Professional Registration, in plain terms, is a validation for your skills and expertise. Regardless of the route one takes into engineering, if you’re serious about career progression, Professional Registration should be on top of that list.
The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) is one of the Professional Engineering Institutions working on raising the profile of Professional Registration in the sector. SOE’s core focus is on the safety, inspection and the maintenance side of engineering, areas that are under constant scrutiny for ensuring best practices, safety frameworks and ethical principles are followed.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plays a critical role in ensuring engineers involved in these roles perform at their best and have the most up-to-date knowledge. This is where Professional Registration comes in.
Professional Registration means commitment
Professional Registration is a demonstration that engineers and technicians have met globally recognised professional standards as laid out by licensing bodies like the Engineering Council or the Society for the Environment.
As Senior Engineer of Zurich Engineering Neil Reed points out, professional registration doesn’t solely depend on academic qualifications; instead, the immense benefit of a combination of both academic and practical knowledge in his own experience.
At SOE’s recent panel event, Engineering Council’s Head of Data and Communications David Titmus shared that the non-academic route to professional registration had now overtaken the traditional route, showing that it was open to all, regardless of where they started their career.
Professional Registration means competence
At the same event, Peter Egan, Head of Critical Infrastructure, British Museum and Board Member at the Society for the Environment, brought a valuable client-side perspective to the value of Professional Registration and CPD. For Peter, a lot of his work involves unpicking mistakes from 10-15 years ago. To ensure that these mistakes are not repeated, Peter insists on only employing registered engineers.
Professional Registration means confidence
Lilian Iheukwumere-Esotu PhD CEng MSOE MIAM, Asset Management Strategy Implementation Lead at National Gas UK, an SOE member who recently acquired her Chartered Engineer status says how important documenting evidence was to the process, a lesson she has taken forward in her career. As someone who transitioned from academia, her Chartered status has won her the respect of more experienced colleagues by providing a demonstration of her competence.
Another member, Paul Smethurst - Engineer Surveyor at HSB Engineering Insurance Ltd thinks having professional registration makes people regard you a little differently. “I feel professional registration leaves my clients with that extra level of comfort that their plant and equipment is in the hands of a knowledgeable, competent engineering professional” he added.
Professional Registration means career progression
Professional Registration is more than a title; it’s a key to unlocking new opportunities within engineering. It enhances your credibility and broadens your professional network, allowing for greater collaboration and innovation. Moreover, registration is often a prerequisite for higher-level roles, making it an essential step for those aspiring to leadership positions. With the ever-evolving challenges in engineering, professional registration ensures you remain adaptable and resilient, equipped with skills to excel in your career
Advice for aspiring engineers
According to EngineeringUK, there will be 173,000 more new jobs in engineering and technology by 2030. Engineering is an exciting profession to venture into, and the possibilities of progression are endless. To see which sectors, disciplines or levels you can grow your career into, take a look at SOE’s flagship guide ‘Pathways to Progress: Navigating Growth in Engineering’. Featuring anecdotes and testimonials from engineers across various sectors and career stages, the guide serves as a beacon of motivation for aspiring professionals.
Francesca Hand, Operations Manager of Flixbus UK, who joined the panel along with Engineering Council and the Society for the Environment highlighted how the transferable skills of an engineer, an aptitude for problem-solving as well as working and communicating well as a team, contributes to engineering being one of the most employable industries.
Professional Registration is your added layer of credibility and validation. Registered professional engineers are recognised for their competence, ability and integrity, and are committed to keeping their skills and knowledge up to date through life-long learning and CPD.
SOE highlights the words of Bill Martin IEng MSOE MBES, Engineering Unit Leader and Key Account Manager at Irish Engineering Services, “Engineers are in high demand and being professionally registered with an institution shows a commitment to your profession and that you are committed to a professional code of conduct and CPD.”