PLC & SCADA Training in Bristol
CPD Accredited Industrial Automation Training for Bristol Professionals
In-person at our Milton Keynes centre or live online from Bristol
Industrial Automation in Bristol
Bristol is the epicentre of the UK's aerospace industry, with Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and GKN Aerospace all maintaining major design and manufacturing operations at Filton and Patchway. The Bristol & Bath Science Park and Emersons Green Enterprise Area further strengthen the city's position as a high-tech manufacturing hub. The growing robotics cluster, supported by the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at UWE, means PLC and automation skills are increasingly critical across the region.
Key Industries in Bristol
Major Employers
Also Serving
Bath · Filton · Yate · Weston-super-Mare · Clevedon · Keynsham
The Automation Landscape in Bristol
Bristol's automation scene is heavily driven by its aerospace cluster at Filton, where Airbus designs and manufactures aircraft wings using extensively automated production lines with KUKA robots and Siemens PLC systems. Rolls-Royce's Patchway facility assembles defence engines with precision automation, while GKN Aerospace produces composite aerostructures using automated fibre placement machines. The Bristol Robotics Laboratory at UWE, the UK's largest co-located robotics research centre, is pushing the boundaries of autonomous systems. Hinkley Point C nuclear power station, under construction nearby, requires thousands of PLC-controlled safety and monitoring systems.
Did You Know?
Airbus's Filton wing assembly facility uses automated drilling machines that can position over 60,000 fastener holes per wing to an accuracy of 0.1mm, all controlled by networked PLC systems coordinating with robotic assembly cells.
Career Outlook in Bristol
Bristol automation engineers earn £36,000-£58,000, with aerospace roles at Airbus and Rolls-Royce at the top end. The region is experiencing a skills shortage in controls engineering, meaning qualified PLC engineers can negotiate strong packages. The South West's pivot towards nuclear (Hinkley Point C) and renewable energy is creating a new wave of process control roles that complement the established aerospace demand.
Real Automation Projects in Bristol
The skills you learn with EDWartens are directly applicable to these types of projects happening in and around Bristol.
Airbus Filton wing assembly automated drilling and fastening cell PLC programming
Hinkley Point C nuclear safety instrumentation and control system installation
Rolls-Royce Patchway engine test cell automated data acquisition and SCADA
Renishaw Wotton-under-Edge precision measurement equipment production line automation
Our Courses
Training Programmes for Bristol Professionals
Professional Module
PLC, SCADA, HMI & FactoryIO
- Duration: 5 Working Days + Online Recorded Sessions
- Language: English
- Delivery: Live Online + In-person (Milton Keynes, UK)
- Covers: Siemens TIA Portal, SCADA, HMI, FactoryIO
- Certificate: CPD Accredited
£2,140 + VAT full programme
View full course detailsAI Module
AI in Industrial Automation
- AI & Machine Learning for Automation
- Computer Vision for Quality Inspection
- Predictive Maintenance with AI
- CPD Accredited Certification
What You'll Learn in the Professional Module
A comprehensive 5-day intensive programme with online recorded sessions covering everything from PLC fundamentals to advanced SCADA systems — designed to make you job-ready.
Day 1–2: PLC Fundamentals
- •Siemens S7-1200 & S7-1500 hardware
- •TIA Portal software setup & navigation
- •Ladder Logic & Function Block programming
- •Digital & analog I/O configuration
Day 3: Advanced PLC Programming
- •Structured Text (ST) programming
- •Timer, counter & comparator functions
- •Data handling & memory management
- •Program debugging & testing
Day 4: SCADA & HMI Systems
- •WinCC SCADA configuration
- •HMI screen design & navigation
- •Alarm management & trending
- •Data logging & historical reports
Day 5: Networking & Projects
- •PROFINET & PROFIBUS protocols
- •Ethernet/IP communication
- •PLC-to-PLC data exchange
- •Network troubleshooting techniques
Online: Simulation & Assessment
- •FactoryIO 3D simulation
- •Real-world automation scenarios
- •Conveyor, sorting & batch processes
- •Final capstone project & assessment
Career & Certification
- •CPD Accredited certificate
- •CV building & LinkedIn optimisation
- •Interview preparation & mock interviews
- •Direct introductions to hiring employers
Automation Opportunities in Bristol
The industrial automation sector in Bristolis growing rapidly. Here's why PLC and SCADA skills are in high demand.
£35k – £75k
Average automation engineer salary range in the UK
Career Roles Available in Bristol
Bristol Industry Demand
The Aerospace, Defence, Robotics sectors in Bristol are actively investing in automation. Companies like Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace regularly recruit PLC and SCADA engineers.
Average salaries for automation engineers in the UK range from £35,000 to £65,000, with senior roles commanding £70,000+.
The UK faces a shortage of over 20,000 automation engineers, making this one of the fastest routes to employment after training.
Technologies Covered
Why Train Now?
Upcoming Batches
Reserve Your Spot
All courses are delivered as live online sessions in English with limited seats per batch for personalised attention. In-person attendance also available at our Milton Keynes training centre.
UK-PROF-W14-2026
UK-AI-W14-2026
UK-PROF-W13-2026
Why EDWartens
Why Bristol Engineers Choose EDWartens
CPD Accredited
Internationally recognised CPD accreditation, valued by UK and European employers.
Hands-on Labs
Real Siemens S7-1200/1500 PLCs, Allen-Bradley, SCADA systems, and FactoryIO simulation.
Career Support
Dedicated placement team connecting graduates with employers like Airbus and Rolls-Royce.
Flexible Delivery
Attend in-person at our Milton Keynes centre or join live online sessions from Bristol.
Getting to Our Training Centre from Bristol
Our training centre is located in Milton Keynes, easily accessible from Bristolby train or car. Milton Keynes Central station has excellent connections to all major UK cities. Can't travel? Join our live online sessions instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
PLC Training in Bristol — FAQs
Is PLC training available in Bristol?
Yes — EDWartens offers CPD accredited PLC training accessible from Bristol. Our Milton Keynes centre is 1.5 hours by train from Bristol Temple Meads, or you can join live online sessions. The course covers Siemens TIA Portal, SCADA, HMI, and FactoryIO.
What PLC jobs are available in Bristol?
Bristol has strong demand for PLC engineers across aerospace (Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN), nuclear (Hinkley Point C), defence (Leonardo, Thales), and robotics. Salaries range from £35,000 for junior roles to £58,000+ for senior controls and safety systems engineers.
Is aerospace a good sector for PLC engineers in Bristol?
Aerospace is Bristol's strongest sector for automation careers. Airbus, Rolls-Royce, and GKN Aerospace all have major manufacturing operations at Filton and Patchway, using Siemens and Allen-Bradley PLCs extensively. The sector offers competitive salaries, structured career progression, and long-term stability.
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