Institution news
When Amtek's Managing Director, Paul Heath IEng MIET, got in touch with the Institution to discuss the process of employee professional registration, Jill Dwyer, from the Institution's business development team, was quick to respond.
She had soon visited the business to meet its engineers and run a workshop about the Institution and professional registration. Amtek, Based in Wimborne, Dorset, is already seeing the benefits of the relationship.
A UKAS-accredited Mechanical Engineering Design Consultancy, Amtek, employs 30 engineering design staff. Its key competencies include structural design and analysis, complex mechanical heavy engineering design solutions, transportation and container solutions, automated lifting and turning systems.
The company’s customer base is broad, including leading companies within nuclear, aerospace, subsea, marine, medical and metals industries.
Jill says that Paul “leads from the front”, including his own personal challenge of gaining CEng with the IMechE alongside the development of Amtek engineers.
She said: “This is a fantastic example of an SME where the managing director really understands the value of professional registration for his employees and for the business. He is really keen for a broad range of his engineers to apply for professional registration, whatever their qualification background.”
Paul said: “Professional registration represents formal recognition of our competencies and capabilities not only as individuals, but as a design group and the company as a whole.”
He added: “I believe registration of staff will not only enhance the company’s professional image, but will also bring benefits to our customers. Design sign-off completed with an IEng or CEng post-nominal shows industry-wide recognised levels of professionalism and competence.”
Paul says that the process has been challenging but rewarding. Employees have been granted a day by the company to complete their applications and take part in Institution-led workshops. Application interviews will take place within work time on Amtek’s site. He says the whole process has been facilitated to a high standard by the Institution and that the supported approach has made the difference to the viability of the undertaking.
There are eight engineers applying to become Chartered Engineers, and 10 working towards becoming Incorporated Engineers (IEng), with two aiming for Associate Membership.
Jill commented: “I am looking forward to congratulating the many engineers at Amtek who are applying for professional registration. The staff, and senior management, have represented their company with enthusiasm, and it has been a pleasure to work with them and grow their professionally registered workforce.”
A number of Amtek engineers spoke positively about the process of professional registration, and their motivation.
Paul Gamage, Design Engineer, said: “I have found the local panel of the IMechE very supportive while going through the chartered process. Our excellent local panel organises some great lectures and events which I have found very useful to increase my technical knowledge."
"The help given by Jill Dwyer, and also Bernard Challen, has been really valuable. Bernard has excellent technical knowledge and therefore has a good understanding of an engineer’s experience. He is very patient and has continued to give feedback since then.”
Matt Fletcher, Senior Engineer, said that the support made the application process far less daunting, and opened the door to join the growing group of like-minded professionals. His colleague Tim Guy, also a Senior Engineer, said he would recommend considering the Career Learning Assessment (CLA) route to good engineers who have lengthy experience but unaccredited qualifications, and praised the Institution’s guidance and support as “confidence-building”.
Jill concluded: “The beauty of our structure in the IMechE is that we have regionally based business development people, who can visit companies, hold face-to-face discussions about the various routes to registration, and also link engineers into themed groups within the Institution that draw out their knowledge, interests and experience.”
“Paul Heath and Amtek’s employees demonstrate that an SME, which may not have the resources of a large organisation, can still access the range and benefits of professional registration that the Institution offers, including on-site visits, workshops, individual support and guidance with applications.”
If you would like to find out more about professional registration for engineers and apprentices within your company please contact your regional Business Development Manager.