There are now 188,701 Chartered Engineers (CEngs) registered with 35 professional institutions, which include an intake of 5,563 new registrants in 2006.
Engineering Technician (EngTech) status is also attracting new people, with 2,524 individuals gaining the award in 2005 and 2006, bringing the total to 13,363. Incorporated Engineers (IEngs) now number 40,466.
Professional registration brings benefits to both the individual and their company. ECUK’s Executive Director Andrew Ramsay believes that the figures for the last two years indicate a strong resurgence of interest in professional registration: “Younger engineers in particular are getting the message that the CEng award is more than just a piece of paper. They are aware that it will give them greater status and influence and enhance their career prospects and earnings potential. In addition, more and more engineering employers actually require their engineers to be registered or be committed to becoming so. With CEng registration now widely recognised internationally it is also a valuable asset to the growing number of UK engineers who work overseas.”
For more information on professional registration, go to the ECUK registration website here.
EEF supports professional registration, particularly among former advanced apprentices and technicians