The legal system in the British Isles and many non-Europen countries is permissive - the common law having developed in such a way as to maximise individual rights. Health and Safety regulations tend to apply to employers and (corporate) operators. Attempts to restrict access to professional practice are these days seen as anti-consumer, or anti-competitive.

Not with standing the legal and political situation the Engineering Council UK works to gain greater recognition, both legal and public, for the standing of UK registered engineers. We work closely with the Health and Safety Executive on advice to employers on use of registered engineers, and employers and employees associations to promote better understanding of the value of employing registered engineers and technicians. In 2002 we supported a survey by ETB of current licensing practice in the UK and overseas. This was published as a pdf document.

The register titles 'Chartered Engineer' Incorporated Engineer', and 'Engineering Technician', and their related designatory letters, are protected by civil law. The Engineering Council UK and the Institutions pursue abusers of these titles through the courts.

In most of Europe professional engineers hold a title 'ingenier', or similar. The word is not defined in the same way as 'engineer' and may therefore be protected, legally. Commonwealth, and ex-commonwealth countries like Australia and the USA suffer the same problems as the UK. UK enginers may register as European Engineers, and adopt the prefix title EurIng (which is recognised as a formal title which may be used on official documentation, including passports), and 15,000 registrants haven chosen to do this.

Statutory recognition of professions in the UK requires the particular functions being controlled by statute to be defined. It has not proved possible to isolate the functions that engineers undertake, except in narrow sectors (dam designers, certificated marine engineers, mining engineers). Unsurprisingly, coverage of other professions is rarely comprehensive. For instance, medical procedures may in fact be undertaken by anyone who obtains the consent of their patient. Restrictions on legal practice are confined to the courtroom - legal advice is freely available from unregistered lawyers.

The word 'engineer' has been in common use in the English language for many centuries, and is widely understood by the public to describe anyone whose work relates to engineering - particularly manufacture or maintenance. There is no likelihood that the engineering profession could obtain rights to prevent existing users using the term to describe themselves.

Its emphasis is on competence, irrespective of route. It recognises the importance of the engineering technician. It removes the unhelpful association with particular A Level grades. It recognises and accomodates change in the education system (foundation degrees, modern apprenticeships, NVQs). It is employer focused.

What do we expect of it? That it will become a valuable tool for employers - for recruitment, appraisal, training and development, and job evaluation. That it will underwrite the high esteem in which UK professional engineers are held internationally. That it will prove attractive to professional engineers and engineering technicians who are currently in membership of a professional engineering institution.

A standard against which professional engineers and technicians may be assessed.

Why now? Because the changed organisation of the profession has enabled a thorough review of the standards, particularly in the light of employer needs.