Supporting your employees to become professionally registered

Displaying your employees’ professional titles and post-nominal letters on notice boards in your reception area will demonstrate a high level of professionalism to your clients and customers.

By encouraging employees to add their post-nominal letters to their business cards and communications eg email signatures, you demonstrate that their achievement is recognised and valued.

Paying fees is clear evidence that you place real value on the professional development of your employees. Engineering Council research shows a year-on-year increase in the number of registrants whose employers assist with the fee.

You might find that this investment is repaid through staff loyalty and retention.

If your organisation provides structured workplace development - sometimes called a graduate scheme or training scheme - and it aligns with the standards for professional registration (UK-SPEC and ICTTech Standard), you can consider having it approved or accredited.

This means your staff are assured your scheme provides assessment and certification of achievement, and will support them in working towards professional registration.

Encourage your staff to study for qualifications that count towards professional registration.

If you have a training budget, offer to pay some or all of the costs on their behalf.

Boost awareness by promoting institution membership and registration through internal communications, such as staff newsletters. Display your employees’ professional titles and/or post-nominal letters on staff boards and intranets to demonstrate that they are valued.

Licensed Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) can support you with promotional literature and information that details the benefits and processes. These can be circulated and/or placed on noticeboards.

Some of the Licensed Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) offer on-site workshops and surgeries on professional registration and the professional review process.

By working with one or more of the Licensed PEIs, you can put your employees in touch with advisers and mentors to support them through the application process.

The advice that can be passed from your already registered employees is invaluable. They can share their knowledge, sponsor other employees and assist in the application process.

Allowing your employees to act as mentors and ambassadors for professional registration contributes towards their own Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Many of the Licensed Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) can provide help with training and support for mentors.

The Licensed Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) offer members the chance to network with others working in their discipline.

Encourage your employees to take up the opportunity to network at these events. This promotes the sharing of good practice and techniques whilst boosting your own presence and reputation in the industry; it also helps staff to stay up-to-date with industry trends and issues.

Members of professional engineering institutions receive support and advice for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through professional journals, technical briefings, events and news. Many also provide online systems to plan, record and review CPD.

By encouraging your employees to engage with a Licensed Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) they can remain up-to-date and committed to your area of business.