Professional Development - Registering the benefits04 April 2005

When it comes to professional engineering registrations, the SOE is punching above its weight. In 2004 there were 189,406 Chartered Engineers (CEng), 42,905 Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and 12,554 Engineering Technicians (Eng Tech) registered with the Engineering Council UK (ECuk). Of those, the SOE had the second highest number of EngTech registrations of all the institutions, at 2,181, and the third highest number of IEng registrations, at 3,652. CEng numbers, at 372, are comparatively low. But across the whole engineering community, numbers are no way near as high as they should be for such an important profession. In 2000 the Malpass Report revealed that 85% of Britain's engineers and technologists were not affiliated to any of the engineering institutions. The picture has changed little since then.

In a bid to boost the number of registered engineers and technicians in the UK over the next three years, the etb (the Engineering and Technology Board) has established a £1m fund to promote registration. The fund is designed to support the work of engineering institutions and other organisations in the promotion of professional standards based on the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) published by the ECuk. Engineering institutions, employers, academic and promotional bodies, trade unions and examining bodies are all eligible to make applications to the fund.

Benefits

So why register? Professional registration sets apart engineers and technicians who are registered from those who are not and brings many benefits to the individual, the employer, the UK economy and the engineering community at large. It validates engineers' proven knowledge, understanding and competence, demonstrating a commitment to professional standards, and to developing and enhancing competence.

Professional status can boost career prospects with the current employer and give the individual the edge in job applications. "A lot of jobs are advertised with CEng as desirable but not mandatory," says Jim McConnell. "My view is that CEng gives you a competitive advantage in the jobs marketplace because you've taken the initiative to get yourself assessed independently to see if you've met a certain level of competence." More countries formally recognise the UK's IEng and CEng designations. For engineers seeking posts in Europe or the USA, where professional registration carries a lot of weight, it is virtually a prerequisite.

McConnell would like to see professional status made mandatory for more UK jobs and believes it would give engineering a much higher position in society, on a par with other professions and other countries. "If you went to a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant or any other professional and they told you they were only qualified by experience not assessment, you'd think twice and want to see something to back it up. It's the same for engineering."

From an employer's perspective, having registered engineers can enhance a company's standing and credibility. In some cases, evidence of employing Chartered and Incorporated Engineers is essential for the award of contracts in the UK and internationally. In all cases, employers have the assurance of knowing that their employees have had their competence assessed, their credentials verified, and their commitment to continuing professional development established. They will have gained the recognition of their peers as meeting UK and international standards for knowledge and experience. It also means that they are governed by a professional code of conduct. Maintaining registration ensures that they are exposed to new developments in their profession - a mutual benefit to employer and employee.

Registration process

Application for registration is normally based on academic qualification, backed up by evidence of development and relevant experience. Exemplifying qualifications at CEng level are a Bachelors degree with honours in engineering or technology, plus an appropriate Masters degree or appropriate further learning to Masters level, or an integrated MEng degree. For IEng the requirements are an accredited Bachelors degree in engineering or technology, or an HND or Foundation degree plus appropriate further learning to degree level. At EngTech level, candidates may apply for registration if they hold a National Certificate or National Diploma in engineering, the City & Guilds Higher Professional Diploma in Engineering, a technical certificate as part of an approved advanced apprenticeship programme, a Level 3 NVQ/SVQ or similar qualification.

Applicants need to show how they meet the required standards for the appropriate level. Eligible applicants are invited to attend a professional review where their competence is assessed by their peers, who have been trained in this type of assessment. Peter Hills, Professional Review Interviewer at IEng level, comments: "One of the things the PRI must understand is the business of the candidate and be able to interpret the requirements of the standard in that context. I think our Institution is good at that. For example in my company, engineers don't have financial accountability in that they don't manage budgets but every decision they make affects money - they could shut down a plant, for instance."

Alternative route

The SOE now offers an alternative route to registration for members who do not have formal academic qualifications at the right level but are able to demonstrate that they have achieved the required standard of engineering competence. Candidates may write a technical report, based on their experience, for examination by assessors who, if they agree that the standard is satisfactory, will then interview the candidate on the submission and any other relevant matters. The purpose is to judge whether, through experience, the candidate has gained the level of knowledge and understanding expected of an engineer who has satisfied the requirement through the academic route.

Understanding requirements and starting the process of registration as early as possible is key. Many registrants leave it until they realise they need to advance their careers or move into another field, and changes in requirements can hinder the process. "With the move from SARTOR to UK-SPEC, we've changed the process significantly and it's going to take another couple of years for that to bed in," says McConnell. "People shouldn't see it as a laborious exercise and leave it until late in their careers. They can start the process as soon as they graduate. We should target people at university and educate faculty heads to encourage young engineers to aim for Incorporated and Chartered status."

Jim McConnell CEng

Jim McConnell gained IEng status in 1991 and upgraded to CEng in 1996. From a technician apprenticeship he completed an HNC and went on to gain a first class BEng degree in manufacturing systems engineering through part-time study. His career started in the marine industry, where he worked on oil rig and commercial ship design, then took him into the aircraft industry. Positions as site technical manager at a packaging company and production manager at Allied Domecq followed, before he joined BAE Systems Naval Ships. There he has held a range of engineering management roles, including the setting up of engineering processes for the Type 45 Destroyer. His current role is facilities manager for two shipyards on the Clyde. It covers all disciplines of plant and operations engineering on the asset management side and capital investments on the civil engineering side.

He became Chartered because he wanted recognition that he could operate as a professional. "It's necessary for us as an engineering community to see ourselves as professionals. One of the vehicles for gaining a professional image is to have independent assessment of competence. If engineering becomes more of a recognised profession, jobs will start to appear where you do need to have Chartered status." His employer supports his continued registration through paying his annual Institution membership fee. "For engineering employers it gives credibility that they have professional engineers working in the company," McConnell says.

Continuing professional development (CPD) is important to McConnell, who gained a CPD certificate of merit with the IEE before he transferred to IPlantE. Since his degree he has added to his qualifications with a postgraduate diploma in engineering management, a certified diploma in accounting and finance, and an ACCA diploma in corporate governance. Last year he acted as Open University tutor in personal and career development in engineering - a mandatory course on the honours degree programme. Now he is doing an MAEd in Leadership and Management with the OU. "A good chunk of my CPD has been on the management side. I've not done much on the technical side academically but have exposed myself to technical projects like the Type 45 Destroyer, with all the new technology on it, to keep up to speed."

McConnell is keen to progress his career within BAE Systems, saying: "There's still room for me to move here and I'm aiming for a board level position. Then I may go on to work as a consultant. CEng status has a lot of application if you're working for yourself."

Peter Hills IEng

Peter Hills did a craft apprenticeship and completed an HNC. He moved into inspection and gained 20 years' experience as an engineer surveyor where his work entailed inspecting plant and machinery, giving advice on the latest legislation, assistance with interpretation of regulations, and practical support on specific technical and safety issues. Hills joined Allianz Cornhill Engineering 15 years ago and in 1993 moved into a people management role. With the company merger, in 1997 he went back into a technical role, becoming "the technical guru for people carrying plant." Two years ago he stepped into the more general post of training manager for all disciplines, across a workforce of 450 people. The role includes developing 65 new engineering recruits each year to the company's standards.

Hills gained IEng status in the early 1990s on the basis of his HNC and relevant experience. "I went for professional registration to further my career and to focus my mind on improving my skills," he says. But he admits that in the pre-SARTOR days the process was not so strict or high profile as it is today. Now a trained Professional Review Interviewer, Hills comments: "The new UK-SPEC has helped and the process is better now, as it's more competency based."

For Hills, CPD - for himself and those he trains - is a truly continuous, essential process, not simply an IEng requirement. "CPD is very important. It's about thinking how things can be done better and sharpening your focus. Because I deliver lectures, I'm always learning and increasing my knowledge through research, keeping abreast of health and safety standards, interfacing with external bodies, sitting on BSI committees," he says. "Even down to learning to use Word properly to improve my presentations and create better documents. You've got to be one step ahead and know your stuff when you're in a training role." He has also undergone training to become an assessor for the Level 4 Engineer Surveyor NVQ which he has introduced into the company.

Next on the personal development agenda for Hills is upgrading to CEng status - not only for the kudos but to help him step up to the highest grade of management in his field within Allianz Cornhill. He believes professional registration helps both the individual and the company. "The employer knows people are committed to their own development and working to the best of their ability if they're professionally registered - it's of mutual benefit."

Ian Baldeosingh EngTech

Ian Baldeosingh took an unusual path to registration with SOE IPlantE. He completed an HND in broadcast operations and production at Ravensbourne College. "In those days, to become a broadcast engineer you either went to the BBC and trained there or you went to Ravensbourne." He has since been involved in broadcasting, interactive media and the internet for over 15 years. His career has included channel launches for Carlton TV, where he handled the operations management aspects of data archiving and the migration from a tape environment to computer-based environments. In 2002 he completed an MA in Media Technology Administration and has recently started with Ascent Media as technical manager for DVD authoring, digital asset management, duplication and data archiving.

Baldeosingh went for professional registration to validate his engineering skills. Already a Chartered IT Practitioner with the BCS and holder of a Chartered Institute of Marketing qualification, he sought similar recognition from an engineering institution. "People weren't taking me seriously as an engineer so I was determined to do something about it," he says. One stumbling block for Baldeosingh was that his qualification was validated by Ravensbourne College but not externally accredited. "A lot of my engineering buddies in my group are now senior engineers building dramatic and interesting things but they're not regarded as engineers as their qualification was only validated by the college," comments Baldeosingh, who teaches on the Ravensbourne course, which is now a foundation degree course.

Another issue was finding the best fit with an engineering institution. "I'd been senior project engineer and project manager at Carlton Digital Channel for the OnDigital platform build, so the plant route seemed appropriate," he explains. "I might not have been building the next big plant for ICI but the experience was still relevant. I was looking into health and safety and looking after varied aspects - the process and issues are the same." He took his laptop along to his interview and was able to show video clips and reels of builds he had done - from big satellite dishes to smaller projects - as tangible evidence of his work. He became registered in December 2004.

Of his EngTech registration Baldeosingh says: "I think it's going to pay off but I'm not convinced it properly reflects my knowledge and experience. In the next five years I intend to do a doctorate in knowledge management and data archiving - and I intend to become Chartered."

SOE

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.