
Supporting the inspection and insurance industries
Our BES sector supports those who work as engineer surveyors, to provide knowledge and professional support to the insurance and inspection industry.
The BES Professional Sector Council (PSC) provides a forum for the industry to meet and discuss important issues, and includes representation from other important industry bodies such as SAFed and INITA.
The BES PSC is currently working on the following initiatives:
- Making representations to ensure the IEng standard remains an attainable benchmark for Engineer Surveyors
- Providing SOE’s input to relevant BSI standards
- Supporting a new Trailblazer Apprenticeship in Engineer Surveying
Who can join BES?
We welcome engineers from large insurance firms, small inspection companies, those with specialised consultancy skills, and everyone in between.
What makes an Engineer Surveyor?
The Engineer Surveyor role is ‘hands-on’ job, requiring practical experience, technical ability, strong customer communication skills and the confidence to make professional judgements. Engineer surveyors may be called in before a piece of equipment is signed off for usage, during maintenance or refurbishment, or to investigate equipment failure. They are responsible for insurance and safety inspections across a range of machinery and equipment, including:
- Lift Equipment
- Crane Equipment
- Pressure Equipment
- Power Press/Hazardous Machinery
- Electrical equipment/Installations
- Local Exhaust Ventilation

Recent SOE News
Why join our BES Professional Sector?
SOE members who join our BES Professional Sector unlock a range of exclusive benefits.
Connect with a community of engineer surveyors and access peer support and mentoring to help you develop and progress in your career.
Access Operations Engineer and Transport Engineer, SOE’s industry magazines, featuring trends and insights, industry news and more.
Read the minutes from recent BES PSC meetings.
Hear from our members
SOE are there to support and guide you as an Engineer. Whether you are working towards registration as EngTech, IEng or CEng with the Engineering Council, SOE is available to help and guide you on the process.
I look back, and if I hadn’t joined professional institutions such as the SOE and BES, made the effort to attend meetings and the rest of it, then I wouldn’t have met the people to pull me through.
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Join the SOE today and unlock exclusive benefits and a network of industry support.
SOE Professional Sector FAQs
Have questions about SOE’s Professional Sectors? Find answers here about benefits, membership and more.
- What are the SOE Professional Sectors?
The SOE Professional Sectors bring together engineers and technical professionals working across a range of industries. Each Professional Sector supports its members by providing CPD opportunities, hosting events and networking opportunities, and issuing technical guidance and support.
- Which Professional Sector should I join?
Explore each of our different Professional Sectors, BES, Environmental, IPlantE, IRTE, and Operations, to see which align best with your career and industry experience.
- Can I belong to more than one professional sector?
If your role spans multiple disciplines, you may be able to engage with more than one sector to broaden your knowledge and professional network.
- Do I need to be an SOE member to join a sector?
Yes, Professional Sectors sit within SOE membership. Joining SOE gives you access to your chosen sector alongside wider member benefits, including professional recognition, CPD support and industry resources.
- What types of SOE membership are available?
The SOE offers a range of membership grades, including Member, Fellow, Associate, Apprentice, Graduate, and Student. Each is designed to reflect different career stages and levels of experience, helping you join at right point and progress over time.
- How do I become a member of SOE?
Once you have determined which SOE membership grades aligns with your career stage, you can join online here.






