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Could you be recognised in 2024 for your outstanding environmental work?

Do you know a deserving colleague who has recently gone above and beyond to protect or enhance the environment?

The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) is now welcoming nominations for the 2024 edition of the prestigious SocEnv Awards. Recognising outstanding individuals who have innovated, inspired, and have gone beyond what’s expected in their recent work to protect, preserve, or enhance the environment, there are two prestigious awards up for grabs:

2024 Environmental Professional of the Year

2024 Rising Star

This is your chance to inspire the next generation, to recognise the skills of your peers and to remind one another why we’re here, doing what we do and striving every day to make a difference to the environment.

The reining Environmental Professional of the Year is Claire Wansbury CEnv, AtkinsRéalis Fellow and Technical Director Biodiversity. Reflecting on her 2023 achievement a year on, Claire said:

“It was such an honour to win the 2023 Environmental Professional of the Year award. I have been fortunate during my career, and particularly in my current role with AtkinsRéalis, to work on some incredible initiatives and projects. It is easy to take what we do day to day for granted, but we can all make a real difference. For anyone considering applying or proposing a colleague in future for one of the awards, I would absolutely encourage you to do so. It is a simple process and allows us to celebrate the efforts and achievements of our profession.”

2022 Environmental Professional of the Year, Becky Toal CEnv, Managing Director Crowberry Consulting Ltd said:

“It’s a fantastic validation of the creative effort of an environmental and sustainability manager, recognising the valuable input to society and communities of your knowledge, skills, and competencies. As the owner of Crowberry Consulting Ltd, it has led to new business opportunities. For anyone who would like to nominate or self-nominate I encourage you to go for it!”

Video nominations

SocEnv is committed to being an inclusive organisation. We are accepting video nominations again this year to make our application process more accessible to a wider range of professionals. Please visit the SocEnv Awards page for more details on video nominations.

Submit a free nomination

Nominees for both awards must be registered as a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), Registered Environmental Practitioner (REnvP) or Registered Environmental Technician (REnvTech). However, nominations can be submitted by anyone, including self-nominations.

Visit the 2024 SocEnv Awards page to download the guidelines, find out further details, and to learn more about the previous awards winners.

Submit your nomination here: socenv.org.uk/socenv-awards

Nominations for the SocEnv Awards are open until 09:00 BST on Wednesday 17^th April 2024.

Now is the time to gain some well-deserved recognition! Nominate yourself or a well-deserved colleague for free, today.

The Engineering Council would like to congratulate Dr Kelly Loukatou CEng MIET who has received the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) 2023 Karen Burt Memorial Award for best newly qualified female Chartered Engineer.

The Karen Burt Memorial Award recognises the importance of Chartered status and the award winner’s excellence and potential in engineering practice as well as contributions made in the promotion of the engineering profession.

Dr Loukatou was nominated for the 25th Karen Burt Memorial Award by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) in recognition of her accomplishments in renewable energy projects. She has been involved in both UK-based and international collaborative research and the creation of Long Duration Energy Storage systems to store excess energy created by renewable sources and aid in the take up of renewable technologies. As an Energy Insight Lead, within the Strategy and Regulation Department of the National Grid ESO, she leads energy storage and flexibility activities to design pathways to achieve decarbonisation targets to meet Net Zero in 2050.

Passionate about attracting women to the engineering profession, Dr Loukatou is involved in activities to promote the achievements of her female colleagues at National Grid ESO. She also has a prominent role in an international mentoring programme and was shortlisted for the University of Manchester’s Volunteer of the Year award in 2019.

Nominations for the WES Karen Burt Memorial Award are made by professional engineering institutions (PEIs), who may nominate one newly Chartered Engineer per year.

If you are a female CEng and would like to be considered for the award, please contact your PEI. Nomination forms will be sent direct to the PEIs by WES, but if you have any questions about the Karen Burt Memorial Award or the nomination process, please contact Karen.Burt.Award@wes.org.uk.

The Engineering Council would like to congratulate registrants Titi Oliyide CEng MIET and Adrienne Houston CEng MIET, who were announced as recipients of this year’s IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award at a ceremony in London on 7 December.

Titi Oliyide, a Senior Process Safety Engineer at Supercritical Solutions, is the winner of the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award. Titi’s expertise lies in technical process safety, where she assures and designs safety systems and processes for innovative hydrogen production technology, contributing to the energy security strategy and the UK’s net zero plan for 2030. As an advocate of engineering as a profession, she is actively encouraging more people to pursue it as a career.

Adrienne Houston, owner of Eurovacuum Products Ltd, is the recipient of the Gender Diversity Ambassador Award. Now in its fifth year, this lifetime achievement award recognises Adrienne’s hard work in promoting engineering to young girls from all demographic areas, who want to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers. Supporting gender equality and inclusivity, she ardently contributes to the advancement of women, helping to pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive engineering profession.

We would also like to congratulate finalist, Georgina Andrew EngTech MICE, one of six candidates shortlisted for the Young Woman Engineer of the Year award. Georgina is a Civil Engineering Graduate Apprentice at Amey Consulting, working as a designer for projects covering structural maintenance to major road bridges. She is responsible for providing sustainable engineering solutions that promote safety, journey time reliability and connectivity between areas, improving some of Scotland’s busiest roads. As a STEM ambassador, she has worked on several initiatives promoting the engineering profession to the younger generation.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) celebrates the work of young women engineers for their work in modern engineering and help change society’s perception of a predominantly male-led career by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and dirty overalls. As well as putting the spotlight on talented women engineers, the awards seek to address the science and engineering skills crisis prevalent in the UK by promoting the profession to more young women. According to EngineeringUK, women make up only 16.5% of those working in engineering occupations.

Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, Dr Laura Norton said: “It’s vital we champion engineering careers to the next generation – it’s a diverse, creative and exciting career, which offers the opportunity to change lives, or even the world.”

The full list of award winners and finalists is available on the IET website.

Congratulations to Dr Nausheen Mehboob Basha CEng MIMechE, who has been announced as the winner of the 2022 Most Distinguished Developing Career Achievement Prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The award recognises developing engineers who have demonstrated innovative and responsible professional leadership, with the potential for future distinction and commitment to serving others.

Dr Basha, a highly accomplished researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, has been recognised for her significant academic achievements, including research into screw compressors and her current focus on mechanical engineering in the process industry. She has authored numerous publications in the areas

Her PhD research on computational fluid dynamics modelling of oil-injected compressors has received recognition from the Institute of Refrigeration (IOR).

An advocate for equality and diversity in engineering, Dr Basha devotes a lot of her time to inspiring other young women and minority groups to take up science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Dr Basha has written articles on subjects such as cultural barriers for women in STEM, wage gaps, and gender inequality in engineering. Her contributions have earned her a place in the Top 50 Women in Engineering (Inventors & Innovators) by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES).

As well as her research, she is involved in organising placements and work shadowing programs to provide students with invaluable first-hand experiences in engineering careers.

Read more on the IMechE website.

Three young women engineers have been recognised at the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards for their work in engineering.

IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year: Titi Oliyide (32) is a Senior Process Safety Engineer at Supercritical Solutions. Titi provides technical process safety expertise for innovative hydrogen production technology to facilitate the energy transition, whilst contributing to the energy security strategy and the UK’s net zero plan for 2030.

IET Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices: Jade Kimpton (22) is an Apprentice Substation Engineer at National Grid. Jade carries out maintenances on substation assets and is involved in the commissioning of new renewable generation connections. She repairs and replaces assets to ensure the electricity supply around the UK remains reliable.

Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Prize: Zainab Adigun (31) is a Senior Structural Engineer at Pell Frischmann. Zainab manages a small engineering team that develops and delivers engineering solutions for clients. She is responsible for undertaking structural design and analysis, as well as coordinating, managing, delegating and implementing structural designs with a range of building requirements.

On winning, Titi said: “I can’t believe I’ve been named the 2023 Young Woman Engineer of the Year, joining an incredible line-up of outstanding women who have come before me. I am really passionate about demystifying and promoting the industry, and this gives me an amazing platform to introduce more young people to the world of engineering and show them how they can make a difference in the world through this impactful profession.”

Finalists Georgina Andrew, Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee, Laura Hoang and Evi Viza were all highly commended. All winners and finalists will play an ambassadorial role for the engineering and technology professions in the forthcoming months, promoting engineering careers to more girls and young people.

Now in its fifth year, the Gender Diversity Ambassador Award, which recognises an individual’s hard work in achieving gender equality within the engineering industry, was awarded to Adrienne Houston. This lifetime achievement award aims to showcase innovation and good practice to compliment the YWE Awards, by recognising the support and encouragement of women in STEM careers.

During her career, Adrienne has worked tirelessly to promote engineering to young girls from all demographic areas, who want to pursue STEM careers. Adrienne is someone who actively promotes and supports gender equality and inclusivity, and actively contributes to the advancement of women, helping to pave the way for a more diverse and inclusive engineering profession.

Adrienne is the owner of Eurovacuum Products Ltd, which she established in 2012, specialising in vacuum and low-pressure compressor systems. Her company was born out of discrimination she suffered at the time of becoming a mother. She recognised the talent of a diverse workforce and built and fosters an inclusive company culture.

The IET’s Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards celebrate women working in modern engineering – and aim to help change the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men by banishing outdated engineering stereotypes of hard hats and dirty overalls.

As well as highlighting the talent of women engineers, the awards seek to find role models who can help address the UK science and engineering skills crisis by promoting engineering careers to more girls and women. Just 16.5 per cent of those working in engineering occupations are women (source: Engineering UK).

Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, Dr Laura Norton said: “Engineering and technology have been improving our world and shaping our future for centuries. Engineers make an ongoing difference to the world around us, and we want to celebrate those engineering a better world for us all.

“However, due a lack of understanding around what engineering is, perceived gender norms and not enough visible role models for the next generation, the UK has a shortage of women engineers.

“Our awards tell the stories of incredible women engineers who are changing our world for the better and I’d like to congratulate our fantastic winners and finalists this year. They are a real credit to the engineering profession and make excellent role models to young girls who might be thinking about a career in engineering and technology.

“It’s vital we champion engineering careers to the next generation – it’s a diverse, creative and exciting career, which offers the opportunity to change lives, or even the world.”

The winners were announced at the IET Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards ceremony on 7 December at IET London: Savoy Place.

This year’s YWE Awards were sponsored by Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Leonardo, London Stansted Airport, MBDA, National Grid, Northrop Grumman, Ofcom, Royal Air Force, RS Components Grass Roots and Thales.

To find out more information, please visit www.theiet.org/ywe.

In response to the Department for Education (DfE) releasing new full year (2022/3) apprenticeships data for England on 30 November 2023, EngineeringUK has run an analysis on the data related to the engineering and technology sector.

Engineering related apprenticeship starts have decreased by 2.4% since 2021/22, however this decrease is smaller than was seen across all-sector subject areas (3.5%). Engineering related apprenticeship starts are also still lower than they were before the pandemic – down 7.7% since 2018/19. Level 2 apprenticeship starts in engineering related apprenticeships have decreased by 22.6% between 2021/22 and 2022/23.

Beatrice Barleon, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at EngineeringUK, comments:  

“The latest apprenticeships data paints a concerning picture for the engineering sector and for the prospect of growing the UK’s engineering workforce to address acute skills shortages. With apprenticeship starts in the engineering sector down since last year, it is becoming clear that a lot more needs to be done to make apprenticeships a success story.

“Particularly concerning is the decline in Level 2 apprenticeship starts by almost a quarter (22.6%) since last year, alongside a reduction in numbers of young people aged 16-19 taking up apprenticeships since 2017/2018. Lower-level apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3 offer opportunities for young people from a wide range of backgrounds to access jobs in engineering and tech. We need to see more opportunities available at these levels so that more young people from all backgrounds are able to join the engineering and tech workforce, providing the capacity and skills the sector desperately needs.

“We will continue to play our part in growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships, including taking forward the recommendations from our recently published 5-point plan.”

The full analysis from EngineeringUK can be found in our research section.

The inquiry report ‘Fit for the future: Growing and sustaining engineering and technology apprenticeships for young people’ can be found here: http://www.engineeringuk.com/fitforthefuture

The MacRobert Award is the UK’s longest-running and most prestigious national prize for engineering innovation.

The MacRobert award honours the winning organisation with a gold medal, and the team members a cash prize of £50,000. The presentation of the Award recognises outstanding innovation, tangible societal benefit and proven commercial success.

Past winners have included the engineers behind innovations such as the Pegasus jet engine, catalytic converters, the roof of the Millennium Dome and intelligent prosthetic limbs. Originally founded by the MacRobert Trust, the Award is now presented and run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, with support from the Worshipful Company of Engineers.

For further information please click here

Nominations for the 2024 award are now open, until 5pm, Wednesday 31 January, 2024.

Submit your nomination here

Supported by the Worshipful Company of Engineers.

A new report published today by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) reveals that there is an urgent need to make engineering and technology more inclusive for neurodivergent people – and it provides practical guidance to STEM employers to create a more inclusive working environment.

The report – which is based on qualitative research including a number of focus groups of engineers and technicians with lived experiences of neurodiversity – found that many are reluctant to be open at work due to stigma and say they face a range of challenges. Many also find being part of an under-represented group magnifies the challenges, and that employers within the sector often miss the opportunity to benefit from specific strengths associated with neurodiversity.

It also highlights that not all workplace challenges that neurodivergent engineers and technicians face are related to the specifics of their neurotype – and it points out that challenges result from a range of other factors including lack of awareness and understanding; neurotypical approaches and expectations being the standard for workplace behaviour; accessing workplace adaptations and the impact of all these on sustaining good mental health and well-being.

Guidance for employers on how to best build a more neuroinclusive environment includes:

• Treating neurodivergent engineers and technicians as individuals
• Raising awareness and shifting attitudes
• Training line managers to support neurodivergent team members
• Integrating neurodiversity into working practices and culture
• Making it easier to access workplace adjustments
• Offering targeted career support where it is wanted
• Enabling neurodivergent engineers and technicians to access and build support.

Dr Laura Norton, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, said: “Neurodivergent engineers and technicians bring many and varied strengths to their work. Too often, however, these strengths are not recognised or appreciated by managers, colleagues or employers.

“There is a huge opportunity awaiting employers and teams in the engineering and technology sector who are willing to understand and address the needs of their neurodivergent staff and colleagues. We hope this study helps increase awareness and understanding, and spurs action towards realising that opportunity.”

Andy Parker, Chair of the IET’s EDI Advisory Group, said: “As a neurodivergent engineer myself, it’s fantastic and very encouraging to see the IET pioneering research into the challenges and experiences of the neurodivergent community in engineering and technology – an area that has remained largely unexplored until now.”

Katy Deacon, IET Trustee and Chair of the IET EDI Working Party, added: “Everyone should feel empowered and supported to fulfil their potential and feel that they belong in engineering and technology. For us, building an understanding of the extent of neurodiversity in the sector, as well as breaking down barriers, is a crucial element to realising this aim. There is much more we can do to truly harness the strengths and skills of neurodivergent people, that will improve the working experience for all.”

To find out more about the report Neurodiversity in Engineering and Technology – How to build a more inclusive profession, please visit www.theiet.org/neurodiversity.

Two years on from welcoming its first students in 2021, NMITE (New Model Institute for Technology & Engineering) is thrilled to launch its Life Changer bursary initiative and is showcasing the impact it has achieved locally with a supporting campaign ‘Changing Lives’.  Launching on 6 November 2023, the campaign aims to encourage aspiring students from or studying in Herefordshire to seize the opportunities available for the September 2024 intake by highlighting the stories of many lives already changed by NMITE. 

The 30 bursaries offer local students a unique chance for higher education within their own community. Upon acceptance, each student will receive a non-means tested cash bursary, ranging from £7,000 to £10,000, depending on their chosen degree programme, providing them with the launchpad needed to embark on their Higher Education journey.   Generating awareness and engaging with the local community, ‘Changing Lives’ will be visible across the county. NMITE will be sharing authentic perspectives and stories from students, staff and industry partners, helping to demonstrate what an impact NMITE has already made.  

Commenting on this news, Minister for Skills, Apprenticeships and Higher Education Robert Halfon said: “I am an enormous advocate of social mobility through education, and it’s fantastic to see this investment in future talent from NMITE. This new bursary scheme will help change people’s lives in the local community and beyond, giving them a ladder of opportunity into dynamic and competitive industries.”

James Newby, President and Chief Executive, NMITE, added “The Life Changer bursaries are more than just financial support; they are an investment in the future of Herefordshire.  The generous donors behind our bursaries are not only helping us to foster local talent through education, they are nurturing a skilled workforce right here in our community. “We believe in removing barriers and creating pathways to success.  And nothing could be better than using our current student community to tell their compelling stories about the changes and impact NMITE is already achieving.”

These stories will be seen and heard throughout Herefordshire via NMITE’s social channels  including videos on Youtube, with posters displayed by local businesses and supporters and at local Herefordshire locations and landmarks.  The plan is to ensure that everyone locally will have the opportunity to see, hear and read what a difference NMITE is making and intends to make in the future via the new bursary initiative.

An example of one of the students who will feature is Dan James, a local NMITE student pursuing an MEng degree since 2022, who is enthusiastic about the opportunity that NMITE has brought “NMITE is offering higher education on our doorstep, something I never thought possible growing up. The opportunity to connect with local business partners is invaluable, especially for someone like me seeking a career in the area.”

Peter Jelf, Founder and Director of Visicon, an employer partner of NMITE for over three years explains their support for this initiative “NMITE is attracting students from all around the country, but having this resource on your doorstep for students in Herefordshire is a brilliant thing.   With these bursaries, you don’t have to pay to stay away, it’s just a real win for folks looking to get into engineering in Herefordshire. What initially drew me to NMITE was the way they’re approaching degree level engineering education. What NMITE are doing differently is embracing the best of both worlds and they are bringing hands-on, actual project-based engineering to degree level courses”.

The Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP for Hereford and South Herefordshire, who originally conceived the idea of a new, higher education offering in Hereford, said “NMITE has always had a core mission to create life-changing educational and school opportunities for young people living in studying in Herefordshire. That’s just what these new Life Changer bursaries will do. Anyone local who is interested for themselves, for their children or grandchildren should take a look.”

For more information, to hear the Changing Lives stories or to apply for the bursaries, please visit: nmite.ac.uk/HomegrownEngineers

The latest edition of the Guide to Professional Registration has just been published. A free, comprehensive guide to professional registration and the professional engineering community, the Engineering Council has updated its annual guidance for 2023-2024.

Professional registration identifies an individual as a competent and committed engineering professional, and this guide provides a useful overview of the process of becoming professionally registered and the institutions that can support achieving this internationally recognised mark of quality.

The Guide to Professional Registration is designed to help everyone from school leavers, careers advisors and STEM ambassadors, through to employers and HR professionals, to navigate the organisations and resources available to support and develop engineering talent. Whether searching for the right apprenticeship or university course, applying for a promotion or a new job, or taking on the next big project, professional registration is a framework that supports study, training and career development, demonstrating competence and commitment to ethics and continual improvement.

The first step to professional registration is joining a professional engineering institution (PEI) licensed by the Engineering Council, or a Professional Affiliate (PA) with a registration agreement. To help guide the process of registration and select the right professional body, the Engineering Council’s Guide to Professional Registrationcovers:

•        how the different engineering organisations work together
•        what professional registration is:

o   information about each professional registration title

o   benefits for registrants

o   benefits for employers

o   benefits for society

•         how to become professionally registered
•         profiles of all licensed professional engineering institutions and professional affiliates, including:

o   their specialisms and missions

o   what professional titles they offer

To download your copy, visit: Pocket Guide to Professional Registration