New service helps Engineering employers make the right choice

Recent research by the Engineering Council UK (ECUK) revealed that 30% of employers find it difficult to verify the CVs of applicants for engineering and technical posts. Fortunately for such companies, help is at now at hand in the shape of a new service from Technical Qualifications Validation (TQV) Ltd, a newly formed joint venture created by ECUK and the engineering institutions that are its licensed members.

Many employers of engineers lack the time and/or personnel to properly check candidates' qualifications and experience. Yet serious consequences can result from appointing people who have exaggerated their abilities, including loss of business and long-term damage to a company's reputation. TQV is able to offer a solution to this dilemma because of its access to the wealth of data and expertise within ECUK and the latter's 36 member institutions.

It is a simple matter for TQV to check whether a qualification cited by an applicant actually exists and whether it appears on the ECUK 's list of accredited engineering degrees and other courses. In the case of a person educated overseas it would establish equivalence with a qualification gained in the UK . Crucially, it is then able to check that the individual holds the qualification claimed - regardless of whether it was awarded in the UK or overseas. If required, it can also arrange for a candidate to undergo a probing interview by an appropriate panel of experts.

On request - and free of charge - TQV will verify whether a named individual appears on the ECUK 's database of 250,000 registered engineers and technicians. (Registration in itself provides proof of a person's knowledge, competence and commitment to professional standards and thus makes the other checks unnecessary.)

Andrew Ramsay , Chief Executive of the Engineering Council UK , anticipates strong demand for the new package of services: "Many engineering employers stand to benefit from using TQV. When recruiting people to senior positions even major companies with large HR departments are likely to find it valuable. Potential clients include the increasing number of UK companies setting up overseas operations. They face particular difficulties when trying to recruit locally - difficulties that this innovative service can help to solve."

"The fees charged by TQV are relatively insignificant compared with the generally high cost of recruitment. And recruiting a person who is not up to the job can turn out to be a great deal more expensive."

Technical Qualifications Validation Ltd has access to a database of over 4000 accredited UK engineering degrees, higher nationals and other qualifications. In the case of overseas engineering courses it can readily establish the UK equivalents of some 20,000 qualifications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT MICHAEL SANDERSON:
Tel: 020 7557 6458 msanderson@engc.org.uk