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IMechE Accreditation Via a Virtual Visit

IMechE Accreditation Via a Virtual Visit

HMD Kontro recently had a virtual visit from IMechE to reaccredit our Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS). The successful outcome was a reaccreditation for three years without any conditions attached. It was recognised by the assessors that the scheme requires a lot of time, effort and resources and is clearly enthusiastically supported by HMD Kontro’s Management. Also of note was HMD Kontro’s understanding in all departments of the Engineering Council’s UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) relating to Developing Engineers (DEs) as well as a desire to encourage and develop new talent. The level of technology that a graduate is exposed to at HMD Kontro goes far beyond what most graduates would normally experience. DEs are regularly assessed with the training moulded to fit both the graduate and company requirements.

 

 

An association with IMechE going back to 2013

Our association with IMechE started in August 2013 when we contacted Claire Maycock, the IMechE Business Development Manager for Greater London & South Eastern Regions. We wanted to investigate the benefits of the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) as a route for graduates to become professionally registered as either Incorporated Engineers (IEng) or Chartered Engineers (CEng). Normally it takes a minimum of seven years engineering experience for a graduate to achieve chartered engineer status but being registered on an accredited scheme, such as the IMechE MPDS Scheme, can significantly reduce the time to just three years for IEng registration and four years for CEng registration. Our application was successful with our scheme being registered under PDS 898 on 31 July 2015. HMD Kontro hosted its first successful IMechE MPDS Scheme Accreditation Panel visit on 16 March 2017.

 

HMD Kontro staff appointments for the scheme

  • HR Manager appointed MPDS Scheme Owner
  • IMechE Industrial Liaison Officer (ILO) appointed MPDS Scheme Administrator
  • Senior Engineering Manager appointed MPDS Scheme Champion

 

Scheme Champion ensures the graduates meet the registration requirements

The role of the Scheme Champion is to ensure that the DEs have sufficient departmental rotations to enable them to meet the registration requirements set out in the UK-SPEC. These cover 5 generic areas of competence and commitment.

  1. Knowledge and understanding
  2. Design and development of processes, systems, services and products
  3. Responsibility, management or leadership
  4. Communication and inter-personal skills
  5. Professional commitment

 

History of HMD Kontro with IMechE

  • 8 Developing Engineers (DEs) have been registered on HMD’s scheme (4 being one-year Industrial Placement students
  • 1 DE is currently working towards CEng registration outside of the scheme via the normal route to membership
  • 5 have registered as IEng
  • 23 employees have been registered as Engineering Technicians (EngTech)

 

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE)

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) is an independent professional association, which has been at the heart of the mechanical engineering profession since 1847. It has 120,000 members in 140 countries throughout the world. IMechE aims to improve the world by developing engineers, promoting engineering and encouraging innovation. At the heart of their philosophy is the belief that engineering excellence requires excellent engineers.

HMD Kontro as a company is able to benchmark employee progress through our professional registration with IMechE. This we believe allows us to attract and retain the best engineers confident in the knowledge that they have been independently assessed and reviewed by their peers.

 

Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS)

IMechE assesses and accredits company graduate schemes to ensure the right opportunities are available, and that mentoring and feedback opportunities are in place for engineers to apply to become a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) after their initial professional development. Regular reporting with feedback is aligned to the five Engineering Council UK-SPEC competence areas.

 

EngTech Apprenticeship Scheme (ETAS)

Additionally, HMD Kontro has an IMechE accredited EngTech Apprenticeship Scheme (ETAS) first approved by the IMechE on 28 October 2015 for three years under IMechE Scheme Number ET212, and backdated two years and reapproved on 28 October 2018 for a further three years. Any apprentice that joins HMD is eligible to join the scheme and upon successful completion of their IMechE approved modern/advanced apprenticeship can apply for registration through the EngTech approved route scheme.

There is a short write-up about HMD’s EngTech community in the IMechE’s APPRENTICE NEWS: February 2018 Newsletter published online that may be viewed at: https://imecheemails.org/3X32-CT0U-682Z8XY659/cr.aspx

Click the links to find out more about HMD Kontro and IMechE.