When you think of working in the manufacturing sector, many people think of engineers and production operatives. However, the sector also produces many opportunities in other careers that are needed to support manufacturing. One such company is SHEA Global who provides Cloud Services to industry, offering leadership and guidance in recommending the best technology solutions for businesses.
Supporting industries such as high-tech engineering, manufacturing and food production in 20 different countries, SHEA Global offers IT-based roles to professionals who use their experience in manufacturing in order to better understand their customer's needs. In 2020, the UK based SHEA division employed three people who had all been in customer-facing roles in the past, two of whom already had the experience of working in manufacturing.
“Those who have worked in manufacturing in the past are very valuable to us as they have a better understanding of how our customers' businesses work. It is much easier for us from a training point of view to develop such employee's skills in IT. This is a great example of how manufacturing can open up new opportunities in terms of careers,” Roger Fleury, Practice Lead at SHEA Global, explained.
During the 2020 pandemic, the firm saw an increase in supplying these services to the sector. Roger added: “We noticed many manufacturers investing in our Cloud-based services during the pandemic as many people moved online to sell their products or services.”
Working in an IT-based role, such as with SHEA Global, is hugely beneficial to the sector, as they help manufacturers get up to speed with the digital world and offer the best platforms available to them.
Homeworking has also been a permanent aspect for employees at SHEA Global for the past 3 years, making it a tech-savvy and digitally minded place to work. This proves that working within the sector doesn't mean directly for a manufacturer but can include being in a role that helps support an industry vital for our economy.
Roger concluded: “There are so many roles in manufacturing and the opportunities are varied. Manufacturing creates a multitude of other jobs, like the work we do support the sector. It really is the lifeblood of the economy, bringing many different areas together.”