Keen to discuss his pride in the achievements of engineers, and the challenges and rewards of their skilled profession, Patrick Kniveton has enjoyed meeting young people and high achievers, company leaders and fellow members of the Institution, on a series of visits and engagements that he, as well as those he met, have found inspiring. Here is a round-up of the activities undertaken by the Institution’s President, as he passed the half-way mark in his presidency.
In December, Patrick was delighted to host the 101st Thomas Hawksley Lecture, a sell-out presentation given by
Alan Bond of Reaction Engines on the subject of his SABRE technology.
Patrick said: “Excellent – once again, we have leading technology in this country. It is great that the Government has made multi-million pound investment in the company, which is a great vote of confidence that this country’s leadership ‘gets it’ in terms of engineering and manufacturing.”
He added: “Engineers are persistent, dogged, prepared to speak out about it, very innovative and creative. Alan Bond is a really nice guy as well!”
Also in December, Patrick was invited to the
Jaguar Land Rover Technical Excellence Awards at Gaydon where, within a wide range of categories, he presented the award for 2013 IMechE Mentor of the Year to two dedicated members of the Institution.
Patrick said: “It is terrific to see Jaguar Land Rover consistently celebrating all areas of technical expertise, such as power train, suspension design and environmental standards. The general public can take engineers for granted, but the company has an incredible commitment to delivering these world-leading cars. We should watch this space for more world-leading products.”
Also before Christmas, Patrick was invited to see members of the Black Country University Technology College and the JCB Academy receiving awards from HRH Duke of York at Buckingham Palace. This was in connection with an event in Summer 2013, at which Patrick had joined the Duke of York and Lord Baker of Dorking, at the launch of The Duke of York Award for Technical Education which promotes and supports University Technical Colleges. Patrick commented that Lord Baker (formerly Kenneth Baker, Secretary of State for Education) was very passionate about engineering, and that it was encouraging to see what the Baker Dearing Educational Trust is doing for science and engineering.
The publication of
The Sunday Times/Debrett’s survey in January saw Patrick named amongst the top 500 most influential people in the UK, and one of 20 in engineering.
Later in the month, he spoke on behalf of Rolls-Royce at Westminster Higher Education forum on post graduate teaching. He gave the perspective of a company or employer, discussing what was valued in post graduate teaching, his message being: “Come and talk to us, because we have invested in 29 University Technology Centres around the world. That’s because they have, for example, a materials, power or control systems specialism that is useful to us. Those universities might specialise in combustion. For Rolls-Royce, that’s exactly what we’re interested in, because we want to work with these bodies, to fund engineering doctorates who might be with us for three years of experience and then are recruited by the company after that. It’s funding research for mutual benefit.”
He invited those with a stake in post graduate teaching to form industrial panels and talk to employers in their area.
In January,
Marketing Derby hosted over 100 guests at One Birdcage Walk. Investors and city ambassadors heard about Derby’s future regeneration projects including the new, 250-acre business park, Infinity Park Derby. Patrick, as one of the speakers, assured his audience that he was as proud to be an engineer as he was to be a part of the city of Derby, with its industrial heritage and future.
Before the month was out, Patrick fulfilled an ambition to attend Prime Minister’s Question Time at Westminster, facilitated by his local MP. He commented that it was: “Pure theatre, so much so that the audience were applauding at times.”
February saw Patrick on a visit to Eminox in Lincolnshire, a leading designer and manufacturer of exhaust and emission control systems for heavy duty diesel vehicles and equipment. As he learned about the firm, he understood that Eminox competes against large German companies in their markets, but holds its own. The company has the same recruitment needs as larger businesses: to attract and retain graduates and apprentices. As executives explained, they develop graduates, but sometimes find that they lose them to bigger companies. Patrick was delighted to be reunited with Eminox’s Managing Director, Nick Lyons, with whom he had studied engineering at the University of Leeds.
Next was a trip to the North East – where Patrick lived for over 20 years before moving to Derby for Rolls-Royce – and visits to two companies.
One of these was IHC Engineering Business (IHCEB) an award-winning company which delivers bespoke engineering solutions for complex offshore applications. It successfully combines the considered customer care of a small business, with the ambition of a larger organisation. This is seen both in its bespoke and customer approach, and in its attraction, development and retention of a very talented workforce, which benefits from engagement with the whole life cycle of a product.
Over the past two years IHCEB has developed and introduced an Institution-approved MPDS scheme, working with Business Development Manager Denis Healy.
Patrick presented Chartered Engineer certificates to 15 young graduates that day, and met apprentices. He observed that, contrary to popular perception of the North East, there is actually more demand for engineering apprentices than there is supply of youngsters to fill them. Denis described the company as a great success story of 2013 and is proud to announce that a further 20 employees are progressing with the company’s MPDS.
Patrick also visited Dyer Engineering, a company of 200 people, with a growing graduate and apprenticeship population. He said: “Dyer produces high volume precision fabrication and engineering for larger companies like Cummins, and IHCEB – it was great to visit. The Managing Director, Graeme Parkins, is someone I used to work with at NEI Control Systems, and is doing very well, following a management buy-out from an old family firm. They’re getting employees professionally registered, with help from our BDM Denis Healy. Dyer has good development prospects, is expanding, and they need more employees to meet all this growth.”
Also in the North East, Patrick called into VMS Ltd where, earlier in his career, he had helped design road display signs. It is thanks to his connections within the Institution – namely Past President Tony Roche – that Patrick’s suggestion for developing the technology for the rail industry were successfully taken forward, and have aided VMS’s growth: “Being part of the Institution builds your business – connections is what it’s all about,” he said.
Patrick attended the Foundation for Science and Technology debate on the challenge of communicating risk estimates to decision makers, attended by senior executives and held at the Royal Society in February. Speakers included Judith Hackitt CBE FREng, Chair, Health and Safety Executive.
On 11 February, Patrick attended the Chartered Institute of Building Services (CIBSE) Building Performance Awards dinner, held at Grosvenor House, Park Lane. He was seated at the table of CIBSE President George Adams, and met the after dinner speaker, John Sergeant. He enjoyed talking to John about both politics and Strictly Come Dancing! Patrick commented: “It was a terrific awards ceremony for building systems and innovations, dealing with environment, lower energy, and making buildings better. It was a refreshing mix of the major blue chip and well known companies, and some smaller ones, too.”
Responding to a request from young Institution member and STEM Ambassador Momodou S Ceesay, of the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and London Region, Patrick visited Denbigh School in Luton, where over 250 pupils across all year groups were able to listen to an inspiring account of his engineering career. His engagement with the pupils, and his thoughtful gifts of a steam turbine and a personally signed Rolls-Royce book on jet engines (to be awarded as a school prize during National Science Week) made it a memorable visit, and one that has inspired many of the pupils to consider engineering as a career.
Patrick said he was “thrilled” to attend, meet teachers and pupils, and to answer a great many questions. Momodou collected some insightful feedback from the schoolchildren: this is a small selection:
“Being a car fanatic I found it eye-opening. It has given me the confidence that I could work for example in car manufacturing, helping make progress while enjoying the work I do.” Arman Hussain Class 117
“We were all surprised to see how many different experiences Patrick has had. From his younger years, all the way up to 2014, his career has been filled with different challenges that took him all around the world. I never thought that the life of an engineer could be so adventurous, and I’m sure everyone will give engineering a closer look.” Rokib Miah Class 112
“The experience was fascinating and we had an insight into where a life in engineering can take us.” Lauren Webster Class 101
“Being a part of an eager crowd listening to Patrick Kniveton has been an experience I will never forget. The engineering information I learnt that day I will take with me for the rest of my life.” Talal Zaber Class 93
“I found the presentation very interesting and engaging. I found out that there is much more to engineering than just building things. He was very funny.” Nadirah Shafique Class 74
Patrick was delighted to give his presentation, Proud to be an Engineer, to an audience at BP at Sunbury. His aim is to encourage people in the industry to be more open about their work and achievements. He said: “There was the usual realisation that engineers really do need to speak up about engineering and tell people what they do. Wherever I give my speech, everybody says, yes, I can do that.”
He also attended a Midland Region Committee meeting. He fed back what was going on at Institution HQ and listened to what local members had to say, commenting that it was a great experience to meet members there and share the discussion.
On February 20, Patrick attended the Past Presidents’ lunch – hearing the views of many of the Past Presidents of the Institution, and all the ones he’s served under! He was pleased that he is able to join Duncan Dowson and Chris Taylor as three Presidents of the Institution who are alumni of the University of Leeds.
On the theme of international travel, Patrick went to Dublin in early March and also to Paris to make contact with local Branch members.
Most recently, Patrick has been doubly honoured and rewarded, first by his 25 year service award from Rolls-Royce, which was presented to him in Derby last Thursday, and secondly, by the confirmation of his appointment as a Visiting Professor for engineering engagement at Derby University. Patrick said: “I am looking forward to giving my inaugural lecture at the university, and I can’t wait to work with everyone there for there for the benefit of engineering. I love Derby, and I am very glad to be working to give something back to the city.”
Looking ahead, Patrick has a very busy three months left in office; his duties and visits include a trip to India, in May.