An Engine for Change - A Chronicle of the Engineering Council

220A CHRONICLE OF THE ENGINEERING COUNCILDirectors General with virtually no experience of Institutions or Engineering Council politics,policies or procedures has imposed so steep a required learning curve as to be unscaleable.Neither of the two most recent Directors General has fully mastered the brief.Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental ManagementDuring six years of contact with the Engineering Council the organisation and administrationhas greatly improved. The whole complexion has changed from that of a volunteer workforceto a permanent staff who are committed to the aims and objectives of the EngineeringCouncil. This has changed and expanded once again during 2000, lessening the feeling of “usand them”.Institute of Road Transport Engineers*The Engineering Council use of modern technology has resulted in a vast improvement in itsadministration as well as being more environmentally friendly. The Engineering Councilwebsite is very informative and reduces the necessity to contact staff. Access to theEngineering Council Register via the Internet will be useful when it becomes available.The Welding InstituteThe organisation/administration provides valuable support to the Nominated Bodies and thestaff are willing and co-operative. However, some of the systems and paperwork do notappear to have advanced with modern technology. Staff provide informed advice but theimpression sometimes gained is that no definitive answer to a query will be given.Institute of PhysicsThe Institute is generally satisfied with the organization and administration of theEngineering Council. The staff are very helpful. Steps to reduce the bureaucracy, e.g., in thelighter touch for audit of Nominated Bodies is appreciated.Comments on Engineering Council’s external communicationsInstitution of Mechanical EngineersIt was, again in the earlier days particularly successful at gaining publicity (the postersgenerated good coverage and some controversy) and exposure through collaboration withexternal bodies (eg through endorsing reports).Institution of Electrical EngineersThe Engineering Council used to be master of the press release (Ron Kirby) but this activityseems to have fallen by the wayside. Engineering Council publications are visuallyunattractive. By contrast the Engineering Council website looks good but is difficult tonavigate.© Engineering Council UK 2004