An Engine for Change - A Chronicle of the Engineering Council

ANNEX I 229learned of the strained and difficult relationship with the Institutions during the launch of theRisk Code I was delighted to be able to work with John Fairclough to bring about thearrangements that led to the Unification of the Profession and the closer relationships with theInstitutions that now exist.My personal aims were fully realised in that the Risk code was produced and launched andhas stood the test of time as a statement of good practice. The only significant difficultieswith this work came from certain Institutions who considered that the Engineering Councilshould not be doing it and they were unhelpful in progressing it. Their objections andconcerns were largely overcome by argument and persuasion, the most powerful being that ifit were so important to be done by the Institutions why had they not co-operated to produce itto date since it was clearly helpful guidance needed by individual engineers and companies.Kenneth BurrageSenatora) To raise the standing of professional engineering in the UK through firm but fairapplication of the regulations for the Register.b) To build a more productive relationship with the major Institutions.c) To acquire research, networks and statistics which would ensure that the EngineeringCouncil was seen as a respected source of information on the supply and demand forengineering in the UK.I now have a better appreciation (though not understanding) of the destructive effect ofpoorly-briefed Presidents and Secretaries-General on integration within the profession.Despite everything, I have been able to maintain regular meetings with key Secretaries andDeputy Secretaries of the nine biggest Institutions, and believe I have successfully avertedsome of the potentially damaging conflicts on regulation matters. Nevertheless, much moreneeds to be done.Great progress has been made with the Digest of Statistics, covering related educationalprovision from school to university, and some of the proxies for demand. Initial progress hasbeen made in establishing the basis for research in connection with the National Curriculum.3. How do you rate the EngC’s relationships with other bodies?Andrew RamsayDirector Engineers RegulationThe Engineering Council has had notable successes. It has established itself as the body thatrepresents all engineers and their Institutions via the registration process for Chartered andIncorporated Engineers. The Council has become influential in Government affairs relating toeducation, training, employment and economic development. The Engineering Council hasalso made some inroads in promoting the status of engineers and engineering although it isdebatable whether more could have been done if the focus was appropriate.The focus has been on the formality of recognition and status rather than the enhancement ofskills and individual development. There is, I believe, thus a need to further promote theengineering profession to encourage a better quality and quantity of graduates motivated towant an engineering career. I welcome the work of the ‘Campaign to Promote Engineering’© Engineering Council UK 2004