With professional engineers holding Incorporated Engineer (IEng) status currently significantly under-represented on its register, the Engineering Council (EngC) has launched a concerted drive to raise such professionals’ profile and “increase awareness and understanding of the qualification’s value”.
Following research, discussion, and careful planning, the EngC has developed a promotional campaign together with the Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs), which IHEEM is strongly backing. At the Institutions’ request, one of the first priorities has been to involve existing IEngs. With the EngC research clearly demonstrating the extent to which IEng registrants value their qualification, all existing registrants have thus been sent, via their institution, a special “logo” designed especially for use with their email signatures, showing the message “I am proud to be an IEng”. Other creative materials and messages have also been developed. Jon Prichard, CEO, says: “Despite being the professional level at which many practising engineers work, Incorporated Engineer is currently under-represented on our register. At the end of 2010 there were around 238,000 professionally registered engineers, with approximately 188,000 holding Chartered Engineer (CEng) status, 36,000 with IEng status, and 14,000 registered as technicians. “We know that a large number of practising engineers have the relevant standards of knowledge and competence to be eligible, but a large number have not applied, mainly due to the current lack of awareness and understanding.” Jon Prichard stressed that, although the campaign’s focus was on raising the awareness and profile of IEng, this was not intended to be “in any way to the detriment of the other levels of registration”. He added: “It is important to note that IEng is not only a valuable standalone professional qualification, but also part of a progressive structure. We have therefore designed some of the activities to promote EngTech and CEng registration at the same time.” Chris Parker, IHEEM’s recruitment and membership manager, commented: “IHEEM is delighted to be supporting the Engineering Council. I have sent all IHEEM registered Incorporated Engineers, where we have the relevant details, the bespoke IEng email signature. Any member who has not received a copy, and would like one, should contact me. “Recent years have seen a steady increase in Incorporated Engineers registering through IHEEM. Any member who believes they have the necessary skills and experience for registration, and is interested, should contact the membership department, or visit the IHEEM website (www.iheem.org.uk), for further information.”
