The Engineering Council (formerly Engineering Council UK ; colloquially known as EngC ) is the UK 's regulatory authority for registration of Chartered and Incorporated engineers and engineering technician . The Engineering Council holds the national registers of over 228,000 Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Chartered Engineers (CEng) and Information and Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech). The Engineering Council is also responsible for establishing and upholding globally acknowledged benchmarks of professional competence and ethical conduct, which govern the award and retention of these titles. This guarantees that employers, government bodies, and the broader society, both within the UK and abroad, can place their trust in the expertise, experience, and dedication of engineers and technicians who are professionally registered with the Engineering Council.
37-580: Professional engineering institutions in the UK began in 1818 with the formation of the Institution of Civil Engineers . The IMechE was formed next in 1847. The IEE (Later Renamed as IET ) was formed in 1871. These three are known as the Big Three institutions since together they represent 80% of registered UK engineers. The Joint Council of Engineering Institutions was formed in 1964, which later became
74-614: A charitable body in the United Kingdom. Based in London, ICE has over 92,000 members, of whom three-quarters are located in the UK, while the rest are located in more than 150 other countries. The ICE aims to support the civil engineering profession by offering professional qualification, promoting education, maintaining professional ethics, and liaising with industry, academia and government. Under its commercial arm, it delivers training, recruitment, publishing and contract services. As
111-559: A professional body , professional organization , or professional society ) is a group that usually seeks to further a particular profession , the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and the public interest . In the United States, such an association is typically a nonprofit business league for tax purposes. In the UK, they may take a variety of legal forms. The roles of professional associations have been variously defined: "A group of people in
148-457: A learned occupation who are entrusted with maintaining control or oversight of the legitimate practice of the occupation;" also a body acting "to safeguard the public interest;" organizations which "represent the interest of the professional practitioners," and so "act to maintain their own privileged and powerful position as a controlling body." Professional associations are ill defined although often have commonality in purpose and activities. In
185-443: A profession or group of professions and protect the use of professional titles" and professional bodies that "are independent membership organisations that oversee the activities of a particular profession and represent the interests of [their] members" and which "may offer registration or certification of unregulated occupations on a voluntary basis." Many professional bodies are involved in accrediting degrees, defining and examining
222-488: A professional body, ICE aims to support and promote professional learning (both to students and existing practitioners), managing professional ethics and safeguarding the status of engineers, and representing the interests of the profession in dealings with government, etc. It sets standards for membership of the body; works with industry and academia to progress engineering standards and advises on education and training curricula. The late 18th century and early 19th century saw
259-539: Is more confined to work with other engineering companies, providing a nominal level of inherent professional self-regulation against misconduct. Keith Joseph at the DTI chose not to have a statutory body , but have a royal charter. From its recommendations, the Engineering Council was established in 1981, watching over 54 separate institutions. It gained a royal charter on 27 November 1981. The first chairman
296-753: Is now also published by ICE Publishing. ICE Science currently consists of five journals: Nanomaterials and Energy , Emerging Materials Research , Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials , Green Materials and Surface Innovations . Nineteen individual parts now make up the Proceedings, as follows: ICE members, except for students, also receive the New Civil Engineer magazine (published weekly from 1995 to 2017 by Emap , now published monthly by Metropolis International ). The ICE also administers 15 Specialist Knowledge Societies created at different times to support special interest groups within
333-540: Is typically carried out on Engineering Council's behalf by a licensed member institution. The Engineering Technician (EngTech) may obtain the Licentiateship (with post nominals LCGI), a City and Guilds award comparable to a level 4 qualification. The Incorporated Engineer (IEng) may obtain the Graduateship (GCGI) in engineering, comparable to a level 6 qualification. The Chartered Engineer (CEng) may obtain
370-562: The Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) professional qualification. The Institution of Civil Engineers also publishes technical studies covering research and best practice in civil engineering. Under its commercial arm, Thomas Telford Ltd, it delivers training, recruitment, publishing and contract services, such as the NEC Engineering and Construction Contract . All the profits of Thomas Telford Ltd go back to
407-521: The UK the Science Council defines a professional body as "an organisation with individual members practicing a profession or occupation in which the organisation maintains an oversight of the knowledge, skills, conduct and practice of that profession or occupation". The Quality Assurance Agency distinguishes between statutory bodies and regulators that "have powers mandated by Parliament to regulate
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#1732764746120444-520: The engineering profession in the United Kingdom, working in partnership with other engineering institutions. The Engineering Council regulates the professions of chartered engineer, incorporated engineer and engineering technician in the UK. UK legislation is generally 'permissive' and, as such, the title engineer is not protected by law therefore anyone can call themselves an engineer or professional engineer or registered engineer and many semi-skilled and unskilled trades adopt this title. However
481-425: The 'professional' titles awarded by the Engineering Council are protected by law. Registration as a chartered and incorporated engineers or as engineering technicians is voluntary and candidates are required to demonstrate a high standard of professional competence acquired through education, training and responsible experience in order to register. There are four categories of registration: Assessment for registration
518-559: The Council of Engineering Institutions (CEI) in November 1965, which had a royal charter . This provided functions similar to those that the current Engineering Council and EngineeringUK currently carry out, as well as some others. Around this time, 33% of the UK's GDP was in manufacturing, lowering to 29% in the early 1970s. A royal commission, from the committee of inquiry into the engineering profession, chaired by Sir Monty Finniston ,
555-667: The Institution to further its stated aim of putting civil engineers at the heart of society. The publishing division has existed since 1836 and is today called ICE Publishing . ICE Publishing produces roughly 30 books a year, including the ICE Manuals series, and 30 civil engineering journals, including the ICE Proceedings in nineteen parts, Géotechnique , and the Magazine of Concrete Research . The ICE Science series
592-576: The Kendal Coffee House in Fleet Street . The institution made little headway until a key step was taken – the appointment of Thomas Telford as the first President of the body. Greatly respected within the profession and blessed with numerous contacts across the industry and in government circles, he was instrumental in drumming up membership and getting a Royal Charter for ICE in 1828. This official recognition helped establish ICE as
629-608: The Membership (MCGI) in engineering, comparable to a level 7 qualification. Engineering Council is a "designated authority" under the implementing regulations for Directive 2005/36/EC . It is a member of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI). Engineering Council has relationships with many similar organisations worldwide. It has responsibility for the UK sections of two international registers: European Engineer registration entitles
666-459: The President in 2023. In January 1969 the Council of the Institution set up a working party to consider the role of women in engineering. Among its conclusions were that 'while women have certainly established their competence throughout the professional engineering field, there is clearly a built-in or unconscious prejudice against them'. The WISE Campaign (Women into Science and Engineering)
703-661: The United Kingdom. Membership grades include: ICE is a licensed body of the Engineering Council and can award the Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Engineering Technician (EngTech) professional qualifications. Members who are Chartered Engineers can use the protected title Chartered Civil Engineer. ICE is also licensed by the Society for the Environment to award
740-489: The art of navigation by artificial power, for the purposes of commerce; and in the construction and adaptation of machinery, and in the drainage of cities and towns. After Telford's death in 1834, the organisation moved into premises in Great George Street in the heart of Westminster in 1839, and began to publish learned papers on engineering topics. Its members, notably William Cubitt , were also prominent in
777-491: The civil engineering industry, some of which are British sections of international and/or European bodies. The societies provide continuing professional development and assist in the transfer of knowledge concerning specialist areas of engineering. The Specialist Knowledge Societies are: The institution is governed by the ICE Trustee Board, comprising the President, three Vice Presidents, four members elected from
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#1732764746120814-474: The end of the 19th century, ICE had introduced examinations for professional engineering qualifications to help ensure and maintain high standards among its members – a role it continues today. The ICE's Great George Street headquarters, designed by James Miller , was built by John Mowlem & Co and completed in 1911. The institution is a membership organisation comprising 95,460 members worldwide (as of 31 December 2022); around three-quarters are located in
851-462: The fellowship. The Institution makes various awards to recognise the work of its members. In addition to awards for technical papers, reports and competition entries it awards medals for different achievements. The ICE has student chapters in several countries including Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Malta, Pakistan, Poland, Sudan, Trinidad, and United Arab Emirates. Professional association A professional association (also called
888-650: The founding of many learned societies and professional bodies (for example, the Royal Society and the Law Society ). Groups calling themselves civil engineers had been meeting for some years from the late 18th century, notably the Society of Civil Engineers formed in 1771 by John Smeaton (renamed the Smeatonian Society after his death). At that time, formal engineering in Britain was limited to
925-500: The holder to use the European-style prefix title EurIng ; International Professional Engineer registration entitles the holder to use the suffix IntPE (UK) . The qualifications required for international registration are similar to those required for CEng registration. Institution of Civil Engineers The Institution of Civil Engineers ( ICE ) is an independent professional association for civil engineers and
962-471: The membership, three ICE Council members, and one nominated member. The President is the public face of the institution and day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Director General. The ICE President is elected annually and the holder for 2024–2025 is Jim Hall . Each year a number of young engineers have been chosen as President's apprentices. The scheme was started in 2005 during
999-643: The military engineers of the Corps of Royal Engineers , and in the spirit of self-help prevalent at the time and to provide a focus for the fledgling 'civilian engineers', the Institution of Civil Engineers was founded as the world's first professional engineering body. The initiative to found the Institution was taken in 1818 by eight young engineers, Henry Robinson Palmer (23), William Maudslay (23), Thomas Maudslay (26), James Jones (28), Charles Collinge (26), John Lethbridge, James Ashwell (19) and Joshua Field (32), who held an inaugural meeting on 2 January 1818, at
1036-497: The organisation of the Great Exhibition of 1851 . For 29 years ICE provided the forum for engineers practising in all the disciplines recognised today. Mechanical engineer and tool-maker Henry Maudslay was an early member and Joseph Whitworth presented one of the earliest papers – it was not until 1847 that the Institution of Mechanical Engineers was established (with George Stephenson as its first President). By
1073-433: The post (he was vice-president from 1850). The first woman member of ICE was Dorothy Donaldson Buchanan in 1927. The first female Fellows elected were Molly Fergusson (1957), Marie Lindley (1972), Helen Stone (1991) and Joanna Kennedy (1992). The three female Presidents (to date) are Jean Venables , who became the 144th holder of the office in 2008, Rachel Skinner , who became President in 2020, and Anusha Shah,
1110-532: The pre-eminent organisation for engineers of all disciplines. Early definitions of a Civil Engineer can be found in the discussions held on 2 January 1818 and in the application for Royal Chartership. In 1818 Palmer said that: An Engineer is a mediator between the Philosopher and the working Mechanic; and like an interpreter between two foreigners must understand the language of both. The Philosopher searches into Nature and discovers her laws, and promulgates
1147-517: The presidency of Gordon Masterton, who also initiated a President's blog, now the ICE Infrastructure blog. Each incoming President sets out the main theme of his or her year of office in a Presidential Address. Many of the profession's greatest engineers have served as President of the ICE including: One of Britain's greatest engineers, Isambard Kingdom Brunel died before he could take up
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1184-480: The principles and adapts them to our circumstances. The working Mechanic, governed by the superintendence of the Engineer, brings his ideas into reality. Hence the absolute necessity of possessing both practical and theoretical knowledge. When the time came to apply for a Charter it was clearly necessary to define the profession ... the council applied to Thomas Tredgold to propose some suitable description. The result
1221-452: The profession of a civil engineer; being the art of directing the great sources of power in nature for the use and convenience of man, as the means of production and of traffic in states, both for external and internal trade, as applied in the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, canals, river navigation, and docks, for internal intercourse and exchange; and in the construction of ports, harbours, moles, breakwaters, and light-houses, and in
1258-557: Was Sir Kenneth Corfield , followed by Francis Tombs, Baron Tombs in 1985, Sir William Barlow in 1988, Sir John Fairclough in 1991, Dr. Alan Rudge in 1996 and Dr. Robert Hawley in 1999. It formed the WISE Campaign in 1983 to encourage women to become engineers. In 1996, the diamond logo was replaced by a circle. Engineering Council is recognised by the British Government as the national representative body of
1295-430: Was launched in 1984; by 1992 3% of the total ICE membership of 79,000 was female, and only 0.8% of chartered civil engineers were women. By 2016 women comprised nearly 12% of total membership, almost 7% of chartered civil engineers and just over 2% of Fellows. In June 2015 a Presidential Commission on diversity was announced. By the start of 2023 women made up 16% of overall membership, with female fellows comprising 6% of
1332-470: Was set up in 1977. It looked at the formation and registration of engineers, producing the Finniston Report - Engineering our Future in 1980. Engineering institutions thought they may have lost their autonomy. There was also the possibility of statutory licensing (direct government control) of engineers, as other professional practitioners such as doctors and architects, but the work of engineers
1369-603: Was the now well-known definition of Civil Engineering as "the art of directing the great sources of power in Nature for the use and convenience of man," and this was embodied in the Charter. The objects of such institution, as recited in the charter, and reported in The Times , were The general advancement of mechanical science, and more particularly for promoting the acquisition of that species of knowledge which constitutes
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