Professor Richard Folkson BSc (Eng) CEng FIMechE ACGI warmly welcomed and presented certificates to new members and Fellows of the Institution at a new members and Fellows evening at Trinity Hall in Aberdeen recently.
Most of the members attending had gained professional registration with the Institution as an Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng), while five were elected Fellows of the Institution.
Dr Alex Galloway CEng FIMechE, Scottish Region Chairman and many members of the Aberdeen Area Committee and Young Members Panel also attended the ceremony.
Richard addressed the assembled engineers and guests, and shared the Institution’s successes and plans for the future.
In summing up, with the vote of thanks, Bruce Buchan CEng FIMechE CEnv, Aberdeen Area Committee Chair also welcomed the newly registered members into the local, national and international body of Institution-registered professional mechanical engineers.
Attendees took advantage of the opportunities to network with fellow members, meet the Scottish Region and Aberdeen Area volunteers present, and learn about Institution activities, such as ways to support professional development and events in the Scottish Region – the largest, in terms of membership, of the regions in the UK.
The Institution’s Business Development Manager for Scotland, Sandra Mulligan, said: “It was fantastic to have the President in Aberdeen. Members and their guests really enjoyed the opportunity to meet him and the evening was a great success.”
Some of the newly professionally registered engineers are long-time volunteers with Institution committees. Marzena Dziedzicka CEng MIMechE, who graduated in 2011, is Vice Chair of the Aberdeen Young Members Panel. She joined W3G Marine Ltd in 2012 as a project engineer and has worked there since on a range of research and development projects.
Martin Sharman CEng MIMechE, graduated from the University of Glasgow and took up work for BP in 2010. He currently works in operations, supporting BP’s UK offshore assets. An Institution volunteer for over five years, Martin is Chair of the Aberdeen Young Members Panel.
He said: “Becoming a chartered engineer with the IMechE demonstrates my competence and professionalism as a mechanical engineer among my peers.
“Also, I have formed some great relationships with fantastic people, who I would not otherwise have met, as a result of volunteering for the Institution. My advice to anyone thinking of professional registration, at any stage in their career, is to get involved in IMechE activities. It has been a huge asset in achieving my career goals.”
The President, accompanied by Sandra and Bruce, also visited Subsea UK.
Subsea UK was established by, and acts on behalf of, the subsea industry and brings together operators, contractors, suppliers and people in the sector. It now has over 290 member companies – many of them also connected with the Institution and continues to grow.
In meetings with Neil Gordon, CEO and Trish Banks, Operations Manager, the party discussed the current challenges to the subsea sector, and ways the Institution and the organisation can work together to help build the skills of engineers in the sector.
The President also visited Subsea 7, the world-leading seabed-to-surface engineering, construction and services contractor for the offshore energy industry. With 130 Institution members and Fellows on site, the company runs an Institution-accredited Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) and supports Company Based Registration (CBR).
Richard, Bruce and Sandra held talks with Craig Porter, Engineering Director and Phil Simons, UK and Canada Vice-President, facilitated by George Smith, Pipeline Bundles Manager and Graduate Training and Development Manager.
The party met a number of Subsea 7 engineers, from EngTech to Fellow. Richard delivered a short presentation which was followed by a general discussion about the work of the Institution, benefits of membership and professional registration.
Bruce commented: “For many years now, the IMechE Presidential visit has been the highlight of the Aberdeen area events and an honour for recently qualified members. This year was no exception. We also had excellent company visits, whereby mutual professional respect and recognition was expressed by the President, senior management and professional engineering staff.”
Contact a Business Development Manager in your area for more information on routes to professional registration.