The Engineering Council is pleased to announce that the Institution of Royal Engineers (InstRE) has this year gained licences to award professional registration at Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) level.  This follows the award of a licence to assess members for Engineering Technician (EngTech) in July 2007.

To mark the occasion the InstRE held a reception at the Tower of London on 15 October, where guests were treated to a display by the Band of the Blues and Royals, followed by a reception in the New Armouries.

Speaking at the event was the InstRE President Major General Keith Cima who said "We are delighted that, in addition to EngTech, we can now offer IEng and CEng registration to our members.  All three qualifications are transferable between the army and civilian life, differentiating registrants as skilled professionals in the world of engineering and technology."

Since gaining its licence to award EngTech status, the InstRE has been highly successful in registering significant numbers of its members.  It attributes this success to briefing programmes it has extended to units at home, as well as in Afghanistan and Iraq, during which the benefits of EngTech registration have been clearly welcomed.

The progression to IEng and CEng was a natural step to meet the professional needs of the membership. Working together with the Royal School of Military Engineering, Holdfast Training Services, and its sub-contractors Babcock Defence and Security, Mid Kent College Training Services, and TQ Training, InstRE is providing highly motivated, well trained and professionally qualified engineers who are making a significant difference on current operations and will deliver these same qualities to the United Kingdom when they leave military service.

Lieutenant Colonel David Hamilton, CEO of InstRE, said, "With significant support from the Engineering Council, the skills and qualifications of serving and retired members of the Corps of Royal Engineers have been mapped to meet the requirements of Professional Registration. InstRE is proud of its success and is fully committed to playing an active part in the engineering fraternity."

The InstRE also used the event to highlight the contribution made by volunteers to the Institution. To mark their support, a Silver Medal was presented to Ian Ogden with Bronze Medals being presented to Mike Watson and Robin Lloyd Owen.

Recently appointed CEO of the Engineering Council, Jon Prichard, who previously spent 19 years as a Royal Engineer, added "We would like to congratulate the InstRE on reaching this key milestone in its long illustrious history.  We now look forward to working with them, to ensure that their members are able to make the most of the opportunity that professional registration presents."

Note to editors

About the InstRE
The Institution of Royal Engineers was established in 1875 and in 1923 it was granted its Royal Charter by King George V. The Institution is co-located with the Royal Engineers Museum and Royal School of Military Engineering at Chatham, Kent.

The objectives of the Institution are to promote and advance the science of military engineering and to promote the military efficiency of the Corps of Royal Engineers. In pursuit of these objects the Institution provides a forum for debate through its sponsorship of joint professional meetings; the publication of articles in its Journal; the maintenance of a Museum and Library for the Corps' heritage and archive collection; and the administration of prize funds, and a memorials fund. The Institution is a licensed member of the Engineering Council.