The Rt Hon John Hayes MP, Minister for Security, hosted the launch at the House of Commons of the Engineering Council’s new Guidance on security for engineers and technicians on Thursday, 19 May. The event was attended by over 100 people from across the engineering profession, including speakers Terry Morgan CBE CEng FREng, Chairman of Crossrail, and the Head of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI). The Engineering Council, as the regulatory body for the engineering profession, has led the way in developing this important material, with the support of CPNI and the professional engineering institutions. It provides guidance for engineers and technicians on their role in dealing with security, and their associated responsibilities to keep society safe.

Engineering Council Chairman, Rear Admiral Nigel Guild CB DEng CEng FREng, said: “A year ago the Engineering Council was approached by CPNI with a proposal to produce a document on security for engineers and technicians. The resulting, highly pertinent new guidance demonstrates the commitment of the engineering profession to protect the society it serves. We would like to thank the engineering institutions for their collaboration and support in producing this document. We now ask them to help us raise awareness and understanding of security in the context of engineering by sharing it with their members.” 

The guidance was developed in consultation with 35 professional engineering institutions. It sets out six key principles to guide engineers and technicians in identifying, assessing, managing and communicating issues about security. The guidance defines security as ‘the state of relative freedom from threat or harm caused by deliberate, unwanted, hostile or malicious acts’. The principles emphasise the importance of taking a security-minded approach to both professional and personal life, being aware of and taking responsibility for all security related issues. 

The Rt Hon John Hayes MP, who gave a keynote address at the launch, said: “As Minister for Security I have a keen interest in, and responsibility for, ensuring that the UK and its citizens are protected from the range of threats that we are exposed to, as perpetrators become increasingly innovative. But I firmly believe that being security-minded is also a personal responsibility for everyone. This guidance underlines the importance for all of us to be aware of and pro-active in our approach to matters of security.” 

Also at the event Terry Morgan provided insight into the importance of security for employers, drawing on his experience with Crossrail, currently the largest construction project in Europe. The Head of CPNI spoke of the link between this guidance and ongoing national infrastructure security, emphasising the need for effective and lasting systems for security governance. 

Guidance on security for engineers and technicians is now available to download from www.engc.org.uk/security. In addition, the Engineering Council has produced handy wallet-sized cards for engineers and technicians, listing the six principles. These can be obtained by contacting marketing@engc.org.uk. This new guidance complements the organisation’s other documents on risk, sustainability, ethical principles and whistleblowing, which are all available at www.engc.org.uk/standards-guidance/guidance/

For press enquiries and image requests:        

Lucie Richards,

Engineering Council:  +44 (0) 20 3206 0560     lrichards@engc.org.uk

Notes for Editors:

The Engineering Council holds the national Registers of Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Chartered Engineers (CEng) and Information and Communication Technology Technicians (ICTTech). It also sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of these titles. By this means it is able to ensure that employers, government and wider society – both at home and overseas – can have confidence in the skills and commitment of registrants. For more information visit www.engc.org.uk 

The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) protects national security by providing protective security advice to the organisations that deliver the UK’s essential services. Protective security is 'putting in place, or building into design, security measures or protocols such that threats may be deterred, detected, or the consequences of an attack minimised'. CPNI’s advice covers physical security, personnel security and cyber security/information assurance. The organisation advocates deployment of a combination of these measures, so that they reinforce each other, as the best means of addressing threat. More information is available at www.cpni.gov.uk/about