IET: Engineers Increasingly Seeking Recognition for Skills

Leading professional engineering body notes record high in qualifications

London, 14th February 2012: The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) today announces record results across all categories of Professional Registrations which recognise proven knowledge, understanding and competences in engineers and technicians. With over 2,000 engineers and technicians registered from both an apprentice and academic background, a rise of 40 per cent compared to 2010, the IET has seen a significant rise in demand among the engineering community to recognise the skills and expertise gained, in what continues to be a competitive job market.

Significant progress has been made in the Chartered Engineer category with the IET recording over 1,200 in 2011, a 39 per cent increase from the previous year. This success was also reflected across all other categories. The IET continues to reinvigorate its efforts to demonstrate the benefits of getting engineers registered, to both employers and employees and has confidently raised its targets across all categories for 2012.

Mike Bridgefoot, Manager of Registration and Standards at the IET comments, “We are delighted to see such a significant increase across all categories of Professional Registration. For too long, engineers and technicians have failed to be properly recognised for the skills and expertise gained while in this profession. To become internationally recognised demonstrates to peers and employers a strong commitment to professional standards and enhancing competencies, something that can make someone stand out well above the competition”.

Keith Skinner, Commissioning Team Leader at Sellafield Sites Ltd attained a professional registration to demonstrate his level of expertise and knowledge. Achieving his EngTech in 2003 and IEng in 2008, Keith comments, “No matter what your background is, gaining a professional registration sets out how good you are in line with industry wide standards. In a competitive market and even internally within my organisation, the more assets you have the better. A Professional Registration has added one big string to my bow.”

Becoming professionally registered provides international and industry recognition of qualifications and offers networking opportunities and helps improve self motivation and salary prospects. The IET is licensed by the Engineering Council to award the professional engineering qualifications defined in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.

-ENDS-
Notes to Editors

The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers and technicians and a source of essential engineering intelligence.

For more information about the IET please visit: www.theiet.org

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Jo Ashford / Anne Ligory
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