Institution news
The work of an industry liaison officer (ILO) is carried out in addition to one’s main job. Supporting the professional development of young engineers as they work toward IEng or CEng is a vital and rewarding role, according to Peter.
He said: “Working with our developing engineers as they submit applications for professional registration, and facilitating graduates’ progress through the company training scheme, has brought me great satisfaction.”
Lara Mallett, the Institution's Business Development Manager, joined Peter and over 100 of his colleagues to present him with a certificate and Institution cufflinks, and to thank him for his great contribution.
Holly Evans CEng MIMechE and Charlotte Briers CEng MIMechE, who take the ILO role forward, said: “Peter has been a great support to us both throughout our careers at Bombardier. The knowledge and enthusiasm he has brought to the role of ILO have been invaluable for the business and we hope we can continue his good work.”
Peter joined the Institution as a student, and was chairman of the Staffordshire graduates and students branch in the mid-1970s. He was elected a Fellow in 1996.
Having been an engineering manager, and a mentor, when Peter joined Bombardier in 2002 it was his desire to get back to hands-on engineering. Three years later, he was asked to become ILO.
He said: “Working as a mechanical systems engineer is a role I have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, enormously. However, the one part I missed in the early years was supporting and developing younger engineers – an element that I had found rewarding in my previous management role. I’ve been extremely lucky, it has been the best of all worlds.”
The ILO role at Bombardier has grown from around 150 hours, when Peter took it on, to 250 hours, with some complex responsibilities. Peter says it makes sense for two colleagues to take the work on, and was delighted when Holly, a systems engineer, and Charlotte, an engineering project manager, both came forward.
Peter felt it was important that he planned and structured a handover as he contemplates retirement in the next few years. He said: “I was delighted that these engineers volunteered to take on this role. They are very keen individuals who are committed and involved in the work of the Institution – in and out of Bombardier – and they will be excellent ILOs, ensuring the graduate training scheme at Bombardier reflects the Engineering Council and Institution's requirements, as well as developing some excellent people skills!”
Holly and Charlotte, who both benefited from the MPDS route to chartership, said: “The first few years in industry are crucial in terms of gaining a range of experience and building a network so we want to make sure our graduates – and colleagues throughout the company – get the best possible options for professional registration and career development.
“The Institution has so much to offer the engineering community and it’s crucial that our engineers engage with the wider industry as well as their own area of expertise. The talks, conferences and training sessions offered by the Institution provide us with a great opportunity to learn, network and develop ourselves as engineers.”
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