UK semiconductor centre

Developing your workforce

Find, develop and retain the skills your organisation needs.

Building a skilled, diverse and resilient workforce is essential to the future success of the UK semiconductor industry.

Whether you're looking to attract new talent, develop the skills of your existing employees or create a more inclusive and supportive workplace, there are resources, programmes and initiatives to help your organisation thrive. Discover opportunities to recruit, train and retain talent, while playing an active role in strengthening the wider industry through collaboration, knowledge sharing and cross-industry initiatives that help develop the semiconductor workforce of tomorrow.

Find your people

Finding the right people is essential to building a successful semiconductor business. Whether you're recruiting experienced specialists, looking for emerging talent or creating opportunities for apprentices and graduates, there are a range of job platforms, careers services and specialist recruitment networks that can help you reach the right candidates. Explore the resources below to advertise vacancies, connect with potential applicants and attract the skills your organisation needs to grow.

Gradcracker

Gradcracker is the UK's careers website for STEM students. It is where employers attract candidates for their degree apprenticeship, placement and graduate roles

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UKESF Scholarships

Support undergraduates with internships and placements to gain experience and develop the skills they need to thrive in the semiconductor industry

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Prospects

Prospects provide a graduate career and postgraduate study recruitment options and work in close partnership with HE and further education (FE) professional bodies and government

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Help build the workforce of tomorrow

Developing the next generation of semiconductor talent is a shared responsibility – and every organisation has a role to play. By sharing your expertise, engaging with schools and colleges, offering work experience, mentoring young people or contributing to industry-wide skills initiatives, your business can help inspire future talent and create more accessible pathways into the sector.

Engage with schools and your regional cluster

Connecting with your local semiconductor cluster or regional industry network is a great way to collaborate with other businesses, education providers and skills organisations. Building relationships with local schools and colleges can help young people discover the opportunities available in the semiconductor industry. Whether it's delivering careers talks, supporting STEM activities, attending careers fairs or welcoming students into your workplace. More info.

Offer placements and insight days

Give students and people considering a career in semiconductors the opportunity to experience the industry first-hand. From work experience placements and internships to workplace visits, insight days and job shadowing, opening your doors can help people understand the different roles available, develop practical skills and make more informed career choices. It's also a valuable way to introduce your organisation to potential future employees.

Support industry outreach programmes

Get involved in established initiatives that help introduce young people to engineering, electronics and semiconductor careers. By contributing expertise, offering industry speakers, hosting activities or supporting programme delivery, your organisation can help inspire new talent, broaden participation and encourage more people from different backgrounds to consider a future in the sector. More info.

Encourage your staff to become STEM Ambassadors

Give your employees the opportunity to inspire the next generation by becoming STEM Ambassadors. Through this established volunteering programme, people working in the industry can share their experiences, support educational activities and help young people understand where STEM subjects could take them. Encouraging staff to participate is also a great way to develop their communication and mentoring skills, while demonstrating your organisation's commitment to the future workforce.

Train your workforce

Keeping up with new tools and technologies can help you broaden the skill set of your staff, helping them to stay relevant and opening up new career opportunities. Whether it’s learning new design and simulation software, developing coding or data skills, or gaining experience with specialist equipment and manufacturing techniques, explore training and resources that can help you add new capabilities to your teams.

Chip Design Enablement Programme

The Chip Design Enablement Programme (CDEP) aims to lower the barriers for early stage UK start-ups developing prototype ICs.

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Duolos

Doulos is an independent company entirely dedicated to developing the skills, capability and productivity of engineers designing tomorrow's electronic systems on a chip.

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Continuing Professional Development

The semiconductor industry has a number of structured learning programs that help professionals maintain, improve, and broaden their skills and knowledge throughout their careers.

Build new qualifications within your team

Learning doesn’t stop once somebody is established in the industry. Whether its gaining a new technical qualification, specialising in a different area or taking a career to the next level, there are opportunities to continue education at every stage – from vocational and higher technical qualifications through to degrees, postgraduate study and doctoral programmes. Explore the different levels of study available to your teams.

Level 1

An early opportunity to develop practical, digital, maths and employability skills that can support progression towards technical training or an apprenticeship. Students typically focus on core GCSE Physics, Mathematics, and specialist GCSE Electronics or Engineering topics.

Level 2

Courses and apprenticeships can begin developing the practical engineering, manufacturing, electronics and technical skills relevant to semiconductor environments.

Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (Semiconductors) (Wales).
Lean Manufacturing Operative apprenticeship (England).
Engineering Operative apprenticeship (England).
Engineering and Manufacturing Foundation Apprenticeship (England).

Level 3

Study subjects such as maths, physics, engineering, electronics, computing or chemistry at A-level, undertake a relevant apprenticeship, or use Level 3 study as a route into higher education.

General Engineering Diploma (England).
Engineering Maintenance Technician – Single Discipline apprenticeship (England).

Level 4

Develop specialist knowledge in areas such as electronics, electrical engineering, manufacturing, engineering systems or related disciplines. Can provide a route directly into technical roles or further study.

HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering (England).
HNC Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Wales).
Engineering Manufacturing Technician apprenticeship (England).

Level 5

Build deeper technical expertise for roles across semiconductor manufacturing, equipment, testing, packaging, maintenance and engineering, or progress towards degree-level study.

HND Electrical and Electronic Engineering for England (England).
HND Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Wales).

Level 6

One of the main routes into semiconductor engineering and technology careers. Relevant undergraduate subjects include electronic & electrical engineering, physics, materials science, chemistry, computer science, chemistry and related disciplines.

You can also undertake degree apprenticeships, where part of your time is spent studying and part is spent working full-time in industry. Examples of relevant degree apprenticeships include:

Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineer Degree (England).
BSc (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree Apprenticeship (Wales).
Apprenticeship in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (BEng Hons) (Wales).
BEng Integrated Engineering Degree Apprenticeship (Wales).
BEng (Hons) Engineering Design and Manufacture (Electronic) Graduate Apprenticeship (Scotland).
BEng (Hons) Engineering: Design & Manufacture Graduate Apprenticeship (Scotland).
BEng (Hons) Graduate Apprenticeship Engineering (Design and Manufacture)(Scotland).
BEng (Hons) Engineering Design & Manufacture (Graduate Apprenticeship)(Scotland).
BEng (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Northern Ireland).

Level 7

Develop expertise in areas such as semiconductor devices, IC design, photonics, compound semiconductors, materials, advanced manufacturing, AI hardware and other specialist fields.

MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (England).
MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Scotland).
MSc Compound Semiconductor Electronics (Wales).
MSc Compound Semiconductor Physics (Wales).
MSc Microelectronics Systems Design (England).
MSc Electronic Engineering (Northern Ireland).
MSc Electronics (Scotland).
MSc Electronics & Photonics Manufacturing (Scotland).
MSc Nanoscience & Nanotechnology (Scotland).
MSc Electronic & Electrical Engineering (Scotland).

Level 8

Undertake original research at the forefront of semiconductor science and engineering. UK semiconductor-related Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) provide structured doctoral training alongside industry engagement and specialist technical development.

More info on CDTs can be found here.

Develop your people through world-class research facilities

Give your team opportunities to develop new skills, gain hands-on experience and work with cutting-edge technologies through the UK's network of shared research and innovation facilities. From specialist equipment and laboratories to technical expertise and collaborative projects, these facilities can help your employees build practical knowledge, explore new techniques and develop capabilities that may not be available within your own organisation. Explore the facilities and opportunities available to support your workforce's professional and technical development.

The UK’s Innovation and Knowledge Centres (IKCs) bring together universities, industry and specialist expertise to accelerate the development and commercialisation of emerging technologies. For semiconductor businesses, they offer opportunities to access advanced facilities, collaborate on research and innovation, and help employees develop new technical skills through hands-on experience.

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You can also explore support, opportunities and resources tailored to where you are in your journey – whether you’re studying, teaching or advising, already working in the industry, or an employer.