IStructE elects first Technician grade members

The Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) launched the technician grade of membership earlier this year, and has now elected its first Technician members.

To celebrate this, IStructE is holding roadshows across the UK to promote the new membership grade and encourage applications.

IStructE's first two Technician members, Phil Lightfoot and Glenn Miles have now completed all of the Institution's requirements and were elected today.

Technician Membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (TIStructE) is the gold standard for anyone working as a structural engineering technician.

It will recognise and support the thousands of engineering professionals such as CAD operators, structural detailers, site supervisors, estimators and risk assessors, and acknowledge their valuable contribution to the art and science of structural engineering.

Suitably qualified applicants can also register with the Engineering Council UK (ECUK) as an Engineering Technician (EngTech).

The grade is also supported by the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) who provided a grant to help launch the grade.

The Technician grade roadshows will be a great opportunity to find out more about the grade and network with key people from the structural engineering community.

Employers, consultants and contractors and IStructE will explain the benefits of Technician membership and who should apply.

Dates and venues for the roadshows are as follows:.

* 13 September 2007 - University of Strathclyde, Scotland.

* 23 October 2007 - Birmingham Medical Institute, Birmingham.

* 06 November 2007 - IStructE HQ, London.

* More dates and venues to be confirmed shortly.

'It's recognition of all the years of hard graft.

It's recognition from my peers that I've achieved something,' sums up Phil Lightfoot, senior structural technician at Scott Wilson, who was the first to submit his application.

'I want people to come into this industry and have the goal of being a Technician member.

In my opinion, it is as much of a critical role as becoming a Chartered engineer,' says Glenn Miles, associate director at HSP Consulting, Glenn sees Technician membership as a pinnacle for this side of the profession.

Sarah Buck, incoming President for IStructE's Centenary session (2007/08), chaired the membership committee during the new grade's development process.

She remarked: 'The Technician grade of membership is something I'm really keen to promote during my time as president.

At long last we can enable everyone involved in structural engineering to belong to IStructE.' As a director of BSW Consulting (Exeter), Sarah is also an employer of technician engineers.

'The technician roadshows are a chance to get people talking about the grade, and also for us to let employers know about the advantages for them.

The grade will provide increased credibility with clients, attract the best recruits and provide a structured staff training framework.'.

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