Member Welcome Guide by imeche

YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE. WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

Improving the world through engineering

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WELCOME TO THE INSTITUTION. Congratulations, you have been elected as a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Engineering leads the way in improving our world, so we are safer, happier and can lead more fulfil ling lives. As a professionally registered engineer, you make a vital contribution to the engineering profession. We are a leading professional engineering body, with 115,000 members worldwide who are working at the heart of the most important and dynamic industries in the world. As an organisation, we work with our members to improve the world through engineering, by developing engineers; promoting engineering; informing opinion; and encouraging innovation.

Professional Registration gives my colleagues and customers confidence in my capabilities and ability to deliver. It shows my commitment to development, and being the best engineer I can be. Katja Srbljanin IEng MIMechE

We are here to provide the professional support, learning and development that you need throughout your working life. Wherever you want to be, the Institution can help take you there. Our members and volunteers are vital to the success of the Institution, and we look forward to developing a lifelong partnership with you. This guide to membership outlines the services and benefits available to you, and the ways in which you can make the most of your membership with the Institution.

YOUR CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. As your Professional Engineering Institution, we are here to support you with your professional development. In a competitive marketplace, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is increasingly important. Clients, employers and your peers expect to work with the best engineers who are constantly learning, improving their skills and staying at the cutting edge of industry. Our membership benefits are designed to support your CPD with both structured and informal learning. Whether you volunteer with us, attend training or read Professional Engineering magazine – it all counts.

All professionally active registered engineers and technicians are required to undertake and record their CPD. Our approach to CPD • Flexible • Individual • Reflective What counts as CPD? Find out more at imeche.org/cpd

Career Developer – your online tool A quick and easy way to plan, record and review your CPD. imeche.org/careerdeveloper CPD GOALS Create and update your long and short-term goals

TRAINING & EVENTS Review our extensive programme of training and events which can help you develop as an engineer, see pages 4 and 5

DOCUMENT VAULT Store all your CPD-related documents

TOOLS & RESOURCES A range of tools to help you analyse your current capabilities, and achieve your potential

ACTIVITY LOG Record your activities and reflect on what you have learned

CPD AUDIT We audit the CPD of 5% of members annually – find out more online

We’re all continuing to grow and develop, and the things we’re doing – you might not think they’re CPD but they are. It takes a shift in mindset to realise that. Anna Hunt CEng MIMechE

EXPERT TRAINING. Hundreds of courses designed by engineers for engineers, to support your lifelong learning journey within the engineering profession. We understand that your continued success is dependent on demonstrating your professional competence and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) – and that’s where we can help. Short courses Career-transforming business and technical courses, all mapped to the Engineering Council’s UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC), to help you achieve your career goals. Topics include project management, innovation, leadership, technical writing, communication, product lifecycle, maintenance, operational excellence, metallurgy, safety and risk and many more. Programmes and qualifications

Online training Wherever you are in the world, you can access online courses, qualifications and free webinars covering a range of subjects at the click of a button. Our engaging online product, the eLearning Collection, enables learning through shorter, humorous videos in 13 key categories for engineers. In-company and bespoke training Tell us your team’s training needs and we’ll come to you with a cost-effective solution, customised for your company and engineering sector, to provide your team with the knowledge and skills they need to help your business thrive. More information at imeche.org/training

Focusing on developing high performance and career objectives, our sought-after programmes and qualifications include CMI, APM, PRINCE2®, M_o_R®, MSP® and PMP®.

Excellent subject matter delivered in a highly informed manner with a good mix of experience and educational material. Tara Collins AWE plc

Exclusive new member offer Receive £200 off your first training with us. Simply use the code MEM200 when making the booking. More information at imeche.org/MEM200

EXCLUSIVE EVENTS. Our world-class conferences, workshops, lectures, seminars and dinners keep you up to date on engineering ideas, inventions and the latest thought leadership within the profession. Our members input their ideas and expertise into our events – giving you access to unique and exclusive content. Events range from short half-day workshops to three-day conferences. With interactive formats giving you access to the best minds in engineering, our events are designed so you can get the most out of your time. Excel in your career • Free webinars • Face-to-face discussions • CPD opportunities • Latest knowledge for your work projects • Exclusive networking time with industry thought leaders Search all our events by industry and location at imeche.org/events

An excellent knowledge sharing and networking event for industry professionals. Steve Mitchell CEng MIMechE

KEEPING YOU INFORMED. Your voice and opinion have a vital role to play in our profession, and it is through Professional Engineering that we amplify this voice back out to you. Whether this is through our magazine, website, Professional Engineering app, newsletters or social media channels, our job is to keep you connected through our member-led and sectorspecific content. Take a look inside • Reaction Daily stories, innovations and member views • Industry Pulse Sector-specific news • Supercharge All you need to develop your career • Weird engineering Engineering innovations from across the world

Much more than a magazine Sign up to Institution News and our regional and industry updates. You can check and update your mailing preferences at imeche.org/myaccount/preferences Download the Professional Engineering app at imeche.org/peapp View your news on your desktop or phone at imeche.org/news Follow us on:

EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE. The Institution maintains one of the world’s leading engineering libraries, with free online access to more than 70,000 textbooks, journals and reports. You have direct access to 15 specialist engineering databases, and you can use data tools from Access Engineering and other sources. Library

Archive

Our helpful specialist librarians offer a free enquiry service, while our Library and Archive collections provide a rich source of current and historical information.

Our extensive archive of engineering artefacts and historical documents records the development of mechanical engineering.

You can also visit our impressive Library at One Birdcage Walk, which has over 90,000 publications including standards, many of which are available for postal loan. Search for books, journals and more, in print and online at imeche.org/library

I found the online library really useful whilst studying for my degree. I could simply enter what I was looking for in the virtual library search bar and find the information I needed with ease. Lance Corporal Peter Cooke EngTech MIMechE

Explore our collection online or make an appointment to visit the Library. imeche.org/library-archive

A GLOBAL COMMUNITY. Our member networks are grouped into eight international regions. Member volunteer groups are active in each region, giving you the chance to get involved locally and help raise the profile of the profession and the Institution. Our member volunteers are the lifeblood of the Institution; their time and energy extend our reach out into the world in innumerable ways. Volunteer with us to: • Develop your knowledge and skills • Make a contribution to your Continuing Professional Development (CPD) • Inspire the next generation of engineers • Help to grow the Institution’s membership • Make a further contribution to the engineering profession

Whatever your personal development goals, there is a role for you: • Promoting STEM subjects and engineering in schools, universities and industry • Volunteering at events such as our engineering competitions and professional development activities • Organising activities for your member network • Supporting members and their families through our Support Network • Representing your fellow members on our boards and committees Search our latest volunteer vacancies at imeche.org/volunteer

Americas

Oceania

Europe

South Asia

Middle East & Africa

South East Asia

North East Asia

IN YOUR REGION. In each region, members work together to raise the profile of the local engineering community, by hosting events, sharing expertise and building links with like-minded organisations. Find your local network and events at imeche.org/nearyou

SUPPORTING YOU. Everyone needs a helping hand at some point in their lives. Support Network, the personal support charity for IMechE members, can step in and provide practical help and advice. Support Network helps members to keep their careers on track when external life events might threaten to throw them off course. A combination of financial, emotional, and specialist assistance is available to all members and their family. This includes access to: • Employment coaching • Legal and debt advice • Breathing space, childcare and longer-term grants • Interest-free loans for homeowners • Autism and dyslexia support • Counselling services

The Support Network staff are supported by a dedicated team of Volunteer Visitors, who are all IMechE members, and who maintain regular contact as required with grantees and service users. They are always keen to recruit new volunteers, especially for the Social Visits service, so if you could contribute to this rewarding and fulfi lling work, please do get in touch at supportnetwork@imeche.org Learn more about how Support Network can help at imeche.org/supportnetwork

OTHER MEMBER BENEFITS. As your Institution, we can support you further with our specialised services designed to meet your needs, in your work and home life. Venue hire

One Birdcage Walk

You can book event spaces at One Birdcage Walk for a wide range of daytime and evening functions, including conferences, away days, drinks receptions and fine dining, at a discounted rate.

Take advantage of the Members’ Hub at One Birdcage Walk, a magnificent Victorian building, situated in the heart of London. The Hub offers dedicated workspaces for hot-desking, free WiFi, wireless printing and meetings.

Take a virtual tour at onebirdcagewalk.com Merchandise store A range of Institution-branded products are for sale in our merchandise store, including stationery, corporate and clothing items, such as pens, leather tablet cases, cufflinks, fleeces, umbrellas and T-shirts. View our full range at imeche.org/merchandise

Member services As a member, you have access to a range of professional services and other benefits. These include professional resources, legal, business and employee welfare expertise, and personal financial advice. We also offer special deals on insurance, healthcare, travel, parking and vehicles. Review our latest offers at imeche.org/exclusive-member-offers

One Birdcage Walk is a lovely venue, where the staff could not be more helpful, assisting us however required. The location is great, offering easy access for government officials and others who attend, whether from London or further afield. Dr Georgina Crossman National Equine Forum

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION. IMechE is committed to addressing the engineering skills gap and inspiring the next generation of engineers. Our ‘leading the change’ programme aims to inspire and inform young people, and enhance the presence of engineering in the UK education system. Our Engineering Education Grant Scheme supports outreach activities in schools, while our education resources are designed to give young people practical experience of engineering.

The Institution’s influential education policy work focuses on understanding young people’s experience of engineering in schools, and enhancing the profile of engineering in the education system. IMechE members make a crucial contribution to outreach activities. We have thousands of STEM Ambassadors reaching out to the younger generation in schools, inspiring them to consider careers in engineering. Find out more at imeche.org/education

ENGINEERING CHALLENGES. Our engineering challenges for students and apprentices are designed to inspire and engage young people, as well as help them to develop practical skills in engineering. Formula Student (FS) is Europe’s most established educational engineering competition. Backed by industry and high-profi le engineers, the competition aims to develop enterprising and innovative young engineers, and encourage more young people to take up a career in engineering. For more information visit imeche.org/formula-student For undergraduates and apprentices, the Railway Challenge, the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Challenge, the Design Challenge and the Home Automation Challenge all continue to attract healthy interest and participation. For more information visit imeche.org/challenges

Formula Student is a truly unique experience, and I cannot recommend enough getting involved as much as possible with your teams. Not only do you get real practical engineering experience which will boost your career prospects, but you can get exposed to so much more. The breadth of experience you can gain with Formula Student is like no other, so take advantage! Alex Thomas AMIMechE

A LEADING VOICE IN ENGINEERING. With a global membership spanning the industrial and academic sectors, we are uniquely placed to advise governments and policymakers in the UK and elsewhere. Our policy statements, reports and media activity are influential in advising and influencing governments, the media, industry, academia and the public on key engineering issues.

Industry Divisions

We work across six key sectors: Education, Energy, Environment, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Transport, as well as a number of industry divisions and specialist groups, to ensure we reflect the diverse careers and interests of our members.

• Biomedical Engineering

Whatever your industry or area of specialism we provide a hub of knowledge on these sectors, divisions and groups, providing you with the latest news, research, thought leadership, events and training to keep you connected and up to date. Sign up to our regional and industry updates. You can check and update your mailing preferences at imeche.org/myaccount/preferences Download our latest policy statements, reports, comment and analysis at imeche.org/policy-and-press

• Aerospace • Automobile • Construction and Building Services • Manufacturing • Power • Process • Railway Find out more: imeche.org/industry-sectors Technology Groups • Energy, Environment and Sustainability • Fluid Machinery • Management • Mechatronics, Informatics and Control • Powertrain Systems and Fuels • Pressure Systems • Safety and Reliability • Structural Technology and Materials • Thermofluids • Tribology Find out more: imeche.org/get-involved/special-interest-groups

REINVENTING THE PROFESSION. When the Institution was founded just over 170 years ago, its purpose was to give an impulse to invention likely to be useful to the world. It is with this in mind that we continue to champion innovation, research and entrepreneurship in the engineering sector. Our portfolio of benefits, which include training, events, policy work and Professional Engineering, means we can provide our members with the latest knowledge and insights to drive the profession forward. Working in partnership We work continually on our members’ behalf to build alliances and partnerships with industry, Government and across Professional Engineering Institutions. We highlight opportunities and challenges within the profession, and support our members to work to their best ability throughout their careers. Whether we are supporting STEM Ambassadors, contributing to sector-wide collaborative activities such as the Engineering Policy Centre at the Royal Academy of Engineers, carrying out collaborative research with the Gatsby Foundation on female apprentices, or uncovering young people’s career choices through jointly commissioned work with Engineering UK – we are keeping the Institution relevant in today’s world, while fulfi lling the original purpose of our founders. Stephenson Fund The Institution launched an investment fund called the Stephenson Fund in 2015. The Fund invests in innovative companies working in the field of mechanical engineering. Through this investment, companies receive both capital and support from the resources and network offered by the Institution. The Stephenson Fund currently has investments in 11 fledgling companies. Find out more at imeche.org/stephenson-fund

Awards and scholarships We work to inspire, encourage and advance engineers and technicians at every stage in their career, in part by providing practical and financial help where it is needed. Each year, we support students, graduates, apprentices and members with grants approximating £800,000. Vision Awards Celebrating the inspirational engineers and technicians of the future. Prestige Awards Celebrating the engineering achievements of those who are advancing the profession in academia and industry. Find out how to apply at imeche.org/awards Engineering Heritage Awards As much as we work to look to the future, we also celebrate engineering achievements from the past, with activities such as our Engineering Heritage Awards. Find out more at imeche.org/engineering-heritage-awards

OUR GOVERNANCE. We aim to maintain the highest possible standards, and expect our members to be similarly responsible and reﬂective in their professional activities. Our governance structures and procedures are laid out in our Royal Charter and accompanying By-Laws. We strive always to act with integrity, mindful of our position as the public face of mechanical engineering in the UK and with a global profi le. Code of Conduct We have similarly high expectations of our membership. Our Code of Conduct formalises these expectations, outlining the principles that the Institution believes should guide the behaviour and decision-making of members. Members are ambassadors for the profession and the Institution, and we expect them to comply with the Code of Conduct, to maintain the integrity of the Institution and the field of mechanical engineering. The Code of Conduct stipulates that members should: • Practise competently and maintain up-to-date knowledge and skills, acting with care and competence • Act with integrity and respect for others in a reliable and trustworthy manner • Promote sustainability and engage responsibly with the environment • Exercise engineering leadership and contribute positively to the public perception of IMechE imeche.org/code-of-conduct

Equality and diversity We are committed to equality and diversity, and are keen to provide the best possible support for our members. We have established a highlevel Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D&I Committee) to provide guidance and advice to our Trustee Board. We would like to encourage everyone to complete the diversity data on their My Account profi le, to help us to monitor our progress in developing a diverse membership and deliver services that are fair to all our members. For simplicity, questions are based on current legislation, in particular the 2010 Equality Act (Equality Bill), and all information is confidential. For any suggestions about improvements to the Institution’s policy or other actions, please email the Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D&I Committee) at diversity@imeche.org Sustainability The Institution is also mindful of its responsibility to future generations, and seeks to minimise its environmental impact. One recent initiative has been the introduction of a biodegradable and non-toxic membership card, which we are also asking members to keep for two years. Your personal data With the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) now in force, our GDPR team is ensuring that our management of personal data is compliant with the new regulations. You can easily view and change which communications you receive from us through your online account. You can check and update your mailing preferences in your My Account profi le. If you are not receiving your preferred emails, check your junk/spam email folder and then add each of our email addresses to your safe senders list. imeche.org/myaccount/preferences

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Institution of Mechanical Engineers 1 Birdcage Walk Westminster London SW1H 9JJ imeche.org