Engineering a new career

The word ‘engineer’ stems from the same Latin route as ‘ingenuity’ and implies a career immersed in challenge, motivation, innovation and creativity. Whether serving in the Armed Forces, or working in the commercial, charity or public sector, this career legacy combined with high standards of training, qualifications and practical experience, equips all engineers with a transferable skill set that is in high demand.

Furthermore, from an employer’s perspective, the Services’ commitment to leadership, team work, excellence and professionalism are highly valued personal attributes and seen as the foundation of successful working relationships.

Major Trevor Bowman, SO2 Personal Development in The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) who advises soldiers on career development explains just how Service skills might match those of civilian engineers:

‘To complete their tasks the Army trains its soldiers to a level where they are deemed to be "competent" as defined in an army equipment support publication. The actual level of competence required is initially that of an apprenticeship in engineering (level 2), as defined on the National Qualifications Framework, and then after a suitable period of time and experience the soldier returns to training and gains an advanced apprenticeship (level 3). These qualifications allow personnel to apply engineering knowledge and skills to a significant range of technical activities, in a variety of contexts and circumstances.

‘For example, a REME vehicle mechanic gains an apprenticeship in engineering comprising: key skills level 2 in 5 subjects, NVQ level 2 in performing engineering operations and a vocational related qualification or technical certificate. An electronic technician with an advanced engineering apprenticeship has a qualification that includes key skills level 3 in 5 subjects, NVQ level 2 in performing engineering operations and is qualified to Edexel national certificate. An artificer achieves 140 credits towards an honours degree in mechanical engineering management.’

A level 3 qualification also means that an engineer can apply to demonstrate they have the professional competence to be included in the Engineering Council UK’s register of engineers at the level of engineering technician (EngTech), while colleagues with an honours degree qualification can apply for incorporated engineer (IEng) status. These are nationally recognised standards of competence involving a review of academic qualifications, experience and training and an assessment, the professional review, which may involve writing a dissertation, attending an interview or sitting an examination. The process can only be instigated by membership of a licensed member organisation such as The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the IEE.

Armed Forces personnel also have the option of using standard learning credits (SLC) or enhanced learning credits (ELC) to obtain additional training and qualifications that may help them prepare for promotion or a future career. All of these qualifications allow military personnel to compete on equal terms with their civilian counterparts once they rejoin the external job market and, if used in conjunction with personal development records, make for a robust CV.

In the external job market, the established sectors of mechanical, electrical, civil, electronic, chemical and aeronautical engineering continue to thrive but the daily experience of today’s engineers overlaps the worlds of science and technology with the whole becoming mutually interdependent.

Chris Keane served with the RAF and is now a principal training officer at Rolls-Royce, responsible for apprentice training. He oversees the training programme for 25 apprentices and five operations management graduate trainees. His experience of recruitment and training working for one of the UK’s leading engineering firms.

His personal transition from the Armed Services to the external job market puts him in an ideal position to offer some words of advice: ‘When applying for jobs externally, Armed Forces engineers need to think about how they present their qualifications and training. To maximise impact they will often need to translate their service experience into more "civvy speak"; in other words, to be explicit and detailed in their description of roles and responsibilities. There may not be an automatic understanding, as there would be within the Services, of the depth of knowledge and experience required for different Armed Forces positions. At Rolls-Royce, we do recruit a number of qualified engineers from the Services. Generally their skills and experience are highly regarded and, if the positions are available, they can enter a commercial organisation such as ourselves at a relatively high level due to the standards of training, experience and qualifications they have gained.’

If you are considering leaving the Armed Forces, the opportunity to work anywhere in the world may not initially be at the top of your priority list. However, as a qualified engineer, the world really is your job market.

For further information on engineering qualifications in the Army contact Major Trevor Bowman TD MinstLM, SO2 Personal Development, Headquarters Director Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Army). Tel: 01189 763711 or visit www.army.mod.uk/engineering

For further information on registration please contact the Engineering Council at www.engc.org.uk