineering Ltd – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]
Glebe Engineering – Stoke-on-Trent – [Weblink to page]