In the Summer Newsletter of 2006  I undertook to listen to the views of members and to represent these at the Committee of Regional Chairmen and to the Council and Trustees.
Seventy-six per cent of IMechE members who participated in the IMechE Corporate Survey 2006 want the IMechE to lobby government for licensing, and following regional discussion, I presented a case for “Statutory Registration and Protection of Pre-nominal Title (Eng.) for Professional Engineers” to the Committee of Regional Chairmen. I am pleased to say that the case was unanimously supported and the meeting requested me to take it forward to the next meeting of the IMechE Council.
Since the 1980 Finniston report, when the UK engineering profession came closest to achieving wide-ranging statutory registration, many leading engineers have attempted to stem, what have been perceived as, the downward trends being experienced by the engineering profession. There remains a strong body of opinion within the profession that much that has happened, over the past three decades, has merely distracted the engineering profession from the real need, which is statutory registration to protect the public and to protect the reputation of professional engineers.
One of the challenges faced by the engineering profession has been the estimated two million individuals working in the UK as “engineers” and who uphold a long established claim to the description “engineer”. However a Professional Engineers Act stipulating that a person shall not practise nor carry on business under any name, style or title containing the words “professional engineer” or use the pre-nominal title “Eng.” unless he/she is a person registered under the Act. (ref Architects Act 1997 Part IV Use of Title and European precedent Ing.), would protect the public and safeguard the reputation of professional engineers, without justifiable opposition from others.
I concur with Sir David Davies’ words used in his summing up at the June 2003 ETB Licensing Forum, when referring to the Government, he said:
“They might do it if there were a safety issue. They might do it if the public believed there was a value for money issue at stake. They might do it if they believe there is a national wealth creation benefit. And they might, and I think this is the most important reason why they would grab it, is if they don’t, there may be a national catastrophe on recruitment. So those, I think, are the issues as to why the Government might consider an Act of Parliament”.
This has been the basis of the case that I have presented to the Committee of Regional Chairmen and will now take to Council. There should be some interesting discussions ahead.
With my very best wishes for 2007/2008,
John Napier

Although the printed South Eastern Region Newsletter for Summer 2007 has been delivered to all members, it can also be downloaded in pdf format by clicking here. Similarly, the IET/IMechE South Eastern Programme of Events for 2007/2008 can be downloaded by clicking here.

The Institution is keen to support, sponsor and mentor those of you who are seeking Membership to further your professional development.  In addition to the guidance that you receive from colleagues at your place of work, the South Eastern Region and Area Committee  members are available and willing to provide additional support if required.  The names of committee members can be found on the Contacts page and can either provide guidance first hand or put you in touch with those who can help.