About Us

NORTH WESTERN REGION

WELCOME!


Welcome to the North Western Region and our programme of events and activities. We are one of the most active and innovative Regions in the IMechE, thanks to the great work done by our energetic volunteers within the Areas and Young Member Panels, and also through the specialist Divisions and Groups.

As you will note from the panel on the left, the Region comprises Area committees in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, South and West Cumbria, plus Young Member Panels at Regional and local Area level. We also have active Divisions in our Region, representing the Aerospace, Automotive, Power, Process and Rail sectors.

Please have a look at our Annual Review for 2009/10, which will give you a flavour of what the Region is and what we do: NWRAnnualReview2010.doc

Across the Region, we have a programme of over 60 events, visits and activities to assist your professional development, to add to your learned knowledge, and importantly, to provide inspiration for a new generation of younger people to become engineers. 

Our Young Members continue to take the lead on some terrific projects. Having completed the first ever IMechE Public Challenge in 2008, there are now five Engineering Your Future events held across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Cumbria.

Ian Grant is co-ordinating the excellent GreenPower project, to give secondary schools a taste at building and racing an electric vehicle.

The Greater Manchester Area main panel organise the Engineering Design Challenge, engaging mechanical engineering students from the top universities across the Region.

Volunteers are always welcome to help drive these projects, which really do help get across the importance and excitement of engineering for the future. We have a flourishing network of Science & Engineering Ambassadors that are available to work in schools and academic establishments, supporting events in conjunction with the local STEM Centre teams.

We are ably supported by our Regional Business Development Manager, David Barrett, who provides numerous ‘Routes To Professional Registration’ workshops as well as developing Company-Based Registration schemes, to make transition to full membership of the Institution as straightforward as possible. Please contact David directly if you want to find out more – either as an individual, or on behalf of your Company: d_barrett@imeche.org or call 07834 867068.

If you want to find out what is happening where you live or work, then please contact the Area or Division nearest to you – you will be most welcome!

Ivan Dean, Chairman, IMechE North Western Region 2009-2011

 


Events Diary

Manchester Airport ATC Tour, Manchester Airport

01 June 2010 - 31 August 2010 | 09:00 - 18:00

A tour of the new facilities at Manchester Airport to introduce members to the sophisticated traffic control system.

 

All Change Please! - Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges by Transforming Our Railways Today, The University of Manchester

08 September 2010 - 10 September 2010 | 10:00 - 17:00

The world is increasingly changing. The beginning of a new decade represents an ideal opportunity to challenge the norm and make a positive step-change to exceed future expectations. Unprecedented levels of new railway development are on the horizon, both in Britain and overseas. One of the biggest challenges the railway industry now faces is the ability to deliver these schemes effciently. Effective project control and technical competency are key factors to this, as are the identifcation of innovative new methods and the management of change. This seminar explores the current strategies, projects and innovation that aim to transform our railways today, in order to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Many aspects of the railways will be considered, from rolling stock to operations and management, delivered by industry professionals working directly within these areas.

 

VIST TO THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE TRAINING CENTRE, Durham Tees Valley Airport

16 September 2010 | 07:15 - 20:15

The facility trains firemen from 86 countries around the world and the visit will give you an opportunity to get a close up view of the many and varied test rigs and how they can be operated to simulate any type of fire and watch the firemen in the training exercises.

 

Underground Coal Gasification, Workington 6th Form Centre

16 September 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

Kenneth Fergusson, Trustee of the UCG Association, will present compelling arguments to support a clean, indigenous energy option through underground coal gasification.

 

20 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope, Forum 28, Main Hall

29 September 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

Vibrating Structures, Forum 28,

06 October 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

AdaptaHaus - Energy-saving Engineered Housing, Alan Dawson Associates

13 October 2010 | 19:00 - 21:00

Alan Dawson will introduce and show off his AdaptaHaus system for the design and construction of energy-saving, fully engineered, high quality housing - to be featured in a forthcoming Grand Designs programme. After a presentation and tour of the design and manufacturing facilities at Lillyhall, we will then visit Alan's new AdaptaHaus.

 

Pocket Battleships, Forum 28

13 October 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

Joint with RINA, PESC and IMarEST

 

Assessor Training, MacDonald Hotel

21 October 2010 | 11:00 - 13:00

This workshop is for new and experienced Professional Review Interviewers, Industrial Advisors and anyone interested in volunteering as a Professional Review Interviewer. The session will begin at 11:00am with registration from 10:30am. The session concludes with lunch from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Attendees will be given updates on the assessment process and real case studies will be discussed. Attendees will be encouraged to share their assessment experiences. The workshop is free to attend.

 

Further Learning Workshop, MacDonald Hotel

21 October 2010 | 14:00 - 16:00

This workshop is for: - Recent BEng graduates who wish to apply for CEng registration - Recent HNC or Foundation Degree students who wish to apply for IEng registration - Mentors and Line Managers who manage graduates and develop progression routes - Post Graduate University teaching staff and course leaders who wish to understand the demand for individual Masters modules - Anyone interested in gaining an understanding of UK-SPEC academic benchmark requirements The session will begin at 2:00pm with registration from 13:45pm. The session concludes at about 4:00pm. The session will include an overview of the academic requirements for CEng and IEng registration and real case studies of Further Learning Plans will be discussed. The workshop is free to attend.

 

Submarine Aircraft Carriers, Forum 28

27 October 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

Bluebird Trials, Forum 28

03 November 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

Annual Northern Aerospace Forum 2010, Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Blackburn

04 November 2010 | 13:30 - 22:00

ANAF 2010 - Where is the Region’s future Aerospace business coming from and how much could there be?

 

Undersea Gas Storage, Forum 28

10 November 2010 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

Excellence in Liquid Engineering, Jennings Brewery

10 December 2010 | 19:20 - 21:45

A detailed investigation and tour of the Jennings Brewery facilities in Cockermouth, to find out why their products are so excellent. Practical sample analysis is part of the evening..

 

Reactor Fuel and Core Design, Forum 28

12 January 2011 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

e.On UK CHP Plant visit, E.On UK CHP Ltd

09 February 2011 | 19:00 - 21:00

A visit round one of the most advanced CHP plants in West Cumbria. Note that due to the size of the plant, the visit is restricted to 12 persons maximum. Prior booking is essential - contact George Williams: georgew@lcwc.ac.uk

 

Clean Coal, Forum 28

09 March 2011 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

Meteorites, Forum 28 Main Hall

13 April 2011 | 19:30 - 21:00

 

Ennerdale Water Treatment Works - Visit, United Utilities Ennerdale Treatment Works

28 April 2011 | 18:00 - 19:30

A talk on the environmental side of the plant and the treatment methods used to treat the water, plus a tour of the plant and the operational methods used. The visit is open to a maximum of 30 people, and prior booking is essential through Ian Lupton - 01946 810095