Chartered numbers soar

It is the second year of growth for both IEng and CEng and the sixth consecutive year that the number of new EngTechs has risen

Last year saw a dramatic jump in the number of new chartered engineers, with the IMechE leading the way among the professional institutions, according to figures released by the Engineering Council.

Compared to 2009, there was a 26% increase in the number of new chartered engineers being registered last year, with some 1,135 of these registrations taking place through the IMechE – the highest number out of all the institutions. The average age of engineers gaining chartered status was 36. The council also recorded a massive increase in registrations as incorporated engineers – 64% up on 2009 – and a more modest increase in engineering technician registrations, which increased by 12%.

This represents the second year of growth for both IEng and CEng and the sixth consecutive year that the number of new EngTechs has risen, the council said. The newest section of the register, for Information and Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech), which has now been open for nearly two years, and is available only through the IET, has seen a slow but steady take-up, with almost 100 registrants having completed the registration process.

Jon Prichard, chief executive officer of the Engineering Council, said: “Ensuring that the UK employs sufficient professionally qualified engineers to meet the needs of society is vital to our future well-being.

“Registration provides the benchmark through which the public can have confidence and trust that those holding the titles work to the highest standards and have had their competences independently and thoroughly assessed. Without this, UK-qualified engineers would not be able to maintain the high esteem that they currently hold within the global engineering profession.”

He added: “With the number of registrants aged over 60 still representing 37.4% of those on the register, the inevitable loss of skills and knowledge over the coming years remains of concern. Therefore, working to ensure an increase in new registrants is of key importance to the profession.”