Many of the things that we use are made by hundreds of different industries in the UK. Examples include food and drink, textiles, aeroplanes, motor vehicles, steel, pharmaceutical products, electrical and electronic goods, clothing and footwear, chemicals and furniture.

The manufacturing industry is constantly changing as it meets the challenge of competition from overseas markets, where labour costs are often cheaper.

Modern manufacturing systems, ICT and new ways of working mean there are exciting career and job opportunities on offer for people with the right skills and qualifications.

Manufacturing used to be a key employer in Coventry and Warwickshire but the number of employees has reduced in recent years.

In the future unskilled jobs will be hard to find but there will still be opportunities for well-qualified people and manufacturing is still important to the area and the UK economy.

Design, research and development, and ICT will play a big part in the manufacturing industries of the future. It will also be heavily influenced by the need for low carbon energy generation and the need for a more efficient use of energy in the economy.

Updated 16/04/2010