You are on:

Employers

Understand the Value of Registration NOW

Does your business need competent engineers to meet its goals?

Recruitment of technically qualified staff is complicated and uncertain. It is often difficult to adequately assess the depth of education and training for a role which may be crucial to your company's success.

For many years the professional engineering institutions in the UK have been developing ways of assessing and ensuring the technical competence of professional engineers and technicians in reliable ways that are internationally recognised. The UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) is the new registration standard for professional engineers and engineering technicians. Following publication of this registration Standard, an employee who is registered as a Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer or Engineering Technician will give your business:

  1. Increased technical credibility with customers.
  2. Evidence that the employee has satisfied a rigorous assessment of their engineering competence.
  3. Confirmation that the engineering credentials being claimed, are actually held.
  4. Assurance that the employee is keeping up to date, and has the means to do this.
  5. A means to satisfy requirements of the Quality Management Systems standard ISO 9001:2000.
  6. Evidence of engineering competence, as required by many customers.

Why should I encourage my engineers to register with the Engineering Council UK?

Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians can only use these titles if they are registered with the Engineering Council UK.

Registration means that they are governed by a professional code of conduct, and receive reminders and assistance in determining their obligations. Through this registration, you and your customers will know that your engineers have attained and maintained a recognised international standard; and further, that their credentials have been verified, their commitment to continuing professional education established and their exposure to new developments assured.

What is the assessment framework?

The UK-SPEC Standard itself provides a framework against which technical responsibilities may be assessed. Assessment may be for promotion, remuneration, annual appraisal or recruitment. Based on nationally recognised occupational standards, the Standard enables alignment with other competence frameworks in management, construction and other industries.

What do you recommend that I do?

First establish how many registered engineers you currently employ. Since many register for their own personal professional standing, you may be pleasantly surprised. If you perceive that you currently employ engineers who could (or should) be registered, then contact the Engineering Council UK for advice on how to arrange for assessment.

What are the likely costs and other demands?

Registered engineers may cost a little more to employ, but this is more than outweighed by the benefits of enhanced engineering capability and reduction in risk to your company. Furthermore, motivation of the staff concerned will be increased by your indication of interest in their professional standing.

The process of registration can be easily incorporated into normal staff development processes, and the costs of registration usually amount to no more than a few hundred pounds per individual. Maintenance of registration (and the necessary list membership cost, per year) can be paid by the employee (and offset against personal income tax), or paid by your company as a demonstration of the value placed on engineering competence.

Can I get help in setting this up?

Advice on setting up a system to recognise and encourage professional engineering capability can be obtained from many of the engineering institutions licensed by the Engineering Council UK.

APPENDIX

How Businesses Can Benefit From Employing registered Engineers & Technicians

Increased technical credibility with customers

A company that employs Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers or engineering technicians will enhance its ability to win potential business. In some cases, evidence of employing registered engineers is necessary to the award of contracts in the UK and overseas.

Evidence that the employee has satisfied a rigorous assessment of their engineering competence

To gain registration, each engineer or technician must submit evidence of education, training and professional experience. These are scrutinised by a panel of senior engineers, including industrialists and academics. A formal face-to face review is then undertaken, drawing on detailed real project submissions judged by the candidate to exemplify the competencies achieved.

Confirmation that the engineering credentials claimed are actually held

All documentation submitted by the candidate is verified. Evidence of academic qualifications is checked with the issuing authority. Statements of experience gained and career path are verified by at least two sponsors, who are contacted separately for private reports.

Assurance that the employee concerned is keeping up to date, and has the means to do this

In order to gain or retain registration, candidates must subscribe to membership of one of the professional engineering institutions. These institutions are required to review their members' ongoing commitment and they are audited by the Engineering Council UK as part of a regular programme. For their part, candidates must demonstrate that they are committed to professional development.

A means to satisfy requirements of the Quality Management Systems standard ISO 9001:2000

ISO 9001:2000 (in 6.2.2.a) states that “The organisation shall determine the necessary competence for personnel performing work affecting product quality.”

Evidence of competence as required under procurement standards

Many customers require evidence of engineering competence and the Engineering Council UK registration is an accepted way of satisfying this. It is recognised under European law. This has assisted engineers in many countries gaining recognition overseas in ? including Austalia, Canada, Hong Kong & USA. For futher details see international.