Engineers can boost industry

Chris Allam, Engineering Director at BAE Systems Military Air and Information business, who is based at Warton, near Preston, said getting professionally registered would help engineering get greater recognition for its role in some of the world’s greatest innovations.

He spoke at a reception at the House of Commons to mark the tenth anniversary of professional registration for engineers, such as Chartered Engineer and Engineering Technician.

Mr Allam said giving engineers such status would help to tackle the need to recruit two million new engineers by 2020 to keep Britain’s infrastructure ticking over.

He said “Professional registration is one way of boosting the status of engineers and celebrating the crucial and unique role they play in our everyday lives. The engine room that drives successful industry is its employees and better, more professional employees makes for a more successful industry.”

The director, who has worked on a number of major BAE Systems programmes said professional registration plays a crucial role in keeping UK engineering ahead of the competition. He told the reception how an engineering manager in his team had spoken of getting chartered engineer status as “closing the loop” on a 26-year career.

Mr Allam added: “What he meant was that by having a well-respected, professional institute confirm his competence and offer him support, he felt more professional.

“It means a great deal to industry and, if used wisely can motivate our engineers to continually improve and that will always be good for industry.”