The Engineering Council 1981 – 2001 (The Chronicle)
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An Engine for Change A Chronicle of the Engineering Council by Colin R Chapman & Jack Levy ii A CHRONICLE OF THE ENGINEERING COUNCIL The illustration on the front cover shows a 21st century Engine for Change, a Rolls-Royce Trent 900 turbo-fan [© Rolls-Royce plc 2004] and is reproduced by permission. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and other contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Engineering Council UK. ISBN 1-898126-64-X © Colin R Chapman, Jack Levy & The Engineering Council UK 2004 Engineering Council UK 10 Maltravers Street London WC2R 3ER Tel: +44 (0)20 7240 7891 Fax: +44 (0)20 7379 5586 www.engc.org.uk Registered Charity No 286142 © Engineering Council UK 2004 An Engine for Change A Chronicle of the Engineering Council by Colin R Chapman & Jack Levy © Engineering Council UK 2004 iv A CHRONICLE OF THE ENGINEERING COUNCIL Why Isn’t There an Engineers’ Corner in Westminster Abbey ? [The explanation is given on page 10] The above illustration formed one of the posters prepared by Ron Kirby for the “Engineering awareness” campaign in 1983 – see Chapter 2. © Engineering Council UK 2004 An Engine for Change A Chronicle of the Engineering Council CONTENTS and arrangements within chapters List of Figures Page vi Preface vii Abbreviations and Acronyms viii Chapter 1 Starting the Engine 1 Engineers and Scientists and Westminster Abbey 10 Chapter 2 1981 – 1985: The Corfield Years – Establishing the EngC 11 Chapter 3 1985 – 1988: The Tombs Years – Building on Success 37 Chapter 4 1988 – 1990: The Barlow Years – A High-Water Mark 57 Chapter 5 1991 – 1995: The Fairclough Years – A New Relationship 81 Chapter 6 1996 – 1998: The Rudge Years – Coping with Change 109 Chapter 7 1999 – 2001: The Hawley Years – Break Up of the EngC 143 Chapter 8 Verdict 183 Glossary of Terms 189 Annex A Membership of the Finniston Committee of Enquiry 191 B First Members of the Engineering Council and Senior Staff 193 C Original Policy Statement (shortened) 196 D Initial List of Nominated Bodies 199 E Aims and Objectives 1988 201 F Senate College Structure 203 G Memorandum of Understanding with Government 205 H The Institutions’ Viewpoints 209 I Viewpoints of Council, Senate and Staff Members 225 List of Names of Persons 235 List of Subjects 237 About the Authors 239 Arrangements within Chapters By means of identical sub-headings it is possible chapter by chapter to follow the progress of specific activities and themes over the entire period of the Chronicle. Within each of Chapters 2 to 7 there are sections on: People (and Policies) involved, including contact with Government, and then generally in the following order Interfacing with: Institutions, including Nominated and Authorised Bodies Registrants, including the Regional Organisation and Assembly Schools, subdivided into WISE, Neighbourhood Engineers, Young Engineer for Britain, Technology Enhancement Programme Further and Higher Education, including SARTOR and the EngC examination Continuing Education and Training, later termed CPD International, including Eur Ing and the Washington Accord Industry, including Industry Affiliates The Public, including Public Relations work At the end of some Chapters there are additional notes about people involved and opinions expressed. © Engineering Council UK 2004 vi A CHRONICLE OF THE ENGINEERING COUNCIL List of Figures Fronticepiece Why Isn’t There an Engineers’ Corner in Westminster Abbey? Page iv Fig.1 The Diamond-Shaped First Logo of the EngC 9 Fig.2 The EngC Standing Committees 15 Fig.3(a) Registration Statistics 1984-2001 23 Fig.3(b) Registration Statistics 2001 24 Fig.3(c) Financial Situation 1982-2000 25 Fig.4 Farewell Dinner to Sir Kenneth Corfield 35 Fig.5 Standards and Routes to Registration 1985 46 Fig.6 A Selection of Publications issued by the EngC in 1987 55 Fig.7 New Relationship Stucture 85 Fig.8 EngC Chairmen 108 Fig.9 The EngC Logo from 1996 111 Fig.10 Benchmark Routes to Registration 1997 127 Fig.11 Two Types of Professional Engineer 129 Back cover Armorial Achievement of the Engineering Council © Engineering Council UK 2004 Preface In 1999, when the idea first arose of compiling a history of the Engineering Council the intentions were straightforward. We were asked to outline how and why the Engineering Council had been established and to describe its objectives, relationships and activities. The Chronicle was conceived simply as orientation for the benefit of new members of the Engineering Council’s Senate, Boards, committees and staff. During the writing, our work was overtaken by events that we describe in the text. At the end of 2001, the original Engineering Council was replaced by two separate but linked bodies: the Engineering Council UK, and the Engineering and Technology Board. In consequence, what was substantially intended to be an ‘in-house’ document has been broadened to become a chronicle of the central body of the UK engineering profession between 1981and 2002. It spans the period from the outcome of the Government’s ‘Finniston’ report to the division of the Engineering Council – the EngC – into the Engineering and Technology Board and the Engineering Council UK – the ECUK. This relatively brief life perhaps reflects the often-voiced view that the engineering profession is fatally divided among itself and that any attempt to unify it is doomed to fail. Not that we rate the EngC as a failure, except in a technical sense. The following pages amply demonstrate considerable successes in important areas, often with the support of the Institutions and other stakeholders but sometimes in spite of them. The successes were due firstly to hundreds of registered engineers and those from other walks of life, who served on the EngC’s Council (later, Senate) and its many Boards and Committees. They were drawn widely from industry, the Institutions, universities, the forces and the business world, and gave unstintingly of their time entirely on a voluntary basis. Their efforts led the way to improving engineering education and training and helped towards improving the performance of British industry. Particularly in the case of the Chairmen of some EngC internal bodies, their dedication to the cause went far beyond the call of duty. Secondly the successes were due, in our view, to an exceptionally well-qualified and experienced team of EngC staff at all levels. These men and women were responsible for guiding the Council, Boards and Committees and ensuring that their policies and initiatives were successfully pursued. The staff also worked effectively to maintain sustainable relationships with Government and with many national and international organisations. To help in compiling this Chronicle we invited opinions from all the above individuals, from the Engineering Institutions and from numerous other bodies. There was a large and well- considered response and many of the inputs are quoted or referred to in our text. Where this has not proved practicable, a selection of such contributions will be found in annexes H and I. We thank all those who replied. Finally we trust that, besides its purely historical interest, this Chronicle will be of assistance in the future to those responsible for the progress of the engineering profession and the well- being of UK industry and business. Colin Chapman Jack Levy January 2004 © Engineering Council UK 2004 viii A CHRONICLE OF THE ENGINEERING COUNCIL Abbreviations and Acronyms ABET Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology [USA] ACARD Advisory Council for Applied Research and Development AcRep Accreditation Representative ASSET Association for Schools’ Science Engineering and Technology BEAMA British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association BEng Bachelor of Engineering BEP Board for the Engineering Profession BER Board for Engineers’ Registration [1982 – 1995]; Board for Engineers’ Regulation [from 1996] BNCIEA British National Committee for International Engineering Affairs BTEC Business and Technician Education Council CGLI City and Guilds of London Institute CBI Confederation of British Industry CC Coordinating Committee CCC Coordinating Committee for Chartered Engineers CCIT Coordinating Committee for Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians CEC Commonwealth Engineers’ Council CEI Council of Engineering Institutions CET Continuing Education and Training CEng Chartered Engineer CPD Continuing Professional Development CRAC Careers Research and Advisory Council CREST Creativity in Science and Technology CWITG Communications with Institutions’ Task Group DEE Department of Education and Employment DES Department of Education and Science DfEE Department for Education and Employment DMPA Directorate of Marketing and Public Affairs DTI Department of Trade and Industry EA Engineering Authority [Finniston] EA 1 Engineering Applications 1 [Finniston] EA 2 Engineering Applications 2 [Finniston] EBP Education Business Partnership ECCO Engineering Careers Co-ordinating Organisation ECITB Engineering Construction Industry Training Board ECRO Engineering Council Regional Organisation ECROC Engineering Council Regional Organisation Committee EC(UK) Engineering Council (UK) EDEXCEL Educational Excellence [an awarding body] EEC European Economic Community EEF Engineering Employers’ Federation EES Engineering Education Scheme EGC Executive Group Committee EIJC Engineering Institutions’ Joint Council EITB Engineering Industry Training Board EMF Engineers’ Mobility Forum EMG Engineering Marketing Group © Engineering Council UK 2004