The attendance of the Professional Engineering Institutions has been so well received at the National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition (NECR), that they are now planning their presence on the Professional Development Hub for the third time.

At the NEC Birmingham on 25 and 26 November, students, graduates and skilled professionals can visit the Professional Development Hub to meet representatives from the Engineering Council and Institutions to obtain advice on their professional career progression, and to see how getting professionally qualified can boost their career prospects.

Jon Prichard, the Engineering Council’s Chief Executive Officer says, “Working together on the Professional Development Hub we are able to help engineers and technicians at any stage of their career to develop an understanding of the importance of professional registration, both for their own career development and for the profession as a whole.  Formal recognition of competence is so important to job seekers looking to differentiate themselves as they face the challenges of a highly competitive and ever-changing profession.”

Institutions having confirmed their attendance so far include:

• Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT)
• Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM)
• Institute of Highways Engineer (IHE)
• Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IoM3)
• Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• Institution of Engineering Designers (IED)
• Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)
• Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM)
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)
• Nuclear Institute (NI)
• Society of Operations Engineers (SOE)
• Society of Environmental Engineers (SEE)
• The Welding Institute (TWI)

Other exhibitors at NECR, the largest engineering and construction recruitment event in the UK, and fast becoming an industry-wide collaboration, will be offering advice and challenging roles in virtually every sector of the industry including: automotive, mechanical, electronics, software and defence, construction, civil and structural engineering.

Seen as a measure of growing confidence in key engineering sectors, Prodrive, Eaton Aerospace and Air Products will be recruiting at the NECR for the first time, while Denso and Honeywell will be returning to the event.  They join an impressive range of major organisations offering exciting careers in the engineering and construction sectors, such as Cummins, General Dynamics, Johnson Controls, Land Rover, Network Rail, Rolls Royce, Royal Navy, RSA, Siemens and Toyota.

Scott Bannerman, Director of Venture Marketing Group, organisers of the NECR, commented: “With several companies recruiting at this event for the first time and many major names confirmed as exhibitors, it is clear that confidence within the industry is increasing. In the current economic climate, this is a particularly encouraging outlook for those looking for work or their next step in the engineering and construction sector”

As well as the advice available on the Professional Development Hub, visitors can benefit from many other valuable advisory services at the exhibition. Experts within the Careers Advice Lounge, CV Clinic and Interview Clinic will offer personalised advice and there will be a wide variety of free careers presentations throughout both days of the exhibition.

The Women in Engineering Forum takes place within the event on 25 November 2011. Offering women at all stages of their career the chance to share experiences, make new contacts and hear about exciting new vacancies, the forum provides an invaluable networking opportunity.

For university students, Engineering Challenge gives teams of students from universities across the country the chance to compete against each other to design, build and test inventions.

Jon Prichard concludes: “This exhibition provides a perfect, comprehensive way for those considering their next career move to prepare, research and meet potential employers and industry experts. The range of advice and services available mean that a visit to the event could prove one of the most valuable and productive days of the year for visitors - and one that could see them successfully taking the next step in their career.”

The National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition (NECR) takes place in Hall 11, NEC, Birmingham, 25 & 26 November 2011, 11am – 4pm.  Entry is free.  For further information visit www.engineerjobs.co.uk .