As part of its response to last year's report on Access to the Professions, the Government has now relaunched the Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum.  Chaired by the Higher Education Minister, David Lammy MP, the Forum operates through five working groups.  The Engineering Council is a member of two of these, one concerned with placements and internships, and the other with encouraging recruitment, training and progression in the professions.  Some PEIs are also represented on the working groups.

The work offers a useful opportunity to make officials in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills aware of what the engineering profession does to encourage fair access.

We will report on any further developments in the next issue.