Small engineering firms tend either to work in niche markets or supply components or specialist expertise to larger companies.

The Government defines small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as companies with up to 250 employees, although many are far smaller.

Turnovers range from around £50,000 to several million pounds, and salaries are generally lower than in large companies, although the opportunities for fast progression may be greater.

SMEs are typically situated near their customers and are less likely to be in city centres, as the business rents are too high.

The pros

Consider working for an SME if you:

• want to be hands-on from the word go
• are looking to specialise in depth
• work best in an informal environment
• are flexible about what you do and when
• expect to progress quickly.

The cons

Think again if you:

• are looking for a good salary and a company pension
• want lots of holidays
• are reluctant to work long hours at short notice
• don't like 'mucking in'
• would need to transfer if there was a personality clash.