Professional Development - Registering the benefits
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.
Prove your competence
'Within the next 18 to 24 months, industry will have to be much more proactive about proving the competence of its engineers and technicians at all levels. That's certainly the case in the rail sector. We're going to want to see external validation and/or EC(UK) registration through a licensed professional engineering institution - and that applies to all contractors and subcontractors.'
Raise your safety game
During the 10 years that LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations) have been in operation, they've played a significant role in providing safe working environments across industry. Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed) member inspection companies, for example, carried out nearly 300,000 lift examinations and detected 14,000 safety defects - enabling timely corrective action to avert accidents, injury, damage and consequential loss.
Saluting those on the front line
While London sleeps, there can be up to 5,000 people carrying out maintenance and renewal activities to ensure the Underground network is returned to safe service in the morning.
It’s all about engineering
As Chancellor George Osborne ramps up the rhetoric on manufacturing, with his 'march of the makers' theme, while Prime Minister David Cameron and much of the coalition cabinet dance to a similar 'rebalancing the economy' tune, British industry is seeing a gradual resurgence.
Teach a man to fish
The Leitch Review of Skills, published in December 2006, warned that the UK must raise its game on training and education, if it is to sustain, never mind improve, its position in the global economy. Whether that study will turn out to have been the much-needed catalyst for finally turning around this country's long-term skills shortage, remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: it spawned a veritable plethora of initiatives and schemes - some fancy, others down to earth - from government and non-governmental organisations, professional institutions, specialist training providers, manufacturers' service organisations, you name it.
Moving experience
Although aimed primarily at commercial vehicle operators, engineers and technicians, the CV Show offers useful opportunities for those whose careers span the fixed and moving plant divide. Brian Tinham reports
Hard headed young engineers
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, they used to say. And so it is with interest that we observe a significant rise in the numbers of engineering, technology, science and maths students taking up 'The Year in Industry' scheme, which provides worthwhile paid-for gap years for pre-university students.
Hone your skills
Like a finely tuned instrument, investing in training and continuing professional development for plant engineers helps them to perform their roles with greater speed, accuracy and precision. Brian Wall provides some insights
Show preview: Maintec 2018 set to return
When? 10:00–16:00 on 6 & 7 November 2018 | Where? National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, B40 1NT