Engineering news
Five major UK companies are the first to back a new campaign to promote routes for technicians and engineering apprentices to professionally register as Engineering Technicians (EngTech) and enhance their career prospects.
EngTechNow is calling for more employers, apprentices and technicians from across engineering to get involved at www.engtechnow.com.
What is EngTechNow?
The EngTechNow campaign - first announced by the Prime Minister in June 2013 - officially launched on 3 March during National Apprenticeship Week. It aims to increase the status of Engineering Technicians, who play a crucial hands-on role in engineering in the UK. Its target is to register 100,000 Engineering Technicians by 2020.
Senior figures at the construction project Crossrail, global defence company BAE Systems, civil engineering contractors Bam Nuttall, engineering and project management consultants Atkins and engineering, IT and facilities firm NG Bailey, have committed to increase the number of EngTechs in their own workforce.
Technicians working on major projects that improve the economic standing of the UK have joined forces with their bosses to show their support for professionally registered status. And a survey from the Industry Apprentice Council shows that 96.5% of engineering apprentices believe that apprenticeships should lead to professional registration as standard.
Over 300 UK engineering firms have graduate development schemes that encourage graduates to progress to professional status as Incorporated Engineers or Chartered Engineers. The EngTechNow campaign is urging more companies to recognise that those who have come through vocational and apprenticeship routes can also achieve professional status as Engineering Technicians.
How EngTech can help engineering apprentices and technicians
EngTech is a professional title awarded to engineering technicians. In simple terms, the letters ‘EngTech’ after your name mark you out as a professionally registered engineering technician who has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and commitment to join the national register of professional engineers and technicians.
Graham Parker EngTech, is Assistant Electrical Engineer working in building services engineering for Atkins. Graham gained EngTech status at the age of 22. He says: “I would strongly recommend being professionally registered as EngTech, as it provides recognition of your professional and academic achievements. It also gives a sense of pride and satisfaction as well as appreciation within the workplace.”
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Regina Tumblepot EngTech, works for Morgan Sindall on Crossrail’s Whitechapel station. Trainee engineer Regina is one of the many engineering technicians working on the new Crossrail, which is currently building 10 new stations and burrowing - 42 kilometres of tunnels underneath the bustling streets of London. She says: “I was encouraged by my company to register as an EngTech, and I wanted to start my professional development with the Institution of Civil Engineers,” Regina says. “The fact that – whenever you apply for other jobs, or you’re making connections – you will be seen as a professional is a great thing.
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Find out how EngTech status is awarded here.
Why employers value EngTech
The EngTech title demonstrates that employees have met an internationally recognised standard of engineering competence. Making sure that engineering technicians are EngTech-registered shows the value that employers place on staff skills and development at all levels of their business. And having EngTechs in the workforce can give companies a competitive edge when bidding for new contracts.
Simon Howison, Engineering Projects Director at BAE Systems, said: “Professional registration is a great opportunity for apprentice engineers and technicians. It is a clear indication of the high standards apprentices and technicians have achieved and will really boost the perception and status of careers in engineering.”
Steve Fox, Chief Executive of BAM Nuttall Ltd, said: “As a business we have invested heavily in our apprenticeship programmes for over 10 years and these are now aligned with our professional development programme. We encourage Bam Nuttall apprentices to achieve EngTech as it demonstrates they have met an independent standard of competence.”
Learn more about EngTechNow here.
Start your route to EngTech here.
Find out more about EngTech as an employer here.