FTSE 100 engineering company Smiths Group has announced plans to create 500 additional early careers roles over the next five years, in a move aimed at young people struggling to find their first job in engineering.

The company, which owns John Crane and Flex-Tek, launched the next stage of its early careers strategy on 4 November. The 500 roles will sit across its three businesses and its group operations, with key hubs in the UK, the United States, Mexico, India and the Czech Republic. Smiths employs more than 10,000 people worldwide.

Five routes into engineering

The expanded programme offers five routes in: internships and industrial placements, scholarships, graduate programmes, apprenticeships and work experience. It is structured around five stages — Explore, Aspire, Discover, Grow and Inspire — designed to give practical experience and clear progression at different points in a young person's education and early career.

Kini Pathmanathan, Smiths' chief people, sustainability and excellence officer, said too many young people were struggling to find a meaningful career and that a business like Smiths should be part of the solution. Sally-Anne Williams, the company's head of early careers, said the commitment was intended to develop the next generation of engineers, scientists, innovators and leaders.

The announcement comes as young people face a difficult jobs market, with employers increasingly seeking experienced hires. Smiths said the new roles would help meet growing demand for engineering and technical skills in strategically important locations.

The company describes the 500 figure as an aspiration rather than a confirmed hiring total, and it has not published a breakdown of how many of the roles will be in the UK or when applications for each route will open. Jobseekers should check Smiths' early careers pages for live vacancies rather than treating the announcement as 500 open jobs today.

Sources: Smiths Group official news listing, Smiths to create 500 new early careers roles over the next five years, 4 November 2026; India Education Diary, Smiths to create 500 new early careers roles over the next five years, 4 November 2026.