An Engine for Change - A Chronicle of the Engineering Council

ANNEX H 213The Welding InstituteIn the interests of the engineering profession, the Institutions as a whole need to feel part of afamily in which the EncC plays a key role. There needs to be a feeling that we are all pullingthe same cart in the same direction, carrying the whole family forward to clearly establishedobjectives. I think that this has not been achieved, and that some (many) feel that the bigplayers still dominate too much with smaller Institutions feeling squeezed out.Many Institutions feel dominated by Engineering Council and that they have little influenceon the decision making processes. This was not helped by the imposition of increasingly timeconsuming (and thereby costly) procedures (eg SARTOR-3) and the time required toread/digest the avalanche of paper generated by Engineering Council. It became a paperintensiveoperation and Institutions were left to extract key matters from the documentationto ensure they were following correct procedures. This situation would have been helped, aswe suggested, by a sharply focussed newsletter which stated clearly new decisions andinstructed Institutions as to the action required.Institution of Water OfficersWe are impressed with Malcolm Shirley’s commitment to the modernisation of theEngineering Council (and we appreciate his Council of Presidents Briefings) and with thework of the Hawley Group. We value the contribution of the Engineering CouncilRep and thehelp and advice provided by the Engineering Council Secretariat.Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental ManagementThe relationship has improved during the past five years and certainly the feeling during thepast eighteen months and more recently during this year has been one of a far more positivenature.Institute of Road Transport EngineersThe Institute’s relationship with the Engineering Council has traditionally been very good.IRTE was concerned about raising the entry standards in SARTOR-3 and was pleased thatthose concerns were taken on board. IRTE is very supportive of the consultation processwhich gives all Nominated Bodies, irrespective of size, the opportunity to comment andinfluence.IRTE has for the past two years been in merger negotiations with The Institution of PlantEngineers and the Engineering Council has been very helpful in an advisory capacity. Theimplementation of SARTOR-3 has generated much concern but the Engineering CouncilStaff have always been very helpful and informative.The Institute of PhysicsWe feel that the Institute of Physics has a good relationship with the Engineering Council andhope that the Engineering Council has a similar view.© Engineering Council UK 2004